We are Free to Struggle

I'm back at BU! I really didn't think I would blog about my time here, but yesterday was totally "Is this real life?" day.  It has definitely been great being back at Butler, I have loved seeing my friends and just being with them.  My suite mates are so awesome.  Erika, Emma, and Kara never cease to make me laugh and are just beautiful people.

 I have only been here four days and it already feels like home again.  Classes have started up and I'm sure they will be crazy, but for now they're manageable.  Home is more missed than I thought it would be. Sometimes I wish everything was just like last year, but I know this year will bring more challenges, adventures and fun.  Reuniting with my friends is the best though.  I missed them all a lot more than I knew.

I love the warm embraces, the new traditions, and how I never have to try around these friends, it just comes so natural.  I also made it up to Carmel yesterday for some huddles with some awesome girls.  I can't wait to see how God moves there this year. 

Last night was SO crazy though.  Two days ago I randomly saw on facebook that Tenth Avenue North was playing a free concert in Indy.  So I thought, "Hey! Let's go!", so we got a group together and decided to head off.  Not really knowing any details, I was kind of nervous it was going to be a bust.  As we proceeded to leave 40 minutes late and get stuck in traffic for a half hour, I thought for sure this was not going to work out.  Well, God proved me wrong once again.  We walked into the bookstore about 5 minutes before the band started to play, and after the first song everyone sat down so we had a great view. I've always loved  Tenth Avenue North and I knew it would be great, but I think the impromptuness and simplicity of this concert made me love it even more.  

Afterwards I think we were all pleased with our adventure.  Libby and I decided to buy their new CD, and we got tickets to meet the band.  Our ticket stub said number 287 though, and it was already  7:00 and we hadn't eaten.  We almost left numerous times because we were STARVING.  The consesus it would be worth it to stay, so we did.  We found entertainment in the bookstore, and even pondered the idea of waiting to be the last in line so we could get a picture.

                            

So, we weren't last, we didn't get a picture, but it was truly an awesome night.  As most of us started walking to the car, Libby runs out screaming that they were going to come to dinner with us.  I could tell she wasn't kidding.  So...we waited for them to finish.  The band continued to talk with us, and Christ was literally just spilling out with their every word.  When we thought it was finally time for dinner, we all came to find out someone broke into their van, stealing laptops and ipads. We felt awful, but there was really nothing we could do.  We said goodbye, so thankful for our awesome night and FINALLY got some food.  Ten minutes later Mike walked in.  We pulled up a table and he sat with us along with Jason, and many others from their management team.  As I listened to them talk, I could not help but smile.  I learned so much last night, and was in such awe of their wisdom and extravagant love, that I was in tears.  

What an amazing night.  God is good. God has a plan.  It is hard to sum up what I learned last night, but I do know that God was present and has His hand over my life and I need to let go of the parts I still try to control.  Because it's okay to struggle, in fact struggling shapes us for the better and teaches us to rely on God and fellowship rather than our narcissistic selves.  I can't wait for September 29th when they come back to Indy.

 

I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes

I really do hate goodbyes. One of my favorite things is being with friends, and one of my least favorite things is leaving them.  But you know, that's real life.  This week has definitely been full of goodbyes, a sign of the end of the summer, but the adventures have been far from over.

After coming home from our great weekend at the lake we all had some problems with our stomachs, but overcoming that hurdle, hung out almost every night this week.  One of my favorite nights was the pool party at Can's.  We found a dead bird and froze our butts off, but had a blast.  Spencer even got his license!  I am so proud of him!

I also got to see Amy this week.  We went antiquing! I love her so much, and we had a blast on our adventure.  We almost ate some spirits and saw plenty of creepy dolls.  I am so thankful for her and am so glad I got to see her before heading back to the But.

                                  

I was also lucky enough to see Mere and Han before they left for OSU.  They are so real, and are always so much fun to hang out with and hear their opinions on life.  I can't wait to visit them already!

Friday night I also got to hang out with some pretty awesome seniors.  These girls are hilarious.  Just listening them talk about school... I was rolling.  I can't wait to see where life takes these amazing girls.  We had fun taking pictures... they aren't very good convicts (pretend like you can't tell it's a fridge).

My last day at work was this week as well.  I seriously love my co-workers.  I was successful in getting Stephen to make his first Rita's run, he definitely liked it more than he thought he would.  I knew Rita's wouldn't let me down. I also got to shadow Amanda.  I have been so thankful for her this summer.  She is always reminding that this truly is real life, which I definitely need at the Rec.  These people I spend my summer's with are truly amazing.  

Right before Can left we went to Bill's and Alex guided us to a sunflower field. Not gonna lie, it was crazy cool.  Drew got to come too, which is always an experience. We of course ran through some sprinkler's as well.  I think it is so cool that before sunflowers bloom they have a spiky exterior (not so beautiful), which doesn't disappear after they become these beautiful flowers. It just remains behind the flowers.  Isn't that true for our lives? Our past adventures and relationships never leave us, but only go behind us. Supporting us on our journey as we bloom.

I loved getting to see many other friends this week as well. I have been so blessed this summer, to be surrounded by awesome people, and learning more about this God who created us to live a full life. And don't worry, I did start packing for school. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for me at Butler this year.  I have missed those friends dearly, and can't wait for the adventures we will have.  I don't know if I will keep blogging or not, only time will tell.  But I  do know that the things I have learned this summer will support me as I continue to grow, just like the sunflower's.  Because of this summer I will be living a life that's real, that's vulnerable, and that's full of love and adventures.

Team: Team

The past three days I have been out of touch with the real world, no cell service or wi-fi in Celina, OH with eight of my best friends.  I have been looking forward to this vacation all summer and it definitely lived up to my expectations. These friends always teach me a lot about myself and life.

Our trip definitely got off to a slow start.  Michael woke up late, we couldn't figure out how to put air in the tires, and 10 minutes into the drive we found ourselves in a traffic jam.  It didn't matter though, we had all the time in the world.  No plans. All we needed was to be together.

This was the best of  many car pictures... Ryan has not yet mastered this skill

We quickly took over the lake house, ready to start our adventures.  The boys set out to get the fishing supplies and ran into a little friend.  A baby owl named Earl, I was  concerned it was injured and Michael was convinced he brain dead but he turned out to be okay.   I didn't mention anything, but I was a little concerned because in more than one book that I've read owl's have symbolized death. Well luckily none of us died, and I'm not sure it symbolized anything except a play toy for the boys for a few hours.

                         

We then headed out to get some lunch,  CBY (Celina's Best Yogurt), and food for the next few days.  This is when I realized my friends appreciate the pictures I take, they don't usually like to cooperate in posing for them. They can smile, I promise, but just are choosing not to in most of these pictures.  The yogurt was great, but unfortunately we discovered that Ryan's rubix cube was not indestructible.  Shopping was an interesting experience, we divided up into three groups and each group would make a meal.  Surprisingly all the food was delicious, although I was concerned for a little bit.  Ben, Clayton, and Tyler made my favorite meal that night, barbecue chicken pizza! 

That night Ry, Can, Al and I took out the paddle boat which as you will see added some excitement to the trip.  Alex almost dumped Can and I in the lake.. we weren't too happy.  Then we watched the lightening storm.  We had some interesting weather while we were there, but that lightening storm over the lake was incredible.  God's beauty that can be found in nature never ceases to surprise me.

Saturday was also a great day.  The highlight being Hannah, Michael, and I flipping the paddle boat in the middle of the contaminated lake.  So funny...kind of.  We also tie-dyed, went to the lighthouse and nature preserve that I've been dying to go to, and went out to dinner.  Lucky for us it was trivia night.  We were probably the youngest team by about 40 years, but we did indeed get 2nd place receiving a coupon for a free pizza.  I was pretty impressed by our knowledge. My friends and I might not agree on a lot of things; like movies, games, nature, crafts, or pretty much anything, but we do have fun.  I'm so thankful that my friends love each other so much, they're willing to do things to make other people happy even if they don't want to, and yet are still so comfortable to share their opinions even it's not what everyone wants to hear.  

     

Sunday we did some fishing, attempted to play games, and went out on the dang paddle boat again.  The boat went down at the dock, Hannah got out safely, Can and Alex got drenched, and I was soaked from the waist down (R.I.P. Alex's TOMS).   Oh goodness that paddle boat... it brought many laughs.  We also tried to take a group picture, a mighty task that turned out kind of well.

I am so thankful and blessed to have these friends. Now we are all preparing to go our separate ways, which makes me sadt, but I'm thankful to know that whenever I come home I will have awesome friends to come back to.  This weekend I thought to myself often.. "Is this real life?", and I know that it was. We lived our lives together, loving each other, going on new adventures.  God is good.

They Come and They Go

Sometimes you're coming, other times you're going.  It seem like that has been a theme of the week.  It seems so hard to say goodbye, but is so effortless to welcome friends home.

Ryan is home from Africa! I've been praying for him a lot and am so happy he is home.  I have learned so much from him already. God just shines right through him when he talks. I can't wait to have more conversations with him about Africa. Alex, Can, Ry and I caught up outside Bdubs on Thursday.  Not the most adventurous place, but definitely an adventure.  Between our cigarette war and photo shoot we definitely had a blast. I love these beautiful friends.

This week we have also had some great friends come and visit us from Virginia and Oklahoma.  We spent all day Friday at a Greenville pond.  These kids are crazy and so much fun.  Even though they had to come and go in one week, I am so thankful to get to see them.  It is really cool to see how close all the kids are.  They are making life long friends all because their mother's love to scrapbook.  This week we went to Kings Island, Young's Dairy, and the water park.  All of their mother's are amazing.  They are full of adventure and say YES to their kids whimsical ideas.  Saying goodbye to all of them was really hard knowing that it will be a whole year before we are reunited.

         

The first of the school goodbyes were this weekend.  I'm not sure if I'm ready for everyone to leave yet, but that doesn't stop them from leaving.  Laura left for college this morning.  She is always so adventurous and full of love. I miss her already. And Luke announced that today was his last day at work, which almost too much for me to handle.  He always is a hoot and knows how to make me smile at work.














  








Today I also got married. Well, fake married but kind of for real.  It has been a joke on the Crestwood swim team the whole summer. Coach Derek and I have been telling the kids that we are engaged, and they actually believed us. So to appease them we let them be a part of the wedding.  I was a little nervous about how it would all play out, but we exchange ring pops and seriously had a blast.  Michael may have objected... so I am not exactly sure who I even married, but the kids didn't seemed phased.  We also celebrated Coach Jordan's going away party.  She is going to intern at Disney this semester.  I am so excited for her! I am so thankful that we got to spend so much time with her this summer.  What a fun and unusual afternoon.

Today I also got to hang out and catch up with Amanda. She has been in Scotland and Whales for the past month.  I truly have missed her and loved getting to hear all about her experience.  She is an awesome friend.  A couple weeks ago I went to breakfast with Alyssa.  She leaves for work crew at Rockbridge tomorrow morning.  I will be praying for her all month and am so excited for her.  I know God will work through her like crazy.






















It has been a week of comings and goings and I know it will only continue as we get closer to school  starting.  It is really hard for me to see amazing friends leave, but when they come with stories of their amazing world adventures I can't help but smile.  God works that way, he takes us on world wind adventures and teaches us lessons, then brings us back to live a little bit more like Him, with His heart, in our everyday lives.  I am so thankful for so many wonderful friends that go on adventures with me, and are willing to follow God's will around the globe and then come back share their experiences.