iron

oh goodness..
i seem to lose track of this thing.. and then I get in moods of writing.. and I realize it has been 9 months since I was last on here.
And I was talking about a new job.. ha! And now I am closing out my first year of this new job. Which is crazy! I can't believe I have already had 9 months with these freshman women. It is kinda bittersweet. I am excited for new residents.. but.. things were just starting to get comfortable. Relationships were just starting to get easy. But, on the other hand... I look forward to starting fresh again. Making changes from the things that I have learned from in this past year. Which has been a lot. And then getting to start intiating with a whole new set of 190 college women. Wow.
It's funny. People ask me if I like my job often. And I think they lying when I honestly answer. Absolutely. I wake up every morning excited to do my job. And for this I am very thankful. I have no doubt the Lord has equipped me for such a job as this.
The past year has also brought change in my spiritual walk. So interesting on how the gospel has taken on a new form for me. I have realized my need for the gospel daily. And I have been sharpened (iron sharpening iron) by those around me. Which is hard and it hurts.. but I am thankful for it.
I am excited to get back on here more.. maybe the summer will allow me a little more time to blog.

new

it has been around 6 months since my last post. that is crazy! Life has been very interesting lately. And I have a feeling; getting ready to become a lot more interesting. In almost one week, I will begin a new job. A job that I have thought about for the past three years of my life.. and now that it is here.. and it is mine.. I am a little freaked out. I mean, I am so very excited and excited to see where and how the Father is going to lead in this.. but sometimes.. I just think what if I can't do this?? Then the Father continues to remind me that I can't do this. That only through Him will this go well. I know there will be challenges and I expect a lot of tears in my bedroom and naps (that is how I usually handle stress). Ha.. but with all those worries.. I am so excited. The focus of my job will be intentional relationships with college woman... and I feel like I was made for that.

The Father has been molding my heart a lot lately. Continually showing me what it means to live in community. Showing me the nastyness of my heart.. reminding me I am called to love and that this can only happen through Him. Being unified and bound together by the Spirit. He has used teaching conversations I have had this summer with my staff.. to convict me of my actions. I am thankful for all these things, even though these at times were hard. He has shown me that at times I live a religious life and not one that is a life of a true believer. So, I am excited to see what else He has in store for me.. in just this time in life as well as through this new job.

Vacation to Tampa was just wonderful. Each day I am more and more convinced that my girls from college were just something special. Those friendships are just rare. And I am so very thankful for Amanda, Arg, Darcy and Carly. Those girls know me like none other. And they know me and yet still love me. I am blessed.

Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Eph. 4:1-6

freedom

i had almost forgotten about this thing... until i spoke to a friend tonight on the phone... and was reminded that i should get back into this.. i want to be such a good little blogger.. but i place so much pressure on myself.... i want to have good posts. from funny to meaningful to thought-provoking.. hm...

moving on... today.. i had a break down at work... but this break down came in laughter.. we had like 30 minutes left in the work day... and for some reason i just lost it... and i started to laugh so very hard.. i couldn't even breath. people kept coming into my cubicle asking if i was alright.. and i couldn't answer because i was laughing.. it was plain ridiculous.

Moving onto something that has been on my mind these last few days... Father brought a freedom to me recently that I was not expecting. To keep this light and brief.. I am so very thankful. It was unexpected.. and kinda out of nowhere.. but it feels so very good.. hm. thanks be to Father! He is faithful.. and pretty darn great!!

side ponytails

i wore my hair in a side ponytail today.. and I am just not really sure how i feel about it though. I mean.. are side ponytails really work appropriate? the roommate, dunaway, she said it looked fine. And the colleagues said it was a go... but I just still am not convinced. Oh my..

I love the weather today! I love fall.. it's my favorite season.

What my thoughts are on today:
Being: patient, kind, not jealous, not to brag or be arrogant, to not act unbecomingly, not to seek my own, not to take in account a wrong suffered, not rejoice in unrighteousness, to rejoice in truth..... pretty much to LOVE

this is home

My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.



Sometimes I run.. I run away from this. I always talk about He being my ROCK.. but I think sometimes I run from that. Multiple times.. DAILY.. I choose other things.. I desire other things...

I don't want to run from that anymore.

me.. random?? oh my yes!

Spent the night with hannah bear in the ER two nights ago... they didn't really give us any answers... and she is not feeling that much better... but dad and mom came and picked her up last night.. she will see the family doc today... it was weird being in the hospital.. on the receiving end of care. I thought back to my few days of chaplaining in the hospital.. and how I missed it.. but how weird it would be to have someone come and do that with me now.

Life has been busy.. and about to get even busier with travel season!! Activity on Bison Hill has definitely increased! It is so fun to have the new students here!! They bring such an energy. And from the moments I have had to chat with them, they seem to really love it here!! Which is exciting!! Welcome Week was fun.. as well as Saturday in the Park! Jami Smith and Shane & Shane were here!! It was so fun!! I am posting pics from both!!

I will be traveling soon!! Time for those beloved college fairs! I think I have a totally different perspective starting the second year of this!! I am excited to get out and meet the people!!

Haha.. I am so random on this thing.

Got the opportunity to speak at REFUGE, one of our women's ministries here at OBU. I loved doing it. Chatted about how we are ACCEPTED by Christ. And He loves us extremely in the state we are NOW! Also.. chatted about walking in love... something the Lord has definitely been speaking to me about. I don't do that a lot of times. Hm... working on that!

Enjoy the pics!!! And if you are in central Oklahoma.. the rainy weather!!

pfr

i am listening to an old pfr song.. i love them!!

well.. i am back from my vacation!!! It was so great.. here are a few pics. It was my first plane ride.. my first beach experience.... and we had TONS of fun!! It was great to see arg, esther and get to vacation with amanda!!!

Now, I am back into the swing of work things... which has been very exciting!! I am so ready for the students that I have gotten to know this past year to be here!!! I can't wait to have them dropping by the office.. just to say hi!! I am praying the Lord really reveals Himself to them as they step into this new phase of their lives!! I have been very thankful for my job lately!! What a great job to have. The countdown is on till they are on Bison Hill.... as of today... 17 days!!!