“The Camp High”

DYC was unbelievable. It was life changing, powerful, rough, fun, and graciously filled with the holy spirit. 

In those four days, I learned so much about who Jesus is to my life, I’ve learned a lot more about the people God placed me to be with that weekend, I learned so much more about who I am and what I am worth, and I learned how to apply all those seminars, learning communities, praise songs, community service into my daily life. 

Colossians 2 : 17 “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” 

I have so much to work on  still but as these amazing conversations with Joel, Lisa, and Kris begin to unfold these last couple days, I see myself working what I have learned this past weekend into me right now. Into me today. I can recall oh “he” said that in this learning community or “he” preached about that. It’s like a defining moment of “omgsh that makes more sense now.” 

We were once enemies of God UNTIL Christ reconciled us through death. Jesus conquered death and sin for us and through Jesus we can be the perfect image of God. This excites me. This gets me shaken. I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart and I need his help to love others as myself.

I know I can’t save the day. Jesus can. He will heal his church, my church, my family, my weaknesses, and he will use me. I need to be available for him to use me. I strive to be used by him. I want to serve him. 

With all this said, I may still be on a “camp high” and all but I’m bringing it home tomorrow. I’m bringing it into the next week and months ahead of me. My camp high will be what I joyfully wake up with. 

Just in the last day I’ve conquered so much that may seem so little. I learned how to look at things from a broader perspective and not directly at the issue personally. I learned that letting it all spill out on the table is so amazing because as we confess our brokeness and sin God mends it all back together piece by piece and it all makes sense. 

Jesus Christ makes sense. He is the one I give my life to. 

Let’s be honest things I may have said I may have said it wrong, but it’s not the way I write them, it’s the way I feel them out that truly matters. I feel amazing, I am in awe, I am loving every minute of this moment. 

“I’m living my life as a 16 year old” 

-April 

Getting Presents:

lolsofunny:

when i was 5

Now

Blog that makes you LOL

(Source: crazierforyou, via lolsofunny)

Labor day

I honestly don’t know why Labor Day is a holiday but I am thankful it is! This last weekend was a 3 day weekend after a 3 day school week. Quite refreshing yet at the same time pointless.

Besides the point, years from now I want to remember these memories and special bonds I share with my lovely family that I adore so much so i’ll just list some of the highlights of my Portland adventures part 3 with a lot of the cousins this time!

Driving the longest I’ve ever driven, attempting for a 1/2 hour to use cruise control, silly songs in bed to cheer kaden up, that darn 12 disciple song, drug fact talk on the MAX, bbq with that one “dep trai,” bouncy house “mommy and me time disaster,” fluxx, bullying each other, the INS test family feud homework game, geocaching once, stargazing, cat caddying, and so so much more!

I am not sure if it’s Portland I love, the fact of being away from home, the love and praise I get from the To’s, the reminder that God is present in my life, the simple words Kaden says to me telling me I am his best friend and he loves me or something else but… I just miss it all so much. Especially those weeks in the summer!

I am so grateful for the amazing family I was lucky enough to be born into. Although being the baby of all the cousins and its hard sometimes I think it has shaped me into a better stronger person. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Everyone is back to reality and some of us have big changes starting and my scariest thought is losing contact with them all. But I know that we’re family and despite the daily/weekly things we don’t share with each other, we are all there when needed at any time of year!

“Don’t mess with the best because you’ll get burned like the rest”