Yesterday morning, I went to callbacks for this year's musical at JBU: You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. We first learned some choreography (which was fun, even with my foot still slightly handicapped), read aloud lines, and sang some of the songs. It was a lot of fun, and it looked promising. I felt like I had done a really good job.
The list of the cast was sent out tonight. I was placed in the chorus. Which is not a bad thing at all! I get to be in the musical and sing with a handful of other girls that I've come to know and love. :) However, when I first found out that I didn't get a lead part (which was really only two female parts overall to be picked for, meaning a very slim chance for most of us girls), I was slightly crushed. I don't handle rejection well. It's not that I get mad at people or anything, but deep down, it turns into me beating myself up about it: what's wrong with me? I thought I had done well, was I not good enough? It seems like every time I try out for a play or something of the sort, I always receive or feel some sort of rejection every time I get the slightest of hopes up. (And people wonder why I am not confident in myself . . .)
As I was thinking about that tonight, one of the songs from the musical, "The Doctor Is In," came to my mind. In the song, Charlie Brown is depressed and Lucy tries to help him "dig deep" to get to the real problem and give him advice. Charlie Brown proceeds to tell her all of the things that are wrong with him, and he questions why he was "born just to be, one small person as thoroughly, totally, utterly blah as me." Lucy, meaning well, continues with even more things that are wrong with him and that no one likes him. (Poor guy!) But then, she goes on to say that there is hope for him, because even though he isn't musical, happy, etc. like everyone else, there was no one else like him: "the singular, remarkable, unique Charlie Brown." To which he realizes: "I'm me!" There is so much truth to be gained from this song, and the wonderful thing about this musical is that the truth in these songs doesn't just apply to kids; it applies to everyone, adults included. Everyone tends to feel insecure about themselves at some point. But we are all unique and have different gifts that are important in the kingdom of God. Sometimes, I wish I could sing like my friends who have voices of angels. Sometimes I wish I had grown up more a theater kid like some of my friends who are fantastic at playing the part. A lot of the time, I feel average or mediocre at a lot of things. I feel like Charlie Brown: "thoroughly, totally, utterly blah."But I have to remember that "I'm me!" All of 1 Corinthians 12 talks about how many people have different gifts that can be used to connect and unite the body; no one person is more important than the others. Behind-the-scenes people are just as, if not more important than the actors because they keep the show going and flowing more smoothly. I need to remember that each person has been given different gifts that can be used to further His kingdom. God has given me gifts that He hasn't given to other people.
And you know what? I am still in the musical, and I'm even singing in it!! I just didn't get a speaking/lead role. Practically speaking, where I was placed was the best decision: I'm taking 18 hours this semester as a music major (which is really hard and whenever I tell people that, they always pat me on the shoulder and "comfort" me . . . which kinda scares me . . .) I'm going to be really really busy with other things besides the musical. Sure, it's always been one of my dreams to be a lead/important role in a musical, but there will be other opportunities for me to try again. Then I have to wonder if I will ever get to have that opportunity. I hope so, but maybe that's not what God has in mind for me. Whatever is supposed to happen, will happen. God will do what is ultimately best for everyone. Sometimes He completely changes the plans I have, but it ALWAYS turns out better than I could've ever imagined. He's done a good job of that in my own life so far. ;)
Yes, humility is yet another hard pill to swallow, but a necessary one for everyone. I pray that I would make much more of Him and much less of me, that my pride would diminish in size every day. May He be glorified through me no matter what I do.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
A Hard Pill To Swallow.
If any of you know me well enough, you know that I hate conflict. One of my spiritual gifts is being a peacekeeper. If people are arguing, I get pretty nervous about it, because I know it can escalate quickly. If people are really fighting, like hurtful mud-slinging, I might cry. Seriously. That sounds childish almost, but it's true. I have a very tender heart when it comes to arguments and fighting because I used to be one of those people that always wanted to pick the fight, to be right about everything, always wanted to have the last word in. Let me share something personal with you.
I've struggled with legalism. I think a lot of Christians have, and still do. However, mine wasn't just a little problem. It was to the point where I was hurtful and hateful to people because of it. I was one of those people who argued with others about the littlest things, things that weren't worth arguing about. Somehow, that to me, was my crusade; if people were attacking me for these things, then of course I was one of Jesus' soldiers! I was fighting FOR Him. Right?
Then came the night when one of my friends called me a Pharisee over Facebook. I was furious, how could a friend like that do this to me? To this day, that comment still hurts me. I thought to myself, "Well obviously, [this person] doesn't understand." While I don't think it was right for this person to call me that online, they opened my eyes to what I really was. Very slowly, but it was a starting point.
Then, months down the road, I realized what kind of a person I was. My eyes were finally opened to the legalistic thinking I had been submerged in for so long. I recognized that I was living in sin, and I finally backed out of it. I became so turned off by everything appearing to be legalistic, that it got to the point very recently where I was leaning more towards the other side: which is the thinking that since works don't save you, you are free in Christ to do whatever the heck you want. That is equally dangerous.
In more recent months, I've gotten into some pretty heavy debates with my mom over things she finds in the Bible. Mind you, I don't completely disagree with things she says. I agree with her about most things. But there are some things in the past that she brought up that I didn't think were important enough to argue about. If she felt convicted by it, then she should/shouldn't do these things. It almost got to the point of where I was literally thinking, "What's true for you may or may not be true for me." This is part of what the postmodern world believes.
You're probably thinking, "Oh great, here comes things I don't understand nor do I want to understand them." Please bear with me for just a minute!!! Postmodernism is one of the biggest world views out there today. In a nutshell, it preaches tolerance in the most extreme way and rejects any sort of truth, and says, "People can earn salvation or get to heaven in their own way; what's right for someone else may or may not be right for me." That COMPLETELY contradicts the Bible. Jesus said Himself, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 is a very well-known Bible verse. I had it memorized when I was 7. However, I don't think a lot of people believe this to be true. [Of course, if they're postmodernist thinkers, they wouldn't believe anything to be "true."]
You'd be surprised at how many evangelical thinkers and scholars believe that everyone will be saved in the end. This is also contradictory to the Bible. Matthew 7:13 says, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." This means that not all people will be saved!!!
The sermon was on the real Jesus today in church. The passage was Luke 12:49-53. [I encourage you to read it for yourself, even though I'm going to pull from it.] In verse 51, Jesus says, "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." Then it went into how the Gospel has and will continue to divide households. Then, Pastor Brad also brought up John 3:17, where he appears to contradict himself when he says, "For God did not send His son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." Confusing, right? But then, the verse after (v. 18) explains itself: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Basically, Jesus came not to judge/condemn, but rather to expose the false believers and set them apart from real believers.
Jesus was not popular with many people because he didn't appeal to many people! He came to die for sinners who recognized their fallenness. The Pharisees didn't understand that. Jesus preached against the Pharisees, because they thought they were above being saved.
"Isn't Jesus the Prince of Peace, though?" you may ask. Pastor Brad also gave a good point when he said this: Peace is conditional. You reject the Prince of Peace, you reject the peace he brings. I also loved the illustration he used after that: Jesus is not a Mr. Potato Head that we can mold and shape to our liking. He is who he is.
I think a lot of people, including me, tend to lean toward the loving, gentle side of Jesus. Which is good, but that needs to be balanced with the other parts of him. He said himself that he came to bring division. Are we comfortable with that? Most of us aren't. Even more, are we okay with the fact that he isn't someone we can mold to our liking? Will we still follow Him even and especially when things get hard and we get persecuted or made fun of for following Him?
I say all of this to make this point: truth is real, and it is important. Following Jesus and being constantly in His word is crucial, so that we are able to follow the REAL Jesus, and not just a person we've made up in our heads. We need these things to show that we are followers of Christ. This should not be confused with legalism. We also can't just go the other way and be like, "Hey, I'm free in Christ, I can do whatever the heck I want!" If we obey His commands, then we love him. Obedience is the fruit of our salvation; it's the proof that we are in Christ, NOT the means to become saved. This is something huge to grasp, and it doesn't come easily. I'm not saying that I understand it completely or know everything, because I don't. But I do know these things that I've stated above, and I think they're very VERY important.
We also need to find that balance of sharing the truth in love. We are commanded to. We shouldn't be afraid to do so. I personally shouldn't be afraid of conflict; arguments can be very good and beneficial in strengthening what we believe. However, I know they escalate very quickly most of the time, and can get very ugly and heated, so that is why I tend to shy away from them. But I believe that we can share the truth without getting ugly. Our responsibility is to share with others the truth, and they can choose to either accept it or reject it. Most of the time, people will reject the truth, because the way is narrow that leads to life. And you know what? Not to be hateful or mean, but they'll have to answer for the things they've said and done, just like I will. It's okay if people reject what you have to say. What matters is that you've done the right thing and you've done it the right way.
This was a lot to write about . . . If you want to discuss this more, please message me over Facebook or email! I'd love to talk about it and discuss it more (of course, in a loving way). I love you all, and I hope you are at least a little encouraged by what I write. God bless!
I've struggled with legalism. I think a lot of Christians have, and still do. However, mine wasn't just a little problem. It was to the point where I was hurtful and hateful to people because of it. I was one of those people who argued with others about the littlest things, things that weren't worth arguing about. Somehow, that to me, was my crusade; if people were attacking me for these things, then of course I was one of Jesus' soldiers! I was fighting FOR Him. Right?
Then came the night when one of my friends called me a Pharisee over Facebook. I was furious, how could a friend like that do this to me? To this day, that comment still hurts me. I thought to myself, "Well obviously, [this person] doesn't understand." While I don't think it was right for this person to call me that online, they opened my eyes to what I really was. Very slowly, but it was a starting point.
Then, months down the road, I realized what kind of a person I was. My eyes were finally opened to the legalistic thinking I had been submerged in for so long. I recognized that I was living in sin, and I finally backed out of it. I became so turned off by everything appearing to be legalistic, that it got to the point very recently where I was leaning more towards the other side: which is the thinking that since works don't save you, you are free in Christ to do whatever the heck you want. That is equally dangerous.
In more recent months, I've gotten into some pretty heavy debates with my mom over things she finds in the Bible. Mind you, I don't completely disagree with things she says. I agree with her about most things. But there are some things in the past that she brought up that I didn't think were important enough to argue about. If she felt convicted by it, then she should/shouldn't do these things. It almost got to the point of where I was literally thinking, "What's true for you may or may not be true for me." This is part of what the postmodern world believes.
You're probably thinking, "Oh great, here comes things I don't understand nor do I want to understand them." Please bear with me for just a minute!!! Postmodernism is one of the biggest world views out there today. In a nutshell, it preaches tolerance in the most extreme way and rejects any sort of truth, and says, "People can earn salvation or get to heaven in their own way; what's right for someone else may or may not be right for me." That COMPLETELY contradicts the Bible. Jesus said Himself, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 is a very well-known Bible verse. I had it memorized when I was 7. However, I don't think a lot of people believe this to be true. [Of course, if they're postmodernist thinkers, they wouldn't believe anything to be "true."]
You'd be surprised at how many evangelical thinkers and scholars believe that everyone will be saved in the end. This is also contradictory to the Bible. Matthew 7:13 says, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." This means that not all people will be saved!!!
The sermon was on the real Jesus today in church. The passage was Luke 12:49-53. [I encourage you to read it for yourself, even though I'm going to pull from it.] In verse 51, Jesus says, "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." Then it went into how the Gospel has and will continue to divide households. Then, Pastor Brad also brought up John 3:17, where he appears to contradict himself when he says, "For God did not send His son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." Confusing, right? But then, the verse after (v. 18) explains itself: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Basically, Jesus came not to judge/condemn, but rather to expose the false believers and set them apart from real believers.
Jesus was not popular with many people because he didn't appeal to many people! He came to die for sinners who recognized their fallenness. The Pharisees didn't understand that. Jesus preached against the Pharisees, because they thought they were above being saved.
"Isn't Jesus the Prince of Peace, though?" you may ask. Pastor Brad also gave a good point when he said this: Peace is conditional. You reject the Prince of Peace, you reject the peace he brings. I also loved the illustration he used after that: Jesus is not a Mr. Potato Head that we can mold and shape to our liking. He is who he is.
I think a lot of people, including me, tend to lean toward the loving, gentle side of Jesus. Which is good, but that needs to be balanced with the other parts of him. He said himself that he came to bring division. Are we comfortable with that? Most of us aren't. Even more, are we okay with the fact that he isn't someone we can mold to our liking? Will we still follow Him even and especially when things get hard and we get persecuted or made fun of for following Him?
I say all of this to make this point: truth is real, and it is important. Following Jesus and being constantly in His word is crucial, so that we are able to follow the REAL Jesus, and not just a person we've made up in our heads. We need these things to show that we are followers of Christ. This should not be confused with legalism. We also can't just go the other way and be like, "Hey, I'm free in Christ, I can do whatever the heck I want!" If we obey His commands, then we love him. Obedience is the fruit of our salvation; it's the proof that we are in Christ, NOT the means to become saved. This is something huge to grasp, and it doesn't come easily. I'm not saying that I understand it completely or know everything, because I don't. But I do know these things that I've stated above, and I think they're very VERY important.
We also need to find that balance of sharing the truth in love. We are commanded to. We shouldn't be afraid to do so. I personally shouldn't be afraid of conflict; arguments can be very good and beneficial in strengthening what we believe. However, I know they escalate very quickly most of the time, and can get very ugly and heated, so that is why I tend to shy away from them. But I believe that we can share the truth without getting ugly. Our responsibility is to share with others the truth, and they can choose to either accept it or reject it. Most of the time, people will reject the truth, because the way is narrow that leads to life. And you know what? Not to be hateful or mean, but they'll have to answer for the things they've said and done, just like I will. It's okay if people reject what you have to say. What matters is that you've done the right thing and you've done it the right way.
This was a lot to write about . . . If you want to discuss this more, please message me over Facebook or email! I'd love to talk about it and discuss it more (of course, in a loving way). I love you all, and I hope you are at least a little encouraged by what I write. God bless!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Adventures in CO/KS and More Updates.
Well, I haven't posted on here in a while. As I've been able to do more things, I've gotten more busy in the past few weeks. I guess I'll go ahead and spill what all has happened!
I've been spending more time with other friends that I haven't seen in a long time (those that weren't still working or being camp counselors). Getting coffee, lunch, hanging at my house, just catching up with old gal friends that I haven't talked to in ages. I always love hearing about how their lives are going and what's new and big that's going on. I love telling them about how my summer "got flip-turned upside down" [Fresh Prince, what whaaaat.] It IS a really great story, and of course, it couldn't have been written any better, because it all came from God. I give all the glory to Him.
I've also been keeping up with physical therapy and the occasional orthopedist appointments. It's been a little over 11 weeks since the accident now. [Isn't it crazy how time acts? While you're living through it, it seems like an eternity, going at a snail's pace, but when you look back, it went by so fast and you wonder where it went.] At this point in time, I am only technically supposed to be 75% weight-bearing on my foot, but I've been walking around my house barefoot getting the feel of walking again . . . without the boot on. Next week, I'm pretty sure I'll be rid of the boot AND crutches. I'm definitely crossing my fingers and toes!!! My foot is still pretty swollen at times, but a lot of the time, it looks SO much better and looks more like my other, normal foot. When I was up in CO, my friend Shane kept telling me that I'll be running in three weeks. Although he was partially kidding, I want to be running that soon SO badly. I want to wear shoes on both feet. I want to walk without hobbling. I want to climb trees. I want to be free of my crutches and my boot. I don't wanna have to worry about people stepping on my foot or rebreaking it. But all of that will come with time. I have come a LONG way since the accident, and I will continue to get stronger and stronger until I have completely regained my muscle and ability to walk and run that I have lost.
I had a really big adventure last week! Probably one of, if not my biggest one yet. Alisha picked me up from my house and drove me back to her house in Tulsa last Wednesday afternoon. The next morning, we headed to the airport. After Alisha's mom dropped us off, we were by ourselves. It hit me: we're not with our parents. We were flying by ourselves. For the first time. We were responsible adults. What?!
We checked in, and the lady was really nice, she pointed the way and said it wasn't far for me to crutch around on. The security people were really nice too, I didn't even have to take my boot off, and they just wiped it down. The guy looking at stuff through the x-ray machine thingy saw I had liquids in my carry-on (because my bag for the week was small enough to be a carry-on), and he gave one bag to me and the other to Alisha. Afterwards, he told us to have a nice flight. I said, "You too!" Oops. He laughed and so did we. We stopped by Starbucks and had breakfast, then walked to our terminal waiting area and sat down. We had plenty of time. Getting on the plane was no problem at all either, which was surprising because of my crutches and such.
We landed in Denver, and that to me felt like a nightmare. It was SO much bigger than Tulsa, and Shane had tried to give us directions to where he was, and it took us longer than we wanted, I think. Eventually we found him. I don't know about Alisha, but I squealed when I caught sight of him! We all gave each other big hugs, went to go find Alisha's suitcase, and then packed up his car, and headed to Greeley (about an hour or so away north of Denver). We caught up and were really hyper. I remember it was an hour behind our usual time, so we were really hungry by the time we reached Greeley. Shane had some friends come by and meet us and catch up with each other. We eventually reached Shane's house where we unloaded and rested.
The next morning, Shane, Alisha, and I headed to Colby, KS for the wedding. Shane had to be there at 3, and the time zone changed again, so we almost didn't make it in time for him to get fitted for his tux. But we made it! Robbie's mom came and got Alisha and I from a park downtown, and took us to the hotel where they were staying to change for the rehearsal. The rehearsal lasted about 1.5 hours, not bad at all, and the rehearsal dinner was wonderful - it was tropical themed and they had so much delicious food! All of the JBU guys and gals sat at a table, including future bride and groom, so it was just like old times sitting in the JBU cafeteria, laughing and having a good time. Ariel took us back to her house, and we stayed cooped up in our room for the rest of the night.
Saturday morning, Alisha and I got ready and headed to the church to get dressed with the bridesmaids and bride. We walked in, and Ariel's dress was breathtaking. It still hadn't hit me that she and Robbie were finally getting married . . . Alisha and I got dressed and socialized with the other girls and moms. Then came the moment when Ariel put on her veil. I took a pic of her on my phone because she was just so unbelievably radiant. She left to go get the "first look" pictures with Robbie, and I stared at the picture and started tearing up. I couldn't help it though; she just looked so incredibly beautiful. Then, time for the wedding came. Alisha and I were privileged to sing the processional when our friends walked down the aisle, including the beautiful bride. We sat down to watch the rest of the ceremony. I most definitely cried through most of it . . . It made me think of my own "someday." It may be a few years, it may be ten years before I get married, but this day for Ariel is what every girl dreams about: walking down the aisle, wearing a beautiful white dress, and a radiant smile on your face, eyes on the man you'll be spending the rest of your life with. It's definitely something to look forward to! Anywho, the ceremony was beautiful, and I don't think it's still hit me yet that Robbie and Ariel are married . . . Maybe it'll hit me when we're all back at JBU . . .
We (Shane, Alisha, DJ, Nathan, Ua, and I) all drove back to Greeley the next day, changed into swim clothes, and went to Windsor Lake, which is a lake, but it also has a beach full of sand, and it's roped off at a certain point so people can swim without getting hit by boats out in the deeper parts of the lake. Swimming in that lake has been the only athletic thing I've done pretty much all summer besides physical therapy. It felt so good and it was so fun! Monday, we all drove to Estes Park, a valley in the CO mountains near Greeley, which was a big tourist attraction with a lot of shops and such. I got so many souvenirs there . . . Afterwards, we drove to a spot on the way down from the mountains by the river, and we found a spot where I could sit on the shore and stick my feet in the cold water and take a break from being in my boot. Tuesday, we packed up and flew back home. It was such a wonderful trip - I would most definitely do it all over again if I could. Maybe someday, we can repeat this trip . . .
Since I've been home, I've done quite a bit of art projects to keep me busy, as well as playing guitar and singing. I found out that I'll be playing music for the Freshman Move-In Cookout on the Friday night before Orientation officially begins. Which is fun, but really intimidating at the same time because 1. I'm the only one playing, 2. I have to bring my own equipment, and 3. I'll be playing for at least 2.5 hours. Which is fine, because I'll be able to take as many breaks as I need, but still . . . At least this is getting me playing music in front of people again.
Orientation training is in less than a week, and the actual thing is in a little over a week! Summer is seriously almost over. Goodness . . . It has been a roller coaster, for sure. I wouldn't repeat the accident, but I am glad it happened, because a lot of good came from it. A lot was learned from it.
I hope to still update my blog during the school year to keep all of you up-to-date with what's going on in my sophomore year of college.
I love you all. To God alone be the glory.
I've been spending more time with other friends that I haven't seen in a long time (those that weren't still working or being camp counselors). Getting coffee, lunch, hanging at my house, just catching up with old gal friends that I haven't talked to in ages. I always love hearing about how their lives are going and what's new and big that's going on. I love telling them about how my summer "got flip-turned upside down" [Fresh Prince, what whaaaat.] It IS a really great story, and of course, it couldn't have been written any better, because it all came from God. I give all the glory to Him.
I've also been keeping up with physical therapy and the occasional orthopedist appointments. It's been a little over 11 weeks since the accident now. [Isn't it crazy how time acts? While you're living through it, it seems like an eternity, going at a snail's pace, but when you look back, it went by so fast and you wonder where it went.] At this point in time, I am only technically supposed to be 75% weight-bearing on my foot, but I've been walking around my house barefoot getting the feel of walking again . . . without the boot on. Next week, I'm pretty sure I'll be rid of the boot AND crutches. I'm definitely crossing my fingers and toes!!! My foot is still pretty swollen at times, but a lot of the time, it looks SO much better and looks more like my other, normal foot. When I was up in CO, my friend Shane kept telling me that I'll be running in three weeks. Although he was partially kidding, I want to be running that soon SO badly. I want to wear shoes on both feet. I want to walk without hobbling. I want to climb trees. I want to be free of my crutches and my boot. I don't wanna have to worry about people stepping on my foot or rebreaking it. But all of that will come with time. I have come a LONG way since the accident, and I will continue to get stronger and stronger until I have completely regained my muscle and ability to walk and run that I have lost.
I had a really big adventure last week! Probably one of, if not my biggest one yet. Alisha picked me up from my house and drove me back to her house in Tulsa last Wednesday afternoon. The next morning, we headed to the airport. After Alisha's mom dropped us off, we were by ourselves. It hit me: we're not with our parents. We were flying by ourselves. For the first time. We were responsible adults. What?!
We checked in, and the lady was really nice, she pointed the way and said it wasn't far for me to crutch around on. The security people were really nice too, I didn't even have to take my boot off, and they just wiped it down. The guy looking at stuff through the x-ray machine thingy saw I had liquids in my carry-on (because my bag for the week was small enough to be a carry-on), and he gave one bag to me and the other to Alisha. Afterwards, he told us to have a nice flight. I said, "You too!" Oops. He laughed and so did we. We stopped by Starbucks and had breakfast, then walked to our terminal waiting area and sat down. We had plenty of time. Getting on the plane was no problem at all either, which was surprising because of my crutches and such.
We landed in Denver, and that to me felt like a nightmare. It was SO much bigger than Tulsa, and Shane had tried to give us directions to where he was, and it took us longer than we wanted, I think. Eventually we found him. I don't know about Alisha, but I squealed when I caught sight of him! We all gave each other big hugs, went to go find Alisha's suitcase, and then packed up his car, and headed to Greeley (about an hour or so away north of Denver). We caught up and were really hyper. I remember it was an hour behind our usual time, so we were really hungry by the time we reached Greeley. Shane had some friends come by and meet us and catch up with each other. We eventually reached Shane's house where we unloaded and rested.
The next morning, Shane, Alisha, and I headed to Colby, KS for the wedding. Shane had to be there at 3, and the time zone changed again, so we almost didn't make it in time for him to get fitted for his tux. But we made it! Robbie's mom came and got Alisha and I from a park downtown, and took us to the hotel where they were staying to change for the rehearsal. The rehearsal lasted about 1.5 hours, not bad at all, and the rehearsal dinner was wonderful - it was tropical themed and they had so much delicious food! All of the JBU guys and gals sat at a table, including future bride and groom, so it was just like old times sitting in the JBU cafeteria, laughing and having a good time. Ariel took us back to her house, and we stayed cooped up in our room for the rest of the night.
Saturday morning, Alisha and I got ready and headed to the church to get dressed with the bridesmaids and bride. We walked in, and Ariel's dress was breathtaking. It still hadn't hit me that she and Robbie were finally getting married . . . Alisha and I got dressed and socialized with the other girls and moms. Then came the moment when Ariel put on her veil. I took a pic of her on my phone because she was just so unbelievably radiant. She left to go get the "first look" pictures with Robbie, and I stared at the picture and started tearing up. I couldn't help it though; she just looked so incredibly beautiful. Then, time for the wedding came. Alisha and I were privileged to sing the processional when our friends walked down the aisle, including the beautiful bride. We sat down to watch the rest of the ceremony. I most definitely cried through most of it . . . It made me think of my own "someday." It may be a few years, it may be ten years before I get married, but this day for Ariel is what every girl dreams about: walking down the aisle, wearing a beautiful white dress, and a radiant smile on your face, eyes on the man you'll be spending the rest of your life with. It's definitely something to look forward to! Anywho, the ceremony was beautiful, and I don't think it's still hit me yet that Robbie and Ariel are married . . . Maybe it'll hit me when we're all back at JBU . . .
We (Shane, Alisha, DJ, Nathan, Ua, and I) all drove back to Greeley the next day, changed into swim clothes, and went to Windsor Lake, which is a lake, but it also has a beach full of sand, and it's roped off at a certain point so people can swim without getting hit by boats out in the deeper parts of the lake. Swimming in that lake has been the only athletic thing I've done pretty much all summer besides physical therapy. It felt so good and it was so fun! Monday, we all drove to Estes Park, a valley in the CO mountains near Greeley, which was a big tourist attraction with a lot of shops and such. I got so many souvenirs there . . . Afterwards, we drove to a spot on the way down from the mountains by the river, and we found a spot where I could sit on the shore and stick my feet in the cold water and take a break from being in my boot. Tuesday, we packed up and flew back home. It was such a wonderful trip - I would most definitely do it all over again if I could. Maybe someday, we can repeat this trip . . .
Since I've been home, I've done quite a bit of art projects to keep me busy, as well as playing guitar and singing. I found out that I'll be playing music for the Freshman Move-In Cookout on the Friday night before Orientation officially begins. Which is fun, but really intimidating at the same time because 1. I'm the only one playing, 2. I have to bring my own equipment, and 3. I'll be playing for at least 2.5 hours. Which is fine, because I'll be able to take as many breaks as I need, but still . . . At least this is getting me playing music in front of people again.
Orientation training is in less than a week, and the actual thing is in a little over a week! Summer is seriously almost over. Goodness . . . It has been a roller coaster, for sure. I wouldn't repeat the accident, but I am glad it happened, because a lot of good came from it. A lot was learned from it.
I hope to still update my blog during the school year to keep all of you up-to-date with what's going on in my sophomore year of college.
I love you all. To God alone be the glory.
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