Thankful Thursday: May 17th

Thankful today for….

1. One year without headaches! Today is the anniversary of my eye surgery, and I am thankful that my implant is still intact (there is a 20% chance that your body will reject it and push it out…)! I am thankful too for the chance today to reflect and remember all that the Lord has done in the past 12 months. He has brought healing both spiritually and physically, and thinking about the painful things helps me realize what a joy my life is now!

2. The Monon Trail, and daylight lasting until 9pm so I could go for a long walk this evening.

3. Getting to spend a couple hours with my dear friend Jessica today, who is a medical missionary in a far off land. She is a treasure, and I love time spent with her! Thankful that we were both in Indy at the same time, and were able to connect for a delicious lunch.

Jessica and I at lunch today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Huddles Frozen Yogurt. So. Delicious. Especially when eaten for dinner.

5. A spur-of-the-moment hangout with Miss Kayla Gray on Wednesday. Like Jessica, I love any time spent with her! Getting to do life with Kayla is so fun and life-giving to me, and I am thankful for the past 2 years of getting to know her and build into her life.

Hanging out at Butler in the beautiful sunshine! Love this girl!!

Thankful Thursday: April 18th

It has been a crazy, exhausting, awesome week, and as I look back I am thankful for these 5 things:

1. Finishing up another conference season…today marks the end of our last conference until August! I am thankful for my team, for the way we have worked well together this year, and for being able to serve ‘behind the scenes’ making conferences and events run smoothly for our region. It’s been a great experience! I am looking forward to turning my attention fully towards Berlin Summer Project now, and finalizing all the many details that need to happen in just a few weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. For the new Franklin baby that will be joining our family this November!!! Let me just tell you, this is going to be one well-loved child. I am SO excited about being an aunt (you can call me Auntie Em) and getting to love on and spoil my niece/nephew!! The sonogram photo is the front screen on my phone, and it makes me smile every time I see it. Can’t wait to meet this baby!!!

3. Hearing our AIA students speak the gospel with boldness and clarity. I love hearing what God is doing and has done in the lives of the athletes at Butler, and getting to be a small part of their journey! We heard from our three graduating Seniors tonight, and they did a fabulous job giving encouragement, casting vision and challenging the younger students to stay strong and finish well. I am going to miss Erika, Ross and Mallory a lot!

4. Pumpkin cinnamon rolls with carmel frosting. How can something be so delicious?

5. My patio/garden area/flowers! I planted a new batch of wildflowers today in front of my A/C unit, and am praying they grow as well as they did last year. We shall see. I didn’t have my handy-dandy dad here this time to help, but I did call him for assistance. The rest of my garden is to the point where it doesn’t need much help, for which I am thankful. I can’t do high-maintenance plants. They will all end up dead.

Thankful Thursday: April 12th

IKW starts tomorrow. I got to work today at 7:30am and got home at 8:30pm.

In light of that, I am thankful today for just two things:

1. Jesus

2. Rest

Pray that this weekend goes well, and that our team walks in the power of the Holy Spirit and not our flesh.

I’m Famous!

Well, not really.

But, Doug and I were asked to join WIBC 93.1FM Radio here in Indy tomorrow from 2-2:30 to record a session for a program called “Spotlight Indianapolis”! We will be sharing about Campus Crusade for Christ, Conferences and Events, as well as our ministry in the Great Lakes region and on campuses in Indiana. We were sent a list of potential questions to be ready to answer, so we are prepping today and tomorrow morning!

The only bummer is that the show is set to air on Sunday morning…at 5:30. Yep, 5:30AM. So, we will be famous to the three people awake and on the road, and desperate for something to keep them awake.

We need to be appropriately funny, to keep that 5:30 am crowd awake and engaged, but not act like we are trying to hard. Haha. J/K.

But really, maybe one of them has never heard about Jesus, and this will be their opportunity to hear the gospel! Hooray! So, for that one potential person, it is worth it.

Pray that we speak well, and represent the organization rightly, and have fun in the process!

Thankful Thursday: February 23rd

Time for the weekly pause to be thankful for….

1. Weddings! Lots of friends getting married this year, and it is such a privilege to celebrate with each of them. It is also a great reminder at each wedding of the love that Christ has for his church, and his perfect plan in creating marriage!

2. Grace for each new day, and being able to start fresh every morning

3. Susie and Darla! Love their wisdom, insight and the way both of them listen and help me process through life. Thankful for their friendship and mentor-ship these past few years!!

4. Hot tea on cold mornings

5. Praying together as an office each Thursday morning. Great way to close out the week!

A Mid-Winter’s Night Tea

I survived a tea party wearing sweat pants.

You know me, I love all things tea. Tea parties? Totally my sweet spot. I love it all – the dainty cups, the pretty food, the tea, being 100% girly, wearing cute clothes, you name it.

Well, last Wednesday the Butler Cru girls did a tea party outreach, and each table was hosted by a different group. The Athletes in Action girls decided to host a table, which was awesomeeeee. They decided to make their table theme “athlete casual”, so all the table decor was paper/plastic, and the girls all wore sweats/comfy clothes. I was invited to join the fun, and had a delightful time. Even in my sweats. I love these women so much, and it was totally worth breaking out of my normal comfort zone to spend time with them!

For over half of the 95 ladies who attended, this was their first Cru event (including 4 ladies at our table!). The speaker did a great job sharing the gospel, and our prayer is that this will open many more conversations with the Cru women who invited them!

The AIA table...they did a great job color-coordinating!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit blurry, but I enjoyed hanging out with these girls for the evening!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erika and Claire, two of the ladies involved in AIA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate covered Strawberries are essential to a tea party...and these were delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know?

In the midst of one of America’s biggest and craziest events of the year, the largest single sex-trafficking event is taking place. Every year the Super Bowl sadly brings along with it a dark side of pleasure for profit. As people are cheering for their team and enjoying the food, shows, music, games and activities, young girls and women are being bought and sold behind the scenes. It is heartbreaking, but here in Indy it is also being fought against. Can you be proud of your city? I don’t know, but I am proud of the way the people of Indy have stepped up to the plate on this one. The city lawmakers knew it was coming, and they have taken measures to prevent it. Other groups, as well, have joined the fight in ending this awful practice that goes on unnoticed by the general population every year.

I read this great article the other day that shares some of the ways that Indianapolis and groups of people are standing together to provide a way out for trapped women. As we enjoy the game and events this weekend, my heart has been burdened to pray for this whole situation to be shut down. Will you join me this weekend in praying for these women and those who are selling them? Pray that the light of Christ would shine forth, that the women and girls will be rescued and helped, that the men in control will be caught and stopped.

Thankful Thursday: December 8th

Thankful today…

1) That Matt is home!! Monday was a lovely and special day for our family as we reunited, laughed, hugged and enjoyed one another. The long dark night is over, and we are all very thankful.

All together again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) For my ministry partners! I am back in DC for the week, and it has been fun seeing and catching up with a few of my team. It is a constant reminder of what a blessing it is to serve together with this group of people.

3) For my mom’s cooking

4) For the commissary! One of the things I miss most about my military ID card is the discounted prices on groceries. Mom and I went yesterday and I stocked up on some non-perishables to take back to Indy, and I was just amazed at some of the deals. I forgot how awesome it is to shop on base.

5) For the Advent season, and the opportunity to reflect on what it means to wait on something – in this case the birth of our glorious Messiah. Living in a culture where we expect things to happen yesterday, it is a strange thing to think of waiting, yet something the Lord often calls us to do. What is He asking you to wait for right now?

Thankful Thursday: December 1st

Thankful today for these 5 things….

1) My heating pad. I know that was on last weeks’ list too….I’m doubly thankful for it I suppose, especially at this time of year.

2) Christmas!! And having my mom in town this year to help me decorate!!

Me and mom trimming the tree!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) That in just 4 days I will be hugging my brother for the first time in almost 2 years

4) For a dad who takes care of all the apartment-y and car maintenance things for me when he comes to visit! Thankful for a winterized patio, outdoor Christmas lights and organized and protected patio furniture. Thanks dad!

5) Being able to laugh at work/my team/having an awesome job. Each year we create an “Office Ops Team” recruiting ad for the program at IndyCC, and the picture we took today for this year completely takes the cake. Epic, even. Just wait until the final product is revealed in the next few weeks.  Here is a glance at the remnants of when we were done and starting to clean up:

"Have fun at work...or else!"

Thankful Thursday: October 27th

Another week come and gone, and more still to be thankful for.

1. The best Day with the Lord so far this year. Prayer at the office, then a couple hours at my favorite coffee spot in Broad Ripple, lunch at Qdoba, and then the rain stopped and the sun actually appeared and I spent an hour walking on the Monon Trail, praying and praising the Lord. So lovely.

2. Days with the Lord as part of my job. My friend Greg called today, and when I told him what I was doing, he asked if I had taken a day off work. It made me realize how strange it is that I get paid to spend one workday a month with Jesus. Sometimes I get complacent, forgetting what a blessing and privilege it is. When I do remember, it reminds me to steward those hours well, using them to deepen and enrich my relationship with Christ.

3. 38 days and a wakeup left to go until December 5th! It just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?

4. Only one spot left to fill until I have a fully-staffed childcare for fall staff conference in three weeks. Praise the Lord.

5. Some exciting news that I will hopefully be able to share soon…..!!!

6. God’s passion for our holiness and sanctification!