Bridal Shower: Sunday, April 22, 2007

My sister and my best friend, Shere throw me a Bridal Shower at my parent's house last Sunday. It was some good times. I'm not used to being the center of attention. It was fun to see a bunch of my friends hanging out together. Shere brought her girls and so did Carole, so Kariana got to make some new friends. We had a cookout lunch with some hamburgers and hotdogs and such. Shere and Erin had everybody play some games then I opened presents. My sister thought it would be fun if I wore a string on head as a tiara. My Grandma made us a handmade blanket. The blanket is really soft. It was a beautiful day to be outside. I went on a short walk around the block with Kariana after most of the guests had left. I hope my wedding day is as nice as it was Sunday.
Here are some fun pictures. It was a good time.

Bridal Shower

Oasis Throughout the Years

Oasis: Kickoff 99	2000 - 2001 School Year	2001 - 2002 School Year
2002 - 2003 School Year	2003 - 2004 School Year	2004 - 2005 School Year

My Hero and Mentor: Judy Gregory

I have been attending Granger Community Church since April 1997. I was a sophomore in high school. It was a tough year in my world. I have been a Christian my whole life but I still felt there was something missing in my life. I had no real purpose in life and felt like if I disapearred no one would really care or come looking for me. A few of my friends invited me to a concert at Lifeline (our high school ministry) and I immediately knew there was something different about the people there. There was a sense of community that I had never felt before. I was surprised at how many people I already knew that were there. That was 10 years ago. I have grown and changed alot since that first night. I can't even begin to thank everything that helped bring me to where I am today.
I want to focus my attention on just one: My mentor and hero, Judy Gregory. She reached 10 years on staff of GCC this week, with several more before that. She is the Middle School pastor at GCC. I have been doing ministry along aside her, either as a student or a leader for almost 10 years and I would not change a thing. This year marks my 7th school year as a middle school leader and I was a Lifeline student for 2 1/2. Together, we've done seven mission trips, 8 Acquire the Fires, seven 30 Hour Famines, 5 New Years Eve Bashes, and so much more, either as a student or a leader.

Her love and committment to her students inspire me to a better leader. She is the ultimate encourager. Whenever I am feeling down and feel like I'm not really making a difference with my students, I can count on her to encourage me. Ministry is who she is. I can't imagine anyone else doing her job. She builds her life into her leaders, training them to be everything God wants them to be. She searches and finds the talent in you that you didnt know you had. I am a better leader today because of her leadership. I feel honored that she is going marry me and my fiance in two weeks. I look forward to 10 more years of ministry, even if I have to do them from afar.

Helping Middle School Students Take Their Next Step Towards Christ...Together!

Wednesday!

I was sick this week from Sunday to Thursday morning. I dont think the stress of having to drive in tons of snow Wednesday helped much. I'm so glad that is gone. I have been trying to catch up on my sleep and get less stressed. Nurse Wendy told me I'm not allowed to be sick at my wedding. She is so awesome. I am so glad she is my co-leader this year.

This Wednesday was Steve's birthday but we celebrated it on Tuesday because I have Oasis on Wednesday. I felt horrible all day at work on Wednesday so I decided that I wouldnt make it through Oasis. I believe this is the first Oasis I have missed during the school year since I began doing Oasis in the fall of 2000. I haven't seen my girls in 2 weeks since last week was Spring break. I miss them tons. I hope they had a great night.

Here are this weeks questions:
1. What are some words that you would use to describe Jesus?
How is He like you and not like you?

2. Have a student look up and read Galatians 5:22-23:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Did you use any of the words in this passage to described yourself?
Did you use any of these words to describe Jesus?

3. If you had to pick the one you're the strongest in of the nine (love, joy, peace.), which would you choose? If you had to pick the one you're weakest at out of the nine, which one would it be? Why?

4. These are words that will describe us as we become more and more like Christ. But, let's just say that they don't very well right now. What could someone do to get better in one or all of these areas?

5. Have a student look up and read Romans 12:2:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

One way we can get better is by renewing our minds. What do you think that means and how would you do that? What do you see in this world that Paul is warning us not to do or be like?

6. What is one thing mentioned that you could do to renew your mind that you could practice at school tomorrow?

How do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years? I know that seems like a really long time from now but you are starting your foundation now. Things you are doing now can and will effect your life in the future, either for the good or not. You have a choice to decide today what you stand for. What will define your life?

Easter 2007

I'm dreaming of a White Easter....Huh?...What? Don't you mean White Christmas? No, I case you didnt know it actually snowed here on Easter. I was talking to my best friend's dad last night and he said it snowed there on Easter too. He lives in Dallas, TX. He said it got down to 32 degreess last week. That is just crazy to me. Hopefully, it will warm up soon.

I spent Easter relaxing around Mishawaka. Steve and I went to Granger for church. I have been goin gto Granger CC for almost a decade and this was my first Easter service. Usually, I go out of town for Easter. It was an interesting experience. Third service was really packed.

After church, we took a nap because I wasn't feeling good and was tired. Steve worked on his budget while I napped and he cleaned my apartment a little. We are still working on making my apartment look nice since my sister moved out. We are starting to combine all of our stuff. He moved most of his kitchen stuff into my apartment. We put the stuff we think we are going use in the cabinet and packed the othe stuff away. You don't realize how much stuff you have until you have to pack it. Between the two of us, we have alot of stuff. We are planning to have a garage sale this summer after we get married so we can downsize a little in the kitchen area.

How much are you worth?

Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.
(Matthew 10:29-31)

How many times are we 'down in the dumps' and feeling pretty worthless because of circumstances beyond our control? Life can sometimes be unbeatable, but other times it gives us a 'beatdown'. Perhaps this week you know exactly what I mean. Good thing our worth isn't based on our circumstances or behavior, if it were I would have zero hope.

Check out this story and see if speaks to your heart.

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty.

"Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him. Psalm 17:8 states that God will keep us 'as the apple of His eye.'"

The worth of our lives come not in what we do or who we are, but by WHOSE WE ARE!
(courtesy: Mikey's Funnies)

Questions:

• Who or what determines how good you feel about yourself?


• Have you 'checked in' with God lately with your issues and problems? Why or why not?


• What is one way you could show your thankfulness to God for His love this week?

Moving Day For My Sister!

Yesterday was a busy day. I spent most of it cleaning. I was waiting for Steve to come over after he finished working on his car. He is still trying to fix it. Church was great. Rob always has a way to say exactly what you need being hearing right then. I started my cleaning yesterday in the kitchen. I started some dishes then detailed cleaned the fridge. I took out all the food and cleaned all the shelves with bleach to make them really shiny. Then I put all the food back in.

My sister moved out of my apartment yesterday. She is moving out a month earlier than we had planned so it is going to put an extra strain on my budget. That's ok, though, I guess. I will work something out. We had fun moving all of her stuff out and back to my parents house. She is moving back there until she can find somewhere else to live and a roommate to live with.

Afterwards, Steve and I went back to my apartment and cleaned a little. I washed all the rest of the dishes that were in the sink, had maintenance fix the dishwasher, and moved some furniture around. Steve moved the futon that was in the living room to the 'spare bed room', formally known as Erin's room. He moved the TV in there too, so now we have a little TV room. Tonight, we will probably work on cleaning the living room before we watch 24. It wouldnt be Monday without 24. I still have to pack up most of my stuff. I still have time though.

We are still looking for a house to rent for after we get married. We have had a few prospects come to our attention. We just have to sit down and make a decision. It is going to be a busy month. We have most of the big details done. Now it's just getting the final details on everything done. Only 5 more weeks left! :)