Ash & Evergreens

     Let me just tell ya, last week was insane. It ranged every where from going to fall retreat, having an 11 hour bus ride to VA for a leadership conference, liking a freshman boy (LOL), and one of my best friends running away.      Let's begin with fall retreat. It was really really REALLY good! Great and deep discussions with my small group girls for 2 1/2 hours. Great worship and speaker, Gary. Paintball was tons of fun. Definitely a learning weekend in growing in my faith in God.      Left fall retreat early and went to VA. the next morning, early. With my whole high school (minus a couple people). It was a lot of fun, but the speaker was not the best. And after hearing Gary at fall retreat, Luke, at the conf. was that much worse. Poor guy. Definitely missed North Carolina this year, but eh. Still love being with my highschool family. No big deal on the way there, but on the way home, feelings changed. Monday night, it ...

       My Small group has started reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and it is extremely challenging and satisfying at the same time. One of the most recent things I read from it (though it was playing catch up from last week), was about 2 people who had died, but lived out their lives for Christ. One was a middle-aged man who was speaking at a funeral and died right after sharing the gospel with the crowd. The other was a 14 year old girl who wanted her life to be a representation of Christ's love since she was 12.      As I read this, I thought to the day I die. I've thought to this before, and No, I'm not a depressed or morbit person at all, but eveyone thinks about that day. I often ask the questions: How many people would be there? Will there be lots of crying? Will my wishes be carried out?  What will people say? How will I be remembered? As I ask these question I can only think of one thing I'd want to stand out above the rest...