Dear WaFaRa,

This summer will be decidedly, beautifully and remarkably splendid.

{This picture was taken after I heard the news}

It's official. I have been offered and have accepted the position of AM Kitchen Summer Intern at Washington Family Ranch.

For those of you that don't know what that means...I will be at "WaFaRa" from May 19th until September 13th, immersed in life away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday norm. My days will be filled with talking with Summer Staff and Work Crew while cooking for an incredible amount of people. Taking walks around the camp and soaking up the sun after my morning work day. Joining the family of staff that have so graciously taken time from a normal life to serve kids that need to hear the good news of the Lord!

The kitchen is a beast of its own. We start at 5:45 AM and lock up around 8:30 PM. There are 2 shifts that keep every tummy at camp, happy and full. It is absolutely amazing to be a part of a working machine! Over the years, the kitchen has been tweaked and twisted to better serve the campers, leaders and staff. I can honestly say, it is a well oiled machine.

Here is the best part...for the 6 people who read this blog, I will try my best to update as I prepare to take the most daring adventure of my life to date. While I prepare myself physically, emotionally and spiritually, I ask that you join me on my journey to Washington Family Ranch.

Pray.

That may be one of the most important things I plead in all my life, is that you join me in prayer! Pray for the camp as a whole. That things will run smoothly and flawlessly to better serve the kids and leaders while they prepare for the best week of their lives. Pray that God would reveal the kids that He has prepared to hear His message. Pray that God would put His hand of protection over the campers as they travel and while they are on the property.

Pray for me, that I would be able to transition well and be able to grow in the Lord while helping others grow. That God would humble me daily as I wake up at the crack of dawn to make meals for around 1,000 people. Pray that God would take away the desires of my heart and replace them with His desires. That He would be what people see when they look in my eyes. Pray for this precious time that I have before my summer away, that I can spend it wisely.

Thank you in advance for sharing in my excitement!

Warning: This post is completely random

2010 has been fine. Not incredible or awful or fantastic or wretched. Just fine. Nothing seems to be sticking out. Content is a word that flows from my lips lately and that is okay for now, I guess.

Sometimes I fear that admitting my being content with life will only cause a shift in balance. That saying it aloud makes it too real and somehow that confession cracks the silence of the stability of where I am in the moment. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that I am expecting any sort of life-altering, earth-splitting, rock-your-world moment to happen in the near future. But I am expecting for things to change.

As the seasons transform and years seem to fly past me, I am learning to embrace change. Sure, it’s not easy and it’s not something that I would love to happen frequently. Yet, the idea that I have lived in this little bubble has been plaguing my thoughts; that I haven’t stepped out into any sort of situation that has caused me to leave the comforts of home and the security of family behind. (sidenote: What an incredible family I have…couldn’t ask for a better one!) No, I am not going to do anything drastic like move out of the country (I tried that and it didn’t go over so well).

What can I do? I can take those little nudges that have been disregarded in the past and entertain them. Make sure I am leaving my own plans in the dust and walking the path that God has set out for me knowing full well that He has the BEST intentions. Trusting that He isn’t surprised by anything that comes my way. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. When you are tempted; He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (Thank you Mary Jensen for making me repeat that verse OVER and OVER again until it stuck!)

Lately, the Lord has been prompting me to be still. UGH. I literally despise being “still” and why would I want to sit when I could be organizing or watching “Make It or Break It?” Really? Are you sure??

Yes. God always wants us to plan time to spend with Him. That is the only way to maintain our relationship; the only way to fill up our tank. Now that life isn’t all about what I am going to wear to homecoming or what cute boy just winked at me, it has become so much more real that I need to dive into the Word with every single part of my heart, mind and soul.

{insert lame blog post title here}

Ok, nothing really exciting has happened in the 6 years since my last blog post. BUT, life is pretty awesome these days.

My best friend, Courtney and I have joined LA Fitness and are working out 6 out of 7 days. Not bad if you ask me...

Todd Beamer High School Young Life is starting this Monday and I can't wait! We have some gnarly clubs and events planned.

A coworker and I are participating in a colon cleanse. Kind of awkward to share with everyone (all 4 and 1/2 of you that actually read this thing) but so far it's not so crappy....well, you know what I mean. ;)

Work is a little busy since our part-time concierge quit, but when I choose to have a positive attitude about it, things just turn out right. (Hint: if anyone is looking for a part-time job on Sundays and Mondays on Mercer Island PLEASE let me know)

My friends are pretty incredible. We hang out WAY too much but I don't mind. Our agenda consists of:
*laughing until our abs are sore and tears are streaming down our cheeks
*watching The Office over and over and over again
*making dinner for the clan
*eating delicious food
*making fun of infomercials
*watching 10 minutes of a documentary and shutting it off because it's poorly made
*us girls cheering on the boys during Tuesday night basketball games
*having serious conversations until 2 AM
*talking about the LA Fitness Trainers. scratch that...more like making fun of them
*discussing the thought process of the writers of The Office

Last, but certainly not least...my family. Especially my parents. I think it's safe to say that I have the most incredible parents on the planet. The Lord continually reveals to me the blessing I have in having them as my parents. My dad and I are two peas in a pod, as I have shared in past blog posts. He showers me with humor and encouragement. My mom and I are SO much alike, it's almost uncanny. We can have a conversation about something totally shallow and every time, we end up talking about God. I LOVE that about her. We can laugh about something days after it happened and I can share my heart with her.

Loving life and I hope to have some awesome news soon! :)

Patience. Grace. Bah Humbug.

You know those few people that just get under your skin? When they walk in the room and immediately you just want to kick them in the shins? They haven't done anything wrong, per say, but they just rub you the wrong way.

Lately, I have been face to face with those individuals more than usual. It's like they have planted some device that tracks my whereabouts and knows my every move. They find me in the most inopportune moments. Like, when I am about to head out to lunch or right after my boss asks me to take care of a big project that needed to be done 20 minutes ago. Or when I am wanting some peace and quiet. They would never know it, as I try my hardest to not give off a negative vibe, but I would, literally, rather be anywhere else than in that very situation.

The worst part is that deep down, I want to help them figure out a solution to their problem. It just seems that there is some barrier that prevents me from letting that part through. Knowing that the "barrier" is my own sin and imperfection, I still find it hard to serve those certain folk.

Would you pray with me? That I may exude patience and grace to the people that I am deliberately choosing to deny the same things my Savior has so wonderfully blessed me with.

It's hard to admit when you are wrong. It's even harder, once you have admitted that, to then live it out in your daily life.

The Lord has done and will continue to do a good work in my heart and soul.

These will be the verses that I run to when selfishness, impatience and outright annoyance fill my heart:

*Hebrews 6:12b Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

*1 Timothy 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

*John 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

*Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Sisters.

I came across these pictures from Hawaii last year.

If you can't tell, we are so incredibly excited.



Before.


After.


I love this.

Buzz.

My dad is awesome.

There are times that we talk about gadgets and technology or have entire car rides where we listen to Earth, Wind and Fire as loud as your ears can stand. We spend countless hours watching recordings of NHRA drag races and go to the races every year. We could watch Law and Order for hours, not say a word and I still know we are bonding in the midst of it all.

He will fill my gas tank for no reason or wash my car because I mentioned that I needed to plan on washing it sometime soon. He is the one that I can count on to help me if I have a problem with my car or have some question about the law.

I can remember numerous times when he would be walking down the hall, pop his head in the door to my room and say, "Have I told you yet today that I love you?"

You call him Buzz. I call him Pops.
You think he's funny. I don't. (At least not all the time...)

All in all, my dad is one of my best friends and I just wanted to say, "Dad. I love you."

<3 your FAVORITE daughter. ;)

Hello again,

It's official. I suck at blogging. Mainly because I am not married and don't have any adorable kid stories to spill.

That being said, I am content with what I have, where I am at and am enjoying the view along the way.

What have I been doing you may ask?

Watched too many episodes of The Office
Still taking a break from white flour and sugar
Spent quality time with great friends
Read My Life Is Average and can't stop
Attended weddings like it was going out of style
Facebook stalked
Played on my iPhone
Loved on my niece and nephews
Had heart to hearts with Courtney
Caught up with long lost friends
Learned some things the hard way
Payed off debt
Accidentally flashed my best friends ENTIRE extended family
Hosted Bingo night at work
Went to Wildhorse Canyon for a week
Wanted to stay at WHC indefinitely
Spent some time in Cheney and learned first hand that there is absolutely nothing to do there
Learned that taking a bath can, in fact, be harmful to ones health
Found out that even when you feel like a gomer, Jesus loves you

The end.