Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Washington Family Ranch

Can I be out at the ranch every time I write a blog? I guess that means I should come out every weekend! I would be fine with that :) I don't know where I am at with last weeks blog, but oh we'll. Not a stressful thing. Finals week has come and gone, and spring break is here. I've been so blessed this last week. I took a final Wednesday ( my only real final) I don't like to rub it in, but it was nice to have time to relax. I was able to watch movies galore! I don't get get that a lot! I also had a night of strictly roommate time! Watched movies, colored, scrapbooking, chatting time. We don't get the chance to do that, like at all. Friday came for the end of the week and I prepared myself for my long adventurous weekend. Headed to the ranch. Long five or so our drive I was preparing myself for. Figured we would leave early enough so we would be in the dark on the way to camp. Thank goodness we did. Leah, Jessica and I had an adventure on the way here. Coming up the mountain and over the mountain I look to my gps for the directions since I have never driven here myself. Over the mountain I end up taking a wrong turn and my GPS tells me to go on a random road, which is all covered in snow. Going smooth with my SUV, we finally hit a rough patch of SNOW! I am from the beach, snow and me not close friends. Love it, just not driving in it. Talking to God I know he will get us through this. I decide to go to the road because our turn off was 250 yards in front of us :/ I walk the short way to he road and low and behold a minute later someone drives me. I flag them down and they come to our rescue! Praise The Lord. Everything else was smooth sailing. Finally I am at camp, so pumped and excited. This is my worry free happy place. What a blessing this week has been. Close quarters with so many godly people. Getting to know new people and their hearts. All weekend I listened to people, worked in the sassy and cut string with others and tied bracelets and necklaces then bag them up so they are ready for campers for the summer. I never realized what kind of work needs to totally be done to accomplish the experience everyone has for summer. Hard work for everyone, but so worth it. I can't wait to see kids here this summer, hear about a God who loves them and do all that we have prepared them for at this camp. This had been such a great experience that words can't always describe. I made a couple new friends named Isaac, Grace and joshua. Of course they are under the age of ten ! But that is where my heart goes! Big thanks to God for a great safe start to my break! Thanks for all you give to me on a daily basis. The food and clothing I need. Warm water and a hot shower. I am pumped to now head home and see what you bring to me there. Tomorrow hunter has a track meet :) and I get to see loved ones! Make this a long second half of break where I can love on my people! :)

Amen!
Alyssa :)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Things either slow down or speed up!

I'm in bed thinking, yes I have my last final tomorrow and how I need to write last weeks blog.
Last week was a good week. Got to spend time at young life with two girls I've been getting to know, and they are pumped about going to camp! $600 is a lot for a camp, but man is it worth it :) I'd say Wednesday was an awesome day. I had class, all the good stuff with time to spare. So Ashley and I got some Froyo, and subway for dinner and were able to go listen to 15 miles west and Vibe, the cappella groups at WOU :) ok I'm a little obsessed at the moment too. I keep YouTubing 15 miles west to see what I can listen to of them. It was an hour show, so Ashley and I could male or to bible study on time, which was awesome! Worship, ready, set, go! So amazing to worship the Lord with believers that are my age!
Thursday I didn't have music class, but I really did like that class. Anyway, I was able to drive Michaela and Hannah to a young life camp meeting in Salem. That was nice chatting with them, and spending an evening with the other YL leaders for the greater Salem area.
Friday!! Math Fun Fair. How great was that!! So awesome. Spending the morning with our math buddies we'd been talking to during the term and actually meeting them. Such a fun time to get and know them and play games with them! I cam not wait to get into a classroom. So many times I get confirmation that what I am pursuing is something that I will love. Be obedient to the Lord and he will give you the pleasures of your heart. Such a trust worthy, loving God that I have! He shows himself true every day.
I've had a chill week, cause in all honesty I have been blessed with an easy term. I don't want to take it forgranted either. I know I won't have easy terms again, but I can male the most out of them! I am ready for the rest of the week, and I am preparing myself for spring break!! Starts Wednesday afternoon, but I won't head anywhere till Friday. Going to the ranch to volunteer :)!! Then I'll end up heading home, once I figure out where I will stay.
So many new things ahead, and I am prepared without looking too far ahead and driving myself crazy!!
Good luck to anyone who still has finals this week :) hope everyone has a blessed week :)
With love
Alyssa!!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

One week two days!

Hey guys! I'm getting later and later on my writing; which should be a good thing right? I'm keeping myself busy :) in my head though everyday that passes I'm thinking I need to get that done. I've been doing a blog ever week for a couple months now, I can't slack! With a lot of things, that is how I am. If I have committed to something it is hard for me to slack off or give up on trying. I will keep going at it until I get in the groove again of accomplishing whatever it is I need to do. I was thinking about that yesterday and realized that is fine, but I gotta keep myself in check about it. If it makes me stressed or worry I need to analyze what is going on and ask myself if it is really that important! Something's are and some are not. :)

So I have entered DEAD WEEK! Looking back to last (where I didn't really write a blog about ;) I was thinking about how this week would look for me. I did my normal stuff last week, classes, works, young life, lunch with Carlee on Wednesday. Added a couple other things which is always nice from my routine. I also sat through everyone's mini lesson for music. Ok so since I was done I had sorta check out of hat class mentally, but guess what?! Now I am done. I really did enjoy the class and wish I had classes like that more often. Just not that late at night! This Thursday night I am not sure yet what I will do withy night, but I will find something.

For dead week I have two more things that I have to do that get my nerves going. Tomorrow at 8am I have a group presentation in my Ed writing class. Should be good though, PowerPoint and mini lesson, GO! And last for the day I am presenting my final art project that I am not fond of, but it had to get done. Once those are marked off my imaginary list for the week I am set free. Friday I have math but we are having a fun fair with our lag buddies we have been working with all term. Excited to meet them and play some games. I hope an pray everyone else's finals and dead week go smoothly, because a lot of stress and pressure build up during this time.

I'm excited to see this week and next go by so I can head to the rang and see how God can use me. And to see what he has to show me :) God is so good!!

Have an awesome week everyone. Thanks for reading, those of you who did. Means a lot :)

Lyssa

Oh ya! I made snicker doodle cookies this week! So yummy. And I made roommate dinner, which I was super impressed with myself. :)

Sunday, March 3, 2013

A week too full or a week to praise!

This week has been a little bit of a hectic one! Everything turned out fine of course!
I was super busy the first couple days trying to get homework done from being gone over last weekend. We are heading to week 9, then dead week and finals are approaching! So glad that everything got done, but I was getting a little antsy. Catching up on homework, making sure my projects are getting further then they are. I spend every week the same. Which is fine, at times variety pops in there too. That I like!

This week I was preparing for a music mini lesson I had to do in my class. My late, 7pm-9:40pm class. Gosh I had no idea what I was doing with my mini lesson, and kept thinking it wouldn't turn out the way I want it to. Guess what! It turned out great! (Or at least I am hoping great) In class we did everyones mini lesson, I was second to last. I would sing, dance, clap and move around the room. I wanted mine to be up, sorta of I could just be done. It was finally my turn, and it seemed that my class really liked what we were doing! Thank goodness! I really liked it too. Probably a highlight of my week was the mini lesson. And now, we are pretty much done with that class!!

Thursday a friend texted me, asking if I was going to the concert Friday. In my head I am thinking, I have no idea what concert she is talking about so no. Turns out some friends from Ocean Shores were going to a concert in Portland. I did some thinking of what my Friday was looking like and decided to go! And man am I glad I did. I could have used the excuse that I had too much homework (which I do all the time, my fault) or that I didn't have the money. My roommate Ashley came along too, and it was her first concert! A girl my friend Kelsey knew needed a ride to the concert so I invited her to come along! We had decided to leave early to get there around three; they don't let people in the doors till 6. It was such a beautiful day! I personally love love love the rain, but was glad that the sun was shining, because that could have been a much longer wait with rain. So I am waiting for my friends to call and show up at the concert. I live half the distance they do. I see a bright orange sweatshirt walking by, and it is Kristy and everyone else!! So good to see my friends. So we are waiting around, it was a fun evening. Actually fun is an understatement! It was an amazing night! Awesome singers, packed arena, great prayers, and wonderful friends. So nice to be able to spend the whole night worshipping the Lord with friends and fellow believers! Man I wish I would have known about this concert before. Guess what I am doing next year around this time!

I had a good week. I go through my times of deep thoughts and try to seek what the Lord is telling me. This morning Pastor Sean asked us if we are blocking anyone from seeing the Cross? Then he also asked us if there is anything blocking us from the Cross? Puts your life into perspective. If I am living everything I have and do for the Lord and are allowing people to see that. Or if I am going on with life and not caring about showing what Jesus did for all of us. That it is all a free gift and all you have to do is accept this gift! The gift of Jesus dying for our sins is a gift too many take for granted. I want to show everyone that I have accepted the gift. I want Him to use me on this Earth as an example of who He is. I love being able to hear new things or be challenged with how I am living my life.

I am ready for a new week. Made a morning date with my friend Ciara! Have Young Life and prayer going on Tuesday and so much more! I am psyched with what the Lord has to show me and how He is going to use me this week!

Hope everyone had an awesome weekend and has a great week :)
Love to all,
Lyssa