Just Open Your Eyes

Just open your heart and your eyes; God will present you with opportunities to witness...

This weekend I went to Snowshoe, WV for the College Crew Ski Trip. It was an awesome time of cold slopes, fellowship, good food, and awesome devotions. And with no phone service, it was just a great time to focus solely on my Lord. I guess you could say that I opened my eyes...

Saturday night, after I had a great time at dinner with seven of the girls that went, we got back on the shuttle to return to our chalet. I was the first one on the bus and met Howard, our driver, and asked how his night was going. I was expecting no answer, or a short-look, but he just smiled and proceeded to tell me how blessed his night had been. He started in telling us his 5-minute "shuttle testimony" of how God brought him to Snowshoe, to take care of his sick mother. He seemed to have an awesome story and he then told us some amazing God things. He said how God had given him the power of healing and that he prayed over several people, and God made them well. The one that stuck with me the most, was of his aunt who was diagnosed with cancer. He went and laid hands on her and a few weeks later, the cancer was gone. How powerful is our God?! I just couldn't help but smile the whole time he was talking, because I just LOVE running into other Christians who aren't afraid to share their God stories. We arrived at our cabin, and everyone got of the shuttle, thanking him for his testimony and wishing him a blessed night. I was the last one off, and went I went to tell him good-night, he grabbed my hand and asked to pray for me. (I'm thinking: Really?! This man I've never met, wants to pray for me?!) I agreed, bowed my head, and opened my heart to his words. Howard prayed for my safety while in Snowshoe, my group's safety, and that the Lord would be with me in whatever He calls me to do. One of the coolest moments of my life, I walked off the bus, almost in tears, knowing that I'd be keeping Howard in my prayers too.

I went inside and told everyone what happened and how cool it was that Howard was witnessing to so many people on his shuttle rides, everyday. What an awesome way to share God's love! And for me to be able to witness what God was doing through Howard, really just made my day. And it was all because I just opened my eyes...

The very next day, while skiiing, Hannah and I were on the ski lift with another lady. Small talk was made, but nothing too heavy. I'm always thinking of ways that I can bring up Jesus in conversation and before I could even began with this lady, she brought up Christmas and the real reason behind the season: JESUS. So neat to just talk about my God with another random person.

Just open your eyes for people to witness too :)

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

The Graham family of Augusta was blessed this past week with a new house from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition! And I was given an amazing opportunity of helping out twice in the past 7 days!

On Sunday night, Lauren Stephens and I went out there around 10 and stayed until about 12. We did a lot of clean up for the house and moving bricks back and forth. We got to carry tiles for the bathroom floors upstairs unto the house and see what it looks like at day 3. It was SO super cold but so neat to see how many people were out there so late, putting in all their effort for a family they might have never even met.

Tuesday night, which was the last night, Jenn Edwards and I went out at 10 and stayed until veryyyyy late (I might as well just say until early Wednesday morning). It was an even better experience, but even colder! We started off just looking for things to do and ended up unloading trucks with Sears appliances and furniture. A lot of the stuff we worked with that night was actually for the Sister-in-law's family, who lived behind the big home. Jenn and I were given the task of putting together a bathroom storage unit that went over the toilet. It took over 3 hours but we finally finished it! We were SO proud.

So today, Wednesday, was the reveal and Jenn, Kendall, and I went up at 1 to see the family come back and be surprised by their brand new house! The reveal was supposed to be at 2...but it didn't happen till after 4. That's Hollywood, I suppose. We got to high-five Ty and see the rest of the Extreme Team crew. Did I mention we were front row? :) But anyway, I have to be honest--it's NOT what I expected at all. The limo came in, and then again, and again. There was like 25 takes of everything that happened. And when the family did finally come, and everyone yelled "move that bus!", I heard that they had already seen it. But they did seem super excited, happy, sad, anxious and everything at the same time. So congratulations to the Graham Family!

 Here's a link to the rest of the pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1494666375168&set=a.1494650694776.2067582.1489320099#!/album.php?aid=2067582&id=1489320099&page=3

"Take All of Me"

You have to watch this video. You have to listen to this song. You have to live the words.