Freedom Comes through SURRENDERING

My friend, Kristi, just turned 20 on sunday. I got to take her to church on her birthday. We decided to take a picture of us with our cute headbands :o) We had fun celebrating the night before - going to the oh-so-great Longview Mall (in actuality, its kind of scary) and starbucks. She has been a great blessing and fun suite mate.

This year, I have had the joy of getting to know a freshman who is now working on her private certificate. Its been fun helping her with the oral questions and seeing her improve as well as gain confidence with flight. As we grow closer, we relate how similar we are with our flight experiences and struggles. She is an amazing woman and sweet friend, as well as one of the letu woman bball players! crazy how she can manage with flight....

On sunday, since texas' weather has now transitioned from cold and overcast weather to sunny and warm weather - meredith and I decided to do some homework out by the "lake" (pond) on letu's campus. However, after trying to focus on reading material for about an hour, and being entertained by some ducks, we headed over to watch a couple of minutes of the woman's softball team - who have been winning most of their matches!

Now for the more serious yet exciting update on me: Last Friday, with God's help and lots of prayers, I finally surrendered my plan of becoming a professional pilot to God and am trusting that He has a bigger plan for my life than what I had originally imagined. For a long time, I had been hoping that God would first show me what He had in mind before I chose to stop flying. However, my heart was convicted that I needed to first surrender and give up this burden before God would reveal to me the next step. After talking to a professor who had been praying for me about flight, the professor helped me sign the drop form, and I officially turned it in on Monday. Trust me, this last weekend was probably the most free that I have felt since childhood. I am so thankful that God gave me the opportunity to pursue flight for a short time and actually become a pilot, but I can see where I was doing it for the wrong reasons - and it had left me burnt out to where I was dreading each flight. God gave me complete peace about my decision though and has continued to reassure me that He is working His plan as I chose to wait on His leading. I find it exciting to see God's work around me and within me, but at the same time, I am naturally concerned about all of the unknowns. Through these two years, God has continued to heal me. He has taught me so much about myself as well as the perspective He wants me to have about life. Who knows, after having surrendered my flight career plans, God may chose to then renew in me my own passion for flight. I would hope that some day I could use my private pilot certificate for fun and gain more experience in the northwest flying, but all in God's timing.

Today, God really met me where I was at and blessed me with more loving assurance that He hasn't forgotten me as I now feel that my goal at college has disappeared. On Thursday, I had prayed that He would give me some type of message in the morning when I woke up. So on Friday, the first thought that ran through my head was, "I'm going to give you a new song in your heart, a new song in your heart." I was filled with hope and encouragement, believing then that God could help me go through the necessary steps to stop instrument flight. Despite the peace and the burden lifted, I have obviously had questions of now what? After holding firm to what I know God has been showing me, a song majorly stuck out to me from my itunes play list. Its by Brandon Heath and is called "Don't Get Comfortable." You can go to his website and listen to part of the song if you have not heard it before. The lyrics go like this though:

Comfortable

Don't get comfortable

I am gonna move this mountain

Then I am gonna move you in

Yesterday

This is not yesterday

You were standing on my shoulder

Now you're standing on the edge

You have been looking for a sign all this time

Chorus

I am gonna show you what I mean

I am gonna love like you've never seen

You are gonna live like you used to dream

THIS IS YOUR NEW SONG

So afraid

But you don't have to be afraid

Even if you make mistakes

You know that I'll remain

You been looking for a sign all this time

If you seek you find me every time

(Chorus)

Can you feel the call of love

Is it moving you

To be a child of God of love

Is it reaching you

Its everywhere the call of love

I just wanna show you what I mean

I just wanna love like you've never seen

Do you wanna live like you used to dream

THEN I GOT A NEW SONG FOR YOU

YOU'VE GOT A NEW SONG

These words definitely spoke to my heart. I would encourage you to actually hear them being sung. Please continue to pray for me as I seek God's plan. I desire my heart to stay focused on Him as well as completely surrendered to what He has in mind (even if that means changing my preferred time line :o) God is good! I'm excited that God is giving me another chance to enjoy this college experience and learn even more. Thanks for all of your support!!! Even though, I am thousands of miles away from some of you, it really helps.

Yes, my 20th birthday is on March 1st! I will be celebrating with my friends at the Winter Jam concert nearby - lots of Christian artists will be performing like Jeremy Camp, Newsong, Aaron Shust....I'm excited :o)

Freeze Your Fanny 5k

The highlight of the first month back to college happened this morning at the bright and early time of 8:30am with temperatures in the mere 20s. After learning of a 5k race in longview from a professor, I registered for the Freeze Your Fanny race and recruited two of my wonderful friends to run with me. The money went towards the special Olympics team in longview - so besides having the pleasure of running with some friends, we were also supporting a great cause. As part of our intense training - we ran a total of one time together on the previous Saturday - but it was well worth it! Right, ladies??? I hope to do another one before the semester comes to an end. Midterms are only one month away. So besides experiencing the joy of running again, I have been busy with classes and instrument flight on the simulators. Last Wednesday, I passed my first stage check and now will be working on flying instrument approaches. In this past week, we actually had two occurrences of snow! yup, in Texas! it didn't stick :o( but we actually could see white snow flakes. I am really enjoying my Bib Lit class - its been good to study and learn more about God's Word in a class setting again. God has used the class/professor to remind me more of His truths and promises and how His reasons are above our own. Let's see, in my airframe lab - we have been soldering wires to electrical terminals. The first time trying did not go so well - the professor said he could just pull them out "like weeds!" But I believe I succeeded the second time - we'll see come Tuesday. Physics has brought up memories of high school. I have enjoyed the chance to take a class with my friend though - Meredith (on far right of picture) - we have been bonding all the more as we complete hours of "CAPA" - online program for physics problems. The lab for physics isn't that bad though - fun, hands-on stuff. My first couple of tests are coming up in the next week - yikes. I'm still going to the crossroads church in longview and am going to try to attend one of their life groups tonight with a friend. I appreciate all of your prayers and encouragement. The semester has already had its challenging moments, but I know I also have a lot to be thankful for through God's work in my life. Please continue to pray for me as I train for my instrument rating as well as try to find time for everything else. I really have been convicted to set aside time for things that I really enjoy - like reading a novel, drawing a picture, running, chatting with friends, calling a friend or relative....(its been easy for me to get burnt out as well as tired). I'm just a sheep trying to listen to my Shepherd's voice and learning to follow Him when all I see is the challenges, risks, and doubts surrounding me - But He is capable, I just have to be willing. (and in reality, my dorm floor is the Davis Lambs :o)

In Honor of a Special Friend, Mentor, Teacher, Coach.....

Life keeps me busy, but I have a ton to be thankful for. God helped me survive another semester at LETU. Even though I had my doubts, I ended well in all of my classes and earned my tail wheel endorsement. I also passed my FAA Instrument ground test and will be learning how to fly by using only instruments next semester. I was very glad to fly home and see family and friends, as well as get some rest. Besides catching up with people, I have gotten to travel through some mountain passes and see some of God's beautiful creation. Its great to actually see some snow. I celebrated Christmas with family in Idaho. I had a good time with my precious nephews who are now skating, coloring, talking, singing, running, laughing, hugging.... and now and then - hitting, screaming, fighting, crying, pouting, and going in time out - but I think overall, they enjoy being two. They already have very distinct personalities and have many differences between them. I am also looking forward to having two more nephews or nieces - Two of my sisters are pregnant, and both are due in the summer. (I'm secretly hoping for some precious nieces this time around :o) Besides traveling, sleeping, reading, visiting with family and friends, watching movies, and of course shopping - since it's almost non-existent at college - I had the privilege of having my wisdom teeth removed. (notice no picture is included) No, it really wasn't that bad. After hearing so many terrible stories of people's experiences, I was expecting a lot worse. At least it gave me a good cause to lay on the couch and watch the Monk TV marathon. For new years, I got to spend it at Papa Wight and Martha's home with Mom. I relaxed on the couch with some hot lattes and cookies, while applying a heating pad to my barely puffy cheeks. Mom crotcheted a hilarious hat that she'll sell to the highest bidder. We got to watch the ball fall in NY and TX when the count down began. I also got to spend an evening with my "aunt" molly and "uncle" john - we got to watch the end of the fiesta bowl - it was intense the last 3 minutes - the miracle of Boise state defeating Oklahoma by one point in overtime. (Thanks to my bro-n-law, Ben B., I have been educated on the undefeated record of Boise state and the "underdog" story that they have) And for the past three nights, I have looked over 240 questions for a CLEP test in order to receive credit for an English elective. And thanks be to God, I passed the test this morning!!! many smiles. In two days, I'll be flying back to LETU to start my fourth semester. I'm glad to have had this break and get to see the people I love. I am expecting God to do great things this year, but know it will be a long and difficult journey. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Enjoy the rest of the pictures :o) One night, after lots of debating, we decided to take the nephews skating at the local rink. I haven't been to such a place since junior high maybe. I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical, but it turned out to be a fun night. Everybody skated too! Even my pregnant sisters (one had just dealt with some morning sickness too that day) and my extremely old brothers and my mom - the grandma - and of course the two-year-old nephews. Jordan progressed from unable to stand to doing it all by himself during the all-boy skate. Owen preferred to just use his heelys (the shoes with a wheel in the bottom of the heel that pops out) - which he is amazingly good at. Katie bought Ben a pair of heelys, so Owen had fun showing hid dadda how to do it. Both of the Bens raced in the "20 and above" group - they got pop as a prize. Good memories. Amy and Ben B. did the limbo too.... Notice the special shirt my mom is modeling: "LeTourneau University MOM." She is quite proud. So in the fall, I earned my tail wheel endorsement by learning how to fly -mainly land- this citabria. Basically the difference from my previous experience is that the tail has a wheel instead of the nose of the aircraft - making it more difficult to taxi and land. The tail wheel can easily swivel and will have you facing in the opposite direction if you aren't on top of it. I also got to fly up front and my lucky instructor sat behind me. There were only the basic instruments located in the cockpit, unlike the Garmin 1000 in the C172. For their early birthday presents, with the help of mom, I got Ben and Kimber LETU sweatshirts - so now they can think of me as the comfortably advertise my college up in Alaska. So far, I don't believe anyone in their small town knows what "LETU" stands for. Sorry for the few posts last year, I hope to improve this year :o) Thanks for the many encouraging talks and hugs - I loved being home.