A Wedding

My brother's getting married! I'm so excited! And also a little nervous... After all, he is only 2 years older that me. I'm nervous because they're so young, and I really want everything to work out for them. But I'm also nervous because in just two years I will be the same age as him. He was the same age as I am when he started dating his future fiance. I don't really plan to do the same but it's a little unnerving nonetheless. It seems like this year I'm being forced to grow up so fast... I never really considered myself immature, but so much is happening. Anyway, that's a discussion for another time. I'm a bridesmaid, and we're going dress shopping tomorrow. The color for the wedding is pink. Not my favorite color, but I think I'll survive. Holli (the bride) probably wouldn't have chosen in except for the fact that the dress she chose isn't completely white and it goes best with pink. I'll also have a sister! I definitely have friends as close as sisters, but I've never had a sister before. Now we just need to find somebody for my oldest brother...

Acquire the Fire

Yesterday and the day before I was at Acquire the Fire with my school. It's a Christian youth conference. It was amazing! My favorite part may have been the worship - there's nothing quite like being in the midst of hundreds of teenagers all on fire for God worshiping together. Normally I wouldn't jump, or sing at the top of my lungs, and I don't often raise my hands when I sing, but here I did all three and didn't feel out of place at all. I was able to really, truly feel the amazing joy of worshiping and serving a powerful, loving God. The speakers were also great. One man that talked was born without arms or legs. He had a really powerful message about purpose. Many people have trouble finding a purpose for their lives. Just imagine how he felt - having no limbs except one foot and a couple of toes would severely cut down on your options. And yet he has an amazing ministry now, and has affected hundreds of thousands of lives.

I also had highlights of a different sort. There's nothing quite like seeing your math and language teachers playing their air guitars, or having a conversation with them about cat farms, pink coffee, and why mayonnaise provides a good object lesson about relationships. Well, that was two different conversations, but I think you get the point. (We were tired that day.) Everybody was able to have a lot of fun, and I really think we grew closer together as a school. God moved in many ways, at least in my life, and I sure hope that those changes will stay. It's one thing to worship with everybody else, and to listen to what the speakers have to say, but it's another thing altogether when you get home and try to read the Bible and pray every day. It's just as important, if not more so, but you don't always feel the same fire and excitement about it. That has been my problem - finding something that I can do on a regular basis that keeps me grounded in God and that I'll be excited about making time for. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. I'd love your prayer as well. This has been an ongoing struggle for me, and I need all of the weapons against the enemy that I can get, including those wielded by others.