This evening I am dedicating my post to a very special person in my life. Someone who has been a big part of my life for several years now and one of the few constants in my life the last several years.

This person is my bestfriend Mike. Mike and I have known each other for six years this summers. I don't remember with great clarity the first time we met but he seems to have a decent memory of it and my awkwardness was definitely in fully play! Go figure! While that day is a little blurry for me, his overall presence in my life doesn't feel like it started on a specific day but rather like he has been there all along. That is definitely not the case but he has played such a key part in my life for so long that it seems that way. After the first time we met we just kind of hit it off and have been bestfriends ever since. 

Unlike most bestfriends we didn't live next door, down the street or across town from each other. We met at a district church event. I lived in Hastings and he lived in Omaha, thus putting us two and a half hours away from each other. At the time neither of us had phones nor a way to be on Facebook consistently or at the same time very often. The monthly district youth events were something we looked forward to. They were the one time (sometimes two) that we knew we would get to see each other, even if only overnight during a lock-in. Making a friendship last long distance, even if it was only two and a half hours, is not easy when you may have to go a month or more without communication. Yet we made it for three years with things like this. Sometimes we were lucky to catch each other on Facebook, but we relied on events. 

Despite the distance he quickly came to be the person that I could talk to about everything and a rock in some crazy storms. He's been there through personal issues, my mom's disorder, my parent's divorce, and much more. Looking back i'm not sure entirely how we managed to make it and become closer despite the distance and the lack of communication at times. Never would have guessed it could have lasted but I am so very, very glad it has. He is such a big blessing in my life. I thank God for him all the time. It isn't easy to put how much he means to me in words and I don't think I ever will be able to fully do so.

I have only come to realize how important he is in my life and how much of blessing in the last three years. The first three we were just a short two and a half hours apart. The last three years however have been across a bit larger distance. I left for school just south of Chicago back in August 2011. This meant that Mike and I were now eight hours apart. Talk about making things quite a bit harder than before. Luckily at this point we both had gotten phones and it became easier to talk online. The benefit of having technology while being far apart is huge, but it still doesn't replace seeing each other face to face. Sadly, it's been roughly a year and a half between every time we have seen each other. Quite the opposite of once a month. This distance has not been easy and many times is more of a struggle with technology, yet I am so thankful for it. We don't often get to have full conversations, but even a few words exchanged can make my day. 

So after six years of long distance friendship we sit here in two different states and realize just how blessed I am. There are times when we have to put in more effort to stay connected, but it is worth it. Sometimes it is hard to deal with the distance when I have to miss important days. Last weekend happened to be one of those important days. Last weekend Mike finished off his high school career. He walked across the stage and graduated. After four long years it was all done with. I am so very, very proud of him and his accomplishment! I couldn't be more happy for him and more proud of anyone. I just wish I had been there to celebrate his accomplishments with him that day. Saying congratulations via Facebook and phone just doesn't cut it. But we take what we can get. 

Mike after graduation (picture courtesy of his dad)

Mike, after six years of friendship, I just want to say how very proud of you I am! You have overcome so much and the way you have handled it all is inspiring. When someone or something tried to knock you down you got right back up and showed them you were stronger. You are such a huge blessing to me, as well as others! I am so proud of you and so very happy for you as you are making the preparations to head to college in the fall. There are so many wonderful things ahead for you! I have no doubt that God has incredible plans for you and your life. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for you and how He uses you to make a difference. I look forward to being able to share it with you as your bestfriend!  You are such an incredible blessing in my life and I am so thankful for you and who you are!! Six years down, may many more come. Here's to seven! I love you, Mike! :)

Take A Tour!!

Hey everyone!!

Things have been crazy around here with getting in the swing of new classes, new schedules, new jobs, and new living arrangements to get use to.

We finally got things put together this past week in the living room and kitchen. 

It's a bit of a rainbow in the living room but it works.

(No turning down free furniture when you started with none.)

It's nothing huge or fancy, but it works well for us.

The kitchen is small, but it is such a blessing to have a kitchen to cook and bake in!

If you follow that hallway with the closets down you will come across the two bedrooms and the bathroom at the end.

It is not a huge apartment, but it is decent size for the four of us.

We are so thankful to be able to have an apartment this year while we are at school.

It is mismatched and everything, but we love it anyways!!

The pictures aren't great and it is a tad bit of a mess but this is my home for the year!

I will hopefully be able to put some pictures up of the bedrooms soon, as well as the bathroom.

Looking forward to sharing some other news with you all in a couple of days!

I hope everyone's week has been going well!

Prayers for a good day tomorrow too!!

Number 1 & Number 2

Hey y'all!!

Sorry about being MIA the past week, week and a half or so.

I have been busy with the start of my Mission Internship with my church.

I have thought several times about writing a post but usually by the time I do I am too tired to do so.

So this post is going to be an overview of the past week.

Some of you may know that I am doing a Missions Internship with my church.

Well, the last weekend of May was the beginning of that.

I spent last week doing some prep work for the rest of the summer before the rest of the team arrived.

Andy also started the same time as me.

Everyone else arrived in town last Thursday.

We went to Aurelio's as a team with Pastor Chad & his family, as well as our Connection Pastor Kyle & his family.

We went over the basic rules & guidelines for the summer, as well as basic position expectations.

It was a fun night to get to know each other and hangout.

Friday we all left and went to Summer Missions Orientation in Steator.

We spent Friday evening hanging out with the other summer missionaries & getting to know each other.

On Saturday we had training, which consisted of several sessions of people talking about different aspects of being a missionary, leadership qualities, and discipleship practices.

It was a long day and we got restless by the end of the day, but we got to know a lot of really awesome fellow college students who are serving as summer missionaries across the state.

This is a group picture of all of the IBSA Summer Missionaries.

The seven of us our sort of spread out throughout the picture.

We got to talk with a lot of our fellow missionaries & I have to say that the above group is full of some amazing college students who really have a heart to serve God through missions.

I am blessed to have had the opportunity to spend a couple days with them!!

One of the highlights of the weekend was the spur of the moment jam session in the cabin lobby.

We had a couple guitars and a cajon.

One of the guys even had a small amp with him!
We played some random songs but the majority of what was played & sung was worship music or contemporary Christian songs.

We added our own twist to a few and they turned out pretty cool.

The jam session lasted a couple hours and it was definitely an awesome evening!!

To say the least, a lot of these college students are crazy talented!

Upon getting back the seven of us here have been busy getting into the swing of things.

We have done a lot of office work, which includes scheduling summer events, planning all of the details, and contacting the right people for everything.

I am working with Students (6-12th grade) along with Malik.

So we have been working on planning events for them and connecting with all of them.

We have really knocked out quite a lot the last couple days and I am excited for everything that we are working on!

I wish I didn't have to leave this coming weekend, but I know that Malik is going to do a great job of making sure that things get done and done well for our first big event of the summer!!

Overall it has been an awesome week with the team!

We have had lots of time to get to know each other and most of the time it seems as though we've been friends for much longer than this short week.

It is such an awesome thing to see how we are all working together and how God is already working through all of us both as a team and on an individual basis.

I have no doubt that this is going to be an awesome summer & that God is going to do some awesome things!!

I am getting more and more excited the farther we get into the summer!!

While I would love to keep writing about the amazing team that I am blessed to be a part of, I have to be up early in the morning, so I am going to end this post here.

I will try to post at least once a week with updates on what happens and hopefully some pictures!

But for now, Goodnight!!