Winter Retreat Pics!

I went a little picture crazy, but these are the best ones!


Starwood Ranch!!


The girls on the last morning


The Juniors trying to figure out what to for Skit Night


Kim as Jordan Finn


Another "productive" meeting for the "Predestination Society"


Nice hair! Ryan kind of looks like a young Elvis. haha



Cade(Benny) performing one of his healings on the boneless David S.

Carp! (it's a Joe word)

This weekend has been amazing!! I don't even know where to begin. Maybe this will be more for my own memories of the trip. I understand if you don't want to read it all. I guess here's what has been going on the last couple of days(with some of my own commentary):

#Saturday

*Joe and Kristi picked me up at the train station and brought me to their apartment(perfect size for them and really convenient for Kristi's substitute teaching and their church)
*we went to the actual downtown(Michigan Ave. and such) and walked around. Went to Chipotle for lunch(great mexican-type place; I highly recommend it) and then to Borders for some coffee(or in my case, Hot Cocoa). While we were there we saw Aly and AJ-if anybody has any idea who they are(Aly or Alyson from Phil of the Future on the Disney Channel and Aly and AJ are a new band). So that was cool.
*we went to Moody and waited for their friends, Steve and River. They are one of the coolest couples I've ever met. They live across the hall from Kristi and Joe. Steve goes to Moody. They were doing training for the Wycliffe ministry because Steve has a passion for interpreting the Gospel into the native language of wherever they will serve. It was really neat talking about missions with Steve because he got so excited for me and was really attentive.
*then, we went to go see "End of the Spear"(awesome movie! like Narnia, I would definitely see it again). I've observed that newlyweds(maybe it was just the two couples I was with) take a long time deciding what to do. In any case, we went back to the apartment and ate Dominos and played Scattagories(great game for gatherings).

#Sunday

*we went to Good News Bible Church. This is a great church. It reminds me a lot of Calvary. I would definitely go there if I came to Moody. Joe did a really good lesson for the Middle School youth group about why bad things happen to good people. The worship was awesome and the sermon was wonderful.
*then, we road the L to Giordano's and had the best pizza on this earth! Joe talked a lot about the youth group when he was involved with it and we talked about how's it's changed over the years.
*we just walked about the city for the afternoon. went to a few stores(while dragging Joe in each one-except Gap : ) and searched for coffee. I realized that Joe is quite the coffee addict. I thought that was interesting.
*when I got to Moody that night, I met some of the girls on Val's floor and talked with them. We went over to the guy's dorm because it was Open House night(they have four a semester). Those guys were halarious! One guy showed me this sining monkey he won playing blackjack. Wow! Then... we went to a movie they were showing at the Alumini center, the Newsies(another awesome movie! I would definitely recommend it).

#Today

*did the Moody experience(tour, classes, etc.). I went to the Romans class and that was great. The professor is awesome!

I'm really excited to see where everything goes with the big college decision. Like some of you know from the e-mail, I'm really nervous about the application process. Just to wrap this up, please pray that God will make it clear where He wants me to go. I want to follow his plans and go to the place that will best equip me for the ministry and I really feel Moody is where I will accomplish that!

Later Days!

Phew! Just Breath...

This is pretty much how I feel, now that exams are over(the sagging eyes aren't that much more exaggerate). It has been an exhausting first semester and as my mom said today "hate to tell you, babe, but it doesn't get much better". Thanks mom :] But all of it is over! I'm so looking forward to Wed., not the going back to school part, but having a clean slate. It will be refreshing. Mr. Quick(my ever-so-wise math teacher) said earlier this week "Stress? You don't know what stress is. You don't have to worry about a steady job, a family to care for, food. Just stay calm. Find something to do. Do some homework, take a job, beat a telephone pole with a bat". He's crazy like that : )

I leave for the Windy City tomorrow. I'm super pumped! Not only will I be spending an awesome weekend with Joe and Kristi and Val, but I don't have to worry about making up any homework! The train ride will be fun. I can sit back and read and zone out to my music. Joe said that he is going to take Kristi and I and some of their friends to see "The End Of the Spear"(movie about the missionaries that were speared to death my the natives) on Saturday. It'll just be nice to spend time with Kristi and Joe and go to there church. If you could, please pray about my visit to Moody. I've been there before, but it's getting closer to start making some concrete decisions about college. I LOVE Moody! Please pray that God's plan for my future becomes more clear during this visit.



I'm off to Lake Hills! Everything with that is going very well, by the way. I really enjoy the fifth grade level. I'm pretty much set on majoring in Elem. Ed. I'm really excited to see where God will lead me these next couple of years and how He'll challenge me with important decisions. Keep Shining His Light! <><