Bethlehem Pastors' Conference

Yesterday began our Pastors' Conference here in Minneapolis after a dump of snow. We got more snow later that evening. It was a busy day of serving in check-in and prayer room, and then of course, I spent a lot of time hanging out with friends. It was fun, but by the end of the day, I was pretty tired. I got a ride back home with some class-mates. 

One of the things I really like about Pastors' Conference is that it gives me the opportunity to get to know other students and church people better. I think working with people helps you get a better idea of what they are actually like. I even met some of their parents, which is even better.

Yay! To another day of serving people and befriending new and old people.

Happy Tuesday!

Wassup?

Well, not much, but here are pictures instead of a bunch of tell.

Not fun, but I popped it, and it was better. 

Snacks for days

Yep

Sunny reflections

A building reflected the sun onto my face. Wowsers! It was bright. 

Dinner

Amazing food

Reading

I love the color of my eyes. Sound proud? No, I'm just thankful for the way God made me. 

They match well with this dress. 

Being Back

I meant to post this the other day, but I accidentally posted it on my other blog. Oh, well, here it is. 

Being back in Minneapolis has been a rush of events and people and many good things. But it hasn't been exempt from the not so pleasant times. Yesterday afternoon I thought I would never get through Plato's Phaedo. And, yes, there were a couple times during that very long, boring, repetitious reading that I felt like crying. But, I'm alive, I finished, and I don't think I went crazy. Thankfully, I was sort of rewarded with a visit to one of our professors' home to hang out and watch "Selma." It is a movie about Martin Luther King Jr. since yesterday was the holiday celebrating his legacy. It was a moving  and sad but also amazing portrait if the civil rights movement. I would recommend it to older folks. There is a lot of swearing and some brutal stuff so probably not appropriate for kids.

Anyway, I didn't really plan on reviewing "Selma" but I did. Honestly, though, one of my favorite parts about last night was hanging out in the kitchen before the movie started and getting to know class mates and professors better. I think the home is a great place to get to know people. There was a lot of joking and fun teasing of people that made us all laugh a lot.

It was refreshing.

So, with any time or place in life, we get the rough times and the refreshing times. God is with us no matter what, so I am very thankful for that.

 From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.

Jeremiah 30:19

Buna, Minneapolis!

Hey, so I should be studying right now, but I thought to take a few minutes out of my day to inform you that I safely made it to Minneapolis, MN. I moved back into the White House on Friday. I have one of the upstairs rooms all to myself, and I love it! Not in the basement again, but having my own room is pretty awesome.

Anyway, so here I am. I have 4 great housemates: Christina and Brei live across the hall, and Josie and Ellie live in the basement. We get along great so far. I had my first class this morning. It was good but very different than last year. Of course, I'm with a whole new group of people. But, hey, it's all good.

Hopefully I can tell you more soon.

Goodbye, North Carolina

Today is my last full day home before I ship off to the far north. I'm excited, nervous, happy, and sad, along with a bunch of other emotions.

This week, Hannah and Priscilla have been here with their husbands, Tyler and Justus respectably. Yesterday we had fun in the mountains and foothills of NC.  We first went to Pilot Mountain which is a cool knob on a mountain top. Then we went to an old farm that had an old house that was really cool. Practically my dream house.

It was super windy and cold at the top, especially on one side. 

Hannah and Tyler

Looking toward the knob. 

Viewing the knob from a lookout. 

The cliffs of the knob. 

The countryside below. 

Priscilla and Justus

Bethany

Lunch at the historic site. 

Justus in the tobacco barn. 

The tobacco barn

The cane crusher

The house. Isn't it just perfect?

The well

Kitchen

Dining room

The little girl's room was joined to the parents room.

Tyler in the parlor. 

A bedroom

Justus playing the wind pump organ. It was a beautiful instrument, especially when Justus played it because he plays really well. 

The view from the upstairs balcony.

Splender

Me playing the organ. I would love to have one of these. 

One of the cute little sheep. 

The corn crib

Goodbye, beautiful place, goodbye North Carolina. Hope to see you before too long. 

Bye, friends! 

When Love...

When Love...

When Love comes upon this place
When He wraps you in His grace
When He takes away your blame
When He glorifies His name

When Love takes you by the hand
When He washes away the sand
When He tells you of His love
When He came from above

When Love...

When Love soars into your soul
When He burns your lips with coal
When He carries you through
When He takes care of you

I hope...

I hope you'll lift your hands in praise
I hope you won't forget all your days
I hope you'll love Him back again
I hope you'll confess your sin

I hope you'll see His glory shine
I hope you'll see it in every mine
I hope you won't loose trust
I hope your faith doesn't rust

I hope...

I hope you'll love Him more
I hope He'll be your core
I hope you don't give up
I hope you'll drink each cup



When Love comes to you
I hope you'll love Him too
When Love comes again
I hope you'll be ready for Him

For the Love of Life

This is a post I started a while back but never posted, so here you go.

Another sickening feeling that your body is not cooperating, or not operating correctly. Another day of rain after a week already of the same dreary gray. Another dead relative. Another wayward child or sister or brother. Another shooting, war, church split up, arguing parents, divorced friends, cancer-ridden neighbor, broken bone... you name it: We are all struggling in some area of life.

I have for a while, in various ways, suffered. One day life seems perfect, or at least nearly perfect. The next is just a long hard drop to the very bottom.

I could, usually do, sulk about it. Whine about things going wrong again when I thought they were getting better. But, you know, God gave me life. He gave me breath, better health than many, food, family that loves me, bright skies on many days, and most of all He gave me life through His Son Jesus.

Then I think how blessed I am and how safe I am in His arms. Then I think deeper. How Jesus suffered a lot more than I do, not only in his crucifixion, but also throughout His whole life.

Yet He did not complain.

So, for the love of His life and the love of what He has done for me, I will lift my head up and rejoice in the One who made my body and my life and knows everything about me.

Praise the King!

Photos by me. 😉

The Calm

I feel a calm after that rush of updating. I can write about whatever I please now.

Have I told you? I am planning to go away again. It's adventure. It's scary. It's new and exciting, but old and overwhelming. I think I'm stress paralyzed.

The room is a mess. I'm thinking about all I have to do in the next week. Yes, a week from tomorrow-poof!-I'll be gone. It's frightening. But there's a peace in it. A gladness.

I'm going back to Minnesota to go back to Bethlehem College and Seminary. I'll be in the same White House but with new girls. I won't be in the basement anymore either. I'm a little sad about that. But, the new and unknown offers more intrigue sometimes.

So, with resolution, I grab His hand and follow. Though with caution.

"Some Trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. "

Psalm 20:7-8

Picture by someone besides myself, though I can't be sure exactly who. Justin or Brandon. 

DECEMBER!!!!!

Finally here, right!?

Ok, anyway, we are truly here, and I'm very glad to be done with this update on each month. Wow! How boring does it get? Yes, I hope you can literally hear my exasperation. But, hey, when I signed up for this, I signed up for the whole thing, so here we are. If you're still here, I thank thee gladly. I wish I could give you some kind of reward or prize or something, but alas, I am not a rich person, but if you ever come visit me, assuming you know me and where I live, I can bake you some cookies or something. Ok, whatever. Wow! It was getting dark in here, so I had to get up and turn on the light. Yes, you definitely needed that information. But seriously, that's a part of life. Turning off and on the lights so we can see. Cleaning the bathroom is also a part of life. I cleaned it today. I have cleaned it twice in one day before. Yes, I'm a nerd or a clean freak or something of that nature. 

Have I thoroughly confused you? Have I thrown you for a loop? Sorry, I'm thinking out loud. Or should I say writing out loud? Wow! I just starting actually speaking what I am writing. Bethany is probably going to get a little bit annoyed if I keep this up. Oh, no, she says that, and I quote, "Nothing bothers me." That should be a good thing to remember. Uhoh, she now says, "Well....." This is humorous. 

If you read thus far, I am proud of you. If you think I have gone crazy, you are probably right. 

The end. 

Here are pictures of December. Have I scared you away forever?

My sincere apologies. 

Yep! That's what I look like as I write this. I thought you'd want to know. Not. 

Sunny day waiting for Lydia to finish her piano lesson. 

Beautiful buck I shot. Shot with a camera, that is. 

First snow of the season. It was a LOT. 

December dandy-lion. They are my favorites, or at least among the long list of my favorite flowers. 

Pretending to be studious. 

Setting up our adorable little Christmas tree. 

Lydia turned 14. 

This was her Birthday card request. 

I got to see Jessica again. 

We probably drove her brother crazy, but that's OK. I know he loves her anyway. 

Psanky kit. Literally the best Christmas gift. 

On Christmas day we got to see the MN kids. Look at that little boy!

And the CA kids. 

The living room disaster. 

Bethany and I getting into trouble with a fire. 

This guy and a couple other of Bethany's friends from college came for a visit. I took this picture with a super nice camera. My pleasure. Anytime. 

One of the other photographers took this photo of Lyd. Ain't she a cute?

Afterwards, I was inspired to take pictures with my new camera, Baxter. He's a champ. 

Wow! We end this month, this year, with this lovely picture of these wonderful trees. 

Wow! I've had this blog for about 3 1/2 years I think. God has given me many things to say. Sometimes I'm silly (like today. Amen?), other times I'm serious. I've written poems, stories, incites, and shown you bunches of pictures. I hope to continue pointing to Jesus in all my weirdness. 

Thank you for tagging along in my life. 

Have a blessed 2019!

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