Prayers

Once again it has been a while since I last wrote. I have been extremely busy since I moved home. Mostly planning for a wedding that will take place in 54 days to an amazing man of God, Wally. :) But I have also been traveling to the Oregon coast and Idaho to see family and I made a trip to Portland. I have a few more trips coming up and look forward to them very much. But something that has kept me very very busy is prayers. I have had a lot of friends ask me to pray for them. And I do. But I have come to find that many of my friends and some family are having a hard time in life right now. I understand each and every person's struggle and whole heartily feel for them. I love each and every person so very much and hope that they can have joy, peace, and comfort overflow in their life. If you are reading this and need a prayer or know someone who does I encourage you to take some time to pray for them right now.
As I have had all these prayers and my talks with God I have learned that He is answering these prayers and He is taking care of His precious children. This brings joy to my heart and make me feel like I am able to do something for those I love. I do have my own prayers that I am waiting to have answered but in the mean time  one of them has been answered. I know that my life and the life of my family and friends is in the best hands possible. I am so thankful for this reassurance everyday. I hope you are too. It helps give you joy in the times of sadness and gladness. So hold to the hope that your prayers go to God who has everything in His hands.
Blessings!

Leaving home but going home...

Well many things have happened this summer. I have had an awesome job working as a swim instructor and I have finished my incomplete classes. I have also been planning a wedding! But tomorrow is my last day teaching lessons and Saturday morning I am headed home. As I was packing up my things this past week I kept thinking how odd it feels to be leaving California and to head home. I think its more official now that yes I have graduated. I am not going back to school where I lived for the past 5 and a half years. Nope instead I'm leaving this home and going home.
I think it is odd that now that I am really leaving I feel like I am leaving home. Being here in CA has taught me a lot and has helped me to grow as a person. God has shown me many blessings and has pointed me in the path He wants me to go! I grew in so many ways that I feel like this place and the people I have meet here are my family and home. I know that even during my years in school people came and went and I was able to create new family each year. This makes me to believe where ever I go in this life I will find a new home and a new family. I know there are those who will always be family and they may be around the world but where ever we are we find other Christian friends who become family. I know this will happen soon in November, Wally and I will become family. But I know that even we will move and be placed in different places where we learn to make friends and in turn become family. I am excited to experience this but also sad to leave one of my homes. I know there are other people out there who understand what I am saying.
I will say lately I have also been very excited to see what God has in store for Wally and I. I know that right now we have a lot of questions about where we might go or be and what jobs we would have but I am excited not knowing at the moment. I know that one of these days I will want to know but I will take this calm and peace as it is and enjoy it while I can. I like knowing my life is in God's hands.
Well I must go, I have a full day ahead of me! Until next time!

Memories

Yesterday I was cleaning and re-organizing my stuff that is in boxes. Let me just say it hasn't been done since I packed all just about 6 years ago before I left for college. So a much needed cleaning was in order. While I was cleaning I found things I didn't know or remember writing and I found a picture I had not ever remember being in or owning. This picture was from when my family and I were in San Fran and took the tour of Alcatraz. I almost cried when I looked because my brother was in the picture. But I took a deep breath and realized it was all okay. I thought how it is exciting to have another picture of him even one I didn't know existed. As I kept cleaning and organizing I thought about that picture. Then it got me to thinking how I believe it was a sign from God. I say this because for the past few days I have kept trying to tell myself that I am now an only child and Conor is physically gone from this world. But I think God was trying to prove me wrong. I think He was trying to show me that Conor is still here through memories and pictures. I know God is not saying Conor's physical body isn't here but He is saying that Conor will always be apart of my life through old and new memories. This helps me to know that even at Christmas or other holidays Conor will live in our hearts and is among us. I also believe he is in heaven looking down with a smile knowing I remember him and that I know he will forever be loved.
I feel each day I learn something new through this grief process and I honestly can say I look forward to all that God is going to teach me. I know it wont be easy and I know its going to be hard but I know its all worth it if I am fulfilling the great commission and living out the will of God. Well until next time!

A new summer and chapter of life

Well so much for keeping up with my blog last summer and during the school year. I think I just got caught up with life at camp and making friends that I didn't even think about blogging. But its a new summer and I know it would be good for me to write again. I think it will be good for me to write and heal from the tragedy of losing my brother this year. I know I have come a long way in 5 months since then but I know God is still helping me to grow and see what good will come of this. On a happy note my life has changed because I am a graduate from college! I don't think it has hit me fully yet that I am done because I am still finishing up a class. But each day I can feel the change and difference because I am not thinking hmmm what books do I need next year and what classes am I taking. Instead its hmmm what is my job going to be come fall and where will I be? I will say at first I was so scared of not knowing if I would have a job this summer or not knowing where I would be in the fall. But just as God showed me this summer He will provide and I am not to worry about tomorrow for there is enough to worry about today and even then I don't need to worry because He will provide. I did get a job for the summer and I absolutely love it! I get to teach swimming lessons and be in the water near the beach! If you know me well I love the beach! I also enjoy the drive that I take every day to get there. During this drive I always pray and talk to God. I thank Him for the opportunities I have and the amazing places I have gone and get to go to.
As for other summer plans or future plans I am learning to just take it as it comes and to enjoy the present. Each day can still be hard for me but at the same time I learn more about God and His plans for me. I guess you could say I am looking forward to the fall even though I am not sure where or what I will be doing. I feel a great sense of relief not knowing because I am learning to let God surprise me and guide me. Its much better then trying to fight Him on my plans and His plans. Don't get me wrong I still try to plan things for the fall or my future but I am learning to not stress or worry about them . One goal I have is to travel somewhere and do some mission work. I don't know where or when but I just know my heart is tugging at me to peruse! Well I best be off to enjoy today and all that God has in store. I will try to be better at blogging this summer. I hope that what I share may help others to grow in Christ with me.

Day Camp

Well it has been a while since I wrote a blog. I am of course back from my journey to Austria, Hungary, and Slovokia. It was an amazing experiences and one word to sum it up would be community. I felt that community was built between both handbell groups through many circumstances. After tour I journeyed home with the man and was only home for maybe 24 hours. Then we were off to Camp. I cried after my family and my love left. But I was shortly later greeted by some amazing people who made me feel right at home. I will say the first two weeks during training it was hard but it was a great growth experience. The next week there were over 400 youth around camp. It was not a normal camp week but it was fun. I continued to form relationships with the other camp counselors. That weekend we found out where we would be at and I was supper excited to work at a day camp this week. During my day off I went to one of my friends houses and we slept in did laundry and talked A LOT! Oh and caught up on our favorite TV shows. Sunday we had our service, cleaned and headed out to day camp. I had the unfortunate experience of getting my first speeding ticket....grrrr....thats another story for another day. After cooling down from that I was in camp mode and ready to go for the kids. This week has been so much fun and so challenging at the same time. Yesterday my highlight was being chased by little kids with buckets of water and getting soaked! Today I was pulling out the discipline card...lots of tired cranky campers. But overall they are so much fun! Tomorrow is the last full day. And we have a parent program to put on at night. But all in all the week is winding down. I am thankful for this week and looking forward to what the Lord has in store for me. I will say one thing that is on my mind is how much I miss my friends and my love! Well until next time...

Hungary Day 1

Well today was interesting to say the least. I got into Budapest yesterday and was able to shower eat dinner and go to sleep for 12 hours. The next thing I know I get a phone call from one of the other ringers asking if we were up. Um, I was now. We missed our 7:30am wake up call because it got cancelled without us knowing. So I hurried in packing and ran out the door to the bus. My roommate and I didn't get into trouble because it wasn't our fault but I really wished I could have had some time to get ready instead of rushing. We took a tour of Buda and Pest...same place but Buda is the hilly side and Pest is the flat side. When I have pictures up later it will explain itself. We saw the palace and tons of old buildings from WWII and older. We did some shopping and ate a really tasty sandwich. Then we were off to the church to set up and play. To make the day more interesting out bus driver took us to the wrong church...so we had to walk a ways with our bell stuff. Then we had to carry our very heavy bell equipment up narrow stairs. It was nice and easy after that. We had a welcoming Hungarian desert and tea before the concert. Oh, it was so good. Then we played our pieces. It was well received and many cried. Everyone was eager to learn how to play when we gave them the chance. After that we came back to the hotel and had another tasty dinner and are all resting and preparing for bed as it is 11pm here and 2pm back home. I think that is all I have for today. Tomorrow and Friday are home stays in Gyor. Then we are off  to another city. I will keep you posted when I can. Oh one last thing I LOVE IT HERE! I want to live here. At first it reminded me of WI, so green and a bit chilly...but so beautiful!

Packing, Packing, and More Packing

First off I have to say that I have not planned to write almost every day. However, it has been very soothing for me to write in the morning after I wake and spend some personal time with God. So if you do read and noticed that I have posted a few blogs in three days have no fear posting every day will not be the case. When I am in Austria and Hungary I have no clue if I will be able to get online so I wont have the chance to post every day. And as for camp I know I can't post every day either. 

Now on to my subject matter of packing. I REALLY DON'T LIKE IT! My title is correct when I say packing three times. This is because I have packed Wednesday, Thursday, and am continuing today...and will be making sure all items are packed for tour. After tour I pack up the car and get ready to go home then to camp. There is LOTS of packing. I know that I am becoming a good packer after four years of moving around but it is still a pain. Plus as Wally and Melissa kept saying yesterday I have way to much stuff! I agree...and in the process of packing I am trying to give stuff away...its working but still...to much STUFF! I kept wondering if others feel the same way I do when it comes to packing. Not the I don't like it but the reason of it feels like your getting no where in the process. Do you ever get that feeling? The one were you have been packing for hours and it doesn't seem to have made a dent. Well thats what it felt like yesterday. And when I woke up this morning I still felt that way...I looked at the closet and all my clothes were still hanging. 

Well it is time for me to go attack those hanging articles in my closet and finish packing the little odds and ends. The pre-journey is still in motion and summer HERE I COME! YAY!