Viral Mondays

Take A Seat - Make A Friend?

Questions to Make You Think

+ Would you have climbed in the ball pit?

+ How do you make new friends?

The Climb of Your Life

The follow was my final newsletter update to all my amazing supporters during my time with LeaderTreks.

            Over the past two months since my last newsletter I’ve done a lot of traveling. In this time of transition I’ve taken the freedom and opportunity given to me to see many friends and family. From Virginia Beach to Chattanooga, Oklahoma City to Dallas and even back to good ‘ole Siloam Springs where I spent my college years.

            On one of those treks I took a weekend to spend in the beautiful Red River Gorge area in Kentucky. The main purpose of this trip was to get in some great rock-climbing, something I’d never tried in my life, but was willing to give it a go (under the good supervision of my much more skilled friends). A few things I learned about climbing:

• ·         There are two people involved in a climb – the climber herself and the belay, who has the other end of the rope and is your anchor to the ground
• ·          If the climber needs to rest at any point on the climb all they have to do is yell “TAKE” and their belay will tighten the rope and yell “GOT YOU”. Then the climber can lean back into their harness away from the wall and rest their arms. When they are ready to continue they yell, “CLIMBING” and the belay responds “CLIMB ON”.
• 
  

Super intense face, pulling your body up a rock wall is a TON of work.

I feel like my life is a 1,000 foot climb. I’m strapped into my harness, my knots are all tied correctly and Jesus is on-belay. I was a couple hundred feet up, when I miss my hold – the solid jug that was LeaderTreks actually had a crack in it and pulled away from the wall with me still holding on to it. But Jesus is the best person to have on the ground and He caught me. One aspect I love about this sport is the climb need not be rushed. When your arms get tired and you don’t see the next hold to move you up the rock-face, you call, “TAKE!”  You shake out your arms and study the wall and listen to your friend on the ground, He has climbed this wall before and knows that just a couple inches higher is the perfect hold if you’re willing to trust Him and reach for it.

So that’s where I’ve been – resting in the strength of my Gracious Savior who knows the right path to climb this daunting wall. Over the past 2 months I’ve driven several thousand miles, received numerous hugs and encouragement. Now I’m officially back in Chicago, moved into a new house with a new roommate and started the job hunt. The climb is slow going sometimes, but I know it will be amazing when I finally do look out and see the view that God has brought me to.

            So again, thank you for ALL the prayers, monetary support, open homes and arms, and anything you’ve done to support me during my time at LT. The end of my time at LeaderTreks may be here, but there is much more of my climb left and I’m excited to see where God takes me.

What Defines You?

Last night my church gathered for our 1st summer picnic and watched this year's Oscar Winning Documentary Short. So good! Here's the trailer. If you haven't seen it I suggest renting it off ITunes and giving it a gander.

Thought Provoking Questions:
- What do you let define you?
- How do you get up in the morning (happy/depressed)? Does that affect the rest of your day?
- What are your dreams?
- Is there someone that you wish you could be honest with and tell them you love them?

The Return of Granola Girl

This morning I got up at 5:30

And I packed this for breakfast

And why did I get up that early?
And take my granola on the go?

Because ALL of the Chicago-land REI's had garage sales this morning.

And my very first Chicago friend (who ironically lives in Milwaukee)
drove the hour and half to stake out two of the sales with me.

Store #1 was a success for him
Store #2 he snagged a good deal for me

CLIMBING SHOES!

(my latest granola obsession since my first experience climbing in the Red River Gorge in KY)

Want to be a Granola Girl on the go like me?
Here's my family's AMAZING homemade granola recipe:

4 cups rolled oats-- thick ones are best  (don't use quick kind)
1 cup slivered almonds or other nut
1 cup cashews or other nut1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup vegetable oil1/2 tsp salt

Dried fruit (raisins are typical, but my favorite are cranberries and blueberries)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees (to bake for one hour and 15 min) 
or 325 degrees (to bake for 30 min)(I typically go for longer, but I'm a "slow-cooked" fan)
In large bowl combine oats, nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, and brown sugar.  In separate bowl combine maple syrup, oil and salt.  Combine both mixtures and pour onto pan with high sides.  Cook as directed above, stirring every 15 minutes.  Remove from oven when lightly browned and transfer to large bowl again.  Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.

ENJOY!

Not With Worldly View

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore
Christ's ambassadors,
as through God we're making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf; Be reconciled to God. God make him who had not sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

This was the passage that I studied this morning with my church family.

Then I was pointed to the following video this afternoon from a ministry update I follow

Although made two years ago and I'd heard of this short film, I had never watched it myself. I found tears in my eyes at several points and God showing me a beautiful picture of what it means to not regard anyone with a worldly view. That's what the Butterfly Circus is all about - seeing the person as the person and not as their circumstnaces. BEAUTIFUL!

Who do you need to stop seeing their old self?