Ocean Eyes

It's been so long. This is going to have a lots of random thoughts and things..probably because thats how my mind and life is right now :)

Well for one, I worked everyday this week. I work for my friend's parents trucking company. I tried taking a picture of what I do today, but I can't figure out how to send it to my computer, and I was a bit lazy. It's a fun job, and I enjoy going :) I refilled the staples in the stapler today. That's how exciting it is :)

Second, I am playing powderpuff football, in which I am definitely excited about out team. Fortuna Bowl? yes please!

Third, I love Owl City. I started listening to him/them over the summer in Montana, and just recently I bought the cd. I love when every song on a cd is actually legit. I will be going to their show in october. Can't wait!!

Fourth, I love my apartment, except that our bedroom is always freezing. other than that, there is normally at least 5 people here at all times. There's no party like a 326 party.

Fifth, does anyone else think its hard to stay focused on what is important, when everything around you seems to be pulling you away? Does anyone else seem to struggle giving God all control? I do.

Sixth, I love the hymn "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand". It is so true. when everything is falling apart, Christ is our solid rock. amen!

Seventh, I have decided that I almost enjoy running. I am going to run a half marathon with my school in the spring, i believe it is. I love the feeling after a run. So refreshing.

Eigth, I am already thinking of my plans for next summer. I could really use prayer in understanding where to go or what to do.

Nineth, man this list is long. Random fact, I'm addicted to chocolate. Why does it have to be so good.

And finally, tenth ( i just decided i would stop here). I want to work on prayer. I want to wake up early and hang out with God, and dive into His work. I want Him to be my only desire. I want everything else to fade.

well this has been fun.
I hope everyone is having a great week and that you are blessed so you can then be a blessing.

-hillary

always forever.

So yes, I am home, and i have not blogged for some time. To sum it up, camp was amazing! There's no possible way to go to Montana for the summer, meet amazing people, meet God, and not be changed. It was all I expected to be, and so much more.

It is so hard to get back into the swing of things at home. Life not at camp is completely different. A different pace, a different world. I'm not sure I like it. My perspective has changed about a lot of things. I remember coming home, and walking in from lunch, and my family saying "Let's watch t.v." and me thinking, there is so much more we could be doing. It just seems so pointless. There is so much more that Hollywood reality and vain living. I am so thankful to learn that.

How have I changed? I have somewhat changed my idea of what I want to do with my life. I see myself going places. I don't think I can stay in the same city for awhile. I must do something purposeful. I want to see God work and lives changed. I am willing to go where He takes me, wherever that is. I am willing.

I am not a crier, but I was moved today while watching a preview for a movie. (yes though t.v. seems pointless, i did go to the movies with the fam). Anyhow, in the movie, some kid is rejected by everyone and kds at school, and a little boy befriends him. He helps him, and they become family. I want to be like that little boy. I was moved by his compassion and love. I want that.

Lord, may you be my desire, and may i serve others and seek you.

I move to school on Tuesdsay, and cannot wait! FOCUS is going to be a blast..woop woop!

I need to start my packing. :)

-Hillary

i'll fly away.

The time has come. We have one more week of camp! i have barely blinked and it's gone by. I don't like how fast it has gone. But it has been incredibly amazing. I am not ready to leave this new body of Christ. I have made some amazing friends. It will be hard to go. This past weekend was a great last one. About 15 of us went to Graham Creek, which is a 12 mile hike up to this open meadow. The beauty was astounding. It was definitely challenging..but so worth it.

I want to cherish every moment this week. I would even consider this place "home". I am anxious yet excited about the coming semester...I know God has a plan for it..and i am excited to see what that is!


I miss you all and will see you in less than a week!

pics of course!
hillary

girl counselor band pic.

..open meadow.

miles away.

Today was a great day. ahh so fun. So the campers left this morning, and at 9:30 am all of us staff piled in the back of pick up trucks with old matresses and drove to the end of the road, to eventually hike up Monument (a very high mountain). it was soo much fun. We stood in the bed of the trucks all the way there, driving through muddy piles and over giant rocks. It took us about 4 hrs to finally reach our destination. We had to stop for lunch, and let's just say the trucks got stuck many many times. It was so great. Then hiking up Monument was incredible. You basically climb up the side of a mountain, and the view at the top is not even able to be grasped in a picture, so sorry about that. The pictures i took don't even do the mountain justice. You get a 360 degree view of everything around you. The elevation is about 11,000 ft. So great. It was a beautiful day, and so great to see the vast nature that God has created, and so few people get to see such a place.

I can't believe we have 2 weeks left. It's so surreal. Also a quick update. Lauren, our wrangler, and her family are coming to visit for a few days! i think Clydehurst is the perfect place to get away too, especially with all the people that love them so much!

This past week i worked with the jr. highers. It was so great. I learned so much just through the lessons we were teaching them. One thing i learned is that God always comes through for those who believe in Him. We read about Daniel and the lion's den, and it was so neat to remember that when we put God first and trust Him, He will provide a way and ultimately recieve the glory. On thursday night, we went on a campout just down the road. We slept under the stars. Besides it being freezing, it was so great to just lay and see all the stars. It was a great week.

I miss everyone at home, but am soaking in the last few weeks here!

and now for some pics :)
hillary

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this is where we were hiking to..aka. Monument.
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this is the piece we sign at the top, showing we have reached it..my brother did it 2 yrs ago..
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my hiking buddy, Kim.
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you said.

Last night was a rough night. The day was going so well, then something happened that rocked Clydehurst. Our dear friend Lauren, the wrangler, the amazing one who is in charge of the horses, got a phone call. Her mom had been out walking (in Ohio where she is from), and was tragically hit by a car. She passed away instantly. This is never a phone call you want to hear. I was working in the coffee shop here, when they told us to gather in the office. I though we were all in trouble, but this was not the case. The news hit most of us pretty hard. Me being one of them, as in I have also lost my mother. It hit another also hard, who lost his dad at a young age, who also got an unexpected call to find his dad sick and dying. All of us had no idea what to do. She was packing up and heading home. I quickly wrote a letter, hoping to encourage her if possible. But as I wrote i began to become a little angry. More so, i became scared of being angry. With God? maybe. More angry that now she has to go through what i did and still am. I was able to see her before she left. I can't even explain what it is like, but i felt for her. At this point i wanted to run, just get away. My best friend Chrita and I went to check on 2 of our friends, who had gone to chop wood as an outlet for the distress. Christa and i went running. the whole time we prayed, crying out to God. God met us there. We asked why? we wondered what to do. We prayed for an attitude change. God says ask, and we did. I am trusting in His love. It is going to be a trying adjustment for us as a staff, but God is good, all the time. I am looking forward to seeing how He works in this.

Ps. we by far have the best summer staff ever!

One a lighter note, here are a few pictures from my family being here :) so fun.
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me working the coffee shop.
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field riots!!

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me working the hunger hut!
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my a.m. running group :)
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lastly, please be praying for Lauren and her family.

hillary.

rise. shine. and give God the glory.

Hello! i feel like it's been awhile, though it probably hasn't. I hope everyone is well. This week is the 2nd week of family camp, and my dad, Beth, Andria, and her friend are here as campers. So great! it was kinda hard at first, finding that balance between spending time with them, and still working and serving the campers as well. But it has been so great seeing them! i had yesterday afternoon off and was able to go on a hike with them. I think they are having an awesome time, and i love seeing them!

This week has been incredibly hard on my part. Family camps offer alot more free time for us counselors. Though there is still stuff to do, there is still free time. This allows me more time to 1)sleep, and 2) think. This could be good, however this week i have found myself thinking alot about things that are bothering me. I seem to notice all my flaws: how selfish i am, what things other people do that irritate me, how jealous i can be at times, how much i havent been in God's Word, and how much i haven't been praying for others when i say i will. I was really frustrated by this. I knew i needed to take a night and catch up, rest, pray, and be with the Lord. Last night i did this, and am way more refreshed. I read Luke 11:9-10, which says, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." This is so true, i realized. God wants us to bring our requests to Him. So i prayed this: Father, i am coming to you expectant, with faith that you will give me a better attitude. Give me strength when i am tired, and Your love to serve and encourage others. Help me to trust in Your work here. May Your word be spread, and may i be used for Your glory. I love you Lord. Amen

miss and love you all!
hillary.

how great...Your love for us.

So family camps have started, and it is a LOT different. One obvious difference is the amount of free time i have. I have enjoyed the time to catch up on sleep. Our duty as counselors is also really different. The biggest struggle now is that I don't feel as needed, in a spiritual sense at least. During youth camps, we were on the front lines of what was happening in the kid's lives, and we could see God working, at least for the most part. Now I am just hoping that what i am doing is being used for God's glory, and somehow i am making a difference.

One thing i have enjoyed is late night running. At about 11:30 pm, my friend Christa and I run to Mile Rock and back, in the pitch black with only the stars and sometimes moon as our light. It is such an awesome time. The first night we ran, we were a bit scared (those lies creep into our mind about bad things happening), so the entire time we recited Scripture. I was amazed at how it just flowed, and the presence of God was felt mightily. It was soo awesome. This has become a routine; a time for us to really talk one on one and just stand amazed by God. I have loved this verse for some time now : Ps. 73:26- My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.


♥
hillary