I just got back from Warrenton, Missouri on a missions trip with the Middle Schoolers on Friday night. It was a great trip; the kids did awesome, they all got along and us leaders had a great time of laughing and working together. Here are my top 10 favorite things about the trip.
10. The downpour of rain while in Kroger's grocery store on the evening we arrived. I love rain.
9. 16inch softball on Monday night, a great MO tradition.
8. Weed tickling. Dan and Pete would pull the long weed stems from the ground and tickle others on the trip with it, we all thought it was some type of bug, so hence everyone kept slapping the area which they tickled, It was quite funny.
7. Carpet Ripping. We destroyed a trailer home, and so Bethany and I got to rip up the carpet with crowbars-It was quite fun. I felt so strong
6. Baskin Robbins. Going out for ice cream one night, is another MO tradition. It was so refreshing after a long days work, and hot day.
5. Clearwater Christian College. 5 guys singing worship songs. I am sucker for singers. enough said.
4. Botchy Ball in the park. It was nice to get away from the campus for a night and hangout at a park and play a game, it was a beautiful night. the sunset was amazing, the company was great.
3.The Last night. On the last night, almost all of us were in the pool for over 2 hours playing keep away with the water ball, Leaders vs. Kids. It got intense. It was awesome.
2. Small group share and prayer. One of my favorite parts of the trip, Listening and praying for 2 girls whom I enjoy. The Lord is working in all of us.
1. The Devotions. All taught by the male leaders of the trip. Lessons on humility. I was challenged, I need to do a lot of work. Praise the Lord for His grace and forgiveness. Undeserved. and so thankful.
One week of break/work..then off to camp Ripley to counsel, O Summer.
These last few weeks have been quite the whirlwind. Since the end of May life has been going non-stop and my head has just been spinning. With my grandpa being diagnosed with cancer and being moved from his assisted living, to the hospital, to Ridgewood, and then finally home with the Lord, to the funeral, and meeting all these crazy Miller relatives, burying my grandpa a week ago, Monday and then Monday started the Hay family reunion minus 2. Then ending my nanny job for the summer, and starting back part time to the golf course, and now packing to leave for the Middle School Missions Trip, I just feel like I haven't had time to process much. The kids stopped over yesterday and I realized just how much I really miss them, I loved watching them grow and develop over the last 6 months, and its so strange not to get up and go over there, I will watch them like once a week or so over the summer, but I am already looking forward to the end of August when I can go back and be with them again. It was fun to see my extended family over this last week, it was fun doing things with them and having meals together, and just laughing together. I love that they ALL love the Lord, and that we have that common bond together, and that we are able to encourage one another. Now I am getting ready to go to Warrenton, MO to "chaperon" the Middle Schoolers on their missions trip. I am excited for this trip, I ask that you would pray for these kids on this trip and us as leaders, may we all grow to know and love Him more. Then when I get back, life should, Lord willing, slow down for the most part, and hopefully looking forward to sinking my feet in the sand at North Beach.
Today was my grandfathers funeral. He passed away on June 2, the day after my 24th birthday. The Lords timing is ALWAYS perfect, which made me glad that it wasn't on my birthday-that would have been a sad memory for my birthday. My grandpa had lots of health concerns over the last 5 years or so, and my parents and aunt and uncle, diligently took care of him day after day, which is such a testimony for me, and such a great example of Christ's love. Most recently he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung/liver cancer, and then 2 weeks later, went into the presence of the Lord. Today was his funeral, it was good to see my cousins and aunt and uncle whom I don't see very often, but also at these types of things you meet and see many relatives that I didn't know I had or haven't seen for a long time, this being the case today. The Millers are very loud people, its no different even at funerals apparently, pretty sure we have the loudest on record at the desiple level at a funeral, anyway they did provide some entertainment and good laughs for me and my cousin Sarah who was standing next to me in the family greeting line. My grandpa was a very sweet man, always so kind and generous, always willing to do whatever for anyone. He will be missed, But I shall see him again someday, I am so thankful for the hope that I have, which gives me such peace. Now my mom's family comes in starting tomorrow evening for the Hay family reunion for a week. PLUS the ending of one job, and more hours on the other. Family togetherness here we come.
So in just a couple of hours I will be 24. Its such a crazy thought to me. As I think back to when I was a teenager planning out my life, What I thought I would be doing by 24 is NOT at all what I am doing at 24. I thought by now I would have been married to one of the PLUSONE boy band members, or if I was lucky one of the members of NYSNC, or realistically, a REALLY hot model man, and we would have been now married for 2 years NOT living in Wisconsin, and possibly start having children any day now. This is OBVIOUSLY not what has happened. I am honestly okay with that. Don't get me wrong, there are days when I wish I was married, and having kids, but the Lord has done great things in me, and there is still so much for me to learn, I feel, before I am ready to be a wife. Its crazy to think back and see all that the Lord has done for me in my life, I am So So blessed, and I take so many things for granted. The Lord has taught me, showed me, revealed to me so many things that continue to break me, mold me, and shape me in the women that I need to be, I have so far to go, but I am glad that the Lord is faithful, and loves me so much, gives me the grace and forgiveness that I need and don't deserve. I live a very blessed life, I have a great parents, 2 amazing brothers, great friends, a great church, and an amazing job that I love. I have no complaints. I am excited for my year of being 24. I am excited to see what the Lord is gonna do in my life, and just do life as a single 24 year old women who loves to watch sad movies, hang out, and just be. I am ready to be 24. Bring it on.
I maybe a little bit into this show, Ok, I am really into this show. Its no secret that I am a huge fan of American Idol. Some people are really into other shows such as LOST. I won't name-names, but I know just a few who are into that show, but this is my show. I love it, I think I like it cause I can't sing and I live vicariously through them or something, not really sure. A lot of them have had some amazing talent, and its fun for me to see what these contestants can do from week to week. For the 2 year in a row, my favorite has won the compition, I am convinced because of my votes, but who knows. Some of my favorite commercials have always been the Disney ones, the ones where after someone wins a Super Bowl, the World Series, or American Idol. And they say " So and so Just won the Super Bowl, What are you gonna do next? and they reply; I"M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!"Well the new American Idol just did one, and its awesome. Check it out! Happy Memorial Weekend to you all.
I wanted to share this now funny story (it wasn't so funny at the time) with you. I was making Owen his breakfast on Friday morning, just like any normal day that I have with them, and as I was making the egg over the stove, Owen stands next to me and looks at me funny, and just stares, and says," Nie- Nie, are you having a baby soon?" At first I wanted to throw the kid outside, but I did not. I said to him " no, why do ask that question Owen?" He then replies "Because your tummy is sticking out!!" Thank you Owen for making me more self conscience than I already am about my stomach.:) Oh that kid, he says the darn est things. Its I guess funny now, but I was a little offended at first, but I do understand that he is only 3. O children, they make me laugh.
My Comfort Zone. That place is easy, normal, good, and fun. I was challenged today in my personal time with the Lord, and also this topic came up in a conversation I had earlier this week with a friend, about breaking free from my comfort zone. I don't really like change. I guess when change happens I feel out of control, which I am working on. When I was preparing to go on a Missions Trip when I was a Junior in High School, Andrew my youth pastor pulled me aside and said, "Nie-Nie, I am gonna challenge you on this trip to break out of your comfort zone this next week to try and hang around with the girls that maybe you wouldn't normally hang around with." At first I thought he was nuts for thinking that I would do such a thing, but I knew he was right, So I did, I tented with the 3 girls that I normally wouldn't have chosen, but to be honest, It was great. I learned a lot about those girls, and to this day was my favorite missions trip ever, for many reasons, that being one.
I guess I have been thinking about this issue this week and also was challenged with it today because there are some changes coming and its gonna be okay, I don't do change well, BUT the LORD is in control NOT me. He has a sovereign and divine purpose for all things. I just need to trust and obey.
I just got back from Warrenton, Missouri on a missions trip with the Middle Schoolers on Friday night. It was a great trip; the kids did awesome, they all got along and us leaders had a great time of laughing and working together. Here are my top 10 favorite things about the trip.
