FOR, THRU, TO

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36

FOR OF HIM I am here and can't even imagine who or where I'd be if I didn't have Christ in my life.  AND THROUGH HIM I enjoy this ministry of sharing Christ with the 'unchurched' and walking with other believers to grow in faith.  AND TO HIM I daily lay down my soul and follow Christ that I may become more like Him.  TO WHOM BE THE GLORY FOREVER is not of my and my selfishness or how others view me, but to honor God in my all. We bring all that we are to all that He is and all that we need to all He can give (Beth Moore).

ONE YEAR completed of living here in the canyon of Young Life's Washington Family Ranch.  In some ways it feels like I just moved here and I'm still the newbie and other ways I feel like I've been apart of this community for years.  I continue to learn about my job, my role in the community, and what God's doing in this place and in my life. Many friendships have been created, of whom I feel as if I've known them my whole life.  Some remind me of old friends I no longer live around so brings a joy and comfort in a way.  This community is constantly changing with seasonal hires, new full time hires, newborn babies (there are four women pregnant now all due in the next two months), people moving away, etc.  My two roommates I had for the summer are gone now so I live in 7 bedroom house alone.  I actually just moved out of the one I've been living in to a lesser remodeled home to save on rent, so still has a lot of Rajaneesh stuff (the cult that was here in the 80s).  The fall colors in the canyon are beautiful with the deciduous trees that were brought here many years ago reminding me of the midwest fall colors, oh how I miss this time of year back home and all the raking of leaves that I truly enjoy.  I have yet to go back and visit Minnesota or Wisconsin to visit family and friends, many of whom had or are about to have a baby since I've been here and I haven't yet met :(  I'm blessed to have had my parents visit and one of brothers is coming out for Thanksgiving in a few weeks, yay!

A new group of year-round interns moved in at the beginning of October, there's 13 this year (12 last year).  I really enjoy them.  They're very different from last years group.  I got the opportunity to do a high ropes training with all the interns when they first arrived to become certified on all our different elements (zip line, giant swing, rock wall, ropes course, pamper pole), so got to get to know them right off the bat, some closer than other for having to straddle each other while learning how to do a rescue on the ropes course (lol).  I've also joined a Bible study with 8 other women (different from the Women of the Bible study groups I did last winter/spring) .  We're doing a Beth Moore study through the book of James.  I'm loving it soooooo much!   Two other ladies and myself are challenging ourselves to memorize the book of James, not to be 'high and mighty religious looking' but to have HIS Word dwell in our hearts.  On our walks together we work at it.  The Lord has also placed on my heart to pour into the older girls of the families in our community (junior high age).  Another woman, Bre, who was an intern last year and now on staff with Mark 2, will be leading the group with me.  We haven't started meeting yet but will this coming Wednesday. 

Well with our slow season of camping starting soon full of deep cleaning and various projects at work, going to work when it's dark and returning when it's dark too, I'm looking forward to relaxing days and evenings reading, making crafts, game nights, sharing meals with others and getting ready to visit my sister in Australia!!!!!