Update

Wow, so I've not been as dedicated to my blog as I would have liked this year. Never to worry, after next week, life should be a bit more calmer and I can get back to my goals for 2011 (future update on those).
You see my life has been consumed by three things- work (although I'm supposed to be part time, I always get called in and asked to swap shifts), school (taking three nursing classes to complete my BSN), and wedding preparation (don't worry, it's not me). My eldest brother is getting married Mar. 5. As one of the bridesmaids, and only one with sewing experience, it fell to me to organize getting seven bridesmaid dresses custom made. Thankfully one of my former Hancock's co-workers agreed to sew them if I did all the cutting and measuring. Well it has taken many months, with many hurdles, and we still aren't done. Seeing that my mum is stressing enough for the both of us, I'm actually quite calm.
I'm still my usual procrastinating self, so I'm not yet ahead on my school assignments. I have off work all next week. Mon: getting my hair done as part of my sister's practical interview at a salon (it's free!!- cut, color, style), pack. Tues: driving to Huntsville. Wed: doing final fittings with the other girls. Thurs: My other brother flies in, an overseas friend flies in and my parents drive in. Fri: mani/pedis with the bridal party, rehearsal and dinner. Sat: up early to dress and get pics, noon ceremony, reception (and car sabotage!). Sun: hang with the relatives and guests still in town. Mon: drive home. Tues: back to life.
I can say that I have completed some more of my reading for this year. But I've also added a few other projects to the list that have slowed things down a bit. I'm really hoping to back on track by the end of Mar.
Still have doubts about my summer plans. I have a vacation to CA planned with my sister and some friends from back home (Australia). But the parentals are not on the boat yet. Then I have the four weeks of STEP to think about. Because of my classes, I won't be able to do leadership like in the past. I'm praying about going to work on staff for a while. My BF is soon to become the head cook in the kitchen- my favorite place to work! It would be so amazing if God allowed me to work with her for a few weeks.
We have been having revival this week with Morris Gleiser. I missed the first two days due to work. Last night the focus was on prayer. It was a huge challenge to me as it has always been an area of my spiritual life where I thought I was on track but was deeply wrong. There are countless times that I have told friends and family that I would pray for a situation, only to scarcely even think about it later. So I'm taking it one step at a time. The first is to pray for my BF's grandmother. She has been very sick and is an unbeliever. She knows the truth but has rejected it so many times.
So my prayer goal is to pray for her every day that she would trust Christ as her Savior. It seems like an impossibility, but that is just what God is looking for.

Keep Pressing On!

Friendships

I'm reposting this from my old blog.

As human beings, we have the ability to develop friendship and connections with people. These relationships can be the result of many different things- through mutual friends, meeting at church or school, shared challenges or joys. But one thing is for certain about these friendships, we never know where they will take us in life.

During the time that I have been on this journey I have discovered an area of my life that needed to be assessed-my friendships. I have not had the best growing up years and have had my fair share of heartache and pain. The relationships within my family have never been strong and so I turned to my friends.

I had my first pen-pal at 5 years old. My Sunday school class was girls my own age and we had a great time. But that was about it. I didn't have any close friends from school because I was homeschooled. I didn't play sports so I didn't have any friends from there either. My family moved a lot so I never got to really "grow up" with the kids from our home church. We'd see each other every few years or so but never really got very far in our friendship.

Then came STEP (Skills Training for Emergency Preparedness- a four week girls camp). The experiences you share with your STEP-sisters creates a bond that is hard to explain or understand. I went as a student in 2006 and it really changed my life. That was the longest period I had been away from my family and my first time to share a room with someone besides my sister. STEP has it's challenges and it is sharing these challenges that creates such a deep bond. But that was also the reinforcement of a pattern in my life that would take several years to break-living for my friends.

My friends are the ones who I know won't judge me for what I do but will try and help me grow through my weaknesses. Of course some are closer then others and that creates its own set of challenges. This summer was the beginning of be seeing my life through different lives. There has been only one person who I have ever referred to as my "best friend"- I've only known her since May 2009. But because of a common past, and being STEP-sisters, she became my BFF.

I returned to STEP this summer as a group leader, my BFF was also one. What I did not foresee was the amount of time that we would spend together- at the cost of those under and over us. One of my team leaders confronted me about it and I was heart-broken. I had no idea how I was behaving and how it was affecting those I was serving with. But that was only the beginning of my journey.

When I returned home, I decided that it was about time that I worked on improving my relationship with my mother. So we have had several long conversations. She also pointed out the way that I handle my relationships. I slowly began to see that I was a bigger coward then I first thought. I had spent my entire life not willing to improve my relationships with my family but expecting to have good friendships.

So I have been making changes, in my family and in my friendships. I believe I can have the best of both worlds, but it will take time and sacrifice.

I wrote this a few months ago and I'm still working on my relationships. Praise God I have seen some improvement, only because I've been willing to humble myself and become the person Christ wants me to be.

The Journey

A few months ago I started on a blog to document my journey through Captivating by the Eldridges. But my blog disappeared so I'm starting again. This time my journey is a little different- I will be working my way through several books this year. My desire for 2011 is that I develop a deeper, more intimate walk with Christ and become more like Him in every area of my life. This blog is just a place for me to share my thoughts and questions. Whether people read my blog or not is not the point. I hope having this blog will be one way to keep me accountable on this journey. If anyone does read my blog, I would welcome comments and book suggestions.

Keep Pressing On!

~Judi