Catching up...

I'm probably about 2 weeks behind on posting.  Oh well!  Ha!  It's been a good 2 weeks though.  As far as classes go, I've really enjoyed reading through and learning Exodus the week before last.  And, then last week, we studied Joshua.  The EL class on Thursday night was about Angelology and Demonology.  Very interesting to say the least!

The week before last, I kinda snuck out of town and took a trip to Ohio to see dear friends.  Jennifer and I left earlier Thursday morning and came home last Monday.  It was such a sweet time of being with the Johnston's.  We just love and miss them a ton!  (I know we aren't the only ones!)  They really are more like family than friends.  On Friday, we went to a nearby train station and loaded up bikes to go riding.  We got on the train where we parked and took a short ride.  Then, we unloaded our bikes and rode one of the trails.  It was a beautiful day and all the leaves were changing.  We stopped somewhere along the way for a picnic.  Then, we rode the rest of the way back to where we started.  That night it rained, and we decided to get creative.  So, sometime in the night, we were ripping pallets apart in the garage.  :)

Me and Jennifer on the train

Me and Jenn bike riding

Ryan, Addi, and Debby

Thinking...contemplating...

Brute strength...

On Saturday, Jenn, Debby, and I went to get crafting supplies to make pallet signs.  We came back and set to work cutting, measuring, nailing, and painting.  It was really fun for a raining day!

The girls covering their ears because of the nail gun. :)

They were sooooo meticulous!

Our finished signs!  They turned out great!

On Sunday, we all got up and went to church.  We had lunch at Chipotle.  Later that afternoon, Jenn and I carved pumpkins with the girls (and half the neighborhood:).  Sunday night, Jenn and I talked Ryan and Debby into going out while we stayed home to "babysit" the girls.  We wouldn't have had it any other way!  It was such a great time to get away and spend time with loved ones.

Carving the pumpkin!

Making the face!

Love them!!!

Color Run fun!!!

So, today, I had alot of fun at the Color Run 5k.  Although we didn't even run, we had a great time being together and gettin' our "Color on"!  The run was set up so that we got covered in a different color at certain points along the path.  So, we had "color" thrown at us in this order: yellow, pink, orange, and blue.  Then, at the end, we had a color party.  Every person that registered for the race received a color packet.  We were supposed to keep the color packets with us until the end of the race.  Then, at the end, we all threw the color up and around.  It was awesome!  And, it was super fun!  I have tons of pics, but I'll just share the highlights.

Pre-race: Girls

Pre-race: Guys

COLOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post-race: Guys

Post-race: Girls

(Orbitz gum commercial!)

Information overload... and a wedding :)

My first week of October was filled with awesomeness!  No kidding.  On Monday night (last week), we learned about the life of Joseph.  Yes, we're still in Genesis!  That was just the first hour.  The second hour was on the "How To's of Discipleship".  On Wednesday morning, we continued with "Myths of Discipleship" and more on the life of Joseph.  Luckily, we had praise and worship for our Thursday night class.  Then, on Friday night and Saturday morning, we had an optional church history retreat.  Talk about over my head!  We went through years 100-1500 in 6 hours.  I'm in information overload.  That's for sure!

Really big words...

Also, over the weekend, I had the privilege of seeing a sweet friend marry her best friend.  Despite the cold and rain, it was beautiful.  Their special day was a precious picture of the body of Christ.  And, I'm so happy for them!  Congratulations Catherine and Andy!

The Bride!

Finishing September!

So again, I'm a little late posting about my week (last week).  However, it was a good week.  On Monday night after class, one of the guys' houses in the program had people over for a bonfire and s'mores.  Nothing says fall like a bonfire!  It was a fun time to get together.  I would've taken pics, but I was too busy swinging on the guys' rope swing.  (I know I'm supposed to be an adult.  It was too fun though!)

Tim

The highlight of my week was Friday night.  A group of us from the EL program went to Range USA in Bartlett for their "date night" deal.  The deal included dinner, ammo, renting their guns and a shooting lane.  I have to admit that I was very nervous.  But, it ended up being very fun.  We all got to shoot with some type of revolver and some type of 9 millimeter pistol.  (I don't know info on the guns, if you can't tell.)  It was so fun, and dinner afterwards was pretty tasty, too.  I would totally go back again!

The roommie...Elizabeth

Me!

Becca

Spencer

Classes, dinner, and a movie...

This past week was packed with classes and awesome teachings.  Altogether, we had class 4 out of the 5 days.  On Monday night and Wednesday morning, we had about 3 hours worth of teaching from Genesis, most of which I need to study and re-study.  Then, on Thursday night, the EL's had 2 hours of teaching on Bibliology.  (Never heard of it?  Welcome to the club!  I'm the President.  Ha.)  And, on Friday morning, we had 2 hours of teaching on evangelism.  So, aside from swimming in all I was taught during the week, it was good.  :)

Then, I had a pretty good weekend, too.  I had dinner with the parentals on Friday night.  Saturday, I had lunch with friends, Allen and Brittany.  (I would've taken a pic, but there's nothing that great about Chic-fil-a.)  Sunday night, my housemates and I were treated to Lee's culinary creations.  He made chicken parmesan with pasta.  We also had broccoli and garlic bread.  For dessert, we had a homemade, chocolate swirl cheesecake that Jill made.  It was all delicious!

Delicious!

Thank you, Lee!

Jill and her awesome cheesecake!

After dinner, I went to see the movie, Unconditional, with friends.  Oddly enough, I found out my 7th grade science teacher and her husband produced it.  Small world, huh?  It was a great story with several unexpected twists.  But, the overall theme was God's unconditional love for us.  Hopefully, it did well in theaters over the weekend!

"Nothing you ever give to Jesus is wasted."

This past week was a good one.  Nothing too exciting or noteworthy went on.  I had a pretty low-key weekend.  On Friday night, Jill (one of my housemates) and I made a trip to Jerry's Snowcones for dinner.  I had never eaten "real" food there before.  I had a corn dog and cheese fries.  I wouldn't order either one of those again.  I get the impression other things on the menu are much better.  Then, on Sunday after church, I went to lunch with friends.  I spent the rest of the day with the one and only, Sarah Eichner.  I really enjoyed finally getting to see her new house and hearing about her upcoming wedding plans.  Congrats to her and Caleb (the fiance)!  

But, that's not all.  In the sermon yesterday, my pastor said something that really stuck out to me.  He says alot of things that really stick out to me.  But, for some reason, he said one sentence that I'm still thinking about today.  "Nothing you ever give to Jesus is wasted."  It's not earth shatttering.  I realize that.  But, it hit me right where I'm at right now in my walk with the Lord.  My pastor was actually referencing the story of the woman, who anointed Jesus with a very expensive jar of perfume not long before his crucifixion.

The story is told by two different accounts, once in Matthew 26 and once in Mark 14.  So, I was reading over both accounts today.  And, I learned a few things.  First of all, I didn't realize this story appeared in the Bible twice.  Second, I'm not sure I've ever really read it for myself to see what Jesus actually says about the woman.  When the disciples freaked about what she did, Jesus replied very calmly.  "Why are you bothering this woman?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.  When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.  I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."  Matthew 26:10-13  Did you see that?  Did you hear what He said about her?  I don't think I ever noticed that before now.

So, you combine what my pastor said and the words of Jesus, and it speaks straight to my heart.  My problem is that I look at my life as the woman through the eyes of the disciples.  I never think that what I am doing for the Lord is good enough or done well enough.  I live in a constant fear of disobeying Him.  And, I think I make it all too difficult.  I look at life from a completely skewed view.  And, I know it in my head, but it hasn't quite sunk into my heart.  I want my life to look like the woman's perfume.  I want my life to be a sweet fragrance poured out for my Savior.  And, what He said of the woman, I want Him to say of me.  I'm so glad the Lord is perfect in all things.  I'm so glad He's perfectly patient because this girl is a tough one to get through to.  :)

Last Week...Late

So, I realize we're already halfway through a new week, and I'm posting about last week.  Oh well, it's ok!  Last week was a great week.  In my classes, I have been learning so much.  It is all truly life transforming information.  And, it very much feels like trying to drink from a fire hydrant.  No joke.  It's alot of information!  The beautiful thing is it's not just information.  The things I am learning are invaluable tools I can use to further my own understanding of God's Word and be able to re-teach it to others.  Monday, we didn't have class due to the Labor Day holiday.  Wednesday morning, we learned about Genesis 1-2 and Thessalonian Legacy (may have to share more on that later).  Last, we had a Friday morning class on Proverbs.

The weekend was fun also.  On Friday night, a bunch of the EL's went to Las Delicias for dinner to celebrate Emily's birthday.  (We should've made her wear the sombrero...)  Afterwards, we played games at one of the girls' houses.

Most awkward pic ever...that's what I get for making memories!

Then, on Saturday, we got together at Shelby Farms for fajitas and "capture the flag".  (I know.  Kinda reminds you of middle school, huh?)  There was a twist to our game though. . . water balloons!  Water balloons, I have decided, make everything better.  It was a blast! 

Water balloons!

Yummy fajitas!

Post-game smack talk...

After leaving Shelby Farms, I went to have dinner with some more friends.  (I sound like a real social butterfly!  Yeah right!)  It was fun, too!  (No pics though, because I would have been the only taking pictures of us just doing normal stuff.  Ha!)  We played several games, ate too much, and laughed alot.  I'm so thankful for the sweet friends God has blessed me with!  :)