Leaps of Faith

This week has been nothing short of an interesting one. I've been planning for an FCA event this weekend, filling out scholarships, babysitting some hilarious kiddos, making some important decisions, and my car was pranked by some of my youth group friends and so much more. I feel like so much has happened this week alone, that it feels like it has been a month. Sometimes I am simply amazed by how much can really happen over a span of seven days. I've found myself in tears every single day this week. Although I am an emotional person, this extremity isn't quite normal for me. Some days it's been out of pure joy, but honestly most days it's been out of frustration, brokenness, or impatience. Although it's been a rough week, I've been constantly reminded of the many blessings that I am surrounded by. I've been reading the book of Proverbs this month, however over the weekend I was encouraged to start the 1-1-1 challenge. It is memorizing...

Six tubing lanes, five kicks to the ankle during broomball, four worship sessions, three unforgettable days, two crying sessions, and one amazing God later, SpringHill has kicked our butts. This weekend Legacy has acquired several bruises, a broken pair of glasses, some lost but then found gloves, and so many memories. From hitting and tackling each other with snowballs, to listening to one of our members rap Dirty Water in a room full of random teenagers, to the hours that were spent in the gym by some, to the average cafeteria food, to the prayer circle times in our cabin, there isn't one thing that I won't remember about this life changing weekend. Although the van definitely isn't as excited and loud as it was on the way there, it doesn't mean that we didn't have the best weekend full of tubing, singing our hearts out, and challenging each other in ping pong. Not only has our volume level on the way back changed, so has our love for Jesus. Important decisions an...

420 minutes is how long I'll spend in a fifteen passenger van today with some of my very favorite people. People who have picked me up when they saw me at my worst and people who have physically and literally danced with me during the best times. We are anxiously headed to Evart, MI with the music blaring, snacks being passed around & most importantly our hearts opened. We are excited to know that there is a tubing hill waiting for us tomorrow and that we will be able to sing our hearts out together tonight at worship. We are open to see what God is going to challenge and convict us with this weekend. We are looking forward to sharing some amazing yet tough stuff with each other. We are excited to see how much sleep we can go without. We are looking forward to the weird phrases that will be uttered. We are interested to see who can eat the most snacks on the car ride there. We shall see who will spend their money the fastest, probably on an interesting variety of things. We are...

We all have special people in our lives, whether that be a grandpa, mom, aunt, cousin, friend, or a combination of several people, we all have our favorites. Well one of my special people is my youth pastor, Trent, although he doesn't just act as my youth pastor. My youth group friends and I are continually talking about how much we love and want to be like Trent and Alyssa and how we truly not only acknowledge, but are thankful for what they do for us. Trent came into my life at a time when I needed him the very most and I haven't looked back since. There are so many things I need to thank him for, but here's the most important. Thank you for teaching me about God and His sacrifices for me. Thank you for not complaining when I text you fifty questions that I fully intend you to answer every single one and trying your best to answer at least most of them. Thank you for always reminding me that I'm enough. Thank you for letting me stay at your house unt...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rRWeH5bnzU Over the past few weeks, I've felt extremely challenged. Although I feel challenged by God a lot, this was different. As some of you know, I visited Indiana Wesleyan University for the first time almost a year ago. There was something that told me that this was going to be my future home, even when we just pulled into the parking lot. My mom and I had made the three hour drive to visit this college that my youth pastor and his wife had told me about (where they went to college). We toured it, went to chapel, ate lunch, and talked with an admissions counselor. I knew I loved the place, however I didn't think too much of it as I was "only a junior." Well, I wish I hadn't thought about it as only being a junior, because little did I know that here I would be a year later (feels like two days) being completely challenged by God. Time went on and I truly did believe that I would end up going to college there. My...

This sweet lady is one of a kind in so many ways. She has done more for me than she will ever know or ever take credit for. In the year that Alyssa has been in my life, she's taught me an unbelievable amount. She has taught me that I was worthy. She has taught me that I am loved, a lot. She has taught me that sometimes you have to pray for things for a really long time and that even after a long time of praying, sometimes the answer is to wait even longer. She has sparked my interest in Bible journaling and jewelry. She has taught me how to love God more than I ever knew was possible. She has taught me how to be strong and courageous. There are so many reasons why I admire and love her. Some of the many being that I know that she genuinely wants the best for me. Alyssa's Bible journaling skills are incomparable to any other and I truly do believe that I will always think her pages are better than everyone else's. She's an amazing and patient mom. She loves so ...

Plans: a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something As humans we make all kinds of plans, plans to go to dinner, plans to get a certain job, plans to get married one day, plans to get a new car, plans to visit family, etc. We constantly are arranging to do or achieve something. Since August, I have been in charge of planning several events and planning to make a significant amount of decisions. Little and big, I have a way of stressing out over all of them. Over the past six months, I have planned to get my car fixed twice, I have planned the Fields of Faith event, I have planned out my week to week schedules, I have planned to babysit for different families, I have planned to travel to visit my family, I have planned a youth group lesson, I have planned to hang out with my friends, I have planned to look for new cars for college, I have planned to visit and select a college to attend in the fall. Although it sounds like I have a lot on my plate (which don't...

To freshman year Faith- I don't even know where to start. Here's a few things that I think you're worried about right now that I want to reassure you about. 1. You have no idea of the things you are going to amaze yourself with over the next four years. However, you have to stop being so naïve and learn who your true friends are. Right now I know you are struggling a lot with finding your identity and your true friends, but I promise you'll find some great ones over the next few years. A lot of the people in your life right now will walk out, but some will surprisingly show back up later, but I promise you the ones who don't show back up, they are gone for a reason. Proverbs 3:5 2. Some of the activities you're in right now will fade, such as Student Council and being a class officer; however it's for the better. Little do you know, you will be FFA president and get to lead an awesome group of kids in FCA. Keep working hard and God will be faithful. Roman...

Well, I don't even really know where to start. How do you properly thank someone that has selflessly put you before themselves for almost eighteen years? That's what this sweet woman that I am blessed to call my momma has done. There are so many thank you's that I owe to her, but here's a few. Thank you for fighting for me, in more ways that I can count. Thank you for buying that prom dress that you knew we were spending too much money on, but you thought I deserved it. Thank you for reminding me to check my attitude. Thank you for passing me your love for kids. Thank you for teaching me to respect authorities. Thank you for teaching me that I deserve a man that treats me right. Thank you for also teaching me that I don't need a man to be secure, whole, or complete. Thank you for pushing me to be independent. Thank you for supporting me, even my wildest dreams. Thank you for teaching me to give back. Thank you for loving my friends as your own kids. Thank you fo...