Weekend!

This was a much needed, relaxing weekend from a tough week. I started school again. I started 2 jobs. I'm starting a new routine. 

School is going to be tough. I'm taking 19 hours that consist of mostly teaching classes but I'm also taking Physical Science aka Physics. I was really worried about the class but so far I remember everything from high school. Thank you West Plains High School for teaching me these things already. Many of the students in my class have no idea how to do any of it and right now we're doing basic conversions. I want to say if you are having trouble now then you may want to think about taking a different class. 

Work is going to be different. At the daycare, I'm working Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoon. Last year, I opened everyday. So it's strange not seeing the kids everyday and working in the afternoon. My first day I didn't know what to do because I had never done nap time before. It was just really strange. I also started working for Trachelle. Now it's more of a consistent thing. I'm working for a new company. So this is all new also. It's mostly things I already do but now I have to be here 4 times a week and its more paperwork for me. It's something I enjoy though. 

 As some of you know, Friday was the 2 year anniversary of my dad's passing. It's hard to believe that he has been gone for 2 years already. Friday, I, as well as my family, lived our lives normally. Not only did I go to school. I was able to tutor in a math class. I also went to lunch with one of my friends and just hung out for the afternoon. I then went to a meeting at my church. Dad wouldn't of wanted us to skip everything and stay at home and mope around. He would of wanted us to live life like he taught us how to do. Lately, my mom has told me "that is exactly something your dad would have done." That is what I want to hear because my dad was such a great guy and if I'm doing things like him then I learned well. 

You're looking at the new team lead for guest services. I'm really excited! I think it's so cool that I became this on Friday. This was something that my dad was very passionate about. He was always looking for better ideas on how to welcome guests to church. Some of the stuff that my dad taught me or showed me is what I'm using for our tent. It's cool that I get to act on what my dad had in visioned for Lifeline. Right now, my team consists of my family. As Trey put it, I'm their boss now! Haha! They have to listen to me for once. :) We start this coming Sunday and I'm so excited!

Anyway after I went there, I went to one of my CIY boss' house to babysit for them. I had so much fun. I babysat 3 boys. 7,5, and 3 were their ages. They were so funny and talked the entire time. They explained to me all of their toys. They helped me make cookies. They watched "Black Beauty" with me and narrated the entire thing (it was hilarious especially when the horse was being born lol). Then, I put them to bed. I read them a story which they also narrated. Then they told me I was the best babysitter and that they loved me. It was awesome! They were such sweet boys. I can't wait to do it again!

The next morning, I got to do some homework and watch Trachelle. I'm not used to doing homework again, but I'm getting back into the gist of things again. It's just hard for me to get back into the groove of things again.  Then that night, we had a family dinner where we smoked meatloaf and potatoes. So yummy! It was a fantastic meal! Then I went to bed at 9:30. Yes, 9:30! No, I'm not ashamed! I didn't actually go to sleep until 10. I was reading "Charlotte's Web" (homework) during that time. But still, I felt like an old grandma. 

Today, we went to church. Their were several new people. I even got to talk to some Southern students that came for the first time. As now I am on the student leadership team, I have to talk to people I do not know. I have to get out of my comfort zone like at CIY but this time I will see them again. At CIY, I knew I wasn't going to see the youth pastors again. These college students, I will see at school, I will see at bible study, and I will see at church on Sunday mornings. It's going to be a very different type of communication. 

Tomorrow, I go back to school and work. I start another week. We are also trying out something tomorrow and having a jam session to try and get more people involved with the BSU. I'm hoping we find another keyboard player because I really want to step down. I'm just want to put my focus on the mission trips. But, I'm excited for this semester. It's not going to be an easy one but its going to be a good one. 

Kristin

Isaiah 41:10

Tomorrow, the chaos starts all over again!

Tomorrow starts my life again. Tomorrow, I start my next 19 hr semester. Tomorrow, I start my 20+ hr work week in 2 different jobs. Tomorrow, I start being on two different student leadership teams. Tomorrow, I start my chaos all over again. Yet, I wouldn't have it any other way.

My life is full right now. I just got off one of the best summers/jobs I have ever had. I don't know how to put into words how this summer impacted me. I've tried. The only people who completely understand are the people I got to work. Every morning, I got to start my day off with a worship set and then I got to end it the same way. How crazy is that?!?! I got to meet and work with some awesome people that challenged me to do things that I would have never thought about. God showed me and opened doors for my life that I am so blessed to be apart of. This is the reason that I am on 2 leadership teams. One for my church. One for my school. I learned that I can and am good at communicating/problem solving with people. Who knew a shy girl could get out of her comfort zone? I had so much help with people stretching me to do this and I'm so thankful for them.

 I also just got off a week full of me catching up on my sleep and resting for this week. With this summer came a lot of weeks in a row with little sleep. My body was/is wore out. It was nice to just sit in one spot for more than 10 min and watch tv. Yes, I went almost 12 weeks without tv. Even though my week was also full of preparation for this coming semester, it was still restful for me. It was just full of the normal stuff: buying books (which were surprisingly cheap this semester, I'm not complaining though :) ), making sure my schedule works for school and my jobs, catching up with friends, making sure everything is ready for the BSU (one of the student ministries I'm on the leadership team for), etc. I've also had to go through training for my jobs again and get all of the paper work in. (Not the best time I've had this week.) Its been a little hectic to say the least. 

I was so excited to get to have meetings and get the BSU started at school on a good foot. On the BSU leadership team, I am the missions coordinator. I love this job because God has laid missions on my heart and its so cool to get to serve him in this way. Having this job is huge during spring break and summer. This year our group is going to Texas over Spring Break and then right after school gets out we are going to Africa. Although it is unknown where we are going at this time, I'm excited about planning this trip. At this time, I'm not sure if I will get to go on the trip due to the possibility of other conflicts. This means this year, I am planning 2 trips!! Yes, I am doing this on top of school, work, ministry work, etc. Its going to be a crazy year for me!!! I not only have to plan the trips, I have to plan fundraisers on how to get my groups there. Africa is such an awesome opportunity but with that comes a lot of money! Mostly the plane ticket and transportation while we (the group) are there. Plus of course while in Africa, you have to go on a Safari! It's just a must right? 

I'm also on the worship team at the BSU. I have the honor of singing harmony mostly and playing the keyboard on Tuesday nights. We had our first practice this past week and I'm so excited for this year. We sounded great. I can't wait for Tuesday night! 

So as I start tomorrow, I simply ask one thing. I ask that you pray for me that I can serve with my all in every area. As you can see, that may be a challenge. I pray that I won't get tired. I also pray that God doesn't stop the chaos in my life!

Thank you for everything! Thank you for all of your support for me and the ministries that I help out! I couldn't do it without all of my family and friends! 

Don't stop the chaos! 

Kristin

Isaiah 41:10

Last Team Time

Tonight was our last team time. It's so crazy to think that 3 months ago I was walking into the CIY office nervous as everything and tomorrow we walk out not wanting to leave. I can't even imagine life now without knowing my team. Courtney, the one who can always find something funny out of a situation, is my partner in crime. She was always there when I needed her. I can't imagine going through Registration day without her. Austin, the most selfless, humble person I know. He was always going off of what Courtney was saying. The two of them would always make me laugh so hard!! Morgan, the most positive person! The best team leader I could have ever had! Then there is Jake, the energizer/ dreamer. The little brother of the group. These people helped me so much. I have learned so much from them and it has made me grow as a person. Tomorrow, I have to say goodbye to these people. It's making me tear up as I think about it. It's going to be so weird for me to go back to my life without these people there. I have spent 24/7 with my team since May 20. I always knew which person to go to if I needed help with a certain thing. I think more than anything that we have gone through so much these last couple of months together, it's hard for me to imagine not having them here when I need them. Yes, I will have my awesome friends here in Joplin but they will not understand everything that I did this summer. It's hard for me to understand sometimes. 

Another person that God has brought into my life was Audrey. She is not my teammate but she might as well be. She helped me through so much this summer also. Every time I needed to vent about something, I would FaceTime her. Yes, FaceTime. My teammates made fun of us for it but whatever. Lol. She is like a sister I never had. Someone who would always have the best advice at just the right time. She would always send me encouraging messages when I needed them the most. She is my best friend here at CIY and nobody understands why. They all laugh so hard about it. Audrey and I are pretty much opposites but that's why we love each other so much. 

Today was our last day of work. Tomorrow we head to the "lake party" which is really at white water. Yes, we know. It's suppose to rain all day. It's so weird that we don't have to go back to the office at 8am anymore. We don't have to fold t-shirts or do inventory anymore. That will be such a relief for awhile. 

Will there be a next year? Quite possibly. If God leads me to do this internship again, I will absolutely take it again. I have never worked for a company that treated their interns so well! They were always looking out for us. I think God has a plan for me with CIY but I'm not sure what it is yet. It could just be helping Carterville go to Move or Believe every year. It could be working at CIY as a PC. Either way, it was such a joy and a honor to work for CIY and the people that came with it. I can't put into words what I'm actually feeling right now. I had one of the best summers and it would be so hard to top it off.

Kristin

Isaiah 41:10

We're back!

We're all back. All 26 of us. My best friend is now back!! I'm so excited to spend time with Audrey it's crazy!! Not only are we all back in Joplin but we moved out of the dorms at OCC and now we are back into the Candlewood Suites hotel. Tonight reminded me so much of our first night here. We came in. Tried to get our rooms. Went to dinner. Came back and played games. Our games were similar but totally different. We were actually playing because we love each other not because we were trying to meet each other. We were playing because we wanted to. It's so different when we know each other. 

It's so weird talking to people about their summers. They were not like ours. Even though we were doing the exact same job, they had different experiences, met different people, and had different strengths and weaknesses. It's hard to not say hey remember this. No because they were not there to experience that. 

I'm so glad to be back but I'm not ready for it to be over. 

Kristin