fall.

Today was a gorgeous day. I love the fall! I had the opportunity to just sit outside today for hours. All I did was read and just watch the leaves fall from the trees. It was very relaxing and beautiful. Perfect start to my week.

time for r&r

It's finally Friday! This has been a pretty good week at school. Not too much homework really which was nice because I definitely did not have the energy to do it. Tonight, I'm just relaxing. Hoping to watch a good movie and then head to bed early! I have a fun day planned tomorrow hanging out with my friends and going to a birthday party. Then Sunday will be another day of beautiful nothing! So excited to get rested.

Grey's Anatomy.

Grey's Anatomy's new season premier was tonight. I watched it and loved it of course! This is one of "my shows". So excited for the rest of the season!

rumbling ideas.

So I have this idea. I want to make a t-shirt with a logo that symbolizes "love outside of the box". I have the design thought out and on paper; I just need to put it on a shirt! My plan is to take the t-shirt to churches in my community and area, any large businesses or chains, and maybe even eventually concerts. With the money raised, we will put it towards ministries in the community such as Love With Action and T.E.A.M. This idea got me thinking about how I could use this for my career as well. What I feel God has called me to is a life of ministy. As I have been told over and over, that does not mean a pastor or missionary alone, but some one who's purpose in their career is to show who God is (therefore can be done anywhere!). Spinning off this idea, I would like to create a place for those in need. A place that will provide training, shelter, provision of needs financially.. mentally.. emotionally.. spiritually.. food.. whatever. I'd like Love outside of the Box to become this with the soul purpose of showing God's love to the people the ministry is able to touch.

I have seen and heard of small things that have made a difference. Maybe God is wanting to use this t-shirt idea for something greater than I could even imagine. Can't wait!

Home.

Caleb's Tournament didn't end with a bang, but the boys played hard and there will be more and more and more games to play. After the game ended at 8:30, the family and I had some breakfast at Bob Evans and headed to down town Chicago. Mom and I walked around Navy Pier and then went to dinner at Giordanos.


I rested up on the way home with my full tummy. Me and the brother watched Bourne Ultimatum and now we are home. I feel like I really didn't get an actual weekend. Hopefully this week won't be to overwhelming.

We always have so much fun in Chicago!

In Chicago

I was given motivation to to update my blog. Don't mean to be slacking. It's just been a busy good stressful week with work and school. Just trying to keep up with my AP English class and all of the material we are studying. It's a weird feeling to actually enjoy school even when it's hard! My family and I had the opportunity to get away this weekend. My brother has a soccer tournament, so we are once again in Chicago. He had two games today, won one lost one. We ended the day at Red Robbin with the entire team. It was a good time. We have to head to bed pretty soon since we are getting up at FIVE O'CLOCK tomorrow morning!!! I guess I'll just have to get my rest on the way home tomorrow. When I return, be ready to be overloaded with posts cause I will defnitely start doing better with updates!

Hope

Understanding what one believes and why they believe it is something very important. Finding why I believe in Jesus has been my challenge. I have been going to church ever since I was born. It has been easy for me to live as a Christian because I've always been in Christian schools and had Christian friends and family. I became serious about my relationship with God when I began middle school. Now that I am eighteen and time is shortening till the day I leave all I've known, this idea of knowing why I believe has become very important. After struggling with this for quite some time now, God has been faithful to help bring me to the center of it all. Before, I never really wanted to be put into situations that would dare me to step up and give my reasons or testimony for belief in God.

I was nervous that I wouldn't have the right words to say and that my personal story about God would mean nothing to them. Bottom line, I didn't understand why people needed God or would want Him. I knew I did only because I hadn't ever been with out the knowledge of Him. I kept viewing God as Christianity. It would be just another religion for people to consider. I was going to have to "sell" it to them... explaining about peace, love, grace, forgiveness... all of the things that I have been learning in my faith. Although I understood it's a relationship with me and God, I never believed other people would view it that way.

These past few weeks have been hard trying to wrestle with all of this. I felt that because I have been growing and learning so many other things with God that I shouldn't be struggling with something so core and simple. But I have been and it's been scary and hard. But now I understand why I want Jesus! I need Him and want Him because I'm hopeless with out him. Jesus is HOPE. There are so many people muddling through life trying to find meaning and purpose in a broken, hurtful world. God restored me. He made me whole again. Now I know why people need God, because they need Hope. They need that completion that He provides to the lurking emptiness. I get it now. Hope is why I tell people about Jesus, about a relationship with God, about why following Christ is everything and how he does provide peace, love, grace, forgiveness and fullness of life. This is why I believe. This is what I stand for. Jesus is HOPE. Everyone needs Hope.

entering the political battle

Today I became a true American.. I registered to vote! I am so happy to have the opportunity to vote in this year's PRESIDENTIAL election. Lately, I've been challenged not to just vote a particular way with my only reason being that's how Christians vote or that's how my parents vote. I want to do my research and find what I believe would be best for America and vote according to those convictions. So I'm going to take this privelege seriously and I'm going to do my homework because I think it matters.