New Years Resalations

      I went to Haiti in September of 2012, and it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. I think that Jesus calls everyone to serve, but people serve in different ways. Some people serve in offices with a suit on, and other people serve in their homes. But I think I was called to serve as a missionary, and the Haiti trip really helped me figure out how I was called to serve. But the problem, as some people would see it, is that I`m not exactly sure where God has called me to serve. Africa? Haiti? Mexico? Alabama? I just don`t know yet. And to some people, that would seem a bad thing. Not knowing scares a lot of people including me. It causes us to worry. But, if we knew how everyday of the rest of our life was going to be, then where would the adventure of trusting God be? Granted I still have 3 and a half years until I go to college so, I have sometime before I have to make any life changing decisions. But I don`t want to spend the next 3 and a half years worrying. I want to spend them trusting, and adventuring. So I guess Jesus knew what he was talking about when he said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it own."-Matthew 6:33-34.
 
       So I guess you could say that my New Years Resalation (yes, it`s a made up word, a cross between revelation and resolution) is to not worry, trust, to and hang on for the ride.

The Past Two Weeks

                                 HELLO! Today was the last day of BigStuf camps! It was an amazing week! But
before I tell you about BigStuf I have to tell you about JH Ranch.

                                                                  JH Ranch
                               
                              Let me first start by saying it was the best week and experience of my life! I was SO nervous going in because I had never been there before. But as soon as I got there I felt welcomed. All the staff was so friendly! You could tell they really loved what they were doing.

     
                              When I got there on Sunday I met the most amazing group of girls (I could not have asked for a better group). There was not a single moment of tension, or drama, or anything like that, which I can say is a pretty sweet accomplishment for eight girls SHARING ONE BATHROOM for a whole week.


                             All through out the week we did things like sleep out under the stars, go white water rafting, do high ropes courses, low ropes courses, jump off a waterfall, eat ice cream, have random dance parties and worship the same amazing God.


                             I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with my dad and the time I got to spend on a adventure with him. He helped me do things I never EVER thought I would do in  million years! I enjoyed building a even stronger relationship with him.


                           I also got to build my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I enjoyed learning about Him in new ways and singing new songs to Him.

                                                              BigStuf Camp

                 So, Sunday, July 7, I left JH at 3:30 am for a exciting day of flying. I got back to good ole Dothan, AL at 7:45 pm Sunday night. I got to my home, washed clothes, threw them in a bag, and left for BigStuf with Wiregrass at 2:00 the next day.

                        I`m not going to lie to you, I was SO exhausted. I felt dead. Which isn`t a great way to start off a week when you knew you were going to be getting less sleep than you did the previous week.          

                          Plus I was kinda stopped up (I`m blaming the long flights for my excessive tissue buying). So I got there and I had the mind set that it was not going to be as good as JH and I won`t have a good time. Boy, was I wrong.

                          It was a most amazing week. It was just me, Gabby and Faith in my small group. So we got to hang out with the senior girls which I did NOT have a problem with.

                          Our hosts for the week were Tripp and Tyler and they were so hilarious. Our speakers for the week were Jon Acuff, and Jamie Dickens. Who were also, might I add, HILARIOUS (and very truthful). Our worship leaders were Chris Coleman, Chris Cauley and Chrystina Fincher who were amazing.  

                          One of the most important things that I learned this past week is that what God sees is bigger than what I see, and that God`s reality needs to be my reality.
 
                                                       
                                 I heard and I forgot, I saw and I remembered, I did, and I understood.

                        So, there is this new band that I am IN LOVE with. They are called
Rend Collective Experiment. They sing Christian music, but its kind of a Mumford & Sons"ish"
deal. They are from Northern Ireland and their music is very uplifting. They just released a new album called "Campfire". My favorite song from it, is Build Your Kingdom Here. I think the album is worth the $7.99.





                                                    "Build Your kingdom here,
                       
                                                      Let the darkness fear,
 
                                                      Show Your mighty hand,

                                                      Heal our streets and land,

                                                      Set Your church on fire,

                                                      Win this nation back,

                                                      Change the atmosphere,

                                                      Build Your kingdom here,"

                                                   

     
         So, it has been quite a while since my last post, and writing about the past 10 months would take a LONG time. Because its been such a long time, I`m just going to write about what has been going on recently.

        A couple of weeks ago I moved up to Inside Out! That`s a big deal! Promotion Sunday was last Sunday and instead of having 2nd grade girls I moved up with my small group and now I have the 3rd grade girls! Promotion Sunday also means that I can`t go to Transit so I go to the service. Its also my dads birthday today! Happy Birthday!


       Along with all the change that has been going on recently... I`M IN HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!!!! I really can`t believe it at all!It feels like I just moved up to 6th grade, but at the same time it feels like I should have been in High School along time ago.


      Mary Dean got back from BigStuf today! It sounded like she had a great time! I go to BigStuf in July. But before I go to BigStuf, I`m going to JH Ranch!!!!! I`m really super excited! JH Ranch is a Christian camp in northern California. Dad and I are going to the daddy daughter session with my friend and her dad. I`ve never been before so I don`t know that much about it. But I`ll let you know how it goes!

                                                 
                                                       thats all for today...