Act Justly. Love Mercy.

Proverbs 16:9

2009-04-13T14:44:00.000-07:00

The truest thing in my life right now.

The Adventure

2009-03-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

I should be packing, but I hate packing. So here are the other 2 videos. Mom is so silly. We had a great adventure up here. Maybe I will tell you all about it sometime!

And So This Is It

2009-03-08T23:29:00.001-07:00

I have been in Bend for 3 weeks now. It's strange how much it can feel like home, and yet I still feel a visitor. I'm learning what real transition is. Not the "throw everybody together in a community and love each other" (like Biola or camp), but forging your way in a new place and figuring out who you are again. There is something about being the new kid that yells loudly in your face who you are and how it's different from who you want to be.

I am still loving the snow. It doesn't happen too often, but when it does it's beautiful. My sister and I went snow shoeing today. It was beautiful and peaceful.

I have met some cool people.But I never realized how awkward the transition is from new "friend" to real friend. I spend a lot of time with my sister and a lot of time at home. I love it though. The family that I am living with is amazing. We have dance parties and pillow fights. Darcy and Scott are a solid couple and I can learn a lot from them. So I am perfectly content to spend all my time at home. For now.

Did I mention that it's beautiful here?

Paved Paradise

2009-02-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got, till it's gone?
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

I'm learning what it really means to wrestle with the Lord. And it feels so good when I'm done - like that energy you get after you work yourself really hard or go for a long, hard run. He's teaching me so much and it took my 22 years to figure out how to listen and I still have so much more to learn.

On another note, Oswald Chambers is brilliant. I've thought so for awhile, but he never ceases to amaze me.

The Road to Bend

2009-02-25T22:31:00.000-08:00

more to come...

Really?

2009-02-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

This time in life is so weird. People are getting married and moving and having babies. In some ways I feel like I am in the fast lane. Graduating, moving, planning for starting a ministry. And then other times I feel like everyone is in the HOV lane driving fast, and I am stuck on the other side in traffic. I have so much to do and yet nothing at all. Transition is weird - I will be glad to get up to Bend.

Moving will be crazy and exciting. I still don't know how I feel about living where it snows. My heart burns with passion though when I think about special needs ministry and working with Antioch. God has so prepared the way and now I get to walk in it. It's one of the best feelings in the world to know you're walking in the will of the Lord.

South Africa was incredible. I can't really sum it up - which is why I hate the question "how was Africa?" Really? You want me to say in a couple sentences how AFRICA was? Well if you want the long version: biolateamsouthafrica.blogspot.com.

Be blessed.Peace.

SB

Bye-ola

2008-12-19T17:46:00.000-08:00

Today I am a graduate.
Here's to the next chapter of life.

I don't have many words or much time. I do know that I am blessed and that it is by the grace of the Father that I am here. It is by his strength that I have accomplished this!

Here We Go

2008-12-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

The countdown: 10 days to graduation. I am having anxiety just trying to process all the emotion about these next couple of months. First I graduate. Then, off to South Africa. Not too long after, I move for the first time in my life, to Bend, OR. These are big life markers, life changers. And yet I feel that none of them are really going to happen.

I was told last night that I "seem like a graduate." I am not sure what that means, but I know that I feel like a little girl.

In other news, the Lord is so faithful in providing for Team South Africa. We still have about $2500 to go...by Friday, but somehow I have peace. I am completely trusting the Father on this one. And so far, He has been faithful.

10 days to graduation. 22 days to South Africa. 60 days to Oregon.
Life is a whirlwind.

Let's play some...FOOTBALL!

2008-11-26T22:24:00.000-08:00

I've fallen in love this semester. I have always enjoyed watching football, but I had no idea I would so LOVE playing it! I joined an intramural team back in September (a little reluctantly, the typical "I have too much to do" excuse kept trying to come up like word vomit).

The first game of the season proved to be a battle. Our coach couldn't come, we didn't have any subs, and we got to the game 15 minutes before it started... in our tie dye shirts. The other team, "Posse", showed up with three coaches, all wearing the intimidating colors of black and red, wearing their own flags and clearly already warmed up. We immediately starting thinking of creative plays, like dancing or falling down and pretending to be dead. Well two injured players later (making 6 out of the typical 8), we took them into overtime after scoring a touchdown each. We were down two men, and they had an entire defensive and offensive team. They weren't the only one's surprised. We were too.

Well I was one of the injured players. I got a black eye and a pretty decent gash. The EMT on site sent me to urgent care. You can see the nice shot of my shiner. I felt pretty BA. I won't lie.

Well we had a pretty great season. We consistently threw off the other team with our tie dye. I played the line and usually surprised them too. All 5 feet of me held off the big girls better than they thought I could.

We made it to the championships. Back where we began, we were playing "Posse." Well it was a really close game and we were tied and in the last 20 seconds they scored a touchdown. I suppose we took some hints from the Chargers. Despite the fact that we lost that game, it was a really fun season. And I love to play football now!

And Another

2008-11-19T20:40:00.001-08:00

The shots keep coming. I got Polio yesterday. They had to pinch the back of my arm to get it...I think the pinch hurt more than the shot.

School has been so stressful lately. I graduate in 29 days, and counting. Crazy.
In the midst of all of this though, I feel God surrounding me and reminding me to rest in Him. For my favorite class of all time that I am in right now, 'Jesus Life and Ministry', we were to read all 4 Gospels. By tomorrow. Well of course I just finished tonight. Yet, I found some encouragement (of course), in the midst of this being an assignment.

John 14:27- "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Shots

2008-11-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday the South Africa shots began. Hep A in the right arm and Typhoid in the left.
The Hep A feels fine, but the Typhoid arm is so sore. I even spiked a fever last night.
This is quite the adventure already, with fundraising, physicals, and shots! Two shots down and three shots and malaria pills to go!

I am so thrilled for this adventure. Just 5 1/2 weeks of school. Then I will be a college graduate, celebrating Christmas and almost on my way to South Africa!

6 Weeks

2008-11-03T17:15:00.001-08:00

I have two papers due Thursday. Two exams a week after that. Life is crazy. Going full speed! Fundraising for South Africa is underway. We leave next month. Crazy!

I am constantly reminded that I make God small in the way that I think. He is so big! I can't imagine finishing all that I have to do in the 6 weeks until graduation, but I know He will pull me through.

This post is everywhere, just like my mind!

Happy Birthday Pumpkin

2008-11-02T01:33:00.000-07:00

Emily (Pumpkin) and I have been best friends for twelve years! What a treasure that is, to have a friendship that has lasted so long. It is her 22nd birthday today!