CHRISTMAS!

Christmas in Rochester was incredible. It was short but oh so sweet.

I flew back very early in the morning at 6:00am on the 22nd from Denver to Atlanta, then to Rochester. The journey however started at 2:30 in the morning with a 2 hours car drive with Stu Nelson and Kayla Fletcher! They got up early for me even though their flights weren't till 7:40!

The flights were uneventful and I was picked up by my Mom and surprised by my sister, who I didnt expect to be picking me up. Went home and met up for a awesome dinner with Alex Jorgensen, Courtney Combs, Scott and Abby Rice, with a brief visit by my friend Jenny Rietz. Great to be with people who are so close to my heart and have live life with me for so long.

The rest of the time was crazy busy but great. Met with some good friends quickly and alot of time with family. It was a great Christmas. I flew back on the 27th to Denver and road back to Fraser and got home at 2 am so I left at 2 got home at 2 crazy!

While I was at home I really felt like I learned alittle of what the Lord has been trying to teach me over the past few months so I will try my best to share!

My entire time out here and the road trip out I felt like the word that most described my time was Solitude.

My road trip was suppose to have a companion for most of my drive. However all the people who originally thought that could, ended up not being able to make it with me. So as I have said in a previous blog entry I made the trip alone. It was great and when I arrived at Crooked Creek I was glad to be around people again and work with people. However the Lord had different plans for me. He had a me placed on the Wood Mizor for two and a half months. Most of that time alone. I was angry for parts, didn't understand what I was doing because the work didn't seem necessary. However I don't know if any of what I did on the Wood Mizor is going to be immediately evident for me but that time was invaluable. It was time was I was constantly in Prayer and submission to the Lord. Often I was praying for Joy in him, Seeking His will, Constantly just communicating. That was good.

I recently switched into the kitchen and for me being a people person it is a much better fit rather than just working on a wood mill. However I realized that I went an entire day just working. No prayer except for my prayer for my lunch. I was going back words in the amount of time I was seeking Jesus. I was reading on the plane a book by Brennan Manning. If you don't know him look into him he is a very good author and a man in love with Christ. He says in a quote "I spent so much time doing the things that would please God that I had no more time left to just be with God." I think in Young Life I get really caught up in work sometimes and not in just being with him. Or seeking him. I dont know for certain if that is the main thing God is trying to put in my headlights and the reason for my solitude at work. But it was an awful good reminder of remembering to Pray continually while I am doing anything even in a place as busy as the Kitchen!