That one time

That one time I had finals.
That one time school was over and we had all RA things at the end of the year.
That one time we made a kick butt music video and had the best time doing it.
That one time I have no idea how I have so many various outfits for each scene.
That one time I really like the boy I am dating.
That one time I am now a senior in college. (WHAT)
That one time I started my internship for this summer.
                       A lot of my friends left/ some of them graduated
                       I will be sore a lot from work
                       I will/already have wicked tan lines
                       I so know it is exactly where I need to be this summer. REST
                       I went from people to plants.
                       I  moved dorms only to move again when I am back
                       I am home for a few days trying to do everything and see everyone
                       I am leaving the country tomorrow.
                       I am super excited and ready for a crazy adventure.

That one time I am covered in grace and redemption and restoration and love. (Jk thats all the time)

The love I didn't know I had.

When entering into a new year with a new staff I was not sure that my heart had enough room to love these girls as much as I loved last years staff. However, the Lord made room. There were multiple times this year where I had to pause and think "how in the world can I love these girls THIS much?"

I am so blessed to live and learn and grow and work with these ladies. I have learned countless things from long conversations or just watching the way they live their lives. I have been loved in ways that I do not deserve. They have carried me, fought for me, held me up when I didn't want to stand any more. They have made me laugh, they have made me cry because I am laughing so hard. We have had countless adventures. We have broken bread together, often at 7am on Mondays.

I can be real, I can be sharpened, I am safe and accepted, I can jump, I can fall, I can forgive and be forgiven with these women.

Here are some of the things they have taught me this year.

Noelle: you teach me how to be real with myself and my emotions. You inspire me to love my family well by watching you love yours with such a beautiful intensity.

Emily: I have always said you are such a fighter but it is such a selfless fight that you want to win. You are always looking out for those that you love and loving them fiercely.

Steph: You are so wise and so insightful. You know how to care for those you love and I admire how much you seek wisdom and wise words from those around you.

Lindsay: I have been so lucky to see you love eastside and your residents. You have taught me so much about loving each girl well and being open to new situations and changes in staff's and units and seeing the Lord work in all of them.

Kassidy: You go all in and I love that. I admire your willingness to jump into the chaos and learn to love it. You are a huge supporter to each person on staff and each one of the residents. Your ability to learn people and learn their stories is such a gift.

Paige Scott: I am so impressed by your ability to be 'Here and Now', and by your undivided attention you give to each person you interact with. It challenges me.

Lexi: The level of thought and insight you give to things is incredible. Watching you get outside of your comfort zone (try new things, be bold) this year is so encouraging.


Thank you ladies for loving me so well this year. Thank you for doing ministry on Eastside. Thank you for staying at the table.

A little glimpse into the future

This week I had two little sneak peeks into the future. I was offered the garden internship that I applied for. So I will be staying in Marion this summer. It is for real the greatest deal. I am pretty excited about it. We also had our new staff retreat this weekend. So it was a sneak peek into the team dynamics of a new staff and getting to know and love these girls. I am also super excited for that.

Stunning ladies right?

Anyways, it was great to have a little snippet of what life is going to be like in the near future. However, I want to stay in the here and now. I have to in order to survive schedules like these:

Pretty crazy but oh so beautiful and sweet.

Unreal.

It is unreal how infrequently I have blogged. It is unreal how much happens in a few weeks. It is unreal how much happens in a day. It is unreal how blessed I am. It is unreal how sovereign God is. It is unreal how much I love coffee. It is unreal how this community has become such a part of me. It is unreal how I can meet with the Lord in the most unexpected ways. It is unreal how weak I am. It is unreal how much I need rest. It is unreal how little I can figure anything out on my own or do anything by my own strength.

So, here I am. Updating on my life so one day I can look back and say 'oh yeah that was awesome'.

This happened. Our spring break trip was all of those things I mentioned in my last post and more. It was beautiful. We rode horses on the beach. Yes, just like the movies. Mine was named Gracie. So so so thankful that this could happen in this season.

While I was in NC for spring break my sister-in-law gave birth to Arie Grace Oler. I can not wait to meet her and love her. Yay for more girls in the family! I am totally looking forward one day to talks with my niece that only a young hip aunt can have with her. I am so proud of Alex and Ayla and the wonderful parents that they are to her and Austin.

Myself and some ladies made a kick-butt fruit salad last weekend for Fish Stick Friday at Ben's house. College kids don't get thing this nice. We gifted ourselves.

Em bought a duck. Duh. haha I love it. We played with it for a few hours on Saturday. I did not have that planned but that is the beauty of life. Sometimes you cut out a few hours on a Saturday to play with a duck darnit.

Last night we had an Eastside event called Unveiled. The Lord really worked in this event last year and I think is already working in the event this year. Super challenging but super awesome. Linds and Steph led a little worship at the beginning which was incredible. I tell you I am so lucky to get to live among these ladies.

This weekend we have our new staff retreat. I am so excited to start this new journey with these girls.

Praying for daily bread.