Finally have a moment to sit down and relay some hightlights of our Spring Break Campaign to Boulder, Colorado. Enjoyed being around such an amazing and diverse group of people; I know I haven't laughed that hard, that much, in a long time! So here are a few bits and pieces from the trip:
*4" of snow Sunday when we got there; driving the 15 passenger van on the ice
*hubcaps and the parking brake on the mini-van: full-coverage!
*boys staying at a 1.25 million dollar house
*walkie-talkies and driving in downtown Denver
*Sandy, the hugh German Shepard lion of our host family
*fitting 8-10 people in an elevator
*cleaning up a playground at the Acorn School
*hanging out with kids at the Mountain States Children's Home
*cooking 100+ pancakes in 20 minutes at the Homeless Shelter
*chocolate cake everywhere we went
*surveys at CU campus
*baby snake spaghetti
*the 7th grade dating game
*painting a bathroom with 5 coats of Kilz at Attention homes b/c paint tends to turn to a cottage cheese-like substance when it is frozen
*serving a meal with Dry Bones to about 40 homeless teens
*13th Street is not the same as 13th Avenue
*the British Pub
*12 hour drives and 3 drivers
*and not to be left out, "Dude, that's messed up!"

Usually I like storms, I really do. I love listening to rain on a tin roof and the smell when you step outside right after a downpour...the feeling of being all bundled up in front of the fireplace with a good book or movie when it's thundering like crazy outside...watching a lightning storm flash across the sky...jumping through puddles and splashing mud everywhere. Can't go wrong with a good rain storm. But there are other kinds of storms in life as well. There are those that hit you when you least expect it and those that you kinda saw coming all along. This week has been a total storm for me. After coming back from a wonderful Spring Break, the curse of the portfolio hit me head on. I seem to have at least come out of all of that alive and in one piece (though it's not over yet), but there have been many questionable moments. On top of that, a few other situations came up this week that made me realize that I just have to let go of some things. Letting go isn't an easy thing to do, for it takes great trust when things are completely out of your control. It takes knowing that God has so much more planned than what is right in front of you at the moment. It takes giving up what you think you want and what you know you can't have. But it takes more than I can give right now. So in the midst of the downpour...a simple song...


Casting Crowns
Praise You In This Storm

i was sure by now
that you would have reached down
and wiped our tears away
stepped in and saved the day
but once again, i say "amen", and it's still raining

as the thunder rolls, i barely hear your
whisper through the rain, "i'm with you"
and as you mercy falls, i raise my hands
and praise the god who gives and takes away

i'll praise you in this storm
and i will lift my hands
for you are who you are
no matter where i am
every tear i've cried
you hold in your hand
you never left my side
and though my heart is torn
i will praise you in this storm

i remember when
i stumbled in the wind
you heard my cry
you raised me up again
my strength is almost gone
how can i carry on
if i can't find you

i lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
my help comes from the Lord
the maker of heaven and earth

Well, it's 2:15 AM and my portfolio is done...sort of. You see, I didn't take into account the fact that I needed extra matte board in case I messed up. Apparently I figured that wouldn't happen. I don't mess up, right? Ha. Hahahaha. Anyway, it'll get me by for tomorrow and then I'll be busting it til next Wednesday to get ready for the big conference. Fun times ahead, my friends. This could be the earliest night of the week, so get ready. So Spring Break was amazing. Not at all what I thought it would be going into it and way different compared to last year, but outstanding and super fun nonetheless. Spent the week with a lot of great people and got to experience many things that made me appreciate what God has so graciously blessed me with. Lots of stories to share and pictures to show....but later it will have to be. For now I'm off to find my pillow amidst the chaos....

Well, it's been a tough week. Compiling 3 years of work into an 11x14 box in a week's time and making it look good is a daunting task, not to mention the fact that a good portion of your future depends on it. But by tomorrow night, I aim to have my portfolio printed and ready to be mounted in time for Tuesday's due date. I believe it can be done. Granted that's only round one, but one step at a time, right? So the end is finally in sight after a little sleep and a lot of coffee. It will be wonderful to walk away from it all next week for a little time near the mountains. Boulder, Colorado is about to be invaded by 15 very diverse people who don't have a clue what they'll be doing upon arrival, but who are excited and willing to serve in whatever ways God reveals. It's gonna be an adventure and one that I'm looking forward to more and more. In other realms, camp plans are coming along for the summer as the count-down continues. (See Drew for further details on the exact number.) I know this summer will prove to be a greater challange than I could ever anticipate, but one that will stretch me and bring about amazing growth. So much to look forward to in the coming months. God is good!

Sitting here in the art lab working on my portfolio and website, when it's absolutely beautiful outside. I should certainly be sitting at the park reading a book instead. Can't help but wonder if all this work is worth it, or if I'll end up doing something totally different not even related to InDesign, JPEGs, and Coding. Halfway hoping that I will. And I'm reminded of this song by The Afters. Only God knows. I just wish He'd enlighten me a little. Just a little.

Love Lead Me On

Someday I'm gonna go out to the country
I'll drive til the highway ends
Chasing after picture perfect sunsets
To take my breath away
I'm tired of living in the city
The world's got me tied on a string
Wanderlust has overcome me
Like Lewis and Clark I'll dream
There's a million different ways to go
Only God can know where I will call my home

~Chorus~
Love lead me on
Where no one else has gone
Faith keep me strong
Love lead me on

The open road can be so lonely
I'm longing for someone to love
If only I could share my new surroundings
Open the doors above
There's a million different ways to go
Only God can know where I will call my home

~Chorus~

Faith keep me strong
Love lead me home

Perspective is a funny thing to me. It's that moment when we step outside our everyday routine and see a picture beyond the norm. The moment that we can scarcely begin to get a glimpse of the awe-inspiring God who created such small insignificant beings. It's through our out-of-the-ordinary experiences in life that we can only hope to gain such insight into our Savior. Perhaps it's by getting outside our comforts zones and doing things we would never imagine doing otherwise--skydiving, persay. Maybe it's going on a mission trip and experiencing another culture and a new language. It could be trying to reach an understanding of the economic status of children living in the 3rd Ward in downtown Houston and realizing that not much separates us from them. Or maybe the experience is getting that phone call that there's been an accident, that things aren't going how the doctors first predicted, that life isn't working out quite how you wanted it to. Whatever it is, there are those life-changing moments that strike us and cause us to pause in our day. And it's then that I wonder what God sees, what His perspective is. Cause I would give a lot to be able to see what He sees, to see the outcome of the impossible situation, the end result, the 'gold at the end of the rainbow.' How amazing it would be to truly understand that all the little moments really don't matter because you've actually seen and know that they don't. I think we would live life so differently if only we could truly perceive more than our human eyes focus on from day to day. But then, I guess that's why God gives us those moments, whether good or bad in our eyes. To give us that little bit of perspective that we seem to lose from day to day. For those are the experiences that we remember, the times we keep revisiting in our minds, the ones that stick with us through the drudge of a long day. They are the moments that define our character and strength and give us an opportunity to change ourselves and the lives of those we encounter. To put our trust in God completely, knowing that though we may see but a glimpse, He always sees it all. So learn to rejoice in the good and the bad, to savor those moments of clarity, and remember that there are things in life so much bigger and greater than ourselves.