Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Journal 7/16/10

When our view of God is small
We won't get to see Him do much
Because our eyes will be bitterly closed.
When our view of God is BIG
We get to partake in His BIG picture
His redemptive plan for the entire world...

BIG 
Holy, Powerful, Higher
Strong, Trustworthy, Mighty to Save
Every heart, Everywhere
Constantly moving

Be fully persuaded that
God has the power
To do what He has promised

FULLY
Like the little daughter who leaps
Into a Father's arms
Without even considering the possibility of not being caught

She trusts completely
Subconsciously

How can we get to that place?
Pure, subconscious trust?

Oh, to fall in love...


Monday, April 23, 2012

It's Official.

Well friends, it seems the time has come yet again for me to enter a new phase of life.

It's official. I'm moving to Denver, Colorado. 

(Well, not until later this summer. Actual date tentative.)

In late August of this year, I will officially start school at Denver Seminary working towards a MA in Youth and Family Ministries with a concentration in Counseling Ministries. I also hope to (fingers crossed!) work for a church in the area (as an Associate Youth Director). Right now I am in the middle of the application process and have a phone interview in about a week and a half. I would love your prayers for God's will in this!

I came to this decision after lots of prayer and consideration, mixed with a known (well, re-realized last year!) call to full-time youth ministry. God opened the doors by allowing me to be accepted to a couple different seminaries and I feel as though He has been leading me to Denver. I can't wait for the adventure.


I am really excited about this new phase of life for several reasons:
1. It finally means getting out of Missouri (at least for a while).
2. I will still get to be close to and be able to watch my little brother play basketball at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO.
3. It also means living close to two of my great friends, Adam and Tyler.
4. Last "people" post - I will get to live somewhat near good friends and former leader Courtney and Jake and their newborn baby girl.
4. I will be able to travel even more around the state of CO - even though I've already been to several towns, including Buena Vista, Salida, Winter Park, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Creede, Alamosa, Lake City, Grand Junction, Silverthorne, Boulder, Fort Collins, Estes Park, and so on and so forth. But there is plenty to the state I haven't seen!
5. I WILL GET TO GO ROCK CLIMBING - like, whenever I want when the weather is nice. (God Bless my friend Tyler for working so many random jobs and hopefully being able to get me a prodeal on equipment.) I think rock climbing is secretly my favorite sport, even though I've only been able to go for real a few times in my life.
6. Great hiking! However, don't expect me to be one of those "hike all the 14er's" people. I like shorter, relaxing hikes that I can get out and do within 2-3 hours during my day. (Although I will hike whole mountains occasionally!)
7. Chacos. Fleeces. Northface. Patagonia. Mountain Hardware. Outdoor stores. And more outdoor stores.
8. Learning how to ski better. (If I can afford it!)
9. 300 Days of sunshine!
10. Being able to take seminary classes and be in community with fellow classmates. I never thought I'd be excited to go back to school but this will obviously be different! And much better.

Just remember that wherever my Colorado home might be - you are always welcome! I want visitors so come play in the mountains and stay with me!


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The House on Q Street

Today I'd like to take you on a little trip to the land of the Huskers...specifically a senior-citizen filled, calm little town called Auburn, Nebraska. Auburn is where both of my parents grew up, and where all 3 of my living grandparents still reside. (In the same homes they've been living in for 40+ years).

As many of you probably know, my Grandma B (my mom's mom) hasn't been doing so well. She is currently undergoing chemo and has complications off and on because she is pretty weak. Currently she is in the hospital getting over a case of pneumonia. I just got back from visiting yesterday and I am happy to report she is getting stronger every day and is just as sweet as ever.

I have somewhat of a special attachment to my Grandma.....when I was just one-year old, my mom had major jaw surgery. Part of her recovery included having her jaw wired shut for at least 6 weeks. During that time, my Grandma took care of me a LOT. She would either help out in KC, or even take me back to Nebraska with her and take care of me there. Even though I obviously don't remember this, it certainly created an extra attachment between her and I. As I grew up, I began going up to Nebraska for at least a week every summer by myself (as in without any of my immediate family) to hang out and play with my grandparents. I did that since before I can even remember, and it lasted all the way until I was at least in high school. Even then I went up occassionally by myself. I was the only one of us Loew children to do this. And even though my parents are both from Auburn and my other grandma only lives a mile away...I split the daytime between the two homes as much as possible, but I always stayed with my mom's parents.
I realized while reminiscing about all the time I spent here as a child that I am more attached to my grandparent's house than any other house that has been a part of my life. I think part of it is probably the fact that most of the furniture hasn't changed over the years. All of my memories take place in the same rooms, with almost exactly the same stuff.

Here are some pictures of my favorite home (and I just realized I don't have one of the outside! Dang):

When you walk in the front door, this is what you see:

The recliners in this room have changed occassionally and the tv that is in the left-hand corner has gotten bigger...but much of it has remained the same. Every Christmas Eve except this last year took place in this room.


Just through the opening of the last picture is this, the kitchen and dining area. Many meals have been eaten at that bar and table. Some classics - homemade waffles, popcorn, cheese potato soup, and ice cream cones at night! Also, probably thousands of card games have been played at that same kitchen table.


One side of the office I played in a lot. This room is the first room on the right down in the hall in the last picture. The main computer desk is actually on the other side of the room. The big desk here is my grandpa's - he was a banker pretty much his whole life.


My grandparent's room. Second room on the right. I didn't spend much time in here, other than when I would go into snuggle in the morning when I stayed there alone.


Next, at the end of the hallway, is a picture of "my" room. I have been calling it "my room" for years now...even though really it is my mom's room...but I look at it this way - no one has slept in this room more than I have over the last 24 years. Even on holidays, I never had to sleep in any of the uncomfortable beds downstairs...I always got dibs on this room. I shared it sometimes. But I was never kicked out of it. :)

(It is very pink. But it has looked this way my whole life!)

My mom and aunt's senior pictures hang on the wall by the door of my room...isn't my mom a babe?


Now to the basement...the laundry room, door to the garage, and door to the basement are all behind where I am standing and taking the kitchen picture.
Main area #1. Yes, that is red shag carpet on the wall by the stairs! ha


Pictures of my grandparents on the wall. My grandpa was a handsome young Navy lad and I think my grandma is a babe just like my mom!


Main area #2. Pool room. It didn't used to be this filled with stuff. We played pool and piano all the time in here.


The Loew Band. haha. This is taken standing in main area #1 looking into main area #2. We look GOOD. (I never knew how to play guitar then...but that is the guitar I eventually taught myself on in high school!)


Now for some other fun ones....
HAHA. (This is taken in front of the house.) I found this in some pictures this weekend. We have some pretty bad family photos, but this HAS to be one of the funniest. My sister just totally makes this picture.

Totes presh. My little brother loved to sit on grandpa's lap in that chair.

Lookin' good in the backyard tree.

Dancing at their 25th Anniversary bash.


Because I spent so much time at that house, and because my grandpa still worked when I was little, I really have spent more time with my mom's mom than any other grandparent. I have a lot of great memories with her. We played tons of games and she took me to parks and the pool and anywhere I wanted to go.

She might be 76 now, but she's still as great as ever.




I am incredibly thankful for my Grandma Bergmann, and I can't wait for her to get out of the hospital so I can go up to Nebraska by myself again and hang out like old times.

If you still have grandparents...you should give them a call today. I'm sure they'd love to hear from you. :)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Sarah. (A Woman Worth Knowing)

It has been quite some time since I blogged. But there's always a good reason to start again!

I have this really great friend. When I say really great, I mean like, REALLY great. She kind of does awesome things for the Name of the LORD in this world. She loves and honors her husband more than any wife I know. She is about to be the mother of a beautiful, long-awaited child. She builds up youth to also serve in this world. She is one of my best friends, and she has impacted my life more than words can describe.

Her name is Sarah Beard, and (if you don't already), I would like for you to take a moment to get to know her.



Sarah is a frequent blogger. You don't have to read all of these, but they're all pretty great...so if you have time, you should.

These posts will give you a sense of Sarah's rich love of the Lord:

These posts relate to Sarah's marriage to Andrew - posts that have inspired me and I hope will inspire you about what you desire in marriage as well:
  • Intention - READ THIS. You will seriously want this kind of relationship. 
  • Marriage Purity - Self explanatory, a message about purity even within marriage.

And these, well, these are shorter snapshots of Andrew & Sarah and how seriously HILARIOUS they are. If you don't already, you'll understand why I love them so much after reading these:

Basically, Sarah is one of the greatest people I know. Here's where you come in. Sarah works for this awesome organization, His Voice Global. Check it out more here. HVG is in the midst of some awesome Kingdom projects. These include building orphanages in Sudan (& partnering with people there to sustain them), partnering with a boys home in India, and feeding thousands of orphans in North Korea (a RARE and amazing opportunity). Sarah is the Director of Partnerships for HVG, which means she is constantly finding new people/churches/organizations to partner with HVG in various ways. She also plans missions conferences and loads of other things. 

As another part of her job, Sarah has to raise her own salary. This year, with Baby Beard due in June, Sarah is hoping to raise $30,000. This little nugget growing inside of her has been an answer to years of prayer, and I want to do everything I can to make sure he/she is well taken care of! :)

Sarah is also one of the most humble people I know. You can believe that no matter how big or little your donation, she will be humbled, maybe even to tears -- or maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones. :) She is a gracious woman who is deserving of any dollar you could give her way.

If you would like to give a one-time or monthly donation to Sarah (AND YOU SHOULD!), please follow her directions in this post:
The Ask.

If you really still feel like you don't know Sarah enough, here is a video testimony she also used to announce to the youth group that her and Andrew were expecting a child. Enjoy! And PLEASE, be a part of Christ's hands & feet in the world and help her reach her goal! ANYTHING HELPS!