my dad my football

     I'm pretty sure I am the only girl I know that marks ESPN NCAA FB as their homepage. For as long as I can remember my dad was getting me up for 12 Saturday's out of the year at 7 am (oh the joys of being on the west coast) to watch ESPN College Gameday with Fowler, Herbstriet and of course Coach Corso. To this day I still get up in the morning and get a phone call from my dad who now lives a state away:
 "are you watchin!?" "yes dad i'm watching" "You sure? where are they?" "Ohio State dad" "ok just checking... hey! do you see the Cougar flag?!!" "yes dad they're their every week" "I know cool huh?!"

Me and Dad. Go Cougs!

     What can I say, I was brought up right! Love the Cougs with all your heart, stand by the Beavs and Hook'em Horns! (That's for you Uncle Keith!)
Now that I am older and actually understand what is going on in the game and have the ability to remember players football, although started as bonding experience with my dad, is a lot more fun to watch and not gonna lie, I feel pretty BA when I can surprise the guys in being able to keep up in a conversation about last weekends games ;) Cheering in high school helped too. Although the rules and regulations are different in the NCAA, as they are in the NFL, we were forced to watch the game and actually know what was going on on the field. My love is with College though. There is something about a night game, under the lights with a stadium packed full of fans all in the same two colors (as long as their not gurple and pold) cheering and uniting under the same team. The fireworks from the first touchdown to the celebration afterwards. Even the loyalty behind a loosing game lets you know that no matter what, we are one town, one team and we got your back. Believe me, growing up as a hardcore Washington State University fan, you know loyal. From Jason Guesser to Jeff Tuel, it's probably the most loyal fan base in the country. Tell me another school where every single fan knows every word to the fight song. And even when we were the laughing stock of not only the Pac-10 but most of the country, what flag do you continue to see behind Desmonds head every fall saturday? Ol'Crimson, that's who! And we got a young team, it's coming back and we are ready to "fight fight fight for washington state!"

Me and Ol' Crimson
at GameDay

     Oh the Pac-10. Now considering the circumstances to come I must take some time to address this. Come July 1st it will be official and the Pacific 10 Conference will become the Pac-12. With the addition of Utah and Colorado from the Mountain West and Big 12 Conferences things get a little bigger and a whole lot different. Say goodbye to round robin style schedules and hello to conference championships and a North and South divison. The North will consist of  WSU, UW, OSU, UO, Cal & Stanford while the South will get ASU, UA, USC, UCLA, Utah & CO. With 12 teams in the conference it means not everyone can play everyone else. This will effect traditions and rivalries but also lead to a conference champion with a ticket to the Rose Bowl even with a 8-5 season, as the Pac-12 will still have a seed in (assuming that team is't in running for a national title). This did however create a domino effect among college football in general as now Boise State enters the MWC (it's about time they got out of the WAC) and Colorado wasn't the only one to leave the Big-12, Nebraska said hello to the BigTen and for the first time in 83 years isn't in sharing a conference with teams like Missouri and Kstate. For a little while there were possibilities of a "Pac-16!" How crazy would that have been? The Beavs playing against the Longhorns?! Texas, TT, OkState and OU were thinking of leaving which would pretty much crumble the Big12 but they decided to stay and I for one am happy about that. The SEC was looking at them too and there was rumor or Arkansas leaving the SEC for the Big12 after they were down to 10 but they showed no interest in coming back to some of their old rivalries from their Southwest days.

The cast of ESPN College GameDay
 in Corvallis OR!

  
      It's funny if you think about it, we [Pac10] switched places with the Big12. With only 10 members they are forced to go to what the west coast has done since the addition of the Arizona schools in the late 70's. Schools like Missouri will now have to play Texas and Oklahoma every year rather than once or never. This could however make it easier on the Big12 to get into a national title game as these names are no strangers to the BCS road. I don't think this is the end of story for this whole realignment of the NCAA. Teams and commissioners are getting restless and it's gonna be an interesting road come August.

Me and Shannon at GameDay
I have now been to 3! 

So now the Pacific has 12...
The Broncos will play the Horned Frogs every year...
The BigTen is really 12 as the Big12 is really 10...
There's no escaping K State from Bob Stoops....
The SEC is still a power house of the south....
and the Longhorns now have their own network...
So I guess, anything can happen.

  


     Until fall comes around once more and I am in the midst of a southern tailgate and forced to attend every Beaver game from my living room, I'll be here, reading about recruits and wishing I could wake up to Corso putting another mascot on his head.


Til the next new day ♥ ,

Jesus changes everything....

..... and the power of prayer is priceless.

Just a simple thing that comes so easy to the mind but so heavy on the heart. For a believer, one would think "no duh!" but in reality this is something that takes everything we have to wrap our heads around. Ok maybe it's just me. I have recently been learning the reality behind both those sayings. A friend recently told me that "well if you prayed about then what do you have to worry about? It's gonna happen." I feel like before this my prayers were almost empty, worthless, more a plead to God saying "I really hope that you will do this for me." A prayer is the most powerful tool we have a believers in Christ. Especially when multiple believers come together.
Prayer is how we communicate with God. It's how we talk to him on a day to day basis. It's asking, talking, and most importantly listening to what he wants us to do and where he wants us to go. Prayer also takes faith. It's tough to have faith! Faith is a constant commitment to hang on and believe God against all odds, no matter what. It is "being sure of what we hope for and being sure of what we do not see" [11:1]
Jesus changes everything!!! He is everything! and we can rest in that. We can find peace in the fact that we are not called to figure life out on our own. The curtain has been torn and we are called to live in a right relationship with him. Man I love that! When we believe that, so many greater things can happen.
In Hebrews 10 He calls into the "Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus" and have confidence to enter [10:19]. He goes on to say and encourage us to be confident in the decisions we are making as long as we are with him in prayer and devotion toward it. The God of the universe is telling us to be confident! He knows we can do it! If God thinks we can then what else matters right?
He says in 10:36 that "you NEED to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."  God's not saying "if" you persevere then yeah great things will happen, He is saying you NEED to keep doing what you are doing and you WILL be rewarded.
"So do not throw away your confidence; it wil be richly rewarded." [Hebrews 10:35]
It sounds so cliche but it's truth! He's going to push us to our limits and He is using us everyday to further the kingdom. No matter what.
So keep praying my brothers and sisters because Jesus Changes Everything!


Be strong in the Lord
Never give up hope
You're gonna do great things
I already know 
God's got His hand on you so
Don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget 
But don't forget why you're here
Take your time and pray
Thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say


~ SIDEWALK PROPHETS "The Words I Would Say"



Til the next new day ♥ ,

Identity vs Behavior

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery"
- [Gal 5:1]

It is true that we are born sinners but once we have taken the step to accept God in to our lives and allowing him to write our story rather than trying to be strong and proud and do it on our own, we are Saints! Made new in Christ! It's true that we continue to sin, a lot.... because we let ourselves fall victim to our sin. Now this may rock your world a little bit but Christians are not sinners. Yes we sin all the time but being a "sinner" is someones identity.
In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul is writing to them saying that the behavior they are executing is ridiculous. He says "The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. Do you no know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? ... And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 'Everything is permissible for me'-but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' - but I will not be mastered by anything. 'Food for the stomach and the stomach for food'- but God will destroy them both."
Take a look at when he says "and that is what some of you WERE." You WERE sinners but now you've been made new. It is impossible to be a Saint and a sinner at the same time. Yes Saints sin but that is a behavior that we are letting ourselves fall victim to over and over again and a lot of it has to do with the fact that we don't believe that we truly are Saints. And believe you me, half of this is me really writing to myself trying to slap myself over the head with a frying pan. We are not classified and identified by who we WERE. Brandon Heath couldn't have said it any better.... "I'm not who I was"
We are born sinners but when we became Christians, Jesus Christ fundamentally changes us and Christians are not sinners. Yes Christians sin all the time but do you really believe you 've changed? When you sin, your self narative is still rooted in who you WERE. [1 corn 6:11] You are not who you were and you need to believe that you have changed. What reality do you believe you live in? If you treat other people, especially kids and teenagers, like animals, they will behave like animals. You believe you're a sinner, you'll act like a sinner. You've been renewed! Believe you are a Christian and how you've changed. Our own self definition, we lower our own bar. Do you believe that you are dearly loved? You don't have to believe you deserve. You just have to believe it. Say this to your self...
 I know I'm holy.
 I know I am dearly loved.
 I know I've been washed
 I know I've been made new
and trust me I'm saying it to. This is something that I struggle with daily. But you are a Saint not a sinner. It's about believing who you already are. [read Colossians 3]

This is something we do in YoungLife a lot. It's one of many versions of "Cardboard testimonies." I think it speaks for it self.

Til the next new day ♥ ,

Beeeeetch Pleeeze!

Weekend Update: Celebrity Blogger "Bitch Please"

One of my favorite SNL videos right now and I thought it would only be fun to put one about a blog, on my blog! haha sorry she says "bitch please" a lot so for worn but it's HISTERICAL! watch it. now.

What's scary about Connecticut? Loosing your tennis racket in Pottery Barn? Bitch Please!

people in our lives [Prov 18:24]

Do you ever think about your life, particularly the people IN your life? Family is one thing, you grew up with them and they will always be there for you (hopefully) and they will always be in your life. I am more talking the people that God has so strategically placed in your life and most of the time, they show up just at the right time. All through out my life I have had people placed in my life that played a certain role in developing who I have become today whether they are still in my life or only stopped by for a short time. Sometimes it's just to have a conversation with you on the street that will get you thinking and other times you've just met your new best friend. With how many times I have moved and done assignments with Younglife in the last couple years I have realized one thing. DISTANCE DOESN'T MATTER. Some of my best friends right now are thousand of miles away or I only get to see once in a while because they live in the middle of nowhere or after high school we just went to a different school but none of that has seemed to matter in keeping a great friendship alive. Let's face it, when God wants someone in your life, they're gonna be there one way or another. I have a friend who lives on the other side of the country, we met about a month or so ago through a mutual friend of ours. I found out the other day that we really should have met about a year and a half ago (of course with YL lol)  but because of decisions I made, we never ended up meeting that year. But apparently that didn't matter, God wants us in each others lives so here we are! With everything that is changing in my life right now I have been very aware of the friendships that I know will last no matter where I am or what I am doing. About 6 months ago I was so afraid to make one of the most life changing decisions of my life because of the friendships I thought I was going to loose if I went through with it. It was at that point that one of the most important people in my life took my sunglasses, so I couldn't hide, looked me in the eye and said "You are loved for who you are and not who you're with." That has stuck with me since. I know that my best friendships are going to last because we've connected on a different level and we love each other for being our selves not because of anything else. That same person constantly tells me in relating to relationships to guys by ingraining in my head that "the man you're with should not want anything from you, but everything for you." What a blessing and so hard to wrap my head around.
These are the people who I know are not only excited for me and my life but I want to know about there's too! I absolutely LOVE the fact that myself and two of my greatest friends all have the same job this summer just at different YL properties. You want to follow their blog just as much as you hope they follow yours. You  get mad when they don't tell you they have a new love interest. You can talk to them for hours on end about absolutely nothing! You're happy flying across the country to spend a weekend doing nothing but cooking and enjoying each others company. These are the friends who you want nothing from and everything for.
I am so excited for what is to come in the next month and this summer at Sharp Top and I am even more excited to be able to not only share it with the greatest people in my life but to make even more lasting friendships of the same caliber.




"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." -Prov 18:24



Til the next new day ♥ ,

Club talk & human jump rope

This is the club talk I gave at Corvallis Younglife club on 2.12.11. I know some of you wanted to know how it went so here ya go! oh and then this is what happens after club haha typical Saturday night is Corvallis.

Til the next new day ♥ ,

Megan Jones

I never thought I would see the day that this dinosaur of a computer would come back to life. But 6 hours later and a bunch of words, numbers and combinations later the great people at the OSU computer help desk made it happen!!! It's amazing really, technology and the advancements of the world. And no body seems to be satisfied with it. Think about it, where we are now compared to where we were just a couple of years ago. I could go on and on about this but I think this video sums it up pretty good, and it's good for a laugh too.

Had campaigners last night with the group of high school girls myself, Rach and Kelley are walking with. Man I love these girls, and I am so excited to watch them grow into the wonderful women of God that they are becoming. They really are my little sisters I never got to have and I love watching they succeed and go on to great things. Two of them are planning on doing work crew this summer and I couldn't be more excited for them! Everything they are going to learn, everything they are going to experience and everyone they are going to meet, I know that it's going to be the best month of their life! 

A friend sent me a video yesterday from Chattanooga, TN Younglife and I loved it so much! It talks about the importance we have as younglife leaders and what we do and why we do it. When I think back to where my story started, it started with my younglife leader.

  Megan Jones. 

Thank you Megan for coming into the commons at Kentwood and saying hi to me even when I wanted to be cool at lunch. Thank you Megan for being so excited every time I showed up at club on Monday nights even though you knew I hadn't even gone home from school yet. Thank you Megan for inviting me to campaigners even when I didn't even know what it was and didn't want to go until I had a boy break my heart. Thank you Megan for making "Big Pink Cookies" at campaigners and not giving them to the boys upstairs. Thank you Megan for laughing when I sang every word to "One Week" by the Barenakedladies to earn 50 bucks off camp. Thank you Megan for not hating me when I backed out of going to camp that year. Thank you Megan for letting me ramble on Starbucks dates. Thank you Megan for taking us through Breaking Free. Thank you Megan for not caring when high's & low's took up the entire time at campaigners. Thank you Megan for taking me to camp after my senior year of high school. Thank you Megan for eating breakfast, lunch and dinner around a table with me and my friends. Thank you Megan for sitting next to me in club while Kent McDonald talked about how our story fits into HIStory. Thank you Megan for buying me ice cream at the Sassy and talking to me about evolution and creation and answering every question that I threw at you. Thank you Megan for praying for me that week. Thank you Megan for praying for me. Thank you Megan for being there when I got off the ridge runners. Thank you Megan for having candy at cabin time. Thank you Megan for sitting in the club room with me after Broken Heart while I balled my eyes out. Thank you Megan for having a surprise box of 80's gear for us when we were all mad that you didn't tell us we needed anything! Thank you Megan for inviting me to the new Christian walk and watching me put a stone in the pile and praying with me as I stepped into HIStory. Thank you Megan for cheering for me as I told the whole camp!!! Thank you Megan for calling me when I moved to Eugene. Thank you Megan for still letting me call you MY Younglife Leader. Thank you Megan for still having Starbucks dates with me when I'm in town. Thank you Megan (and Jason) for having the cutest kids ever! Thank you Megan for loving me. Thank you Megan for believing in the ministry of Younglife and setting an example for me and I go on to new things in Corvallis, Georgia and ARKANSAS!! Thank you Megan. I love you.

Chattanooga Younglife and Younglife Leaders

Megan you mean the world to me, 

~JilyBean

Sweet Georgia Peaches!!

I GOT IT!!!

Sharp Top Cove

Just got off the phone with Matthew and Anne at Sharp Top Cove in Jasper, GA and they offered me the office position for this summer as an intern at Sharp Top! I was ecstatic when talking to them, which was kind of embarrassing because I was standing in one of the busiest intersections on campus and poor Matt Frosland, I was eating lunch with him when I got the call and he had no idea why I stopped mid sentence, grabbed my phone and ran outside the commons! haha. Oh my goodness ya'll, I am sitting here in my cowboy boots pumped beyond belief!!! Well there is that final decision for one big move of my life! I'm moving to Georgia! well for 3 months this summer but then I am headed back to Conway.

Currently with that decision where it stands is that I am moving forward with this decision, I have a perspective date of moving and this is the only way that I am going to know if God's going to open more doors than he already has or start closing them one by one.

If you think about, here are some ways you can be praying for me specifically:
-that God would provide a job/finances both for the rest of my time here and down in Conway with a job that is going to allow me to leave mid may.
-housing both for me here and for someone to take over my lease at the house spring term

The Wheelhouse (Club Room)

-a car that will move me to Arkansas and get me to Georgia!

Inside the Club Room

Coolest slides EVER!

                                                                                                                                                                              Y'all mean the world to me!
~JillyBean

Before the Morning

Do you wonder why you have to,
feel the things that hurt you,
if there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending
some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see

Chorus:
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.
and hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning
yeah, yeah,
before the morning,
yeah, yeah

Once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
memory, memory, yeah

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

com'n, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing
the pain you've been feeling,
just the dark before the morning
before the morning, yeah, yeah
before the morning

-Josh Wilson

If You Want to Walk on Water... [The reveal]

Alright guys so here it goes......

in about 2 months, I am moving across the country. An opportunity has come up for me to move to central Arkansas and help start college YL at the University of Central Arkansas and lead at the high school as well. I met a high school girl while I was there a while ago that I have been talking to and am absolutely drawn to. I love everything about this girl. I'm not worried about YL here and the state Corvallis is in. I love my girls and a lot of them are graduating soon and there are 3 of us walking with them. I know I need to be a builder somewhere else bigger than myself.
      That's it, that's the big secret. No I'm not running away from someone, No I'm not following someone else, the only person that I am following is God and the call that he has put on my heart. This may have the opportunity to turn into a staff position but right now I am not pushing that, just letting it happen if it falls into place. So many doors have been opening in figuring out this process and I am in contact with people down there and my amazing area director has been so supportive in everything and is helping me with this process. Right now the verdict is that i'm moving and so far everything is giving the reason that I can't NOT go. Don't worry, i know I've always been the adventurous type but this ya'll scares me out of my mind! MOVING! I"M MOVING!!!  I was reading my devotional  today and it's talking about keeping our focus on Christ in everything. There is an exert out of John Ortberg's book If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat that sums up everything I am feeling very well. He is talking about what Peter was thinking when he first stepped out on the water and is walking toward Jesus....

     "At any rate, for however long it lasted, Peter walked on the water. Then we are told three things happened. The focus of his attention shifted from jesus to the storm - he saw the wind. This shift in attention gave rise to a new set of thoughts and feelings that focused on panic and inadequacy: 'He became frightened. This in turn disrupted his ability to continue walking in Jesus' power - he began to sink and cried out, 'Lord, save me!' ...


Matthew seems to want us to understand something clearly. While Peter's mind was focused on Jesus, he was empowered to walk on the water. But when his focus was on the storm, his fear short-circuited his ability to receive God's sustaining power. 


Hope got Peter out of the boat. 
Trust held him up.
Fear sank him. \
Everything hinged on whether he was focused on the Savior or on the storm."

Everything about this scares me but what Ortberg talks about is perfect. When we are called out on the water, out of our comfort zone, to do something that is bigger than our selves it's scary but as long as we are focusing on one thing, and that one thing is Jesus Christ. Ya'll so many doors, school (my entire major is online, I have 2 terms left and no matter where I am I can finish online and graduate from Oregon State and get this.... it's cheaper!), job, financially... have started to open it's ridiculous. At this point I am going to start moving forward and if God really doesn't want me there, I believe that this is where he is going to start closing doors. I just ask that you are all praying for me and behind what I am doing and don't worry distance doesn't mean anything. I fully believe that the people that are going to be in your life regardless of where you are. Yeah for technology! So that's the big secret! I'm moving! (well as of now) .. I just really wanted to tell a couple more people before I made it public knowledge. But I all I know is that if I want to walk on water, I have GOT to be willing to get out of the boat.

Oh and as for Sharp Top, I got a call from them this morning saying that they are going to make their decision on monday so, i'll keep ya posted!
   

Ain't nothin to it But to DO IT!

Washington Family Ranch - Canyon

Just got back from another great weekend at the Washington Family Ranch! I know shocking right. I laughed when I saw my schedule: Sassy, Espresso, Sports Center, Pamper Pole, Swing, Espresso, Housekeeping. In that order... even had a little Store in there too. Thanks for that Robyn :) haha but really, when do I go out there and not love what I do? I know I have said this before but I'm in it [Younglife] for life ya'll. I know it's just a tool as a ministry in this world working for the kingdom of God but it's a great ministry that God has put on my heart to be a part of. Weather it be at a property, speaking at club or starting a new area in the field I'm here Lord, send me! I know a lot of you I know because of YL, weather we lead together, did an assignment together or met through someone else (I've learned with YL, if you don't know that person, you probably know someone else who does) but I also know that there are some of you who don't really know what or the why behind it. I found this great video shot at Lost Canyon, a YL camp in Arizona that captures the message behind camp really well. This is just one of the reasons why I do what I do. Just so you know this video makes me cry every time, and I mean big tears lol...  Why I do What I do ...

With everything going on with interviews with Sharp Top Cove (another YL camp in Jasper, GA) going back to the Ranch this weekend was hard. Seeing everyone and being  "home" essentially was emotional knowing that there is a good chance that I will go a whole summer without being there. 

Water slides at WFR-Creekside

Camper housing at WFR-Creekside

This hit me hard but I was so convicted at the same time. I almost felt like I'm betraying the Ranch by applying at STC. I mean I know I'm not and everyone I talked to this weekend were really excited for me but still I'm scared out of my mind! A really good friend of mine, who's also like my spiritual father, especially out there looked into my eyes and told me "Good, you need to go. Get out of this bubble. It's a good bubble but God doesn't live in these woods. He lives in the purpose. And weather that's here or at Sharp Top we are all still going to be behind you." I know that distance has nothing to do with friendship. Yeah it makes it easier in some cases but to be completely honest I would say my closest friends right now live everywhere but Corvallis right now. We got to see the progress at Creekside, the Wyldlife [middle school] camp that is scheduled to open this summer and woah man! I am so excited for everyone who gets to be a part of this first summer. June 16th ya'll the very first kid is going to step off that bus and get to experience the best week of their life and hear the best news in the whole world that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

At the beginning of the summer and even last year I was talking to property and so excited to be at Creekside this summer because it was the going to be the very first summer. I had it in my mind that I wanted to be part of a legend! And yeah I am excited for it and everyone who is going to be a part of it and who knows, it could be me, but now I also know that God is going to put me where he wants to put me and I know that it's going to be within the ministry of Younglife but weather it's going to be at the Canyon, Creekside or even Sharp Top Cove, I'm ok with that because ya know what? It's all working toward the same goal. Being there for kids and expanding the kingdom of God. I was listening to an old podcast from my church this morning and our pastor was talking about building the church and what Paul was talking to the people of Corinth about and at the end related it to how full our church has become which is great but if you're a member, or probably should be a member, how are you building? Are you just another body here Sunday morning? You should be help building either here or even somewhere else and he said "I care not about Grace City but about the Kingdom of God. You going somewhere else to actually build is better news for the Kingdom of God."  I feel like that related a lot to what I am debating in my head right now. I love the ranch with everything I have but especially this year, I think it's time to branch out.

YoungLife's Sharp Top Cove, Jasper, GA

I am suppose to hear a final decision from STC sometime this week so I will let you know! Be praying for me!

I like to move it MOVE IT!

If you know me at all you will soon come to learn that I love to dance! I've been dancing/cheering for a good majority of my life and I don't think it will ever leave my system. Currently I am big into country western dancing, so a lot of country swing, partner dances and line dances. I know it sounds funny but I love leaving it out on the floor. I've done modern, tap, jazz, I like to think I can do lyrical but mainly that's just me being silly in my room or garage. But even just around the house, or sometimes walking to class (which can get embarrassing) I just love to move! I found out a couple years ago that "Jillian" means "youthful and full of grace," which I would find very fitting. Ok not so much the graceful part but sometimes I like to think I am, especially on the dance floor. I have found that even sitting down in a chair I can't help but have a tune in my head and rocking back and forth. The best though is when I am in the library or walking to class and I am singing along to my ipod/pandora thinking no one else can hear me... oh man am I alway wrong... did that just happen? maybe. lol. The waltz is probably my favorite because it's so graceful and involves lots of spinning on the girls part. It's one dance that, with the right partner, can make any girl feel beautiful :)

For those of you who have been following my life (or trying to haha) I will tell you that I got an email this morning to set up a follow up interview with Sharp Top Cove for the office intern position for this summer! be praying please!

You mean the world to me~
-JillyBean

fluster truck for sure!

My brain is so scattered right now guys it's not even funny. And I hate the fact that I am still trying to not keep what is coming up a secret. I know some people have gotten word of what's going on but on one hand I really just want to tell everyone but I am trying to be so diligent in listening to the Lord, being patient and making sure that this is what He wants me to do and talking to the people involved with this situation and getting a better idea of what the details would be and of course talking to people (like my parents and grandmother) first who I feel like need to know before it becomes public online. So with that said thank you for understanding but I promise, the other hand of this situation is DYING to scream from the rooftops! Mainly because I am excited about it and scared out of my mind at the same time and it's killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I guess that's part of what listening and waiting for the Lords timing does to ya right? Right? someone give me some clarity here!!..... My YoungLife Area Director, the great Chris Herb is helping me and walking with me through this 4-6 week process of meeting with people and spending intentional time is scripture and really listening to the Lord because as he knows and most of you probably know this about me as well that I live for adventure, am always on the move and am more likely to jump the gun on a more than spontaneous decision. For that I am learning and thankful for him.

But here is what I can tell you about some exciting things I have found out lately :)....

1) my entire major (HDFS) is now entirely online! This is great for a couple reasons. I hate going to class, and currently the only class I even really try at and am taking for the most part is my statistics class. Strange I know, but I can do it at my own pace and only have to go to class when I have to take a test. Great! Also, because I am technically still a Washington resident I am paying out of state tuition and it SUUUCKS! however with this, there isn't an instate vs outofstate bill. So because of that and that i'm not paying for the rec center, building fees and such, it's actually cheaper. So no matter where I end up (and I only have about 2 terms left of college) I can finish my degree at Oregon State!  Cool huh?!

2) This morning I had a phone interview for the office position as a summer intern at Sharp Top Cove in Jasper, GA!!!! So good! When we scheduled it, it was suppose to be a 30 minute interview but it ended up lasting for a solid hour and I feel super pumped about it. I haven't heard anything from WFR yet however STC is my first choice. I want to go somewhere new ya know! It would not only be a new state, a new camp but a position I know nothing about because of the way WFR operates. I am so excited about it and I am suppose to hear back by next Friday so if you could be praying for that as well I would be greatly appreciative.

Everything else I am still trying to figure out and am excited to tell everyone but no matter what I am defiantly on the move. My mom and step dad gave me a GPS system for Christmas because I think they know that I am going to end up somewhere weird. My mom said "we have no idea where you are going to end up but at least you'll know how to get there." Love you Madre!

"Once you realize how Jesus changed for you and gave himself for you, you aren't aftraid of giving up your freedom and therefore finding your freedom in Him"

please pray for:
- clarity in how the Lord is calling me to Himself
- finances
- Intern at STC!!
- That I actually listen this time!

Love you all!
-JillyBean