Desires of Our Heart.

Where has the time gone? I look up and it's two days before the new year -- псих! I leave for Colorado again in the predawn of the 3rd for my last semester at CCU. I will be Student Teaching there with a class of 2nd graders whom I have been with last semester as well. I will head back and see my roommates and friends who are also on the same path come May 10th.

As I start to think about what 2014 will hold, I must admit that I am nervous. The culmination of my life thus far is now coming to an end and I have to trust God to know what the future will hold. I was sitting with my dog Henry down at the river and thought of the beginning of the movie "P.S. I Love You:" It relays beautifully what I was talking to God about:

Holly: I see people buying bigger apartments and having babies. 

I get so afraid sometimes our life's never gonna start.

Gerry: No, baby. We're already in our life. It's already started.

 This is it.

This is it. This is my life and God has it mapped out. My job is to spend time opening my heart and eyes to what He has planned so that I can hear what He is trying to tell me. Finishing my degree, starting a classroom, living in Russia, finding a family, loving people, farming, and supporting/encouraging/loving kids are desires of my heart that God placed there and I have to trust that He will close doors or open them as He sees fit. And me? My life is happening now... release the future to His control and understand that He is sovereign, loving, and just. 

Henry 

2 Weeks

There are two weeks left in the semester... hallelujah! I'm completely ready.

Today is a beautiful day out in Colorado and it's great to be able to go out in it :) I don't really know what to say today or any day, for that matter, but wanted to write -- so here I am! D. is coming home with me for about 10 days and I honestly can't wait. I have a list the size of Texas of places to go, people to see, things to do! Some of them include, canoeing, shooting, SF, Capitola, Yosemite, church, V., F., Taco Truck, and others. Yes, I realize it'll only be 10 days but hey... We can combine things lol.

Tonight D., M., and AD, will be singing in the choir at St. Pauls and AW and I will be there to cheer them on! It should be beautiful both in sound and aesthetics.

Ok... Well... Bye!

Placement!

It's official! I'm going to be Student Teaching 2nd grade at Kullerstrand Elem!! It's a small school in Jeffco with a mix of demographics. I can't wait to see what God's going to do next semester with me and the future. I met with the principal, school based teacher, and my supervisor to consult and confirm about next semester :D Let's see where this goes.

But first I need to finish this semester -- God give me strength.

Risen Indeed

Happy Easter! Christ has risen for all because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all have a level playing field with God because we all need his love and forgiveness. ... I know I do.

Well, last week was spring break and I went home :) It was so good. I feel restored both in the Lord and in knowing I have people who love me for me. I got to spend a lot of time with family and realized how blessed I am that I have the family that I do have. I know that we are not perfect (by far) but there is a lot of love there and I know that God has brought me up with them for a reason.

Today was good; I woke up and went to church to help out with the morning service in the Babies room. It was an interesting concept because I had always worked with the older youth but this was where God wanted me and I was grateful to be there. They were the most precious children and I know that He worked through me and it was all for His glory. It was hard work but well worth it. Then I went to the 11:15am service and it was a refreshing message about how God's mercy is new every morning and it is an endless pool if we accept through faith and try to return to Him in an echo of love. After that, I helped put things away and then took Laura home. After I went back home, I worked on HW, napped, HW, Al came home, went to Starbucks, and that's where I am now. :)

I hope that you had a good day today :)

Random.

I have registered for my first semester Senior year of college.
Let that soak in for a second.

I was thinking about this, past, present, and future and was overwhelmed by the strength of the Lord. The only reason I am sticking this, as in college, out is for His glory not mine. I want to work with youth, yes, but one can do that with out a degree. I keep hearing my Savior tell me to stay here and finish college, get my teaching license, and build the relationships that will last. Hence, I am doing my best to obey and well... two semesters and a half left folks! I don't know what the rest of this semester will hold or what Internship 1 will hold but I do know that my God will be right along side me no matter what. 

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Spring break is this coming week! Technically in FOUR DAYS! J will be there as will C. and I can't wait to see them all again :) The day after I get home, my family and I will be heading over to the beach for a traditional weekend with cousins! So stoked about that. It should be a good break -- busy, but good.

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We haven't seen our new apartment yet but we know where it is. It will actually be a condo and we're joining forces with M and H for a house of six. I think it will be a good fit. AD and I will be in Internship I and II (aka Student Teaching) so we potentially won't be home a lot. The condo will be behind the Beckmen Center so that should be nice to get to classes and all. (CCU is supposed to be moving buildings around over Spring Break and Summer... Let's see if it actually happens lol)

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Green Mt. overlooking Denver
.Home.

4 Lessons.

Man. What to write about. My life has been good.
I'm almost done with my Jr. year of College and stat internship I this fall and Student Teaching in the spring! -- Crazy.

Today I worked with the kids at my church -- I'm helping with the K-1 group. That was fun but I only started last week and then when I got there today... I was informed that I would be working by myself. God and I worked it like a boss but at the same time I was really nervous (and kinda overwhelmed). It's amazing how time doesn't stop even when life happens. 

God has taught me a lot this semester and here are a couple of them that I want to share with you.

1) being a leader of the team does not mean that it's your team/group... It's God's team. No one else has it in better control than the Father.

2) In my weakness, He is stronger and in that God extends grace that covers me. The actual verse says: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. -- 2 Corinthians 12:9

3)  God romances us. We sing songs about how God loves us and that His love is enough but... I don't think it really imprinted in my brain until this last Saturday. It struck me as I was folding laundry. Even when He knows the outcome... when we're hurting, confused, pissed, joyful, or content God is hurting or rejoicing with us. He loves us to the extent that we don't know. People say this all the time but until it becomes personal... it doesn't always make sense. 

4) He's not done with me. 

Top of Mt. Baldy -- New Years 12-13