Monday, December 17, 2012

Let's try this again.

So, I realized as I was trying to log on, that you can't update this if you don't have a password. Now I remember why I haven't updated since August. Holy Moly. Well, I am taking this time right now, to kind of start over. I realize that I always feel a little better after I write a blog post, so here goes nothing. Since my last post, my life has been crazy. I have moved, changed departments at work, gained two amazing roommates, The Wildcats won the Big 12 title because we are just that awesome, just previously lost one of those roommates because of Graduation, My photography business has grown, I have fallen away from my faith more than I would have liked to, I have made some decisions and might possibly start changing churches, finding that I am nothing without the Lord and I seriously could not live life with out him, I have made some future plans that are going to change my life, had some heartbreaks and lastly (at least what I can think of) I have had some wonderful times of laughter. 

Yeah, sorry for a long post. :)

So, as I read over that list, I feel as if I should talk through some things, so bear with me, if you don't want to read this, you can just leave! It really would not hurt my feelings. :) haha
Ok. Here we go!

So, when I say I fell away from my faith, I guess I didn't fall really far, but I still fell and I hated who I was becoming. For me, not being in Challenge has actually been harder than I thought it would be. I guess I had a secret accountability built into myself when I was leading worship, meeting with Erika every week and going to a bible study every week. I would make time for a quiet time with the Lord, and I would do things that started to just come second nature to me, like being a selfless person and learning scripture, etc. I also lost a huge community(aka support). I know that most of them are still here, but I feel as if I am looked at differently, and treated differently or just not talked to by some people that I thought I used to be really close with because I didn't go to challenge this last semester because of a class. That really hurt too. I guess I don't understand that, but I feel as if it really shouldn't be like that. Same with some of the people at my church. I know I still have a few really good heart friends, but it is hard to not have that huge community of believers around me to help me. :) Past addictions came out of me, I was becoming more selfish with my earthly possessions and the littlest things were getting me really upset and I knew that when that happened, it was time to change. So, recently I have really been trying to make time for the Lord in my life. Not so much that I am becoming a bible pusher, but just enough to get me back to where my life was when I was in the word almost everyday, or where I would be leading worship and really find ways to connect that way. Ways I am changing? Well, I am trying even harder to listen to what he is telling me and not just going with what I want for myself, getting back in to quiet times, and I have recently been going to a new church that I have fallen in love with. My roommate who just moved out went there so I thought I would try it out and I really really like it! So, we will see if that is the permanent one for me, or not :)

Future?
I mean, of course God is STILL testing patience with me in the fact that I still have no boyfriend. Never have. Which at this time in life where my friends and I are in that group whose time it is to get engaged, married and have babies, that is hard. I have really only ever been on one date in my life and to look around and see my friends getting engaged and seeing them get married just weighs on me, but I am joyful at the same time because I am so excited to see who God has for me. I do want a boyfriend, but God is having me wait, so we will see when that Man comes! BUT, the big thing I was talking about is that in August, I am officially moving back to Newton. It is so bittersweet, because I truly love Manhattan, but I really feel like God is calling me back to Newton. After 5 years up here, it is a second home, and I am leaving so many things, so I am going to really treat these last 9 months that I have up here like gold. :) Clearly it isn't that far away so I am not leaving it for good. I have such a wonderful calling there, as far as my photography business, so I am excited to see where that leads also! So, in August, I will be moving away from the beautiful city of Manhappiness and moving back to the wonderful city of Newton. :) So much sadness and so much excitement all in one!

And as far as some other things, I am reading over that list again and realized that I am blessed. I know I end up saying that a lot, but really I am. I know that my life isn't perfect. It really is far from perfect, but I know that i am blessed. I have two AMAZING women as roommates (which one moved out, but thanks to technology we can still talk), I have a wonderful job, that yes it is hard, but I love it. I have a wonderful mom and sister who I can talk to them about anything, or we can be down each others throats and fight like every other family, but we are still the best of friends and always end with laughter. I have wonderful wonderful wonderful friends here that I can just talk to, or laugh with, or craft with and be myself with. I live in a great house with the most precious, caring, loving family that I have ever met upstairs that will do anything for you, I have wonderful families in my life (like the Sapps, the Classens, the Montanos, and the Geracis). I look at my life, and I know that people don't have that and I am just blessed. With the things that have been going on in the world earlier, just tell those loved ones how much you love them and squeeze them a little tighter, it is hard, but we never know when our last days on this earth will be!

Well, that is all for now. I am hoping to keep up with blogging better than I have been! It is good for my heart. So, thank you for sticking with me if you did and I promise that every post from now on will not be this long! :)



"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen to God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own give him the first and the best.:
-Proverbs 3:5-7

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I promise I am here! :)

Hello! So, yes. I didn't blog the whole entire summer. Holy moly. I am awesome. Ok, maybe lame, but to each his own. ;) This summer was full of ups and downs (like always), work, moving, work, going home, coming back, work, moving, and some more work. :) Right now, I am in the process of moving into the Claussens basement and so far, I am loving it. The Claussens are a phenomenal family and I can already feel that living with them will help my faith grow. :D Super excited for that. I will put pictures up as soon as I am done unpacking and I will put some updates of the summer, but now, it is off to finish unpacking! (I hope!)

Saturday, May 12, 2012

My little mini me.

So, most of you know the little Sapp girls from recent posts, well let me just tell you. These girlies are truly some of my favorite children. I have loved babysitting them the past two summers and through out the last couple of years. They are growing into such smart, beautiful girls and I can't wait to see what God does in their lives! I know it will be grand! I hope that I can stay in their lives for a while.Well, I posted a picture of Josie and I in yesterday's post, but we took a lot, so I decided to post more of them for a fun, simple post. =) Josie is truly like a little version of me. I love it and I just love her. I don't know what it is, but we just feed off of each other all the time and she just warms my heart when she runs to me in excitement, or brings my camera to me and tells me that we are going to take funny face pictures, or just wants me to read to her (this is the most popular choice). Love. Very rarely, I get some goofy shots with Malia, so I am posting some of those too, but the other night at the bbq, Jos and I probably took about 50 or so pictures together because she just kept asking for pictures and kept making faces! How could I say no to that?! Here you go!



Nater decided to join in on a couple. haha



Favorite. Totally her idea to kiss each other on the cheek and it just made me smile. =)
Malia's turn!



Friday, May 11, 2012

The Lasts

Tis the season for goodbyes. Oy vey. Well, it is good, but let me just tell you, this year it is probably one of the hardest. I am saying goodbye to roommates that have become family, a worship team of brothers and sisters that have made such an impact on my life, and just telling old friends goodbye and not knowing when I will see them. It is hard. I don't mind growing up, but I just want all of us to live around each other and it will all be grand. =) Whale. I know that isn't going to happen, so I guess I will just deal with my friends graduating and moving away and just soaking in all of these moments we have left together! Here are some pictures of some of the 'lasts' that have been happening. =)


Hanging out with the group from freshman year before we all go separate ways. =)
The Challenge family!! So great!
Girls from my freshman 834 group. Such huge blessings throughout my whole college career.
 

Last impromtu photo shoot at the 901
=)
Worship team BBQ. Not my lasts with these girls, just had to put some of these up. =) 
Oh these girls are wonderful. I love getting the chance to  babysit them and be in their lives.


Every time. It never fails.
Are they seriously not the cutest!?
They just warm my heart.
Thank you boys. I love you guys too. =)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Bittersweet.


(Just a warning. This will be a fairly long post. Sorry!)

 Much of you know that I have been on the Christian Challenge worship team for the last 3 years of my college career. Let me just tell you. There have been different people trinkling in and out while I have been on it, but every year, a new family grows and that family becomes such a blessing to me every year. Casey and I started the same year (our sophomore year) and she is the only other student that has been with me and I just am so blessed by her as a person. I love getting new challenges every year and going through different books, or books of the bible. One of my favorite things that has come out of this is the girl time we get to have every other week. Oh my. These women in this group literally no everything about me and still love me! I love getting to know them all on a heart level and learn what I can pray for them, or how I can help encourage them, or just how I can love them more. There are always tears (ok, mostly from me, but still) and you can guarantee there is always laughter. Welp. Last night was the last night that I will officially be in the group. The group yesterday consisted of Casey and I sharing what are plans are for the summer, and then basically asking what we would like prayers for in the future and next year. Then, we took time and they prayed over each of us. After that, we went around and found out what everyone is doing for the summer and took time praying for them too. Every year, we leave for the summer, a family and then we join back together at the beginning of next year and when I left last night, I guess that didn't sink in until later, but I am so sad to see this time of my life past. These people are my family and I love that I have gained so many deep brothers and sisters through all of the years I was on the team. Amazing. That is the word that comes to my mind. I have seen myself and others grow so much in the Lord and I just am so inspired by everyone. Every year. Through this family, I have also had the awesome opportunity to get to know the Sapp family. Nate and Erika are two of the most understanding, loving, caring, inspirational, amazing people. (Just to name a few traits) They are always there for you when you need them and I have had the amazing opportunity to also get to know their daughters and love on them every summer and during the school year. I have loved watching these girls grow into little girls that are beautiful and wanting to know the Lord. Some of the things that they say sometimes shock me because they make me want to learn more. They have such a hunger for knowledge. I love it. I just love this family with all of my heart. This whole experience has been such a blessing and I am just so thankful that I had this opportunity. =)

The amazing brothers and sisters I gained this year. =)
Goofiness. Quite normal actually.
The girls from this year with Erika. Love them!
=) haha
Casers and I. Love this lady.
The groups the past three years! =) They just make me smile. I love them all.

Long time, No see.

Yeah, I really am slacking on all of these posts! Geeze! SO much has happened in a month and a half-ish! Mal and I planned and hosted a formal for Challenge, I have taken some family pictures, I have babysat the girls I love so much, I have taken engagement pictures for an amazing couple, I have been up and down with emotions (like always) =), Our church at home got a new pastor, I have recently started thinking about my future A LOT, I am getting ready to help lead worship with the worship team for the last time (well at least while I am a member of the team), a lot of my friends and classmates are getting ready to graduate, so that makes the future seem a lot more real than it has for a while, and much more, but I can't really think of them right now. =) Anyway, this last month and a halfish, (or however long it has been) has been so good, yet kind of bad at the same time. I feel like the devil has hit me with my depression so so hard this last month, so I have lost a lot of sleep, and that kind of kick starts it again. But, let me tell you, I live with and around some of the most amazing people that I am blessed to call friends. They will just sit with me and either let me cry, or make me laugh, or just do anything to make me feel better. It is awesome and I am so truly blessed. =) So, I decided to put a whole lot of pictures together in collages to show you what kind of has been going on. Deal?



Christian Challenge went to Summit!
Was definitely an amazing week of community, mountains, God, worshipping, God and more community. =)
I had the honor of taking engagement pictures for this wonderful couple.
More pictures here 
I think I have finally taught her the beauty of funny face pictures. ;) Maybe.
Formal, picnic with two of my favorite girlies and family time!
My handsome cousin, Ethan. 
I got to meet JohnJack for the first time and it was amazing!
I also got to take family pictures for my cousin. Loved that too! 
Random pictures from their visit. =) I love my family.



I have loved watching the Sapp girls grow! They are beauties! I have loved being a babysitter to them too. Can't wait to continue watching them grow! I just love them. That family is a HUGE blessing to me. =)
And of course, when we are together, photoshoots happen. Here are some favorites from random shoots. =)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Oreo Balls!

So, I saw this recipe on Pinterest (does that suprise you?) and I thought that it would be easy enough to try, so I thought, "What the heck?!"
I went out and bought the ingredients, made them (Super easy by the way) and then took them to work because I don't really like oreos, and I didn't really want them just sitting on our counter, and they were a HUGE hit! I have decided that I have found an easy go-to dessert now! Score! Well, I made them last weekish and when I took them to work, well, they were an even bigger hit this time around! haha =) So, if you or anyone you know needs a super easy and super fast dessert to take to anything, follow this recipe and you are golden! Here is how you make them!


Here are the ingredients you will need!
Chop them up littler and then put them into the food processor.
Chop them finely
Put all of the crushed oreos in a bowl (Save some in a little bowl for garnish later)
Then add the cream cheese
You can use a spoon to mix, but I just dug in and mixed it all with my hands!
Roll them into little balls and put them into the freezer for 15 minutes
Then, melt your almond bark, and start dipping them!
Then after you dip them, just add some garnish and put them in the fridge until you are ready to serve them!Viola! Oreo balls are done! =)

Here is the site that I got the recipe from! =)
http://www.chef-in-training.com/2011/11/no-bake-oreo-truffles.html