Boredom Took Over...

So, for the past month or two, the "25 Random Things" post has been all over Facebook, and as much as I'd love to conform, I'm trying not to. But I found, as I was reading some friends' lists, that most of them had struggles in thinking of 25 things about themselves. Granted they were probably trying to think of all of them in a short amount of time, I managed to make my own list in my times of extreme boredom....AKA...school :)

• My favorite show growing up was Wheel of Fortune-I got hooked when I was still in diapers! Haha
• I have never fully dyed my hair
• I used to run the mile in track my fresman year, but I only beat one girl all season...and she was handicapped.-That's when I decided to become a shotput and discus thrower!
• I have a birthmark on my finger that I can make disappear
• I work at Starbucks, but I hate coffee
• I've lived in 3 different houses-all in Nappanee
• I hate storms
• My first real haircut was in the 1st grade. My mom cried and she still has the 8 or so inches from it.
• I saw the Nutcracker Ballet at the age of 10 in Salt Lake City
• I've been to 7 different countries-US, Mexico, Germany, France, Belguim, Netherlands, and Luxembourg-That number may be increasing this summer :)
• I love listening to classical and piano music
• My mom gave me 20 one-dollar lottery tickets as a part of my graduation present-I ended up winning $519 from them
• I've witnessed a sunrise and sunset all within an 8 hour plane ride-To this day, I've never seen anything more beautiful
• I used to have a pet crab named Sandy-She died because I never gave her water
• My favorite movie of all time is Lion King
• I once spent 4th of July at my dad's house in Utah-Due to the mountainous landscape, I was able to see nearly 20 different cities' fireworks shows at once on the clear night
• One of my goals is to visit all 50 states-I'm about halfway
• The only Disney Park I have been to is located in Paris, France
• Misspelled words are a huge pet peeve of mine.
• My dream job would be to travel the world taking photographs for National Geographic
• I used to receive postcards from all my dad's travels while he was in the Air Force-I probably have about 100 from all over the world
• I collect pens from hotels that I have been to or stayed at
• I love camping
• I regret not going to see the Mona Lisa when I visited the Louvre-I'll be going back to do that this summer thank goodness
• I designed NorthWood High School's school flag my senior year-I received a free iPod for it-It will be flying high for the next 30 or 40 years :)

Lessons Learned

I was recently encouraged to get back into blogging, seeing as how it has been almost two months since I have done so. With my many excuses in life, from work to school to church and the craziness in between, I have distanced myself from the blogging world to share about it all!

One topic that someone suggested I write about was an update on things with my junior high small group. It's been a little over a year now since I have been involved with the junior high ministry and I have loved every second of it! This school year, I was given a new challenge of having my own small group. Not only have they learned lessons from me, but I have learned from them as well. The new year brought upon a new small group. I don't know what changed throughout Christmas break, but I had a different group of girls return in 2009. Three of my five girls attended the Winter Retreat and we were able to talk and bond more than ever. This closeness, to my surprise, lasted after the Retreat as well! And as those girls opened up, so did the two who couldn't attend.

I have learned about family problems, struggles with eating disorders, TAWG (or lack there of), depression, and of course, boys. Some of these things have been very relateable to me, especially relating to myself when I was a junior higher (I hope I wasn't nearly as annoying about talking about boys though. Haha). On the other hand, though, many of their situations I still have not experienced, nor do I ever hope to, so it's alot more difficult to be an encourager when I can't put myself in their shoes. As of right now, I have one girl whose great grandfather just had a heart attack, one whose aunt has less than two weeks to live according to the doctors due to cancer, and one who is pretty much a loner and has a stuffed bear as a best friend. It's been difficult for me to reach out to these specific girls, but our group has grown just with them sharing and all of us praying, supporting, and crying with each other (yes, tears, and lots of them).

Throughout these times, God has been able to use me as guide towards Him. But in order to lead my girls in His direction, I have had to strengthen myself and keep myself accountable to set an example. My thoughts and actions have changed because I have realized how much those girls look up to me. I am a role model now and my actions, no matter where I go, have been based on that. I still have mistakes and flaws, but I try to better myself for them now, rather than for impressing other people for my benefit. My heart and soul is being poured out to these girls, and because of that, I want my heart to be in the correct place as much as possible.