oh no no no.

I AM SO MAD.
This stupid Blogger template designer screwed up my whole blog! I HATE the way it looks, and it won't let me go back to how it used to be! WHAT THE HECK.
I absolutely positively want my old layout back, and I'm beyond angry.

keep on rollin'.

Lainey and I got our permits today. Milestones, milestones. I don't even feel old enough to drive; when I see others driving, I feel like they look so much older, and I, well, don't. I guess I never thought that the day would actually come where I was handed the keys and told, "Alright, take us home." I think I was unconciously living in some world where I didn't grow up, and so today came as a big shock to me. I can't even imagine myself driving, it seems like something I'd never get to do. Like something on the horizon, where I can see it, but never get close enough to reach out and grab it, untill suddenly today I'm fifteen and going in to take the driving test and walking out with a permit and sitting in the drivers' seat and putting the car in drive and checking the mirrors and....
Wow. This milestone is huge, and I can only imagine what others are to come. I think realizing that I'm old to enough to drive has given me a wake-up call- I'm growing up, and it's time to stop denying that I will be the stress-free, un-troubled little girl that I was in my childhood ever again.
To close, I'll just give you all a fair warning- Watch out for me on the road. ;)


(I'm not kidding I'm a terrible driver!)

"If I had a thousand lives, I'd live them all for Africa."
--Hudson Taylor

J o y.
Unexplainable, all-encompassing, came-out-of-nowhere joy fills me tonight as I imagine where I'll be in only sixteen days. I will be in Africa! Africa! I almost can't believe it! I think that for the first time, the fact of it all has hit me. And, also for the first time, my fears and worries and nerves and doubts are melting away, and all I am left with is an uncontrollable desire to go and serve and reach out to people and be changed in a way that I thought I'd never get to experience. I can't think about anything else these days, all of my thoughts have been going directly to the people of Uganda and how they and I both will be forever changed. My wishful thinking about Africa has even been clouding out my excitement about Pine Cove, which happens first, and that is not easy to do. I feel like there is no better time for me to go to Uganda than right after camp, which fills me with the spirit of the Lord and refreshes and renews my faith even stronger every year. I am so glad that I'll be able to go over to Africa with my heart in the right place.
If you're reading this blog and you've noticed that many of the recent posts have been about Africa, it's only because it is the biggest thing going on in my life right now, the biggest and craziest adventure I've ever been able to take. If I have this much emotion 2 weeks before the trip, I can only imagine what I'm going to be like when actually traveling!
To wrap up this post, I will ask you all to pray for me and my team not only while we're there (July 28-August 11) but also before we go, so that we will be able to go with a big group of people supporting us through their prayers. I have been wanting to go to Africa so badly for so long, and I never ever ever expected to actually be able to go, but that just shows you the power of patience and trusting in God to get the timing right! I will cherish this trip for the rest of my life, and I can't wait to see where else the Lord takes me!

"Christ alone can save the world, but Christ cannot save the world alone." --David Livingston
"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" --John Keith Falconer
"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell."--C.T. Studd
"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God"--William Carey
"Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us."--Keith Wright
"Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart"--Bob Pierce

Don't You Just Hate That...

-based on the book by Scott Cohen-

Sitting down, getting comfortable and ready to watch TV and realizing that you left the remote in the kitchen.

Realizing that you're wrong after you've been arguing to prove that you're right.

People who always have food on their faces.

When someone eats the most disgusting thing you can think of right in front of you.

Singing loudly enough in the shower so that you can hear yourself and realizing after you get out that everyone else in the house could hear you too.

People who are always always ALWAYS several hours late.

Having to share your best friend with someone else.

Not liking the present you got from the person who normally gives THE BEST presents.

When you find yourself talking to someone who's not listening.

People who are hard of hearing and ask "What?" over and over again.

Being so excited for something and then it doesn't happen.

Awkward silences with people you shouldn't feel awkward with.

Biting into a piece of fruit that looks ripe but is rock hard.

A slow driver in front of you when you're already late.

Hitting a body part that already has a bruise on it.

When your feet fall asleep.

Raising your hand to ask a question and having the teacher begin to walk over, and then 3 more people between you and the teacher raise their hands, and she stops to help them first.

Laughing at something for waaaay too long, and people start to look at you like you're embarrassing yourself, which you are.

Really enjoying a song and then someone starts asking you questions in the middle of it.

When someone stands right in front of the TV while you're watching it.

When someone starts a sentence and then never finishes it.

Organizing something, walking away, and then coming back to find it completly messed up.

When the maid moves your stuff from the place you like it to the place she thinks is best.

Elderly people who shove past you or walk so slow and don't let you pass them.

Peopleee whoo tyyppeee likeee thisssssss, all the time.

Thinking that you smell what you're craving for dinner, then coming downstairs to find that it's not at all what you wanted.

People who don't see how lucky they are.

Men who boss their wives around in public.

When someone hurts your feelings, and then tries to cover it up by saying "Just kidding".

Knowing what you want to say, sitting down with the person you want to say it to, and then not being able to say it.

the countdown begins.

TEN DAYS till Pine Cove.
TWENTY DAYS till Africa.

ohmygosh.
I still can't believe it's snuck up on me so fast, it seems like yesterday I was sitting in Mrs. Burton's English class, daydreaming about summer.

I AM GOING TO GET TO GO TO A DIFFERENT CONTINENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!
As the date gets closer, my nerves are being covered up by pure excitement. I am SO looking forward to this trip!!

But....I still have Pine Cove before Africa, and I'm excited for that too. I just hope that my anticipation and excitement about Africa doesn't consume my every thought while I'm at PC, because I want to be able to be in the moment and get the most out of this year at camp.
But I'm just so excited. :)

how i hate being sick.

Sore throat. Achy everywhere. Chills and a fever. Constant headache. No appetite. Too tired to do anything but lay on the couch or sit at the computer.

Count yourselves lucky.