By the way...

By the way, the tree outside my office that was absolutely gorgeous a week ago is now bare....I'm not ready for the inevitable Pittsburgh winter.

It's been a while.

I realize I have been lacking for blog posts recently, and I would like to put an end to that. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind and I have a feeling that life is going to get even crazier!

As so many people have, I've been thinking a lot about politics and the election lately. (It seems as if this is unavoidable in the world right now!) Now I do not think of myself as a political genuis by any stretch of the imagination (or any type of genius for that matter), but over the past few weeks, I have been trying to absorb as much as I can and make informed decisions and conclusions. I am not going to advertise who I am voting for, or rant about something that I know little of, but I would like to share some observations, lessons, and questions I have in light of pre-election America.

First, I have been surprised and impressed with the involvement of young people in the election buzz. As I think back to my high school days, not only did I know absolutely nothing about politics, but to be honest, I didn't really care to. I have talked with some of my youth group students and other young people who seem really passionate about major issues. While I think teenagers should enjoy where they are in life and not try to grow up to quickly, the fact that they are taking an interest in certain issues and questioning what they hear gives me a great sense of hope for our future!

Secondly, I have been utterly disappointed by the media during this election season. I find it very difficult to be well informed because it seems like every media outlet is biased in their reports. This is frustrating. For this reason, I have enjoyed listening to the various debates this time around because that seems to be the only way to hear directly from the candidates and also to hear the information in its intended context. I also find the "smear campaigns" disappointing. I would rather see someone promote themselves in a positive way than spend time and money portraying someone else in a negative light.

Thirdly, I have been struggling a lot lately with what it means to engage in politics as a Christian. There are so many things about politics and politicians that I strongly believe do not come from God, but at the same time I think He wants us to be informed about our world and to actively participate in it. I have heard the opinions of many Christians about all of this. Some are all for McCain, some all for Obama, some are completely apathetic about it all, some are bitter about politics in general, and others are just avoiding the topic at all cost. As I attempt to approach everything from a Christian perspective, I ask myself the questions: "what's more important: the personal morals and beliefs of our leaders or the economic policies they enforce?" "How do I as a Christian approach the military system our country is under?" "As a Christian, should having a Christian president be important?" "Is the role of the presidency overrated in our nation?"

Maybe these questions don't seem like much to you, but they are ones I have really been wrestling with.

When I attended a panel discussion of professors at Geneva about these very issues, one point raised has stuck with me, and has been a ray of hope to me in all of this. The professors were discussing the common notion that young people have no power to change Washington. But they reminded us that where we can make the most change is in our local government and in our community by volunteering and standing firm in the changes we would like to see. This is such a great reminder that I don't have to be some complex political thinker to make a difference in my world, but rather I need to find what I am passionate about, and look for opportunities to use that passion to improve my world. This is exactly what the title of my blog is all about. I am so inspired by the Ghandi quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

The Leaves Are Changing!

So don't get me wrong, I am definitely a summer girl and I love the hot weather, but there is something about this time of year that just makes my insides feel happy! I've been in a sort of mourning period the past few days because it seems that summer just up and left without any sort of warning. Then I was driving to work today and I realized how beautiful it is outside. I often take for granted my drive across Beaver County each morning, but it really is gorgeous because all I can see is hills full of trees.

Nolan and I are leaving for Florida tonight to visit his parents. They haven't seen the ring yet, so we are excited, and I am looking forward to a weekend of relaxing! Life has been so crazy with ending the summer, starting fall youth group stuff, mission trip to Kenya, and getting engaged. It will be so great to just get away for the weekend and relax :-)

Luckiest Girl in the World!

I suppose it's normal for a newly-engaged girl to feel like the luckiest girl in the world, but I have been blessed beyond my imagination over the past week! Besides, the thought of marrying a guy I am completely in love with, the best part of getting engaged has definitely been sharing this with all the special people in my life. The fact that everyone else is so genuinely excited for me and Nolan, makes me even more excited myself! It's only been a week, and already I can tell this is going to be a crazy and special time!

My youth group girls were some of my favorite people to tell that I was engaged, they were so thrilled that it made me giddy! I look forward to including them in this process. On Sunday when I came into my office, one of my youth group girls and one of my leaders had snuck into my office and decorated it...this was so much appreciated and such a sweet gesture!! Here's what my office now looks like, I'm afraid it will feel boring when I take the decorations down!

Engaged!

This past Tuesday night, Nolan proposed at our favorite coffee shop...and as you can guess I said YES! It was a romantic and amazing night. After the proposal, he arranged for our friends to meet up with us and celebrate. One of our friends, Taylor, is a wonderful photographer and took some beautiful shots from the night. Bethany even made my favorite chocolate mint cheesecake!! This was such an exciting night and I feel so blessed to have shared it with some of our closest friends! Here are some of my favorite shots from the night:

Gotta show off that ring!!

Talking with our good friend Ryan

Down on one knee!

I'm pretty much glowing in this picture

Celebrating with friends

Transitions...

Over the past few days, it has begun to hit me that I'm done with college, and kind of a grown up now (scary, I realize!) Although I started to work full time in June, the summer just felt like any old summer. Then the excitement of preparing for Kenya, and actually going to Kenya consumed my life for a few weeks. I'm finally getting back into the groove, but it just feels weird not going to class and not seeing my youth group students as much.

For a few days I have been in what I like to call "a funk" with the whole growing up thing. I was almost beating myself up about it, but after talking to a few people I trust, I realized it's normal to feel this way. Not being a student anymore, and working full time, and being entrusted with the lives of students IS a big deal. I should be worried if I wasn't feeling all of these changes!

Yesterday, I took my weekly day off and Nolan and I went to the Grove City Outlets. The place was practically empty, and the weather was kind of chilly. This made for the perfect day to just walk around and take our time shopping and talking. It may sound silly, but it was one of the best days I have had in a long time! What a lucky girl I am :-)

That's all for today...

A Few of my Favorite Photos

I feel like I am finally beginning to process all that God did in my heart during my trip to Kenya, although I know this will be a process. I've been thinking a lot lately about all the people and places I have seen in the past few years. I have had the opportunity to travel a lot: 2 months in Siberian Russia, a school mission trip to Mexico, a leader for a trip to the Dominican Republic, and now a trip to Kenya with a mission team.

While I often dream of touring Europe or visiting exotic locales, I would not trade my "Third World Experiences" for any glamourous vacation! I've met people who walk miles each day to get water, I've met people who are unsure if they will make it through the winter because of the extreme conditions, I've met barefoot children who dream of being doctors and lawyers, I've met mothers who have given up their dreams for their children. It's so easy for me to wonder why me sometimes. Why did I get born in a country where we waste more food than is needed to feed the rest of the world? Why do I get to have a college degree and a bed to sleep in? These questions often lead to feelings of guilt or shame at all the things I take for granted, but God has taught me many lessons in this area.

For the short time I was in Kenya, I encountered more joy than I have in most of my life combined. The very people who have no shoes or no house, taught me that our God is simple, and calls us to live a simple life. The people of Kenya are blessed in a different way than me because when you have nothing, it's a lot easier to give it all up. I have so much stuff, and still I can think of more that I want. This desire for worldly "stuff" will probably never go away for me, but even if I strive a little more to live a simple life of faith, then I've taken a step in the right direction. Maybe all this is just me babbling, but maybe you can relate. Maybe you've seen God work in the little things: a smile and wave from a street kid or a breathtaking view or a man praying for the first time. These things may sound small, but each of these things changed my life over the past two weeks.

Only an incredible God could write the stories I have to tell!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Kenya. The country and the people were so beautiful!

Jambo!

I'm home Kenya! The past 12 days have been truly and incredible and I have been so blessed to have had this amazing experience!! It's hard to even know how to describe such an experience in words. God is so alive in Kenya and I was so honored to find him there! I had the opportunity to work in a village school, visit a church, help build a well, and go on a safari!

If you know me at all, you can probably guess that working in the school was my favorite part. The children were so full of joy and energy, it was unlike anything I have ever experienced before! There wasn't a moment when I didn't have about 20 children petting my arms, holding my hand, or playing with my hair (my long blonde curls were especially popular!!)

Here are a few videos of the children of Joska (the village we visited). Enjoy!

One More Day!

In 24 hours from right now, my journey to Kenya will have officially begun! I think it is finally hitting me that I am going to AFRICA! I could not be more excited! As I sit in my church office trying to finish up mailings and lesson plans for while I am gone, it is difficult to focus!

Please keep my trip in your prayers this week. The support I have recieved from so many people until now is such a blessing and a comfort, and I know that will continue while I am away! The leader of the trip is going to have his computer and will be updating his blog daily with pictures and stories of our experiences. If you're interested in checking out the blog click here: kenyablog

"Second Chance"

After much delay, I finally figured out how to post this video. Jordan is one of my youth group girls and an amazing musician! This song is entitled "Second Chance" and she wrote the music and lyrics herself. Jordan has been such a blessing to the youth group and her music seemed to become the soundtrack of our summer. I feel so lucky to watch her use the gifts which God has given her.

The song is about how we always mess up, but God is always ready to give us a second chance and keep loving us. It's based on the verse 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come." What an amazing message!

It is truly comforting to serve a God who loves us despite of who we are! Instead, he sees us as his children and is constantly blessing us!

Keep Jordan in your prayers because she found out today that she has tendonitis in her hand which means she can't play the guitar as much. Music is one of her biggest passions, so this is not easy news to swallow. (not to mention she leads worship for youth group!)