Come And Welcome

RUF tailgating

2010-09-28T17:24:00.004-04:00

I love SEC sports
I love tailgating
I love hamburgers

good thing I got placed at LSU for my internship.
RUF hosted a litte tailgate action for the students for the LSU vs. Miss. State game (we of course won).

SarahParks Martin (our campus ministers wife) and her children...don't they look like they are having so much fun in the 100+ degree weather :)

If I ever have sons they are not allowed to play football in tiger stadium....it is to scary!

watermelon smiles...when is watermelon season over?

Let me stop a moment to breathe...

2010-09-14T17:19:00.002-04:00

WOW, school is back in action and I have been going since the first day we got back! sorry I have not been updating as often..will try to do better job of it!

THings that have been going on:
- Back to school RUF Party!
- Ultimate Frisbee every thursday
- Bible studies
- TCBY waffle cone wednesdays...and more!!

Year 2 of the internship is so much better! I feel like I know Baton Rouge better, know the students better, know community better..

Our church started a Young Adults community group..we meet every other wednesday night to pray for each other and talk about the Sermon from the previous week. I am so thankful that my church started this group. there was such a need for this community, we have many newly married couples and people that just graduated/ are in grad school! really excited to get to know these people better!

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MY NEWSLETTER!!
- I send out 4 newsletters a year telling you about what RUF is doing and ways you can be praying for me, if you want to be added to my mailing list PLEASE let me know soon!!!

Breaking out of my comfort zone....

2010-06-27T20:54:00.006-04:00

..One of the RUF Students needed to be picked up at the New Orleans Airport Saturday night...she asked me..... and this turned into an opportunity to visit a unique church in a very poor part of N.O. where God is definitely at work!

The students aunt lives near the airport, so after picking up the student we crashed at her Aunt's place to get a few hours of sleep before heading to Church on sunday morning. As we were getting ready we told the her aunt and uncle where we were going to church...they responded by saying that "we would never go to that part of New Orleans", "don't wear any flashy jewelry", "be sure to lock your car and park really close to the church"....these comments from native New Orleans folk only got me more excited to attend church at St. Roch!

we pulled out of the house, down I-10, and into a part of new orleans called the 8th ward...a part of N.O. that was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina...many house's are falling apart, old cars line the roads and people are trying to stay cool on their porches waiting for the day to begin and praying to find work....my hearts break for the people of this area...they were hit so hard years ago from Katrina and still are trying to get back to their old ways of life.....

....walking into St. Roch Church you can sense that GOD IS AT WORK! The people were friendly, greeting each other, loving on one another....many were local residents of the 8th ward, but there we're also a diversity of people there, old -young, black-white-asian...a picture of the gospel at work in a poor part of town.

The music was great, Gospel singing, hands clapping, lots of AMEN's were thrown out through out the service, the pastor would refer to us as "brothers and sisters"....praise requests of the people were talking about God's mercy and grace in their lives....wow, in such a poor run down (almost helpless) part of N.O. these people looked to Jesus.....wow.

after church we exchanged hugs and handshakes and headed out with another family and went to eat at an amazing poorboy sandwich place...sooo good!

if you ever are in New Orleans and you want to see a picture of the Gospel PLEASE visit St. Roch Community Church!

http://www.strochcc.org/ <---- explore

Back in Orlando

2010-06-08T17:00:00.003-04:00

it's been about 9 months since I have been back in Orlando..strange, fun, weird....a few of things i have felt since I have come back for 3 weeks to visit with family and friends (and work on raising support for next RUF school year)

this is a pic of my best friend (and future maid of honor) AMANDA! we have known each other since we were in 10th grade..soccer captains, getting in trouble in high school, going on random adventures....a few of things we have done over the years....i love you amanda!!

This is another of my great friends..Mindy...we have been friends since we were in 8th grade...i really want to find a picture of us then and compare it to now...haha i bet we look the same!

Right now I am living in Kissimmee, FL at my Dad's condo, it has been great being able to spend time with him, playing lots of golf!

I missed my old church (university presbyterian church)..it has been so fun going back, seeing all the families and friends that love on me so much!

It also has been fun to visit with old friends...friends that it doesn't matter how long we are apart..but when we get back together it's just like the good ol' days..

RUF Summer Conference

2010-05-25T10:38:00.003-04:00

WOW...is it really summer already, has my first year of being an intern really done....

We took about 25 students to RUF summer conference this year from LSU....it was a great time for the students to meet 100's of other RUF students from across the country, spend great quality time in fellowship, learning more about Jesus, and chilling at the beach!

A group shot of our LSU bunch....Jacob (my co-intern) and I are being models in the front! I love my students and love just how different each one is...we have students that LOVE sports and being outdoors to ones that are VERY artsy to ones that love music...and ones that are just plain CRAZY! I love them all!

A few of us girls on our last night at Summer Conference...relaxing by the pool!

My first Crawfish Boil!

2010-04-12T20:01:00.007-04:00

My church here (South Baton Rouge Presbyterian) has an annual craw-fish boil in the spring! The church cooks up 300 lbs of craw-fish! The rules are don't wear white (the juices will squirt on ya) and get ready to eat a lot! The true Louisianians suck the heads of the craw-fish after you eat the meat (the tail)!

When the crawfish, potatoes, corn and mushrooms have been cooked they dump everything out onto the table...where we then EAT LIKE CRAZY!

All the Kids watched the live crawfish...right before we cooked them!!

don't worry I washed my hands after this!

Spring is here and things are in full swing!

2010-03-30T10:47:00.007-04:00

WOW! March is almost over...which means school is really almost done! Here are a few things RUF has been up to!

Spring Conference:

We had about 25 students make the hour drive to Clinton, LA to spend a few days relaxing with new friends, eating yummy food and learning more about Jesus. One of the students family let us use their home complete with a basketball court, tennis courts, a Bon-Fire, pool and plenty of land to explore!
A few of the students even discovered a golf cart they had at the house......

Our Campus Minister, Josh Martin based the conference on this book....

I would HIGHLY recommend you read this book, it helped me understand how God can use someone as messed up and sinful as myself to help other messed up, sinful people learn just how loved they are by Jesus Christ.

Not-a-date night..part 2

we hosted our ever famous..not-a-date night event for the students, we pared the groups up into 2 or 3 guys and girls, and let each group pick a place to eat dinner and an activity to do...then all the groups met back at the Campus ministers house...where me, Jacob (co-intern) and Josh Martin (campus minister) had an ice cream to give the students. I love this event because it is a WONDERFUL way for students to meet new friends!!

Here is a pic of a few of the "not-a-daters"

did you know..

2010-03-14T15:01:00.003-04:00

did you know LSU had an equestrian team!? THEY DO! i went to one of the students competitions. This is what I love about my job with RUF..like I said before, I get to get of my likes and interests and really step into other students worlds!

One (of many) things that Baton Rouge does well are parades! I am pretty sure the town is always looking for a reason to have fun! On saturday I went with a few friends to the BR St. Patrick's Day parade...now that I have all these beads...what am I suppose to do with them all!?! Want some!

Race for the Cure!

2010-03-06T15:32:00.003-05:00

A group of students and I signed up for the Breast Cancer walk...it was such a wonderful day! and so warm and sunny! I "borrowed" little sofia to take her on our 5k walk! the student's team we joined is studying architecture...so our team name was OurCure-tecture....haha!

Spring Camping Trip!

2010-02-25T15:41:00.003-05:00

This was real camping...no bathrooms, no running water, no beds....just you, your sleeping bag/tent and a fire. It was alot of fun...cold..but alot of fun. I think alot of the students were surprised when we didn't have bathrooms to use...oops small minor detail we left out...at least we had toilet paper!I love camping! sitting around a campfire singing songs and making s'mores!

Playing a few card games in the open air!

only in baton rouge...

2010-02-15T16:33:00.006-05:00

well, little did i know (and the rest of the people that live in BR) that it snowed here..in the south!

And then two days later the weather was a perfect 60 degrees, and sunny!

The view in the front of the RUF office

The view from the inside of the RUF office...which by the way is one of the coolest offices EVA!

Today, I went to visit a student out at her families house, on her property she has alot of animals..kinda like a mini-farm you could say. I was able to play with Baby fainting goats , feed ducks, chickens, rabbits. and I even was able to collect some eggs to take home with me!A cute baby fainting goat

collecting the eggs.

it is fun to step out of my world and into the students, to see what they like to do, how they were raised, and even learn new things.

We even made some soup for the cold day!

LSU Rec

2010-02-10T21:12:00.002-05:00

I was able to get a membership to the LSU Rec and Gym. I love it! It has opened so many more doors for me to get together with students and meet new ones!

The gym has a rock wall, which a student and I have already tried to tackle. I am even allowed to play intramural sports with the students, we have an RUF co-ed Volleyball team signed up...the only thing we need is a good name...any suggestions?

Today a student and I went to do a little work out, then rewarded ourselfs with some TCBY 99 cent waffle cone wednesday, next week we are going to do it again...and try a hip hop class..that should be interesting.....

R U Flexable...

2010-02-07T09:29:00.003-05:00

yesterday a few students and I got together to play some volleyball....well we didn't realize that you needed to have your ID's to get to the outside Volleyball courts, so we had a change of plans and just all chilled in the RUF office, ate lunch, and played some games.

we played DUTCH BLITZ...which if you are reading this and you are an old RUF student from UCF you know how much we use to play it. It is a really fun card game, you can play with 2 - 8 people (the more the crazier it gets...we did have 8 people playing at one time and it was CRAZY!).

Adopt a college student!

2010-01-31T19:44:00.002-05:00

South Baton Rouge Pres. (the church I go to in Baton Rouge) decided to start the "adopt a college student" program. this is how it works: families from the church "adopt" a student that comes to our church...all it means is that they will have them over to their house a few times a semester for lunch, dinner, etc.

we had this program at my church in O-town (UPC). I absolutely LOVED IT! My "adopted" mom is wonderful...we even still call each other. I learned so much from her and her family, especially what it means to depend on God. I pray that these students too will have a wonderful experience with their "new" families. I pray that this will be a step in helping the students feel more at home with South Baton Rouge Presbyterian Church.

Today, after church we had a Kick-off Lunch, complete with all you can eat taco salad, desserts and King cake (a Southeast Louisiana Mardi Gras cake...only can get them this time of the year). it was so fun to see the students chatting with their new families!

Far to blessed..

2010-01-25T17:04:00.004-05:00

..My birthday was recently and as much as I was trying not to make a big deal about it..the students here just would not let that be!

I love my students, I thought I was coming here to serve them and love on them...instead all they do is love me...and show me Daily what it means to be a servant of Christ and trully love each other.

They surprised me with the BEST surprise ever....they told me friday night:
- wear play clothes and chacos, pack a lunch and bring water be ready around 8:30

That was the only clues I had.....They took me to Tunica Hills!! This AMAZING hiking only about an hour north of Baton Rouge in Woodville, MS.

I LOVED IT!

here are some pics from our fun adventure...i can't wait to go back and bring more students with me!!

we took the path less traveled!

LOVE IT!!

I am so thankful God made beautiful things and places for us to discover, to give us glimpses into what Heaven will be like.

LSU Gymnastics

2010-01-23T08:16:00.004-05:00

..who knew that LSU had a gymnastics team..AND that we have the number one Gymnast in the country on our team! The floor exercises were by far my favorite!

A few female students came over to my house before the game for some Pizza and board games then we headed over to the competition to cheer on our fearless lady tigers!

Here I am with a few freshman girls getting ready to watch!

RUF is back in full action, we had RUF last Tuesday and it was AWESOME to see all the students returning back to campus, with lots of excitement for this upcoming semester. We even had a bunch of new students join us. I pray that God will keep opening up doors for me to love on these students!

NOLA Trip

2010-01-19T09:47:00.004-05:00

We took a group of RUF students to New Orleans, LA (NOLA) to work with Redeemer Church helping with Hurricane Katrina Construction work. It is amazing that after so many years there is still so much work to be done in this wonderful city bursting with energy and love for their southeastern Louisiana culture.

I was AMAZED at the enthusiasm the students had in them to work....we scratched off old paint, primed and painted the exterior of a shot gun house in three days...Woah! The lady of the house has been displaced since hurricane Katrina, living with her son and very excited to be able to move back home! She even let us pick the color of her house....we went with Lavender Escape.

It is very true what they say...when you go to do mission work to serve, teach and help others many times it is usually YOU who receives all the learning and help. Families from the church opened their homes for us to stay in for 5 nights and many families and the church opened their homes to feed us numerous meals. I was blown away by the generosity and love that we received while we where there.....many of the students repeatedly said that THEY could NOT WAIT to one day be able to open their own homes for others and be able to give back the loved they had received.

OVERALL = one great trip!

Here we all are getting the job DONE!! Who Dat?!

Group Shot of the RUF Team!

Baton Rouge Holidays!

2009-12-05T18:41:00.013-05:00

Wow! I can't believe that Thanksgiving has already come and passed...and the countdown for Christmas is ON!

For thanksgiving a family from my new church, Amy and Barrett Black (sofia and naomi too) invited me to head to Houston to share Thanksgiving with them and their family! I had such a wonderful time...we ended up calling her parents house Weston Lakes (the neighborhood's name) Resort. We arrived at the house on wednesday night and didn't even leave the House till saturday night...it was so much fun, with the house all full of family and children and lots of baking happening all week!

Little Sofia with her "poony" smoothie mustache

some of the Yuvancic Family...they were teaching me how to make these AMAZING nut rolls!

The school year is winding down..but RUF@LSU has their annual Tacky Christmas Sweater Party...me and another student decided to make FULL tacky outfits!

I even had a few students come over to my house to make Christmas Stained Glass cookies! These were just normal sugar cookies...but you take out the middle and fill it with jolly ranchers...they come out pretty neat!

Here are some students hard at work making their cookies at my Apartment!

Bonfire and S'mores

2009-11-14T14:16:00.008-05:00

I don't know what it is..but sitting around a fire, roasting marshmellows and enjoying the open air always seems to bring people together. One of our freshman girls from RUF opened up her home for us to use, we had a bunch of students over at her place....it was a GREAT turn out..and LOTS of fun!

Roasting our hotdogs

The student even had FAINTING goats at her place..these are by far the coolest farm animal ever. When they get scared the goats actually faint!

One of the RUF students with her s'mores

Our BIG bonfire!

The students were trying to see who could stand in front of the fire the longest.

My cool new boots, I got them for $15 at a thrift store...fit perfectly at the bonfire!

Dinner, Concert and tailgating!

2009-10-12T15:57:00.010-04:00

never did I think I would be saying this...but I NOW have a new found LOVE of cooking! I bought a crock-pot a few weeks ago and ABSOLUTELY love it! I even invited a few students over one night to try some home made chili and cornbread! I think they liked it....or they sure did fool me!

I also was able to see the Avett Brothers in Concert at the rivercenter in downtown BR! The brothers are VERY talented...they would switch between guitars, keyboard, drums, banjo in the middle of the song. Their style of music is folk..but with a little bit of rock..if you have not listened to them PLEASE DO...soo good!

Finally...the game LSU has been waiting for ALL season, #1 Gators vs. #4 Tigers..game of the season! RUF threw a big tailgate for the students...complete with Jumbalaya and all the finger food you could eat!Take a look at our SWEET new RUF sign!! can you see the Tiger behind it!?!

College Game day was even there! woot!

Critical Mass

2009-09-26T11:15:00.004-04:00

"Yeah Bike" is the slogan of the critical mass bike ride I went on last night!

I'm guessing over 300 people at the last friday of each month gather at the LSU clock tower to ride bikes to a set location. The purpose of these monthly Bike Rides (which happen ALL over america in MANY cities AT the same time) is to show the city and its residence a need and concern for Bike Riders.

There were so many different types of people there, from hippie looking all the way to families with kids. It is reallly cool to see all of these people band together and ride down major roads and bring about awareness.

Here is a small part of the group of Bikers getting ready to head out!

Off WE go!

We take up the whole right lane of the road, our goal is to not let there be any gaps. Otherwise cars will get it...not good!

people wave at us...i felt like I was in a parade!

EVERYONE really looks out for each other, these bikers are doing something called "corking" where you block off traffic at intersections so that the whole parade of us bikers get through the intersection. People usually honk their horns...but when they do everyone just cheers!

we made it to our location after about an hour, we hung out here, got stuff to eat...then turned around and went back!

I think I was smiling the whole time. I absolutely LOVED this event...this group does ALOT each month like bike rides to farmers markets, scavenger hunts, bike polo, girl only bike rides, etc. I have my calendar and can NOT wait to start taking more students with me to these events!!

Habitat for Humanity

2009-09-21T10:33:00.004-04:00

On Saturday a few students, my co-intern Jacob and I went to Habitat for Humanity just outside of Baton Rouge. There must of been 15 houses either built or being built in this one part of town, all for families that desperately need a place to live.

Getting your hands dirty, jumping in, hammering nails, working on the roof...endless amounts of work....but so much fun! We were able to do things I never thought a bunch students would be able to do! It was even great to see future homeowners out there helping build their own homes...I can't wait till we go back and help out again in October.

Some of us girls getting ready to build!!

Getting ready to install a window

Working hard and being goofy...what RUF students do best!

A group shot in front of the house we were working on.

First Two weeks!

2009-09-07T13:14:00.005-04:00

I can't believe I have been in Baton Rouge now for TWO WEEKS! The town is great, the campus is AMAZING, and I absolutely love working with RUF! I was taught the proper way to say LSU (by saying Ella Shoe). Here are some pics!

The Parade Ground on the LSU Campus, I love having picnics here with the students!

The campus is BEAUTIFUL, the architecture is AMAZING!

This is right on the Edge of Campus, LOTS of fun shops, my new FAVORITE coffee shop Highlands coffee and our RUF office is located here!

A shot of the "quad" on campus, where alot of students hang out.

The Memorial tower, it chimes every 15 minutes and at noon it plays the LSU fight song, it is really nice to hear this ringing through out campus!

This is a CUTE coffee shop in an awesome part of town called "Spanish Town" I love how it is all locals who are takin' it easy, enjoying coffee, the beautiful weather and each others company!

I was able on Saturday morning to go to the Farmers Market with some new friends, Music filled the air as we walked around to the different booths!

God is so GOOD!

2009-08-16T21:05:00.002-04:00

God is so gracious...even to a messed up, ready to give up, sinner as myself!

Over the past few days my support money was just not where it needed to be, I was running out of time to raise the 75% of my support that I needed and started to lose all hope that I would be leaving for Baton Rouge. I became very hard on myself and started to think that maybe God had just not called me to go work with RUF at LSU. I felt like a failure and really had given up on Saturday.

I entered Church today and even began to tell people that I think I may not be leaving for Baton Rouge and even asked people to pray as I began to find another job. UNTIL, a lady at UPC approached me and gave a more than genourous amount...only by God's grace has He brought her into my life over the past 2 years, only by God's grace is He allowing her to be able to give financially...only by God's Grace am I now leaving for LSU.....this is nothing I have done...this is all Christ's work and proof that God's kingdom will not be stopped!

Please pray as I begin to figure out living situations and prepare to leave! Please pray as I NOW begin to work with students and help show them the love of Jesus....that HE has so graciously poured out onto me so that I can pour into them!

I have been stretched so much this summer, even when I want to give up God stretches me and teaches me that I need to have more faith in what He is doing in my life.

GOD IS GOOD!

Hero's Welcome

2009-07-24T12:28:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week I tried to be a Hero by donating blood on the Big Red Bus blood mobile. I went in, passed the little check up they give...and began to give blood. It was great at first...they gave me all the orange/apple juice I could drink...and were the nicest people....then I started to feel a little dizzy and they were kind enough to lay my chair back to help me feel better.

the next thing I knew..i was having the BEST dream of MY LIFE! I can't remember what was going on but I do remember that it was so vivid!

I woke up with the nurses standing around me, and wet clothes all over my neck and forehead... I apologized for falling asleep....then the lady said:
" Oh No Hunny..You were not a sleep....you were in another WORLD!!"

apparently I fainted....turns out your suppose to eat an hour before you give blood..oops!

The next day the blood mobile people called to check on me....very kind. I told them that I was sad that I was not a hero because they could not take my blood.....The lady then said,
"No..you are a Hero...anyone who steps on that bus and tries IS a hero!"

Moral of the Story:
1) I'm a Hero!
2) Eat before you give blood!

I'm learning...

2009-07-14T16:52:00.002-04:00

This summer has been one of ups and downs and God has been teaching me ALOT through the whole process of support raising! I have learned what it means to be more giving of my time, energy and even money...i have seen individuals who are struggling financially give generously to my mission work. I have seen people who have gone over the top to open their homes for me to have coffee nights and share what I will be doing with RUF, I have seen people continually love on me..call me...e-mail me and encourage me to not give up even though daily I feel like i'm in an endless battle to raise support.

I am so thankful and blessed that God has brought these people into my life this summer, to show me how to love selflessly and how to care for others (thank you for teaching me..although i still have so much more to learn!)

Another thing I have learned is how I need to let go of my NEED for control, I don't know what the future holds, will I raise the support and get to LSU or will I stay in Orlando? That is up to God and his will for me...my whole life I have usually had the next year of my life planned, but now...its really out of my control...as hard as this is..i know that God is bending me and breaking me so that I learn to lean not on my crutch of comfort and control but rest in the palm of his hands....He knows what is best....

mom for the week

2009-07-06T15:55:00.002-04:00

A very special family at my church decided to take a small vacation to a bed and breakfast about an hour away from Orlando. They have two ADORABLE children (2 and 4 years old). They asked me if I would be ok watching the kids for three days while they went on a much needed time alone together for some rest, time to read and spend time together. I said "YES, of course!"

So the parents threw the car seats in my car and headed out of town...I had so much fun pretending to be a parent for three days, I took them on play dates with other families, the playground and my favorite..Chick-Fil-A...where I had to climb up the playground tubes to help the little 2 year old get to the top! I had alot of fun...but was definitely exhausted by the end of the week.

A few things I learned:
1) If you are a single parent my heart goes out to you, taking care of children is ALOT of work and makes it even harder with out another pair of hands to help you.
2) always, ALWAYS have snacks and water on hand.
3) leave plenty of time between dinner and bed time for a long bath...they have too much fun in the water and won't get out when you want them too!

Overall, I'm glad that I get these small glimses of what being a parent is going to really be like.

Florida will miss you!

2009-06-23T20:16:00.003-04:00

Sid and Tere Druen have helped RUF@UCF for over the past two years, Sid a recent graduate of RTS will be heading out to New Mexico State Univ. to begin the next exciting chapter of his life as an RUF Campus Minister.
I'm going to miss the Druens but I am so excited that God is using this amazing couple, to reach students for Christ and transform their lives! I'm going to miss all the great meals they cooked for me, all the fun stories they would tell, the fun adventures of Tere and I roller blading...and of Course our road trip to Atlanta for RUF staff training.
The Students at NMSU are very blessed to have these two come to their campus....I say this because I felt very blessed to have Sid and Tere faithfully help with RUF here at UCF...they will definately be missed by so many back here in Orlando, Fl...but will be loved by so many out in New Mexico!

Summer Reading..

2009-06-16T19:48:00.002-04:00

Summers in Florida are a great time to get out your portable Hammock, grab a cold glass of Lemonade and read a great book! Here is a great book that I recently just finished...

This book is definitely intended for women who are married...however I think if you wait to read this book till after your married it would be too late! This book deals with everything from Woman's Lust to how to make your Marriage a one that has Christ at the very center. I highly recommend this book for single women (planning on eventually getting married one day) to women who have been married for ages.

RUF new staff training!

2009-06-09T20:18:00.003-04:00

It was great to meet all the new RUF Interns last week as we all headed to Atlanta to begin staff training. I'm so glad that RUF has this week set aside for us new staff as we really dove in deep and looked at RUF Philosophies of ministries and the in's and out's of support raising. So thankful that I could share a week learning and hanging out with these new interns....God is really using some amazing people to reach students all across the country...and so thankful that I can now call these people my friends!

wedding time.

2009-05-31T07:11:00.003-04:00

I love weddings. I think its the way the groom smiles as he watches his soon to be bride walk down the aisle, or the way the Bride looks like a princess approaching her prince, and then how after the ceremony we all can celebrate this couples new covenant commitment to one another over food and fellowship.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Rev. 21:2)

I love how the Bible portrays the church as the Bride and Jesus as the Groom. We one day will be this beautiful, we one day will be looking like a princess coming forth to her prince and our soon to be prince will be smiling with arms wide open ready to take us home.

I am so thankful this past semester to have attended so many wonderful friends weddings, so thankful that I could be there to witness this amazing thing called Marriage, I pray for the newly married couple, Rachel and Brandon Lutz, I am so thankful that I was there yesterday to celebrate the amazing thing God does to bring his people together!

Yellow Dog Eats Cafe

2009-05-21T10:12:00.005-04:00

Growing up my friends and I would always pass right by this little hole in the wall restaurant in Gotha. The place had been closed for the past year due to a fire and now after long anticipation the place is open and I finally was able to go!

The place is very cute, authentic and quaint. It reminds me of an old cottage full of Grandma's Nick-Naks. The sandwiches are verrry good, and they all are named after Dogs. The place is very laid back and full of people who seem to enjoy their jobs. Their is even a garden behind the old cottage where you can sit and enjoy your reasonably priced sandwich.

The owner is crazy, as soon as we entered he came up to us and gave us hugs and talked to us like we had know him forever!

Overall, you must go! It's located in Gotha off of Hempel Ave. you'll probably pass right by it because it just looks like an old country cottage. Its nice finding a restaurant in Orlando that tourists don't know about..the place is full of locals, families and teenagers just hanging out and enjoying each others company.

RUF summer conference

2009-05-18T20:41:00.002-04:00

Three of us from RUF @ UCF traveled to Panama City Beach, FL for our annual Summer conference, RUF students from all different parts of America come together to worship, learn and rest together.

The conferece was very refreshing (if you are a college student and reading please go next year, well worth the cost and energy to get there!) There were seminars on everything from dealing with your Idols to why the Bible is true to Christianity in Art. The nice part was that in the morning and evening you were in sessions or hearing sermons, but in the afternoon was a time of fellowship and relaxing. The Laguna Beach Christian Retreat Center was right on the beach..so needless to say there was plenty of swimming, kayaking, sailing and hanging out with about 900 other college students.

I was even able to meet the LSU RUF gang. It was very encouraging meeting these students, they immediately made me feel welcomed and loved. Meeting the students that I will be working with was just what I needed, it will definately help me push myself to get all the support raised...because now I want to get out there so much more!

no longer a college student...

2009-05-10T17:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I walked at Graduation, wow I can't believe my 5 years at UCF are all over. I'm really sad to leave but excited for my next adventure to Baton Rouge,Louisiana in the fall.

The greatest gift that I could have received for graduation was having my family (dad, step-dad and sister) come and see me graduate. I am so thankful for my family here in Orlando, so glad that they were able to share my special day with me.

On this mothers day I am so thankful for the mothers at UPC who made sure to make this mothers day not a sad time for me. A couple familys asked me to come to lunch with them and their family, i only wish that we ate lunch more than once a day so that I could of been with all of them!

I know that my mom was smiling down from heaven this weekend, and I am so thankful that while my mom was alive she did everything to love her daughters...so mom, thank-you for all the wonderful years we had together and how you always put my needs in front of your own, I hope I am at least half the amazing mom you were. I love you! Happy Mothers Day!

Golfing w/ my Coach...my dad

2009-05-02T11:08:00.010-04:00

My dad has taught me everything I know about the game of golf...and I am so thankful that he has. I love that it is something we will always have in common. I was able to play yesterday with him and his Mens Golfing League at a local course in Kissimmee.

The one thing I noticed yesterday was just how friendly and sociable every one at the course seemed to be. I think it was either the freshness of the morning hour (we did tee off at 7am) or the great company of cheerful old men who all share a love for golf. Everyone was in such a wonderful mood that i just could not help but smile and get ready for a great day of golfing.

What I love most about playing golf with my dad is that there is no pressure to have straight shots or perfect putting, instead he shows me just how fun the sport can be....teaching me that the game is about having a good time with some good people....and occasionally having some great shots to go with it.
So, thanks dad for being my coach..and teaching me one of the greatest sports ever..I love you!

p.s. - I am sure there will be golf in heaven!

Missing Orlando Already

2009-04-27T12:35:00.003-04:00

Orlando would not have been my first choice of places in the world to have been born, raised and still living here. "Fun" tourist things cost money, we have only one season (summer), beaches are still a drive away, all my family (except dad, step-dad and sister) live up in the Northeast, the list goes on...

Yet, this is where my heart is, I truly love Orlando, I'm comfortable here, I know every part of the city (from Windermere to Oviedo to Kissimmee), I have made some of the greatest friendships, I love my church and the community God has given me here.

I thought a lot about this, this past weekend, spending time with good friends I have made over the years, and doing random things around Orlando (that the tourists don't know about). I was able to spend time with some friends on the Butler Chain of Lakes, going wake boarding and cruising around the lakes that seem to connect throughout southwest Orlando. It was nice to enjoy Orlando for its natural beauty, old trees and beautiful sunsets.

While many may look at "The City Beautiful" and think that should have never been our cities slogan...I think what makes the city live up to this saying are the friendships, family and friends that you can find in the heart of the city.

we are invited!

2009-04-22T16:34:00.000-04:00

After much thought and help from my good friend/ roommate Allison, I decided to start a blog and name it Come and Welcome named after a song we sing at R.U.F. I love what the song is saying, "come and welcome, sinner, come" Jesus has come for us, sinners like me, and he invites us to his table with arms wide open.

Daily I am learning more and more my need for him, learning more how big my sin is and just how little I am. It amazes me how Jesus can use us to spread His glory to others, even though we are like lost little sheep. Yet, at the same time so thankful that his Kingdom can not be stopped even if I fail at truly spreading the Gospel.

Here are the lyrics,

Indelible Grace - Come and Welcome

1. From the cross uplifted high
Where the Savior deigns to die
What melodious sounds I hear
Bursting on my ravished ear
Love¹s redeeming work is done
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

2. Sprinkled now with blood the throne
Why beneath thy burdens groan
On my pierced body laid
Justice owns the ransom paid
Bow the knee and kiss the Son
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

3. Spread for thee the festal board
See with richest dainties stored
To thy Father¹s bosom pressed
Yet again a child confessed
Never from His house to roam
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

4. Soon the days of life shall end
Lo, I come, your Savior, Friend
Safe your spirit to convey
To the realms of endless day
Up to my eternal home.
Come and welcome, sinner, come.
Come and welcome, sinner, come.