Packing up again

Well, its been real Berry College. My fall semester of my Junior year has come to a close and next semester I will be abroad. The cool thing is I don’t leave until February, so I’ll have a month in Rome before I go. I can’t believe how much time has gone by, and all the things that have happened this semester. I was kind of sad packing up my room tonight, but there are cray awesome adventures that are ahead.

In case of anyone who is reading this does not know, from February to July I will be in Cordoba, Argentina, studying spanish. Im pretty stoked. It’s been kind of an up and down thing with emotions in preparing to go because I have never just picked up a left in the middle of something. But I am confident that the Lord has some incredible things planned. There are things in Argentina, people that I need to meet, experiences that I need to have to come closer into being who I am created to be. Its tough, and I will miss things here, but when I am there, I will be focused on there and not so much here.

A few highlights from this semester would def. be watching Younglife at Rome high begin to gain momentum, doing life and crazy times with friends, and new relationships developing. The biggest thing that I learned about myself would be knowing when I need down time and to be alone, and when I need to be around people. Its a interesting concept, and new to me because I am such an extrovert, but a cool lesson. Certainly not an easy one either.

A new chapter is beginning, and I am so curious as to what things will look like this time next year. I am completely blown away that I only have what 2 semesters left at Berry College? (3 technically, but one in Argentina.) I’ll be applying for graduation NEXT SEMESTER. What the heck?!?! I still have no idea what I am going to do, just like the rest of most college kids. I am not alone thank goodness.

Well I promise to do my best with blogging while I am in Argentina. I mean it would be nice to tell you people here what is going on. :)

Peace and Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Today

I just read an incredibly insightful and inspiring blog of one of my friends. We worry about where our lives are going to be. What we are going to be doing years from now? Where will the Lord take me? WIll I fulfilling my purpose? Fun fact of the day is, we should be thinking more along the lines of, what is the Lord doing right now? To not worry about what tomorrow is going to look like, but think about within the moment, and enjoy every minute of it. A. You will never have that minute back and B. Every minute the Lord gives us breath.

I really liked pondering those thoughts. This summer my "theme" thought you could say was to live like there is no day like today. I have not really been thinking or living like that a lot recently. There is however much truth to that thought. To live in each moment, and to not think about what is to come, really brings the "peace that surpasses all knowledge" that Jesus talks about. How interesting huh?

I think so. :)

I should be reading for homework but.....

So here is the deal. Right now I should be doing homework, but I really wanted to write. I usually do not have much to say. I actually will not post anything if I don't have anything to say. But seeing as I have not posted anything since this summer, I thought it might be nice to update the blogging world on my life.

Coming into my sophomore year I had no idea what to expect. I had a thirst for new adventures, and I knew that I would be so incredibly busy. I was a first year mentor, which was so incredible and I love all of my kids so dearly. I worked my tail off at BOLD learning how to be a better facilitator, and how to be a hard worker. I attempted to invest in my studies, and it paid off, with the most academically rigorous semester yet. I had so much going for me, but the lessons of the summer, I lost my balance. I did not have Jesus at my core, at my center. And I crashed, hard. But I have learned quite recently that when we do crash, because at some point we all will, that we are able to see what we were missing before. I was missing out on the very thing that gave me life. Jesus. I continued on into this semester, longing for something so much more than I was allowing myself to experience. Its funny how easy we believe lies. I have been, and still am caught up in lies other than the promises of my savior. Right now, at this moment, I want pure joy. Nothing temporary, and nothing less than the joy that is found in the Lord.

So folks, I am seeking. Seeking for whats bigger than myself. Life is much better than it has been. And its all because I have begun to allow the one that can calm my soul, that can make me rejoice when all seems wrong, to change my hearts focus.

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Endings and Beginnings

Another summer has come and gone. I cannot believe how fast that this summer flew. I miss the west coast so much. Relationships were strengthened and new ones were established. There was such a reason for me to be out there this summer. I could not have been anywhere else.

I was reminded the other day that how when we are trying to figure out where God wants us to go, we always question if some other way would have been better. Then after the experience we realize, and even during, that is right where we were supposed to be. :) Woodleaf was such an incredible and freeing experience for me. I am confident that I have found a little piece of what I was created to do. I loveeeeeee working with High schoolers. And I really like Young Life. Will I be apart of Young life? I have no idea.... I plan to pursue it, but I am not sure what God has planned for me. I also know that I love being in the position to encourage students. In this case this summer it was by means of a ropes course. I loved it! I too want to keep pursuing options in that field and see where God takes me. :)

I miss the people out there. The community was amazing. It made me miss Berry and the community I had there... But the community at the leaf opened my heart to other believers and I have gained more brothers and sisters that I miss dearly. As that ended, Berry is about to begin. I have this feeling that this year is going to be incredible. Something that will always be remembered in the hearts of many. I have no idea why I feel this way, but I am STOKED!!!!! :)

Please Please Pleaseeeeeee ask me more about what I learned this summer and I will be so happy to update you! :)

Peace!

Rejoicing everyday

So in the land of beautiful California, I have been working my tail off and having a lot of fun. I have ventured down the freeways of Cali and gotten myself lost only once. :D I have made it to the gym to strengthen my leg and my entire body. And of course I have filed papers and never have had so many paper cuts in my life nor have I ever been attacked by a hole puncher, TWICE. :) haha. Its nice to be on summer break, but I miss Berry, and even more the people of Berry. I am so excited for next semester. I will be coming back more confident and jumping into a leadership position as a first year mentor and continuing to learn and take part in what is happening at BOLD.

For this summer I am so excited for Woodleaf! I have been able to talk to some of the people that I will be working with, and they all seem pretty cool!

Well one of the reasons I am writing this blog is because of what I saw on Wed morning. I was making the commute to work. It was half raining, and sunny. This weather has been diving me crazy and has been so abnormal it has made history. But as I was driving there was this absolutely gorgeous rainbow. My mouth was hanging open for about a min and then I started laughing and thinking about God's promises, aka the covenant that was made and the rainbow that symbolizes it. My friend the night before had mentioned something interesting about rejoicing. So as I was thinking about these promises I remembered what she had said to me. Rejoicing is not just a response to a blessing in our lives, but it is something that we must do daily. It was a cool moment.

Ok well it is late for me and I have to work tomorrow. Yay for 7 am mornings. :/ hahahah but YAY FOR MONEY!!! :D

Im back

Hello World.

It is I, Laura Waitt. I am officially back. And what does that mean? After quite an interesting semester, physically and mentally, I have reached a place where I can say that I am back to my state of mind where I was right before I broke my ankle. It has taken quite some time, but I overcame it. And that is one of my most accomplishing things of this semester.

It feels good to be able to say that I am doing well and mean it. There are still some frustrations, like school for example, but that is to be expected.

This summer is going to be really cool. I'll be in California working as an intern for my aunts company. :) Well its not 100% yet, but pretty definite. Annddddd that even cooler thing is ill be working at Woodleaf. Working on a ropes course, with youth, at a younglife camp. :) :)

I guess I don't really have much else to say. Just trying to get through the rest of this semester with a good and awesome attitude. :)

Your Name Is Power

So as these last few weeks here at Berry wind down, the glimpses of summer are beginning to shimmer in the distance. I am getting really excited for summer, but I am more consumed with finishing strong this semester. I have not performed as well academically as I had hoped, but I am not in any kind of danger, which is good, but Im still not exactly happy with where I'm at as far as grades go.

I had a wonderful weekend. I went on a retreat with my small group. We had no idea where were going, or what we were doing. So when we pulled up to a camping place, that is pretty much when we all found out we were going camping. I loved being outside next to the river. It reminded me so much of Czech, the first few min of our first journal session I could only think about The canoeing trip. I was so anxious though. There were little things of very little relevance that were bugging me, and I just wanted to stand up and move around. I came to the conclusion that I am in the process of seeking/wrestling with my current condition and relationship with God. I also discovered that I have a tendency to put God in a "body" giving him Human-like characteristics, which is so far wrong. But thats a start to continue seeking and to correct my thinking. And though that I desire to become secure in the Lord and be confident. Overall the weekend was fantastic, and being with people I love, playing silly games, gazing at stars, and having fellowship was awesome.

There is a song that is stuck in my head right now. One of the lyrics is " Jesus your name is power" and that strikes a chord in my brain. In my being. I just felt like putting that as my tittle in case you were wondering.

My goal for me as of now looks something like this. 1. To realize and build upon the foundation that my first freedom is where I out my mind. 2. To correct my thinking of myself, my Lord and those around me. 3. To completely let go. 4. To realize that it will all be impossible on the account of my own efforts.

What i just wrote about might be a bit over the place, but that is how my brain thinks. :)