Thankful

Have I mentioned recently how much I love my small group? Because I do... a lot. The girls in there are just so encouraging, loving, and nonjudgmental. Most importantly they have a huge desire to be more like Christ- and it's so great to have a small community of believers with the same goal. Then we have Paulette to lead us and teach us. She is the wisest woman I know, and I just learn so much from her. I cannot express how thankful I am for this group.

I'm sitting here preparing my talk for Monday and just reading through verses that I've read a million times, I am overwhelmed by the love of my God. Thankful for those reminders.

Last night after small group I went to the guys' soccer game. Jamie met me there and brought me clothes to change into (I was still in my interview clothes). So thankful for this sweet friend and her being willing to do that for me. Even more thankful for her being at Sharp Top with me this weekend. I wouldn't have made it without her. She was so encouraging all weekend... and just seeing her smile would remind me that I was not alone. This was a reminder of how grateful I am that we get to do ministry together at CAK- it has grown so much since this time last year. Even though our ministries look completely different, we are in it together... and that is such a blessing.

Then Jamie and I went to dinner and Chelcie joined us. Thankful that she's going through the application/interviewing process with me and thankful for her blog yesterday that reminded me that I am not even close to big enough to mess up God's plan. He has it all under control.

I'm getting ready to go to lunch with my best friend Matt. Thankful for a chance to finally get to spend time together. Especially since he's leaving me so soon. Thankful for our friendship in general that started so randomly and has grown so much just in the past few months.

Later today I get to hang out with the other wonderful person in the above picture- Nicole! Thankful for no Wednesday night classes so that I can spend these afternoons with her. And even more thankful for her friendship.

Also so thankful for all the encouragement from so many friends yesterday before my interview.

Praying this week for discernment about spring break plans. Also praying for God to speak through me to these high schoolers on Monday night.

This is supposed to be a picture of Jamie and me "studying" at Panera. Hopefully I uploaded the right one and hopefully we look decent... I can't see my screen at all so this is quite risky. Jamie convinced me to take a personal day. I had no intentions of going to my first class so I just came to Panera to read Lord, I want to know You. Jamie made a surprise visit to my house this morning while I was getting ready so I told her to join me at Panera after ice-skating. Apparently I was moving kind of slow because she got here about the same time I did.

Last night I decided to go to the library. Solely to socialize because, like I said, I have nothing school-related this week. Needless to say, I was REALLY good at distracting my friends. We laughed. A lot.

Jessie and I gave up diet coke. Not going well so far. I mean, I've been successful... but I've been miserable. Good thing Jessie's being a Natzi and checking up on me. Can't let her down. Because of the lack of diet coke in my life, I got coffee before club last night because I was really sleepy. I usually don't drink caffeine after like 3. The coffee gave me zero energy for club. I was still so sleepy. But by the time I got to the library, it was DEFINITELY kicking in. Sorry friends. I was up til about 4 this morning. Just laying in bed. I knew this would be the case, but since I wasn't going to class this morning, I figured it didn't really matter. Woke up at 9. Didn't even set my alarm because I wanted to sleep in. Still woke up at 9. I'm glad I did though. Wouldn't want to have wasted any more of the day sleeping.

This is a special shout out to Beezy-- he makes fun of Jessie and me for blogging (did you know this Jessie?), but he will soon realize how cool it is. I'm sure he reads ours daily, and he'll probably start his own soon.

I'm excited to see my small group tonight, then hopefully some friends at their soccer game, and then West Side leader meeting for camp! Ahhh. I'm so excited for this weekend!!

"I'm not gonna question why You're so faithful, why You give me the blessings that You have"

I am blessed beyond belief with the relationships that God has placed in my life. I had some awesome conversations today with sweet, sweet friends and was just reminded of how truly blessed I am by the people in my life.

Nicole and I walked for a while tonight- the weather was beautiful, and so was the conversation we had. Gah, she is so wonderful- she encourages me constantly and speaks so much truth into my life.

I also talked to my best friend from middle school, Ashley, a little bit today. We don't talk nearly enough so it was so good to hear from her, and I cannot even wait to see her get married this winter.

(unacceptable that I can't find a picture of us together... probably a good thing to save us both the embarrassment, but I don't know why I can't find those awesome pictures we took to make our best friends shirts! I'll hunt them down)

Another great conversation was one I had with Matt. It had been a while since we had really talked, and even though it was kind of a tough conversation (mainly because I've sucked at being a good friend to him lately and had to own up to that), it was so good to catch up and be real with each other.

(hahaha sorry Matt, this is the only picture I have of the two of us)

I got a super sweet note from Chelcie on my car today. She's awesome, and I already miss living with her! Thank goodness we have a class together!

Jamie took me to lunch this week AND made me muffins. She's just trying to fatten me up... So thankful that she's on my team and we get to grow in our ministry together.

My family is also simply incredible, and I have loved spending lots of time with them since I've been home from Africa. Just being in their presence is so great.

(we may seem a little dysfunctional, but personally, I think we've learned to function quite well. we love the Lord and we love each other.)

I miss my friends that I went to Africa with and the African friends I made while I was there!