It's been a while since I last posted, and as I thought about it, I realized that not only had it been a while, a lot has happened since my last post. So here's the update on what has been happening in my life since the end of April.
I worked 20+ hours a week at Panera Bread this summer. It was a little weird not being at camp this summer. The first couple of weeks of June were a little rough for me--I wasn't at camp, was seeing posts about camp from my camp friends, but knew that I was right where I needed to be for the time being. There are the customers at Panera Bread that are regulars, and now that I won't be working as many hours with school, I'm going to miss seeing them and the conversations that I got to have with them.
There was one day this summer that was a slower day at Panera. I was doing dishes, and was making a nice dent in the giant pile that I had inherited. Sure, doing the dishes wasn't the most enjoyable task, but I did enjoy the way that I was able to see (as witnessed by the pile of dishes), that I had been productive that day. There have been the busy days at Panera too. There were days when it seemed like ever making a dent in the dishes, making all the orders, making all the deliveries, and keeping my sanity seemed impossible.
Of course I wish I could have spent the summer at camp. Yet, being at Panera I made some new friends. There is something to be said about the difference between being able to eat tasty Panera Bread on occasion, and homemade food instead of the camp food this summer.
In early August my parents and I made the trip to the family reunion. Although we didn't have the greatest weather for the reunion, it was nice to get to spend time with family. On the nicest day we had while at the reunion, we have several people swim the 2.5 miles of the chain of lakes. I was not one of those swimmers, but one of the four man/woman team escort on two paddle boards and one canoe.
And now the semester is beginning. I may not be a huge fan of the stats class I have to take, but at least I won't have to take any more math after this.
Off to do a little reading for one of my classes before another!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Friday, April 28, 2017
Thoughts from the past
I opened the first Bible I was ever given for the first time in months. I've been reading the most recent addition to my collection of Bibles as of recently, so I hadn't seen my underlines, highlights, and notes to myself in my first Bible. As I flipped through the pages, trying to figure out what I wanted to read, I saw a few notes I had written myself a little over a year ago. One of those notes was:
As I saw both of these notes, I couldn't help but smile. Both of those notes to myself were written shortly after I arrived back at SpringHill last summer. I had been through a rough spring, and during those first days back at camp, I was beginning to realize that I was learning and growing and that God's plan(s) for me were better than any plan I could make.
It was during those first few days that I found myself reading Psalm 142, 143, and 146.
Since I returned home from camp in August, Matthew 6:5-15 and John 13:1-20 have been the parts of the Bible I have been stuck on. These are where Jesus teaches what is now known as the Lord's Prayer, and the washing of the feet. Thinking about it now, God might just have me stuck on those two passages now for a reason. At camp, I rarely thought about myself but about others. I was constantly thinking about the campers and their needs, and what I could do to help my co-workers. I'm still learning how to be that kind of servant, the kind of servant that Jesus was when he washed the disciple's feet, outside of camp.
And there's that line from the Lord's prayer:
There was that one week during the summer that changed my thoughts about what my future held-especially what God was asking me to do and be. It isn't my will, but God's will. I am most defiantly still a work in progress. I am still learning and growing. But being stuck on those two passages as of late is a good thing---they remind me of things that I need to remember.
"God has a plan for me!"Another was:
"Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it is no, sometimes it is later."
As I saw both of these notes, I couldn't help but smile. Both of those notes to myself were written shortly after I arrived back at SpringHill last summer. I had been through a rough spring, and during those first days back at camp, I was beginning to realize that I was learning and growing and that God's plan(s) for me were better than any plan I could make.
It was during those first few days that I found myself reading Psalm 142, 143, and 146.
"When my spirit is faint, you know my way." Psalm 142:3
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path." Psalm 143:10
"The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he cast the wicked to the ground." Psalm 146:6When I think about what happened last April and May, I can understand exactly why I was stuck in those three Psalms.
Since I returned home from camp in August, Matthew 6:5-15 and John 13:1-20 have been the parts of the Bible I have been stuck on. These are where Jesus teaches what is now known as the Lord's Prayer, and the washing of the feet. Thinking about it now, God might just have me stuck on those two passages now for a reason. At camp, I rarely thought about myself but about others. I was constantly thinking about the campers and their needs, and what I could do to help my co-workers. I'm still learning how to be that kind of servant, the kind of servant that Jesus was when he washed the disciple's feet, outside of camp.
And there's that line from the Lord's prayer:
Thy will be done
There was that one week during the summer that changed my thoughts about what my future held-especially what God was asking me to do and be. It isn't my will, but God's will. I am most defiantly still a work in progress. I am still learning and growing. But being stuck on those two passages as of late is a good thing---they remind me of things that I need to remember.
Monday, March 20, 2017
God's Got You
"I life my eyes to the mountains--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121
In recent days, I've been thinking a lot about the past year. This past year was one where I put myself out there for a job that I didn't think I would get, only to be offered the very same position. It was a year that sent me from being excited about a new possibility to a place where I had so many questions about life. Around this time last year, I was dealing with a lot of anxiety.
After being let go from that job, I ended up accepting a summer position at SpringHill Camps Michigan overnight location. I was glad to have a plan for the summer. What I didn't know at the time was that God wanted me back at SpringHill for a reason.
During my time at SpringHill in 2014, I began to understand what God's voice sounds like to me.
During my time at SpringHill in 2015, I began to trust that God had a plan for me, and that if I did what I could do within my own, very human, power, God would make amazing things happen and make sure I ended up right where He wanted me.
Looking back at it, as I drove towards camp at the beginning of last summer, I felt like I was headed home. I was so excited to be back at camp, a place where I did feel at home, and where I knew that I would learn something.
As I walked towards where check in for staff training was going to be held, I could see the day camp staff who would be heading out later that day having fun. I could also see members of the Michigan overnight locations summer leaderships staff and members of the year round staff relaxing. I continued walking, and quickly recognized a number of people that I had known the past two summers. As I got closer to them, they noticed me. Of course they made their way over to me and gave me so many hugs.
One of those first people to reach out and hug me was someone that I had reached out to one year ago today via Facebook. I still remember the two of hugging, and could feel the tears near the surface. This was a woman who had been there, who had been someone I had been able to lean on when I was struggling.
During the course of training I was wrecked. Yet I found myself learning, growing, and finding my way forward.
Did I know what this past fall would bring? No. But I knew that whatever it brought, God would be right there with me.
In the past year, I realized the job I had as a cook at an assisted living facility wasn't where God wanted me in the long term. I realized that God wanted me at that facility for a while, and that He wanted me back at SpringHill all along. I realized that the time spent with a host of two year old kids this fall was a time that God was reminding me how to be a playful adult that embraces aspects of who they were at two.
And now that I'm in school and working part time at Panera Bread?
I don't know what next year will look like, but I know that God has a plan. I know that the kid that was all excited about his soup on Monday, and who gave me a hug and high-five made me smile and brought out the kid in me. I know that my co-workers always find ways to make me smile during every shift that I work.
I also know that God's got me.
In recent days, I've been thinking a lot about the past year. This past year was one where I put myself out there for a job that I didn't think I would get, only to be offered the very same position. It was a year that sent me from being excited about a new possibility to a place where I had so many questions about life. Around this time last year, I was dealing with a lot of anxiety.
After being let go from that job, I ended up accepting a summer position at SpringHill Camps Michigan overnight location. I was glad to have a plan for the summer. What I didn't know at the time was that God wanted me back at SpringHill for a reason.
During my time at SpringHill in 2014, I began to understand what God's voice sounds like to me.
During my time at SpringHill in 2015, I began to trust that God had a plan for me, and that if I did what I could do within my own, very human, power, God would make amazing things happen and make sure I ended up right where He wanted me.
Looking back at it, as I drove towards camp at the beginning of last summer, I felt like I was headed home. I was so excited to be back at camp, a place where I did feel at home, and where I knew that I would learn something.
As I walked towards where check in for staff training was going to be held, I could see the day camp staff who would be heading out later that day having fun. I could also see members of the Michigan overnight locations summer leaderships staff and members of the year round staff relaxing. I continued walking, and quickly recognized a number of people that I had known the past two summers. As I got closer to them, they noticed me. Of course they made their way over to me and gave me so many hugs.
One of those first people to reach out and hug me was someone that I had reached out to one year ago today via Facebook. I still remember the two of hugging, and could feel the tears near the surface. This was a woman who had been there, who had been someone I had been able to lean on when I was struggling.
During the course of training I was wrecked. Yet I found myself learning, growing, and finding my way forward.
Did I know what this past fall would bring? No. But I knew that whatever it brought, God would be right there with me.
In the past year, I realized the job I had as a cook at an assisted living facility wasn't where God wanted me in the long term. I realized that God wanted me at that facility for a while, and that He wanted me back at SpringHill all along. I realized that the time spent with a host of two year old kids this fall was a time that God was reminding me how to be a playful adult that embraces aspects of who they were at two.
And now that I'm in school and working part time at Panera Bread?
I don't know what next year will look like, but I know that God has a plan. I know that the kid that was all excited about his soup on Monday, and who gave me a hug and high-five made me smile and brought out the kid in me. I know that my co-workers always find ways to make me smile during every shift that I work.
I also know that God's got me.
Monday, January 9, 2017
From August until now
Since August a lot has happened.
In August I came home to a whole host of new experiences. I actually had to give a child a quick bath in a sink at one point after they had incident of "exploding poop". I started singing in the choir at church, and have love every minute of it. There was a moment where a two-year-old I was taking care of was laying on their cot trying to fall asleep, and she reached up towards the ceiling, and whispered "I'm reaching up to God" to me. There were days where, the two-year-olds I worked with would come rushing over to me when I arrived at work to hug me and say hello. I've been through countless interviews since August, and have experienced some highs and lows.
November was a rough month for me. The election happened, and Trump won, which was not what I had hoped would happen. In late November friend of mine from high school killed her own father, then herself. Two days later, a camper I had worked with at SpringHill Camps ended her own life. I was glad when November was over.
Looking back at September and October, things were going well, and as planned. November was rough, and December was hit and miss for good and bad things.
Looking back at June through August, there was a lot going on with camp and with the understanding that was coming from a lot of conversations with friends and with God, which lead me to apply to Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), and get in.
That brings me to today. Today is my first day of classes at SVSU, and I am so PUMPED! It's hard to believe that five months after first beginning to understand where God wanted me to head in the long run, I am finally beginning that journey.
In August I came home to a whole host of new experiences. I actually had to give a child a quick bath in a sink at one point after they had incident of "exploding poop". I started singing in the choir at church, and have love every minute of it. There was a moment where a two-year-old I was taking care of was laying on their cot trying to fall asleep, and she reached up towards the ceiling, and whispered "I'm reaching up to God" to me. There were days where, the two-year-olds I worked with would come rushing over to me when I arrived at work to hug me and say hello. I've been through countless interviews since August, and have experienced some highs and lows.
November was a rough month for me. The election happened, and Trump won, which was not what I had hoped would happen. In late November friend of mine from high school killed her own father, then herself. Two days later, a camper I had worked with at SpringHill Camps ended her own life. I was glad when November was over.
Looking back at September and October, things were going well, and as planned. November was rough, and December was hit and miss for good and bad things.
Looking back at June through August, there was a lot going on with camp and with the understanding that was coming from a lot of conversations with friends and with God, which lead me to apply to Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), and get in.
That brings me to today. Today is my first day of classes at SVSU, and I am so PUMPED! It's hard to believe that five months after first beginning to understand where God wanted me to head in the long run, I am finally beginning that journey.
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