Adventure #1

Excuse the delay in post friends...one word - midterms.

But I have quite the adventure to share with you. Last Saturday, aka SPRING BREAK!, Kayli (the roomie), Dusty (the roomie's bf), and I packed my baby car, Bruce, and embarked on a five day trip through the Eastern part of the US. The destination was Blacksberg, VA with a pitstop in Nashville, TN. 18 hrs and lots of highway later, we made it Sunday morning. The trip consisted of hiking (9 miles in 4.5 hrs), running, eating (A LOT), laughing, driving (even more), reading, and touring Virginia Tech campus and downtown Nashville. It was splendid, despite Bruce being backed into and gaining a dented bruise above his right front tire. (If you know of a good body shop, let me know). My favorite part of the adventure was Wednesday night as we drove home. We were all pooped and decided to leave a day early. On the way back, we decided to leave the ipod off for a change and just chat. 9 hours of conversation, idea flowing, and feelings spoken. Silly I know for this to be my favorite since I had experienced so many cool things the past few days, like a giant waterfall or breaking into a football stadium. But learning about people's hearts is what excites me. I find people so much more interesting and dynamic than objects and scenery. God did some pretty outstanding work in creating the Earth. Nature is breathtaking dont get me wrong, but I think his true masterpieces are the people, his children. We just chatted, asking questions from what's your testimony to what's your favorite animal and talked a lot about our future and how uncertain which direction we are being called to is. I know our friendships deepened that night.

We are almost seniors in college...how the heck did that happen??!!! So many what's, when's, and where's are looming above in our brains. But one thing I know for sure and that the holy spirit confirmed in church this morning is that all I am is his. Where ever he leads, I follow. I need a summer job and slightly freaking out but I know that there will be a door opening. Jesus leads me. period. I am his. peroid. and guess what?... you are his too. thats the truest of truths. and he loves ya...a whole lot. believe it brothers and sisters.

so you can enjoy the splendidness too here are some fav pics of the trip...

                                     long car trips...

                                       
                                            Virginia Tech has a quidditch team too!

                                                  the beginning of the hike

                                                     the middle

                                                the end!

                                             the pfunky griddle, nashville

                                                 the parthenon, nashville

                                                we flew kites when we got back.

the head and the heart

Last night Kayli and I ventured to Lawrence to go see the beautiful band of The Head and The Heart. WWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! One of my top 3 favorite concerts ever. They were so stinkin good live, just jammin on stage, sharing their music. Its the type of music that you can't help but tap your foot and bob your head to. A plus to the concert - YOUTHFRONT staff runion! We meet up fellow staff and it's so wonderful to laugh and share stories with peeps who you have lived with in an intentional community. Despite the 1:30 am arrival time back in wichita and 8am psychology class this morning, I would say the concert would be one of my fav memories of this semester.

just in case you aren't an indie/folk music lover and have yet to allow your ears to hear the sweet tunes...here ya go :)

                      
                                                                          the gang

                                                                   Emily is real great

                                                                        Hello band

have a splendid monday!
love, Heidi

Gifts

Gifts...that is the word I would use for this past week, admist busyness, forgettfulness, speeding, billions hours of studying, tiredness, and slight stress induced heart palpatations, but mainly gifts, which I like the best.

Monday night one of my friends left a generous donation check for my trip to Haiti on my pillow with a letter explaining thyself. I was in awe of such kindness and brotherly love. I havent sent out my support letters yet or even talked about raising the funds and yet, God lead him to give. Jesus also led another friend to offer to buy my envelopes and stamps for me. I have the envelopes already and now I have 80 gifted stamps. I went to sleep that night in awe of the love of my heavenly father and how he cares for even the little things like stamps. HOW CRAZY AWESOME IS HE!! gifts are everywhere. we must allow our eyes and hearts to see them.

One more gift I have to mention...friends. I ventured to Manhattan Ks to spend the weekend with my bestie since 7th grade. It was much needed for the both of us and the weekend healed my weary heart. It consisted of laughter from the abs, banana bread, doughnuts, bluestem, nature walk, movie, food, clothes, pranks, words, games, worms, and french toast. Anika is a gift. a real grand wonderful one. and we love eachother.

friends are the bomb-dig.