WOW. that word doesn't even begin to cover my feelings right now. BLESSED. that word covers it a little bit more. JOYFUL. that definitely helps get the picture.
Southern Adventist University started classes today. I attended there my freshman year & half of my sophomore. You know how people always say you don't know how much something means to you until you are gone...well it applies to this situation as well. The people there...how do I put what they are in one sentence....? not possible. To tell you that they hold a place in my heart that won't ever be substituted with anything else is an understatement. How can you spend so little bit of your life in a place and still feel as though without it you haven't lived at all. That sounds SO dramatic but I suppose I feel that way about all the places God has taken me. Mount Pisgah Academy, Charleston, Michigan, and now even Washington. For this post though I am going to focus on SAU because today was their day of glory.
The experiences I have there are endless. The memories are as countless as the times in the day that I twirl my hair (which if you know me at all--you know how much that is!). The beautiful things about Southern is that I have so many different friends there that all share a different part of me. My high school friends, whom know me sometimes better than I know myself. My college friends, whom I sometimes feel I grew up with. Also, my elementary education major friends who I get to share things with that few of my other friends can understand. The lists are endless and I am blessed, blessed, blessed!
Today I felt so honored because on this triumphant beginning of another school year my dear friends all from different areas of my life individually sent me greetings. It is almost midnight here and I just finished my final conversation with one of my best comrades. The things I learn from my many friends are incredible. They help me grow! They help me challenge myself to greater heights! I wouldn't be who I am today without them.
God, thank You! I pray that You bless them this year! Give them more laughs, memories, & triumphs. I wish so badly that I could join them but I know that isn't the plan. I am grateful for the distance because it helps me appreciate them so much more than if I saw them everyday. When you spend time with people, you can't help but share a little bit of your soul with them. I suppose that is why you need to be so careful with who you spend time with. haha!
I am on cloud 9 because I know God loves me SO much! I have seen His love through my friends. Don't even get me started on my family...haha!
Anyways, I just had to share that before I went to bed. Couldn't keep it in. God IS GOOD! He has us all in His hands and He isn't letting go.
Dear Southern Adventist University Students,
Have the BEST YEAR EVER! Keep God number 1 in your lives & I can't wait till we get to make more memories one day. Till then you are in my prayers & thoughts always.
Love you,
Eileen
Friday, August 26, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Waiting on the World to Change.
WAIT.
A powerful 4 letter word that consumes my life. I am waiting for the school year to begin, I am waiting to go places and travel, I am waiting to make friends, I am waiting...etc. You get the picture? We are waiting for Jesus to come--now that is a BIG one.
Why do I have such a hard time waiting? Because I lack patience and this world doesn't offer very many opportunities for us to practice it. We live in a world of "instant gratification" and the results need to happen as soon as possible or else our attention moves elsewhere. Maybe I shouldn't stereotype and assume that everyone else struggles with my issue of waiting. I remember as a little girl my father telling me to wait on something and I would say dramatically "I CAN'T!" and he would say "This will teach you patience...". I am here to tell you that I still haven't learned the lesson and I am afraid I never will. I am still waiting to acquire this virtue, ironically enough.
The truth is, in all my eagerness to begin I fail to value the time I have in my hands while I wait. Where as I should be taking all this time I have to prepare and anticipate I fail because I am too busy "waiting". Once the anticipated time finally arrives am I prepared? Do I find myself fully geared or sitting in a chair thumping my foot on the floor counting the seconds passing? We often miss the beauty of the waiting period in which we can dream, hope, & prepare for what is to come. Are we waiting for opportunities, people, or situations to fall into our lap or are we preparing for when they do?
I think that this can apply to so many different aspects of our life; love, romance, friendships, events, & even retirement. We need to take advantage of every second and learn to embrace the moments of waiting. I need to soak in the joys and prepare for what is to come.
Right now I am waiting for SO MANY THINGS. I will not sit here and tell you that I have learned the beautiful art of waiting & preparing. Unfortunately, I am afraid I am not as fully prepared as I should be for what I am waiting for. So here is my ambition--to wait on the Lord & be fully prepared so when the moment arises I will be able to stand firmly with my hands in the air ready to say "LET'S GO!".
"I waited patiently on the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
A powerful 4 letter word that consumes my life. I am waiting for the school year to begin, I am waiting to go places and travel, I am waiting to make friends, I am waiting...etc. You get the picture? We are waiting for Jesus to come--now that is a BIG one.
Why do I have such a hard time waiting? Because I lack patience and this world doesn't offer very many opportunities for us to practice it. We live in a world of "instant gratification" and the results need to happen as soon as possible or else our attention moves elsewhere. Maybe I shouldn't stereotype and assume that everyone else struggles with my issue of waiting. I remember as a little girl my father telling me to wait on something and I would say dramatically "I CAN'T!" and he would say "This will teach you patience...". I am here to tell you that I still haven't learned the lesson and I am afraid I never will. I am still waiting to acquire this virtue, ironically enough.
The truth is, in all my eagerness to begin I fail to value the time I have in my hands while I wait. Where as I should be taking all this time I have to prepare and anticipate I fail because I am too busy "waiting". Once the anticipated time finally arrives am I prepared? Do I find myself fully geared or sitting in a chair thumping my foot on the floor counting the seconds passing? We often miss the beauty of the waiting period in which we can dream, hope, & prepare for what is to come. Are we waiting for opportunities, people, or situations to fall into our lap or are we preparing for when they do?
I think that this can apply to so many different aspects of our life; love, romance, friendships, events, & even retirement. We need to take advantage of every second and learn to embrace the moments of waiting. I need to soak in the joys and prepare for what is to come.
Right now I am waiting for SO MANY THINGS. I will not sit here and tell you that I have learned the beautiful art of waiting & preparing. Unfortunately, I am afraid I am not as fully prepared as I should be for what I am waiting for. So here is my ambition--to wait on the Lord & be fully prepared so when the moment arises I will be able to stand firmly with my hands in the air ready to say "LET'S GO!".
"I waited patiently on the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
Sunday, August 14, 2011
No Regrets.
It always amazes me how life takes you places you never thought you'd go. How every person God brings into your life effects who you are, what you will become, & where you will end up. You'd like to think that people don't have an effect on you, that you can surround yourself with whomever and it won't change who you are, but the truth is, it does. It is incredible how sometimes you have to let go of people in your life and at the time you don't quite understand why but you realize that you had to let go in order to end up where you are today. I thank God for each moment that He has given me, each friend--even if we aren't friends today, and each door that has opened up into a new section of my life. To tell you that I live a life with no regrets would be a lie, I marvel at those who can boast proudly of the fact that they regret nothing they have done. I don't think they mean that every choice they made was the right one, but they have accepted them and moved on--allowing those choices to make them a better person rather than a bitter one. I think God is working in my heart to move into that direction of thinking. I praise God for my triumphs as well as my failures! I praise God for molding me and continuing to mold me in to the person He created me to be.I still have so far to go but I know that I can make it as long as I remember where I am going.
You want to know the best part of this whole thing? I am not alone. I have so many friends all over the world that are starting this journey too. Each of them having chosen to set aside their lives for God. Although they are far away from me physically they are constantly inspiring me and encouraging me. I am a small part of a BIGGER picture! My prayers go out to ya'll & I love each of you so much!
I would love to go back in time to the previous Eileen and let her in on all that is to come, but at the same time the unknown is what makes this all so much more exciting! The blind faith, the horizon of opportunities, and the constant plea that God will show me which step to take next.
You want to know the best part of this whole thing? I am not alone. I have so many friends all over the world that are starting this journey too. Each of them having chosen to set aside their lives for God. Although they are far away from me physically they are constantly inspiring me and encouraging me. I am a small part of a BIGGER picture! My prayers go out to ya'll & I love each of you so much!
I would love to go back in time to the previous Eileen and let her in on all that is to come, but at the same time the unknown is what makes this all so much more exciting! The blind faith, the horizon of opportunities, and the constant plea that God will show me which step to take next.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
New Beginnings.
To say that I am blessed would in fact be an understatement. I am ashamed to say that at times I do not realize how blessed I really am and take it for granted. As for today, I had the blessing of riding my bike around town with the warm sunshine and a cool breeze. There is something extremely liberating of being able to ride your bicycle all over town whenever you'd wish. I haven't had the opportunity to do that in years, since I was 9 years old, to be exact.
I just bought my bike the other day, part of my new adventure here in Walla Walla, WA. I have been here about 4 weeks and I feel as though I just arrived yesterday, in some aspects, while in others I feel as if I have been here my whole life. It is a wonderful combination I believe, although at times I do feel quite alone.
The last two Sabbaths I have sat alone in church and while I was there today I came to the realization that up until these past two Sabbaths, I have never sat alone in church. I am very spoiled with a plethora of loved ones. It has been an interesting experience that I will not take for granted--being alone is something I believe I need to soak in and grow from, not shy away from.
Time is a luxury and right now I am a very rich young woman. Soon I will have no time at all and I need to really take advantage of my time now. It is easier said than done though as I often find myself wasting my time on pointless tasks and mindless activities. I need to stop and smell the flowers while I can & boy oh boy, there are several flowers here in Walla Walla! Everywhere I turn I see wild sunflowers growing on the way side. I am thrilled each time I see them. I don't think I'll ever get use to their beauty and I hope I don't.
I can't wait for the year to begin and to serve everywhere I can. I pray that I won't loose focus. The people that God has brought into my life so far have been a testament of His plan for my year here. He has blessed me with so much love already and I pray that I can return the love while I serve Him whole heartily. I am staying in a beautiful home & working with an awesome group of people. If the beginning of this chapter is a reflection of what is to come then BRING IT ON!
I just bought my bike the other day, part of my new adventure here in Walla Walla, WA. I have been here about 4 weeks and I feel as though I just arrived yesterday, in some aspects, while in others I feel as if I have been here my whole life. It is a wonderful combination I believe, although at times I do feel quite alone.
The last two Sabbaths I have sat alone in church and while I was there today I came to the realization that up until these past two Sabbaths, I have never sat alone in church. I am very spoiled with a plethora of loved ones. It has been an interesting experience that I will not take for granted--being alone is something I believe I need to soak in and grow from, not shy away from.
Time is a luxury and right now I am a very rich young woman. Soon I will have no time at all and I need to really take advantage of my time now. It is easier said than done though as I often find myself wasting my time on pointless tasks and mindless activities. I need to stop and smell the flowers while I can & boy oh boy, there are several flowers here in Walla Walla! Everywhere I turn I see wild sunflowers growing on the way side. I am thrilled each time I see them. I don't think I'll ever get use to their beauty and I hope I don't.
Taken while on one of my bike rides in College Place, WA
I can't wait for the year to begin and to serve everywhere I can. I pray that I won't loose focus. The people that God has brought into my life so far have been a testament of His plan for my year here. He has blessed me with so much love already and I pray that I can return the love while I serve Him whole heartily. I am staying in a beautiful home & working with an awesome group of people. If the beginning of this chapter is a reflection of what is to come then BRING IT ON!
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