Sick at home..

So, I've been sick at home for the past few days. You know what would make things slightly better?!

A cherry limeade from the new Sonic.

Dave Barnes - Close Your Eyes

When the future gets real tough.
And silence speaks too much.
I'll reach my hands to you.

I'll be all you need, close your eyes and just believe.

Love, it can break your heart,
But that's where true love starts.
Trust me, i'll show you.
Life, it can beat you down,
But i'll still be around.
There's nothing I can't do.

I'll be all you need, close your eyes and just believe.

Life is shorter than you think,
It can get lost inside a blink.
Don't let it pass you by.
And me, I've loved you from the start,
You're the blood that beats my heart.
Search and you'll find me.

I'll be all you need, close your eyes and just believe

Hunk

I think John Mayer is dead sexy with his new hair cut.



Anybody think he looks like Jim Carey now?

Big accomplishments this week

- I finally got my "new to me" phone working!! YAY! Cheers!! (The crowd goes wild!!) After a week of frsutrations with power cables, batteries, software, and sync issues.. we've got them all worked out.. I can now make it through one night without my phone dieing, while being plugged in. :)

- I purchased the new Gavin DeGraw CD, and my crush was rekindled. It was long over due for a new CD from him... Check out his self titled CD and buy it.. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

- My mom came and saw my new digs. Means a lot to me. :)

- I got my work email inbox down to 1 email... 24 hours later, it's at about 10. Not bad friends, not bad.

- I'm re-addicted to the show Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. It's such a silly show.. but my roommate Chrissie and I enjoy watching it together. :)


I don't have much to report.. but certain people were complaining about a lag in posts. So, here's to you Nashville. Here's to you.

Tomorrow it's off to Indiana, for Junior High Camp. I hope I get to spend some time on the lake! I miss being on the water!!!

Open-Heart

I leave for Student Impact's annual summer camp, Sandblast - in less than 24 hours.

Terrified
Excited
Nervous
Exhausted
Anxious
Hopeful

...All rolled into one...

This is my 6th Sandblast.. wether as a student or on staff. And I have LOVED every single experience. Some more than others.. but the ones that I'm on staff, they get better and better. Easier with time, right? NOT! :)

My heart is so excited for the 500 kids coming this year. Many of which I know, lots that I don't. Knowing how impacting these experiences were for me in highschool, I pray fervently that God would work in these students in the same way.

As a staff, we work so hard to create experiences at camp where students are going to experience God in new and fresh ways and worship like never before. Kind of crazy that after almost 6 months worth of prep and planning, these significant 5 days are here! Do these students really know what they're getting themselves into? This is going to hopefully be a significant marker in their stories. Getting to be a part of those stories is an honor. I count myself lucky.. and the fact that i get to do this as a job?! Who would've thought. Surely, not me.

Things I'm praying for:

-Everyone's saftey. We drive almost 5 hours to camp, and take lots of busses and trucks.

-Endurance. The production team does a lot of manual labor while there. Once you see pictures, you'll understand. :) I'm praying that we don't lose steam.

-Fun and community. I am SO super excited for the crew that I'm bringing. I hope that we grow as a team and have fun, even in the stressful moments.

-Preparing the hearts of students. I hope that students are attentive to hearing God this weekend. I hope that they learn. I hope that they are excited and know that we've been praying for them, by name.

-Patience. This is something that I've been working on specifically for myself in the last few months. Camp is a big test of that. I am praying for flexibility in tough situations. Coupled with that is a good attitude in stressful situations.

I've been playing this song lately, and love the lyrics. Thought I'd share:

_Hosanna: Hillsong United_

I see the king of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a new revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna

I'm going to try and post updates along the way, but at least I'll update next week when I get back.

PRAY!!!

Frustration with my Stupidity

Well friends, here's a glimpse into the scatter-brained Chels that is in existence these days...

I packed up most of my belongings on Thursday night (with help from Christy Anderson.. you rock!!!) and have been living on close to nothing for the last couple of days. I am moving on Monday.. so I have some clothes, sheets on my bed, and toiletries. One thing that I did pack up, was my desk.. contents inside, and all. I sat down today, only to realize that i had a pretty hefty Physically Therapy bill due - 2 days ago!!!! That is not like me folks.. but you see - the pace i've been running at recently is insane. It's amazing that I make it out of the house every morning with 2 matching socks and makeup on.

Well, I decided to give Athletico a call to let them know that the payment would get to them this next week - and that I was sorry it was late. I had to leave a message, seeing as how it's the weekend. I'm crossing my fingers that they find me rather pathetic, and don't penalize me.

Well, I cut some checks, change some addresses, etc.. and realize that I don't have stamps.. cause I packed them!!! Grrr. Who knows what box in the garage they are in. So, I head out on a little adventure. Post Office #1 in Algonquin: No self service station! Grr!! No luck. Post Office #2 in Lake in the Hills: Yay for self service station! Because there's a $1.00 limit on your purchase at those machines, it sold me 3 stamps. lol. Well, who cares - I'll save extras for later. I charge $1 to my credit card, apply some stamps, and send 'em off.

Well folks, I get home tonight.. and look at the only pile of paper work left on top of my desk - only to find the stamps that I DIDN'T pack on the bottom of said pile.

So, yay for a scatter-brained Chels, and a stupid charge to my credit card, and the gas wasted to drive all over creation for un-needed stamps.

I hope my brain stops feeling like jello soon. Did I tell you that I have a horrible short term memory? :)

Cleaning Out My Closet...

...I found this journal entry...

"Dear God,
You worked powerfully in the hearts and lives of a lot of students this weekend. Thank you for working in me. Thank you for helping me to grow as a leader and as a child of God. I have fully come to realize that I can't do it on my own. I am not alone. I have friends and family who love me and want to take care of me. Thank you for giving us space in our schedule on Friday to pray, to be in community, and to love and help one another. Thanks for showing us your love through John. Thank you for making this experience a positive one for the first-time staff and first time high schoolers. Thank you for the opportunity for these kids to connect with you through worship. Thank you for speaking into and through Casey. The love that you have to share is immeasureable. Thank you for allowing me to finally fit in as a part of the team. Thank you for that community, and for the fun. Your love is being shown to me through these people. You are: majestic, powerful, loving, all-knowing, a peacemaker, peaceful, pure, righteous, holy, father, majestic, worthy, blameless, passionate, humble, divine, wonderful, breathtaking, worthy of praise, almighty, beautiful, storng, something to speak about, considerate, gentle, considerate, and oh so much more. How could I not want to be in relationship with you? You love me as a child of God, more than anyone else ever will love me. You have given me more than I can ever imagine. You love, grace, and power bless me. You are amazing, and sometimes I don't feel worthy. Thank you for all you've done and all you have left to do.
Luv,
Your daughter"


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I don't remember in what context it was that I wrote this. I don't even know what year. I'm guessing it was back in 2004-ish when I first came on the Student Impact staff in South Barrington. Coming back from a staff retreat today, with that very same ministry's staff.. I'm reflecting on a lot of the same things. I value this team so much. They do amazing work. Sure, we all have quirks and things to work through.. but I couldn't imagine working anywhere else, with anyone else at this stage in my life. I love what I do.. and am so committed.

Amen.