Struggles...

Day 4 Prompt: When did you struggle?


Well, there were lots of times when I struggled. There were many times when I felt inadequate and clueless. Most of these moments were this summer at CentriKid as my first year as camp director. One particular situation sticks out in my mind where I really struggled.

While running camp at Campbell University, I came down with strep throat. It wasn't the sore throat that was so bad, it was the high temperature and the body aches that were so unbearable. I remember receiving a call at 5 am of a church group locking themselves out the their dorm. I got up, walked across campus, and unlocked their rooms. It was apparent that I was getting sick when I woke up that morning. Throughout the morning, I continued feeling worse and worse. I have never had a illness come on so fast in my entire life! In a matter of about 4 hours, I felt like I was dying. After leading adult gathering, I went and told my assistant director that I was going to have to go to the doctor. There was no possible way I could make it through the rest of the day if I didn't go. So, I drove for about an hour trying to find a clinic (our camp was in the middle of nowhere). Finally I found one, got the diagnosis, sat in a Walgreens parking lot waiting for 45 minutes, and returned to campus.

Yes, being sick was a struggle. It would be for anyone. But the part that I struggled with most was the fact the I had to be quarantined in my dorm room all day. My assistant director, Caroline, wouldn't even let me come to staff meeting. She was the voice of reason. I wanted so badly to make sure things were running smoothly, everything was taken care or, and that everything remembered to get done. This was the struggle! Not being able to do my job--my duties. I spent the rest of the day in and out of a fever, wincing in pain every time I swallowed, and thinking about what was going on outside my dorm at that moment.

During that day, I learned that the team was okay without me. Sure, there were a few things that didn't get done, but nothing major. Camp still happened and the Lord still changed lives. That day was a huge struggle for me, but I made me realize that things will get done when you have other leaders step up. This is what I love about serving with CentriKid Camps, the quality of staff we hire is second to none. Teams are teeming with leaders just waiting to step up and get things done.

What I've Been Reading...

Day 3 Prompt: What books did you read in 2011?

I love reading, but this year I've been in a reading funk. I can't seem to get back into my love for books. There were times when I thought I was getting out of the funk, but once I finished a great book, it was back in it. I honestly attribute this to the fact that when I was in college, I read books to escape "real" homework. Weird, I know. Now that I have more free time, I'm having trouble rediscovering my passion for reading. That being said, there were a few books that I read and several that I am currently reading.


Books I Read in 2011
Gap Creek--Robert Morgan
Jumping Through Fires--David Nasser
Low Country--Anne Rivers Siddons
Twilight Series--Stephanie Meyer
Redeeming Love--Francine Rivers
Crazy Love--Francis Chan
Forgotten God--Francis Chan
The Last Song--Nicholas Sparks
Dear John--Nicholas Sparks
At First Sight--Nicholas Sparks
True Believer--Nicholas Sparks
Nights in Rodanthe--Nicholas Sparks


Books I'm Currently Reading
The Hunger Games--Suzanne Collins
21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership--John Maxwell
A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael--Elisabeth Elliot

Books on My Shelf to Read
Christy--Catherine Marshall
Safe Haven--Nicholas Sparks
A Walk to Remember--Nicholas Sparks
Barefoot--Elin Hilderbrand
Adopted for Life-- Russell D. Moore


If you've read any of these, let me know what you thought. Also, comment with others I MUST read!!!

New Friends...

Day 2 Prompt: Who did you meet in 2011?

There were tons of new people that I met throughout 2011! I met some celebrities, added to my CentriKid family, and made some new, lifelong friends.

In January, I met my new cooperating teacher, Coach Dunkel, that I'd be teaching alongside. I literally could not have chosen a better person to mentor under while teaching 700 middle schoolers. She taught me how to love children, but still be a person that was respected by them. She also reinforced that making personal connections with kdis was the way to get them to follow you as an educator. I fostered healthy relationships with my students and was able to show them that I cared for them and cared about their education.

In March, I met my second cooperating teacher, Coach Babelay. She taught me how to show tough love to my high school freshman and to not get run over by them. She showed me how to be a stong female in the male dominated profession of teaching Physical Education and Health.

In May, I officially met my 2011 CK1 CentriKid team, 32 loving, caring, hysterically funny college-aged folks who became my family for the summer. I had the priviledge of leading and learning from these people as we traveled all over the southeast ministering to children and adults. This summer I learned their hearts and they learned mine. We laughed, cried, and grew together for over 2 months.

Here is my amazing new family from the summer of 2011. Dream Team!

In August, I moved to Nashville and began my job at LifeWay. I knew quite a few people, but have met some fun ones along the way. Some of the coolest folks I've met have been the Duggars. Yep, all 20-somthing of them. Seriously, I did! Some of us working the Kids Ministry Conference even to hang out with all the kids for several hours. We played Scrabble and even taught them the "Scramble" face (see pics below). We got to see their bus they travel in and hear about their lives. I asked them about life and their walks with Christ. we talked football and photography. They were a fascinating family, not a ton different than any normal-sized one. Below are some pictures of our awesome time together!

These are just a few of the many folks I've met over the course of 2011. Until tomorrow, friends!

Beginning...

Well, it's officially day 1 of #reverb11, so here it goes!

Prompt: Where did 2011 begin?

2010 ended and 2011 began with one of my best friends, Lauren. She drove up from Alabama to spend a few days in Gatlinburg. We ate dinner, walked around town, watched fireworks, and I'm pretty sure stayed up way later than necessary giggling like 5th graders. It was both of our first times to ever be in Gatlinburg to see New Year's festivities. Yes, even though I've lived there my entire life, I've never taken part in the craziness of New Years. Lauren and I even ran into another staffer from our 2010 CentriKid team, so we had to document the event.

Peter happened to be in town, as well, for the holiday. So fun getting to reunite! CK4Life!

Now that I've relived where I was physically in the beginning of 2011, where was I mentally and spiritually?

Mentally, I was preparing to student teach in a middle school and high school. I was busy writing lesson plans and thinking about graduating in 6 months. Typical college senior, I suppose.

Spiritually, I was trying to trust the Lord as to my future plans. I remember stressing about getting a teaching job and still working Centrikid Camps. It wasn't until several months later that my plans (for at least the next year) were set in place--my internship at LifeWay.

And that's where I began 2011, a year of new things, of transitions, of firsts, of friends, of fun. Stay tuned for more on 2011!

Reverb11...

As I'm sure you've noticed, consistent blogging has been a failure for me. I even wrote a blog post today for work that posts in a few weeks about writer's block. Ahhh! I'm tired of having nothing to say! So, I'm going in a different direction. Last year several of my friends participated in Reverb10, where a community of bloggers wrote or tried to write on a prompt every day in December. This was done so folks could reflect on the year and what they had experienced. Even though Reverb11 isn't an official project like last year, after reading my friend Laura's blog, I decided to try my hand at this project. It's not going to be easy, but I'm hoping it will turn into sort of a journal for me. Confession: I hate journaling. I don't do it. But, alas, I want to challenge. So here we go!!!

While there aren't official prompts this year, one of the creators has written some "unofficial" ones for her followers. So, I'm going to use those. Here they are:

1. Where did 2011 begin?
2. Who did you meet?
3. What books did you read?
4. When did you struggle?
5. What did you discover?
6. Who was important to you?
7. What do you hope to remember?
8. Where did you spend money?
9. When were you most scared?
10. What questions did you ask?
11. Who surprised you?
12. What did you learn?
13. When did you feel the most relaxed?
14. Where did you leave a mark?
15. What movies did you see?
16. What did you accomplish?
17. When were you the most grateful?
18. Who touched your heart?
19. Where did you visit?
20. When did you cry?
21. Where did you spend your time?
22. What were your favorite songs?
23. Who did you miss?
24. When did you take the easy way?
25. Where did you eat?
26. Which blogs did you enjoy most?
27. When did you celebrate?
28. What are your dreams for next year?
29. Who will attract into your life?
30. What do you want to do in 2012?
31. Where do you hope to be on Jan 1, 2013?

Friends, I'm really going to try to stick with this. For real.

Thankful...

Sorry it's been so long since an update on my life. Not a whole lot has been going on. Just working and what-not. I don't have a lot of wisdom to impart this evening, but I would like to take time to enjoy this season... no, not the Christmas season (check out my last post to see my opinions on that), but the Thanksgiving season. I really do love Thanksgiving. It has all the great aspects of Christmas, without all the things I hate about the Christmas season. Feel free to take time to read my cliche-ness--things for which I am thankful.

- My family. Yes, they are crazy. Yes, I want to kill them on occasion. Yes, they embarrass me. But I still love them. My family has always been there for me. They've loved me and taken care of me, even when I've screwed up and let them down. I'm so excited to get to sit down with them and each 29874 types of pie and casserole, watch football, and pester the heck out of each other. It's what we do!

- My friends. Words cannot express how thankful and blessed I am by the non-blood family the Lord has placed in my life. They truly are an extension of my family. My best friends are always there for me. They're there to encourage the heck out of me, but also there to call me out when I'm being dumb and irrational (both of the latter happen more often than I would like. Some of them have seen me at my worst. They've let me cry and tell them my hurts, and they've been there to love on me and pray for me. The thing I love and am thankful for most, though, is how they constantly point me towards Christ. My sisters in Christ are always directing me towards that Gospel, and for that I am ever thankful.

- My job. I love my job. I work at a place where I feel comfortable to be me. I enjoy (most of) the work I do, and I love the people I work with.

- The Gospel. I am thankful most for this. I'm thankful for the Gospel because without it, none of the above things in my life would matter. I was reminded on Sunday of the intense power and necessity of the Gospel. This song is a great picture of it in its entirety...

In Christ Alone

In Christ Alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, My All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ Alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Three Reasons Why I Tend to be a Scrooge...

Now is the time of the year where people begin playing Christmas music and talking about the holidays and what-not. This is also the time of year where at some point in the conversation it gets revealed that I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas. Actually, I could care less if it was Christmas. Friends usually respond with a sense of disbelief when I divulge my apathy towards this season.

Please don't get me wrong, I am a strong Christian and believe in the power of the Gospel; I just hate what this season has become about. It is no longer about Christ and the fulfillment of scripture, but about these things:


Commercialism -- "tendency to turn everything into objects, images, and services sold for the purpose of generating profit. There is also a tendency for intangible things such as happiness, beauty, or health to be given a monetary value and to be spoken of as commodities. Commercialism can also refer to the domination of things by business/corporate interests, or the exploitation of intangible things for private gain."

Conflict--So many people have family issues that holidays are a rough time. Families no longer get together to invest in and love one another. They (might) get together because that's what is supposed to be done, not because they genuinely care about each other. I've seen this first hand.

Craziness--The Christmas season turns into pure craziness. Whether it's families rushing from place to place or insane parents waiting in line for days to spend hundreds of dollars for their child's gift from "Santa."


I know that sounds a little weird and unnatural, but it's not that I don't love Christ, I just hate what Christmas has become.

Here is the real story from Luke 2:13-20...

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.