hillary

What happened to first semester??

2010-12-14T20:59:00.003-06:00

Wow...the school year is half way over. What the heck happened to the first semester? It has flown by that's for sure! I have learned more in the last semester then I did in a combined 4 years of college that's for sure. I haven't loved every minute of it, but that's how it is with any job. Overall, I am loving it more and more everyday.

I applied to an on-line Master's program for Adapted PE, the only one in the US, and I got it. But wait, it gets better! I was able to get a grant/scholarship and my tuition and books is going to be totally paid for. Isn't that sweet?!? I am way pumped! It's cool how the Lord just keeps reinforcing the fact that I am where I need to be. Change is always so tough and uncomfortable, but that's when we grow the most. I feel like I have grown more in the last 6 months then I have in a long time. It's great.

3 more days until Christmas break! I must admit, I'm looking forward to having a few days off, but not really looking forward to break. The tonsils are coming out on the 20th...so that is how I will spend my 2 weeks of Christmas break, but hey, better now than ever.

This Christmas I find myself blessed in more ways than I could image. My health is something that I have taken for granted. Sure, I have had a few health issues, but nothing major. I work with 7 year olds fighting cancer, students who were abused as infants, and a handful of kids who are nonverbal, and can't communicate with their families and friends. Yet, they are some of the happiest, loving kids I know. Wow...I'm just blessed. And I don't know why.

Merry Christmas to all...may the Lord bless you and your family this holiday season.

Just another day in paradise

2010-11-07T14:39:00.000-06:00

I am updating my blog to avoid homework. Some things never change :)

School is going well. We added 4 kiddos last week, so our number are growing. My guess would be that I will add at least 5-10 more by the end of school. We are starting to creep up on 50! Friday I was asked what grade I was in at one school and then later the afternoon asked if I was a girl's mother. Both of which I just shook my head and laughed.

I think I have found a church home. I have gone a couple of times to Journey Church journeylive.org . I really like the worship and how many different ways there are for me to get connected. The people are really friendly..so we'll see how the next few months go. I was driving to church today and saw the Fred Phelps people on the corner with signs. I had seen them on tv, but this is the first time I have seen them in person. You've seen the signs about God hating gay people and how the war is because of our sins and yada yada yada. I wanted to roll down my window and yell at them, but I just kept driving by. As a Christian it just made me angry. How could you read the bible and claim to be a Christian and tell people that God is full of hate. I'm pretty sure that's not found in any bible I read.

Other than that, life is pretty much the same. Still just livin the dream, facing the giants, and trying to make a difference. Keep loving!

small victories

2010-10-05T21:29:00.003-05:00

October?!? Really, where has the time gone? Things have been busy around here with master's classes, school, and keeping up with paperwork. 4 IEP meetings in 3 days, and it's just going to get even more crazy.

I am learning to celebrate small victories. Today one of my kiddos who all I could get to do for the last month and a half is walk, finally sat on a scooter and we rode around. He smiled for the first time today, and seemed to love it! I pulled him for a while, and then once he got the feel of it, he started pushing himself. It was awesome! The SpED teacher was taking pictures to show his mom, and everyone was so excited he was succeeding. Small victories!!

We went to the Nascar race in KC this last weekend. It was great. We had pit passes and watched the race from a suite, we had the hook up! Jimmie didn't win, but ended up moving up to first in the standings. We were in the pits and in the garage before and during the race, which was something that was awesome and a side of it I hadn't seen before. Makes me love it even more!!

The Aflac tire...they made me laugh :)

The big man on campus!

Victory lane!

Jimmie's race car. It was sweet to be up close!

thankful..

2010-09-13T18:51:00.003-05:00

paddle boat fun

love these girls.

Well one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. One of those where you would like to just stay forever. We were sitting on the dock of a little lake in the middle of Minnesota, and I would have given anything to freeze time. The weather was beautiful, the lake was amazing, and I was sitting with 3 of the best friends a person could ask for. Let's just say I'm ready to go back!

School is going well. We're a month in now and I would say that each week is getting better. We definitely have our ups and downs, and there are days I leave loving my job, and days where I wonder what the heck I'm doing. The kids are starting to get more comfortable with me, and I with them. It's exciting to start building the foundation for a program. We are starting from the beginning. I'm not sure what this will look like in 5 years, but I hope we've made progress. Each day I spend with them I am thankful. Thankful that I have a job, thankful for my health, thankful that God has put me in a place where hopefully I can make a difference.

Insert deep breath...

2010-08-29T09:28:00.002-05:00

Well Friday rolled around and I took a deep breath after realizing I survived my first official week of school! I think I learned more in the first week than I did in 4 1/2 years of college :) I saw quite a few of my kiddos, didn't get to see all of them because with our scheduling we have to be in 2 different places at once.

I have around 38 kids (this will change after some more testing) and they range in age from 5-19 and range from non-verbal, very low cognitive level to verbal and able to participate in PE sometimes. I have kids in wheelchairs, kids with braces on their legs, kids that wear helmets, and kids that will take a swing at you. I have kids who love movement and even though they are non-verbal, when they sit on the scooter they smile and make noises and look at you in a way that makes you feel like a million bucks.

Everyday is different...oh so different. Things that work on Tuesday with a kid probably won't work on Thursday. We plan, but about 90% of the time that plan will change. Overall, I would say I'm loving it. I love the creative part of my job. I said coming out of school I wanted to teach and coach. Well I'm teaching and will probably help coach the Special Olympics. Not exactly in the side of education I thought, but then again, if you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans.

This week will be baptism by fire week. I have 5 meetings and thus starts my interaction with parents. Of course the first 2 have to be the ones that everyone says, be warned, these are tough ones. Might as well jump in and hit the ground running! Here's to week 2 of school :)

Round 2

2010-08-21T18:38:00.003-05:00

Well things have certainly picked up around here, and I have a sneaky feeling they will only get busier. But I'm not complaining, it gives me something to do :)

Its kind of hard to see in this picture, but that was the sky the other night. Dark stormy clouds, then some pink, then blue skies. It was pretty crazy. We have had some intense storms since I have been here. They are pretty fun to watch!

School has started, although I officially start with my kids tomorrow. We have the schedule figured out, for now at least, so tomorrow starts the real job. I'm excited, a little nervous, but mostly excited. Hopefully things go well. I'm learning that the teachers just want consistency, because I guess last year there wasn't any. So my goal is to set a new standard, a higher level of expectations.

I am currently going through round 2 of antibiotics for tonsilitis. I'm not sure if I ever was completely over it, or if it just came up again. I'm learning that not having insurance is not very much fun. You plan and budget and then all of a sudden when things are pretty set, life throws you a curve ball. But that's part of it :)

I have decided that there is nothing better than watching someone discover Christ. I am blessed to be on the other side of it now, watching a young friend find Him. Helping her discover things, answering what questions I can, and just being here. It's cool to see the Lord move, to completely change someone from the inside out. He's pretty good at that.

Other than that, things are going well here. Enjoying being busy everyday. :) But here is to round 2 of school, round 2 of antibiotics, and round 2 of a new life in and new start in Christ. Cheers!

A few highlights...

2010-08-09T21:21:00.004-05:00

So this post I decided to bullet-point the blog for an easier read :)

- Found out I have a classroom in one of my schools. This is the school I will spend most of my time at, so this is VERY exciting.

- I am finally getting over tonsillitis for the 3rd time. Yep these babies are probably coming out Christmas break or Summer.

- Skype. On my top 10 favorite things. I skype with my parents about 3 or 4 times a week. They love it too.

- Figured out things for my Master's classes. I have to take 2 classes now, which will be busy, but now I'll qualify for loans!

- Trip to MN is coming up, where I get to hang out with some of my best buds! aka ET, Kirbster, Mel-shine

- DVR. I get to watch all of my shows that I miss during the day. It's great.

- I was told today at school that I can't wear a skort. This one made me laugh out loud, a lot. It's kind of a long story but I was told by someone I work with I can't wear shorts....hello I'm a PE teacher!!!.....then she said skorts. But don't worry, we're getting this figured short thing figured out.

Well there are a few updates. I started full-time teacher meetings this week and kids come next week, although I won't have kids until I get scheduling figured out. Welcome to the school year!

A little patience...

2010-07-27T19:59:00.003-05:00

Well I was looking for a picture for this update, because well, everyone likes a picture. Not just words all of the time. And after some researching on google images of the garden of eden, I decided it best not to post one of those. So I chose my favorite flower, my happy flower. And decided to post it.

So here is my post, I know this is happening more often than not now, but what I can say, I live by myself and get bored!

I was reading the other day and came across this ever-so-popular passage about Adam and Eve. You know the story, Even eats the apple, then shares with Adam, then the fall of man happens and we have painful childbirths. That's the gist of it. But as I was reading through it I noticed this convo with the snake...

The snake is talking to Eve about eating the apple and says,
"You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what is really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

This is what I realized...Eve had good intentions in eating the apple. She just wanted to know what was going on, she was curious. She wanted more knowledge, to become more aware of the things around her, to know the plan. And then I thought, ding ding ding, that would be me! If I would have been Eve, I would have done the same thing. I have great intention in knowing what is going on, I just want to be able to plan things, to protect people, to prepare myself for God's next step. But that's not how it works. Even with Eve's good intentions, it wasn't her place to know.

So I know that I'm not always going to know what's going on, or what's supposed to be happening, but it's comforting to know that even since the start of man, people have felt the same way. So that's where my thoughts end today. In wanting to know, but knowing that for centuries we have all wanted to know, but it's not really about us, or our timing.

A few pictures

2010-07-25T18:35:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pictures of my new place. I don't have much on the walls yet, but it's a start!

The washer and dryer might be my favorite..just because I don't have to go anywhere to do laundry!

Every new beginning is some beginnings end..

2010-07-23T10:54:00.002-05:00

Well here's to a new beginning. I have officially been in my new apartment 1 week, which is just crazy, and it's been quite a week. I have experienced all sorts of new things. Which doesn't take much coming from a town of 1500, but I must say that the change is going well. I finally found a place to park at the Capital today so I could get my drivers license address changed and when I walked out, I was able to find my car again. A good sign :)

We interviewed a para today to work with me. Hopefully he will accept, he sounded really interested. He is actually from Bethel and a Health/PE major. I officially have 43 kids on my case load for the year, so a para will be a great help! My first official meeting is Aug 3, but I will probably be doing school work from now until then. I have a lot of research to do and things to learn, I have a feeling this year will be a year of learning. More so even than when I was at Sterling. On-the-job training I guess you could call this. However, I feel like this is where I am supposed to be. Everything has fallen into place so easily, from the job to the apartment to hopefully the new para. I've been told it's never this easy, so I think that there is a big guy who has a hand in this one :)

I took some pictures of my new place on my camera, but I have to find my camera cord in order to put them up. I guess that's part of moving, finding where you put everything! I'll get them up soon hopefully. Happy Friday!

New Job, New Town

2010-07-17T14:20:00.003-05:00

Well here I sit in Topeka in my new apartment. Wow, that's a little strange to say. I'm not sure it has really sunk in yet, some of it did when Mom and Dad left this afternoon, but the reality that this is my home now, nope pretty sure that one will take a while!

To update you a little, I signed a contract to teach Adaptive PE with the Auburn-Washburn School District on Monday, found an apartment that afternoon, and then moved in Friday. It has been a whirlwind of a week, however it has been great to see how things have fallen together. It was a fluke that my apartment was open, normally they don't have any, and at the start of the week I had pretty much nothing to move out with, and then by the end, our friends had given me a couch and a recliner along with many other odds and ends needed in an apartment. I am amazed at how the Lord has pieced this all together, and I'm excited to see how he continues to work.

I have never lived in a town of more than 2000 people, so moving here is a big change. However, I have already found a few things around to make it feel like home. About 2 miles East of me there are a bunch of cornfields. A mile South there is a huge grain elevator. I live on the north side of Topeka, it's acutally outside of the city limits about 4 miles, but is a perfect little place for me. I'll try to upload some pictures when I get them.

I'm sure I will be writing more often, because I have a feeling living by yourself can get kind of lonely. For now, I guess I'll head to the mall!

EMPLOYED!!! (well almost)

2010-06-08T20:36:00.002-05:00

Well, I decided the next time I updated I should have a job. Well, hopefully as of Monday I will be officially employed. Not my dream job, but at this stage, I'll take anything I can get. I had a couple of different part-time options, and after putting hashing out the numbers, finally decided on one. I am a Mt. Hope Mustang! I will teach PE .6 time, so basically part-time, and be the head middle school basketball coach and the assistant middle school track coach.

I am going to look at apartments in Maize tomorrow, I think that if I budget and pay close attention to it, I can afford to live on my own. I'm looking forward to making adult decisions, although ask me in November and you might get a different answer :)

I'll update more when it becomes official, but for now, I'm just going to hope and pray that it works!!

Summer is here!

2010-05-30T17:30:00.004-05:00

After he threw me off going about 30mph.

He was floating away, so I was trying to pull him back to hook him up!

Taking the jetski out for a spin

Well, summer is officially here! Mom and Dad bought a new jetski. Well not brand new, but new to us. I told them multiple times that we didn't need it, however after driving it and being pulled on the tube, I decided maybe it was a good purchase after all! I had it going 53 mph, but when Grant and I were both on we had it going 54...which is plenty fast on the water!

It proves to be a busy month around here. I leave Wednesday for a few days to North Carolina to see Audrey. Can't wait to see their new house and the big city. Oh yeah, and we're going to the Nascar Hall of Fame..which I'm pretty darn excited!!

Other than that, no new updates on the job. I'm still unemployed. I may have a few leads though, so hopefully those will turn out into something. I'm helping with the summer strength and conditioning program here at the high school, and then knocking things off my mom's to-do list :) I don't mind though!

Hopefully my next post will include a job!

I'm back..but no promises!

2010-05-19T22:11:00.004-05:00

Here are a few Dallas Nascar race pictures...it rocked

I am not making any promises to keep this updated, but I figure why not give a quick update :)

Only 2 days left of teaching my 5th graders. Oh what a ride it's been. All 5 of them...we have learned a lot. Well I don't know if they learned a lot, but we've had some good times. Tonight 3 of them were in detention, I know, I'm a mean teacher, but they deserved it.

I am currently on the job hunt. I have sent my application out to about 10 different places, and haven't really heard back from any of them. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that one day I'll be employed and able to move out of my parents house.

Well I've been thinking about my bucket list, you know, the list of things I want to do before I die..and here are a few..

1. Go to Maine

2. Move out of my parents house

3. Take a cross-country bus trip with a group of old people

4. Ride on a train

5. Visit every Nascar track

6. Go to Ireland

I have a lot more, but that's all I can think of for now. So until next time, keep on keepin on!

start of summer '09

2009-05-18T20:43:00.002-05:00

3-peat conference champs baby!!

a night of karaoke!

a mud wrestling night..

a night on the town with a few of my favorites!

well i decided that since it's summer now, I had better update so people know what is going on in my life and i can keep up with everyone else. Quick recap...We won conference for the third year in a row and went to nationals, Grant and I graduated college, I am living back at home working at the high school, and then I am helping coach high school volleyball in the fall. So there is an update. It's been crazy, but awesome!

I'm excited for the summer and promise to keep updated!!

a new year..

2009-01-09T10:29:00.002-06:00

Well I have officially started my last semester of classes. I have officially started playing basketball again. And I am officially sore :) but in a good way! We are currently ranked 6th in the nation, which is great, and the most exciting part of that is that we still have a long ways to go, we haven't even come close to reaching our peak yet.

It's definately a blessing to be back playing again, I knew that in His timing I would be, and now even if I play 5 minutes a game, thats 5 mintues that I thought I would have never gotten. My Jesus is a healer thats for sure!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas break. We got to be home for 10 days, which was great. It was good to see family and friends. Reminds me of just how blessed I am!

grandpa and grant

the new bird I got my cousins

grant and i hunting

Life in the fast lane..

2008-12-20T18:19:00.002-06:00

The last few weeks have been a race. Between Christmas parties, finals, projects, basketball, and Florida it has been crazy! But now I am back home for 10 days, which is the longest I have been home since, well for a really long time! It's so good to spend some time with the family, especially since it's the holidays.

Basketball is going well. We are 10-2 and undefeated in conference. The girls are getting better every game, which is exciting. The foot is coming along well. We are working on running now, which is awesome. They are hoping that I can play after the first of the year. We still have a long ways to go, but are getting better all the time. Definitely an answer to prayer!!

Florida was awesome. We were able to spend about 4 days at Disney, and then played 2 games. I am amazed at how blessed I have been to travel with our team. It is not something that most people have an opportunity to be a part of.

Crazy that in 4 months and 5 days I will be graduating from college. I will student teach at Buhler in the fall next year, which is scary, but exciting. I can't believe that I'm almost out in the real world. Here I come!!

Disney castle with a few fireworks

Mickey and I

The leadership in Evans :]

A little Evans Christmas party

2 shoes...

2008-12-02T00:48:00.002-06:00

Yes you would be looking at 2 shoes on my feet, for the first time since March!! I can only wear 2 shoes for a couple of hours a day, but we are getting there. And yes, my right shoe is a lot whiter than my left one, and my right calf muscle is still pretty small, but we are getting there. It is so weird to walk again, definitely an answer to prayer. Thanks for all of the prayers that have been said, we still have quite the road ahead of us, but we are making progress! Hopefully in the next week or so I'll be in 2 shoes all the time, which I will celebrate for sure!

Now I just have to continue to be patient. Now that I can start kind of walking, its really easy to push it a little too far, because I just want to walk around and keep moving, because it has been so long since I have. But if we push it too hard, we will just be back to where we were, so I'm praying for patience, and praying that this time is different!

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit...says the Lord of hosts" Zechariah 4:6b

a few pictures..

2008-11-22T23:23:00.003-06:00

oh man, I just love these girls

Well basketball season is in full swing. We are 4-2. They played really well this weekend, it was good to see them click and get things figured out. It should prove to be an exciting season. We are off until next weekend, when we head to Washburn which is an NCAA Division 2 team, so that will be quite the test.

the seniors...

jacci and i

(this was our mug shot)

The foot is coming along, slowly, but coming. I gained a half and inch in some spots this last week, so we are getting there! Life the last 3 days has been absolutely crazy, which makes me more and more excited for Thanksgiving. We get to go home on Thanksgiving day, which is great, because I'll get to see the family for a while.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Make sure and count your blessings, because I know I am blessed beyond belief!

A Break....

2008-11-10T02:39:00.002-06:00

I have decided to give my brain a break for a minute. I have been working on homework going on 19 hours this weekend, so I decided to take a break and update the blog :]

Tomorrow I have 3 papers, 2 lesson plans, a big fitness program, and a 25 minute presentation all due....wow, yep that's what I thought. So 19 hours later, I am getting close. Probably only a couple of hours left. In between doing homework I managed to watch a few basketball games, go to a wedding shower, make a trip to Hutch (with a stop at Starbucks of course), go to chapel, a meeting, and catch a few hours of shut eye. But when I walk across that graduation stage in April, it'll all be worth it!!

The basketball girls lost both this weekend. Most left discouraged, but for some reason looking on the outside in has changed my whole outlook on things. They saw missed shots and turnovers, bad calls and missed opportunities, but I see the opportunities ahead. This is a starting place, every great team has to start somewhere. We can't expect to pick up where we left off last year, because it is a different team, yet at the same time, I see glimpses of great things to come. There is a lot of work to do, but it's also the first part of November, not the first part of February or March. I look at our team, and think of how good we could be come tournament time, and it makes me really excited. I feel blessed to still have the opportunity to be a part of this team, I love going crazy and cheering on the bench, and providing any support and encouragement I can. If there is any way that I can help this team, that's what I want to be for them. I don't care what the coaches say, or in this case don't say, I am there for my teammates, not my coaches, I don't play for them, I play and cheer for my girls.

I have realized how protective I am of the girls on my hall. Man I just love them and want the best for them, and when other things start getting in the way of that, mama hillary starts coming out :]. It's cool to see how the Lord uses the things that you have gone through, all the junk from freshman year, and everything else, how he uses that to help other people. To show them that there is a way out, that there is a reason to strive to live by the higher road, to live the life that the Lord has called us to, not a life of being content or comfortable, but a life of being stretched and pushed and pulled. If I endure something just so that down the road I can help someone else, then I wouldn't want it any other way.

"Am I not trying to win the approval of men, or God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

if you want me to...

2008-10-26T15:11:00.003-05:00

I know this seems kind of soon for an update, normally I wait a month or so, but I thought I would avoid homework :]

So I was spending sometime with Jesus last night and was listening to my ipod and this song came on, and let's just say that I have listened to it at least 10 times since last night. It is actually on repeat on my computer right now, but if you haven't ever heard it, look it up! It'll be worth 3:35 that it takes to listen to it!

"If you want me to"
By: Ginny Owens

The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Chorus:
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise
You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

ya oh oh no
So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I walk through the darkness If You want me to

cause When I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna sing, gonna shout
Gonna look into your eyes and see you never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to you
And I will walk through the valley if you want me to

Yes, I will walk through the valley if you want me to

listen to it...and be blessed like I was!

searching for new strength...

2008-10-22T00:06:00.002-05:00

Isiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who wait in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

So this verse has been up on the wall in my room for a year now, and I didn't realize how much I needed it until I walked into my room today. Strength to the weary, power to the weak. Those both describe me..so I will wait on the Lord to find new strength.

I went back to the doctor today and am back in a hard cast for 3 weeks. Then back to a boot again and then hopefully walking. We are starting over from square one, because my foot was just getting worse and not really better. So the goal was thanksgiving/start of December, then it was January, and now, well basketball season is not very likely. That's what the doctor said anyways. I guess we will see though.

Now it's just a matter of figuring out where I fit on the team. Trying to see how I can still help the team out and be a leader on the team, without being able to have an active role. I just want to be whatever they need me to be.

So for now...I am searching for new strength

an update

2008-10-14T08:28:00.002-05:00

g and i at the bake sale (we were working hard)

a few of my favs

whit and i at one of the engagement parties on campus, there were 4 in one month

There are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks. I went home this last weekend and spent some much needed time away with the family. Its amazing how refreshing it can be just to spend time with the ones that you love. Uncle Allen and Aunt Ruthie came down from Oklahoma and spent sometime with us, which was awesome. And my cousins and their kids came down and we had some fun riding mom and dad's new scooter. I think that I had just as much fun as they did though. I'll put some pictures up on here when I get them :]

If you think about it, pray for my mom this week. She is helping start an after-school program for the kids at the church on Wednesday. She has started a puppet ministry at the church and it has been so awesome to watch it grow. She really loves doing it, and I am so proud of her for making that step. She is taking Wednesday afternoons off now, so pray that all of that will just fall into place and that this ministry that she has started will just continue to grow. Man, I'm so excited for her.

Basketball practice starts tomorrow, which is really exciting. First scrimmage a week from yesterday. I can't believe it's already that time again. I'm still in the boot and not walking yet, but hopefully that will come soon. I think our goal date keeps getting pushed back, but it will heal all in the Lord's timing, it's just a matter of me being patient and obedient to that.

Well that is all for now. Hope that you have a blessed week!!

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21

bingo and friends...

2008-10-04T20:36:00.005-05:00

we went to goodwill to find outfits for bingo

lil ed and i

We had bingo a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to put up a few pictures. A few of us went to goodwill to find some outfits, hoping that maybe they would bring us good luck, unfortunately they didn't. None of us won, however got some good looks in the process.

A week and a half until basketball practice starts. Crazy! I am in the process of learning to walk. I walked with crutches for a couple of days last week, but it hurt too bad so now we are back in the boot. We are going to try again next week and hopefully be off crutches and walking in a normal shoe by the end of the week.

This week I had to write a paper for Faith and Life called, "My Four Year faith journey". How am I supposed to explain how the Lord has worked in my life in the last 4 years in 3 pages? I used the verse

Genesis 1:3-4 "And God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He seperated the light from darkness."

From darkness to light, that's the transformation that has happened. I came in freshman year knowing who the Lord was, but not having really any clue on how to make my life intersect with his love. Now I look at where I am, and realize I'm not where I should be, not where I could be, but thanking the Lord that I am better than I was. The Lord has moved mountains in my life, restorted me, and captured my heart by the only one worth giving it to.

And a lot of it...I owe to these girls. I have no idea where I would be without them...wow, I wonder why He has put people like them in my life, because I am so undeserving of their love and friendship, but then I realize it's because He wants me to see a glimpse of just how good He is.

breaking and molding..

2008-09-26T23:17:00.002-05:00

September 26..already? Can't be. Wow I can't believe it's almost October. That seems crazy to me. Time flies when you are having fun, or so they say. So I guess this time is flying. A senior? Couldn't be. But I guess it is.

The last month has been crazy. 18 hours, helping coach high school volleyball, working 2 days a week, being an RA, doing 2+ hours of rehab a day, plus homework, sometimes I think I forget to breathe, so I'm glad that's an automatic reaction of the body. Things are busy, boy are they ever, but busy is good too. The foot is coming along well I think. I took a few steps yesterday, didn't hurt really, I just don't have an arch so it's kinda weird to step on. I am currently baking 5 pounds of brownies for a basketball bake sale tomorrow, avoiding the homework that seems to constantly loom over my life. But soon I will walk across that graduation stage with a degree in my hand.

Not being able to play basketball and condition with the girls has been a very hard, yet humbling experience. The goal right now is December, which is about a month after games start. I am realizing that I just want to be what the team needs, if by that point it's just coming off the bench and playing a few minutes, then that's what it is. I just want to fill in where I am needed. I sometimes feel now that I am just an outsider looking in, but I know that the Lord has timing in it all. I am being patient, yet relying on His strength everyday.

James 1: 2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The Lord is teaching me about perseverance and patience, breaking and molding me. And that's my hearts desire, to be broken by the only one who can truly heal me. I pray that the Lord is healing you, and breaking you.

it's all coming back...

2008-08-27T20:37:00.002-05:00

Life back in Sterling...

Well after a 4 month summer, which was pretty long I might add, it's back to Sterling. We have been back a week and a half, but at the same time it seems like we never left. Sometimes you have to leave somewhere to realize just how good it is. Things have been crazy, really crazy. Today was one of the first days that we have had to just relax, and it was so nice. I am trying to finish stuff up around the hall, nametags and all that jazz, before the new students come on Friday. Things are coming along, I'm not very artsy...but it is working.

RA training was fun, as always. Some of the best times of the year. We did a lot of fun stuff, most of it was active games and things along those lines, so I couldn't do any of that, but it was good. The foot is getting there, I quit using my crutches yesterday because they were hurting my arms, so I decided to be done. The foot still hurts pretty much all the time, but hopefully that will go away soon.

I feel so far behind on things. I forget that being back at school I don't read the newspaper or watch tv or keep up on daily news. I don't even know if the tv in our room is hooked up. Oh well, such is life. There are so many other things I could think of doing with my time other than watching tv, so for now I'm good with that.

Well I'm off...to be productive.

Psalm 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you

I am not, but I know I AM.

2008-08-13T11:13:00.003-05:00

Exodus 3:14
14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

when we get our arms around I am, he begins to resize us. he gets really big, and we get really small. but we are connected to a really big god. we are a little speck on a little planet in the middle of a little galaxy, in the middle of a huge universe. I am not, but I am connected to a God who's name is I am. When we say God I am not, but you are, your name is I am. That's when healing can begin to take place. His name is I AM, and he is more than enough for whatever we are facing.

Sitting here for the last week recovering from surgery has given me the opportunity to just sit and be still. I have done it all, watched tv, played wii, spent time surfing the internet, sleeping, and talking to friends, but recently I have found some sermons on the internet and have started listening to those. I'm not even sure where the church is at or anything about it, but I have been inspired by these sermons, so I thought I would share. I hope and pray that the Lord would show you that He is I AM.

Stucky Family Reunion

2008-08-05T11:05:00.003-05:00

last weekend we took our first annual stucky family reunion trip. we went to spider creek resort in arkansas and spent some time camping and fishing and just hanging out with the family. it was great! here a just a few pictures to highlight...

my bro and i...

my four year old cousin's favorite thing to do was to play with rope. she called it "building". she tied me up, pretty impressive for a four year old!

the kansas stucky family

this is everybody, well almost everyone, chris and kacie were taking pictures

we had a pinata and no one could get it to break, so Grant and I took a swing at it. Not as good of a swing as Aunt Ruthie took though, because she swung so hard she feel on the ground, it was hilarious!

top moments of the weekend:
1. getting into a canoe with grant and my 9 year old cousin robert, only to be dumped out into water that was 42 degrees, before we even left the dock
2. aunt ruthie wipe-out while trying to break the pinata
3. fishing in the river and only catching a 2 in leaf
4. our motor quitting on the boat and having to paddle over 2 hours back to camp, ok that wasn't a highlight but it was still kinda funny, not at the moment, but funny now
5. listening to my 4 year old cousin haley sing "blessed be the name of the lord"
6. getting to spend time with family that we haven't seen in over 3 years
7. food, food, and food
8. trying to brave the cold river water to cool off a little before heading down the river further
9. seeing grandma happier than i have seen her in years

overall...a great weekend. i'm ready to go back..forget all this working business :]

i rejoice...

2008-07-29T00:35:00.004-05:00

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I rejoice that I am tired, because that means that I have a job.
I rejoice that my feet hurt, becuase that means that I am able to walk.
I rejoice that I got wet walking outside, because that means that it is raining.
I rejoice that I get cold sitting inside, because it means that I have a house that is airconditioned.
I rejoice that sometimes my clothes fit a little tight, because it means that I have enough food to eat.
I rejoice that my car doesn't start very well, because it means that I have transportation.
I rejoice the fact that I miss my friends from school, because it means that I love and am loved.
I rejoice that I have a broken heart at the loss of our dog after 14 years, because it means that we were blessed to have him around for so long.
I rejoice that I have student loans, because it means that I am able to go to college.
I rejoice that I am still awake at 1am, because it means that I am catching up with old friends.
I rejoice that I get annoyed with doctor appointments, because it means that we have insurance and are able to take care of our health.
I rejoice that I have friends and family that love me, even on days when I don't seem to love myself.
I rejoice that I serve a God who is big, so much bigger than I could ever imagine, that cares about the deepest and most hidden part of my heart.

I rejoice, because no matter how tough days can be, God has made the day, and waits for us to find and seek Him in the midst of it.

a couple shower and a wedding..

2008-07-23T02:55:00.004-05:00

we have had 2 weddings in 2 weeks, and one couple shower. the shower was for one of our family friends and so my mom and the girls got together and decided to throw a couple shower the weekend before they got married...this is what happens when you sit on the deck for a while and start coming up with new "great" ideas..

"the group" with the bride in the middle

the bride and I...I know, my dress is pretty stellar

Coalson and I at Lyndie's wedding. We were both candle lighters. And she has a sock she has to wear all the time "nudie" and I had "greenie" so we took pictures of them together!

and of course my studly brother..had to throw this one in there!

summer 08

2008-07-19T13:50:00.003-05:00

sunset from the boat..

anori...

ahh summer. a break from school is always nice. summer has been full of trips, work, and more work.

yeah i caught him. and i'm sorry to say that this picture doesn't shrink it.

summer is almost over, only about a month until we are seniors! crazy huh?? it's ok i'm ready, or at least I think...once I get healthy I'll be ready to go!

oh and I found this picture the other day..I miss my old car!

hey there!

2008-04-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

So this is my once a year update...so I don't update very often, I know, don't judge me!!

This is the update on my life...
1 week of school left

2 finals

1 paper

8 projects completed

20 days until I leave for Brazil

pictures are way better to update with than words..so here is my life lately...

kcac and tournament champs

formal with my dates :]

4 of my favorite people...my RAs and the coolest RD ever!

and last but not least....our Brazil team has a blog that we are going to keep while there..its in the workings but we have started it..so check it out!!

sterlingbrazil08.blogspot.com

stucky family christmas...

2007-12-27T22:01:00.000-06:00

a few pictures from the stucky family christmas...

the stucky clan

mom and dad got these glasses for us, only to steal them and wear them

my bro and I

grandpa....seriously one of my favorite people in the planet

Hope your Christmas was as blessed with family and friends as mine was.

oh hApPy DaY

2007-09-28T10:21:00.000-05:00

Life at school...loving it. Between classes, conditioning, homework, and hanging out it seems like one day just runs into the next and the days pass just as quickly as they come. I must say however that the time during conditioning seems to be the slowest time of the day, funny how that works. I don't think I have ever run as much as I have the last week or two, hopefully I am getting in shape, no I am getting in shape. Team bonding time, thats what conditioning is...it will all be worth it when we are getting on the bus to head to Soiux City...it will all be worth it! Being an RA is going well, it's a lot different..but it's good. The girls on my hall are great and we have a good time....

Two big tests this week, one was really hard probably bombed it, but hey it happens. The other, well it went pretty good..at least I think it did.

Here are a few pictures from the start of the year...

some of my favorite people....

a little bball retreat...

I am experiencing the heart and power of Jesus. I don't understand how when I am struggling or seem so faithless, he is still so faithful. I am headed to Denver this weekend with 10 of my peers to go serve and minister to the homeless people. I am expecting God to do big things, I am expecting to fall in love with him and his people all over again, I am expecting to find him in the smallest things and the lowest people. I am expecting to build relationships with the people on or team, I am expecting him to show up in mighty ways. If you don't expect God to do things, he won't. So bring it on, I'm ready. Or least I think I am.

I am starting a bible study this week with my mom. Experiencing the Heart of Jesus by Max Lucado, it looks pretty intense, but I am so excited to dive in and get started with my mom. She is pumped about doing it together. I don't think that excited is a good word to describe it, the fact that I am about to dive in and discover the power and love of Jesus with my mom, is awesome.

We were talking last night about how we won't ever think that we are qualified enough or good enough, we just have to go.

So just go...

back to school....

2007-08-21T19:02:00.000-05:00

well it was the end of the summer about a week ago, so here is my update on my life.

Kamp...don't even really know where to start. I was praying all last semester that God would rock my world this summer, and he did, he was successful! Ask and you shall recieve I guess. The girls were great, we definitely had our share of struggles, but to see God soften and work in their hearts in the 2 weeks they were there was amazing. I told them that I think I learned way more than they did, which I think is a definite possibility. I am ready to go back, depending on where the Lord takes me next summer, maybe to Ethiopia with Erin :], hopefully the Lord will direct me back to kanakuk, I love being able to pour into those girls lives and just love on them, I can't imagine a better way to spend my sumer.

Now it's back at school, which I was excited for, but now that I am here and have just spent the last week with the most amazing people in Sterling, I am excessively excited. (yes I looked that up). But seriously, I have the most amazing friends and I am so excited to tackle the obstacles that this year will present knowing that we have each other's back. The Lord is going to do amazing things on our campus and I am so blessed to be a part of it.

Well I'm off to play my wii...later gators!

oh summer...

2007-06-10T22:36:00.000-05:00

My new years resolution...to update my blog more.

Ok so it's not new years but it is summer, so this is my summer resolution. and i figure my parents go to bed really early anyways so I might as well do something productive with my time. I was putting links on here and realized that I only have 3 people on my blog, but that's ok I guess.

Praise Jesus for summer vacation, at least so far. It's always nice to have a break from school, even if you do have to work...but it's good to get away for a while. I wish it would quit raining so I could finish painting but I guess that is less watering of the flowers by me..so thats always good. I am ready to go back to camp, I was ready to leave the first couple of days I was there and now I can't wait to go back.

this is the view out our cabin porch at kamp....

The summer has been full of plenty of lessons learned by me already. I said that when my parents wouldn't let me go on a missions trip across the world this summer that my missions field would be here, and it has been. I have seen god use me right here where I am and I'm so excited to see the plans he has for me the rest of the summer. I would love to tell you the stories sometime if you want to hear.

God can't steer a parked car, so I had better keep myself moving if I want to Him to be the driver in my life.

did you hear the energizer bunny was arrested?

2007-01-29T22:38:00.000-06:00

back by popular demand...my blog! yes kellie that means that you are popular

here is an update on my life.

Second semester has started and I survived my first week of class. They aren't going to be too bad, at least I hope not. Swimming might be the death of me, literaly. I seriously might drown..hopefully not though.
Basketball is going well right now. We are at the top of the conference and just beat ottawa which was awesome!! we have 6 more games left and if we win those, then we will win conference...which would be amazing!!

i am pondering a missions trip to ethiopia..we shall see what God has in store for those plans..whether it could be a reality or not...

i leave you with a quote from a famous scholar...
"you're not bad until you try to be good..and then you fail...and then you're bad"

love peace

oh yeah..and the answer...the energizer bunny was charged with battery!!
(come on you know you laughed, or at least smiled!)

new pictures!!

2006-12-14T11:39:00.001-06:00

this is the back of our room...i know i made the bed for the picture...but the tv is in front of the futon, its some pretty sweet stadium seating!!

we moved my closet over to the other side of the room so we could watch the tv and not my clothes!

here is our front room...new chairs that we stole from downstairs :]...and check out all the sweet games on our bookshelf, oh the fun times we will have playing those!! oh and my toy box is on the right, full of fun toys to play with when we get bored...

this is erin trying to get out of the picture, oh but don't you even worry, i caught her...

welp there you have it....our new humble abode, complete with stadium seating and ladders ducktaped together, oh the joyous times we will have!!

we are done!

2006-12-09T12:32:00.000-06:00

christmas dinner at pf changs...it was amazing!

wing christmas party...

The semester is over...I don't think that I have ever been this excited to be done with my classes. No more 7:50 monday, tuesday, thursday, and friday, and no more college algebra..praise Jesus!! No really, I'm so glad to be done. Interterm is going to be cake, I predict a lot of movies will be watched in the afternoon and a lot of studying will not be done, music appreciation, I mean really there can't be that much homework to do for that class.

A week from tomorrow we head to Florida, I can't wait! I have never seen Mickey but he will be so excited to see me. We are 8-2, which is pretty good. Coach isn't talking to us right now because we lost and he said that he doesn't want to see us, but he will get over it soon enough. Hopefully we will play well today so we can have off until wednesday, that would be super!

Erin and I rearranged our room, it's pretty sweet I'm not gonna lie. Stadium seating, what more could you want, a big screen surround sound, but oh well, our tv is just great.
One last thing, I have decided that I love board games, love love love them. What else are we going to do, play board games, sounds grrrreat to me!
Welp that is all. I'm off to hoop it up!

ps...i'm not quite sure how to arrange the pictures on here, so I am working on that, but for now they are just at the top!

pictures!

2006-11-14T09:47:00.000-06:00

halloween...yes yes got to love it!
if you couldn't tell i was a clown...no worries though i was a nice clown
ok so maybe my roommate was kinda scared, but i was nice

i finally figured out how to put pictures on here, so bring them on...
basketball is in full swing, we are 3-0 so its nice to be winning...big home tournament this weekened so hopefully we can play well
i am excited to go to disney world...no no, i can't WAIT to go...hopefully i can get a pic taken with mickey, he's a pretty cool dude!

see i told you bring on the pictures...i love them, now i will have to get on here more often just so i can put up new fun pictures that i find..
my new favorite movie...cars...if you haven't watched it, you should!
we watched it 2 times yesterday afternoon, feel asleep through different parts of it so i was able to get the full movie...
well that is all for now...see ya later!

2006-10-25T15:27:00.000-05:00

kellie...
since you are the only one that reads this i'll just write a note to you! how's life..how are things in indiana?
i went to your house this weekend...we went to asbury on sunday...by the way LOVE LOVE LOVE that church...then we ate some of your mom's cooking...oh boy was it good. we did some shopping and then we came back in later that night and surprised your sister and had a slumber party, it was pretty fun!
basketball is going pretty good...we have a scrimmage on friday so we shall see how that goes...erin has been playing really well so if you talk to her and she says something different..shoot her down! coach said the other day, "wow thats the first shot erin has missed all day"...so see she is playing well...
well i have this whole list of things i should be doing so i better get crackin...
hope that you have a great week...
oh yeah..by the way...
what did the cabbage preacher say to his congregation?

I'm still alive...

2006-09-22T08:11:00.000-05:00

well it's been a while since I have updated...and I would put some cool pictures on here, but I don't have any, no worries, I will take some soon and put them on here.
I am currently in the library and it is 8:15..in the morning...I just finished up some homework, I have never been to the library this early but it seems to have become my second home, before you know it I will be a bookworm, and a smart one at that!
We have survived our first 2 weeks of conditioning, I'm not going to lie, at points I definitely thought I wasn't going to make it...miles and miles of defensive slides combined with miles of sprints, I am getting in shape, and no longer the round shape I was in.
I have decided that sometimes God sits up there and laughs at us, especially when we try to fix things that we have no control over but still think that it is our duty to try and fix....and I'm pretty sure that he laughs when we are walking on the sidewalk and trip over a bump and then we jump up and see if anyone saw us, he always does, and always laughs...
well that is all from the big town of sterling...hope you have a great weekend

2006-09-10T22:48:00.000-05:00

here comes an update...
as if my foot isn't big enough lets drop a 45 pound weight on it and make it bigger...sweet
i think i could have died today in lyons kiwk shop...as i was walking in to pay for gas there was a guy walking out saying to a friend, "i have a gun under my seat" his friend replied, "I have one too"...and then i got into the store and the guy took his knife out of his pocket and was opening it and looking at it....SCARY!! then i went and got back into my car and a police man whipped into the parking lot...yikes
sunday chapels at sterling are the best part of my week...seems like god always has something new to tell me about...gotta love it.....
anywho...hope that you have a great week!!!

i'm here...no worries!

2006-09-04T20:38:00.000-05:00

My roommate is a bad influence on me...
I was sitting here like a good student doing my homework and now I am writing on this blog...
Acutally it is her family that is causing me to do this..Kellie...(there's a shout out for you!)
So I have found a new way to waste my time..myspace, facebook, and xanga weren't enough..
I shall keep you updated on my life though...right now....______________
there you have it...nothing
so long friends