Season of Waiting

I'm going to be straight up honest about where I'm at right now...I'm in a season of waiting and it really sucks.  In fact, I've been in a season of waiting.  Some of the things I wait for have been brought to fruition and that is wonderful, but there are several other things that God seems to be taking His dear sweet time on.  I've grown in my faith tremendously since going to college, but there are still days I struggle.

I'm waiting on direction.  I came into college with a set career plan and major, and while I definitely think that I was following God's direction when I chose that, He is reshaping what that's going to look like.  I still love what I'm studying and think that my career path is, overall, going to take the direction I saw coming into college.  However, I also am seeing how my faith is intersecting with the passions that God has given me, and that is reshaping my ideas about why He gave me these passions and what He intends for me to do with them.  Here's the catch:  I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.  I want to.  I want to know what God is going to do with my life and what my career is going to look like, but right now that's not something I'm ready to see.  I have to trust Him.

I'm waiting on my husband.  I know that's a silly, little girl thing to say, but, like, I have friends who are only a couple of years older than me that are getting engaged...and I'm still my perpetually single self.  Being single is actually kind of the worst sometimes...trust me, I've been there for...ever.  Some days (okay, many days) I just really want my Prince Charming to show up NOW.  I struggle to believe God has a plan for me and a future husband.  Yet, I believe and pray that if that's not His plan, He will take that desire away.  Right now, I desire to serve Him in marriage with a family one day, so I believe that if He's calling me to serve Him that way, He will provide.  In His timing.  Not mine.  He can write a better love story than I can, and right now it's just about me and Him.  He'll bring me the right man in time.  I have to trust Him.

I'm waiting on salvation.  Not for me, because I invited Him into my life a few years ago, and He took over, and is continuing to take over every day.  Salvation is something that I am blessed to live in each and every day.  No, I'm waiting on the salvation of several of my friends who haven't had the experience of feeling His love and giving their lives to Him.  There is nothing I want more than to see them feel the joy that we've been given through Him.  I've prayed for one of my friends every day for almost two years.  I've been praying for several others.  I pray for opportunities to witness.  I pray for them to see truth.  Yet some days it just feels like they are moving further away.  But I keep praying, because I know He can do all things.  I have to trust Him.

I have to trust Him.  "Nothing shall be impossible.  Your kingdom reigns unstoppable.  We'll shout our praise forevermore, Jesus, our God unstoppable."

15 Things I Learned My First Semester of College

1. Do what you love.
I know that's a stupid saying that is becoming very cliche, but as I see my high school friends and meet people on campus, it is so easy to tell who is doing what they love--or, better said, what they are passionate about.  The people who are majoring in something because it is what the "smart" kids do, or because of the anticipated large salary that comes along with it, are miserable.  You can see it in their face.  There are people who really love biology...they light up when they talk about it.  There are people who really love marketing, music, engineering, and so on.  But you can tell when they don't.  They are turning themselves into passive creatures that are apathetic towards their studies and futures, and that is honestly scary.  If you get into your major and realize that it isn't for you, change it.  Don't be stupid.  Be smart.  Find the major that fits your passions.

2. You can grow in your faith.

I thought I was in a good spot in my faith going into college.  And I was.  But I didn't see this kind of growth coming.  It has been unreal.  Don't underestimate the power of community who believes what you do.  For me, I found that community at Christian Student Fellowship with my small group...other people find it elsewhere.  Here's the thing though...you're either growing or falling away.  I have yet to meet a person who is stagnate in their faith since coming to college.  You're growing or falling away.  As with the major, it's not too late to change.  You're growing as a person or you're falling away from your beliefs...odds are you aren't staying the same.  I think beliefs definitely evolve, but you are changing.  Make sure it's for the better.

3. It's not too late to change.
I think I explained this one above sufficiently, and it applies to the stuff below.  Basically, if you don't like what you're doing/who you're becoming...it's not too late to change that.  You're the one living your life.

4. Put yourself out there and opportunities find you.

My lovely a cappella group singing the national anthem at Rupp Arena

Go do things that you want to do and don't care if other people care...because usually they don't.  When you do this, opportunities start to find you.  I've heard all the stuff about how it's important to "seek out opportunities" and "create your own opportunities" and that's true.  Those things are what I'm talking about when I say to put yourself out there.  But once you start to do these things, opportunities just start showing up.  For example, I wrote this blog, and I am now working on another project because of it.  I auditioned for one a cappella group, didn't get in, but had the opportunity to audition for another one that I am now in.  I wouldn't change that for the world.  I applied for a job in the fall, didn't get it for the fall semester, but they are hiring me for the spring because of my fall interview.  Those are just a few examples.  Put yourself out there and try things, even if you don't know how they'll turn out.  No one is judging you and you never know what other opportunities might come from it.  Then seize those opportunities and make the most of them.  And even if something seems to "go wrong," remember...it's amazing how the wrong things don't work out so that the right ones do.

5. Usually the "big" issues are just little issues blown way out of proportion.
I try to stay out of drama, but I observe it from afar (at least as far away as I can get), and I have discovered this fun fact--usually the "huge" issues that people have are things that started as a minute issue and have spiraled out of control and blown WAY out of proportion.  Solution: Solve the easy, little issues and half the time it prevents any difficult, big issues from happening.  Easier said than done, I know.  But it's worth saying.

6. If your friends go to different schools, it's not the end of the world.
Now, I say that from a different perspective, because almost all of my close high school friends went to the same college as me.  But I almost wish we hadn't.  Because, the truth is, you're going to drift, no matter where you go...and that's okay.  But when you're all on the same campus, drifting means that you don't get together on breaks and that you've just...drifted.  The friend groups from my high school who all split up have great little reunions on breaks, and I've had that with some friends from my church and some theatre friends, but, trust me, if you go to different schools, it's not the be all end all.  That being said, I have stayed super close with a couple high school friends who are at college with me, so it just depends on the situation!

7. You will make friends, and they will be incredible.

My small group from Christian Student Fellowship

College friends are crazy awesome.  During welcome week, get to know tons of people and be friendly, but I will caution you--don't settle.  I didn't find my best friends through welcome week activities.  I found them when I started to get involved in things I cared about.  And that's the great thing about college friends--you often share a lot of the same passions and interests, yet are still all crazy different in the best of ways.  Like I said, I didn't have super close best friends after a week...honestly, it was towards the end of the semester that we really started to get close.  But you WILL make friends.  Go and do things that you care about.  Everyone else is thinking they are going to be lonely creatures.  And the first bit might be lonely.  The first few days I was pretty lonely, but you just have to let the friendships grow.  They will.  And when you let friendships develop over time, they become crazy beautiful.  Also, you're basically living, going to school, and going to all the extracurricular with your friends, so that helps.  It is so cool.

Choir babies!

8. Don't forget where you're from.

Stay in touch with your family...do the group texts, go visit, send them pictures, call your mom, find out what's happening in your sister's life--do whatever.  Independence is cool, but so is your fam, however weird they might be.  But,  #8 here is also a shout out to high school.  So many people think they've "grown up and moved on to bigger and better things."  And you have.  But you would never have made it to those bigger and better things without your past.  And those younger students who you were in all your extracurriculars with in high school?  Yeah, they're still there.  And they still love and look up to you.  Let me tell you, I have become my high school choir and drama club's biggest fan.  I am the proud mom at everything, I go back and visit, and I frequently see all of their posts on social media and my heart swells with pride.  Some might say I'm being sentimental and holding on to the past, but I'm not.  I've completely moved on, but not in the way that I'm going to forget all the people and places that got me here.  They are a part of me.  Don't blow it off.  Staying somewhat connected to my high school has been the best.  And if you've gone far away to college, social media is the way to go.

9. Stop the comparisons and live your life.
I struggle with this one sometimes, because it always seems like something is doing something cooler or better than what I'm doing.  And, hey, newsflash--someone always is.  I've discovered this song called "Love Life" by Natalie Taylor and she sings, "When you love life--your life--it's beautiful."  Truth.  You just have to embrace what you are doing and stop looking around.  Runners are told to only look ahead and not to the left or the right to run better.  So run better.  Focus on what you're doing.  Support others in all of their cool endeavors, but don't compare yourself.  Everyone's journey is different.

10. Take time for yourself.
It's really hard to have alone time at college, at least for me.  I feel like I am constantly surrounded by people, and, as an introvert, that's the struggle.  I spent a lot of time stressing over homework and surrounded by people in high school, and it took some time for me to learn that I had to take time to take care of myself mentally.  I personally like to read my Bible and write about life, and before I go to bed I watch The Tonight Show because it lets me end my day with a smile regardless of how it went.  Find your happy space and go there, because you need to take time to take care of yourself.  It is important.

11. Friendship has no boundaries.

When I was younger, I always wanted a little girl who was my age to move in on my street.  There were (and still are) a bunch of boys around my age, but I wanted a friend who was a girl.  Well, fifteen years later, all those boys are still some of my best friends.  More importantly, however, fifteen years later, I have learned that friendship is something that is not restricted by anything.  I have friends from every walk of life, and it is a beautiful thing.  I've learned this just being in theatre, but college kind of reinforced that idea.  Because, even in high school, people are mainly friends with people in their grade.  In college, what year you are really doesn't matter.  Making friends of all ages over the past few years (including before college) has been the best.

12. Saying "Thank You!!!" is important.
I mentioned this in my earlier post for seniors, Dear 2016 Seniors, but it's relevant in college too.  Probably because it is basically just a good rule for life.  Tell everyone "THANK YOU!!!" because we all need each other, and it's nice to be thanked for what you do.

13. Smiling is also important.
Smile at people (even people you don't know) around campus.  Smile to the lady serving you lunch.  Smile to the person working the front desk of your residence hall.  Smile to everyone.  Maybe it'll make their day, you never know.

On, on, U of K!

14. Take advantage of all the cool things your campus has to offer.
Go to events on campus.  Accumulate lots of free t-shirts.  Go to sporting events for free (or for really cheap...if you're a UK student, spend the $5 for a basketball ticket because it's 100% worth it).  Go to band concerts.  Go to slam poetry events.  Spend time at the library.  Your school has a lot to offer you--take advantage of it (you're paying enough...)

15. Make sure to take it all in.
This semester has been a whirlwind of wonderful things, but it FLEW.  Sometimes I just took a moment to look around and breathe and think, "This moment is beautiful.  I want to remember this."  Consciously taking time to just take everything in and live in the moment is so important.

Thanks for a great first semester, college...here's to the next 7 (give or take a few) more!!!

Reminder Close to Me

If you run into me on the street, I look like a somewhat average teenage girl--probably one on the "artsy" side, but average nonetheless.  You might notice the two bracelets that I have recently been wearing on my left wrist, but probably wouldn't think anything of them.  They look normal enough.  However, they hold a deeper meaning to me that you would never get from passing me on the street.

The first bracelet is a Lokai Bracelet.  I got it as a gift and was a bit taken aback by the message it held with it--"find your balance"--thinking that it might be something spiritual, which as a Christian, I feel I need to be careful with.  However, I researched the bracelet, and found this description:

"Each lokai is infused with elements from the highest and lowest points on Earth. The bracelet’s white bead carries water from Mt. Everest, and its black bead contains mud from the Dead Sea. These extreme elements are a reminder to the wearer to live a balanced life – staying humble during life’s peaks and hopeful during its lows."

(Taken from the Lokai Bracelet website)

I liked the concept of it.  After an emotional roller coaster of a senior year, I found the highs and lows of life to be true, and as someone who is often filled with anxiety and worrying, the bracelet became a reminder to me that there are highs, lows, and days in between, but that God is with me through it all.  I like that reminder close to me, on my wrist.

The other bracelet is one that I made out of that friendship bracelet string that we all used forever ago to make bracelets for one another.  If you read my previous posts, you know that I recently was in The Wizard of Oz.  This bracelet is yellowish orange to represent the yellow brick road, and the beads represent the friends Dorothy makes along the way--Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion.  However, the bracelet to me signifies so much more than that.  It represents the yellow brick road I'm travelling--life--and serves as a reminder that I never travel alone on the road of life, but that I have so many friends that I will always carry with me in my heart.  I like that reminder close to me, on my wrist.

I'm not the type of person to get a tattoo, but I imagine that they are to their owners as my bracelets are to me--reminders that I can easily see that emphasize the life I'm blessed with living, the people I'm blessed to have beside me, and the God I'm blessed to serve.

Loving Charleston

All that seems to be on the news lately are stories about destruction of communities and the lives of people within them, with the most recent being the story of the shooting that took the lives of nine church-goers in Charleston, South Carolina.  The world we live in is one full of evil.  However, I struggle with many of the responses to these tragedies.  While the crimes committed are absolutely full of hate, many of the responses are full of the same.  I feel that all I see in response is people pointing fingers at one another, debating where the crimes originated from, who did what to whom, what the overall trends are around the country, how we are spiraling into a world of destruction, and so on and so on.  While I 100% believe that these issues should be addressed to make progress as a society, I question whether in the immediate days following such tragedy should be so full of this.  All of the debate leads to absolute chaos, primarily on the internet, full of people then pointing fingers at not only those involved in the crime, but also "friends" and "followers" with differing opinions.

While the rest of the country appears to be dividing in political opinions and hate, Charleston appears to be uniting in loss, but more importantly...in love.  The words of forgiveness and hope spoken from the families of the victims reflect the God we serve.  In a time when they could choose to show hatred and anger, they are extending forgiveness and love, because they recognize that hate will not win.  Ever.  To me, this demonstrates what I fail to see in many Christians...peace.  We often talk about how God holds the future and because of this we should have absolute peace.  Why don't we then live like that?  I hear so often Christians say this and turn around and freak out over how the world is headed into such destruction and corruption and how horrific it is and so on and so on.  God has it.  Yes, this world is so very full of evil...so full.  But instead of worrying about the world that God holds in His hands, why don't we focus on extending love and forgiveness to that world.  The world is so messed up because there is a lack of love--God's love.  Yet I have hope, because there are people like those in Charleston that are living a life of love, knowing that God holds yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  His plans are greater than anything we can dream.  So instead of debating and becoming hateful over opinions about Charleston, or any other crime that raises it's head, let us do what those in Charleston are doing--let us love.  Let us pray.  Let us do what Marcus Stanley did in his comment on Dylann Roof's Facebook--let us share the forgiveness and hope of Jesus...with everyone.  Let us love like that--loving everyone, no matter who they are, what they look like, what they have done, or where they have been.  For, as Charleston is showing us, love--God's love--will always triumph.  Always.

VBS Part 5: CELEBRATION!

The first part of this is simple and done throughout the entire week--celebrate.  Celebrate when a child says yes to Jesus, first and foremost!  Celebrate during worship what Jesus has done for us!  Celebrate Bible stories!  Celebrate the giving in offering time! Celebrate being at VBS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having an optimistic, celebrating attitude lifts everyone's spirits throughout the entire week.  However, my current church sets aside the afternoon and evening after the final day of VBS to really celebrate.  I personally love these ideas and think that they would be beneficial for anyone.  They first have an "I Said Yes to Jesus Party" where all the kids who made decisions for Jesus get to come and eat cupcakes.  Every kid who made a decision gets an invitation, and all are followed up with, regardless of if they attend the party.  It is a fun way to celebrate what is hands down the best decision they will ever make!  After this they have a carnival with inflatables and food and games.  It is a lot of fun and is a great way to reach not only the kids who were at VBS, but also their families.  This is a great way to serve the community while creating one.

Overall, CELEBRATE. God is good.  If seeing a bunch of kids praising Jesus and unabashedly following Him during the week doesn't get you excited, something is wrong.  It makes me feel so full of hope and joy, knowing that this is the generation that is going to lead the way in loving Jesus.

And this concludes my VBS series on my blog.  I realize these posts were kind of broad, but I wanted to highlight some specific examples of large, overarching themes.  Up next...who knows??? You'll have to come back to see.  There are several things I am considering blogging about that are going on in my life...

...but right now I'm going to CELEBRATE writing these VBS posts!!!!!!!!

VBS Part 4: Theme

Today's post is short and sweet: utilize the theme of the week to create one big experience, connecting all of the smaller portions of the week...aka the past 3 posts.

1. Music- Not only use the songs provided, but use music connected to the theme as kids come and go during check-in and check-out.  For example, we used spy music, such as Pink Panther songs, during Agency D3 week.  Use this throughout the whole week to backup any activity that may need a soundtrack.
2. Storytelling- As mentioned before, use the characters.  However, go a step further and give the characters fun, themed costumes.  Connect the Bible stories to the theme too!  Bring the theme back to the Bible days!
3. Games- Make the games related to the week, even if that means altering a version of tag or hide and go seek to become a "spy mission."  Games can even extend to walking in the halls.  For example, during Agency D3, I had my class sneak around the building like spies when we were changing activities.  During Journey Off the Map, we climbed/marched/sneaked through the jungle, using each staircase as a tree or mountain to climb.

As you can see, the littlest things can be used to enhance the theme and overall experience for the young people, making it more fun and a great big adventure.

(P.S. Many curriculum also provide room decor, or you can create your own...my church always has some super crazy fun room decorations that kids LOVE!!!)

VBS Part 3: Games

Games bring a lighthearted sense of fun to VBS.  Sometimes they relate to the theme and/or Bible stories, but sometimes they do not.  Here are some game ideas for your week of VBS:
1. Have a rec time outside, if weather is nice and you have the space.  At my current church we had a rec time out in front of the church, led by some of the guys from the youth group.  They played normal outdoor games, such as sharks and minnows, relay races, and variations of tag.  This was a good opportunity for the kids to get their energy out, as they spent a lot of time in more structured activities.
2. Play getting to know you games with the small group.  Within the grade level classes, playing "get-to-know-you" games is a good way to break the ice.  I use a lot of theatre games, and one of the kids' favorites is a game called Zip, Zap, Boing which a quick google search will give you instructions for.  One good game to learn names is for each person to pass a soccer ball to another person in the circle and say their name. The person receiving it must say, "Thank you____" to the person who passed to them.  Then they pass to a new person until everyone in the circle has had it.  Then you repeat this, in the same order, trying to get a lower time.  This game breaks the ice, requires focus, and helps both teachers and students learn names.
3. Use games provided  by the curriculum.  This is self-explanatory.  If the curriculum provides games...use them!  I've said it before; the curriculum is there to help.
4. Have activities for the drop-off and pick-up parts of the day.  For example, we had a small bowling set, as well as craft supplies like pipe cleaners, beads, and markers and paper, and a few board games.  These kind of things provide structured activities that help things not get too crazy during these times.

All in all, use games to let kids get their energy out while providing them with fun ways to bond with their classmates!

VBS Part 2: Storytelling

One of my favorite memories from VBS is the characters that came to talk to us in the larger, group worship time.  For example, during "Avalanche Ranch" at my old church, there were two characters, Wild Bill and Rowdy Ray, that came and talked to us every day.  These characters were played by our youth pastor and another lady.  They were fully committed and were absolutely hysterical.  All of us attending fell in love with them!  At my current church where I volunteer, they had two characters played by people in the youth last year, and this year with "Journey Off the Map" they used puppets to be "Chloe" and "Veronica" who were our tour guides.  I believe that the scenes for these characters may come with the curriculum for VBS, so utilize them to their full potential in whatever manner works best for your church.  As seen in the variation between the puppets and humans, there are many ways to go about using these.

These stories aren't necessarily Bible stories, but Bible stories are obviously the more crucial ones, and they too can be fun.  For example, when our pastor at my current church came in, they did a video intro and then he came in as Indiana Jones, some days with a giant rock rolling behind it and a villain (played by another pastor) behind him.  Having him come in as this crazy character got the attention of the kids, who went absolutely crazy with excitement but were then were drawn into the Gospel that was then shared.  Likewise, the lessons within the smaller classes can be made more engaging with interactive games and questions and props.  

I tried to find a video from my old church or my current church, but was not able to.  If I find one later, I will link it in a future post!  However, the overall important thing about storytelling with VBS is to make the stories age-appropriate and fun, connecting the fun and characters back to theme for the week!  This not only will make the week more entertaining for the young people, but it will also draw them into what's most important--the message of salvation being shared!

VBS Part 1: Music

This week I will be sharing each day about an aspect of Vacation Bible School that I find particularly important.  When I was in elementary school, I attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) every year and it was one of the best weeks of my summer, hands down.  Since the elementary days, I have changed churches, but my current church has a VBS that brings in between 500-600 kids on average and I help out with it.  Since I have seen how VBS functions from both a student and volunteer viewpoint and from several different churches (as I have seen/been a part of VBS programs at other churches), I have gathered a few things about VBS, so I thought I'd share them with you, one a day for several days.  I figured this was appropriate, as last week was my church's VBS week.  We did LifeWay's "Journey Off the Map" and I had a ton of fun working with a third grade class!

Music.  To me, this is one of the most essential parts of VBS.  The wonderful thing about music for VBS is that it comes with the curriculum, so I say use it to its full potential!!!  This music has been used differently at each church I have been to, but I think one of the best ways to use it is to show the provided motions videos alongside people doing the motions onstage and use this as your big, group worship time.  This format made music my favorite part of VBS when I attended because the songs were fun, we learned the words and the motions quickly (which is helpful if there were to be a "concert" for parents at the end of the week...I will discuss this later), and we got to praise Jesus while doing so!  This is an example of the video they played for the last VBS session I attended in elementary school, Avalanche Ranch by Group Publishing:

Obviously this is an older video, from like 2007, but you get the point: there are words and young people doing the motions and singing.  Couple this with people onstage doing the motions and you are set!

One final thing I will put in here is a song from a newer VBS session, Agency D3 which was LifeWay's 2014 VBS curriculum.  I volunteered with this at my church last year.  This was my favorite song:

The songs are always super fun and age appropriate for kids.  They have most definitely been my favorite part of VBS, both when I attended it as a kid and now as I volunteer it.  Just google some songs...they are EXCELLENT stuff!

*WARNING: VBS songs are 100% guaranteed to be permanently stuck in your head.  They are just that catchy.

Lightening The Load

Sometimes life is just downright hard.

I was planning to post throughout this past week about rehearsals for a show I am in and Vacation Bible School at my church, and I will probably reflect on those later, but something more important came up.  One of my friends ended up having a death in the family.  I don't feel that elaborating on details will do any good, but let's just say that the situation took a toll on our whole friend group as we were mourning for her and with her.  It led me to think about just how much of a difference people can make.  Here's what I know: Nothing, absolutely nothing, that anyone can say or do will change or make the situation better.  However, here is what I also know:  You have to be there for people anyway, as day by day they get better.

Let's say you are carrying a large plank of wood.  It is much to large for you to carry on your own, too heavy for you to lift.  All it takes is a few people to come and lift it for it to not be so difficult.  The plank is still too large to carry; the load is not any lesser.  But there is help.  Lightening the load literally takes:
1.  Prayer.  Above anything, pray for people because God can do infinitely more to help people than we ever could.  Nothing we can do will truly help the situation, but He most certainly can.
2. Love.  Tell them that you love them, but also show them.  People love in different ways.  You know what works.  Maybe it's going to fun events with them.  Maybe it's supporting them in what they do.  Maybe it is going out to eat.  Maybe it is simply having a conversation.  Whatever it is, it is important to show them that you care, simply by being there.

This week has been hard, and I know that the coming weeks will be too, but we are trying to lighten the load for our sweet friend.  While we love on earth, we know that our prayers are being heard and that things are happening up in heaven.  God is working through this pain.

Romans 8:18 "The pain that you've been feeling, can't compare to the joy that's coming."

There is always hope.

Stories and Songs

Hi, all!  I don't know if it was senior year that got me all sentimental or if it is just my naturally reflective self, but I have spent a lot of time in the last few months thinking...about everything.  I have always loved writing, so I have decided to start this blog, entitled "Your Story, Your Song," for that is what my life (and yours too!) is made of.  At the end of each day, no matter how good or bad, you and I have a unique story to tell the world, a unique song to sing.  And that is a very beautiful thing.

This blog will reflect on many things.  I will be headed off to college in the fall, so college life will probably be a big topic, as will the arts, as my intended major is Arts Administration.  I will discuss music, theatre, friends, faith, and more as I journey through this next stage of life.  Because this next stage is a new chapter in my story and a new verse in my song.  Perhaps by sharing my own voice, I can inspire others to share theirs.  Because YOU have a story..a story worth telling.  YOU have a song...a song worth singing.  

Welcome to this story, this song.