Christmas Eve

   So it's been a while since I have posted but here I am! It is actually Christmas right now because it is 1:21 am on December 25th but it still feels like Christmas Eve since I have not fallen asleep yet. The past month has been of whirlwind of craziness and feelings and just dealing with growing up. There has some been unwanted stress on my part because of my non-trustingness-in-God and doubts in general. I have been caught up with stressing about what I don't have and silly holiday gift stuff. Tonight even though it was Christmas Eve I was frustrated with my parents which is not how it is supposed to be like on Christmas Eve. I was kinda feeling like "family time" was a bust. But then my brother came in my room and we just goofed off and talked and I finally felt happy about being with family.
   So here it is in the early a.m. and I am stressing about silly things on Christmas. Then God showed up again. He made me realize that everything is going to be fine no matter what. No matter what things I own or how much debt I am in, He will make everything ok. No matter how much stress I am in or if I am doubting his plan for my life, He will always be there with me by my side. No matter who is against me, He will always fight for me and love me.
   This is a very scrambled post I know, stick with me. The point is Christmas isn't about what we are getting. It is about what we already have. And that is a precious gift from God named Jesus who was given to us as a baby. Christmas is one big birthday party for that baby Jesus. That baby is the One who has a plan for all of us and makes life worth living.

Merry Christmas:)

xoxo,

Oh how time flies.

   So here I am writing another post. Where has the time gone?! It has been more than a month. Now who knows if there is anybody besides myself that actually reads these so if you are reading this I would love to know.
   The past month has been crazy. I've been gone almost every weekend or just very busy. Last time I wrote I was about to go to SonRise Camp. That weekend was amazing. God showed me so much love through a wonderful lady named Janelle. She has down syndrome and is probably one of the most happiest and excited people I know. It was such a blessing to be able to hang out with her for a weekend and in the end be served by her. I was also able to meet many more wonderful people, make new friends, and create many memories.

 Janelle and I

The next weekend I took my best friend's senior pictures. Every time I am able to photograph and edit, it makes my passion for it grow even more! Being able to take her senior photos was an honor and I definitely want to do it for a serious job while going through college and even beyond that. I am truly thankful that God has blessed me with this talent and the love I have for it.
  The weekend after that I was in Roach, Missouri serving with my LYF team at our district's fall junior high retreat! It was different this time around because I am one of the oldest members and I had a bit more of a responsibility to lead with my other senior members. It sunk in that my time in high school is almost over and I am becoming an adult and that more responsibility comes with it which makes me excited!

Junior High Retreat

   Last weekend I was in Chicago! I rode the train there all by myself. What an adventure that was. Luckily the lady I had to sit with was nice and came in handy later on in the trip. A few hours into the train ride a bunch of fresh-out-of-prison convicts got on board. Two ladies out of the bunch sat right in front of us. The stories I heard. The lady who I was sitting with informed me she majored in criminal justice in college, works at a law firm as a paralegal, and is now getting her masters in International Affairs. I had then felt like I was in good hands. Now back to why I was going to Chicago. I was going to Concordia University for their Careers in Christ weekend. It entailed a college visit, seminars about church work programs, and just to get a feel for the college and students and to see if you want to go there! I had SO much fun and met so many amazing people that I can call my friends now! But in the end I don't want to go to college there and I don't feel like God is calling me there to spend 4 years living and getting an education there. Then again I had an AMAZING time!
   After the weekend it hit me that in less than 10 months I will be at college. I started stressing about if I will be able to handle it academically. All the times my mom and dad told me that I am not smart enough and I am too lazy for college, started to sink in. I began to doubt myself. I had began to doubt God. But then I remembered to when God first called me to pursue church work and ministry as a profession. It was during a contemporary service back in the very beginning of my freshman year of high school. Our "substitute" pastor's sermon was based on Matthew 6:24.

 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

   Before that service the thought of going into church work was lingering around in my mind for a while then. After that sermon I knew. I knew that God was calling me to serve him through ministry and that I needed to devote my life to Him by serving Him. I knew at that moment He was telling me it was going to be super hard to do and that there was going to be a lot of obstacles down that road. Boy was he right. I am not even half way there and he has given me many obstacles but in a way that has and is making  me a stronger Christian and that has molded me to who I am today. 
   I remembered back to this moment and to what he was telling me and calling me to do. I remembered how he has blessed me with so many opportunities in my life and people that are with me on this road. I then realized I can do this and that He will be there right along side me, still loving me when I screw up and that no matter what, serving Him is my purpose in life. 
   I am excited to see what God has for me down the road and I feel prepared knowing that He is always with me.!

xoxo
Madison

I survived the first month.

So I survived the first month of my senior year of high school. In the past month I have been busy EVERY WEEKEND, but I love it! I have hung out with my best friends every Friday night if not Saturday night also, and have been making many memories! Even throughout all this fun there has been some hardships that came sooner than I thought they would but ended up making me stronger and with a better realization for just life in general. In the first month of my senior year I have already been accepted to my dream university and have been blessed by God, knowing the financials look very hopeful.

I am now looking forward for some activities that are coming up in the next few months! My next big thing is being able to go with a group of great people to one on the best places on Earth. It's called SonRise Camp and it's a Christian camp for adults with disabilities. I have been going since I was 14 and love it with all my heart! I didn't get to go during the summer so I am very pumped to be able to go for a retreat!

So here are some instagram pics of some of my antics.

First day of Senior Year in the Parkin' Lot.

 College Acceptance Letter

Pants we found in Target.

 Yard Saling. #LostKids

 Meghan's 18th birthday at the Melting Pot!

xoxo

Madison

It is Almost Midnight.

So it is almost midnight....and it is a school night....for the first day of my senior year. I am nuts. I know.

So the past 2 weeks have been CRAZY! I was working a ton at Six Flags and was about killing me. Then 2 sundays ago I got a job offer! A man at my church offered me a very flexible and easy job at a local flooring company 5 minutes from my house. I was so excited and took the offer! So then I could say I had 2 jobs! Then I continued to work several days in a row at Six Flags and then after that I started my new job at the flooring store. The second day I had started working there(yesterday) I got a phone call from my brother's friend's mom asking me if I would work for her by helping out with her etsy shop. So now that makes 3 jobs! But I feel so blessed! I stressed all junior year about being able to get a job and if my parents were going to let me get a job. I prayed to God to help me with something as simple as letting me have that opportunity to make some money. I had to finally just trust in Him that it would all work out and I so I couldn't stress about it and I would know He had it all planned out. Now look at how blessed I am! I feel so thankful to Him and how I knew had it all under control!

Now technically I have to get up in 5 hours to go to school. It is my last first day of high school and the feeling is different than I thought it would be. I feel excited but then just calm and like it is now big deal. But then I also feel so excited for the future but then also want to enjoy this year and I feel like it is going so fast which is a somewhat good thing! I am so excited for what is ahead and also what is going on now in my life! This year is going to be great and is going to be such a big step in my future. This year is really going to count! I can feel it! I know this post is really rambled and kind of all over the place but hey it is past midnight!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

xoxo
Madison

A Flyin' High Adventure

So last weekend my brother and I had to stay with my Grandpa while my mom and Grandma partied hard in Chicago. We spent everyday at a pizza place and spent 2 out of the 3 days at the airport. Yes, I said AIRPORT! My Grandpa and Uncle Mike both have ultralights which are just very small airplanes. My uncle's airplane is a two-seater and he has been taking my brother and I up since we were little! It is so much fun and I feel SO blessed to be able to have that kind of opportunity ALL. THE. TIME! The view is just breathtaking and I feel no fear going up and actually feel safer than I do in a tall building! It is also cool to say I have been more than twice as high as the St. Louis Arch! Here are some pictures from the weekend and also some video clips.

Best Friends For Life:)

 This cracks me up! Pretty much sums it up for us! lol

I had such a good time and can not wait to go back when it is colder! Hope you enjoyed!
xoxo
Madison

Busy Busy Busy!!!

So lately I have been so busy! Last week I worked a lot and got to see Les Miserables at the Muny! The Muny is an outdoor amphitheater in Forest Park where they show 7 different musicals during the summer. My grandma and mom have had season tickets forever and I always get to go to at least one. I was not disappointed with Les Mis and the singing gave me goosebumps! The next day I also got my senior portraits done. I loved it and thought they turned out great and can't wait to get the proofs in the mail!

Yesterday I finally got to go back to church but sadly my youth group was still coming back from a servant trip. But it was great nonetheless! This week I am cleaning like a madwoman and working a bunch while my mother is getting ready to leave town. Then I get 6 days off to spend time at my grandpas house and to spend time in the ozarks for an LYF thing! So crazy! After all this I have to start getting ready for senior year and school while still working a bunch!(If you didn't know, I work at Six Flags.) I have to go shopping for some clothes and also get school supplies. There is so much to do but so little time! While being so busy I have to remember that God comes first and that sometimes its good just to slow down.

Ephesians 5:15-17 says,

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

I have to remember that God should come before everything and to not get caught up with the business of life!

xoxo

Madison

Another Realization and a New Goal.

Lately I have been struggling with the judgement from other people. The judgement from family and even just what other people might think of me. It bothered me that I can't be perfect for everyone and a lot of people won't be happy with the type of person I am and the type of goals and dreams I have. But then I had the realization that it shouldn't matter! It's ok even if my parents and family or that friend of parents doesn't like what job I want or what I want to do with my life! I should be doing what I think is best for me and what I believe God is calling me to do and what I am passionate about! I need to just stop thinking about the pressure and judgement from other people who don't  really matter and focus on the all the other people who really do love and care about me and are supporting me and my dreams. My new goal is to not let what other people think about me and my dreams negatively affect me in a bad way and to use this new empowerment to pursue my dreams and goals even if the world is against it! 

Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This verse helped me and knowing that the only judgement that really matters is God's but even through everything I do, He loves me no matter what! 

xoxo 
Madison

LCMS NYG 2013 Trip!!!

I just got back yesterday evening from a NINE hour car ride from Texas! If you read my previous post you would know that I was going to San Antonio, Texas for the 2013 LCMS National Youth Gathering. I am glad I went and I realized a lot there and about myself and saw so many people that I never get to see! It was quite different from the last one, in both good and not so good ways, but an awesome experience nonetheless! I was able to go to some sessions and hear the speakers talk about topics like worship music, money, and dating & divorce. It was great! Here are some pictures from the trip!

The whole group on the 4th of July!

Missouri LYF Clyfr Reps!

Inside the Alamodome!

Missouri District Booth

Dancing!

                                                                        

Our view

Hope ya had a wonderful 4th of July! 

xoxo

Madison

Texas Bound!!!

             I am so excited because I am leaving for San Antonio, Texas tomorrow! I am also going for a very special reason! I am part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod(LCMS) and every 3 years they have a HUGE National Youth Gathering! I went to the last one and it truly had such a big impact on me and led to so many great things!

               This is one is going to be so different but for the better because I have a lot more reasons to be excited for it and I will get to see a lot of people I rarely ever get to see! I have much more responsibilities at this gathering and I have more much more confidence than I did 3 years ago and will likely make tons of knew friends! There is going to be over 25,000 people at NYG! Crazy crazy crazy!!! I am in the middle of packing and trying to get ready for it! In 24 hours I will be on my way to good ole Texas!!! When I get back I will be sure to blog about the whole thing!

 xoxo
Madison

 My excited face!!!!!