When he was born, he was only 2lbs 10oz!!
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17 July, 2009
Austin Daniel Rudy
Yesterday, my cousin Christine had a little baby boy! She wasn't due for 3 more months, but her body was rejecting the pregnancy, so they had to take him out as soon as possible! Here are some pictures of little Austin! Please keep him and my cousins Christine, Jared, and their daughter Ashlyn in your prayers!
When he was born, he was only 2lbs 10oz!!
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When he was born, he was only 2lbs 10oz!!
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16 July, 2009
Apartment Hunting!!
I am really excited because Alex is coming to Louisville next Thursday for 3 days! :) I haven't seen him since June 22nd, and that was only for 2 days since May 21st, so this I am really looking forward too. We are not sure how often he is going to be able to visit during the fall, and the plan is for him to move here at the end of December, soooo we are going to go look at apartments around Louisville one day while he is here! I have been online looking at different complexes and their different features (such as a pool, gym or pet availability) and comparing prices, location, etc. I've picked about 8 for us to go visit, so next weekend will be pretty busy I am sure! :) We MUST find a place that takes pets because we have 2 dogs, and they are our world! :) So pray that we are able to find an affordable and nice area that he can move into in December! And also pray that he gets a good score on his GRE that he is going to take in the fall. Thanks so much!
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13 July, 2009
& they fell in ♥
I often get this question about me & Alex: How are you guys doing? Is he the one? etc., and I have a little "rant" that I would like to go on this evening if you don't mind. People have such speculations about love & marriage, and I just want to write what I think and believe in my heart about such an important area of each of our lives. I hear so many people say, "You're so young to even be thinking about getting married," and "You're not ready to get married," but what really makes a couple ready to get married? I honestly respect each and every person's opinion and conviction about these questions, but I am going to offer my own for now.
I can honestly say that I am 100%, head over heels, in love. Love isn't just a feeling, it is a choice and a commitment. Many days you can very much dislike the other person, but when you're in love, you choose to love that person, regardless of your feelings. Love is there the next day and the day after, no matter what. I hear so many times on television to "follow your heart," but instead, we should lead our hearts, because feelings and emotions are constantly changing. Especially as women, our feelings can change by the hour even. :) But I think that over time, when a couple feels with their hearts and their heads and commit to be there for the other person, regardless of feelings at that moment, than love can truly be found. I have been dating Alex for almost 2 years, and I love him with my whole heart. We've lived in the same city, the same house even *he lived with my family last summer* but have also spent great lengths of time away, and still I find myself completely infatuated with that boy, that man that God has made perfectly for me. Sometimes we agree and share the same exact opinions on the same thing that I think that he is just agreeing with everything that I say, but no, we honestly do have the same heart for the same issues and areas of life that are so very important. I think it is SO important for couples to agree on issues, especially ones that involved marriage, because when you decide, "hey, we are going to get married, and we'll handle this problem when we get to it in a few years," but it's not realistic. People don't just change their minds on what they believe because someone else said they should change. The person that you are meant to be with should share those same values and priorities if you expect things to work out. I'm not saying that you should always agree, because of course, people won't always agree on everything. We're human. I like certain pizza toppings and Alex likes certain pizza toppings. I may handle grief or praise in a different way that Alex handles grief or praise, but when it comes to finances, life, parenting, communication, and other aspects of a marriage relationship, than both people should be on the same page, even before they get engaged.
Communication is also an important aspect of every relationship. You have to be willing to share your heart with someone and also listen when they are sharing what they hold inside them. One person cannot always be dominating a relationship. When that happens, the other person, if they just take it and say nothing, bottle up everything inside themselves then they can most likely come to resent that other person or just explode one day. It is important for couples to be able to say what they feel without fearing the other's reaction. It is also important on how a couple handles conflict. One person cannot always "win" an argument. If a couple has an argument and there actually is a... how so I say this... "correct side," that the person who was wrong needs to be able to humbly accept what is true, and the other should not boast or say, "I told you so," but humbly love that other person in their defeat and move on. Now if it is just an issue regarding opinion, than couples should compromise so that each is satisfied with the end result. Communication is also important regarding big decisions. One person cannot handle situations alone because marriage and relationships require teamwork. I love Alex for how he always asks my opinion, and I cherish the times when I call him to ask him his advice on a particular issue in my life. I trust him, that he is going to tell me the truth, in complete honesty, even if it means that I am wrong. I know he will push me to make the right choices and that he is always on my side. There are no secrets, and a good relationship can have none. There was one time when I really messed up in mine & Alex's relationship... I was completely ashamed with how I handled a certain situation, and I was for sure that he would just not speak to me and even possibly break up with me because he didn't deserve what I had done. I could have hid it and never told him and lived with it until the day I died, but I couldn't. I cried, and I told him, and I will never forget the first words that came from his mouth: "It's ok. I forgive you." I always have grasped the concept of God's forgiveness and the price Christ paid to forgive our sins, and I have just accepted it, but when Alex said those words I immediately resorted to, "but you can't. It's too bad. You have to get mad at me or walk away while I beg for forgiveness," but that didn't happen. It was grace, and it was hard to accept. Right there and then was the first time that I really realized how difficult God's grace should be to accept. We SHOULD accept it, but at the same time, we should be so thankful and so in awe that God would do that for us, mere humans. It was a day that I will never forget, and I am thankful for such honesty and such openness in mine & Alex's relationship.
So what else prepares a couple for marriage? Well, finances of course. When you get married you are completely on your own. Car payments, house payments, insurance, groceries, gas, medical bills, phone bills, utilities, tithing, entertainment, etc. You have to be able to provide for yourselves and also be prepared to provide for a child, if God should bless you with one. No matter if you are planning for a child or not, a married couple should be able to provide for one because face it, children are a big possibility when ... well when a man & woman love each other. :) It happens and couples should be prepared!
So this all is part of what I think makes up a good marriage: Commitment, Trust, Honesty, Finances, Shared Values etc. Of course there is more, but hey, this is a blog not a book. :) & I KNOW that Alex is that special one that I will someday commit to FOREVER & ALWAYS, no matter what. And yes, I plan on getting married before I graduate from college which is when I will be 22. And yes, I know that we are young, but never once before did I say that age was what made up a good marriage. Me and Alex are like the same person. We share the same Christian values with no exceptions. Christ is #1 in our relationship, and what the Bible says will always direct our relationship and future. We are completely honest with one another. We share a trust that nobody could break. In 1 year I could completely give my life to him. I trust him with my future. We are able to provide for ourselves even if we don't "have" to right now. Yes, I live with my parents, and they pay for practically everything that I have. I only pay part of my car payment, gas, and entertainment, but in reality, Alex & I could pay for all of that. Finances are not an issue at all, and we are both working and saving and could provide for ourselves and a child, if after we were married happened (accidentally of course) before we were done with school. I'm just in this waiting period of life, and I cannot stand it, but I've learned to accept it and be content. My whole life is a waiting process... I am waiting while I am in school for a degree so that I can have a certain salary so that I can... and it goes on and on. I am waiting until I am older so that people will take my intentions with love & marriage seriously. I am waiting and while I am waiting, I am experiencing this wonderful thing called love. It is love; I have no doubt. But what ever happened to "love is the only thing that matters." If you look at that statement, you would probably be skeptical, but isn't love, TRUE LOVE, all that matters? We wouldn't have a hope, a future without the love of Christ. Marriages wouldn't be healthy and complete without TRUE love. So, yes, I am 19. That is a fact. It is something that I can't change. I am halfway done with college. It's not my fault that I skipped a grade. It's not my fault that I will graduate college when I am barely 22 years old. It's how my life is. I was always told to graduate from college before I got married, but still, people tell me 22 is too young. Since when do we have to put an age on love? No, I am not trying to be extreme and all about 16 year olds getting married in high school because they think that they are in love. I am all about being realistic. So that's why I say if a couple is TRULY in love, able to afford a comfortable life for themselves and a child, if they are completely truthful with everything and agree on the most important things than why not? Why can't they get married at 20, 21, 22, 23? People who try to tell me that I am too young have their hearts and minds set in the traditional way of doing things. I respect their opinions, but in my heart I will have to gracefully consider but also decline those same opinions. Love is love. Christ's love is the most perfect and precious and example. Sacrifice is necessary, but I am willing to sacrifice everything and all that I am for those that I love: my God, my family and my Alex. ♥
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I can honestly say that I am 100%, head over heels, in love. Love isn't just a feeling, it is a choice and a commitment. Many days you can very much dislike the other person, but when you're in love, you choose to love that person, regardless of your feelings. Love is there the next day and the day after, no matter what. I hear so many times on television to "follow your heart," but instead, we should lead our hearts, because feelings and emotions are constantly changing. Especially as women, our feelings can change by the hour even. :) But I think that over time, when a couple feels with their hearts and their heads and commit to be there for the other person, regardless of feelings at that moment, than love can truly be found. I have been dating Alex for almost 2 years, and I love him with my whole heart. We've lived in the same city, the same house even *he lived with my family last summer* but have also spent great lengths of time away, and still I find myself completely infatuated with that boy, that man that God has made perfectly for me. Sometimes we agree and share the same exact opinions on the same thing that I think that he is just agreeing with everything that I say, but no, we honestly do have the same heart for the same issues and areas of life that are so very important. I think it is SO important for couples to agree on issues, especially ones that involved marriage, because when you decide, "hey, we are going to get married, and we'll handle this problem when we get to it in a few years," but it's not realistic. People don't just change their minds on what they believe because someone else said they should change. The person that you are meant to be with should share those same values and priorities if you expect things to work out. I'm not saying that you should always agree, because of course, people won't always agree on everything. We're human. I like certain pizza toppings and Alex likes certain pizza toppings. I may handle grief or praise in a different way that Alex handles grief or praise, but when it comes to finances, life, parenting, communication, and other aspects of a marriage relationship, than both people should be on the same page, even before they get engaged.
Communication is also an important aspect of every relationship. You have to be willing to share your heart with someone and also listen when they are sharing what they hold inside them. One person cannot always be dominating a relationship. When that happens, the other person, if they just take it and say nothing, bottle up everything inside themselves then they can most likely come to resent that other person or just explode one day. It is important for couples to be able to say what they feel without fearing the other's reaction. It is also important on how a couple handles conflict. One person cannot always "win" an argument. If a couple has an argument and there actually is a... how so I say this... "correct side," that the person who was wrong needs to be able to humbly accept what is true, and the other should not boast or say, "I told you so," but humbly love that other person in their defeat and move on. Now if it is just an issue regarding opinion, than couples should compromise so that each is satisfied with the end result. Communication is also important regarding big decisions. One person cannot handle situations alone because marriage and relationships require teamwork. I love Alex for how he always asks my opinion, and I cherish the times when I call him to ask him his advice on a particular issue in my life. I trust him, that he is going to tell me the truth, in complete honesty, even if it means that I am wrong. I know he will push me to make the right choices and that he is always on my side. There are no secrets, and a good relationship can have none. There was one time when I really messed up in mine & Alex's relationship... I was completely ashamed with how I handled a certain situation, and I was for sure that he would just not speak to me and even possibly break up with me because he didn't deserve what I had done. I could have hid it and never told him and lived with it until the day I died, but I couldn't. I cried, and I told him, and I will never forget the first words that came from his mouth: "It's ok. I forgive you." I always have grasped the concept of God's forgiveness and the price Christ paid to forgive our sins, and I have just accepted it, but when Alex said those words I immediately resorted to, "but you can't. It's too bad. You have to get mad at me or walk away while I beg for forgiveness," but that didn't happen. It was grace, and it was hard to accept. Right there and then was the first time that I really realized how difficult God's grace should be to accept. We SHOULD accept it, but at the same time, we should be so thankful and so in awe that God would do that for us, mere humans. It was a day that I will never forget, and I am thankful for such honesty and such openness in mine & Alex's relationship.
So what else prepares a couple for marriage? Well, finances of course. When you get married you are completely on your own. Car payments, house payments, insurance, groceries, gas, medical bills, phone bills, utilities, tithing, entertainment, etc. You have to be able to provide for yourselves and also be prepared to provide for a child, if God should bless you with one. No matter if you are planning for a child or not, a married couple should be able to provide for one because face it, children are a big possibility when ... well when a man & woman love each other. :) It happens and couples should be prepared!
So this all is part of what I think makes up a good marriage: Commitment, Trust, Honesty, Finances, Shared Values etc. Of course there is more, but hey, this is a blog not a book. :) & I KNOW that Alex is that special one that I will someday commit to FOREVER & ALWAYS, no matter what. And yes, I plan on getting married before I graduate from college which is when I will be 22. And yes, I know that we are young, but never once before did I say that age was what made up a good marriage. Me and Alex are like the same person. We share the same Christian values with no exceptions. Christ is #1 in our relationship, and what the Bible says will always direct our relationship and future. We are completely honest with one another. We share a trust that nobody could break. In 1 year I could completely give my life to him. I trust him with my future. We are able to provide for ourselves even if we don't "have" to right now. Yes, I live with my parents, and they pay for practically everything that I have. I only pay part of my car payment, gas, and entertainment, but in reality, Alex & I could pay for all of that. Finances are not an issue at all, and we are both working and saving and could provide for ourselves and a child, if after we were married happened (accidentally of course) before we were done with school. I'm just in this waiting period of life, and I cannot stand it, but I've learned to accept it and be content. My whole life is a waiting process... I am waiting while I am in school for a degree so that I can have a certain salary so that I can... and it goes on and on. I am waiting until I am older so that people will take my intentions with love & marriage seriously. I am waiting and while I am waiting, I am experiencing this wonderful thing called love. It is love; I have no doubt. But what ever happened to "love is the only thing that matters." If you look at that statement, you would probably be skeptical, but isn't love, TRUE LOVE, all that matters? We wouldn't have a hope, a future without the love of Christ. Marriages wouldn't be healthy and complete without TRUE love. So, yes, I am 19. That is a fact. It is something that I can't change. I am halfway done with college. It's not my fault that I skipped a grade. It's not my fault that I will graduate college when I am barely 22 years old. It's how my life is. I was always told to graduate from college before I got married, but still, people tell me 22 is too young. Since when do we have to put an age on love? No, I am not trying to be extreme and all about 16 year olds getting married in high school because they think that they are in love. I am all about being realistic. So that's why I say if a couple is TRULY in love, able to afford a comfortable life for themselves and a child, if they are completely truthful with everything and agree on the most important things than why not? Why can't they get married at 20, 21, 22, 23? People who try to tell me that I am too young have their hearts and minds set in the traditional way of doing things. I respect their opinions, but in my heart I will have to gracefully consider but also decline those same opinions. Love is love. Christ's love is the most perfect and precious and example. Sacrifice is necessary, but I am willing to sacrifice everything and all that I am for those that I love: my God, my family and my Alex. ♥
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Recipe: Mexican Lasagna
So I found this recipe on FoodNetwork.com, and made it last week and wanted to share it with you all! It's a quick and easy dish to make (once you have all the ingredients), so here is the recipe in case anybody is interested! I'll put the changes I made at the bottom and also some suggestions from my experience with this dish. Enjoy!
Cook Time: 20 min
Level:Easy
Yield:4 servings
Ingredients:
* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 2 pounds ground chicken breast, available in the packaged meats case
* 2 tablespoons chili powder
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 1/2 red onion, chopped
* 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
* 1 cup medium heat taco sauce or 1 (14-oz) can stewed or fire roasted tomatoes
* 1 cup frozen corn kernels
* Salt
* 8 (8 inch) spinach flour tortillas, available on dairy aisle of market
* 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or shredded pepper jack
* 2 scallions, finely chopped
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil - twice around the pan. Add chicken and season with chili powder, cumin, and red onion. Brown the meat, 5 minutes. Add taco sauce or stewed or fire roasted tomatoes. Add black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through, 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.
Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon oil. Cut the tortillas in half or quarters to make them easy to layer with. Build lasagna in layers of meat and beans, then tortillas, then cheese. Repeat: meat, tortilla, cheese again. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly. Top with the scallions and serve.
My suggestions: I used the fire roasted tomatoes, and they were delicious. I suggest adding something to make it spicy. It was a little bland but some hot sauce would be better. :) I also used Spinach wraps & Jalepeno Cheddar wraps. I mixed them in, and they were delicious! Let me know if you make it, and what ingredients you think make it better!
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Cook Time: 20 min
Level:Easy
Yield:4 servings
Ingredients:
* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 2 pounds ground chicken breast, available in the packaged meats case
* 2 tablespoons chili powder
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 1/2 red onion, chopped
* 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
* 1 cup medium heat taco sauce or 1 (14-oz) can stewed or fire roasted tomatoes
* 1 cup frozen corn kernels
* Salt
* 8 (8 inch) spinach flour tortillas, available on dairy aisle of market
* 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or shredded pepper jack
* 2 scallions, finely chopped
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil - twice around the pan. Add chicken and season with chili powder, cumin, and red onion. Brown the meat, 5 minutes. Add taco sauce or stewed or fire roasted tomatoes. Add black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through, 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.
Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon oil. Cut the tortillas in half or quarters to make them easy to layer with. Build lasagna in layers of meat and beans, then tortillas, then cheese. Repeat: meat, tortilla, cheese again. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly. Top with the scallions and serve.
My suggestions: I used the fire roasted tomatoes, and they were delicious. I suggest adding something to make it spicy. It was a little bland but some hot sauce would be better. :) I also used Spinach wraps & Jalepeno Cheddar wraps. I mixed them in, and they were delicious! Let me know if you make it, and what ingredients you think make it better!
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09 July, 2009
Lazy Days
Last week, my little sister Danielle had this bumpy rash all over her legs, and it eventually spread over her whole body. Then my little brother had a fever and seemed to get the rash, but it went away after a day or so. I was so thankful that I did not get the rash.. I had been working a lot and getting back into the swing of summer break. But then to much despair, Friday afternoon while I was at work, I noticed some small red bumps on my left wrist, and I knew exactly what it was. So for the last WEEK I have been battling it out with this very itchy and bumpy rash that has completely taken over my arms and ears and left eye. It is horrible, and I cannot stop itching. It also makes my skin very dry. All 3 of us went to the doctor's on Saturday afternoon, but my mom ended up paying $120 for him to tell us that we had a virus and that we would have to "wait it out." I finally was able to get out of the house yesterday and run some errands. I got some new books (2 Karen Kingsbury & the 1st Harry Potter), and met my best friend Holly down at UofL so that she could show me around. Just those couple escapades took all the energy from me, and here I am, almost recuperated and ready to get back to work tomorrow. I've already missed three days because of this stupid thing, but thankfully it SEEMS to be getting better. I still find it spreading a little, but who knows. I wanted to put a picture up of what this thing did to my eye. :( Thankfully it is getting better, and I don't have to wear sunglasses in public! :)
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05 July, 2009
Trip to Florida!
I recently had the chance to go to Panama City, Florida with my roommate Catherine at the end of June. We went with her mom and her mom's friend Mrs. K. It was a really fun trip, and I enjoyed being a beach bum for a few days. I actually haven't been to Florida since spring break of my senior year of high school, so I was really pumped. :) Our days consisted of waking up and heading to the beach (usually from 10-4) & then getting showered and dressed up for dinner and shopping! It was really fun, and here are a few pictures from the trip! Catherine hasn't uploaded hers onto Facebook yet so I am waiting for her to put them up because most of them were on her camera! Hope you all are finding time to vacation yourself!
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Crash 2009
I know that I haven't updated in a while, but my life has been so busy! Thankfully I am doing wonderful and have a lot to catch up on! I am dedicating this post to my experience as a counselor at Country Lake Christian Retreat a few weeks back! I have grown up going to camp every summer at Country Lake, but this year was my first to be a counselor, and I LOVED it. It had been a while since I had been there, but things haven't really changed. I was there for a week (June 14-19) with a bunch of kids that will be starting 6th grade in the fall. I didn't really know what being a counselor would be like, and it was sort of a last minute decision to do it, but I really want to get involved in the Jr. High ministry at church, so I thought this would be the best way to jump in! :) We had some great adult volunteers that week, but a majority of the counselors were high school and college kids. We even had some camp teams from KCU, CCU & Milligan with us! It was great getting to know a lot of the staff at Southeast that I will be around all year long. Well each counselor got teamed up with another counselor to form a small group with 8-10 kids each. My co-leader was Sean, one of the guys from KCU. He was a sweetheart, and we definitely made a great team. Our kids were great too! Below is a picture of my girls and I... & below that are the boys of the group!!
LtoR: Rachel, Sydney, me, Emmalee, and Jill!
LtoR: Austin, Sam, Zac, and Cameron!
A lot of the leaders had... I don't want to say "trouble" with their groups, but a lot of the time they felt like they weren't able to get through to them or that they wouldn't pay attention, etc., but that was NOT the case with my kids! They participated in our small group time, and even when they acted like they weren't paying attention, I knew they were listening. :) We were the silver team, and we came up with our team name: SUPER SILVER SEVEN!! and some cheers that we chanted *or tried to chant* during our recreation/game time. It was a lot of fun, and we really bonded, and I can't wait to see these kids come over to The Block in the fall for middle school church!
I want to briefly share with you our theme for the week. As you probably saw when you first came to my blog was the title, Crash 2009. We talked all week about the rhino who has sort of become our youth "mascot" at church. The rhino is a really neat animal, and there were some really cool facts about the rhino that we were able to incorporate to our everyday lives as Christians. Our slogan for the week was this: Advance The Kingdom With Your Everyday Lives. We talked about how the rhino is the only animal on earth that does not walk/run backwards. It can only move forward, and that is what we want to do as Christians and in advancing the Kingdom. The rhino also has terrible vision and has to rely a lot on what he/she hears in order to determine what direction to go. This ties in to how we need to take time to actually listen to what God is trying to tell us instead of just walking aimlessly by our own direction. We talked about how a rhino can only see 35 ft. in front of him but when it is charging, it takes 40 ft. to stop. The rhino does not have obstacles, and we should not have obstacles in our Christian walk but turn them into opportunities. We also talked about the rhino's horn. Many people think that it is made up of ivory, but it is actually made up of thousands and thousands of hairs that are interwoven together. We talked about the power in numbers and how it benefits our Christian lives. There is power in numbers and when we get other people on our side and link together than you can do much more than you could alone. At The Block (my church's student ministry center), we actually have a rhino head crashing through one of our walls. It's really neat, and we encouraged all the students (and leaders) to be rhinos. And while a group of sheep is called a flock and a group of fish are a school; a group of rhinos is called a crash. These kids that were at camp are so special, and as a ministry, we believe that even though these kids are only 6th graders, they can crash this world and make a difference and change it for the better. That was what this week was all about, and I don't think I could have spent my week in any better place. It was really a great opportunity to reach out and connect with these kids. I don't think I will ever forget all the fun and memories that were made. There were 4 other girls besides myself that were the dorm leaders for 40 girls. It was quite an experience, but I loved being a mom to them, if only for a week. I was the 2nd oldest of the leaders in my dorm, so I really had to step up and be more than I have ever been to these kids. I can't wait to see what else lays in store during my time serving in this ministry, but if it is any better than how it started, I can't wait!
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LtoR: Rachel, Sydney, me, Emmalee, and Jill!
LtoR: Austin, Sam, Zac, and Cameron!
A lot of the leaders had... I don't want to say "trouble" with their groups, but a lot of the time they felt like they weren't able to get through to them or that they wouldn't pay attention, etc., but that was NOT the case with my kids! They participated in our small group time, and even when they acted like they weren't paying attention, I knew they were listening. :) We were the silver team, and we came up with our team name: SUPER SILVER SEVEN!!
I want to briefly share with you our theme for the week. As you probably saw when you first came to my blog was the title, Crash 2009. We talked all week about the rhino who has sort of become our youth "mascot" at church. The rhino is a really neat animal, and there were some really cool facts about the rhino that we were able to incorporate to our everyday lives as Christians. Our slogan for the week was this: Advance The Kingdom With Your Everyday Lives. We talked about how the rhino is the only animal on earth that does not walk/run backwards. It can only move forward, and that is what we want to do as Christians and in advancing the Kingdom. The rhino also has terrible vision and has to rely a lot on what he/she hears in order to determine what direction to go. This ties in to how we need to take time to actually listen to what God is trying to tell us instead of just walking aimlessly by our own direction. We talked about how a rhino can only see 35 ft. in front of him but when it is charging, it takes 40 ft. to stop. The rhino does not have obstacles, and we should not have obstacles in our Christian walk but turn them into opportunities. We also talked about the rhino's horn. Many people think that it is made up of ivory, but it is actually made up of thousands and thousands of hairs that are interwoven together. We talked about the power in numbers and how it benefits our Christian lives. There is power in numbers and when we get other people on our side and link together than you can do much more than you could alone. At The Block (my church's student ministry center), we actually have a rhino head crashing through one of our walls. It's really neat, and we encouraged all the students (and leaders) to be rhinos. And while a group of sheep is called a flock and a group of fish are a school; a group of rhinos is called a crash. These kids that were at camp are so special, and as a ministry, we believe that even though these kids are only 6th graders, they can crash this world and make a difference and change it for the better. That was what this week was all about, and I don't think I could have spent my week in any better place. It was really a great opportunity to reach out and connect with these kids. I don't think I will ever forget all the fun and memories that were made. There were 4 other girls besides myself that were the dorm leaders for 40 girls. It was quite an experience, but I loved being a mom to them, if only for a week. I was the 2nd oldest of the leaders in my dorm, so I really had to step up and be more than I have ever been to these kids. I can't wait to see what else lays in store during my time serving in this ministry, but if it is any better than how it started, I can't wait!
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