Of Shakespeare and Beyond…

Dear Reader,

One of my friends has this quote on his Facebook: “There are more things in heaven and earth… than are dreamt of in your philosophies.” (He just told me it’s a quote from Hamlet. First act, second scene… he thinks.)

But I read that the other day and it got me thinking–thinking about how things have really been getting me thinking lately. (Did that make sense? Did it get YOU thinking?)

Well, you see, I have some pretty awesome friends here at Jessup. They are also pretty smart, too. Defiantly smarter than me.

They are usually talking way over my head. They discuss books, authors, theology, current issues, politics, literature, foreign policy, religion. EVERYTHING that smart people talk about. But what I do catch and understand of their conversations often gets me thinking.

And sometimes I get overwhelmed and discouraged. I will never understand all this stuff. I will never totally know where I stand on every issue. I will never have the answers to the world problems. I’ll never know everything about literature, the Bible, theology…

BUT!!! The best part about it is that God does not call us, necessarily, to be the smartest or the most knowledgeable of all people. He calls us the be the most patient, loving, kind, just, good, faithful… and those things are not only more important, but thankfully, they seem more easier. These things are just natural overflow of someone who has been filled with the love of God.

I have to agree with that quote. There is so much more to life (and even beyond life) than what we think we know. God is bigger than our ideas and our assumptions. And that is a really good thing.

God Bless,
Stephanie

P.S. I got the chance to take my Wyldlife gals up to Woodleaf for winter camp a couple weekends ago. Those are some picture from the weekend. There was SOOOO much snow (and I say that as a Colorado native).

Keep On Keeping On

Dear Reader,

Things have started to slow down into a routine here. People are back to work, homework, studying, and business in general. I’m starting to find my own routine for this new semester, too. Speaking of which, it’s already February 2!!! That seems to always be a constant theme with me: looking at the date and wondering how it got to be here so fast. I think that means that I am filling my time with lots of great things that are causing the time fly on by.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, three other students at Jessup and I are working on starting a Wyld Life (for those of you who are familiar with Young LIfe, this is the middle school version) club up in the Olivehurst area. Things are finally really taking off. By Friday, most of us will be qualified to start volunteering in the school, and I have already talked to one of the girls that is going to be going with us up to winter camp from February 20-22. SO SO SO EXCITING! It’s hard to explain, but I feel like I am all grown up, taking kids to camp. I remember being that kid and looking up to my leaders. I remember thinking they were the coolest people ever and watching their every move. I’m excited and challenged at the same time. I get to bless the kids in the same way that I was blessed, and I also must be so careful to be following Jesus in every aspect of my life so they do not see me as hypocritical or get a skewed view of what it means to be a Christian. I’m so excited to start making relationships with my girls and pouring love into their lives.

I’m also looking for a job right now. I had it easy last semester doing the full-time student thing, but now my savings are depleting. It’s never been my favorite thing to put so much time into going out and getting applications and spending so much time on nice handwriting and spelling everything right only to get turned down most of the time. It’s not an easy or fun thing, especially right now when jobs aren’t really in an excess. BUT I know that God’s going to provide, and if He still wants me here at Jessup He is going to provide just what I need in one way or another, right? Haha.

Someday, when I have more time I will tell the awesome story of how I even ended up here at Jessup in the first place. It’s a awesome story of God’s provision and how He has his hand involved in every aspect of my life, both small and large.

Well I’m off to finish up some stuff before I head off to Olivehurst for the afternoon. Have a great February. My goal for this month is to learn how to show love to my favorite people ALL month and ALL year, not just one day out of 365!

God Bless,
Stephanie 

Jessup: The Second Semester

Dear Readers,

Just to drop a quick line:
I’m chilling in my dorm room taking a break from everything I have to do tonight to get ready for this next week. It’s surprising that we are already getting in to the second week of classes. It feels like just yesterday I was getting off the plane here in Cali. I’m so glad to get to see everyone again and spend some quality time with my roommate and catch up on everything that happened over break.

I am highly anticipating this semester. I have a great feeling about it. Thing are starting to “fall into place,” if you will. I have great friends and am constantly making more, I’m getting the hang of all this college academic stuff, I decided to be in choir this semester (fun!), I finally found a church that I’m really into and getting involved in, and God is really working on me and growing me.

I have found that the hardest part for me about being at Jessup all the way out here in Northern California, more than a thousand miles from my home, is being away from my friends and family. When things come up or happen back home it is so hard to be far away from all the action and everything that is happening. I know God is teaching me to trust Him. I have to trust that He will be there when I cannot and He will stick close to me when I’m feeling lonely. Also, I have a great support group of friends, teachers, and staff here who never let me feel lonely and blue for too long. I love Jessup, have I said that lately? (And no, they aren’t paying me to say that. Haha!)

This morning at church, my pastor spoke from a couple verses in Matthew about the crucifixion. I think it is so good to get a fresh reminder every so often of just how perfect the love of God is, and it really hit me again this morning. Sometime I catch myself thinking things like, “I need to do this or that because if I do God will love me more.” But that is not how it works at all. God is pleased when we do things for His glory, but there is no way I can make God love me anymore. He already loves me perfectly! How can that even be!? I have no idea but I’m so glad He does! We should do good things in response and gratitude to who he is. How can we not want to serve God once we have really seen the beauty of Christ’s work on the cross? Amazing.

God Bless,
Stephanie

As Break Comes To a Close…

Dear Reader,

Greetings from COLD COLD COLD Colorado. Christmas break is just about coming to an end and I’m getting ready to head back to Jessup for my second semester. I am so excited.

Break has been so awesome for me. I’ve gotten to see my family, meet my new baby nephew, and catch up with all my friends. It’s been so relaxing to not have to think about classes or studying. I have had a lot of time to think and reflect on the last semester, my first college semester ever.

Going in to college I sort of thought I had it all figured out: what I liked, what I was good at, what I could do well, and what my limits are. However, four months later I look back on everything that has already happened and am so amazed at how God has worked. I have been stretched and challenged and asked to do things I never thought I’d be able to do, but God is showing me that His plan for me is so much bigger than the limits I place on myself.

This year’s theme at Jessup is “Well Balanced.” At first I was not sure what exactly was meant by that but I think I’m starting to get the idea. I am starting to realizing now that as a follower of Christ we really have to learn to live a balanced life. How will we use our time? Our money? We cannot rely on our works, yet faith without deeds is dead? We are to despise sin, but love everyone, every sinner, with love equal to that of Jesus. There is so much to balance, and I am just beginning to really see that.

I’ve learned and grown so much in the little time I’ve spent at WJU already, and I have to say that I really do have more questions NOW than I ever had in my life. But that makes me excited. I don’t ever want to get to a point in my life where I feel like I know all there is to know about life and God. We will never know how big and awesome and expansive the wonders of God are.

I cannot wait to see where God takes me this next semester and for the next 3.5 (NOT 4 or 4.5 hopefully, haha) years at Jessup.

God Bless,
Stephanie

Walking in a Jessup Wonderland

Dear Reader,

Christmas IS coming quickly, and here at the old WJU, the spirit is really in the air! Last Wednesday night, for some of the other students and I, was full of Christmas cheer, joy and some awesome hang out time.

First, we had a tree lighting ceremony for the whole campus in the Commons. Student leadership did a great job decorating the huge tree and making it a fun event. Even though it was a short little time, it was nice to get together with some of the other studnets and share a special little moment.

For those of us lucky enough to be in Beta Hall with me, we got to go right from there over to the Beta Christmas party. My RD and all the RAs did a great job at setting up the party and making it a really nice event. One of the RA’s fathers dressed up as Santa and handed out candy canes and read us The Night Before Christmas. Afterward we decorated cookes and drank hot chocolate and cider. We also hung out and watched a movie after.

I’m thankful for the student leaders and everything they do for us to make us feel at home and even keep us entertained. Thanks, guys and gals!

God Bless,
Stephanie

Well Hello, December

Dear Reader,

The new month has snuck up on me again. December already!? It’s finally starting to get a little bit chilly here in Rocklin. There has been a lovely fog the last couple of days that has made it feel a little more like Christmas. I’m having trouble transitioning into winter mode with out snow. I’m sure I will get more than my fix, though when I go home for Christmas break (which is only in 18 days! I’m SOOO excited to see everyone!).

Thanksgiving was a great break. As the semester is wrapping up and finals are getting close, the schoolwork and studying is piling up. I got to spend the holiday with my roommate Jenn and her family. We went to her aunt’s house. They made GREAT cooking (ALMOST as good as my dad’s)! We did a lot of relaxing and baked a lot of muffins. I’m thankful that even though I didn’t get to be with my own family for Christmas, Jenn and her family were very welcoming to me… which is a great opportunity to talk about how much I love my roomie (and I’m not just writing this because she’s going to read this, but it will get me some positive roomie points!). I’ve already made some AMAZING friendships here at Jessup so far. Lots of those relationships, like the one with Jenn, will be life long, I’m sure.

There are a lot of little events going on this week for Christmas here at WJU. We are having a tree lighting ceremony, and my hall is having its own little party. We are also doing a door decorating contest, and my roommate and are have some pretty good ideas, so watch out. I’ll be sure to post some pictures of all those good times in my next post.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season and that you are all staying warm.

God Bless,
Stephanie

PS: I’m part of the Invisible Children club on campus, and the guys just finished up with a fundraiser they were doing called Moustaches for Moulah. Check out the details in the awesome video Julie, John, Abby and all the other contributers made. Click here for the link to the video on YouTube (I know… I’m just full of multimedia awesomeness lately, huh!?).

YWAM San Francisco

Dear Reader,

A few weekends ago, I got the wonderful opportunity to go on the Youth With A Mission: San Francisco trip. There were about twenty or so of us who spent the weekend at the YWAM base in San Francisco in the Tenderloin District. It was probably the BEST and most impacting 3 days of my life here at Jessup so far. It was awesome to see how God was using the other students to do His works. It is amazing, too, how God uses us even when we are feeling insecure or that there is nothing we could even do. Homelessness is a HUGE problem in San Fran, and many people have been working toward helping and solving it. I was overwhelmed and felt like I was too small to do anything of any impact for these people. However, God is faithful; I really saw Him at work that weekend. Even if what we can do is limited, the little things we do can be a really blessing to those who we are called to love just as God loved us.

This is a slide show I made of some picture from the weekend for chapel. I thought you all would enjoy it.

Click here for the link to the video on YouTube.

God Bless,
Stephanie

Faaaaaaaaaaaaall!!!

Dear Reader,

Fall has come! I am so excited! It is my favorite time of year.

My weeks have been so packed. During the week days, I’m so busy writing papers, reading, and catching up on sleep. And the weekends are full of fun events.

Two weekends ago: I went down to Santa Cruz with some of the girls in my wing and some of the other girls in our building. We watched the girls and boys soccer games, then went to the beach and had pizza and coffee. We got to spend the night at Bethany University with one of the girls in one of my wing’s friend. It was fun to have a little sleepover with the girls. We see each other all the time, but it’s hard to make time to just get to sit down with them and talk about life and everything. That weekend was also my first time getting to play on the beach since I’ve been here! So that was LOVELY!

Then, THIS weekend, I went to Apple Hill with some of the same girls and some new ones who also live in my building. We sipped apple cider and had caramel apples and took pictures. It was relaxing and fun and was nice to get to enjoy the fall weather up in the mountains!

I’m getting excited for the holidays! I can’t go home for Thanksgiving, but my lovely roomie and her mom and welcoming me into their home! I’m excited to get to spend time with them and get to know her and her family better. AND I cannot wait to get to go home for Christmas break. It’s going to be so great to see my family and friends that I haven’t seen in OVER 2 MONTHS now (which is offically the longest I’ve been away from home)! I’ve gotten a little homesick here and there, but that feeling never lasts long for me here at Jessup…

One last quick thing. One of the guys here at Jessup who has been involved in Young Life has gotten a team (which is me, him, 2 other guys from Jessup, and 1 other girl who is from another town close by) together to start a club up in Olivehurst. It is going to be Wild Life club, so for middle school kids. We are trianing for it now, and I’m excited for it to get up and running. We need a lot of prayer, though, so keep us on your minds and in your prayers!

God Bless,
Stephanie

PS: Happy Election Day! The pastor of the church I went to Sunday told us 5 thing that we can be sure will still be true after the election no matter the outcome, and I thought I would share them:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. There will still be room at the cross.
5. Jesus will still save the lost!

Ready, Break!!!

Dear Reader,

I started my LAST post talking about how I couldn’t believe it was already October, but WHOA! Now the month is virtually coming to a close (which is a great time to apologize for my lack of punctuality with this post, sorry.)! But time really flies the most for me when I’m either having fun, or when I’m busy, so it makes sense I’ve been having fun being busy, and been busy having fun, that time is speeding by.

Mid-term break was lovely and a well needed little time away from the routine of classes and weekends. Lots of people were home for the weekend so the campus was pretty quiet. I got the lovely blessing of having my boyfriend David, who lives back in my hometown of Colorado Springs, come out for a visit!

Last Saturday David, my roommate Jennifer, her friend Sarah, and I traveled down to San Francisco for the day! It was a BLAST! David has a old friend, Sara, who lives in the city, so she showed us around and stuff. We got to see the Golden Gate Bridge, which was David and I’s first time seeing it ever! That was the highlight for me.

This Friday I also got invited by some girls in my wing to go with them over to a Jessup professor’s place for dinner. We went to Karen McRenyolds place for chili and GREAT homemade bread (ALMOST as good as my dad’s, but don’t worry, Dad, not QUITE as good). There were about eight girls there and we all sat around the table listening to the Simon and Garfunkel RECORDS(!!!), drinking tea, and hearing hilarious and amazing stories from Karen and all the other girls. It was I nice relaxing break from dorm life.

I remember before I decided to come here for school, asking students what their favorite part about Jessup was, almost everyone told me that it was the community feel and how close they are with the professors. I can really see where they are coming from now

God Bless,
Stephanie

PS: I would like to note that right now the “first big snow” is coming down in Colorado Springs (or so i hear)! It is 11:37 PM in Rocklin and it is 61 degrees!!! I just thought that was notable.

PPS: I’ve gotten pretty good at ping pong in my spare time. Well… not as good as some people here (BETTER than my roommate though!!!), but I acutally spend some of my time studying as opposed to just improving my game. Haha, just kidding.

Settling In

Dear Reader,

It has obviously been a little too long since I last updated. Things have been really busy here lately, but in the BEST way possible. The month of September has flown by so fast, it’s hard to believe that it is already October.

A couple of weeks ago, some of the students here went on the Fall Retreat. It was SO great. It was really relaxing to be able to get out off campus for a little while and hang out up in the mountains. My favorite part of the retreat was all the people I got to know. We played games and just had a great time hanging out… and learning a lot about God too, of course!

A couple of nights ago we had an Open Mic Night. That was probably one of my most favorite events so far. It was really relaxed and laid back. People sang, told stories, jokes, and preformed poetry. There is a while lot of talent here at Jessup that you don’t’ always get to see, so it was nice to get to enjoy some of it.

All in all, things are going well. I’m starting to get into a routine, and things are beginning to feel more normal and the awkward newness is wearing off a little. Just when I start to get homesick, there is something fun and exciting to take my mind off it. And just when school is seeming like it’s too much to handle, the weekend comes up and I can sleep in and catch up on all my work.

Midterm break is coming up this weekend. It’s going to be a nice break. Some people and I are going down to San Francisco… so I’ll be posting from that soon I’m sure.

God Bless,
Stephanie