In the Blink of an Eye . . .

In the blink of an eye. . . that statement could end in many different ways. In the blink of an eye life is over. In the blink of an eye we grow up. In the blink of an eye life changes. In the blink of an eye . . . It amazes me how literally in the blink of an eye everything can change, things that once were are no longer, and things you never though would happen do. It is just one of the many signs that we live in a fallen world. Lately my life has been one of just that change. Changing jobs, classes, new responsibilities with being a president's Ambassador and teaching sunday school, and just changes. It is so true that there are seasons in life just like those that we expect and know the signs of and welcome each year with the changing of leaves, snow, rain, and sunshine. Each season brings a new challenge and change with an opportunity to learn and deepen your relationship with the One True Almighty God. Some seasons can feel surreal and as if you are in a movie. The unexpected or sometimes expected occurs just as Humpty Dumpty falls off the wall and you are left with the pieces to put back together. But what happens when all the kings horses and all the kings men can't put Humpty back together again? What if it hurts too much or is too hard? Thankfully we have one who can ALWAYS put it back together again... God. I honestly don't know where I would be without God and I am so thankful that He saved me at a young age. I don't know what i would have done through so many times in my life, in dealing with drama to my mom having thyroid cancer and so much more, if i didn't have God carrying me through. The summer before my senior year in High School i had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Haiti where the poverty is extreme and the living conditions are terrible, yet the people of God sing for joy and have such a passion because they depend on God. They know God provides and he is all sufficient. I want that kind of a life that when people look at me they see God inside me and that He did it all, not me, but that He is the all powerful and sufficient one. I so thoroughly enjoy when God teaches me new things and the gift that I have a relationship with Him! In Him is my security, purpose, and identity. It makes me think of the verses:
                    And in Him you have been made complete!
                                  - Colossians 2:10
                    I am my beloved's and his desire is for me!
                                  - Song of Solomon 7:10
                    Let the beauty of the Lord my God be upon me!
                                  - Psalm 90:17
I am God's and He loves me! He has made me complete and in Him i live and move and breathe. Praise the Lord for sending Jesus to die on the cross so that He could bring us to himself so we could have a relationship with Him. There is grace for everything you've done and there is nothing he can't handle. No hurt or sorrow is too deep for God to heal, no wrong is too bad, and nothing can ever make God love you less. God is not disappointed in me, He loves me and delights in me. And when you understand that, it changes everything! Nothing is common or ordinary about you, God created you for a purpose and made you uniquely different!! It changes the way we love people, act, think, feel, and react in circumstances. Often the world wants to diagnose people, slap a label on them, and try to fix them with medicine or counseling. But without God it won't ever work, the problem is people need God, his healing, and his love. Not some psychoanalysis and psychologist but... God. God changes everything. He heals wounds we would never thought possible because it hurts too much, he releases us from the chains of sin, he restores relationships, he cleanses us, uses us, molds us, teaches us, loves us, etc etc etc... It truly is amazing when the Peace of God, which truly does surpass all understanding, guards your hearts and minds . . . when you are going through tragedy and pain, yet in the midst of it, everything is still ok because God's peace is there. When the world is falling down around you and yet you're still standing. And it's all because of God. Although life may be a roller coaster at times and all the kings horses and all the kings men can't put Humpty back together again, I know the one who can and does everyday! I am so thankful for the one true God who is there and has a personal, intimate relationship with me. May God's peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus today and forever . . .

Let the games begin!

So classes officially started on Monday and are now to a full swing with homework and a project being due in addition to taking a quiz in the glorious class of, that's right you guessed it, Calculus 3. Needless to say i have an interesting semester ahead of me between calc 3, education classes, biology, etc. Along with the beginning of a new semester comes questions such as what is biology? what is life? what is the meaning of life? why do you want to teach? what is (fill your topic of choice in here)? But my all time favorite question is the dreaded "what do you hope to get from this class?" Almost every teacher asks this and most add the comment "other than getting the 3 or 4 hour credit." (Now as a side note here this in my opinion is one of those questions where you're setting students and yourself up to fail because 9 out of 10 times they are in there because they have to be, but they simply say to learn more about whatever subject it is. But the truth is they have never thought of what they wanted to gain from the class until you asked it.) So as i am sitting in my health class contemplating my answer and i honestly think. . . nothing. I expect nothing out of this class. I have never had expectations for classes or hopes to gain one thing in particular because you see i like to just go along for the ride and look at the outcome in the end. And might i just add i have yet to not learn something from a class or be disappointed about one. But anyway tomorrow will now be the second day for the tuesday/thursday classes so hopefully most of those questions are done  and the madness can begin filled with chapters, tests, projects, observation hours, and portfolios. Oh the joys of being a student. It truly is amazing though how much knowledge is at our fingertips and what you can do with it. I often wonder while in classes who invented this? or how did they decide this is how it would be done? or who made it that way? Seriously though if you think about it who first learned and decided how surgery would be done for different ailments and how did they learn it? Who decided what the words in english would be? Or how did we know how to make sounds and associate them with letters and how to say them? Who made not having a comma in a list improper? So as you can see i work myself into a web of why? how? who? wow that's so interesting to me's and get lost in my thoughts. Needless to say i love school and learning. Hence why i want to become a teacher. But in this process of becoming a teacher you must take many education classes which prepare you but also ask you questions to make you plan and think ahead. Questions like. . . What setting do you want to teach in? What subject? Is teaching a good fit for you? What is your goal? Will you join a union? And on and on the list goes. These questions along with many others are to help you in looking ahead as a future teacher but i think sometimes since we are always looking ahead at a desired goal and how to prepare for it we miss some important things right now. We miss the opportunities that God gives us to see Him, spend time with Him, share Him with others, and many other things. Too often we are looking for the next step, the next goal because as a society we are taught goals and problem solving. All these are good things but at the same time we don't see the big picture so we need to enjoy where God has us right now and learn what he has for us in this moment because it may impact the next. We get so caught up in planning ahead and trying to control everything but we miss things in the process. One of my favorite quotes is "You don't need to know what tomorrow holds. All you need to know is the one who holds tomorrow." So what is the point in all this jibber jabber? The point is to look for God and what he wants to teach you each day while still doing your everyday routine. I may not know what tomorrow holds but i know the one who does. And i know that He has me exactly where He wants me and is going to teach me so much this semester in the midst of all the craziness and chaos. I just have to look for it. But enough for now on all that considering i need to read a chapter in health, biology, and education and it's already 11:30. Oh well you know nothing ever happens how you plan it. But that's part of the fun. Until next time. . .

So this bird looking out on the railing of my porch

is what caused most of this thought because the bird

is looking out or ahead into the yard. Oh the things 

that make you think. lol

Odds, Ends, & Everything Lately

So it feels like forever since i have blogged but a lot has happened including a lot of trips. The first week of July i went to Missouri to see my grandparents, aunt, and cousins. The second week i babysat, and the third week i went to Centrifuge. Centrifuge was at Union University this year in Jackson, Tennessee. It was an amazing week and God taught me so much. It's funny how you often think that you have dealt with things and moved on only to have God bring them up and show you that you haven't. It seems as if there is always something. Something to learn, something to let go of, something to give to God and allow Him to transform it. I guess it's just part of life and growing up. People always say that we put God in a box, but i think it's the other way around. We put ourselves in a box and only open it to let God have some part but then close the flaps and hold on tightly to everything else. We need to open up our boxes, step out, and let God have everything. He knows the plans he has for us, so who are we to question him? We need to let go and let God. But back to the craziness that has been my life lately. So the week before Centrifuge i found out that i had made it to the third and final round of interviews for President's Ambassadors at Volstate. President's Ambassadors give student tours, stuff envelopes, work special events, etc. It is a service leadership kind of a role. But anywho I had made it past the first two rounds of interviews only to find out that my third interview was the friday of Centrifuge. So, i drove to camp, to my interview, and back on friday. After much nervousness and a crazy interview i was selected to be a President's Ambassador, which was truly exciting and added to all the craziness i call my life.

Crazy Camp fun at the Casey Jones General Store
Girls Just Wanna Have FUN!! lol

Gorgeous Sunset at Camp :)

 The week after camp and being selected as an Ambassador, my family went on vacay to Gatlinburg. I absolutely love Gatlinburg!! The mountains are beautiful and you can just see the work of God. I don't see how anyone can look at creation and not see the fingerprints and design of God. It just baffles me. But that's a different discussion for another time. While in Gatlinburg we climbed the 6,000 feet to Clingman's dome. It was clear and beautiful; however, in case anyone was wondering if altitude sickness is real i can definitely say it is. I was dizzy and nauseous the whole way up to Clingman's dome and back. Needless to say this girl and 6,000 feet don't tango well together. But the rest of the trip was great considering it was the last week before everything new started.

Beautiful Waterfall :)

View from top of Clingman's Dome

Overlook from Old Smokey Mountain
National Park

 August marked several new beginnings in my life along with a close to one. August was off to a bang the first week with me starting training at Talbots in Green Hills Mall. I am proud to say that i am now officially on the floor selling at Talbots as of today with a great start. However, working at Talbots marked the end of me babysitting everyday some of my favorite kiddos. It was an extremely hard decision because i love the kids i watch, but with much prayer i know Talbots is where God has me for this year. So i am now completely out of my element with starting a new job. In addition, i had Ambassador training and am now looking forward to our first event. Did i mention that there were only two days of training to be an Ambassador and now we are jumping in?? I don't know whether to be nervous or excited, or both?? Needless to say I have been learning a lot of information lately between Talbots and President's Ambassadors. Not to mention that school starts August 29th, and i still don't have my books. I am taking 14 hours this semester, and i will need to make one of those honors. So my days will soon be filled with not only school and Talbots, but also Ambassador meetings, office hours, and events, Phi Theta Kappa meetings, Monday night biblestudy, small groups, teaching sunday school, and many other odds and ends. hah. I think it's safe to say that my life is back to full swing. But i cannot wait to see what God has in store this school year and the opportunities he has placed me in. My prayer is that he continues to renew my heart to be moved by what moves His and that He teaches me  every day. So that's what my July and August has looked like so far. Whew! It has flown by. I'm so looking forward to fall. But enough for now. Catch ya'll sometime soon.

Wonder, Ponder, Contemplate . . .

It's now 11:52 and after lying in bed for an hour and being unable to sleep i decided to get up for a bit. I cannot seem to turn my mind off tonight unfortunately. So i decided to blog. So here goes. Tonight my mom and I watched Eat, Pray, Love which by the way is a great movie. Her mind never seems to shut off, and i love that she decides to travel and live in other places. I would love to be able to travel and be in another country right now. If my scholarships would still be here when i got back, i would have taken a year off and been on a ship traveling around doing missions with Operation Mobilization.  Operation Mobilization is a missions organization that has various boats (well more like ships) that travel around the world. One can serve if accepted after the long process for a year or two while it sails around docking in different locations for a time serving in whatever capacity needed. I served in Holland the summer of my sophomore year in high school with four girls from OM while they were preparing the Logos Hope for sail. Sidorela being from Albania, Lena from Germany, Christine from Taiwan, and Norma from Mexico all had been accepted and would serve on the Logos Hope for a year; however, the ship (the Logos Hope) was not ready for sail so they joined us in Holland. Shortly after the trip the ship was ready and they set sail. I guess you could say i have a yin to travel. Ever since the trip to Holland my sophomore year I have loved traveling and other cultures. I was blessed to go to Haiti the following year on a mission trip as well. Haiti and Holland along with other cultures and countries fascinate me. It amazes me how other people live and their traditions. One is no more right than the other but rather they are all unique in their own way. Yet we all serve the same God. No matter what country you are in, what you eat, or how you dress God is the same. I remember being in Holland and Haiti on Sunday morning with the whole church singing praise to the King in their own tongue. Sometimes when i'm at church while everyone is singing i close my eyes and i can hear people singing in dutch and creole praises to God. We truly are such a small dot on a huge earth yet God moves in our lives and uses us. It amazes me how he loves us and uses us in ways we cannot even imagine. But i digress, so instead of being on a ship abroad right now i am in college studying to be a math teacher (which i love) and in a time of preparation. I don't know where i will teach once i have my bachelors and am working on my masters, but i feel called to full time missions and pray that God will have me teaching in another country in his timing. But who knows what God has in his plans. I could be teaching in a small school around here for the rest of my life. Whatever God has planned i know other countries and cultures will always hold a special place in my heart. All this thought from watching Eat, Pray, Love.

Unfortunately i often get stuck in a world of thought and cannot shut my brain off. However, i guess that is just how i deal with things. I often wonder about things. For example, as i was driving home saturday from Missouri i travel through this little city called Cairo, Illinois. Cairo has been ever since i remember a  "bad area" to travel through because it is known as "rough". It does not have many stores or much life to it as a city. The buildings and houses are run down and it has a more violent reputation. However, there are still people that live there and i often wonder what their stories are. What caused the area to become depleted and in the state it is in today? How is God working in the community and its people? It makes me think of Chattanooga Tennessee because it had become rundown and a rough area until the aquarium was built which brought industry back into the area, and as we can all see it is now thriving. But what would it take for Cairo to be built back up because it is a beautiful historic city? Or will it remain this way? I wonder how many people just travel through and how many have stopped to talk to the people and help them. Too often we look at the outward situation and immediately put a label or react in a certain way. Whether because it "is not safe" or it makes us step out of our own box i dont know, but we forget that they are still people with the same needs and desires. There is no difference between us when it comes down to it. We are all people created by God in his image to glorify him. The only thing that separates us is lost and found. We are all His sheep and we are to minister and love all people. So as i drive through Cairo Illinois each time i go to Missouri i wonder about the people there and how God is writing their stories. Maybe that's enough thinking for tonight and i will now be able to go to sleep. Oh well it's worth a try.

A little church in Cairo

Another church on the main drag in Cairo

And yet another church in Cairo
All three were within walking distance of the others

A typical house in Cairo

A New Old Discovery

So in a few hours i will be on my way back home after a wonderful week with family. But i thought i would share my fun find that i acquired tonight before going to bed. My Aunt Alta is one of my favorite people. She is so sweet and fun to be around plus she has the best stories. I remember her coming up to me at a family get together a few years back around thanksgiving in order to tell me that i am special because i am the only Weddle daughter left because the rest of them are married (lol. she doesnt have to worry about that anytime soon). She is too funny, but anyway she has been going through old pictures and things in order to purge the excessive amount to a more manageable sum. In this process she is having a yard sale tomorrow (well i guess technically it is today now) and while visiting tonight she asked me if i wanted to look through everything and see if i wanted anything. I dont know how many people know this but i love antiques and glass. Any kind of glass that is colored, textured, antique, blown, painted, in a unique pattern; it can come in a vase, bottle, lamp, bowl, or whatever- i love it! So while going through the stuff last night i came upon this bottle that was in the shape of a cottage house and had an old warn label that said "Mary Wheaton's Pancake Syrup" and it sat there in its deep blue glory with paul revere on a horse on the back with the original cork in it. So as you can probably guess i was so excited to have my new old discovery that my Aunt Alta gave me. I cleaned it up and researched to find that it is a 1976 Mary Wheaton Syrup Bottle that was made for the bicentennial at the time when they were celebrating Paul Revere's ride, which makes the bottle 35 years old. I must say it is one of the coolest looking things i think so i thought i would share. Well enough about that i'm off to sleep a few hours so i can go home tomorrow.

The blue bottle in all its glory:
Original Label and Everything!1

Paul Revere riding on his horse
with the date 1775

Something New

So i thought i would try out this whole blogging thing and see how i like it when i am not doing it because of a requirement for a class. I've been thinking a lot lately about various things and it all comes together under the statement or words Adventures & Footprints because as we all know life is a journey, but most of all i have realized how many adventures throughout my life already God has taken me on and the many more i look forward to as He continues to teach me. I hope and pray that i have and will continue to make a difference in other people's lives the way so many have made in mine, thus leaving footprints. It also makes me think of the poem "Footprints" that i am sure almost everyone has seen about God carrying you in the tough times when only one set of footprints was seen in the sand. Hence the title adventures & footprints.

I have had two days recently that i have been able to adventure around town and into some new places that i just love. I was in Springfield the other day and after finding the bank i discovered a cute little tea room across from a lovely turquoise building with a christian bookstore right down the way. The tea room was quaint and i got to discuss travels and tea from various countries with the owner. A conversation that i can say was truly planned by God.

Turquoise Building across from the Tea Room :)

This week though i have been fortunate enough to come to Missouri to spend time with my grandparents, Aunt, and cousins. When i was little i used to come up to Missouri and spend weeks during the summer, but this is the first summer since i had my first job at Thomas Drugs when i was 15 that i have been able to come spend a week. I came up on tuesday and get to stay until tomorrow. We have done many summer activities like swimming and going to the lake, but i must say my favorite was going to the Muny in Saint Louis. The Muny is an outdoor theater for live performances with paid and free seating available. They have many traveling productions come through from Singing in the Rain to Hairspray and Beauty and the Beast. However, this week The Little Mermaid opened Wednesday night with me, my Aunt, two cousins, and grandmother in the audience. It was so much fun from waiting in line and talking to those around us to the balloons and the performance.

The Little Mermaid: Balloon Version (lol) 

The Girls at The Muny

Today i had a couple of hours alone to venture around Farmington. It was one of the most beautiful days outside. I ate lunch at 12 West Bar & Grill, wandered through Jennie Annie's, around the block, and through The Oasis bookstore. While in the bookstore i found this book Leaving by Karen Kingsbury. In the first chapter they are at church when the preacher talks about no matter what in life people will always leave whether by choice or death, but the only one who remains and never leaves is Jesus, which is so true. As i have gotten older days seem to go by faster as well as years. Everything is constantly changing and i am moving on to different stages in my life. And i cannot honestly say that i like it. I mean don't get me wrong i love new adventures and change but the truth is that it scares me. It scares me that before i know it i will be older and loved ones will be gone. It scares me that life will be over before i know it. I mean these are all things that you know are true since you are little and people always say life is over in the blink of an eye, but it suddenly has caught up with me and i see it. And quite honestly it scares me. But thank God He is there and it all is in his hands because I know no matter what may come my way God has to allow it and he is there to carry me through it. He is there when there is only one set of footprints because he is carrying me. There are a lot of unknowns in life, and i'm glad i don't know because it takes out the fun plus i would not learn near as much or fall more in love with Jesus as he teaches me. Besides He is God and i'm not. Thankfully though he gives his peace which surpasses all understanding... Philippians 4:6-7. So no matter the adventures and people that walk through my life their footprints will forever remain and God will carry me through. Life is so short and i want to live showing everyone i come into contact with the love of Jesus and what he has done. "We dont have time to maintain these regrets when we think about the way he loves us oh how he loves us oh how he loves us O how he loves. . . " (How He Love Us).

Downtown Farmington

Random little church on the corner

Old Watch on a necklace I found
in Jennie Annie's