Top 12 of 2018

1.) Homecoming 
     Going back to visit high school is always and entertaining and enlightening experience, but this year was made especially sweet by the time I could spend with two of my friends and how we were able to renew our relationships together.

2.) Visit to JBU 
     This visit to a potential college for my brother meant and family road trip and an opportunity to visit one of my good friends attending the university.

3.) Winter Jam and Summit
     Winter Jam was my first ever concert and I am grateful to my friends who invited me to come and made the evening a success. Also of note in the month of March, was a retreat to the Mountains with my local chapter of Christian Challenge. Although reluctant to go at first it was a refreshing getaway for me. I also began my journey in learning to swing dance!

4.) Easter Sunday
     This year I have been in the church choir, an experience I greatly enjoyed and appreciated. The Easter service at my church is a favorite and this year I got to take part in being in the choir for the event. It was also a time for meeting family and friends, as well as getting asked out for the first time!

5.) Graduations and Weddings
     May is a popular month for graduations and weddings. This year my brother graduated high school and I got to see one of my cousins get married.

6.) Summer Team
     This summer I helped out with the youth group, as a precursor to my officially joining the team in the fall. I am blessed to be with a great group of freshman girls! God used this experience to teach me about trusting Him (see my post Trust: The Word of the Year).

7.) Family Vacation to Colorado
     I have already done several posts about this, so feel free to refer to them for more details!
     Family Vacation 2018 Part 1: Colorado Springs area
     Family Vacation 2018 Part 2: South Fork

8.) Trip to Lawrence and my 21st Birthday Party
     A trip to Lawrence to see a friend's event turned into an opportunity to reconnect with one of my cousins and a friend from school/work. Also, it was my first road-trip by myself. For my 21st birthday I wanted it to be special and for it to be shared with all the important people in my life. A little ambitious, but the event went over well. We decided to tackle an Escape Room experience, something I had never done before, but was eager to try.

9.) Local Craft Fair
     This was another opportunity to see friends and look at all the amazing handmade items. I also scored a great pair of earrings!

10.) Mercy Me Concert
     This was another hi-light of my year, as well as one I actually did a blog post about.

11.) Barn Dance
     One of several Christian Challenge events I went to this year, I was able to rekindle my budding swing dance talents!

12.) Challenge Formal
     The last Challenge event for the year was a blast as always. It was made bittersweet since it will be the last one I will experience with the entirety of my small group, as my leaders will be graduating in May.

The Hidden Story Behind the Redecoration of the Living Room

     The new color of the living room walls was a bit of a controversial issue. Originally, the walls were to be repainted white. I was somewhat against this because I thought, "If we are going to all the trouble to repaint it, why paint it the same color? Why not get something new?" And so began my petition for a new paint color. I settled on a shade of green (any shade would do - just not white) as a probably candidate for succeeding my mission. At first, I mentioned the idea in jest, not believing it would actually go through. Therefore, I was surprised to come home one day to green swatches of paint on the walls. It looked like it actually might happen!

     The green color that was finally elected is similar to that of the master bathroom and a color that was used to paint some of the rooms in my paternal grandparent's house. So you could say the color is steeped in history. I think it has taken well to the space.

     Other improvements include a new fan (pictured above with the newly painted walls) that cost my father a sprained toe and new carpet for the whole house! The carpet was an even larger endeavor than painting the living room, but after living in the house for almost two decades it was a needed improvement. The whole family pitched in to sort through and pack up belongings. Although new and fresh, the color isn't much of a change this time around for we have stuck with a grey. The apple can't fall too far from the tree.

Mercy Me Concert

     This spring I went to my first concert - Winter Jam. Shortly after going I learned that one of my favorite bands, Mercy Me, was going to be coming to my home town as part of their Imagine tour. I have liked their music for a while, but since concerts were never my thing I didn't ever think about seeing them perform in person. Winter Jam broke the ice for that and I realized that I would enjoy seeing them live.

     Unfortunately I put off getting the tickets a little too long. By the time I got around to it all of the seats in the section that I wanted had been sold, except for a few spots here and there. So it was either pay extra to get seats together in the next bracket or find someone who was willing to go to the concert with me, but not sit together. Who better than family to fill that role? I convinced my father to come with me. We ended up getting seats close to each other, one directly in front of the other with just a few rows separating.

     Even with the awkward seating situation I think the concert was an experience both of us enjoyed. I wasn't completely prepared with what to expect, but the concert was similar to the one I had been to previously, if on the smaller scale. The band performed well and we got to hear some of the stories behind their songs.

Trust: The Word of the Year

     I mentioned in an earlier post that already 4 months into the year God was working on my faith and trust. More than halfway through 2018 I can say that He is still working.

     This summer I experienced some health complications. I would like to say that they were what prevented me from posting anything, but that wouldn't be quite true. They weren't terribly serious, but it was still scary as they continued on and I still wasn't feeling at my best. "Come on, I'm young!" I thought. "I'm not supposed to struggle with my health!"

     In some ways my 'disabilities' held me back. But in other ways they pushed me forward. I tried not to let how I was feeling (unless I felt really really bad) dictate what I did. I made an effort to say, unless ____ occurs, we are going to do what we can and not let it hold us back. It taught me more to focus on God and continue to trust Him daily. Because I needed Him to give me strength to get through the days. I couldn't do it by myself. I am thankful that he continued to come through. This summer I helped out with the youth group program at my church. Aside from being gone on vacation one week, there was not a week that I missed because God provided and sustained me.

     At this point I have been to the doctor's a couple times and am taking measures to fix whatever is going on. I am trusting God to heal me - through medication, the natural processes of my body, or whatever method he deems necessary. But I had to come to a difficult truth that I may have learned in my head, but am still learning in my heart; He is better.

     My home church is going through the book of Amos as a sermon series. It's got some pretty heavy stuff! The Israelites have turned away from God and He is making good on his promise to punish them for breaking the covenant. One of the things they turned to was wealth. Some had more than one house, and these houses were extravagantly decorated! In the midst of this luxury and splendor the poor were neglected and ignored. The people valued their wordly possessions as more than God.

     The truth I had to learn was that just as God is worth more than worldly goods, He is worth more than my health here on Earth. Even if He does not heal me and this is something that I continue to struggle with I know that He is Good. And he will use my struggles in amazing ways. So, it might not be fun, but it will be worth it.

Top 12 of 2017

     As a "Year in Review" I look back at the previous year and pick a hi-light from each month. Again, I realize this is a little late to be doing this, but better late than never!

1. New Year, New Things
     Among other things, I started learning how to use an expresso machine!

2. Choir Concert with Dad
     Not a whole lot happened in February, but I did go see a choir concert with my father!

3. Kansas City Trip
     For Spring Break we visited Kansas City as a family. It was a short trip, but we got to see a couple museum exhibits, including the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum!

4. The Stars Aligned
     Okay, the stars didn't really align. However, it perfectly worked out so that for one day I had absolutely no obligations - no school, no work, nothing! I don't quite remember what I got done that day, but I'm sure it was glorious!

5. Family Vacation to California
     I've already done multiple blog posts about this, so feel free to check those out for a more in-depth description.

6. Seeing Wonder Woman in Theaters
     I don't go to the movie theater often, but this time it was to celebrate one of my good friend's birthdays!

7. Serving on Summer Team/Seeing Friends
     Over the summer I helped out with the youth group at my church. That was a really great opportunity and I enjoyed getting to know the girls in my group! I also got to spend time with some friends from high school, since our schedules were less restrictive.

8. Solar Eclipse/Quilting Spree
     A new school year started, and with that I got to witness a partial solar eclipse! I also finished up a quilting spree that started in the summer.

9. Books!
     For whatever reason, I bought a lot of books this month.

10. Fall Break Fun
     During Fall Break I got to meet up with some friends in a nearby town and explore their shopping district. Plus, we bought fudge!

11. Senior Play
     My brother's senior class put on "The Wind in the Willows" for their senior play. I had mixed feelings about my own senior play, but I really enjoyed getting to see his. Part of this was because for opening night I brought a friend who had close connections to the school, but had never been there. Being with her helped me to see the whole experience in a new light.

12. Christmas Cantata
     At the start of the fall semester I joined the church choir. As a whole, this experience has been a tremendous blessing to me!

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

     This year God has been working on my faith and trust. I often struggle with anxiety about little things and how this affects my attitude going forward. If something happens that inconveniences me or proves difficult I tend to blow it up beyond what should concern me. Sometimes I try to give the situation to God and pray for peace to do what I can and allow Him to work out the rest. Other times I stew over the situation. But each time God has come through.

     For example, at the beginning of the semester I became overwhelmed by my various classes and the new responsibilities that I would need to undertake. One of the things I needed to do was get a film camera for my photography course. It was a little thing but I was stressed about it. In the end, it worked out beautifully because my dad had a camera that I could use.

     I'm sure God was shaking His head at my concerns. He might have been thinking, "Calm down. I've got this all under control. Just wait and see." Sometimes I cry out and say, "But God! There is is this one thing that is making me nervous. I don't know how it will turn out and..." And God responds, "Yes, but God. Be still and know that I am in control." This year, I am reading through the Psalms for part of my daily devotional and it has been a real encouragement to see how the psalmist cries out to God in his time of need and how he still keeps the perspective of God's power and glory.

     As other obstacles come up I can look back and see how God has been providing for me. I can trust Him. Things don't always turn out the way I think they will, but I know it is for the better and can sometimes see how it was better than what I originally wanted. So maybe worrying about a camera (or whatever else happens to be going on at the moment) is a small matter. And it is! However, I know that if I can trust God in the small things I will be able to ride out the storms of this life and rest on the firm foundation of God's grace.


     FAITH is traversing a rickety bridge; where trust must be put into the fibers and cables that they do not snap. Often, the bridge is stretched over a deep chasm and those who cross it are fearful that they would fall. The act of faith does not eradicate fear, but it behaves like a guiding hand as the person crosses the narrow planks. Faith is like a father leading his child through a dim hallway; it is not like a blind man stumbling around in the dark. In a similar way, the person crossing the bridge uses the ropes to keep his balance. The first step, from solid ground to the first board, involves a mixture of courage and faith because the person must get over their fear. After the first step is made safely and their act of faith is reassured it is easier to take another step. Real life is similar in that future acts of faith are made easier due to the fulfilled acts that came before them. In this way faith can be built. As Christians, we live our lives in faith when we look to our Heavenly Father for guidance. The way is not always clear, but we can rest in the fact that He is always with us. Sometimes faith is born of necessity, like the man trusting the bridge because he must get to the other side. However, true faith is built on a kind of knowing, that is a faith in of itself. It is trusting when no reason or argument would advise to do so. Our faith in God our Father is much stronger than our faith in the bridge to stay together. God has the power and ability to sustain us infallibly, while the bridge’s ropes will eventually fray. It is often necessary for faith to be built in times of ease, so that when the difficult trials come we will not be crushed on the rocks of despair. Solomon urges the reader to, ‘remember your Creator in the days of your youth.’ When hard times come the faith that was built during times of ease will be like a cushion that we can fall back on. That is why a house built on a solid foundation will hold in the storm and not crumble, like the one built on sand.

Snow Day!

     This winter has been a fairly dry one, but we got a sprinkling to snow at last! What is more, ice and rain came along with it, so even though the snow barely covers the ground, schools let out for a school day.

A Christmas Budgie

     Several years ago, our first parakeet, Petey, died. He was much beloved and the house missed his chirping and chatter. This Christmas talk was circulating about getting another budgie.

    The thing is, when we were kids my brother and I got a hamster for Christmas. It was a very big surprise Christmas morning when we came down to see a cage with a new pet in it. We referred to it as the Christmas hamster. Mom debated getting another Christmas hamster, but decided a budgie would be easier to care for in the long run. Besides, she could always pawn it off on my brother and I when she got tired of it.

    And so Pax the Christmas budgie came to be!

Letters of Love

     I like getting  mail. A lot. It's the best feeling when you discover an envelope in your mailbox assigned to you (discounting junk mail that is).

     When I was little I discovered a magical thing: if you write a letter to some one, then they will write back! The only problem is, people in today's world aren't as accustomed to regular correspondence as they used to be. Even when I write to someone, they don't always write back. In fact, that is often the case.

     Still, I remember the wonderful feeling I get when I receive a letter, so I try to pass it on to others, even if I don't get a response. I love getting letters, but I also love sending letters.

     If you get a letter from me this summer, I hope you appreciate it! Also, if you can, please take the time to write me back and let me know how you are doing. Let's start the train of handwritten missives once again!

Family Spring Break Outing

     Despite our increasingly busy family schedules, we were able to squirrel away some time to go on a trip as a family this Spring Break. If you are acquainted with my family at all, you will know that we do road trips. And museums. So what better thing to do over spring break than to go on a road trip and see a bunch of museums?

     By the hand of fate (also known as my mother) we elected to go to Kansas City for an overnight trip. We left the house first thing Wednesday morning, stopping by a McDonalds at the half-way point for breakfasty food items (Note: Stopping at McDonalds on the first day of the road trip is a family tradition. A road trip would not be a true road trip without McDonalds). By the time we got to KC it was almost lunch time. Our first stop of the day was the Union Station. Not only was this location a tourist attraction in its own right, but it also contained a traveling exhibit on Pompeii.

     The exhibit featured artifacts taken from the city. First, it detailed the lives and culture of the people living in the city before discussing the actual disaster. After viewing the exhibit we explored the Station, and then ate lunch in our car. Afterwards we headed to the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum.
The Nelson-Atkins was large - almost overwhelmingly so. Mom thought that it would be a good place to visit numerous times over an extended period and take in a bit at a time.

     After the art museum we arrived at our hotel around 4:30. We took half and hour to settle in before heading to an esteemed dinner location - Cracker-barrel - where we were rewarded with excellent food, excellent service, and excellent value.

     The next morning we got up and got ready at our own leisure. The hotel we were staying at did not offer a complimentary breakfast, so we brought some of our own to eat in the privacy of our room. After loading up the car and checking out of the hotel we headed to the main attraction of the morning; Harry S. Truman's Presidential Library in Independence, MO. It was valuable to learn in depth about one of our presidents and the issues of his time. Mom was impressed most by the air drops President Truman coordinated for East Berlin during the Cold War.

     By the time we had finished with the library it was time for lunch, so we ate again in the car before hitting the road. As we were leaving Independence we drove past Truman's home, a few blocks away from the Library. On the way home we stopped at a Braums to get ice cream.

     All in all, was a jam-packed two days, but a worthy occasion to get out of the house and spend time together as a family.

Top 12 of 2016

     This is something that I've been doing to look back at the year behind me and sum up what happened in a list. I've been doing it for a long time (okay, like four years at least). By going through my calendar I pick out on event from each month. When I'm done I have 12 things that I did in the past year that I enjoyed. So, without further ado, here is my list for 2016:

1. J & T's Wedding
     One of my cousins got married last year on New Years Day! It was really cool to get to see them joined in marriage and to see family members that I haven't seen in a long time.

2. FOCUS
     This was my last year of going to the FOCUS retreat with my church youth group, since I am no longer in high school. It was a weekend full of good memories, like not having adults in our cabin (even though we love our adult leaders, it's good to know that they trust us to not light the building on fire) and showing everyone our lovely acting/dancing talents at our last Talent Show.

3. Day trip with Mom and Grandma during Spring Break
     We took the day and drove to a town 45 minutes away for a relative's wedding shower. We also stopped by a nearby zoo that housed local species of animals, some of which I was not aware existed.

4. Day trip with one of my best friends/Jr.Sr. Banquet
     I dragged my friend to the same town I had visited the previous month for a 'cultural fair' of sorts. If you want more details I'll let you read about it on her blog (Lama-Leah). We would have stopped by the zoo again, but it was too cold.
     Jr. Sr. was a blast! It was really nice as a senior to not have to worry about making sure the whole thing came together. The juniors did a stupendous job! Overnight, they transformed the school gym into a high-class art gallery, complete with original paintings, a string quartet, and shrimp (for more see my post: An Artful Weekend).

5. Graduation
     I graduated high school! I mean, that's pretty cool, right?

6. BAK/Neighborhood Garage Sale
     What is the BAK you ask? Well, I am happy to tell you. At least me past self is. ;) For more check out a post I did about the BAK. As for the neighborhood garage sale, go here.

7. Czech Republic Trip
     Anyone who has read my blog should know everything (almost) there is to know about this trip. For those of you newcomers, I will suffice to say that this summer I went on a mission trip to the Czech Republic with my mother and two other couples from our church. We partnered with a local church and put on an English summer camp.
     For those of you curious to know more, check out the entire month of July 2016. ;)

8. Started College
     Pretty big landmark, if I do say so myself.

9. Mini-vacation to Silver Dollar City/Branson
     For a fairly detailed description of our excursion please see my post.

10. Pumpkin Patch Outing
     Just messing around with some friends, pretending to be kids in a pumpkin patch. Guess what! I wrote a post about it!

11. Attending Various Art Performances
     Because of scholarly requirements I went to more social events than I normally would have this semester. Included in this list are several plays, a concert, and touring a local house that was built by a famous architect. To hear about one of the plays go here,

12. CROSS conference 2016
     The post detailing my winter adventure out of state at a missions conference is the one just previous to this one, but I'll give you the link anyway (Fun in Indy - not the post title).

Dining Room Remodeling

     For the first time in my remembrance my immediate family hosted Thanksgiving at our home. This was not the first time we had hosted a large gathering of family members, however. So thankfully we knew what to do. The furniture in the living room was rearranged to fit two large folding tables. Thanksgiving was a success, but after the festivities things didn't go back to normal.

     For a long time my mother had wanted to repaint the dining room. This time she took action and chose a color. Our dining room would go from white with a yellow accent wall and popcorn ceiling to gray with a smooth ceiling. Also, the curtains would be replaced.

     Instead of moving the furniture back in the living room we moved the dining table and all of the furniture from the dining room into the living room. Tarps were put down so Dad could remove the popcorn ceiling and Mom could start painting.

All ready to go!

     A week later the room was done and the new curtains were hung up!

     Next on the decor to-do list: Put up the Christmas tree!

"I love it!" - Mom

The curtains are black, with a white sheer layer.

Why I Am Going to Vote (And You Should Too)

     Election day is fast approaching and the decision of who to vote for (or to even vote at all) is a huge predicament for our country. People who do no side directly with a specific candidate wonder, "Who do I vote for?" and "Do I even vote?" I am a staunch believer in voting. Now that I am above the age limit I consider it a privilege, right, and honor-bound duty to help decide who stands as head over the United States of America.

     As of now,  I am having difficulty choosing a candidate to vote for. Some are so torn over this conflict that they have decided not to vote at all. However, I cannot do that. Not voting means that I don't have a say in who is in charge of our nation. It implies that I don't want to vote and that I don't care what happens. But, I do care what happens! Being of the younger generation especially, I will have to deal with whatever decisions the President makes that will affect our country for years to come. So I must vote!

     However, the issue escalates; who do I vote for? I mentioned that I am having a hard time choosing which candidate (among the main two) to vote for. This problem would be solved if I sided directly with either of them or with a third part candidate, but I don't. And I can't in good conscience vote for a third part candidate, because that vote would only hinder one of the main candidates and the third party candidate would have no chance to win the office (sorry Mr. Johnson, it ain't gonna happen this year). So, I believe that I should put my vote where it will do the most damage, as it were.

     I must vote for one of the two candidates, or the other, and vote I shall! As soon as I figure out who to vote for.....

     But the presidential election is no the only election being hashed out on the ballots. Voting for the state and city government representatives and leaders is just as important. So, when November 8 finally rolls around I will be voting not just for the president, but for every position I can.

     I would also encourage you to vote. I do not care what party you are from or which candidate you are going to vote for (or the other government officials). This is our right and duty as Americans and we should honor it!

#voterpride

Operation Pumpkin Patch

     Recently I had the opportunity to go to a pumpkin patch with some of my friends. It was fall break and some of the gals who were out-of-state had come home for the weekend, so we decided to take advantage of our chance to get together.

     We decided to go to a pumpkin patch..... well, because it was fall! Also, some of us had never been to one. My personal pumpkin patch memories are scant. They weren't a huge part of my childhood, and I was okay with that. Mostly I remember picking out a pumpkin in Kindergarten and First Grade and getting lost in the corn maze in middle school. So, I was not overly excited at the prospect of exploring the pumpkin patch as a somewhat-adult.

     Despite my concerns, we had a great time! Most of the equipment had been designed for humans smaller than us, but that only aided us as we returned briefly to our childhood.  After squeezing up and down several slides (okay, one was compatible for adult-sized people) we ventured into the corn maze. I wouldn't consider it an actual maze, because there was only one entrance/exit, but it still got the job done.

Here we are, about to enter the corn maze!

     After the corn maze we discovered an attraction called, "Pumpkin Land." Think of a life-size version of the board game "Candy Land," except not as elaborate. We needed to backtrack to the concession stand for a spinner, so instead we contended ourselves with jumping from tile to tile. In the middle of "Pumpkin Land" was a small playground, with various child-sized wooden structures. We squirmed in and around them for a bit before moving on.

Why couldn't we have come here as kids?

     A couple of the attractions we were able to partake in without fear of bodily harm (to us or the equipment) were a giant tire swing that could fit all three of us and a giant jumping pillow. The pillow was like a big inflated trampoline and after a full afternoon of running around corn mazes it felt like the perfect place to take a nap. 

     Unfortunately, time continued to move on. We knew we would have to return to being responsible adults sooner or later. Even though it was only for a couple hours, it was nice to be a child again. I really enjoyed going to the pumpkin patch and getting an afternoon off to spend in the company of friends.

     

'Tis the Season for Fall!

     Fall is here! While not all of the leaves have started turning colors, the weather has definitely been getting crisper. To help mark the approaching holiday season my mother dug up our two strands of orange Christmas lights. Only half of one strand lights up, but the other strand makes up for it by being made in the good old days to last forever (thank goodness for thrift shops!). I helped out by twining the lights around our stair bannister, giving the entryway a festive look. We hope to have the lights up until they are replaced by a multi-colored strand at Christmas.

     Another sign of the arrival of fall is the approach of Halloween (this event has been long in coming - I work at a craft store and we had our Halloween stuff up in August).  Our family is not super big into Halloween, but this year I will be wearing a costume! This was prompted by one of my college professors, who promised us extra credit if we came to class with a costume on Halloween. I'm a sucker for extra credit, so I couldn't resist. Plus, it gave me an excuse to fire up my creative spirit!

     After much deliberation I decided to tackle two costumes. This year I will be dressing up as a butterfly and a minion (from Despicable Me). The butterfly will be the main costume, with the minion set on the back burner (it won't be completely useless; I can wear both costumes to work).

     Stay tuned for pictures of the process and final product!

Festivities

      I survived my first week of college! I feel so accomplished! Some of my worries have been refuted, which is nice, but I have the feeling that the worst is yet to come. So we shall see.

     Having recently completed another year of my life I feel obligated to relate to you some of the activities we did to celebrate. Unfortunately, I had to work on my birthday. So, instead of having the traditional birthday dinner we went out for lunch to a local diner that has been in the area since the 80's. After lunch was cake and presents, and then I relaxed before leaving for work.

     Another fun thing I did to celebrate was to have a couple friends over for a miniature party last night. Obviously, I wasn't able to celebrate on the exact date of my birthday because of work, but we got as close as we could. We finished off the rest of the cake and spent time talking and catching up. It was good to see them.

     One final item of importance to mention before I sign off: I sold my fish-tank! Well, I guess it is not THAT important. ;) But, it is an accomplishment, considering it has been sitting empty on my dresser for most of the summer. This accomplishment was mostly due to my wonderful father who took the time to clean it out and post an ad on Craigslist.

It's August!

     I apologize for not posting since we got back from the Czech Republic. To be honest, not much happened those first couple of days, so I didn't feel like there was anything to report. And after that nothing that I did seemed 'big enough' to be used for a blog post. So instead of a themed blog post I am going to give you a list (if you haven't figured it out by now, I like lists) to catch you up on what has been going on in my life.

1. The Olympics are going on!
     For my family, the Olympics are kind of a big deal. At least for me. :) Growing up we didn't watch much TV, but when the Olympics were on we were allowed to watch when we wanted. Not to worry, I am not wasting my days away in front of the TV, but my favorite events to watch are swimming, gymnastics, and diving.

2. I got a job!
     My job search has been going on all summer. I submitted the application at the end of May and I finally was able to start working! So far it is going well. It is my first time in retail, so there is a lot to learn and it can be overwhelming sometimes.

3. School starts soon.
     With the end of August approaching summer will soon be coming to an end. In preparation for school we have gone shopping for school supplies (which I enjoy) and I have started to order my books.

4. This year I am helping out with Sunday School.
    Yep. You heard me. If you know me (or rather, if you can read my mind) you will know just how weird this experience is. I like kids, I just don't know how to act around them. To help remedy this I think back to when I was a kid. I was pretty aware of the world around me. I mean, kids are just mini adults, right? Anyway, despite my weirdness over the subject I figured it was time to man up and contribute. And people kept asking me to do it. So I caved.

5. I voted!
     Personally, I think this is a great accomplishment no matter your age.

6. I am hoping to get a camera soon.
     I do have a camera already, but I would like a better one that I can use for school as well as my personal projects. I am still doing research on what make and model to get.

7. I went to Starbucks for the first time.
     Many will be surprised to learn that I have never been to Starbucks in all my time on this earth until this last week. It's not that weird, is it? Technically we did go a couple times in Prague, but one of them was in an airport. Either way, I am not counting them because they are not the 'quintessential white-girl Starbucks experience.'

8. I can't think of anything else...
     That is, unless you want to hear about the dead crayfish I found in my room upon returning from Prague. But I've told that story so many times everyone must be tired of hearing. Even though I still think it is pretty funny.

My Favorite Week

     I am privileged to live in a fairly close-knit neighborhood. I know the names of a large handful of my neighbors. Of course, it helps that a fair amount of families in my neighborhood go to the same church as my family.

     I enjoy going around to garage sales in the spring and summer and have helped to host more than a few. One of the highlights of each summer is the neighborhood garage sale. If you want, you can have a garage sale on a different day, but having it on the neighborhood garage sale day allows for more traffic.

     The neighborhood garage sale is like a big festival. It always coincides with the city-wide garage sale of a nearby suburb, so when you've picked clean the sales inside the neighborhood you can go out looking for more. Going around and looking at what each house has to offer is like going to different booths at the fair. Also, a lot of houses sell lemonade or cookies. One of my neighbors was cooking hotdogs. So that takes care of the food!

     This year I got a new laptop bag, a new glasses case, a life-time supply of matches (don't ask), some placemats, a devotional, and a free coffee maker.

     Not only was the neighborhood garage sale this past week, but our church also had it's annual Missions Weekend. Like the neighborhood garage sale, Missions Weekend occurs annually in the summer. On Saturday morning the church hosted a panel on Race and the Church, as issues of race have been a hot topic recently. Unfortunately, I was unable to go to the panel because I was still helping out with the garage sale.

     On Sunday morning we had a guest speaker, Pastor Brandon Redic, preach. He spoke on what our motivation for missions should be and gave a little 'color' to the morning (Note: I do not mean this offensively. Pastor Redic is indeed black, but his preaching style is a bit higher energy than most sermons spoken at my church. So, he spiced things up in that aspect as well.).

     We came back to church that evening for the 5th annual Trip Around the World. It is an opportunity to hear from some of the church's mission partners and short term teams. The evening starts out with a meal provided by our Chinese congregation (yup, we've got a Chinese congregation, try wrapping your heads around that one). Needless to say, it was delicious.

     After supper we 'traveled' around different 'countries' and got our 'passport' stamped. (we really did have passports - fake ones!). What actually happened was that five classrooms had been set aside for five different missions partners, both local and international. We visited each room and listened to the missionaries give presentations about what God had been doing in their ministries. By rotating we were able to get to each room in a timely manner. Last year I helped give a presentation for the short term team that went to Moldova.

     I really enjoyed this week. It was cool that two of my favorite summer events lined up so that they happened at the same time.

     Mini Missions Update: Less than two weeks until we leave! We are literally counting down the days!

B.A.K - What is this?!

     The BAK, or Bike Across Kansas is a 500-mile bicycle ride that spans the state of Kansas and has been happening for over 40 years. It can be a grueling challenge as well as a time to make new friends and enjoy yourself. However, the fun is juxtaposed by the hard work and effort needed to complete the task. This is not a vacation for the faint of heart.

     "Wind is the worst thing. Hills aren't that bad. It takes a certain mindset; say to yourself, 'Yes, I can do this." says experienced rider, Mary G. When asked why he does BAK her husband responded, "That's a good question. One to say that I've done it. It's a fun time to spend with family." Both Mary and her husband have completed the BAK multiple times. They enjoy doing it with their friends and family.

     The BAK is also an event that allows small Kansas towns a night to shine. Over 850 people participate in the BAK each year. Some provide support, but most are cyclists who have given up a week of their time to bike across Kansas.

     While the route for the Bike Across Kansas changes each year it always includes stopping for lunch and the night at several small towns as the cyclists make their way across the state. Museums and other attractions are opened to entertain the town's large number of guests. For the town's citizens the BAK provides a city-wide festival and a break from their daily lives.

Cyclists and citizens alike enjoy an open-air concert.

     Food is sold as a fundraiser for the town's various social organizations, but the cyclists can also choose to eat at a local restaurant. Often the BAK will double a town's population for the day; this is a great boon for the town's economy.

     The BAK is a time of celebration. It celebrates a love of biking, as well as the culture of the small towns it passes through.        
   

Easter Eggs

   Guess what tomorrow is! That's right; Easter!
 
   In our modern-day  world many people assume Easter is about chocolate and bunnies and spring. However, Easter is about something much better than eggs and candy. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. But before He could be raised from the dead Jesus had to die. Good Friday honors His death on a cross. The Friday before Easter Sunday is called Good Friday because when Jesus died He satisfied God's wrath for our sins, allowing us to have salvation.
 
   The joy and severity of the holy holiday is watered-down by the secular traditions the world tries to associate with Easter. However, some significance can be found in these traditions. Here are a couple similarities between Jesus' death and dying Easter eggs:

- In order to dye eggs the yolk and egg white must first be removed. This is usually done by poking three holes in the top of an egg and a larger hole in the bottom and then blowing into the three small holes. In this way Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. He was poured out for us (his blood was shed on our behalf) as He hung on the cross. His  blood became the sacrifice that saved us from our sins.

- The dye used to color Easter eggs is usually made with a vinegar base. Jesus was given vinegar to drink on the cross.

- In order to produce a vibrantly colored Easter egg the egg must be submerged in the dye for a long period of time. This is similar to how Jesus' body stayed in the tomb for three days and three nights.

- For whatever reason my brother and I had a tradition of breaking our old Easter eggs on the Fourth of July (don't ask why). Each of the eggs we smashed were completely empty inside, just like Jesus' tomb on that fateful morning.

   
   He is risen! He is risen indeed!