lately...in list form

inspired by: light // smiles // laughter // soft yarn // Celtic Woman // the dedication of others // encouraging words

colors: teal // grass green // sunlit gold

desiring: growth // a challenge // a good year

satisfied with: my college choice // delicious food // stillness

anxious about: papers and exams // establishing and maintaining friendships // my ability to do well // getting my passport in time for my Israel trip

grateful for: God's provision // supportive family // amazing suitemate // chirping birds // good books

smelling: cafeteria food // fruity teas // freshly mowed grass // new notebooks 

reading: And the Shofar Blew by Francince Rivers // The Two Towers // books for school

The choice

So it begins, this branching out of mine. Living eight hours away from my home, dwelling with people I have just met, and studying harder than I ever have before.

Am I willing to be changed by my experiences here, or will I refuse to listen to others?

Will I thrive in my classes or just do enough to get by?

Will I invest in relationships with my classmates or shut myself off because it's easier that way?

Will I stretch myself or expect others to change?

The choice is up to me.

focus

The sound of crickets, rustling leaves, chirping birds, and rippling water mix with sounds of civilization, of the train whistle and busy traffic.

All I can see is the pond, trees, golden sunlight, and distant power lines, but I know that just over the row of trees and houses is the train station and the busy town that surrounds it. 

Tonight is a beautiful night, full of laughing sunshine, a teasing breeze, and a refreshing warmth. But I could focus, if I so chose, on the ugly power lines and rushing vehicles.

My enjoyment of this evening is entirely dependent on where I choose to focus.

fist pumps

fist pumps

McDonald's ice cream cones

one-day field trips

making fun of commercials

playing tourist

random fact debates

stick figures on the side of a 12-passenger van

life as a musical

brainstorming

Adventures in Odyssey and movie quotes

matching t-shirts

popcorn

reading books outloud

Daddy Claus, not Santa Claus

I love my family.

Cell phone snapshots

bracelets from the Dominican Republic. Yay for friends going on missions trips. *smile*

Late night selfies

Celebrating this little one's birthday

Last beach trip with my friends

Car all packed up, ready to head to college

Cell phone snapshots.

End of summer and camp.

 Beach run with friends. 

College packing. Lots and lots of packing and shopping packed into a couple of days. 

Driving eight hours to college. 

Unpacking. 

Making friends with the girls in my suite.

Almost jumping for joy because my roommate loves God, tea, Jane Austen, and fruit even more than I do. 

Marathon watching Emma Approved. 

Finishing The Fellowship of the Ring.

My life over the past few weeks in a nutshell.

How is your August going?

Update on my summer

Hello, all! I know it's been a while, but I figured I would update you on what I've been doing. As some of you may recall, I am working at a Child Evangelism Fellowship camp all summer as part of their college bound program. The first two weeks of the summer were Christian Youth in Action, which is an amazing program in which teenagers learn how to share the gospel with children through Open Air, literature distribution, and 4-day Bible clubs.

Those couple of weeks were followed by three weeks of junior camp. I was a senior counselor for weeks 1 and 3 and I ran the trading post and taught handcraft week 2. It is currently teen week, and I am a "floating counselor" which means I am a junior counselor for three cabins (for junior camp, there is a senior and a junior counselor in each cabin of 6-8 campers). 

I've definitely had some trying moments, but I have seen God work in me and through me, especially last week. I had an autistic girl in my cabin and I got really frustrated with her refusal to listen to anyone. At some points, I would have just yelled at her and walked away, but the Holy Spirit helped me to stay calm and patient.

If you think of me, I would really appreciate prayers as there are still two ad a half weeks left to go and I am exhausted. If you would like to write me letters, you can e-mail me at 

knittingphotography (at) gmail (dot) com and I can send you the address. 

These pictures are mostly from the two photography classes I taught so far this year.

Being a counselor means doing a lot of people's hair for the banquet. *smile* I love it

My family came to camp week 2, so I was able to spend some time with them even though I'm away all summer.

I got to hide underneath the riflry 

p.s. you can follow me on instagram and get more current updates. *smile*