God is Good!

God is awesome!  Wow, seriously praise the LORD!  He is mighty, He is all knowing and all wise, He is perfect and holy and He is good.  Hallelujah!

I am currently at staff training for my 6th summer of work at Hidden Acres and let me tell you, God is blessing me richly in many ways and I wanted to share some of that with you.

First of all, this last semester at college I went through a Bible study on 1 John with a campus pastor and the other Shift team leaders.  This study made me HUGELY aware of my sin and thus so much more aware of God's amazing grace!  As a result I am seeking God more in repentance for more sins that exist especially in my heart and my mind.  And, God has blessed me with JOY in the salvation He has given me.

At camp this summer we are studying the book of Hebrews which is filled with the Gospel and the declaration of Christ being King and above everything!  I am so excited to continue to see this incredible truth in Hebrews this summer and in Galatians (the book my T3ers will be studying) and in my personal devotions.  God's word is awesome and filled with God's love for his people.

This summer is also kind of hard, ok it's really hard.  Michael and I are in completely different places this summer as he has an internship in the cities.  We have never spent a summer apart for as long as we have known each other.  That alone is hard enough, but to make things a little more rough I am doing the exact same job I did with Michael last summer.  The last week and a half has been very lonely at times and I have had to cry out to God to satisfy me alone and to walk with me and to continually fill me with His truth.  It has also been humbling to realize I cannot do this alone.  I cannot do this job the exact same way as last summer.  Not only are my counselors different and will my campers be different, but I cannot coordinate as two people.  It is not possible.  I struggle with wanting control and with seeking the approval of man in what I do, and God has shown me early on this summer that those are not what He wants for me.  Those are idols that need to be cast aside and stomped on.

Despite the pain and loneliness that this summer has already brought (and that I will probably continue to struggle with),  I am so thankful to be here, so thankful that God continues to shape and mold me into more of His image despite my selfishness and wanderings.  He is truly good.  I praise Him for the convictions He has already given me and for His faithfulness thus far that will continue.

I apologize if this was jumbled, my heart is just very full and I wanted to share it with those who care enough to read my little blog.  I also wanted to ask for prayer:

1. Pray that God would continue to show me the Gospel in scripture and that I would take joy and full reliance in that truth.  
2. Pray that as God continues to humble, mold, and shape me this summer that I would turn to him always.  Not inward in self-pity.  
3. Pray that I would continually be seeking God; loving God and loving others as I am called to as a Christ follower.  

Finally, I just want to share the lyrics of a hymn we sang the other night in worship.  It blessed my heart with the truth it proclaimed.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

The start of a new chapter ♥

Oh boy :)  Well, let me share the story of my April 30, 2011...

This last week was very full and busy.  I was finishing my classes for the semester which entailed homework assignments, an interview final, and a two-week social studies unit.  As a result Michael and I didn't see a ton of each other which was too bad after Easter, but we were planning to hang out on Saturday because Friday I had a Shift (campus ministries) Dinner and we were celebrating my roommate Roz's birthday.  So Saturday it was.  I was looking forward to it all week long, the short times seeing Michael were good but I need some longer time with my boyfriend :) 

The week passed along with Friday night and BAM it was Saturday :)  I had handbells that morning from about 10:30-noon as we had a concert the next day.  Afterward I had lunch with some of the girls before heading back to get all clean and pretty for my man :)  Shortly after I got back I got a phone call from Michael asking if I was back, I said yes and he said he had some orange juice for me (my throat had been scratchy and sore the night before so he had gotten me some).  So I went and got that from him and then we got ready for the day.  I decided to wear the new top I got over Easter and was pretty excited about it.  It took me a little while to get ready because I wanted to look nice for him since I was going to have him all afternoon and that night we were planning to have a game night at Jason and Claire's (his brother and sister-in-law). 

Well eventually I got downstairs and we just hung out.  We played some Angry Birds, he showed me some other basketball game on his new iPhone and then we decided to play Golf (the card game).  Usually Michael beats me in this game but today he was just not doing well.  He was just not thinking clearly, it was RIDICULOUS and so funny!  There were numerous times where he would flip over the card he needed to cancel something out and would ignore it unless I pointed it out to him.  One time he ended the game and didn't realize it until after he tried to take another turn!  Seriously, so funny :)  Needless to say, I kicked his butt.  Then we were off to dinner at Red Lobster (we had coupons--YAY!)  Dinner was delicious and it was so nice to just go out on a little dinner date with him!

We were supposed to be over at Jason and Claire's around 7:30 and were a little late leaving the restaurant.  Claire worked nursery that night so she wouldn't be back quite yet anyways.  When we got there we buzzed the apartment like usual and Jason buzzed us in.  As we were going up he was coming down to take out the trash and told us we could go on in.  We walked in and this is what we saw...

A fancy red carpet, candles, rose petals, roses...and my first thought was "Huh, why is Jason doing this for Claire now?"  And then I saw my Tiger Donny holding a ring box (Michael gave me Donny a few days before we started dating as a birthday present)...then I was thinking "Oh my goodness.  Wow!  Oh my gosh, this is for me!  Holy cow, wow, what?!?!  Oh my gosh this is going to happen!"  Michael looked at me and hugged me and then we walked down by the fireplace.  We stopped and we may have hugged again, and he just looked at me and said "I don't know if I can say anything"  to which I replied "You kind of have to say something" and after a few more seconds he did :)  He said some things about being attracted to me the first time we met and how he wanted to get to know me better early on.  He talked about when our relationship existed only as a prayer in his heart.  He talked about how we started dating and how his love has grown for me and how he wants to continue glorifying God with me and our lives.  He then took the ring box from Donny, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him to which I replied yes!  He gave me the ring and I put it on my finger (perfect fit!) and yes :)  Then we hugged and smooched and I said thank you and we were both just so kind of in shock that it had happened and we were ENGAGED!!!!  Something we had been talking about for so long!  Oof!  So we kind of giggled and talked a little and then we sat down and Michael prayed for us. 

It was beautiful and I am so so so thankful! 

We then began making some phone calls and sharing the exciting news!  Jason and Claire came home with Claire's brother and their two children (my future nephew and niece!!!!  YAY!!!!) and they brought a celebration cake (which was DELICIOUS) and yes :)  It was a wonderful night of calling my parents and siblings and grandparents, texting a few people, greeting the roommates and putting it on Facebook with our the pictures Claire took for us. 

My parents came up today for my handbell concert along with Charley, Jos, and Sam so they were able to celebrate with us too! 

I am still finding it a little surreal and am just feeling so blessed and loved by all the responses we have been getting.  I haven't completely cried yet, but the reality really is beginning to hit me and I think those joyful tears will be coming before too long :) 



I love my ring, it is beautiful, but even more so I love the man who gave it to me.  I'm so thankful he wants to spend the rest of his life glorifying God with me.  Thank you God for blessing me so richly!

...a few more pictures for your viewing delight if you please... :)

Our first picture as an ENGAGED couple :)

Mmm yes :)

Starting on the phone calls!

A view of my beautiful new ring!

We are so excited!

:)

We're really going to get married!!!!

I love this one!

♥

By the candle heart

A little smooch :)

Yummy celebration cake and Michael's adorable little niece!

Hanging out after all of the happenings :)

  Oh, and a final note for those of you who wonder...no we have not set a date yet...but it will happen SOON, we are thinking between two and when we know...well anyone who knows me, knows I love me a good countdown so I probably won't be able to keep it to myself...HA like I would want to keep that EXCITING news to myself :) 

Thanks for reading our story, hope you enjoyed!