Life... Lately.

I feel like life has been crazy. I'm all settled in Brighton, and it has been so nice being closer to everything I'm involved in up here.

So... above is a blog I started a few weeks ago. And I feel like life has been WAY more crazy this last weekend.
Friday at theMill, Pastor Brady Boyd spoke. He titled the message "Five Questions", and it was SO good! He said that the first four questions should be answerable in your twenties, but that the fifth question, for most people, can't be answered until your late thirties. I believe these five questions have changed my life...

1) What are my purposes(the reason(s) of my life)?
2) ... I missed this question b/c I was in the bathroom :)
3) What are my passions(what makes my heart come alive, and causes me to be at my best)?
4) What are my values(my non-negotiables)?

...

5) What is my life message(my personal thesis statement; something I could speak or write about with little preparation; something you could communicate passionately and clearly)?

I believe I aleady know the answer to number 5... and seem to be having a harder time answering the other ones. All I know, is the Lord knows my future, has a plan for me, and loves me enough to get me through it all.

Girl Scouts

Tonight as I was going through things, preparing to move, yet again, and start a new chapter in my life, I had the Girl Scouts theme song come to mind.

Make new friends, but keep the old,
Some are silver and the others gold.
The circle is round, it has no end,
That's how long I want to be your friend.

But the thing that struck me odd, was, to me, all my friends are gold. They hold some characteristic I want in my life, or they've taught me something new, or they've counted on me to be a listening ear. And hopefully not to sound too 'Outsiders'-ish, they really are all golden... and will always "stay golden" to me. No matter where I live... even if I haven't talked to some of them for a long time.

There are so many things I'm going to miss terribly when I move away from Colorado. My last year here has been something so good for me and my life, that I don't even think I can put it into words. My roommates have been there for tears and laughing... going out on the town and staying home to watch Friends. I made some good friendships with new people, and improved a friendship with a childhood friend.
"The Fam", as I usually refer to them, has been my backbone throughout my year. They've been there to support me, and lead me really. I've learned countless things from them about how to truly live a life glorifying to God. I will take the times I've spent celebrating birthday's and all the "just because" family dinners, with me for the rest of my life. And hopefully be able to be such a great example to the people I meet in my life. Thank you Rhoades', Powers', and Kelley's for letting me be a daughter, sister, cousin and friend to you :) and for taking me under your wing, Aunt Jeanie, and always thinking of me when there's leftovers!
I am also SO thankful for my part-time roommie. Remember that time you started none-date dating a guy from your work? Then you started for-real dating, and we would stay up a little later just so I could be filled in on how things were going?? And then, remember when you came home, and I got to be there for you to announce that you were engaged??? Thank you for letting me be a part of your life, yours and Jake's lives... it means so much to me.
And to all my church family- I love you and have been blessed over and over by your overwhelming kindness towards me! Thanks for looking out for me... my parents really appreciate it!
Phipps's... YOU GUYS have blessed me more than I deserve. Your servant hearts in everything you've done for me has been such a great example in my life. Thank you for Nella By, she's been a true blessing. And for letting me live with you in June... that hasn't happened yet... but I already know how much it will bless me.

All of your crowns will be beautiful... now in abundance, simply because you let me in. Cared. Loved. Thank you!

My Plea To Weather and Seasons.

Today is gross. Snow. Sleet. Snow. Sleet... ugh. Weather, Seasons, please make up your mind. Is it Spring or Winter... because I can't take this much longer. Really, I can't take it any longer. I had things I wanted to do today, guys. Why did you have to ruin those plans? I might need to have a talk with your Mother... nature. Please, please, please, let Mr. Sun come out tomorrow! I can't promise I will love you if you do let him out, but I did say please... :)

Day 10

I stink at making habits. I was so excited, I really thought I could do this. And here I am on day 10... and I've only done Rosetta Stone 3 times. Bummer. I will, however, be working on it. It's still important to me, and I know learning Spanish will help me in my future.

Lord, help me! I want to learn so You can use me even more. I know with You, I can do anything...

Cacey is doing amazing! She is going through the book of John, which is great because it has 21 chapters. She is in her room now, reading and praying. You go girl! I'm SO proud of you!! God will teach you through this time with Him. After 21 days is over, keep going! I love you!

21 Days

Cacey- a roommate of mine, and I have decided that we want to make a few changes in our lives for the better. One of those being spending good, quality time with the Lord each day. Also, we're both trying to learn Spanish, and need to spend more time on that then we currently do. So, starting today, we are making a committment with eachother to do both of these things for 21 days in a row. Hopefully to find truth in the study that shows 21 days of something consistent equals habit. Bring on the Bible and my new best friend, Rosetta, for some well spent time every day. I sure hope this works!!

Tree$

I have this entire week off from work due to Spring Break. Not really by choice, but it has been nice. Actually, with all the time I've had, I find myself wanting to start all these projects. Either around my house, around Robbin's house (lol) or this huge scrapbooking project I was supposed to already have finished. And yes, it hasn't even been started... all this to say... if money just grew on trees, I would be able to do all these projects, plus some.
I recently stated how i wished money just grew on trees on my facebook status, and these are a few responses people had for me.

Mattias(my friend from Sweden):
im not sure I do. if it did, everyone would stock up buttloads of money, which means their value would drop, and all the prices would increase. so basically the only difference it'd make is that you'd need a wheelbarrow full of money to buy a $1-double cheese burger (how I miss those!)

Holly Guaper(a friend from my DTS' wife; she's now a friend to me)
i bet those trees would be really expensive.


Rebbekka Messenger(Robbin Kelly's cool cousin)
it kinda does grow on trees....


My roommate, Samantha, also said that maybe I should just wish that money grew on one single tree that I own. I think that's the best comment so far :)

"Oh, Oslwald"

Recently in my times with the Lord I've been telling Him about my desire to represent Him in everything I do. Today's reading in 'My Utmost For His Highest" really encouraged me in that desire, and I wanted to share it with you :)

"Preach the word." 2 Tim. 4:2
We are not saved to be "channels only", but to be sons and daughters of God. We are not turned into spiritual mediums, but into spiritual messengers; the message must be part of ourselves. The Son of God was His own message, His words were spirit and life; and as His disciples our lives must be the sacrament of our message. The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart brokenby conviction of sin,and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message.
There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching. A preacher is one who has realized the call of God and is determined to use his every power to proclaim God's truth. God takes us out of our own ideas for our lives and we are "batter'd to shape and use", as the disciples were after Pentecost. Pentecost did not teach the disciples anything; it made them the incarnation of what they preached- "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me."
Let God have perfect liberty when you speak. Before God's message can liberate other souls, the liberation must be real in you. Gather your material, and set it alight when you speak.

I pray this encourages you also :)