Carving Pumpkins...

Some of the leaders in my dorm had a night of carving pumpkins last nights...it was lots of fun. Here are some pictures from the night...




Other updates...Basketball season is about underway. We have our first scrimmage tonight and then an alumni game on Saturday and then our first official game is next weekend! Crazy huh?

I just noticed I have some flowers that a friends gave me like a month ago and they have mold all over the bottom of them...ha! Just a friendly reminder that I am a college student..

Well I have Monday nap time with some friends, it's a tradition, when we can which isn't often but today it is going to happen! And then pre-game party with some of the girls on my hall...we listen to ACDC and then put t-shirt sleeves on our heads and dance to the music. Ok, you don't have to remind. I am strange. But I love these times.

I hope all is well for all of you. Keep a smile of your face and loving the Lord! He is great great great!

E

It's October!

I just got back from my first test of the semester. Church History! Yeah for Augustine and Leo the Great!

So it seems that everyone else around the blogworld has fun pictures or what not, so I thought I would show you some events from this year at Sterling so far...

These are the RA's I work with in my hall. I love them so much! We dressed up to make a video for the girls with all the rules. We would rather them not glare at us when we turn into the fun-suckers at the beginning of the year.


These are the RA's again...we had to do a skit at the beginning of the year. We taught everyone how to make cookie dough. It ended up a mess, I even threw an egg at the wall. Needless to say, we aren't allowed to do that anymore...

This one is of my new roommate Melissa...she is great! We both were wearing green this particular day and we thought we should take a picture!

On Tuesday night Tabor played volleyball in Sterling. With Tabor comes three of my great friends from Wichita. I have grown up with Audrey and Jesica since we were in diapers at church. Christy, was our small group leader in high school, so we had a little reunion. I miss these girls so much!

Here is a picture of my team this year. We had a retreat in Wichita a couple weekends ago. They are great!

Lastly, I think this one could be my favorite. My good friend Shannon and I had really bad "chiggers" at the beginning of the year. Well we heard this little rumor that if you put clear nail polish on them, they will die. Well, we couldn't find clear so we used red. Needless to say it didn't work and we had red spots all over our legs at church the next day.


Well that is all from here. I need to do something more productive with my life...
Have a great day everyone!

E

I have to write a paper...

Ok so I am sitting in the library trying to write a paper for my Ethics class. I have NO ATTENTION span right now...it sucks. I have been tyring to write this for two hours and let me tell you what I have.

A heading.

Woo! I can write my name, the date, and my professor's name on a paper in two hours...I must be the most incredible writer ever.

(That was sarcasm if you didn't catch it)

So why not get on my blog now, that I never seem to update and take another break? Ok...sounds good to me!



So here is an update on my life...
We are in our 3rd week of conditioning. Let me just tell you that I have never run this much in my life. Here was my Tuesday...

5:40: Ding Ding! Alarm, I turn and look at my trusty cell-phone, and wonder if is is ok to hit the snooze. Nope. I have to get up.
5:42: Wander to the bathroom to brush my teeth, my favorite part of the morning
5:45: My friend Shannon knocks on my door, she cam over because we decided to pray for a friend who's mom has a tumor in her heart and had a byopsy (sp!) that morning.
6:10: Off to my individual workout at the gym! Yeah!
6:11: Walk outside...it is FREEZING! Yikes! Should've worn some pants...
6:20: Start streching, I realize how old I am..that sucks
7:25: Work is over. I am wide awake and ready for the day now
7:30: Take a shower, I have class in two minutes
7:50: BPC, class with my foster dad...
9:15: Church History with Dr. Hank...I struggled staying awake in this one
11:30: Lunch
1:10: Ethics...always a great time
2:45: Change and get ready for more workouts
3:15: Work on fundrasing stuff
4:00: My favorite part of the day..Conditioning on the track
4:20: This is when I am offically wondering why I decided to play basketball, just kidding
4:45: Is this ever going to end?
4:50: Please let this be the last set of stairs...
5:00: FREEDOM!
5:30: Dinner
6:00: Went to the library to research for the paper I am suppose to be working on now
8:00: Volleyball games in the gym
9:00: Sonic Run..I was in need of a slush...
10:30: Start some homework
10:40: Weird guy comes in my room, try to do the whole, love youlike Jesus would, but really would have rathered him not to have been in there
11:00: Laughed with friends for awhile.
11:30: Took a 5 min nap.
12:00: I should go to bed
12:30: Still hanging out with friends and having hilarious converstaions
1:00: Time to read my bible...I think I feel asleep


Ok I think this was the dumbest blog entry anyone on the face of the planet has ever written. So I hope you didn't waste your time, like I just did. Oh crap it is 8:30 and I still just have a heading on my paper.

I love college.

Well...sometimes at least.

persecution.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted, because they live for God. And the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
Matthew 5:10

What does this really look like? I mean persecution. What does it mean for you and me to be persecuted? Maybe being mocked by friends, Maybe feeling uncomfortable when we are worshiping in a big community and the people around us don't express their praise to God like we do. Persuction in the states. Where is it? I have really be struggling lately with understanding this concept. I know their is persecution here but not to the extent of other places around the world.

So how did all of this come up? Why I am about to write a really long blog-entry about something that might seem a big boring...because here at Sterling the Lord is doing things I would have never imagined here. And the other day when all my freshmen teammates got here I was trying really hard to not come across "too-spiritual", I mean I didn't want to offend them in anyway. WAIT! HOLD ON! What was I saying? Mt 5:10 has been in my head for days now and thinking of the persecuted people around the world. Being persecuted means you LIVE FOR GOD. So am I living for God wholly if I am not being persecuted? I don't think this means we need to be the bullhorn man (if anyone seen Rob Bell's nooma on that you will understand) but I do know for a fact that my faith is no longer a faith to be apologetic about. It's time for me to be bold and so what if I get persecuted. So what if my team mates think all I care about is God...oh wait, that is what care about.

So that is part one. Now, ever since I have been here many people in leadership here have felt like the Lord has told them that revival is coming this year at Sterling. I think revival is great. But I have to say I am a doubter by nature and I am not the first to jump on board and proclaim that is will happen. These last few weeks I have really been struggling with what revival is, what it looks like, and how God is going to really do that here at Sterling.

This past weekend the Lord has revealed more to me than ever before I think. Sunday night we had a worship service on the lawn of Cooper (one of our buildings) and then afterwards a bunch of us went up to our 24 hour Chapel room and had more worship. That turned into 3 hours of worship. There is something sacred about worshiping with your best friends and letting the spirit move when you could be in bed and doing a million other things. That night the Lord laid upon all of us that it is time for us to step up and be bold. He especially did to the men of this campus. The football guys that are looked at as being weak because of their faith. Well we prayed over them and now they are strong in the Lord. The guys that I haven't seen show their love to the Lord ever are now holding prayer times late into the night. We decided that night that we might as well all go for the Lord together. We have each other's backs and if we fall, well then we fall together. What can we really lose?

Then Monday night the guys got together and prayed into the night. Then Tuesday night we have about 2 and 1/2 hours of prayer and worship at a prayer we always have once a week on campus. But this year we moved it to be in Kilbourn basement, which is the hall known for the most sin and immorality on campus. Our voices rang through the halls and we were not apologetic.

Here is where it all came together. Wednesday morning at chapel. The most dreaded time on campus for everyone. That hour that we have to sit through and most people are asleep and the Lord to the least is not really being glorified. But this year they decided to change things up. So we have some worship songs right? Well technically difficulties as always.

It was rough.

It was awkard.

I wanted it all just to work.

Then it started a little better. Words came up on the screen and some people started to sing along.

Have you ever head about a million thoughts come into your head in less than 30 seconds and wonder why on earth you are never able to actually speak that fast? And how do you have 5 different conversations at once and debate with yourself all at the same time?

That was me. I wanted to stand and worship the way I know how to. I looked to the left. I looked to the right. My freshmen teammates surronded me. The softball girls were behind me. These are the girls on campus that are known to get called out by the chaplain for talking. I was trying to decide at the moment if I wanted to live for God. But then at the same time if I stand are the girls going to think I am some sort of spiritual heirarchy? The perfect person they already think I am? I don't want them to see me that way. I want to see me as once a broken person that has now been saved by God's good grace.

And then I look to my left. There was my dear friend Andy. He decided to stand in the middle of our huge auditorium that looks like a watermelon. Then John gets up on the far left side. Then Grace gets up in the front. At that moment, Sunday night came back to me. All or nothing right? In basketball we would say go big or go home. At that moment I looked and saw realtionships with friends I had built for the last 2 years that now are above and beyond anything I could ever imagine. We are united. And we are spread. We aren't in a click or stuck together. We are spread throughout our student body praising our Lord the way we wanted. At that moment I lived for God. I didn't care what people said around me. Which if you know me, takes a lot because I am the biggest people pleaser you will know.

My friends are my sisters and brothers. We have each other's back. We promised each other. The men on this campus are leading like I have never seen men lead before. Their boldness amazes me and I smile just being in their presence. I have laughed while worshiping lately just because I have been so filled with joy from the Lord.

It has been so cool to see our realtionships form to where they are today. I truly believe that the Lord had something planned for the Junior Class at Sterling College for 2007-2008. I don't know what that looks like. Is it revival? Maybe. Or maybe it is just the Lord bringing us up into the leaders he wants us to be? Whatever it is. It is good. And the Spirit is on the move. He sweeps through the classrooms, the cafteria, the dorms and there is an joy that is within the hearts of the believers on the campus. Why? Because our God is so big, he is mighty to save. He wrote salvation. He moves the mountains. And there is no person to big of a problem for his love.

Lastly, I help lead a worship time on Wednesday nights in my hall. We weren't going to have it last night because there was another event, but since it rained that event got cancelled so at dinner we spread the world that Evans Worship was going to happen. To my surprise the lobby of hall was packed out and the praises of our songs filled my hall. Unapologetically we sang. It was beautiful. It was worship. We sang into the Lord's presence and praised Him for his faithfulness.

I don't know what is going to happen at Sterling this year. But I do know that something will. And if I am persecuted in the process. Well then so be it.

I know this is long, but it is from my heart and I just needed to write it down and share it with people that have supported me so much in the years. There is a ton more to this that I didn't write but that is ok. Pray for Sterling when you think about it. Pray for us to be faithful to the Lord. Pray that we are so humble that everything we do is for the Lord and not a bit of it is for ourselves. Pray that lives are changed for the glory of the Lord.

Remember, blessed are the persecuted, because they live for God.

Don't be scared. Be joyful.

Guess who's back...back again...guess who's back...tell a friend...

We have a frog infestation in Sterling. My friend Shannon actually stepped on one and blood came out and we heard the bones crunch. They are everywhere. But they are kind of cool I guess.

Just to add an extra fact from the town of Sterling.

Besides the frogs, everything else is relativly similar. They were rapidly trying to finish up projects throughout buildings. Considering you could see the sky when walking into the gym, that could be a problem. It is still humid and hot and just when you get the right breeze it might smell as though 1000 cattle live outside your window. But besides all those, I am gotten to spend some amazing time with some of the closest friends I have. So that = bliss.

RA Training has been good. They want us to feel like a family this year and they are doing a phemonal job of that. Random wake up calls at 5 am to run and do abs and wall sits and carry each other and who knows what else. To bowling. To swimming. To laughing so hard we are crying. It has been great.

But that is over now. I guess our real job must start. Fall athletes moved in today. Freshmen come on Friday. That is will be fun. Seeing all the mom's trying to do every possible "mom" thing they can do before having to really let go, while the dad's wonder why their daughters need all the stuff they are carrying in. That is always hilarious.

So that is life now. Staying up late. Having great talks. Catching up on summers. I had friends half way across the world and hearing their stories is wonderful. My one friend was in Guinea Bassau all summer, the whole country doesn't have electricity or running water. One of the poorest countries in the world. Hearing her stories has been incredible. Another friend was in Turkey and Israel. She ran on the street where Jesus drug His cross. Another was serving her heart out at a camp with high school girls. It's amazing how many different experiences we had but yet we still come back like no time has passed.

Random thoughts for the day...hope you enjoyed them.

Today smile like you never ever before.

Love.

Back to Sterling...

Ok, maybe you all will stumble across this in about 3 months from now because the probably of my actually writing on post on here is just about as likely as Kellie getting a tan. Sorry Kellie, no bad feelings intended by that...

So let's see what has happened since my last post in April. I went to Kenya. Which most of you have already heard all about and I am sure wish I would just stop talking about it at some point. Kenya has a huge place in my heart and I love it so much there, there is something beautiful about another culture and another country that is suppose to see life as hopeless but yet they turn around with pearly white smiles against their beautiful ebony skin, that i so wished sometimes i had, and see an array of hope that the rest of the world looks at with pity. Yeah i know, that was a horrendous run on but oh well. So in the short of it, I feel more in love with the country of Kenya and has made me realize how much I just want to see the world and more importantly, that people of it. So if you ever want to go, let me know, I will be right next to you on those fun plane flights.

Carol, Stephen, and Me,

A Local Masaai Woman, isn't she beautiful?

This is one of my favorite pictures, it is my friend Peter and I walking back from walking some street boys to school in the morning. I had one of best conversation of the trip with him that morning and the trees there always amazed me.

This is Rose. She is an AIDS Orphan I worked with the last two summers. She is what really describes the word amazing. Her life is so unique and the Lord has spoken through her to me so evidently it is incredible. I wish you all could meet her.

Swimming in a local river, in a skirt, with the boys!

Some friends at the conference.

What else? I worked at my church and learn a WHOLE lot. But that is boring, I won't spend time talking about all that. Had a campout for my basketball team at sterling, a huge 4 people came, but it was a blast! I also got the chance to go to Colorado and visit friends from school, go to a conference and go to a Rockies game! It was probably one of the best trips I have ever been on.

Bball girls on our camping trip!

These are some of the girls I worked with this summer at camp in Shilom Springs.

Worshiping at desperation. So Sweet.

Friends at the Rockies Game, we made those t-shirts, pretty sweet huh?

These are our lucky headbands, the reason we won the game! This is my good friend Shannon, she is great!


So now I am off to start my Junior year of school at Sterling College. To be an RA, play basketball and take 18 hours in hopes of actually finishing the two majors I started with but still wonder at times if I even want to stay in them. I do understand why the average college student does change majors 7 times, how do you pick? I can't. Anyway, here is to finishing another year and closer to graduating and then to actually finding some sort of job. Oh yikes, let's not think of that, the real world. I don't want to go there yet. Nope, now is the time to just party. That sounds much better.

Anywho...hopefully I will update this more so you all can stay in tune with my life, since I know if it sooo incredibly exciting. Yeah, I know you wake up every morning waiting to check the family blogs and see what all is going on. Just kidding, but for the few that do check this, I will do my best.

Ok. Go. Live for Jesus. And Be Brillant.

Peace Out.

E

30 days...

in 30 days i get to step my feet upon a flying piece of metal and fly across the atlantic to switzerland and then off to kenya. can i just tell you how i can't wait? not one little bit...i cannot wait! the fact that in 30 days, my 2 research papers will be done, i will have hopefully passed chemistry and never have to take another science class again, no more meetings, no more drama (at least for a little bit). just me and my favorite place in the world. with might i say some of the coolest.

i just can't wait. so if you think about it family. pray for kenya. that is the most amazing country to me. i love it. i love the smells. i love the food. i love the people. i love the love there. i wish i could take you all with me but i know i can't but i am kinda of taking you all with me since i know you are praying for me so much.

besides craving to go back to africa. i am just hanging here in sterling. laughing a lot and trying to say sane with all the homework and workouts. laughing helps. just in case you haven't laughed really hard in a long time. you should. it helps. promise. here are some random pictures of me with some of my favorite people in the world. i hope you enjoy them, i wish you could meet all of them too. the Lord has blessed me with so many great friends...

i love you all so much. hopefully i will see you soon! i really hope so... remember to smile and laugh. be joyful in the Lord, i promise there is always something to be thankful for. always.

(the pics in case you wanna know...
#1 at kenya date night, we are all fake laughing, just for fun...aren't we cute?
#2 me and jill and renee swisher two of my teammates at one of the boys conference tournament games
#3 me and renee at nationals...we are pretty much inseperable
#4 team kenya!! yeah! we had a date night where we auctioned ourselves off and those were our promotional shirts with pink duck tape
#5 my whole team at basketball, we are pretty much a huge family, it kinda happens when you spend every waking moment together)

new semester...new challenges...

so i woke up this morning after around 5 hours of sleep. to the beautiful sound of my alarm clock, oh that is my favorite sound in the world. went to my 7:50, which happens to be Jesus, as i struggled to stay awake the whole time, my professor asks beyond hard questions for that early in the morning and I sat there feeling a bit inadequate, ok, really inadequate. this semester might be my hardest i have ever had before, ok, once again, it will be.
so my perfectionism of A's might come to a halt, is that such a bad thing? well for me, yes.
so then as i am walking back, in the cold winter weather which makes me feel as though my face is falling off, i wonder...will life ever be easy again? i mean easy like, go back home and let mom take care of you easy. oh, now those were the days. but i also guess if life wasn't challenging, than what would i really be striving for in all reality?
so as i make my way into my dorm i find my friend grace, who is still up from the night before working on her book review and we discuss this.
i guess it's good to be busy, but really i just want to quit all the commitments i have here, just for like one week. what would it be like? to not have to go to practice everyday at 3:30? to not have to be the authority on my hall and tell my girls to shut up at 1 am every night? to not have to be the resolver of every drama issue a college girl could come up with? to not have to go to 8 meetings every week? to not have to say no to so many friends who want to hang out, but i can't because i have too much to do? to not do homework?
well...just thoughts to ponder. i wouldn't change my busyness for anything once i think about it, because i would most likely go insane. but still every once in awhile i need a vacation. just a weekend retreat would be nice. at least to just be still before the Lord and be able to focus on Him. That's the hardest part about this, finding time with Him. And wanting that time too.
Well family...i love you all. a lot. and am beyond blessed to have you all in my life. you probably won't read this because i never update, but if you do...keep on going...just keep on going...
there is a prize at the end of this race...
at least i cling onto that promise...

now off to research methods, where i get to decide what topic i would most likely wirte my disertation on...any ideas?

loves...

Finals week!

Well...lots has been going on. And since I am a college student and our number accomplishment seems to always somehow procrastinate I thought why not update my blog instead of studying for my last final...right? This is more fun anyways. I just took my hardest final in Human Social Context, definitly my least favorite class I have ever taken and I am so glad it is over with. Everyone leaves the dorms today but the basketball teams. We are stuck here for awhile, gotta love it right? The whole point of dorm life is the girls in the dorm and when they are all gone it is kinda sucky...well...yeah it is.

So anyways, I am putting some pictures on here of all the christmas parties and what not that has been going on. My closest friends here, Sarah, Michelle, Hillary, and Grace, we all went out to dinner together for our christmas present to each other, since we are all so broke! Anyways, they are amazing and they mean the world to me. I couldn't survive here without them. IF you all are ever up here, make sure to meet them. They are great!

The other pictures are from my wing christmas party. I took my girls on my wing out to Pizza Hut and we had a white elephant gift exchange. I was lucky enough to get a toy plane for my gift, it is pretty slick. Anyways, it was a fun time. I have a great wing of girls, we are all loud and crazy and love laughing, so I know Pizza Hut loved us when we were done, if you know what I mean :)
Anyways, I need to study for my Themes in Biblical History test now...my foster dad teaches it so don't you think He should give me a break, I mean I am his kid and all :) Just kidding...
Love you all!

Finals week!

Well...lots has been going on. And since I am a college student and our number accomplishment seems to always somehow procrastinate I thought why not update my blog instead of studying for my last final...right? This is more fun anyways. I just took my hardest final in Human Social Context, definitly my least favorite class I have ever taken and I am so glad it is over with. Everyone leaves the dorms today but the basketball teams. We are stuck here for awhile, gotta love it right? The whole point of dorm life is the girls in the dorm and when they are all gone it is kinda sucky...well...yeah it is.

So anyways, I am putting some pictures on here of all the christmas parties and what not that has been going on. My closest friends here, Sarah, Michelle, Hillary, and Grace, we all went out to dinner together for our christmas present to each other, since we are all so broke! Anyways, they are amazing and they mean the world to me. I couldn't survive here without them. IF you all are ever up here, make sure to meet them. They are great!

The other pictures are from my wing christmas party. I took my girls on my wing out to Pizza Hut and we had a white elephant gift exchange. I was lucky enough to get a toy plane for my gift, it is pretty slick. Anyways, it was a fun time. I have a great wing of girls, we are all loud and crazy and love laughing, so I know Pizza Hut loved us when we were done, if you know what I mean :)
Anyways, I need to study for my Themes in Biblical History test now...my foster dad teaches it so don't you think He should give me a break, I mean I am his kid and all :) Just kidding...
Love you all!

long time no write...

hey everyone...well i am sure no one even reads this anymore but...here is an update on my life!
bball has begun...we had our alumni game tonight and we won 97-72 it was a good time. we have our first game on tuesday at baker and then tournaments every weekend until after thanksgiving and then conference games begin! anyways, it keeps me busy but it is fun, i love the girls they always make me smile!
life is just crazy but God is good and always faithful so He is the one who keeps me sane. i try to wake up every morning with His name on my lips and choosing to walk in His spirit and not by the flesh. anyways...enough of that!
i will try and put some pictures of fun times at sterling...just so you all can be envious of staying up late and living the party life :)
oh yeah...and melanie and michele take care of my little cousins i miss them so much, hopefully i can come and just play with them soon. tell chloe that her art is amazing and i want to paint or draw with her sometime! oh and i loved their outfits at halloween!!

Mis Amigas...

My good friend Sarah came for a visit all the way from South Carolina...I have missed her so much and it was so good to see her and catch up on times.
So I thought I would let you all meet some of best friends. They are all incredible girls! And just amaze me everyday.


This is Sarah and Michelle and Me...Two of the coolest girls in the world...seriously they are...you should hang out with them sometime and you will understand why.


This is one of my favorite pictures I think ever...I love squeezes as many people as you can in a picture you take with your own arm...gotta love it right??

Here is a group shot of all of us at the football game on Saturday night. The girls in the pic....Hillary, Me, Sarah, Grace, Kate, and Michelle. We like to laugh. A lot
.

busy....

my life is busy...
pure busyness...
non-stop...

...4 hours of sleep has been my record this week...every night so far...
...a bagel with peanut butter and honey has been my meal for lunch and dinner all week...
...i got my first bad grade on a test this year today...
...but...
...i wouldn't trade the times i have with my girls for anything...

...pray that i stay sane in the next week and a half...
...lots to do... :)

Water Slideski...

The whole gang....

Ok...so as an RA (Resident Assistant) I have to throw wing events. Basically a time to bond as a wing of girls and get to know each other better. Needless to say...we had our first one last night. I have always wanted to have a waterslide inside of Evan's in the basement....so we did. (Soap Angels!!)

Yes. We had the 1st and not last waterslide inside of a dorm! It was awesome. Julie (my fellow RA on the hall) joined in with us with her wing so it was our whole hall! My RD even came in and joined on the action!! Anyways, just one of the many reasons why college is the best time of your life. Here are some great pictures from the event!

Jilly sliding...

It was so much fun!! This is Kate and Jill in the sink when we were cleaning up!

Sterling Revival

Here are the number one volleyball fans driving to the game! :)


I'm telling you it's those Sunday Night chapels. It's Sterling College. This place I did not want to come back to about 2 months ago, but now that I am back I am incredibly thankful.
Last night I got to see one of my very close friends commit her life to Jesus! Someone I have been praying for fervently for a year. Seeing that happen is mind blowing. I held her for awhile and just cried, she probably thinks I'm crazy, but I was so joyful.
After that a few of my closest friends here on campus walked around campus for about an hour and just prayed over places where we feel the enemy has a strong hold and has places in bondage. That was amazing.

So conclusion. God is amazing. He works through people who are amazing. And He has made everything and everyone with the ability to be amazing.
Anyways, I am smiling and life it good. Wait no..it's great.

Praise Jesus for the things happening here on campus.

Water What?

Kellie bugged me to update so once again...I am avoiding the millions of things I have to do.

Chapel on Sunday was quite good for me. I got to worship with my peers and listen to teaching from one of my other classmates. His words really hit me in the face...lets see...like Jesus saying, "Knock, knock...you there? Ok fine since you don't seem to want to listen to me or open up the door I guess i will just come through and and throw a baseball in your face so you will pay attention" Now I am not saying Jesus is violent. But I wonder how many times he just wants to shakes us so we will come to some sense and listen. So the main point...

Matthew 14:22-32

So basically Jesus tells Peter to walk on some water right? I mean come on no big deal, the worst thing that would happen is he would drown. I think way too often I read this story as of course I would do it, I mean HELLO! It is Jesus, the son of the creator of the universe. Yeah I would trust him. But then I think of Peter, a lonely fisherman, someone who wasn't a rabbi in studying somewhere trying to be like the rabbi above him. He wasn't the best of the best right? So he fishes. I can't even imagine that, all day long, that smell...yuck! Ok, so there is a terrible storm. Check point two when I am like "Well if I jump in and I can't walk, I'll just swim right?" Could Peter swim? How wavy was it exactly? Are we talking a down pour or justa drizzle?
Basically what I am trying to convey is that we underestimate how bad the storm was and how hard it was for Peter to jump out. But....

He does it.
He walks.
Then he sinks.

Why?? Why the sinking? Because he lost his faith right? I mean that has to be the answer. But here is my main question...What did he exactly lose his faith in? I think our first response and the best sunday school answer would be Jesus. But (this is when Jesus just busted down my door because I didn't open it like a member of SWAT and made me listen) I don't think he lost his faith in Jesus. It says in verse 29 that Peter begins to sink and says "Save me, Lord!" Peter cries our to Jesus. He cries out to Jesus...to who? Jesus. For me I don't think I would cry out to someone I don't have faith in. So why did Peter do that if we think he lost his faith in Jesus?
Ready for it (and I didn't come up with this on my own...chapel...I'm telling you come to Sterling)
Peter lost faith in himself.

HIMSELF!!!!

For all the times people told him he wasn't good enough...he remembered that and began to sink. I don't think Peter thought he could do it.

Anyways, that was long...but meant a lot to me. I so many times feel like Peter. I know Jesus thinks I can, but I don't think I can...sounds corny but true. So where is my faith in myself? Not where it should be.

I need to shower...Bye...

(oh and melanie..I painted a lot today...I love paint. I just got to be free again, isn't it weird how paint does that?)

I'm sucked in...

Well since everyone else in the family has one...I feel a bit disconnected so I thought I would join the life-sucking-cyle-of-bloggers-united. So basically this is something to do besides my homework right now. Is that bad? I'm already in the cycle of procrastination.
So since I know all of you care I will tell you about my life.
My life = Busyness
I'm in Sterling doing about 5.3 million things but it is all good. I'm an RA this year so I have a hall of girls that keep things interesting for me. I'm still playing basketball, but often question why, but it is going well. I spent 3 1/2 hours in the gym yesterday so that was good. At least I'm in shape right?? Oh yeah and I found out today that I am going to be the art teacher for the Charter School here in Sterling...taking after my parents, I know, don't remind me.
As far as Sterling in general God is doing amazing things. We have a ton of prayer going on on Campus, every person is getting prayed for everyday! This is year is a huge year of change for Sterling. And it is really cool to be a part of it.
Well..I need to go make root beer floats for the entire campus now...Here are some pictures of things that have been going on here in Sterling.

Top 5 things here in Sterling:
1. Watching my girls wear little kid sleepers they bought at Target
2. High Ropes Courses...climbing swinging ladders way too high in the sky
3. Being loud in the hallway and having a freshmen tell you (as the RA) to be quiet
4. Watching freshmen make fools of themselves
5. Dancing with 12 other RAs (8 being guys) to Kirk Franklin in front of the entire student body.

My favorite girls! Ready to move the freshmen in!

Gracie Erin and Me at Highland Games!

Me and Paul...just chillaxin...

My fellow RA's in our outfits for the talent show...in which we did dance to Kirk Franklin

Love you all...
Erin