Home

This week (for the most part) I have off of work...I get to spend several days away from campus, at home, with my family and other people who are near and dear to my heart. But I have come to realize the past few days that home will never completely have my heart again. There was a time in my life, where home meant the little yellow house in Hobart where I grew up. It meant being with my immediate family, my dogs, and my best friend.

Now? Now home looks a lot different. And I've come to realize that home is a lot of things. 

Home is the place where you are loved, no matter what.

Home is the place that you arrive and feel like you can plop down on the couch and just be for a while.

Home is the place where the people you love are...

Home is where you are challenged to grow- in whatever ways you need.

Home is where there is coffee...

And home is where there is always someone to hold your hand.

How blessed I am to have a home wherever it is I happen to be.

Try Again

To be continued...But you should watch this video. Or listen to it. Henessey has requested it on repeat the past few days...it's pretty good. 

On Being A RA #2: Sometimes....

Sometimes, it's okay to have events where only 2 girls show up. You shouldn't let it get you down.

Sometimes, you have to be the bad guy.

Sometimes, girls will get mad at you. 

Some days aren't as easy as others.

Some days the hall will be empty.

Sometimes, being the summer RA of Tibstra Hall will result in loneliness. 

That's okay.

Because sometimes, you have breakthroughs. Sometimes, girls open up to you. Sometimes, something beautiful happens.

And it's all worth it.

There are shadows here, feeding on your fears

That you don’t have what it takes

Who are you to make a change

But oh, oh, don’t underestimate the God you follow
Whatever you do, just don’t look back
Somebody needs the light you have
Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart
Keep on pushing back the dark
Keep on pushing back the dark

On Being a RA

A lot of people have been asking me about how being a RA is going. Some questions I've been asked frequently:

How are your girls?
How many girls do you have?
What kinds of events are you planning?
Do you like it?

My girls are wonderful. Currently I have 15 girls, which is small, but a good number for me. I get along with all of them, but there are definitely girls I see more than others. Some girls I hardly see at all either because they like to hide or because they really have no interest in developing relationships with me or the other girls on the floor. I try to give those girls their space while also encouraging them to talk with me for a few minutes. Bribing them with the kid or cookies/food works well #LifeLessonsfromLette#13

I've definitely developed solid and healthy relationships with most of the other girls on my floor, and I love it. In the past 3 weeks I have seen girls go from complete strangers to friends, and it is a crazy beautiful thing. Girls who at first wouldn't talk to each other are now hanging out regularly. Girls who were arguing and just not getting along are starting to find their way and the path is smooth on this side. I've seen girls work together to try and figure out the riddle I have posted on the wall in the hallway and I've seen girls race each other in the crosswords on the opposite wall. Last night, I saw girls praying together in the lounge. The Lord is working here, that much is clear. He is building friendships and breaking down walls. I've seen it already and I hope to see more of it in the upcoming months.

As far as events go, I've had two movie/hang out nights and a floor breakfast. All of which have had a great turn out. These girls love to participate and love to be involved, which makes my job easy. Those were our official floor events, though we have often sat around in my room talking or girls have just come by to sit at the table and drink tea and chat the night away. There are girls on this hall who just love to talk. I love it. 

Have tea and coffee at the ready at any time in the day. #LifeLessonsfromLette#2

In a quick summary, I love this job. There are things that are frustrating about it, but the good things far outweigh all the frustrating ones. I am excited to see what the Lord does in the upcoming weeks as we continue to grow as a floor and as friends.