new and improved.

Well...if you have visited my blog before, you might notice that it is different! New colors, new background, and new name! I decided it needed some change, I was getting bored with it. Bored with my very own blog...that's when you know you need to make a change! :) Let me know what you think.

When I first started this blog, it was kind of on a whim. I mean, I had thought about having a blog before, but never did anything about it. But one random day, I decided to do it. It was very out of the blue! So, the point of me telling you this is to say, the name was also very much on a whim. It was the first, actually it was the only thing that came to my mind. "A Day in the Life of Kaci"....how original, right?!

So I have been trying to think of something clever for a while, but I am not very creative when it comes to this kind of thing. I was at a loss.

I was talking to a friend (who is creative with this kind of stuff) about what to name a bible study I was starting up....and might I add that bible study still has the name of "Online Bible Study". See...all the creativeness is just overflowing from me! ;) Anyway, she gave me a list of possible ideas, one of them being "The Pursuit". That one really caught my attention, but not for the bible study. I mean, it would be a great name for the bible study, but I kept thinking about my blog!

I decided to look up the definition of pursuit and this is what I found: the act of pursuing; an effort to secure or attain; quest. How fitting! My pursuit of Jesus!

You see, blogging isn't just about sharing with my family and friends or whoever is reading this, about my life and what I am up to. I mean, yes, I guess that is part of it. But the other part is for myself! I'm not that girl who keeps a journal. I do, but I definitely don't write in it every day, every week, or even every other week. Sometimes it can be a monthly occurrence....if that. I tend to get "busy" and I forget to take time to reflect on my day. Then I get to the point of being completely overwhelmed by all the thoughts going on in my head, but don't take the time to "sort through". So, this blog helps me to stop and do just that...sit down and think. It makes me reflect on things I have done, what I have heard, things I have seen, things I have read, and conversations I have had, etc. and etc.. I can't promise I am going to share my deepest, darkest (muahaha) secrets with you, but I will tell you what I can promise to share with you...my pursuit of Jesus! My journey, as I walk through this life with the Lord. Cheesy? I know...it is. But it's the truth.

So what exactly does that include? Well...things I am doing. Places I go. Things I experience. Adventures with my crazy awesome friends and the crazy stuff we do just because we can. Challenges I am facing. Pictures I take. Awesome things that happen to me. Sad things that happen. A bible verse I like, or a song! What God is teaching me/showing me. You get the idea....

I have been doing a very poor job of blogging recently, so that was the other motivation for "the change".  I needed to make it new and exciting. And already I have so many "thoughts" I want to share with you so be ready! ;)

Aside from all of that, blogging is just really fun for me! And this is a warning...if you have read my blog before, you have most likely figured out by now that I am not a writer. I most likely don't always use the correct grammar. I don't always say things in the best way. Sometimes what I write may make absolutely no sense to anybody who is not inside of my head! But I have decided that I don't care....I will keep blogging anyway...even if nobody is reading it!

(Side note: the actual website address is still the same....the thing you type in your browser to get to this page. That will eventually happen, just not quite yet! I will give you a heads up for sure before I change that so you are able to find it!)

If you do choose to keep reading my blog, I am so happy you will be joining me in my pursuit! My pursuit of  Jesus and the adventure that He is taking me on in this thing called life!

On a different note....

For those who don't know, I work at Billy Vanilly Cupcakes here in Topeka. Let me tell ya, my boss knows how to make some yummy cupcakes and she is sharing that talent with all of her employees! But, I should make it clear that I do not make the cupcakes. I just work up front. When I tell people (especially those who have had the cupcakes before) where I work, they get so excited. Then they ask the question, "So you make the cupcakes?" and when my answer is "no, I just sell them." they always seem so disappointed. But the truth is...I love selling the cupcakes! :)

Anyway, on with the story.

Once you work at a cupcake bakery, I have learned that you just automatically become the cupcake lady. Seriously. I get picture text messages from friends of cupcakes, pretty sure almost every card I got for my birthday had at least one cupcake on it, and when my friends go to different countries, they brink me back cupcake things! :)

My friend Erin who was in France, and my friend (and my little brother Dustin's girlfriend) Chrissy who was in London, brought me back these.....

From Erin!

From Chrissy!

I am not complaining about this at all....it makes me smile! I am completely okay with being the cupcake lady! :)

recklessly abandoned.

I have started up an online bible study with a group of people from my church back home. This "online bible study" thing is new to me. Just an idea that really came out of nowhere. One day, God just gave me the idea, so here I am! It just started this week. We are reading the book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (which is a great book if you haven't read it!), and already the study has been a blessing to me.


Someone shared with the group about someone they know, for the sake of privacy we will go by the name of Brad, and their reaction to them finding out they had cancer. While his wife was mad, sad, and upset, she questioned God as to why he would do that. But Brad simply said, "Why not me?" He was never angry at God for giving him cancer, he never questioned "Why God, why would you do this to me?" Brad went on saying, I am no better than anyone else, so why not me? This has happened because it was supposed to happen. I don't know Brad, but from hearing that much of the story, I am going to guess he spent the less than two years of life that he lived, to the fullest as much as he was able to! 


What a faithful man this is! Obviously, he lived with the knowledge that God is a faithful God. He trusted the Lord, and while that may not have been how he had planned on spending the last two years of his life, he made the most of them. That was God's plan for his life. How powerful of a testimony is that to others who knew him?


Fast forward a couple of days to when I heard a song played on the radio called "Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets. Here are the lyrics:

Sometimes I think

What will people say of me

When I'm only just a memory

When I'm home where my soul belongs 

Was I love 

When no one else would show up 

Was I Jesus to the least of those 

Was my worship more than just a song 

I want to live like that 

And give it all I have 

So that everything I say and do 

Points to You 

If love is who I am 

Then this is where I'll stand 

Recklessly abandoned 

Never holding back 

I want to live like that 

I want to live like that 

Am I proof 

That You are who you say You are 

That grace can really change a heart 

Do I live like Your love is true 

People pass 

And even if they don't know my name 

Is there evidence that I've been changed 

When they see me, do they see You 

I want to live like that 

And give it all I have 

So that everything I say and do 

Points to You 

If love is who I am 

Then this is where I'll stand 

Recklessly abandoned 

Never holding back 

I want to live like that 

I want to live like that 

I want to show the world the love You gave for me 

I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King 

I want to live like that 

And give it all I have 

So that everything I say and do 

Points to You 

If love is who I am 

Then this is where I'll stand 

Recklessly abandoned 

Never holding back 

I want to live like that 

I want to live like that

What a great song! Between this song and the story of Brad, it has got me to thinking! They lyrics to this song are powerful and convicting, but the words that really stick out to me are recklessly abandoned. The definition of reckless is this: utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless.

That seems extreme I know but stick with me... I went on to look up the definition of abandoned. Abandoned can be used in several different ways, but this is one of the definitions the handy dandy dictionary.com gave me: to give up the control of...

Now, before you think I am completely crazy put the two together....I want my life to be recklessly abandoned to God. I don't want to hold anything back. I want to abandon my life, give up control over it, and give it over to God to a point that is reckless! Call me crazy, but bear with me as I try to explain myself! 

As a human being, I have many fears, worries, doubts, etc. and etc. that can get in the way of what God is calling me to do. But I don't want any of that to get in the way of what the Lord would have for me. I don't want the fear of what could happen hold me back. I want to have the kind of faith Brad had. No matter what the Lord brings me to, I want to give it all I have! I want to live life to the fullest knowing that the Lord has His hand in my life, walking by my side every step of the way. I want to love people with all that I am. As the song says, "I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King". That is my purpose in this life, to share the Glory of God to every person I meet! 

So here I am Lord, abandoning myself and running to You. I don't want to be the one in control of my life. I give myself to you! Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay. When you move, I'll move. Lead me, I will follow, trusting you every step of the way.

It's so easy to trust God and know that He is faithful when our lives are good. We have a job we like, a family we love, a nice home, a nice vehicle, finances are good, and etc. When we are comfortable with our lives it's easy to trust Him, to have faith in Him. But what about when the times are rough? What happens when our lives become uncomfortable? We lose a loved one? When finances aren't good? We have to move to a different town/state/country? When we find out we have cancer? When we lose a job? When our lives are turned upside down in a matter of a second? It's so easy to doubt God then, to lose our faith in Him, to question Him.

"He is the rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." -Deuteronomy 32:4

I want my life to point to the cross, not to myself. A verse from the song says this, "When they see me, do they see you?" Wow....that really makes you take a step back and look at your life and how you are living it. Show me where I am falling short, Lord!

I want everything I say and do, bring glory to His name. I want to love with all I am, never holding back. I will cling to the Rock... to the one whose ways are perfect and just! Even through the storm. He. Is. Faithful. and He does no wrong. 

come, follow me!

Lately, the band Sidewalk Prophets has really been speaking to me! I actually have another blog post ready that was inspired by one of their songs. I am waiting a few more days to post it though because I am speaking this Sunday and it would be somewhat of a spoiler for what I will be talking about! I know a few people who might read this, might be there Sunday and don't want to ruin it for them :) So you will just have to wait!

Until then, here is a song I will share with you:

You Can Have Me

If I saw You on the street
And You said come and follow me
But I had to give up everything
All I once held dear and all of my dreams

Would I love You enough to let go
Or would my love run dry
When You asked for my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be
Then I’m not losing anything
So I will crawl upon my knees
Just to know the joy of suffering

I will love You enough to let go
Lord, I give you my life
I give you my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

I want to be where You are
I’m running into Your arms
And I will never look back
So Jesus, here is my heart

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
My Father, my love
You can have me

The first verse of the song says it all. If I saw Jesus tomorrow and He said, "Come follow me?", would I follow Him? Would I go right then and there, drop all of my belongings, all my plans, all my dreams, and follow Him? Or would I stop and ask Him questions...Where? Who? What? When? Where? How?

Matthew 4:19 says, "'Come follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him."

Notice they didn't question Jesus. They didn't ask where He was leading them, what they were going to be doing. Instead they stopped what they were doing and followed him...no questions asked. Would you be able to do that?

Just something to think about!

Lord, I pray that your love would consume me and move in me! That I would be willing and glad to drop everything for you at any given minute. I know it would be well worth it! I know and trust that your plans, your dreams for me, are bigger than any plans I could make for my life and any dreams I could think up on my own! Let your will be done in my life...no matter what that looks like. Amen!

picture time!

I realized I have quite a few pictures to share with you, so this blog is going to be dedicated to just that...pictures!

My friend Ariona and I decided one morning to go out to Shawnee Lake and watch the sunrise before church. We were up bright and early....along with all the massive spiders. They were every where....we changed locations trying to escape from all the spiders that were hanging around. But everywhere we went, there they were. But...despite the huge spiders everywhere, we still managed to enjoy the sunrise. It was so pretty!

So peaceful.

We had a senior banquet for our last meeting at Chi Alpha....

Mirah, Lindsay, Janette, me, and Ariona

Rachael, Janette, Lindsay

Lindsay, Taylor, Rachael, Janette, Sarah

Benjamin really enjoyed the cake! :)

 All the seniors/people who are moving shared about the impact Chi Alpha has had on their life.

Ariona

Kelsey

Mirah

Porscha

The whole group! Such a fun night!

House mom picture! :)

The ladies (minus Kelsey)

Our silly picture. Apparently the cool thing to do was pick each others noses. If I would of known that is what everybody else was doing, I would of done something else! haha.

Devin graduated from KU with a master's in social work! So proud of him!

Me with the graduate!

Devin, Kelli, and Baby "Doug"

 P.S. Have I mentioned I am going to be an aunt?!?!!! :):):) So exciting. I love Baby Doug. Also, just to clarify, they are not finding out what it is so by us calling it baby "Doug" doesn't mean it's a boy. It just means that my brothers are goofs! :)

My wonderful family.

Devo with the grandparents.

Devo and Dusty. My lovely brothers!

Mom and I at Dave and Busters!

My awesome siblings!

We had so much fun at Dave and Busters!! We stayed the night at a hotel near Legends and shopped the next day. What a great way to celebrate Devo being done with school forever!!!

Before the end of the semester was over, we decided to take a "family picture". These are my housemates...some of them anyway. Not everyone could be there. :(

With house dad.... 

With house mom...

And this past weekend....I got to spend the weekend with 3 of my favorite kiddos! :) I am proud to say...I survived! And we even made it to church on Sunday! This was the longest I have babysat, and 3 kids under the age of 7 at that! It was so much fun. We had a blast...or I did anyway. We took tons of pictures...here are some of them!

Hannah and I!
They wanted to do my hair, so I let them. Little did I know I would be a flower princess when they were done with me.  Hannah kept saying, "I want to wear flowers so I can be a princess like you!" :) I tried giving her some of the many that were on my head (I think 5 or 6 total), but they wouldn't let me! 

The beautiful Madelyn with her flower.

:) Silly girl. She kept trying to push me over while taking this picture...lol

I love this girl!

And this one! :)

My mom came over for a bit to say hello :)

Madelyn took this pic!

All 3 of them!

So fun!

Hannah tackling me....literally! :)

Hannah banana!

Madelyn!

Madelyn and Hannah!

Sweet Audrey

I actually really like this picture...it was kind of an accident. Madelyn put  it up in front of the camera as I was taking the picture. I just wish you could see more of her face. 

Audrey. Look at those blue eyes!

That is all the pictures I have to share for now! Hope you enjoyed!

new beginnings.

I have been working on this post for quite sometime now. I write a draft, go through and read it, edit it, and then erase it. This has happened at least 3 times. Hopefully this will be the last and final draft! :) In the past drafts I have felt the need to explain...everything. They have all ended up being really long, but I realize you, who are reading this now, do in fact have a life other than reading my life story!

I felt the need to explain people my thought process of how I have gotten to where I am now, and what I will be doing now. It's not really necessary though! I mean if you want to know the whole long story, I would be more than happy to tell you. For the others though, I will spare you the details! :)

The important thing is, God is calling me somewhere and I am going. "Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay. When you move, I'll move. I will follow." Those are song lyrics to I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin! Look it up if you have never heard it! It's a really great song! :) That is my prayer though. I want to be following the Lord. I want to be walking in His will for my life. I know that His plan is way better than anything I could think up on my own!

With that being said, I have some news to share! A lot of things are about to change in my life, and I am so excited to see what god has planned! Here it goes:

1) I am changing my major....again!! I know, I know....story of my life! (I will explain)
2) I am going to be house mom starting....sometime really soon. And soon as in the next couple of weeks!
3) I am going to be on leadership in Chi Alpha!

After a lot of prayer, talking with friends about it, and more prayer, I am changing my major. This will actually be my last semester at Washburn! This is a wonderful thing! Starting in August, maybe a class or two this summer, still not sure...I will be taking classes through Liberty University. Liberty is a Christian university in Virginia. No, this does not mean I am moving! They have distance learning which means I can take all my classes online. I will be getting my bachelor's degree in religion. Yes that means I am not finishing my business degree. It would take me the same amount of time to graduate with my bachelor's in religion as it would to finish my business degree. I wasn't just a few classes away from being done or anything...in fact I wasn't even to the point of being accepted into the business program. I still needed a couple of classes before that would happen.

After I get my bachelors, the "plan" is to go to seminary. I say "plan" because I have learned to not set anything in stone. I'm open to whatever and wherever God takes me! Once in seminary, I'm not 100% sure what my focus will be yet, but I am very interested in pastoral studies/ministries (not sure the official term for that!) and/or missions. But I still have time to figure that out!

I chose to take online classes rather than moving and going to a different school because I really feel like God is calling me to be here in Topeka, as well as in Chanute. Obviously, I can't be in both places at once so I'm not sure how that will work out. But I will be living in Topeka, and going back and forth to Chanute.

Here in Topeka, God put on my heart Chi Alpha. I knew that something was keeping me here, and it wasn't me taking classes at Washburn! There was something else I was supposed to be doing, I just didn't know what. But a couple of months ago, I had lunch with Becca (the leader of Chi Alpha), and that is when she popped the question, "Would you be interested in being the house mom?" Yes, yes, YES!! I am very excited! It's kind of strange, not gonna lie! I mean, am I really old enough to be a house mom? Am I the right person for the job? I guess we shall see! ;) But no, I am really excited and honored that I was asked! It was also a huge answer to prayer! I can't wait to get started. I hope all my kiddos ;)...oh that is just too weird...I hope everyone else who will be living here is just as excited as I am! Also I will be on "servant's council" next year, meaning I will help lead a bible study, meet one-on-one with the girls, and be active and participate in Chi Alpha events!

As far as what I am supposed to be doing in Chanute, I'm still not really sure. I have been given several opportunities to speak there in the past few months and I have loved every second of it! The first couple of weeks in March I filled in for Pastor Harry while he was out of town, and then twice more in April. I hope to have more opportunities in the future! Word has gotten around about my change of plans and what I hope to do one day, and people back home have already started calling me Pastor Kaci. So. WEIRD. I quickly tell them I am NOT a pastor. Maybe, someday I will be but not yet! But really, it kind of makes my heart happy to think about! :) Anyways, other than filling in when needed, I'm not sure what else I am supposed to be doing there. Right now, I feel as though there isn't anything specific but rather just helping out in whatever way I can. I don't know what it is about that church, but I love it. God has put it heavily on my heart, and I don't want to ignore that. I truly believe God can use that church in BIG ways if we let Him!

I am really really excited about all of these new beginnings! All of these years I have felt like I was wondering around in life, clueless and confused as to what I was supposed to be doing. To be honest, up until this point when asked what I wanted to do with my major (whatever it was at the time), or what my plans were after college, my response was always, "I have no idea, that's a very good question. I wish I had the answer!" But God has answered my prayer...

Over Christmas break I started praying hard that God would give me direction in my life and show me what I was supposed to be doing, as well as asking for boldness and courage. And boy has He done both of those things! He has been opening up so many doors, as well as stretching me, pulling me out of my comfort zone! It has been so awesome! My prayer is that it won't stop...that each day I can keep growing in Him, gaining more knowledge and wisdom, boldness and courage. I just want to spread the good news, the hope that Jesus gives, the freedom. I know that we can all do this in any job we have, we don't have to be in ministry to share Jesus with others. It just so happens that God is calling me to that! It is kind of a scary thing. I don't know why He picked me of all people, but He did. But I also know that where I am inadequate, He makes me adequate. I am taking that leap of faith, and trusting in Him.

I am ecstatic to see what God has planned for me, for Chi Alpha, for the Chi Alph house, OUMC (my church back home), and I am thrilled to be a part of it all!

To close, I wanted to share a quote a friend of mine posted on his Facebook. It is very fitting for this post, and hopefully can be something to challenge you with!


"Everything you want in life is right outside your comfort zone..."
-Author Unknown-


Are you stepping out of your comfort zone?? Are you taking that leap of faith? Or are you being held back by something? My challenge to you today (and to myself!), step out of your comfort zone. Don't let any fears you may have keep you from following God's will for your life. Don't settle for anything less! Trust in Him.

Thanks for reading! :)

summer is quickly approaching...

Summer. Summer. Summer! :):):)

 I am pretty excited about this particular summer, which is funny because I have nothing planned. This summer signifies a lot of new things in my life...lots of changes and new beginnings which I am so excited about. I will save the details for another blog post though...keep you in suspense!

This particular post is designated to be my list of "to-do's" for this summer. Here it goes.

-Go swimming....a lot. I just need to find a friend with a pool first. Taylor and Ari just might solve that problem though! :)
-Read. I will finally be able to read the second and third books of the Hunger Games series! I have been waiting to read them until after school. I know once I start, I won't stop. I also want to read Forgotten God by Francis Chan. And a lot of other books that have been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read for quite sometime now. I will neglect them no more!
-Hang out with friends.
-Work.
-Lay outside and read by the pool.
-Take a couple road trips. I am hoping (crossing fingers) that I will be able to go to Colorado to visit a friend! Also, it has been discussed to make a weekend trip to Springfield, MO to visit a house mate!
-Go home and visit my family of course. For those who know me, that is kind of a given!
-Continue with my "read the bible in a year" plan.
-Hang out with friends
-I really want to ride a horse...it's been so long since I last rode one. And by long I mean since middle school. So I guess along with finding a friend with a pool, I also need to find a friend with a horse! :)
-Swim
-Walk around Lake Shawnee.
-CLEAN my room. And by clean I mean, clean, reorganize, throw things away that I don't need, and organize some more, re-decorate and who knows what else! The possibilities are endless! (And yes, I am excited about this. I love reorganizing things!)
-Play tennis. And perhaps ultimate tennis!
-Go to Worlds of Fun at least once. And I think I hear the Ripcord calling my name....
-Hang out with friends.
-Read.
-Work at the firework tent for Chi Alpha!
-Swim.
-Work.
-Hang out with friends.

Oh and did I mention reading, hanging out with friends, and swimming?! ;)

It is going to be a great summer, I can feel it! And it is sooo close!!! This semester can't get over fast enough. I know you shouldn't wish away your days, but I am just so SO excited about everything that is happening in my life. My "to-do" list of course, but also things like............well, I will tell you in my next post! :)

easter.

Easter weekend....it was definitely a jam packed weekend. All kinds of things happened! A lot of great things, and some not so great things.

Saturday I got to have lunch with two very lovely ladies. They are good friends who I never get to see enough. It is always so nice to see them and spend time together. This time, it had been November since we had hung out together. Let's just say we had a LOT of things to catch up on. I wish we could get together more often....maybe someday we will be able to! :)

Kiley and Amanda

I spent the rest of the day hanging out with the family and preparing for Sunday.....I had the opportunity to fill in for Pastor Harry. Yes...on Easter. I was more nervous about talking then, than I had been in a while. Don't get me wrong, I get a few nerves right before speaking anytime, but it was different this time. It was days before....actually the whole week leading up to Sunday I was a bit nervous. To speak on Easter, that is kind of a big deal. It's a big deal every Sunday, anytime you are speaking about God, but Easter?

Also, I wasn't quite sure what to talk about. Of course I knew I needed to talk about Christ dying on the cross, then three days later rising from the dead. That was a given. But everybody knows that story. We have all heard it over and over again. I needed to figure out something else to add to that. I didn't want everybody falling asleep on me.

God really called me out on this in several ways. Sometimes when I hear something or see something over and over, it loses its meaning. But God showed me that it is a powerful story. It is far from being "just another story", and far from being a boring story. I went to the Passion play here in Topeka and it was great. They had a granddad and his grandson sitting in a rocking chair, and the granddad was reading the little boy a story before bedtime. It was the story about Jesus. I knew then, that I didn't need to add anything to the story. He wanted me to tell it just as it is. Of course I wouldn't have the people there to act out all the scenes, but I could tell the story. So that is exactly what I did. I talked about the time leading up to the crucifixion, the crucifixion, and Christ rising, and then what he calls us to do...."Go and make disciples of all the nations."

Anyway, I was so excited and nervous I couldn't sleep Saturday night. I just kept going through everything, over and over again. Finally at 2:30am I went to sleep...only to get up at 5:30am! I got all my stuff around and got ready and off I went to sunrise service. My friend Stacy was leading that service and I wanted to be there to hear her. She did a wonderful job! Some of the ladies made breakfast for everyone, so I joined in. I didn't eat anything...to nervous to be hungry! But I sat with some friends and got to chat with them which was nice.

Then it was just me left. Everybody left to go home, take a nap, get ready for 10:30 service, or travel to see family, etc. I had a couple of hours to get everything ready and go over my message. It was great, I really needed the time. My excitement was building and my nerves were leaving! Everything was good. It was getting closer to time and I thought I might burst I was so excited, anxious, and just a little nervous.

And then I take a drink of coffee and of course it ended all over my shirt...and my shirt was white so it was very obvious. This was at 10:00. The service starts at 10:30. Panic sets in. I run home to change and get back to the church. Crisis adverted.

10:30 comes....it's showtime! You know the excitement you get when you are about to do something big? Maybe if you are into sports, the excitement you get before a basketball, baseball, or football game? A tennis match? A soccer game? I don't know....whatever sport or whatever thing it is you just really love to do? That is what I feel when I am getting ready to speak!

Once I started talking, it all just came out. There were times I said something that was not in my notes, and I found myself thinking, "whoa, where did that come from?!" I know the Holy Spirit was there speaking through me. From the feedback I received, it was far more than just another boring story that everybody has heard 100 times. I think it had a lot of meaning to each person in that room. Everyone seemed to like it. It was just an all around good service! Someone even told me, "I actually listened the whole time! I usually start daydreaming!" Hearing that made me happy. That is exactly what every speaker wants to hear!! It was so so nice to celebrate together with my church family that Christ is Risen!!!!!!! God conquered the grave! Hallelujah!

It was an honor that Pastor Harry asked me to fill in for him, since he could not be there. (He had surgery which is why he wasn't able to be there!)

After church, we spent the afternoon in Gridley at my grandparents! Of course we had an easter egg hunt....who says 23 years old is to old to hunt for easter eggs?! :) We ate lots of good food of course and just hung out. It was a good time. Then came time to leave. My siblings had already left, but I waited and left when my parents left. I was headed back to Topeka and they were going back to Chanute. Aunt T was right behind me (she lives in Topeka as well).

I get on the highway and drove for about 2 minutes when my car did something really funny. You know when you turn off your cruise and your car starts slowing down right away, that is kind of what happened. But when I went to push on the pedal, it was like my car had been put into neutral. I check to make sure it wasn't somehow knocked forward. Nope. Still on drive. So I push the pedal again. Same thing. Great. My car isn't accelerating at all. That can't be good. So I pull over, and so does my aunt.

Once I get the car stopped, it didn't move an inch forward or backward. I knew whatever had happened, it was bad. I immediately call my parents. I know they couldn't of been to far away yet. They then call my uncle who happens to be a mechanic...and an awesome one at that! At this point, I am trying not to panic and stay calm. I tend to freak out and cry...I know, lame....when anything happens to my car. I think it's because I don't know how to fix the problem. I did a somewhat decent job of staying calm....and it helped knowing my parents were so close. If I would of been closer to Topeka, I would of really lost it probably. haha.

My dad and uncle came to save the day. They towed my car back to my aunt and uncle's house. Uncle Danny predicted that it was probably my transmission....and that is exactly what happened, my transmission went out. Perfect. I couldn't help but think about how expensive it sounded like it would be to get it fixed. And I knew I had to figure out a way to get back to Topeka for my 8:00 class the next morning. All of this happened and I was running on 3 hours of sleep. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I finally made it back to Topeka.

How did I get back to Topeka you may be wondering...my aunt and uncle offered me their minivan. I can't thank them enough for letting me borrow it! So for a day and a half I was a soccer mom! ;) I met up with Dusty in Gridley on Tuesday and swapped cars again....Devo is letting me borrow his car until mine is fixed. What an awesome family I have!! :) I am so thankful. And even though I would of liked for it not to happen at all, I am so so glad it happened when it did! That I was so close to Gridley and my family was nearby. I wasn't stranded in the middle of nowhere.

God has always been so faithful to me and I am so so so thankful for that. Whenever I am in these situations, there is always someone or something there to make what could be bad situations, better.

With all that being said, my Easter was far from being a boring day! ;) Although it didn't end the greatest, it was still a really really great day!

P.S. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the moment, and all excited that I forget to take pictures so I don't have any pictures to share from Easter day at Grandma and Grandpas. :(