my summer thus far

I have been spending my summer so far at the Leadership Project(LP) in Myrtle Beach babysitting for a family. The LP is very near and dear to my heart because this is the fifth year I have been down here (twice it was only for a week though). I have worked three jobs during the Myrtle Beach summers: Build-A-Bear, Johnny Rockets, and now a babysitter. I have been having such a good time. I have loved being around community, being able to have structure for my time in the word, being fueled by spiritual conversations, and being able to continue to invest, grow and learn from the girls that have been my best friends for years.

Here's a small glimpse of my summer:

This is Krieg. Krieg is three years old and he loves learning. He is very cautious and wants to learn about everything he sees. I have been able to learn so much patience in watching Cat his mom answer all of his questions and really teach him about the things of this world and how God created it to be.

This is Karis. Karis is about a year old and loves the beach, her paci and lamby. She especially loves her mom though. I have come leaps and bounds in relating to this girl and 2 weeks in she is starting to come to me, ask me to pick her up, and have a little fun. We especially bond by rolling around in a bed playing with her lamby!

I have been learning so much about what it means to be a mom. Most of the time I am not just babysitting but spending time with Cat, Karis, and Krieg all together and I have just been watching the many ways to raise a child in a godly home, learning to teach them to "obey, right away with a happy heart", to pray over the kids so that they will see more of God in their sin and disobedience, and to teach of God's creation in everyday life.

These are two girls in my room. They work at McDonalds. I actually don't live in their room...I live in the back of their room in their closet! Haha it is a very small room but actually big enough for me and the other babysitter on project to live there!

This was Stephanie's face when she saw me come through the drive through! Priceless! She was sooo surprised!! She went to PC with me and Ive actually gotten to have some time to get to know her this summer which has been great! We've run together in the mornings and just gotten to spend a good bit of quality time together which has been awesome! Yay for new friends!

Two years ago Ally and I worked at Johnny Rockets and it was so neat to go back and see our co-workers from way back! This is Weezie, she was great and still remembered us. We also got to see Tenisha, Adam, Sarah and a bunch of other JRock employees who we had built relationships with! It was awesome! The coolest part is: Weezie has a sister named Fatso (all nick names of course) who worked at JRock with us but is no longer there but now works at the McDonalds that Ally is working at! Its so neat that Ally still gets to hang with her!

This summer has been amazing and I have been learning so much about myself, my idols and the Lord. God has been so faithful to me to help me see more of his power and grace and to see my sin in a more serious way. Ive been studying Jeremiah and seen in so many ways how God is such a jealous God who wants our WHOLE heart, and nothing else. Ive been seeing more and more that none of my sins are hidden to God: "For my eyes are on all of their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes" (Jer 16:17). That he hates my sin and that it hurts and pains Him. I am starting to see the seriousness of it all and being able to confess it and see the joy of the gospel in such a new and sweet way.

I am praying this for all of LP: "For I found your word and I ate it and it became to me a joy and the delight of my heart for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16). I have been falling in love with God and his word daily and I am praying that the students here continue to stand in awe of the greatness and grandess of God.


This is Karis and me playing in the Jumping Fountains at Broadway at the Beach. So fun!