Sunday Stories // Give Thanks ~ Days 15-17

Happy Sunday =)

After our typically busy day, the three trays of buckeyes were remembered after prayer time this evening. We had planned to dip them tonight, but their storage location hadn't stayed as cool as needed. Due to our freezer layout, we have traditionally chilled the buckeyes in the backseat of our cars as this time of year usually has the garage at or below freezing. However we've had an unusually warm couple of days and the buckeyes were softer than needed :(

We pulled them out and decided to wait till tomorrow morning to complete the chocolate dipping stage. However that didn't stop all of us from consuming a few of the powdered sugar + peanut butter balls. From my typing vantage point of the kitchen table, I think I've counted at least a dozen balls disappear...

The tray that with a few new "holes"

Perhaps we'll make a second batch tomorrow to make up the lost-in-production difference ;)

Mom
::snow
::warm coats
::hot tea
::rolling backpacks
::sister talks
::clean desk
::salad
::Sunday mornings
::Sunday school
::Colossians
::drive to church
::last day of membership class
::warm clothes
::worship with my family
::productive Mondays
::wise spiritual counsel
::my daughters' voices
::walks in the rain
::tea
::vacuum cleaner
::washer and dryer (thanks, Kipp!)

Megan
::hot water
::Christmas music singing sessions
::ice skating trains
::friends who point me to Christ and whisper "I'm praying"
::doing a mall scavenger hunt (and winning!)
::Skype messages, texts, and emails from Mom encouraging me when I missed my family
::honesty
::new mornings each day
::radio dramas
::Mrs. Subra's awesome cooking :)
::going to church with the CP gang
::singing praise God in unconventional ways
::snow fights
::re-enacting memories from previous gatherings
::having friends who pull all-nighters with you
::getting a few extra minutes with Emily & Charity before they had to board their flight
::reviewing the whole gathering with Andrew
::talking and texting with Mom and girlfriends the whole way home
::Mom and Dad picking me up from the airport
::a safe arrival home
::selfie wars

Molly
::rain
::heaters
::cousins
::autumn evening chats with said cousins
::greek making sense
::elves (Tolkien ones that is ;))
::chocolate graham crackers
::mugs
::black and white
::restoration
::ribbon
::poems
::pain
::bookmarks
::snowmen
::whiteboards
::teapots
::pens
::Heaven
::coats
::pumpkins

Buckeyes // Give Thanks ~ Days 12-14

I think it's time to return ;) Thank you for your patience...coming home from a CP gathering involves exhaustion, some serious missing, and a stack of responsibilities to make me want to run for the hills :P But lest you all begin to wonder why I go to such events... they also result in some pretty amazing memories which I hope to share over the next couple days here on the blog =)

While I begin the process of catching up (not a one day deal), I'll enjoy eating some of these little holiday treasures...

Buckeyes awaiting the chocolate-dipping phase

Melissa & Dad, our awesome buckeye-rolling team!

And let's also get serious about our Give Thanks challenge...Today, we'll cover November 12-14 :)

Mom
::fun surprises
::laughter
::homemade cookies
::long-distance friends
::family connections
::health
::Megan's blog
::consignment sales
::frozen yogurt
::Friday nights
::completed to-do list
::God's peace
::organization
::help with shopping
::our pastors
::bar-b-que
::Skype calls
::cousins
::friends
::my family
::movie night

Megan
::helpful airline ticket agents
::that my delayed flight gave me a push to do some Bible study
::extra sleep on my flight
::Dad's transportation services (complete with lovely conversations!)
::teasing texts
::Melissa and Mom letting me raid their closets for this trip
::sunshine
::chats with Melissa to keep me updated on home life
::texts from Dad and Molly
::posing in the Des Moines sculpture park
::Mr. Subra's entertaining lesson on the 12 tenets of the Bible
::Josh's driving
::sharing a room with two of my dear CP friends
::talking listening to others talk about music and gaining a whole new playlist
::Catherine calling just to encourage me
::sharing hearts and feelings with the girls at the gathering
::getting to do more English Country Dancing (thank you, Emily!)
::Drew's willingness to share his swing knowledge
::the gift of friends who share memories, fun, and laughter
::the Subra's willingness to open up their home (and furniture!)
::sweet emails from Mom teaching on God's work in our lives

Molly
::His story
::language
::learning
::dishwashers
::time
::reasons
::hugs
::Skype
::conspiracies
::snow
::gloves
::new friends
::teachers
::volunteers
::trees
::walks
::church
::clearance
::babies
::jump rope
::(mostly) catching up on NaNoWriMo

Packing // Give Thanks ~ Day 11

It's 9:33pm. I have a final music playlist syncing to my phone. I'm wracking brain of any items I haven't packed yet. And my family tells me that this is impossible considering the size of my bags (wasntme)

Mom comes in to give me final words of wisdom (yes, I will wear my purse cross-body tomorrow. promise) and ask for as many pictures as possible.

Melissa reminds me that she wants to be woken up and given a proper hug in the morning. Molly sadly says goodbye and reminds me that I'm only on loan-out for a week. She wants me back after all.

My whiteboard reminds me that the day has come. And my google messages with Dad this morning show evidence that one can never be excited too much ;)

My whiteboard which was creatively decorated by sisters about 45 days ago

I have the typical goodies from Mom. Tomorrow I leave for Iowa (where the temperature is less than half of ours). I'm going to see 20 of my fellow CP students -- and among them, some of my dearest friends =)

Mom is awesome about giving each of us a little something when we travel!

{as a note... We do definitely plan to keep doing our thankful lists. Whether or not they get posted depends on my ability/time to devote to the blog. Just bear with me and expect some long lists when I get back :P}

Mom
::God's constant presence in my life
::donut dates with Molly
::crockpot
::my computer
::friends
::heater
::inspiring music

Megan
::surprises being revealed
::google messages with my Dad
::beautiful fall-ish weather to enjoy before the cold
::goodies from my family
::blessing of resting in Christ
::a car to drive
::the excitement of this trip to Iowa

Molly
::beauty
::faith
::love
::kindness
::a new day
::squiggles
::seat warmers

The Week That Was CPE3

For the past several months, I've spent Tuesday (and Thursday, and Monday, and even the occasional Saturday morning) talking to these awesome folks...

L-R: Jordan, Aubry, Rusty, Richie, Enoch
Bridget, myself, Kasey

We were drafted chosen by CollegePlus in late January to be leaders in the student community. Primarily, our role as leaders would involve planning a four night/five day student event. The focus of the week, speakers, marketing, and organization of the event were left for us to decide.

We met in February for a three day intense planning meeting. It was there that we decided on the focus of the event as well as the name, CPE3. We wanted to plan an invigorating retreat that would leave students feeling excited about their potential as cultural leaders and also empowered by the connections they had made with other students and CollegePlus staff.

Officially CPE3 stood for a tri-fold focus:
Engage -- helping students how to engage with our culture, and with each other
Equip -- giving students the practical tools to do the above
Empower -- providing students the motivation and "power" to go out and be Christ-focused leaders

Picture Credit: Aubry S.

After months of hangouts and more calls, emails, texts, and Skype messages than we could ever count the week of September 15th was upon us.

The cabinet flew in early and we spent the weekend prior to event hashing out final session details (secret: the cabinet is full of a variety of opinions and it's rare that we ever have a unanimous vote to anything!), creating student packets, decorating the camp, and enjoying some team bonding time.

Part of the Cabinet
Photo Credit: Kasey L

Each day was unique, but in the end it all blurs together as memories -- distinct, but too interrelated to split into days.

::OCD moments with registration tables

Photo Credit: Stephen P.

::Dances and more dances

dancing in an open-air barn
Photo Credit: Sam G.

::Live music for those dances

L-R: Eddy M., Pierre D., David Y.

::Staff vs. Student Basketball game

The final score of the game

::Not enough sleep

There were moments when I wished I was under 10 and could sleep during sessions

::Morning devotions surrounded by fellow believers

::Engaging Speakers

::Impromptu Skits

The cabinet re-enacting a typical cabinet hangout

::Random Music Sessions

Photo Credit: Kylie W.

::Spending a week talking and sharing life with my college coach

Photo Credit: Lydia N.

::Official CP Graduate Recognition Ceremony

::Daily Recap Videos & Newsletters (available here, here, and here)


My Least Favorite Moment:

::Saying goodbye

No amount of pictures, music, skype messages, or calls make the distance go away. But I am grateful for the close friends that God has given me through events like CPE3 and other gatherings. I am also grateful when they fall less than 8 weeks apart and that there are weekly hangouts to lessen the distance during that time.

{Pssst. Less than 8 weeks, means that in exactly 11 days, I will be seeing some of these awesome people again =)}

CPE3 was not just an amazing week of fellowship with some of the coolest people I know. It was also a chance to develop my leadership skills and gain a vision for the power of motivated Christian young people impacting our current culture for Christ.

Unless otherwise noted, the picture credits belong to Atalie Bale, our official event photographer.