coolin' it down...

So we've had a lot of cool weather this past week. It's crazy because the week before my lake was so warm it felt like bath water.... it was so beautiful, but this week, I don't think the water is warm enough to go into anymore.... seriously. If it's not warm at night, then the water isn't warm during the day.

but on another note, I LOVE this cool weather. People keep telling me "oh yeah, that's right you really like the cool weather" mind you not COLD weather, but cool. cold enough to wear jeans and maybe a long sleeve t-shirt, but not cold enough that you NEED a jacket.

So although I am sad to see the warm summer days full of swimming start to leave, I am not so sad about fall right around the corner!

you know what that means!!!!! apple cider, apples, brilliant colors, bonfires, aaaaannnnndd the renaissance festival!!!!!

I have been going to the renaissance festival since I was about 11 or 12, so I have gone almost 10 years straight ( although I did miss one year while I was in Thailand). I don't know what it is about the festival, but I love the atmosphere of being in a different world.... someone mentioned how raunchy it is, well I try not to go to the raunchy shows, mostly the kid-friendly stuff- which there is plenty of- and I forget that some people dressup a little raunchy, but I never really notice, I just get caught up in the atmosphere

but overall, I just enjoy the feeling of being in the middle of a book. In a land far far away.... :-)

So just looking at the cup of joe in my previous post makes me feel all warm and wonderful inside!- I really do miss parts of Thailand A LOT! ( if your wondering which parts I'm not missing, it's the heat, humidity, sweating, and mosquitoes)but it was worth it!

the fresh smell of....

COFFEE!!!!

( my coffee didn't look quite this professional, but in thailand, they usually like to make cups of coffee look like little bits of art! Amazing!)

so a lot of mornings I kind of drag my feet a little, looking at all the stuff I want to get done throughout the day. working out being first usually ( if I don't work out first thing, it probably isn't going to happen) and then time with God and then onto support phone calls and letters. So lately I feel like I have had a little more on my plate, and not as many people to call, so I haven't wanted to call anyone, but this morning I knew I needed to get a lot done today. I decided instead of spending upwards of $3 at a coffee shop, I would bit the bullet and make a cup of coffee at home and try being motivated that way. With a prayer first before starting anything, I had successfully started my day. God helped me to start out with some baby steps, and as the morning wore on, I looked back, and realized I have actually accomplished quite a bit. now, just to finish off the afternoon with one last cup of coffee, and hopefully I will be able to cross everything off my list for today!!!! YAY!!!!

tenth Ave North

So This band has been in my CD player sicne I've been back from Colorado. I can tell how much my moods have changed since I got back...
This song, Hold My Heart was my cry out to God, I felt so lost and alone for a while, but God helped draw me to him. Here's the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WifScmrU6CI

I'll post the lyrics at the end if you want to read them.

The newest song that is my #1 one is called Beloved, and it captures just how God has drawn me to him
here's the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CUGTIWCFyo

I am so thankful that we can worship God through music and he can teach us so much through it.

HOLD MY HEART
How long must I pray, must I pray to You?
How long must I wait, must I wait for You?
How long 'til I see Your face, see You shining through?
I'm on my knees, begging You to notice me.
I'm on my knees, Father will you turn to me?
[chorus]
One tear in the dropping rain,
One voice in the sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One light, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Won't You come close and hold my heart

I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye.
But if there's no other way, I'm done asking why.
Cuz I'm on my knees, begging You to turn to me
I'm on my knees, Father will you run to me?
[chorus]
So many questions without answers, Your promises remain
I can't sleep but I'll take my chances to hear You call my name
To hear You call my name

One tear in the dropping rain,
One voice in the sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One light, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Won't You come close and hold my heart.
Hold my heart, could you hold my heart? Hold my heart.

BELOVED
Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
Give me your life
Lust and the lies
The past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from me

[chorus]
You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
It binds you to me
It's a mystery

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
I'm the giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh come running home to me
yeah *now*

[chorus]
yea now now
Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers it won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And**taste new life

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
it binds you to me
You're my beloved
Forever we'll be
Our love it unites us
And it binds you to me
It's a mystery

Retreat!!!!

Last weekend, my young adults group from church went on a retreat, it was so nice and refreshing. The past couple weeks since I have been back from CO I can feel a HUGE change in my attitude. I have been trying to open myself up more for God to work in me and through me.

Ephesians 3:16-21 has been my go-to verse to help me remember the whys and hows.... why am I doing this?- For Him... How amd I ever going to accomplish this.... through Him

Ephesians 3:16-22 (New International Version)
16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God has been so good to me the past couple of weeks. I can only give Him the credit, as he desires me to. I wonder if I have been putting too much focus on what I can do, and what I've been doing. I know that when I try to do things my way, they don't work out. I've know all along, but I forget to ofter and God continues to remind me ( which I am SO thankful for!) that It's Him..... It's him alone that is going to bring my support in. I need to obey Him, not just obey though,- not as what the world thinks of obey as, but meet with him and love him and spend precious time with him, and through that, He gives me the stregth to make phone calls or write letters, or do whatever I need to do- what HE desires of me- obey with Joy that I get to serve him and others through what I am doing, and bring Joy to Him. If making phone calls brings Joy to my creator, then I will make phone calls.

Since I realized the Joy I can have in pleasing God, I have found support raising activities to be less of a burden. because it's not for me. It's ultimately for him, and He knows what's best for me, so I just need to trust him.

Concerts!!!!

So while I was in CO I had the great opportunity to see Tenth Avenue North in Concert- VERY VERY good I might add, as well as Lecrae! also a VERY good concert.

YEsterday I found out about a Newsboys, superchick and sevenglory concert here for $10!!!! now I am not a huge newsboys fan, but I really like Superchick a LOT!

so I am going shortly to the concert, and I am praying it doesn't rain.... at least not for the superchick part :-)

Hiking

So the past couple weeks I have been in Ft. Collins, Co for the bi annual CCC staff conference. I would like to share more in more posts, but this one is about the hiking trip I took with my friend Catherine. This is Catherine:

Cathrine is a friend of mine from MSU. She lived right across the hall from me, and was a light to our floor in our dorm. It was her I ran to on the first night of our fall retreat with questions like "why do you believe in God?" while crying for no understandable reason. She helped me to better understand what a relationship with Jesus could actually look like.

So while I was in Ft. Collins, I stayed a couple extra days to spend time with her and catch up. one of the days we went hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park!!! I was so excited, I have never been officially hiking in the mountains before.

They were predicting rain, and there has been known to be some hail up in the mountains, but when we started out Friday morning, it was the most beautiful morning yet! we did about a 2.5 mile hike up to Mill Lake, and it was just gorgeous. It was a great time of rest for mind and spirit. One of the rules on the hike, is we were not allowed to talk about work or anything related! by the end of the day, I was pretty beat physically, but felt so refreshed to be able to do something totally not related to working, and not have work related things on my mind.

I felt so awed by God's beauty and majesty and worshipped by enjoying these mountains he created. Here are some pics from the day:

The beginning of the trail

the trees I thought should belong in an enchanted forest

a little stream alongside the trail

a BEAUTIFUL waterfall!!!

A cool mushroom!The cool scenery

a bunny along the trail!!!A Marmot!

a little chipmunk who was begging from us when we stopped at the top and rested and ate a quick snackMe and Catherine! at the top!

Shortly after this photo, dark black clouds rolled in and we raced down the mountain and the first few drops started to fall as we finished the trail. We then went up to the highest point you can drive in the USA. and yes, it started snowing! more like sleet, but mind you this is the middle of July, I LOVED it! so much nicer than the heat in thailand!

My favorite part, if you couldn't tell was the wildlife. Right before we left we saw elk and a beautiful rainbow(actually a double rainbow but it's hard to tell from the pic) to finish off the day