build your kingdom here

conference was ridiculous. i can't wait to share with you what happened. until then, watch this sweet video. it reminds me of a dream.

busy girl.

i'm still not entirely sure who looks at this little blog of mine. i don't really publicly announce that i have a blog. i'm not sure i am confident enough in my writing or what it is. if anything, i want to look back on this someday and see how my life is being shaped by my Father's hands and other fun stuff.

grad school research, church, school, and my internship have all been packing my days. life is so sweet right now. it is very different..but regardless it is sweet. i chose over the summer to finally obey God's nudges to not return as a young life leader this year. i was disobeying my God and it was hurting my relationship with Him and those around me. it has been difficult, but nonetheless He has blessed it.

i find myself in situations that i had difficulty finding myself in when i was leading. more opportunities to grow in my relationship with the Lord, with women from Clearview, and with coworkers and students in new ways.

this weekend is our fall conference at Clearview. i missed the first session because i was at a student affairs conference at western illinois all day yesterday. it was an incredible conference. i feel like this giddy little spirit inside of me for working with college students has been continued to be fueled by the Lord. my heart is breaking for students. my heart is on fire when i meet students passionate about their education and the organizations they are involved in. college is a gift that is often not recognized by students. even myself. i could go on and on about this.

i caught the end of the first session last night at church. boy, the Spirit was moving in a mighty way. i had the opportunity to pray for two of my dear friends during prayer ministry. one of my favorite parts of being involved at Clearview has been growing in hands on prayer. i feel the Spirit move in my body when i lay hands on someone. it is an indescribable feeling. the Spirit was working in my friends last night as i prayed for them. tears fell down their cheeks. friends, He shows up in prayer. He will put the words on your tongue to break down walls and encourage those around you. He speaks through you. it is times like after prayer last night that i realize how big my God is. He spoke through me into their hearts in just the right places. things that i didn't know these girls were struggling through came up in prayer. nudges from the Lord are the sweetest.

i will be updating at the conference goes on. i know that He is going to rock my heart and bring me to His feet. what a beautiful place to be.

P.S- i just signed up for a scarf swap via http://www.crystalfaye.com/
i'm real excited.

and i love me some nathan angelo.

it's the little things.

wednesday's are one of my very favorite days of the week. i get to spend almost my whole day at my internship and then spend the night at small group. i have to confess, i woke up with a bad attitude. i woke up saying "it's just going to be one of those days." i even e-mailed my advisor that i do my internship with saying "it's just going to be one of those days." ya know what, i had an attitude check on my walk to my office today. i gave myself a pep talk the whole way. i also yanked my skirt down and tucked in my shirt about every 5 steps. hint: don't wear a pencil skirt with a shirt tucked in when you wear your backpack. it is a hassle.

i dressed up especially nice today because i had to visit our fall career fair for my sociology careers class. the last time i had been to a career or internship fair was when i was a marketing major. boy, i would have had much better luck if i was still interested in pursuing marketing at this fair today. almost all of the tables were oriented towards business majors. anyways, i made my way through our ballroom to find the one table i was actually interested in: city year. i loved talking to the reps that were all about city year and couldn't wait to tell me more. city year takes in teams of young adults that are fresh out of college in areas with large drop out rates, like chicago, and advocates for students to continue with their education and make it to college. when i think about city year, i think about people that are passionate and are cheerleaders to kids that don't feel like they have much to look forward to.

it's the little things. like meeting people at a fair that are so passionate about their jobs. and getting jimmy john's delivered right to your desk. and sneaking in time to read redeeming love. and diet coke. and worship music on spotify. and forgetting your ID in your office, having to walk back (angry, of course) and then "coincidentally" running into a friend. isn't it funny how God works? He controls my motions and steps even when i don't understand. i was so upset that i had to go all the way back to my office to get my ID and then i ran into alec. if i hadn't been forgetful, i wouldn't have run into my friend! embrace the little things, friends.

also, i had such a great weekend. here's some pics.

aren't my friends beautiful? i am beyond blessed by these ladies.

perks of being a sociology major.

being a sociology major is sometimes a good time. like today, i get to read articles about happiness. and i get to run into little gems like these.

"we all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same."
-anne frank

                               

"joy is the serious business of heaven."
-c.s lewis

it's friday, friday!

it's friday! friday!

the weekend is here and i am a happy camper. plans are already forming and my smile keeps getting bigger. this was my first crazy week of school and i am happy to say that it is friday.

tonight
dinner with chels at the rock
shopping and movies with mandy

tomorrow
morton pumpkin fest with everyone cool
seeing adam after his football game
working patio at the med

sunday
clearview
tanner's orchard with everyone cool

i love anticipating great things coming up, like drew and ellie and needtobreathe next weekend, but one of my goals for the school year is to embrace and celebrate each day and wait well. i so need to learn to wait well. though it's great to be excited and looking forward to things, i want to love the day i'm living in because i'm not promised the next. i don't want to miss out on something great in my day because i'm constantly looking forward to tomorrow or the next day. i don't want to miss out on important moments in my life that might seem small because who knows, they might be the most important. i desire to find something positive and great in each day even when my day seems just like the last. i want my days to be different even if my schedule might look the same.

it's fitting to share this song because i have a feeling mandy and i will belt it out a few times tonight.

sweet joy.

the things that brought me joy today:

1. reading cold tangerines- especially the chapter called puppies. it was such a sweet reminder of how blessed i am to be a part of young life and how ministry has impacted my life in ways that cannot be described.

2. road trip with mandy- i love a good road trip. it doesn't even have to be anywhere special or far away. there is just something so sweet about roadtripping that makes me want to get up and go every opportunity i can get. mandy had a driving class in champaign, so we grabbed some fusion brew and hopped in the car so she could go to her class and i could go spend a few hours at home. this girl gets me. we shared fears about our season of freaking out about applying for grad school and how thankful we are that we have the Lord in this season (and every season). He never ceases to be behind the scenes, navigating our steps and shaping our lives to bring Him glory. our trip there was mostly conversation and our trip back consisted of kissed you goodnight on repeat.

3. home- i never realized how much i appreciated my parent's house until i went away to school. as much as i complained about living on the outskirts of town when i was in middle school and high school, i wouldn't have it any other way. the stars shine brighter, the air is more breathable, and sometimes you get to see fun critters (i saw a hummingbird today). i got to eat dinner with my parents, play with the pup, grab part of my fall wardrobe (hallelujah), and drool over all of the awesome crafts that my mom is working on. i can't believe her shows are coming up!

this:

                                             love
                                                                   \' lav \, verb

1) waiting instead of hurrying. 2) showing up when there is no time. 3) Listening rather than talking. 4) forgiving instead of holding a grudge. 5) assuming the best. 6) choosing kindness rather than anger. 7) celebrating instead of envying. 8) anticipating needs. 9) never giving up- continuing to the end.

this quote hangs in my bedroom on a wooden sign. i so long to love people in all of these ways.

and this.

hallelujah, all i have is Christ

oh, Father, use my ransomed life
in any way You choose.