the flowers will grow tomorrow.

summer's gone, now winter's on its way
  i will miss the days we had
the days we had
  i will miss the days we had
the days we had
oh, i'll miss the days we had

winter song; the head and the heart

while we are not quite at winter, my summer days are nearing an end. i am heading back to indiana this weekend. i will spend two weeks re-training for my resident assistant job in beckett east at iwu. the next week my "little" freshies will move in. i don't even know their names but am excited to learn their stories. after that we start school. [i felt kind of gross writing that.]

i have been looking forward to going back to school for about a month now. but before that month, i wasn't ready. i didn't want to go back. at. all. there were little hurts that made me want to scream, "i'm not coming back!" really loudly from alaska [loud enough for indiana to hear]. so needless to say, i would have been perfectly happy to have never gone back. if someone had said "bethany, i will give you a donut not to go back." i would have said, "heck yes give me that donut." and not not gone back. heck, i would have taken a half of a donut.

but this summer has been a growing period. growing isn't really the funnest thing you could do but probably it is worth it. i spent multiple mondays at my mentor julie's home. we read the Bible, laughed, cried, drank sweet tea and ya know...i loved it. i spent multiple monday nights at my home with a group of young ladies talking about life and learning how to say yes to God...and ya know i loved it. so pretty much mondays rocked my world. these were the sweetest moments of summer and i am going to miss them.

when you learn positive things you learn to let go of negative things. so that is why i am excited to go back to school. because the positive things give me strength. and that strength [which is really just my love for Jesus] gives me a new perspective.

of course i [probably] won't always have this great perspective. i will likely forget and listen to satan's little whispers. but it is progress not perfection. julie would always say "we are blossoming today. the flowers will grow tomorrow." so that is my new perspective. blossoms are a sign of growth and the beauty that is and is to come. but they don't just appear. it takes some time and love.

so, if someone offered me a donut to not go back to indiana...i would grab the donut and run. indiana, i'll see you soon.

 

- B

weakness. promises. power.

"the enemy of your heart doesn't have to actually defeat you, he just has to convince you he already has." 

___

the enemy of your heart.  

when i first read this quote i was kind of disheartened. 

it reveals my weakness.

the enemy has so much pull on my heart that he doesn't actually have to win me over. he just has to whisper in my ear. 

and in me abiding in those whispers i am giving him--without a fight--first place over my heart and mind. 

i have felt this happening in my heart and mind quite often. and i was just sitting in those thoughts. sitting. and the sitting made me anxious. over and over satan would bring past mistakes and regrets to my mind and made me believe i am unworthy. 

running for me is a good release. i can think about things or not think about things. i can just run. i was running one night after work this week and saw a rainbow. so i stopped, took a picture, and kept running. i wanted to post the picture on instagram but i didn't know what to say about it. "look a rainbow!" isn't very intriguing. so while i was thinking of something clever to say, i was thinking about this rainbow. the story of noah came into my mind [ not by accident i am sure ]. 

noah: a man who lived for 950 years [ genesis 9:29 ].

can you even begin to imagine what changes you would see in people and your community in 950 years? 

the Word of The Lord says noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. and that he walked with God. God was upset at the wickedness of the people on the earth and he planned to wipe them out. all but noah and his family. 

genesis 6:18 says, "But I will establish my covenant with you..." 

that's pretty impressive. 

 

so God tells noah to build an ark. he gives him specifics instructions like how high and wide to make it. to bring two of every animal. to bring all different kinds of good. and his family. 

genesis 6:22 says, "noah did this; he did all that God commanded him."

not some. but all that God commanded him. could someone say that about me? that i did all that God commanded of me? [ just something to think about. ] 

but he went. he and his family and all the animals. 

and then...it rained. for forty days.

[ now, i live in southeast alaska. let me tell you: it rains ALL the time. some people like and some people don't. i am sure that has had to have been a time where it rained for forty days straight in southeast alaska. that wouldn't bother me. what would bother me? being on a boat for forty days. forty. days. i ride a boat to work, due to the fact that i work on an island, four days a week and twice a day. and that nearly does me in. so forty days? no thanks. ] 

if i was noah [ praise the Lord i'm not ] around day lets say day two i would probably start complaining [ because that's what i do ]. did noah complain? i don't know. did he ask God why? maybe, but he already knew why. because God was sad at the wickedness.

chapter 8 of genesis starts by saying "God remembered noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark." 1.) i think it is important to recognize that God remembered noah 2.) i think it is important to recognize that God remembered the creatures he created [ another something interesting to think about ].

he remembered them. noah built an alter to the Lord. and God made a promise:

"'i establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the whole earth.' and God said, 'this is the sign of the covenant that i make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: i have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. when i bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, i will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh....when the bow is in the clouds, i will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature..."

i bet noah had whispers. the enemy of his heart whispered. when he was building the ark, when he was loading the ark, and when he was in the ark. i am sure the enemy whispered. maybe the whispers were from people and maybe they were in his heart but i am sure they were there. but noah was faithful, because the Lord was establishing an everlasting covenant with him.  

we go through situations daily when those whispers are in our heads and hearts. maybe they are from people and maybe they are just inside us. maybe we fall into the trap of resting in those whispers but we are not defined by the whispers we hear. we are defined by the One who cares enough to build covenants and set beautiful reminders. even though my mind is weak, i am made strong by the perfect power of the One who saves [ 2 corinthians 12:9 ]. 

 

now, when i read this quote i can rejoice knowing that we are strong and have the power to overcome whispers. 

rejoice in that fact today!

until next time,

-B 

#shereadstruth linkup

she reads truth is a a daily devotional for women. you can find their website here.

my freshman year resident assistant [ra] introduced me to the she reads truth community.
and i love it. you can even receive the daily devotion in your e-mail inbox.
so i read it....for a while.

then i stopped reading it for a REALLY long while. 

i recently re-joined the group of women who read this devotional daily with a friend of mine.
and it literally blows my socks off. every. day.

right now we are studying the book of titus [you can find the page for that here]. 

on day four we studied titus 2:1-5 with a focus on verses 3 and 4 which read,

"they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women."

now, i still consider myself a "young woman". i mean come on, i am only twenty. i, however, don't think that being a "young woman" excludes me from applying this passage. because while i may be a "young woman" there are women who are young[er] than me.

today, there are women all over the world blogging and discussing about how spiritual mothering [a term i am quite fond of] is being played out our communities and how Godly women have influenced our lives. You can find other posts similar to mine here. 

1.) how is spiritual mothering taking place in my personal community?
          a community is where you are. my community moves a lot [from alaska to indiana to ohio and back again]. everywhere i go i have examples of godly women--from my mom, to my grandmas, my mentor, and the ladies in the multiple "home" churches i have.
          not-so-young-but-still-beautiful ladies, i think it is important for you to recognize that to "teach what is good" you don't have to be directly in contact with someone. you can do this simply by living your life for Christ [i know i say "simply" like it is so easy. ha. what a joke.].
           so this is what it looks like for me. observing the Christian ladies in my life, going over to my mentor's house, and growing up in a strong Christian family [i feel that a #winning is appropriate here].

2.) how has a godly woman influenced me in my growth in the Gospel?
          yes. the end. just kidding! since going to college i have heard tons about all of these young ladies having a mentor. and i was like "what's that?' and "what does that look like?" so this past semester, i decided i wanted one. so i went to the store, found one i liked, and bought it [ha! if only it was that simple!]. you see, you're supposed to be honest with mentors and tell them what the haps are. sometimes this can be kind of difficult for me so i wanted someone nice. but that wasn't the only requirement. they also had to be a Christian [duh!], and be pretty, and have cute kids, and make really good sweet tea! i'm kidding. but this is what happened. i spent the semester praying for a mentor. then i flew home and went to my home church. there is this lady who attends my church, she is really nice, she is a Christian, she is pretty, she has cute kids, and makes the best sweet tea you have EVER and i mean EVER tasted [she is from south carolina...#winning].
          you would think i would just be able to ask and then we could get on with it. but it is kind of a big deal! so i waited a couple week [as in like 2?]. then i was talking with her about life while her kids were running around and i was supposed to be listening to a guest speaker [i apologize but this was a God planned appointment i am glad i didn't miss]. so we talked and then she left. and i didn't ask her to be my mentor. instead, i went home that night and texted her [because somehow that makes things easier] and she said she was thinking the same thing [#...just kidding i won't do it again].
          so we have been meeting every monday. we do a Bible study and chat. then she feeds me lunch and i spend hours playing with her kids. and. i. love. it.

3.) how would i like to see titus 2 shape my relationships moving forward?
          i have been reading Captivating by john and stasi eldridge. in the book they discuss this theory of learning by observing other women and asking, "what does this woman teach me about the heart of God?" and then i said, "wow." i think this quote, along with being willing to 1. speak into the lives of women younger [and maybe older] than me as well as 2. having women older [and possibly younger] speak into my life would be such a beautiful thing.


so that's it really. it may be a little difficult to step out and ask someone to mentor you OR to ask someone if you could be their mentor. but the blessings from both will be abounding.

what are your thoughts on spiritual mothers? is there a woman who has played a vital role in your relationship with the Father?

until next time,
- B

my thoughts on national donut day.

in case you didn't know:

friday june 6th 2014 [yesterday] was national donut day. 

did you know this? because i didn't. and donuts are my 2nd favorite food. 
how did i find out? 
well maybe it was the 50000 pictures of donuts on instagram. 

when i attended decker prarie elementary school we had one day a year that was my favorite. that was "dad's and donuts". what could be better? 
maybe it would be the mom's and muffins day? [i can't remember if that actually existed or if i just made it up. oh well.]  
anyway, you brought your dad to school [early] and then you go a donut [worth the early]. 
it was the best. my elementary school knew the way to my heart. 

dear decker prairie elementary:

i loved representing the school every friday with my school shirt. i also loved being the one to take the flag down at the end of the day, and carefully fold it up. i loved being on the jump rope team and in the talent show in fourth grade. i loved having roller skating in pe class. i loved all my teachers [mrs. almond, you were a jokester]. but i especially loved dad's and donuts. thanks for making my childhood a great thing. 

love, bethany

but really, shouldn't every day be donut day? probably i think so. 
so i would be eating a donut [or maybe two. you know, in honor of my elementary school] but my mom and i are cutting out sugary sweets [this is really hard for me, especially the donuts].

so i am asking that you make a sacrifice for me and eat a donut [or maybe two. one for you and one for me]. 

dear national donut day:

i already have you in my calendar for next year. i promise i won't forget about you.

love, bethany  

until next time,
- the depressed & donutless b

 

***also, if anyone wants to buy me a donut maker i wouldn't say no. okay, thanks. bye. 

constant.

being consistent is hard. [who knew?]
probably because i am human [but also that's probably not a good excuse].

do you know when the last time i blogged was? [ha me either!]
blogging is really hard. because i need to have something to say. and then gather the motivation to actually write it. i really do love writing, and blogging, and reading. but it's hard.

consistency. 

my friend kimberly recently came and visited me [when i say me, i really mean alaska]. i like kimberly a lot, we are pals. the last time i saw kim before she left i said, "keep in touch". she then said, "out of sight, out of mind".

i may or may not have told her that when people are not directly in my life [as in i don't see you on a weekly basis] it is really, REALLY hard for me to keep up with you. i may have even used the saying "out of sight, out of mind" [kim has a good memory]. it's not that i don't like you because really i do. my brain just has a hard time keeping track. and probably i will pull the "i am busy" card. so, ya. relationships are hard.

consistency.

if being consistent with people is hard, you can image being consistent in my relationship with God is hard too. because of time. i don't like to give my time up and i like making myself busy. so sometimes i make myself too busy. and what i recognized myself goes right along with a quote i heard:

"if the devil can't make you bad, he'll make you busy."

this is such a truth. i am learning to protect my sacred time with Jesus.

praise the Lord that God is faithful and his love is constant, even if i'm not.

***if you have any suggestions how to do any of these things more consistently, i would love love love to hear them! 


here's to more consistent blogging, relationships, and time with Jesus.

- b

weekend retreat.

i have worked at the same youth group for around two years now. we go on a retreat each fall and winter. it involves a mini road trip and lots and lots of games [most of which i am no good at and that make my body ache for dayssss].

the trip started off well...i forgot my toothbrush. i may or may not have just stopped at meijer to buy a new one because i was too lazy to climb three flights of stairs to get to my room [judge all you want].

our driver, who just happens to be my boyfriend, wasn't too thrilled. i however, found the experience and my new toothbrush quite enjoyable.

the theme for the weekend was aroma [as in what kind of smell do you have?]. the thing that stuck with me the most was this analogy that they gave:

restaurants smell. each individual restaurant has an individual smell. when you go to restaurant you smell the smell. if you stay in the restaurant you become numb to the smell. when you leave the restaurant you take the smell with you. people smell your restaurant-ie [yes that is a word] smell.

sin. when we partake in sin. we feel bad. but when we bask and abide in that sin we become numb to it. we don't notice. we don't notice the stench we are letting off. but the people around us do. ouch. 

what a great realization i had. there are things i have been holding onto that don't necessarily mimic the actions of Christ. what kind of stench are you letting off? 

we always rent a 15-passenger van [party car].

beautiful facial expressions from Al, Dana, and Zach.

this would be dodge ball. notice the line of females not playing. 

i am one of those people.

since the olympics are happening, we were divided into teams with a team country.

ours was the best [also known as Jamaica].

each team made a banner. apparently people in Jamaica eat goats so obviously we drew a goat, a fork, and a knife. obviously.

one of the games was a couch relay thinger. each team had a couch...and we  had to CARRY it in the SNOW all around camp and do different challenges. every member of the team had to be touching part of the couch AT ALL TIMES [we unscrewed the pegs from the bottom and used that as part of the couch].

[also, i was obviously breaking the rules by taking this picture and not touching the couch. big deal.]

one of the challenges was to take pictures with our couch in the four corners of the gym.

there was a different type of picture in each corner.

this was duck faces and peace signs.

awkward family photo.

planking.

spelling "QHC" [Quaker Haven Camp].

Rusty and Tabitha Lumpkin were the speakers for the weekend.

They did a wonderful job and taught us lots of interesting facts about whale vomit.

[google it]

me and the boy. this is my camp/soccer mom look. ha

zach was upset because a snowplow was ahead of us.

we could barely see because of the snow it was stirring up.

i LOVED it.

even if we did have to go 1000000 times slower.

it took out a couple mailboxes too.

no trip to quaker haven is ever complete without a stop at dairy queen.

really.

i think the kids would cry if we didn't stop.

so we did.

i mean...i'm not complaining.

until next time,

B

2014: watch out. Jesus & i are ready.

it is never too late to blog about new years resolutions...right? 

2014: who knows what is going to happen? [okay...God does. but he knows EVERYTHING.]

some people come up with resolutions. some people have a word they focus on. i chose a word [mainly because if i made resolutions [like become an avid exerciser] i would feel obligated to do it. and we all know i don't want to do that. so. the word. the word of the year is abide. 

//i love my definition [and i just how the word looks in general. it's classy.] if you look up the definition you might get some answers i don't like. so i will give you my definition from the daily word usage dictionary of bethany cummins [yes this really does exist. and no it is not a new thing.] ::abide: to dwell, remain, stay, reside, endure, sustain, withstand. 

my word comes from:

john 15:4 

"dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [live in Me, and I will live in you.] just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me."

:this is my word and my focus for the year. where God is going to take it, i am unaware. but i wait. expectant of what he will do. through all of life's circumstances that will be thrown at me this year, i will choose [or at least have the plan to choose] to abide in Christ. do you have any resolutions or perhaps a word you are focusing on? 

you changed my world -- new years 2013 edition

you changed my world: the people i meet that in one way or another changed my life for the moments they are in it, however brief they are. enjoy.

[it might help if you try to envision me reading this to you. if i have never met you...you can make up what you think i would sound like. k thanks.]

to the 50 year old man with the camo hat, blue striped carhartt shirt and full beard [who is on his 3rd marriage]: thank you for your marriage advice and the world war II history lesson.

to the well-dressed man with the ends of his mustache curled: thank you for being awesome. if i was a man, i would want to look like you.

to the lady carrying the sleeping puppy: can i have it?

to the lady in the adorable vintage shoes with the tattoos peaking out of her sleeves: you are a knitting goddess. a sweater?! teach me your ways.

to the man with the carhartt coveralls, extra-tuff boots, and flannel: you're long white beard stands out. your costume isn't fooling me. i know you are santa claus. don't be ashamed that christmas is over. we all look forward to next year. but could you maybe send a little less cold and snow?

to the grandma who flew to alaska from texas to have a snowball flight with her grandchild: will you adopt me as your grandchild? i like presents that involve money. and my birthday is in february.

to the same grandma resting her head on her husband's shoulder: i want to be just like you.

to the lady in chicago who asked me all about my life and has visited my home town: i am glad you enjoyed juneau. now leave me alone so i can sleep.

to the smoker who said he would get sick from smoking outside in the cold: ......what about just smoking in general?


i'll probably never see you again but you changed my life like no one else could.
thank you.

traveling.

"when are you leaving?"

that is the question my little brother asked me the second he saw me upon my return for christmas vacation.
feel the love. 

if you know me well, you know i hate flying. i have had way too many bad experiences to count [they might not be that bad...i may just be a tad dramatic].

any-who, i was not looking forward to flying home. i just wanted to BE home. 
i was, however, excited to finish my book i have been reading, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers [probably you should read it] while i traveled. 

each flight i take without getting sick is a milestone in my life and this time i had three. luckily, i had me friend, joe's, blessing. he said: "i wish you no screaming babies or neighbors with exceedingly wide girths". [thanks joe, i'm glad you care.]

- columbus, ohio to los angeles, california [1st flight] : nailed it. slept almost the whole time. 
- los angeles, california to seattle, washington [2nd flight] :  more than nailed.
     :on this flight from california to washington i was blessed to sit next to two wonderful ladies, donna and melinda. donna is an older woman who's niece recently passed away. donna now cares for her niece's three children. [she is pretty much super woman.] melinda was in her forties. she was a very driven, successful woman. she talked to me about her partner, her dog, her job, everything. who knew how much you could get to know someone in just a few short hours. 
      we all have a love for reading and i decided to tell them about this book that i was in love with, Redeeming Love. the book is based on the book of Hosea in the Bible and i felt compelled to tell them about it. now, it is a rare occasion for me to find a book that i am in love with. that is why the next part of this story got really hard. 
      i was sitting on the plane, reading my book. loving it. around 100 pages left. and a four hour layover coming up in seattle. i was golden. i was going to finish. [WAS is a key word here.] we were preparing for our descent when i heard jesus tell me to give melinda my book. 

funny jesus! you see i really like this book and i am almost done. so no thank you, i think i will keep it for myself. 

it's just a book, bethany. 

true. it is a book. a book i really enjoy. i don't want to give it to her. then i have to buy a new one and wait for it to ship to me. 
tell you what jesus, i'll give melinda my book IF [and ONLY if] she didn't bring a book with her. [melinda had admitted to me that she is an avid reader and sometimes is reading ten different books at once. i had jesus played.]

so, i turned to melinda: "did you bring any books to read on your trip?"
melinda [embarrassing me in front of jesus]: "no, i didn't! i left them all at home."

go ahead. laugh. 

i gave melinda my book. she started reading it the second i [slightly reluctantly] put it in her hands. 

i am unaware if melinda or donna are christians, but they gave no indication. i know that i cannot save melinda or donna. but jesus can. as i handed over my book, i sat for the remainder of my flight and prayed. i prayed for donna. for melinda. for my book: that jesus would use it to plant or water a seed. God is good. you see, melinda wasn't even supposed to be on the flight with donna and i. she had missed her flight earlier in the day and was lucky to get a spot on our flight. 

in seattle, i went to get my nails done [due to having four hours and no book]. the nail salon is great. you can go and get a manicure in a half hour....or an hour and a half in my case. kendall did a beautiful job on my nails. i enjoyed our conversation talking about her daughters and her non-profit organization she is trying to start. she plans on giving hospitalized teenagers the opportunity to do things they may miss out on. kendall has a wonderful heart and i would ask that you join with me to pray for her, her daughters [one of which was hospitalized for a number of months], and her sprouting non-profit.

you would think i would be peopled-out. but i am a talker. and it feels like no matter where i went or what i did, God had orchestrated my whole trip to the T. 

i grabbed some food and went to find an outlet for my phone. that is when i met cheryl. cheryl randomly introduced herself to me and started telling me about what an awful traveling experience she had. she was trying to get home to hong kong for her last medical classes before her finals and had missed her flight. now she had endless hours of travel and layovers. we sat and talked for a good hour about the differences between our cultures, being a christian in hong kong, and future medical plans we have. she even gave me a postcard from hong kong! [meeting people really is one of my favorite things.]

- seattle, washington to ketchikan, alaska & ketchikan, alaska to juneau, alaska [3rd flight] : golden. 
     :i sat next to a little girl who thought she knew me well enough to use me as a garbage. her dad was impressed. [my tired eyes? not so much.]


when i finally got home, after a very long day, i told me dad and sister about melinda and my book. 
my sister asked me what book it was. Redeeming Love. guess what. jesus owned me. there was a copy of the book at my house. [okay jesus, you win.] 

God is good. i sometimes wish i would have given melinda some contact information so i could keep up with her. but i am just going to have to trust and pray. and in a way, he kind of redeemed my view on traveling. funny how that works. 

have you had any experiences such as this? i'd love to hear about them! 

be anxious.

be anxious.
be anxious?
what? why? 
you may be thinking, "why is the girl who is always anxious and trying not to be telling me to be?" 

because: 

you have heard the story before.

baby Jesus.

how precious.

sometimes i think we tire of the glorious stories in the word.

we've heard it. we know it. yada yada yada.

new things can be revealed to us.

luke 2:41-51

          “now his parents went up to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of Passover. and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. and when the feast was ended, as they were returning the boy Jesus stayed behind in jerusalem. his parents did to know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to jerusalem, searching for him. after three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. and when his parents saw him, they were astonished. and his mother said to him, ‘son, why have you treated us so? behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.’ and he said to them, ‘why were you looking for me? did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ and they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. and he went down with them and came to nazareth and was submissive to them. and his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

mary and joseph moved their eyes off of Jesus.

they assumed he was in their company.

when he wasn't, they were anxious. 

sometimes we take our eyes off of Jesus.

then we assume he is still with us.

and he's not. 

in those moments, i believe we should model mary and joseph's behavior and 

be anxious.  

anxious to find him. to draw near to him.

christmas and the new year is a time we can use to refocus. 

i hope you have a wonderful christmas and a beautiful new year!

ghmc 2013

since the summer before my junior year of high school i felt called to missions. this came about by working for two summers at echo ranch bible camp in juneau, alaska and different interacts with speaker and missionaries. this past weekend, i had the opportunity to attend the largest medical missions conference in the world. the follow are random pictures i took to document my time at the conference in louisville, kentucky. 

as a college student you are REQUIRED to bring your backpack/homework on every trip. 

(however, i don't think any homework actually got done...#sorrynotsorry)

this is my friend kara. she attended the conference with me. 

it was only by her telling about the conference that i ended up going. 

God worked it all out.

kara is a babe.

everyone else either stayed in the car or went to the bathroom.

kara and i couldn't resist the trees and leaves.

i found this gem while i was registering.

we didn't even know we were attending the conference together.

God works again.

i have never been in a church this large in my life.

they had their own bookstore.

and coffee shop.

and recreation center.

they could be their own town.

they had a large magnetic map that you could put a marker on for your mission field.

alaska.

these were our entries in a tattoo placement contest. 

i may or may not have won an ipad mini because of the above picture.

if you know anyone who would like to buy a brand new ipad mini...let me know.

one of the breakout sessions i went to on human trafficking.

very eye opening.

worship.

overall, the weekend was very eye opening. it confirmed my call to full time missions. what that looks like i have no idea. but i have a large desire to serve unreached people. so unreached people. be. prepared. i am praying for you already. 

it is crazy to now have a renewed perspective on your current place being your missions field.

now, i feel as if everything i am learning or coming in contact with on a daily basis is somehow involved with missions, poverty, or the hurting.

give me Your eyes.

already being stretched.

college. it's a time to be stretched. 

oh i am. 

(this can be told by the amount of blogging i have done the past couple of weeks. ha what a joke.) 

we are about to start the fourth week of school.

i feel as if i have been here for a year. 

don't get me wrong. 

i love it. 

i am an ra (or what i like to call, a mom) to 20 something beautiful college freshman.

they are the best women i have ever met. 

we are family! 

here are a few random pictures since i have been here. =) enjoy:

this is my roommate, kelsey, and i on freshman move-in day. (we know we look good) 

zach, emily, and i on our first day of school. 

(yes college student's still take first day of school pics!)

walking to our FIRST unit dinner. they were excited.

we are so cool we couldn't all fit at one table.

unit picture before our first bro/sis dinner.

yes. we look like gangsters. 

this is our lodge ball (it is just like dodge ball) team.

they are all super intimidating.

us with our bro unit on our last night of lodge ball.

beckett east three west placed third.

we were the highest ranking freshman unit.

i was one proud mamma.

pretty sure i killed my vocal chords screaming.

that is all for now. (i know it wasn't very much)

i will try and make more time for you all.

love, b

p.s. we beat carmin (that is all i cared about during ResLife week) 

reunions.

the rest of the days: (it has been too long and i forgot when these were taken. but enjoy.) 

the family that came to the reunion. (yes there are even more.)

the cousins following in our parent's footsteps and singing "GOD IS ABLE"

my last day in juneau:

uncle cory explaining how to put the paper lanterns together.

waiting for it to take off like and air balloon.

the first lantern flying away! 

my lantern group!

valerie and leah with their lantern.

we had different shape of lanterns, including hearts!

one of the heart shaped lanterns!

the lantern flying into the mountains.

addie waiting for her lantern to fill up and fly away.

the reunion was lovely.

saying goodbye was...hard.

however, i know i will see them again!