Surprise!

 Here is a quick minute catch up on my life the past few weeks:

I went home for fall break a couple weeks ago.  I'm so blessed to have the friends and family I do.  It was a crazy time and I got very little homework done, but it was definitely a blast. My favorite story from fall break, was on Thursday when a friend called me who was on her way to Georgia and asked if I could break into her house and start driving towards Cincinnati and bring her what she forgot.  So I called Tyler and we went on a road trip.  We even got to stop and see Ben at UC.  I love being spontaneous and going on unexpected adventures.  I also love having free time to watch God's plan unfold.

Last weekend I got to hang out with some of my Young Life team. Man do I love them... I am so blessed to have their love and wisdom in my life.  I also finally got to see Mark and Tony's "apartment".  Those two always make me laugh so hard and it is seriously a joy to get see them around Butler.

Last weekend was homecoming at Butler, always a good time.  Then we went over to Linda's for a bonfire and played mafia and the game of snaps. I love the Nikcevich home. It's such a welcoming place, and feels like my home away from home.  Erika and I  are in a prank war with John and Elliott. It's getting pretty intense; but super fun.  I get locked out of my room a lot.

It was Grandparent's Day Club at Young Life this week.  My night started off with a dead car, but ended  with a hilarious Goodwill trip, and getting to hangout with these awesome girls.

Speaking of my car... it has died twice this week.  Poor Stan... I could tell fixing him would involve an adventure.   On Friday Erika, Elliott, Ben and I took the car to Auto Zone for a new battery! Definitely not in my plans this week, but I feel like I know a lot more about cars!

This weekend was also the Freshman Mystery Trip.  I've realized more than ever this weekend, that I actually love surprises.  I love when things you never expect to happen, happen.  This weekend we went to young life camp.  Only for 12 hours, but we were there.  There is something about camp, the air is cleaner, and everything is just more fun.  We started with an Instagram scavenger hunt. I think we literally shut it down. SO many awesome pictures. 

The whole day was just one giant surprise.  During free time we played lots of fun camp games, did our fair share of shopping, octoball, and fooseball. For dinner we went we had BIG cookie (I mean that was dessert, but all I really remember).  A camp classic, and such a fun treat.  We had a crazy club, and went night timberkarting. And ended with a glow stick rave.

If God taught me one thing yesterday it's that He loves surprises too.  Our plan for our life is usually different than His, and when we let His will work in our lives, we will definitely be surprised by how He works. God's unceasing love never fails to surprise me.  How could a God so great, love a sinner like me?  It's truly amazing.  I am so blessed that God had such a big, beautiful, surprising plan for me this weekend.  I got to hang out with a lot of wonderful friends (new and old), in a beautiful place. 

Are we out of our minds?

"If we are 'out of our mind,' as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.  For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 2 Corinthians 5:13-14.

I think I maybe have heard and read these verses at least 10 times since Sunday.  Maybe, just maybe God is trying to teach me something.  Jeff first shared about what our lives should look like if we are out of our minds for Christ.  As we sat at church with the list of vision trips on our seats I couldn't help pray that my life could look more like 2 Corinthians 5.  Whether God takes me to Cambodia, Nicaragua, or even right down the road in Carmel that because Christ's love is drawing me in that my life would not only look different to the world, but crazy.

I love thinking about what God is doing  all around the world and how he uses people that trust Him enough to live lives that seem crazy, to bring Him all the glory.

We also talked about what it looks like to live radical lives at campaigners on Monday.  We watched this video, if you have an extra 6 minutes to spare it's worth watching until the end.  I love that the video only has kids in it. It proves that you are never too young to take a risk; to take that chance and trust God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr_MJAOyOeU&fb_source=message

I love getting to hang out with these girls so much.  They are so inspiring.  We talked all about the risks we are going to take this week and how we can trust God through it.  I can't wait to watch 1000 words or less so that I know what Gabi is talking about every week.  These girls dream so big and I love it.  Monday nights are awesome.

I failed on taking a picture of my next adventure, I'm sorry.  At Kaleidoscope we found two black kittens.  I think everyone was love struck.  The kids were fawning over them, seriously nobody could really function.  I love how one of the families took them home with them.  Crazy, but so fun.  I've been thinking about how when I first started at Kaleidoscope I was so uncomfortable.  Now, it's like my second home.  Anyah told me on Tuesday that I reminded her of her grandma.  Weird right? But then she told me I remind her of her because I"m nice, kind, and always cares about what's going on in her life.  I'm so thankful that I took the risk in getting to know everyone at the center.  They make my life richer, and full of more love.

Tuesday night. Denim Club.  I was so excited.  Tom even bought a cow liver for the event.  Many things did not work out as planned.  Our musician couldn't make it, the good ole' Legion was double booked so we had to change locations to downstairs, and last but not least a General  (or something like that) from World War II told us when we barely turned on the music we needed to keep it down.  John after dealing with a very big, angry man came to the conclusion that 50 high school kids singing at the top of their lungs was not going to be able to happen.  Okay.. what's Young Life club without screaming, singing, and just being loud? Well, let me tell you... tons of fun! We had a mute/denim  club.  We went crazy, whispering songs, snapping our fingers, and silently laughing.  When John announced what we were going to do I thought he was crazy, possibly even out of his mind.  But hey, that's what God calls us to do, isn't it? We ended the night with some yelling and craziness, but it was definitely one of my favorite club's ever.  I'm stilling singing I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons in my head.

We love denim.  Well, I just got back to Kettering and am loving it.  I can't wait to see how God continues to teach me how to me out of my mind for Him.  God is good.