I had an amazing time on the Character Focus trip to Arkansas, I was able to serve, fellowship, worship, minister, and got incredibly blessed spiritually. I will never forget it, I think I'm going to have the most amazing summer ever, and I don't think I'll ever be the same again. Thanks for everyone's prayers while we were gone, you are the real heroes. And of course the trip wouldn't have been so much fun if not for the people, I love ALL of you!!! I count you among my closest friends.
Its hard to get back into the 'real' world, though some would argue that it was the real world and the one we live right now is fake. Anyway, I just wish there was some way to experience that everyday, but I guess than it would be mundane....or not. Although, if we have the right attitude we can experience God everyday, in so many different wasys, through so many different things. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!!!! How many times do we let the mundane things in life take away our expectation of something incredible happening? If we are looking for God to show Himself, He will. But so many times we just run right past Him, calling luck, or timing, or even saying blessed but not really thinking and taking the time to praise God for it.
Well, there is my 20 cents for the day lol. I got a little carried away, but it is something to think about.
Still praying about my passport, I called the agency today and they said that it was still 'proccessing' whatever that means, and that there really wasn't anything they could do.
I will trust in God, if He wants me to go I will. really.
be free
~noel~
Prov. 3:5,6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways aknowledge Him
And He will direct your paths
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
freaking, but trusting in God
I'm getting a little nervous about my passport........
I know that God is in control, but I keep stressing about it. Its like what I know and what I think aren't going together. *deep breath*
So, this week was crazy fun, on Mon. I went to the health department and waited for 3 hours to get my shot records from when I was a baby to send to the passport office, to prove I was born here, (I think it would have been easier to send them a picture proving I wasn't mexican, but....)
And while we were there I got my tetnus shot, (my first shot ever! that I can remember), than that night we had our last YOUGROW *sniff*
Thur. I went and got my yellow fever shot, and got a typhoid vaccination that I have to take 4 pills every other day, and if I forget I have to start all over again.
On Fri. was the start of the OCHEC convection, and oh.my.word. what a LONG day, to have 8 kids for 9 hours.........well, by the end of the day it wasn't pretty, :(
Fri. night some of us, (Rachel, Whitney, Maria, Lauren and I) rented a room at the training center, so we had fun, just hanging out and watching movies.
Sat. it started all over again, I was so tired starting the day and it just got worse. 5 finally rolled around (the time when the kids LEFT!!!), and I was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when Brandon asks me and Megan to take care of the kids whose parents were late..................yeah, thats what I felt too.
And than after a few minutes Megan leaves, so I'm there with about 10 kids..........they're all still alive I promise you, by the grace of God. And I think most of them may still even like me.
Sun. I had a basketball banquet that my family set-up and cooked for, it was tiring.
And Mon. was our Liberty basketball alumni game, that I had not got in anything resembling shape (except maybe round) for. We did win!!! That was exciting, but at a personal cost; very sore back and shoulders, huge bruise on hip where I stopped AD from getting a lay-up and got rammed into the wall, and bruise on jaw where Kayla's head somehow connected when going for a loose ball.
I hope this satisfies SOME people who have given me a hard time (*coughjoncough*) about not posting. I have told you everything I can think of..........almost, some things are best kept off the internet ;)
be free
~noel~
I know that God is in control, but I keep stressing about it. Its like what I know and what I think aren't going together. *deep breath*
So, this week was crazy fun, on Mon. I went to the health department and waited for 3 hours to get my shot records from when I was a baby to send to the passport office, to prove I was born here, (I think it would have been easier to send them a picture proving I wasn't mexican, but....)
And while we were there I got my tetnus shot, (my first shot ever! that I can remember), than that night we had our last YOUGROW *sniff*
Thur. I went and got my yellow fever shot, and got a typhoid vaccination that I have to take 4 pills every other day, and if I forget I have to start all over again.
On Fri. was the start of the OCHEC convection, and oh.my.word. what a LONG day, to have 8 kids for 9 hours.........well, by the end of the day it wasn't pretty, :(
Fri. night some of us, (Rachel, Whitney, Maria, Lauren and I) rented a room at the training center, so we had fun, just hanging out and watching movies.
Sat. it started all over again, I was so tired starting the day and it just got worse. 5 finally rolled around (the time when the kids LEFT!!!), and I was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when Brandon asks me and Megan to take care of the kids whose parents were late..................yeah, thats what I felt too.
And than after a few minutes Megan leaves, so I'm there with about 10 kids..........they're all still alive I promise you, by the grace of God. And I think most of them may still even like me.
Sun. I had a basketball banquet that my family set-up and cooked for, it was tiring.
And Mon. was our Liberty basketball alumni game, that I had not got in anything resembling shape (except maybe round) for. We did win!!! That was exciting, but at a personal cost; very sore back and shoulders, huge bruise on hip where I stopped AD from getting a lay-up and got rammed into the wall, and bruise on jaw where Kayla's head somehow connected when going for a loose ball.
I hope this satisfies SOME people who have given me a hard time (*coughjoncough*) about not posting. I have told you everything I can think of..........almost, some things are best kept off the internet ;)
be free
~noel~
Monday, April 21, 2008
overwhelmed
AHHH!
I feel like I don't even have time to sleep, when I try to I just start thinking about all the things I need to do.
Let me just list a few;
-get money for Africa and AR trips (about 2,500 total)
-get shots (I'm nervous about this, I have NEVR had shots before.....)
-mail out a letter
-work (even though I know that I won't be here much longer...it makes it kinda hard)
-my passport (I have this fear that it won't get here on time)
And that is just out of the ordinary, I have all my regular stuff at home, and I don't have a free weekend until after I get back from Africa!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to keep reminding my-self that the reason I'm doing this is to get closer to God, and running around like a chicken with its head cut off, while completely ignoreing Him. Is not helping to achieve that purpose. So I keep trying to make time for Him, but...........
And, I want to spend more time with my family because I'm gonna be gone so much this summer. But I'm trying not to think about that, I'm going to get SO homesick.
I am looking forward to this weekend though, my dad is taking me to a concert at Frontier City, Wavorly, needtobreathe, and Thousand Foot Krutch, I'm excited!
Please pray for me, that everything will fall into place, that I will see God work, and that my faith will be strengthened. Thanks for listening........
be free
~noel~
I feel like I don't even have time to sleep, when I try to I just start thinking about all the things I need to do.
Let me just list a few;
-get money for Africa and AR trips (about 2,500 total)
-get shots (I'm nervous about this, I have NEVR had shots before.....)
-mail out a letter
-work (even though I know that I won't be here much longer...it makes it kinda hard)
-my passport (I have this fear that it won't get here on time)
And that is just out of the ordinary, I have all my regular stuff at home, and I don't have a free weekend until after I get back from Africa!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to keep reminding my-self that the reason I'm doing this is to get closer to God, and running around like a chicken with its head cut off, while completely ignoreing Him. Is not helping to achieve that purpose. So I keep trying to make time for Him, but...........
And, I want to spend more time with my family because I'm gonna be gone so much this summer. But I'm trying not to think about that, I'm going to get SO homesick.
I am looking forward to this weekend though, my dad is taking me to a concert at Frontier City, Wavorly, needtobreathe, and Thousand Foot Krutch, I'm excited!
Please pray for me, that everything will fall into place, that I will see God work, and that my faith will be strengthened. Thanks for listening........
be free
~noel~
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Tick Tock
tick tock tick tock tick tock.......................
Why is most of our lives about waiting? I was just thinking that I only have an hour left 'til I can go home, and I'm just watching the clock.
I do this every day for all kinds of things, I wait.
It seems like there could be a better use of my time, but what? Its not like I don't WANT to be doing nothing, I just don't have anything else to do, but wait on whatever I'm waiting on. GRRRR! :)
Any suggestions?
So, last weekend I went to a family reunion, well kind of, it was just for ladies. We rented a few cabins and just spent the weekend getting to know each other more. I had fun, even though I had the flu ALL weekend.
Anyways, while we were there, my mom sister and I, I just realized how blessed we were to have a such a godly family, MOST of them were Christians, in fact I don't know who was not. I know that this is unusual, its somewhat like that on my dad's side, though not to the same extreme. But I am So thankful that I was born into such a Godly family, and that I have such a heritage.
Oh, and through some different things....I'm thinking about, praying about, maybe going on the Africa mission trip. I REALLY wanted to go, and then I KNEW I was not going to go, and then some things happened. So, I need prayer, it would take a miracle to go now, getting a passport and raising the money. But God is big.....................
Be Free.
Why is most of our lives about waiting? I was just thinking that I only have an hour left 'til I can go home, and I'm just watching the clock.
I do this every day for all kinds of things, I wait.
It seems like there could be a better use of my time, but what? Its not like I don't WANT to be doing nothing, I just don't have anything else to do, but wait on whatever I'm waiting on. GRRRR! :)
Any suggestions?
So, last weekend I went to a family reunion, well kind of, it was just for ladies. We rented a few cabins and just spent the weekend getting to know each other more. I had fun, even though I had the flu ALL weekend.
Anyways, while we were there, my mom sister and I, I just realized how blessed we were to have a such a godly family, MOST of them were Christians, in fact I don't know who was not. I know that this is unusual, its somewhat like that on my dad's side, though not to the same extreme. But I am So thankful that I was born into such a Godly family, and that I have such a heritage.
Oh, and through some different things....I'm thinking about, praying about, maybe going on the Africa mission trip. I REALLY wanted to go, and then I KNEW I was not going to go, and then some things happened. So, I need prayer, it would take a miracle to go now, getting a passport and raising the money. But God is big.....................
Be Free.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Life is hard
It really is, and it keeps getting harder as I get older. I'm going through some tough times right now, and I know that God is trying to teach me something, but what?
A few months ago I was thinking, 'I really have a perfect life, I have everything that I really even want'.......Now, I just have questions, and they're not really even good questions.
When I got back from the ski trip my life just took a downward spiral, both of our cars are in the shop, and to get them both fixed its going to be almost $2,000. My dog, Joe (the best, sweetest, funniest dog in the whole world), we found out has been killing chickens, and those people are going to sue us if we don't get rid of him. And than Mon. morning I find out that as of May 1st I no longer have a job, they are going to start outsourcing it, or something.
My reaction to all this? WHY?
I went to bible study last night, I did'nt really want to go, but I figured that if I wanted God to show me what He wanted me to do next, that the least I could do was TRY and get closer to Him.
I'm glad I went, I still have doubts and questions, probably more than I did before. But I feel like I'm not by my-self, I don't have to figure it out, because I'm not trying to do MY will.
Anyways, I thought I would write down some of my random thoughts and questions from last night, just in case anyone had any answers, or just to feel encouaged that someone else is feeling the same way you are...........
Thoughts and Questions;
Do I want God to break me?
What id the purpose of closing a door when there is not one open? I want to see an alturnative first! I did'nt want these doors to close, what if I don't want to give that to you? I don't want to wait!
When the music fades.............it should'nt ever fade, that feeling that God is RIGHT there, 'cause HE is. We can choose whether or not to 'listen', to really listen, to be aware of WEHRE God is, right there, by you, in you, beside, before, after, below, above.........
How can I ignore something so BIG? How can I put my selfish desires in front of someone's so RIGHT? How can I act this way in front of someone so PERFECT? WHO cares? About ANYTHING else? What REALLY matters? Nothing of this world. What lasts? What is REAL? Emotions? People? Relationships? Actions? Words? Its? What is its? My life? But I thougt that life did'nt matter. It does'nt, just His plan, how do I really KNOW His plan? and not just picking thing out of the bible...
The ONE thing I know? I AM HIS - totally - completely- nothing that is mine, is mine - What is really mine?
WHAT DO YOU WANT?????????????
So that is whats been going on with me, I hope I have'nt depressed anyone or anything, and I am not doubting my salvation, or that there is a God, or anything like that, I just want to know more. Up to now I think I've just been 'here', wherever the 'current' takes me. I want to go His way, not my own, or anyone else's.
I would appreciate your prayers, I know this won't be easy...........
Be Free
~noel~
A few months ago I was thinking, 'I really have a perfect life, I have everything that I really even want'.......Now, I just have questions, and they're not really even good questions.
When I got back from the ski trip my life just took a downward spiral, both of our cars are in the shop, and to get them both fixed its going to be almost $2,000. My dog, Joe (the best, sweetest, funniest dog in the whole world), we found out has been killing chickens, and those people are going to sue us if we don't get rid of him. And than Mon. morning I find out that as of May 1st I no longer have a job, they are going to start outsourcing it, or something.
My reaction to all this? WHY?
I went to bible study last night, I did'nt really want to go, but I figured that if I wanted God to show me what He wanted me to do next, that the least I could do was TRY and get closer to Him.
I'm glad I went, I still have doubts and questions, probably more than I did before. But I feel like I'm not by my-self, I don't have to figure it out, because I'm not trying to do MY will.
Anyways, I thought I would write down some of my random thoughts and questions from last night, just in case anyone had any answers, or just to feel encouaged that someone else is feeling the same way you are...........
Thoughts and Questions;
Do I want God to break me?
What id the purpose of closing a door when there is not one open? I want to see an alturnative first! I did'nt want these doors to close, what if I don't want to give that to you? I don't want to wait!
When the music fades.............it should'nt ever fade, that feeling that God is RIGHT there, 'cause HE is. We can choose whether or not to 'listen', to really listen, to be aware of WEHRE God is, right there, by you, in you, beside, before, after, below, above.........
How can I ignore something so BIG? How can I put my selfish desires in front of someone's so RIGHT? How can I act this way in front of someone so PERFECT? WHO cares? About ANYTHING else? What REALLY matters? Nothing of this world. What lasts? What is REAL? Emotions? People? Relationships? Actions? Words? Its? What is its? My life? But I thougt that life did'nt matter. It does'nt, just His plan, how do I really KNOW His plan? and not just picking thing out of the bible...
The ONE thing I know? I AM HIS - totally - completely- nothing that is mine, is mine - What is really mine?
WHAT DO YOU WANT?????????????
So that is whats been going on with me, I hope I have'nt depressed anyone or anything, and I am not doubting my salvation, or that there is a God, or anything like that, I just want to know more. Up to now I think I've just been 'here', wherever the 'current' takes me. I want to go His way, not my own, or anyone else's.
I would appreciate your prayers, I know this won't be easy...........
Be Free
~noel~
Monday, January 28, 2008
HEY, its me.........sorry its been so long, I got a new job/position. And discovered a thing called facebook, its really addicting lol. Soooooo, unfortunately I spent so much time thinking about WHAT I was going to blog about, that now that I'm actually doing it I've run out of time. Pray for me, I have at least 7 games in the next two weeks, YIKES!!!!!!!!! Love you guys, thanks for sticking with me :)
~noel~
~noel~
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Its the most wonderful time of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, long time no talk..........sorry about that. My life has just been so hectic lately that to sit down and take the time to write a journal entry about what is happening in my life just has not happened. So I'm making time now. The biggest thing is my job, at the begining of the year I will start training to be the financial secretary here, I'm a little scared. I've never been very good with numbers, but I think this will be a valueble life skill, so I'm gonna go it. Basketball is the other like half of my busy life..........we practice 2 times a week plus games. But I love it, and this is my last year, I am REALLY bummed about that, especially since I'm not as good as I would like to be. I almost have all of my Christmas shopping done, but I have a TON of wrapping to do, I actually went to the mall three different times last week, and get this, in two different states LOL. It was actually kinda fun, except now I'm kinda broke :). Merry Christmas!!!! and Happy New Year! Be Free, ~noel~
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