May we learn to see the problem of suffering through new eyes...

I have so enjoyed Bible class this year. We are going through the book, "How Now Shall We Live" by Colson. It can sometimes be a little on the boring side, but has some great insight. We have discussed life issues and having a biblical worldview. Right now, we are discussing the question, "WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?" Such a tough question. I have been researching a reading different books lately to help me understand and deal with this question as we start studying it. I am reading the book, "If God is Good" right now. It is so good ( a must read!). This story has really made me think. I can not get it out of my head. I am going to share it with you.

Someone told me the story of a teenager who didn’t want to be seen in public with her mother, because her mother’s arms were terribly disfigured. One day when her mother took her shopping and reached out her hand, a clerk looked horrified. Later, crying the girl told her mother how embarrassed she was. Understandably hurt, the mother waited an hour before going to her daughter’s room to tell her, for the first time, what had happened. “When you were a baby, I woke up to a burning house. Your room was an inferno. Flames were everywhere. I could have gotten out the front door, but decided I’d rather die with you than leave you to die alone. I ran through the fire and wrapped my arms around you. Then I went back through the flames, my arms on fire. When I got outside on the lawn, the pain was agonizing, but when I looked at you, all I could do was rejoice that the flames hadn’t touched you.” Stunned, the girl looked at her mother through new eyes. Weeping in shame and gratitude, she kissed her mother’s marred hands and arms.  

I love that story. I have learned through reading this book that God is in charge and He is good. 

ANYWAY

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It never was between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa

SO much to do. So little time.

countdown to germany.....4 days. oh my gosh. what?? it seems like just yesterday i received the letter saying i was going. i am so excited to go on my third and final global next leadership trip. i have been to three of their wonderful trips. sophomore year i went to italy. then junior year, i went to england. this year, it is germany....babbyyy!!! i can't wait!

i packed a lot on saturday. i have all my clothes ready. i have a few quick errands to run tomorrow to finish off the packing list. yay! i feel like i have tons to do before i leave. ahhh, a little stressful!!

i can't wait to see what God has in store for our germany team. it is going to be such an amazing experience.

Stress Much?

I don't know if you know, but i stress. A LOT. Sometimes, I almost feel like I find things to stress about. I know, I am seriously crazy. Right now, the stress is all on college plans and my future. For some reason, I feel like I have to know where I am going to college, what I am majoring in, and what my career will be after college..NOW! I have such a difficult time handing over all of my stress and worries to the Lord.

I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life. I love getting facebook messages, text messages, and emails about how people are praying for me and thinking about me! How awesome. The love and encouragement has been amazing. Thank you!

God is so BIG. He has great plans in store for me and I can't wait to see what they are! He is faithful, loving, comforting, sovereign....the list goes on and on and on. I love this quote: "If we are facing in the right direction all we have to do is keep walking." I pray that God leads and guides me to take the right path. If I fully rely on Him, listen to Him, and  obey Him, I am confident He will reveal to me the path and roads I should take. Then, from there, all I have to do is continue to walk daily with HIM!

Psalm 143:8
"Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You."

College Update:

Here is a quick college update.

I went to Lee on Friday to meet with the athletic trainer. It went really well. We got to campus at around 1:00. My dad had not been there yet, so we decided to walk around the campus. We went downtown to a little tea store and had the most amazing apple muffin ever. No joke. After our little snack, we went to the Admissions Office. I turned in my first college application!! It was pretty exciting. Then at around 3:00 we met with the athletic trainer. The program is really small. Only about 10 students per class. It is a pretty tough major. I enjoyed getting to talk and find out more information.

I turned in my UK application tonight. I am talking to someone in the UK athletic training  department on Tuesday to compare programs. I am excited to compare the two programs. I hope it will help me to decide where I am supposed to be.

If you are reading this, say a prayer for me. Pray that God leads me in the direction that I am supposed to go. Also, pray that He gives me comfort through this tough decision. I know He is sovereign and in total control. He will take care of me, whether it is at Lee University or UK. I love knowing that!

oh swimming, how i have missed you

tonight was my first swim practice in a while. i have been so busy with school and college stuff (which still is no excuse). so, practice tonight was a little rough. i started out doing pretty good and ended up DYIING. not much of a surprise though. i have truly missed everyone at swim, the coaches, and just swimming itself. swimming has been apart of my life for 10 years. i can't imagine my life without swimming. i love it so much. it is so hard to get myself to swim practice, but once i am there, i love it. it is a way for me to get all my frustration out, compete, and just have a good time. 

i am convinced that swimming is the hardest sport. over the years, i have had to deal with comments like, "swimming is not  a sport." or "swimming is nothing compared or football." so, tonight i thought about it. in order to be a good swimmer, you must be strong. your arms have to be strong, your legs have to be strong, your abs have to be strong, your lungs have strong, and your back has to be strong. YOUR WHOLE BODY HAS TO BE STRONG! swimmers ARE strong. also, in order to be a good swimmer, you have to be discipline.  you also  have to have major endurance. yes, there are sprint races in swimming, but then there are the distance races...which requires ENDURANCE! you have to be willing to wake up at the crack of dawn, literally, and swim FAST! you have to spend hours, upon hours, at swim meets. and then there is spending three, long, awful hours, everyday straight swimming over Christmas break. yes, Christmas break. so really, swimmers get no Christmas break. we spend so much time working hard. then just in general, swimming is hard. pushing and pulling through the water is tough. holding your breath is tough. kicking is tough. 

i am done "venting"....i think we should all understand now that swimming IS the hardest sport out there. 

i am looking forward to my last year of swimming. i will have several emotional times, fun times, and hard times. i am ready to start coming to practice (might need some help and motivation......*Cole and Sara*) and finish this year strong!

Some Senior Highlights...

Here are a few Senior Highlights this year.

Senior Lunches- We have had two senior lunches so far. The first time, I went to Tropical Smoothie Cafe with Wesley, Tori, Lindsey, and Brooklyn. It was so yummy! The second lunch, we went to SmashBurger. After we ate we went to the mall for a few minutes to look around. I can't wait until the next one! It is nice to go off campus for lunch sometimes. :)

LCA Football games- I have only been to a few LCA games this year. I will have to say our student section is....amazing!! We have a theme every game.

Homecoming Football Game- I was voted to be on Homecoming Court this year. Being on the Court was such an honor. I had so much fun. It was a memory that I will always remember. The Senior Homecoming Court: Kaelyn Hiler, Sawyer Fouts, Gina Jacobson, J.C. Stone, Emily Lavender, and Gal Tesler.

Leadership Forum- We have had two leadership forum meetings. I love the group. We have a lot of fun discussing and hanging out!

LCA Spirit Week- Spirit Week this year was so fun. We had some interesting outfits!

LCA Senior Retreat- All the seniors went to Bluegrass Baptist Camp for the senior retreat. It was nice to just hangout all together as a class.

UK Football games- I have been to all the UK home football games. I have taken different friends to each game. This last game was especially fun because I got to see Marshall Seelye!! It was good to see him and meet his girlfriend.

Interning @ Porter- I love interning for Kenneth and Kristy!! Even though sometimes it can be a hard job, I love helping out, cleaning, and getting things organized. I have done it for two years, and would not have it any different. I will have to say I do miss Dylan sometimes this year! We had such a fun year last year.

BABY NATHAN AND KAYDEN- Jennifer and Nick Cooper are new parents!! Kayden Cooper was born in September. He is so precious. I am so happy I am his "Aunt". Nathan Bruce was born in October. He was an early surprise! He is such a sweet baby. I got to see him today, and he is just so perfect! I love the Bruce Boys!

College Visits- Lauren Fowler and I went to visit Lee together. It was a fun trips We made some great memories! :)

Smoothie Movie Night- The IGNITE girls at church were nice enough to invite me to their smoothie movie night. We made smoothies, hung out, and watched "Princess and the Frog." It was so fun!

BACKSTREET BOYS CONCERT- Last, but certainly NOT least. In August, my mom, Jenny Kate and myself went to the BSB concert. It was AWESOME!!!!!!!! Best Concert Ever.

GOD is good

God is good. NO, God is not just good, He is great, awesome, mighty, loving, incredible, caring, merciful, gracious, and comforting. He has been so good to me. 

I am so blessed. He has blessed me with an incredible family. I have the most amazing parents ever. My dad is so funny. Although, he can be quite embarrassing sometimes! He is such a hard-worker. I am thankful for his loyalty. My mom is the best! She is so great. What would I do without her? She is always there to talk. I love discussing our days, talking about the latest fashion trends, going out to eat with her, and watching a good TV show or movie together! She is so amazing. And then the big brother, Jordan. I think I have the best big brother out there. He is so smart. Even though he is rather messy and unorganized sometimes, I still love him to death. He has the biggest heart. He is always willing to help me whenever I need it. 

God has also blessed me with an amazing church family. I love my youth group. Kenneth and Kristy are so so so awesome. They spend so much time investing in each and every one of the student's lives. It is so awesome to see God working in their family. I have loved interning for them the past two years. It has been so much fun!! I have loved getting to know my senior class this year. I enjoy discipleship training and LIFE groups with them. I love the middle school girls! They are so awesome. I love to see God working in their lives. The college department has been a blessing to me as well. There are some pretty awesome people in the college department. They have shown leadership and maturity. They have been great role models for me. I am excited to see what God does in the college ministry. 

LCA has been a blessing for me as well. It is so great to know that everyday when I go to school, I am in a safe place. I love being able to pray and worship God at school! How awesome is that? Chapels have blessed me throughout the years. They are so challenging and encouraging. I am thankful for the many, many Godly teachers that have been placed in my life. They are great examples for me. 

Thank you God for blessing me! :) YOU ARE SO GOOD. 

Senior Year so far!

First off, whoever said senior year was easy....you were wrong! So far, it has been rather challenging. I am not taking too many hard classes. My schedule is Government, Humanities, Bible, Anatomy, and English. After English, I intern at Porter Memorial Baptist Church. I really enjoy all of my classes and internship.

I have really enjoyed spending time with my senior class. We have been to many LCA sporting events, senior lunches, tailgating, and UK games together. I will have to say, our LCA athletics have been amazing this year. The golf team won state, which was very exciting. The seniors on the golf team are outstanding. The volleyball team had an amazing season too. Our women's soccer team is continuing to do well. I am excited for the rest of the seasons to come. :)

Right now, I am in the process of deciding my plans for college. I have narrowed my choices down to UK and LEE University. I am meeting with my college counselor tomorrow. I am praying that God continues to lead and guide me through this decision. It has been a very stressful few months for me. There is so much to think about when considering colleges. I am visiting Lee on Friday again. I am looking forward to it.