This was taken right after a wonderful homecoming weekend at Trinity

Class is canceled !

This morning a woke later than i wanted to. I finished up a few things and then headed off to class. As I wanted in class, I couldn't help but notice that barely anybody was showing up. Than it hit me what if class was cancelled. Students started to get on their smart phones to see that indeed class had been canceled. What a great surprise to start my day off with. As I was back from class to my room, rain clouds were blowing away and a brilliant blue sky was in hot pursuit bringing along with it a beautifully warm sun. Have a great day everyone. For this is the day that the Lord has made.

A Splendid Weekend

Hello family and friends, I know that it has been a while since I lasted blogged. So much has gone on since I last touched base. All is going well at Trinity. The school year is busy with work, homework and various other projects. This past weekend went well. I went on three bike rides, two at night, and one today during the day. They where all very pleasant. I love you all and hope to keep you posted on what is going on in my life.

Dying Eggs

Today I had so much fun watching Will dye egges. Before we started I was convinced that the whole ordeal was going to be one big mess. But to my great surprise Will did quite good at dying eggs. We started off by placing a egg in the dye and then helping Will take it out with a spoon. Eventually will was able to put the egg in himself and take it out of the cup with a spoon. Before we knew it, Will had his own system down. He would take an egg, plop it into the dye, point his finger commanding Mimzy (Grandma Vanlaningham) to take the egg and dye and set it would the other eggs. Then Mimzy would ask if he wanted another (he would nod his head yes). Once all the eggs where in the dye, he would take his spoon, inspect them and then either plop them back in to get more color or point with his finger (suggesting that the egg was done and should be placed on the drying rack) The whole time as Will plopped eggs in and stuck his little hand into the dye to retrieve the finished product his face lit up with intrigue and giggles.

Spring at Last

As I look forward to the end of the school year, I have to reconize the beauty which spring brings each year. I saw this flowers and was so excited, spring is finally hear (although one might not be able to notice spring is here when it is still snowing and snow is in next weeks forcast). I hope that you all are having a great day and I love you so much.

Wind and Lightning

Last night was one of the best nights we have had weather wise since summer. I was studying late for a test and when I went back to my room I was surprised at how warm it was. It was about sixty five degrees and very windy. A storm had just blown over and another one was one its way. I was almost to my room when I saw lightning light up the clouds in the horizon. I quickly decided to stay outside and enjoy the far off storm. Boy, was it beautiful about every thirty seconds flashes of lightning out outline the tall billowy clouds in the distance giving off a yellowish white glow. After about five minutes I went back to my room grabbed a camping chair, and sat on top of a hill with my RA watch one storm leave and other approach. The experience is hard to describe but it was sure worth staying outside to enjoy it. As the next rain started to fall a fresh spring, rain smell filled the air. Lightning spit the sky in several peaces and a pleasantly warm wind blew against your face.

What will summer hold

College life is going well and I am doing just fine. I hope that you all have a good week and are looking forward to another. As most of you know I have been trying to figure out what to do this summer. Until two and a half weeks ago I was unsure of what i would do at all this summer. As far as I could tell I was probably going to end up in Chicago for the summer working longs hours of the week. At first glance summer did not look appealing to me at all and I had no wish of it's arrival. The main reason for such feelings, was the fact that I would be so far away from the events that where going on with the family back east. (Mom and Dad moving, Tim and Mary having a baby, and just hanging out with the family.) I feared that I would never see friends from back east again and that what I thought was a short time good bye would be a long term good-bye. I felt as if all that I held dear and near to me was being stripped away. (Several months ago I was challenged with a question. "If everything was taken away from me, friends, family, and possessions, would Christ be enough, would be satisfied me, would I treasure him?) As I have looked toward the summer and have reflected on the past I asked myself this question. Up to a couple of weeks ago my answer to this question was no. I was holding and placing my friends, family and experiences before Christ. They were more important to me than Him. Two and a half weeks ago I received a email from Brian Luke. In the email he asked what my plans where for summer and if I wanted to be a teen leader this summer at camp. He said that no male leader had applied yet and was wondering if I was interested (No Pressure). At first glance of the e-mail I kinda shrugged it off and chuckled at the idea. (I personally thought that there was no possible way in this world that I would be a college leader this summer.) Well this goes to show two things. (Our plans for our lives are not always God's plan, and God is always working in our lives and it is not until we look back that we can see the puzzle peaces come together.) Later that week I was talking with Mom and Dad about Summer and what I was going to do. (I was dreading the conversation, but knew that the time had come to talk about it) I told them that I could work in Wichita (but it was unprovable that it would actually happen) and Chicago. My conclusion was that I would probably end up finding a job in Chicago, while living with Grandma and Grandpa. I would try to take some time off around a weekend and go and visit Tim, Mary and the baby (since we do not know the sex of their unborn child, it's title will remain "the baby") So we started to talk about that and figuring out what type of job I would do in Chicago. Towards the end of our lunch I ended one of my conversations about Chicago with (Oh! Brian Luke email me and said they need a guy leader for Camp this Summer) by Mom and Dad's reaction I could easily tell they were surprised and brought back. I told them that I replied to Brian saying I'd pray about (when I replied to Brian I was prepared to give him some excuse and a simple yet not so simple NO) I did not think Mom and Dad would think it was such a great idea either but I was wrong on both accounts. The rest of the meal we talked about what it would mean as well as the pros and cons of working at camp this summer. (Pros - I would be near the east coast family this summer and possibly around when Tim and Mary's baby is born, plus I would raise support for summer and any extra support goes toward next semesters bills. Cons - If I did not raise enough support I would hardly make the money I need to meet next semesters bill (well that part is still in prayer I do believe God will provide) We ended our conversation the thought of a new possibility for summer. The most comforting things I brought away from that conversation is that (Mom,Dad and I all believe that if it is God's will for me to work at Camp this summer he will equip me with what I need to work there as a leader and that He will provide the means for me to pay for next semester.) I was also comforted by the Prayers of Dad and Mom in seeking God's will for my life this summer. For the next week I prayed and prayed about what God would have for me in my life. As I prayed I was able to reflect on my past year. I realized that I had not fully put Christ at the center of my life nor had I treasured him. I have been working on becoming dependent on God rather than myself and seeking what He wants me to do this summer. These past couple of weeks I have been able to spend time with God in his word and prayer. I have been challenged to treasure Christ and each day I have been working towards that. I have come to a place where I am becoming more content with what I do this summer (whatever it may be) Last summer I was challenged with the idea of surrender my life to Christ. (something that does not just happens once but is a daily process) As I look forward to this summer, I surrender it to God. I am continuing to seek His will and plans for my life. Two Wednesdays ago I had a really good talk with Brian Luke about the leadership position. He encouraged me to continue to pray and told me that the camp staff would be praying as well. Last Thursday I sent in my return letter for camp (a reapplication) and had a really good interview with Nathanael Tice and Denise Luke. They were able to tell me about some of the changes that would be going on this summer and a little be about the role that I would be playing. From my talk with theme it sounds like some amazing things are happening and God is bring some great people to work at Camp this summer. And so I conclude this lengthy email with one request. My dearest family, would you pray that God's will would be made clear to me for this summer and that I would continue to seek and treasure Jesus.

Solidarity

I finally Shaved my head

Stop, Pray, and Listen

Have you ever heard the saying stop and pray before you start a search for a lost item. Well I had and apparently did a bad job of putting into practice the wise advise of friends and family. Last Tuesday I lost my cell phone and it was all due to the fact that I am an unorganized person. Anyway I lost it and was quite unable to reach the world (well at least by closest friends and family.) It was not until Wednesday that I started to seriously search for my phone and low and behold I was depending on my own means to find it. In the middle of my search I asked God to help me find my phone. I continued the search and as each day passed I started to lose hope that I would ever find my phone. Then tonight I had a conversation with my father. He was very calm and helped me run through the day that I lost it. Towards the end of the conversation he told me one vital thing. To stop and pray, asking God to give me a clear picture of where I had lost it. Although I had done this once before earlier in the week, I knew I needed to stop amidst my frantic searching and to depend on God for his help and depending only my strength alone. After I took a minute to pray several places came to mind of where I might find my phone. I took one more sweep, retracing my steps of Tuesday afternoon and finally came back to the room. I attempted to take another look around the room when I remembered the one place I did not look at all (my suitcase) I pulled it out from under my bed and low and behold there was my phone. There are several morals to this story. The first is that one should keep their stuff organized so that it is easy to find their stuff when they are in a hurry. Second and more importantly is that we need to depend on God and not our own wisdom or strength to help us get through the everyday things of life. No matter how big or small a problem may be, depending on God is a whole lot better than not.
- Proverbs 3:5

The Body of Christ

Today, as I was walking to my next class I stopped by the student center to get a soda. As I was walking to the café I saw a table which had a whole bunch of fliers and brochures for a camp. Normally I would have gone on with my day and walked pass the table without even saying hello. But this time something caught my eye. The banners had a tree on it and the words under the tree read The Oaks. At first I thought this was the Oaks camp in California but then I thought to myself no way this can’t be the Oaks then one of the representatives started to talk to me, telling me how this camp was located in California and was part of an organization called World Impact. They asked me if I wanted to take a pamphlet and I told them that my parents were missionaries with World Impact as well. At that moment all of our faces lit up and warm greetings and introductions went around. Although I had never met either of these representatives I felt as though we had known each other for a long time and that we already had so much in common. It is truly amazing the people God puts in our lives and the unexpected surprises of each and every day.

A Hint of Spring

Over the past several days I have enjoyed the wonderfully nice weather. The change in temperature has been quite delightful. Today I even wore shorts and flip flops it was great having just a little hint of spring. There is indeed a hope that winter will one day end and flowers and new leafs will burst from the depths of there sleep. (Oh how I cannot wait till spring comes)

Volkswagen Commercial: The Force

Snow Day Video

This is a short video of some of my friends and I playing in the snow on our snow day. Enjoy!

Winter at Trinity

Snow Day!

The past two days I have been blessed with the opportunity of having two snow days. Here at Trinity we received about 18-20" of snow. The past two days have been filled with hikes in the snow, icicle hunting, snow fort building and shoveling (lot and lots of shoveling.) Last night I even enjoyed hot chocolate which I must say was very good. Today my friends and I went on a adventure to find a mountain of snow. We had lots of fun climbing on top of the mountain, throwing cannon size ball snow balls at each other and even sliding down a mountain. Over all these two snow days have been great.

Good Bye January

As we say good bye to one cold month we look forward to the next and whatever surprises it might bring. God Bless

A Little Dash of Color

I took this picture when I walked around Chicago before Thanksgiving

Andrew Peterson - Dancing in the Minefields (Official Video)

A Dash of Salt and a pinch of Humility

Tonight I was doing my job with grace and poise and not to mention much humility. Well okay that is not at all how might night at work went at all. As I was doing my tasks assigned to me I smug with pride. I could only think to myself of how great a job I was doing and the mistakes my co-workers had made in the past. But as the old saying goes the taller you are the harder you fall or is it pride goes before destruction or something to the lines of that. Anyway I was doing my job wiping tables and placing chairs on top of them. (before I started to wipe down the table i had placed a salt and pepper shaker on one of the chairs) I was almost done with my side of the chairs has I smiled with glee that I was doing a far faster and better job than my co-worker, but just as i swung the last chair to place on top of the table I heard a crash. (familiar to the sound of glass breaking, in my case a salt shaker) Immediately the room grew quieter and the table across from me roared with laughter. My co-worker who I was secretly comparing myself to looked at me with a gentle smile and told me it was alright. Humiliation swept over me but also a sense of humility. My bubble of pride was popped and was reminded that I ought not to think of myself more highly than I ought to. (if that makes any sense) It is truly amazing the grace God has on us to be patient with us while teaching us subtle simple lessons of life. Praise be to God!

"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. "
(Romans 12:3 ESV)

No, Mr. President: John Piper's Response to President Obama on Abortion

A New Day

As we live our live our lives for Christ we must remember one very important thing. Our lives are his and not ours. It is only by his grace that we have been saved.

A New Beginning

Hello to everyone
I thought i might experiment with a blog whether or not i am successful only time will tell.