church is more than..

church. 


church should be something more than a building or a gathering. it should be a place you feel at home, a place you can't wait to go back to, a place where people know you and look forward to seeing you...

with that definition of a church, i struggle. i know, i so desperately need a Muncie church. nothing will replace Northview, my friends or family there but i can't sit in the present and wish for the past, or even for time travel..

question: why do church websites not declare the demonination?
frustration: i don't want to waste my morning somewhere i could have known i would not like.

is it wrong of me, to want a church where Jesus loves me in my tshirt? a place where i can worship and study AND find a new community? get involved and not just be a church goer? i dont think so, but finding that balance will be a hard thing to figure out.

i think i have decided, over the next month, that's 5 sundays, i will be trying out various churches in Muncie, to see where God wants me. the only thing i ask, is that you partner with me in prayer. finding a church home in the place I spend 8 months of the year is no joke.

this is both a blessing and a curse. as much as i love Northview, i cannot not go to church here. a key element of church is community and i cannot have community in my dorm room alone.. im so blessed in knowing that i need this rather than settling for "online" church.. i.. i just want to feel welcomed and surrounded by people who truly love Jesus who can help me love more.

:) have a terrific day

week one.

wow, this week has come and gone and also blended with band camp. honestly, i don't think i will know what day it is until well.. tuesday? i'm not really sure.

adventures of the week:
monday
     first day of classes
     3rd night of consecutive work

tuesday
     slept till noon..

wednesday
     realized how hard my semster will be
     realized that i may actually never have a job, just freelancing.. how comforting.
     threw my MuHis book across my room but made sure it landed flat. 

thursday
     mocktails & homework (what will become a weekly tradition)
     slept until noon.

friday
     roomie breakfast
     blew up on the practice field
     work till 4a


a few comments from the week:
    oh the innocence of freshman, willing to talk to anyone about anything..
    i think i need a tutor in MuHis.. thats lame.
    lipton raspberry iced tea = new fav. bottled tea
    i have in fact discovered how to nap and not wake up grumpy its GLORIOUS

wanna pray for me?
    in leading my roomies in a book/bible study, what book, what book of bible?
    with major related courses, 52% of my schedule, 12 of class a week and 40+ expected outside of class
    MuHis.. of geezzz....  yeah..
    1st sunday back at MAC, getting more involved?
    week 2 to go as well as this week, figure out homework schedule - spending more time in Club Bracken
    Ichthus Music Festival - financial issues, may not have another event. =(
    Ball State University - God to be alive and present on this campus, true gospel shared and spoken.

things ive learned this week
     no where on campus has good drinking water this year
     Muncie is hotter than I remember in August
     this semester is gonna be crazy..
     Watching LA Ink makes me want a tattoo
   
Our God is sooooooooooooooooooooo good. His words are true, always. Sovereign, loving, forgiving, always with arms wide open. We are not alone, He is here with us.

early to bed, early to rise then back to sleep

staying up late/waking up early for work really sucks. it's a job and it will give me what i need, but geeeezzzzz... I am not discovering there really are times between 2am and 6am. since I'm on the topic of my job, honestly, why do I have my job. I sit here and make sure people live in this building.. thier cards can do that for them anyway. the cards are coded only to let you enter into your hall.. my job is sometimes irrelevant.


tcom.
oh gosh.. 9 cr hrs of my semster are major related.. and now im second if i really want audio or if i want video..

icom
well.. it seems to be an interesting class, not quite what i signed up for but i am looking forward to it

muhis
the book has been thrown twice. i wonder what the count will be by december. also, it was suggested that i get a tutor, i really just dont get it..

color guard/ band
sunburn.

i am busy, yes. but also, i have 5 hours every night that is waiting to be filled.. i wonder what kind of adventures I will go on this year..


a few things to keep in prayer please,
finishing my 28 hours work week
reading & comprehending MuHis and my Aesthetics course material
lower back pain, hasnt really gotten better since band camp, looking forward to the weekend to relax
homework, i have not missed it.

thanks :)

the day that shall not be named

yes.. i would rather not speak of it but i will outline it for you.. and thank you for letting me vent. :)


7am wake up

7:20 leave

7:30 bfast

7:45 in 1st class

8am-noon in same room for class, yes.. the same room.. with 70 other people in uncomfortable chairs.. for 4 hours. also, this is where i found out i needed an aditional $200-$400 worth of material by next monday... gotta love college

12:30 lunch

1pm MuHis 100

2pm chill in room for 40 mintues

2:50pm leave for band

3pm - 5pm band

5pm dinner

7pm laundry

11:50 work

now...


all of that was running off of 3 and 1/2 hours of sleep, a cup of Namberrie, a venti black tea 1/2 classic 1/2 raspberry and currently enjoying a livewire mt dew

in 30 mintues I get off and will, i repeat WILL be sleeping until noon.. 
my first class is at 2pm and that will be plenty of time.

much has been accomplished tonight at work, such as finding the $200-$400 worth of materials like gaff tape, gloves, hard drives and adapters for class that i need. my downfall? i didn't have my wallet with me.. so i cannot order them until tomorrow.

once again, thank you for allowing me to vent and not explode upon anyone.

thank you for caring enough to keep up with me. :) you're awesome... really.

<3

year two. in less than 8 hours I will be sitting in my first class of my sophomore year. I start my major and minor this semester. And before classes have even begun I have been assigned 5 chapters to read before 8/31.. oh geez..

there are several things on my mind tonight.. not quite a racing mind but rather floating thoughts gently passing through..

after reflecting on the week of band camp, i have several thoughts.
       wow do i feel like im getting old
       i no longer match any of my make up.. i am at least 5 shades darker
       it is totally worth it to spend 18 hours a day for 7 days in a row for a 5 minute show.. totally.
       good friendships will be made and there is good craic to be had.
       i will NOT miss LaFollette Buffet
       some people just can't do color guard
       sometimes i care too much..

band camp was great times.. i could live without the pain or uneven tan but thats all part of it isnt it? im not sure band camp would be the same without it..

as i write out my schedule for the next week it looks monotonous and like i will be a zombie.. i take refuge in knowing that the last week of august not only do i get to sleep in on saturday and sunday, i only work wednesday of that week and my 28 hours will be completed by then.

some of the best things i am enjoying of my job are talking to the people.. drunk or sober, as well as having time to mentally chill.

to do for the week & things you can pray for:
        reading for 331
        playlist for work - that just one song may stick with someone and make a difference
        rest
        aching body to stop aching
        classes start, not to be overwhelmed
        working the rest of my shifts.. mon 11:50-3:20, wed 3:20-7, fri & sat 11:50-3:50
        church home - where is right in Muncie for me?

thank you so much, you are awesome

in the words of the Golden Girls, thank you for being a friend.

<3

       

codes, coffee, and swiping

yup.. i get to swipe.

here's a few things that come to mind when i think of my job...
         Swiper no swiping!
         All I do is swipe swipe swipe no matter what!
         singing along to WLBC
         sacrificing precious hours of sleep
         accomplishing great tasks

but really, with 28 extra hours on my hands (hours that should be spent sleeping) I will be blogging, organizing binders for class, doing homework, reading, outlining syllabi, on Facebook, drinking tea or coffee and various other tasks.

tonight is night one.

weekdays shifts are 11:50p-3:20a or 3:20a-7a
weekends shifts are 11:50p-3:50a or 3:50a to 8a

there will be more to follow... stay posted.
<3

of LaFollette

I hope your days is well.. here are just a few wonderful reasons why I am so thankful I no longer live in LaFollette:

-the 1-6 elevators were not working
-the service elevator got stuck
-no AC
-8th floor for band camp
- oh the restrooms.. hahahah!
- cinderblock walls

yup... and that's just been since 11:30!

Band camp will be interesting..

8.10.08

no friends, the date in the title is not a mistake.. its a glorious day that i will never ever ever forget. one of the most important days of my life.

the day that i accepted Jesus Christ into my life, into my heart and placed all my trust in Him.

looking back on how far ive come and where i am now, i realize, i would not be here if it wasn't for the people in my life that i have and all of the experiences i have gone through. three years ago today, i made the best decision of my life. i am fully confident in this. and because of that decision, i am eternally loved, forgiven, blessed and part of a family greater than any other family in the world, the family of Christ. 

as i sit here (in starbucks) i look back and wonder, sit in awestruck wonder in how He had written everything i have gone through. it was His plan for me to not know and then discover Him 16 years later. before my life even began, He knew! I can trust that my entire life is planned for me even in the most difficult times.

today, i am thankful for the Trinity. i am reminded that i am never alone. ever. the Holy Spirit lives in me. i am not afraid to declare that to anyone. i have a Father who will love me no matter what I have done or may do, a Savior who not only gave His life for me but defeated death and that same power that defeated death dwells in me.

Glory to God and trust Him in everything. 

 He is all you will ever need.

challenges

today, i was challenged to be intentional. intentional in everything i do, to the littlest detail. well.. challenge accepted. i was also challenged to update said blog on the detail of this challenge.. again, challenge accepted.

CHALLENGE:
        - be intentional
        - start small group/bible study at BSU
        - pray for 3 people until winter break
        - meet weekly and discuss week
        - go through "You Can Change"

i am greatly looking forward to this.. i am thankful for the people who gave me this idea and also excited about how this challenge will blossom.

keep looking back for updates from me at Ball State, marching band endeavors, stories of fun times as well as things i'll be going through, like rediculous projects that eat part of my soul and prayer request i may have.

thank you to everyone.. for being there. for being awesome. and helping me be who i am.  if i can ask one thing of you, it is to keep me accountable to my faith as well as this challenge.

what day is it anymore?

it is wednesday, august 3rd to be exact. if you are wondering i am no more confused on what day it is than normally but i have been going like a.. a.. well.. i dont know what. on saturday my family had a memorial service for my great grandmother in chicago. the service was lovely and from friday to sunday i had italian beef at least once a day. monday, Billy and I took the train up to chicago (this was planned long before the memorial service). our day started at 4am and ended at 2am but it was so much fun and i think it was something the both of us honestly needed as a goodbye to summer.

now, it is 9 days until i make the 2 hour trek to muncie, in for another band camp, another semester and hopefully great memories. where has the summer gone? where? here's where i think mine went:

May - work
June - Northern Ireland
           Ichthus
           work
July -  work
           Chicago (x2) 
August - work

wow.. I guess I spent a lot of time at work.. but really what doesn't show are the memories I made this summer with my church family, Margaux Glenn, old friends and making new ones. the hours i spent at church passing time or helping out. in ladoga or on the road. or even the time i spent at starbucks.

Thinking about summer coming to end is bittersweet, because now i must get back to school work as well as color guard, adventures to walmart with the roommates, and who knows what else will happen. As summer ends and school begins I will try to regularly post to keep everyone updated on life.

love!