Encouragements

Just thought I would share some of the ways I have been encouraged and challenged lately. 

Currently my best friend is in Malaysia doing a teaching program, so I don't really hear from her that often. Well a couple days ago I got a card in the mail from her. She had left some cards at her house for her parents to send out and she of course wrote me one. I was pretty excited when I got it. Made me smile a lot and arrived on a day when I just needed a hug from my best friend. She asked me to continue to pray for her to have boldness and confidence in God and her faith while she was there. Also mentioned ways she would be praying for me as I prepared for marriage this summer. Anyone else might have read the card and just been like 'well thats a nice card' but somehow it incredibly encouraged me and even reminded me yet again of how important it is to keep focused on God during times of change and just in life. She is just a person that challenges me to love God more and I like that. We encourage each other a lot in life and I just thank and praise God for that. God has just really blessed me with many amazen friends who love me a lot. 

For example, last Sat another one of my friends called me up on the cell because she said God had just really layed me on her heart and she felt as if she needed to call. This is a friend who is.. well a stud person, but also one of those people who you don't have to talk that often at all, but when you do, its like you were the closest of friends and had just talked a couple days ago. I love her lots and the call just made me smile a lot and brightened my day. I had been haven a ruff couple days and it was just good. The reason the call was encouraging wasn't even that we talked about what was going on, because we didn't even talk about that, but what encouraged me was that God was looking out for me. God just placed me on her heart, because he knew a call from her would encourage me and make my day better. Basically he loves me.. entirely and always. 

There was also a conversation that I had w/ Johnny a couple days ago that kinda was were one topic leads to another and we ended up actually having a pretty serious conversation about a lot of different things in our relationship in the past and present, just a really great conversation I guess. But what I thought was soo cool about it was that what I wanted to talk to him about he had also felt we needed to talk about and knew God was wanting him to talk to me and Johnny ended up talking to me about some stuff I didn't even fully realize I needed to hear or talk about. So basically God is incredible and He placed/is placing the same things in both of our hearts and then we get to talk about them. Just love that God uses Johnny in my life and me in Johnny's in order to encourage us, challenge us and ultimately bring us closer to God. Its pretty sweet in my opinion  :)

so those are just a few ways I have been encouraged by a few people who I love a whole bunch and ultimately by God who I love and who loves me even more than I know or could even comprehend. 

Some of my life..

I felt earlier as if I really wanted to post today, which is random I know, since I haven't written on here in ohh.. two months, but just the same - I wanted to. 

humm.. there is a lot I could say, since I last posted I finished up college (at least for now), I moved home, cleaned out my old room/went through stuff, started a summer job, oh did plenty of wedding plans (although there is still so much left), went to Romania for 10 days on a medical mission trip, and other summer activities like seeing old friends, going to Mere's cottage, work weekend at TWL, bowling, BBQ's, read books I want to (not have to), and chilling around aka the things I am basically to busy to do while in school.   Its been good.  Its been a deep breath after a long year and a busy year. 

I miss people from school though (three in-particular the most) and I miss YL as well. I was looking at pictures of camp last night and the "my girls" caption pulled at something in my heart as I looked at girls I had signed up for camp. I of course did not go because I am done and its better to have leaders that are still around go. But it was harder than I expected I suppose. The ministry was so tuff who knew I would miss it so :) 

One of my close friends recently moved to Ohio. Upon learning she was that much further away, I was very sad. I realized I was growing up in the way that we are all done with school and have to move somewhere. No longer will we return to a common place. Who will I stay in contact with? 

Job hunting is interesting. There are so many jobs and yet they are so hard to find, not sure how thats possible but it is. Where to live?  what job ?   house vs apartments?    What now basically is the question I ask and everyone asks of me. Its swell  :)

Currently doing marriage counseling.. its good times.  Johnny and I have a book we are going through as part of it. Its a good book, asks a lot of good questions and really takes a bit of thought be put into it. good times. 

Also planning seems to never stop, there are so many small things to do. Feel like I need help, but I'm not sure with what and all. Kinda interesting really.  I look forward to being married for so many reasons. Currently though,  I miss Johnny terribly. We have lived about 10 hours apart for the last 15 months and its getting old (its been old honestly) and I can't wait for him to get to MI (2  1/2 weeks).  Just want to be around him. He is my close friend who I just need. I want to talk face to face again, I want to be able to tell him all the little things that come to mind and not just when we're on the phone. I want to not be on my phone. I want to lean against him and tell him about my day.  Just miss him, love him, and well want to marry him. He is a wonderful man who I respect and love deeply. Can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. 

So mentioned I went to Romania. It was a good trip this year. My friend Meredith went with my dad and me.  We had a good time and had a good team. There was about 23 of us I think. Most of the crew was from Charlotte, NC area. We helped a lot of people and saw some great things happen as always. Worked in the villages as well as in the cities, which being in the cities was different for me. My dad and I are normally always just out in Gypsy villages so working with Romanians was a different feeling, but still good of course. Just different dynamic. We brought a lot of supplies over with us though, so that was good and nice to leave with the people there. It was just a good trip and I was glad to be there. 

Feel as if I haven't even "really" talked about any of why I wanted to post earlier today, but maybe sometime I will come back to that. I have been reading and thinking about a lot, but I'm not sure what I even want to say. 

This is some of my life. some of my thoughts..

God moments..

Life is interesting. Or actually probably more correctly God makes life interesting. I feel as if He puts people in my life to show me things that I have not been noticing for one reason or another. He also puts people in my life to encourage me and even to challenge me to be a better person. And I find today when I am amidst paper upon paper (20pg, 10pg, 3 reflections) and coming upon graduation and exams - that I am rather happy tonight because God has given me many moments lately to see Him in. In all reality these moments are always around me and really a lot of the time I think I just miss them completely. So here are some stories to attest to God's presence here. 

Well lets start with today. First of all - go to the school today for cw w/ J-highers. good times for sure. Had some good conversations with girls, went to a track meet tonight and a band concert - had more good times at both of those events. Also there is this one leader in our area in particular who just really is great. She encourages me every time I see her w/ kids and I feel like I could learn so much from her. Like she is just so chill and yet real and honest. She does things and says things that I wouldn't and maybe couldn't even pull off, but I like that she can and I just thank God that she is around. 

Also got a voicemail on my phone today from a friend, who was basically like just callen, hope we can get together soon and hang out lots this summer.. all that jazz. But then she made a comment about how she really appreciated that I kept callen even when she was to busy to call back and pursued her like that. Almost made me cry in a God way - like of course I would do that - she is an incredible person who I love a lot, so of course I would keep callen.  That kinda reminded me a similar convo I had w/ another friend recently - Both convos encouraged me and I guess just reminded me that God has made me to be a good friend to people and made me to a person that loves people a lot. 

Going back to this weekend. Called one of my good friends up to ask her if she was comen to my BBQ the next day (sunday) and she said she was - then she shared this SUPER cool story with me. Basically, her boy gave his life to Christ the week before. And his reason you ask - well they have a son (cutest kid really) and her boy decided that their son could not have just evolved but that he was hand crafted, especially his little eyelashes. That story rocked my socks off, because I feel like babies are something that God gives people to show them some of Himself. 

Go back a few more days (last Thur) and I was given my group presentation in class. I did a decent job I guess was pretty prepared for it and all. Thought the whole thing went over real well, the prof said it was the best that night. Made me smile and feel encouraged. But to top that as I went back to my seat, my friend N turned to be and said Colleen you would make a really great professor. No like you really would, I was just sitting here listening to you and I realized - you really know what you are talking about. You are definitely a very smart women.   That comment coming from her just meant a lot to me.    To continue that story, she also sent me an email today just kinda talken about the type of friend I am in her life and it was sweet. It was so stinken encouraging, because she is such an important and trusted friend in my life and sometimes its just nice to get those notes from people saying 'there is something that sets you apart from others friend' and I like those notes. 

Also there was another conversation a week before were the comment was made that it would be a "travesty" for me to stop doing ministry. A travesty huh.. thats a strong word that I feel puts a lot of faith in me. They also said that was a brilliant women.. again with the the intense word. Basically just made me think.. obviously a week and a half later.. still thinken about it  :)

so yeah those are my thoughts. Basically God is good. God is loving and loves me and these are the ways he encourages me.   I want to notice God more. I want to notice those moments that he is working in, because he is constantly working - I just have to notice it.