Sisters make the best friends!

As I continue to write these blogs I am pretty sure that my sister is pretty much the only person who ever reads it and I am also pretty sure that because I have been doing fairly well at keeping this blog up since being at school that she has stopped calling me. Actually that is only partially true. She does still call me but always at the most inconvenient times like when I am at the dining hall or at a concert and then when I try to call her back she refuses to answer my calls.

For many this wouldn't seem like such a big deal but considering that we live over 1,000 miles apart and only see each other twice a year, Christmas break and summer break, not talking to her is like not talking to my best friend, which makes me very sad. I understand that she is now in college also and is busy with work and class and making new friends but I miss her and wish that she would keep me up to date with what is going on in her life. Maybe she should get a blog and then we could just read about each others lives.

My sister is very pretty. She is smart and funny and a very talented graphic designer. I think that if we could ever work together with out killing each other we would be able to open an advertising agency and do well with it. I would be in charge of creative concepts and she could design it and put it all together.

Anyway since Jenna is the only one who really reads this blog I just wanted to tell you that I miss you and I hope classes are going well. Love you!

Love From Liberty,

Peggy

It Seems Like Only Yeasterday.

(Painting at Smith Mt. Lake during RA retreat.)

So I have been at school for almost a month now which is weird considering classes just started on Monday. It is amazing how much stuff has happened in only a short month. I survived training week and lock down, which wasn't as bad as I was anticipating. We have had several brother sister dorm activities, and just yesterday I went to D.C. for the day with my wonderful new roommate Danielle. On top of all of this I have gone to class and meetings and hung out randomly with the girls in my hall and with friends not on my hall. I am also planning a road trip to Chicago in October, with two of the best friends that anyone could ask for.


(Painting the rock and the freshman snack out)

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Danielle and I got up at 6am and drove to D.C. area and picked up some things that I had stored at my Uncle's house for the summer. Then we drove to her house about 20 min. away and spent some time with her family. She got caught up with them while I took a nap and then we all went to lunch, including her older sister and her two kids, who are super cute. After lunch we went to one if my favorite stores, IKEA, where I bought basically a whole apartment for under $80. I love shopping so being in a store where things are actually affordable was really fun. After shopping we went back to Danielle's house and hung out and then her parents took us to Dairy Queen where we had ice cream for supper. At 6pm we left D.C. and arrived back on campus just in time for the Rush Of Fools concert at the Block Party. Once the concert was over we were invited to go to the T-Room, which if you are not from Liberty is pretty much a hole in the wall place famous for there cheesy westerns: a hamburger, cheese, and a fried egg. We finally got back to the dorm at about 11-11:30pm and we still had to try and get somethings unpacked and put away before it was time to do curfew checks. At 1-1:30am the day finally ended and we were able to go to sleep. Thankfully we were able to sleep in a little bit this morning until church at 10:30 and were able to take naps and rest today.

It is amazing that in all of this busyness that God has shown Him self faithful that if I remain in Him, He will give me everything that I need. God is good all the time and all the time God is good. This is something that I am striving to remember and recognize and the semester goes by and things get more and more stressful. Perspective is everything.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Summer Fun.

So every summer when I was in middle school through high school I lived for the one week that was spent at East Iowa Bible Camp. It was at this place that I developed lifelong friendships, I learned that being a Christian could be fun, and that there is always so much more room to grow. I had camp counselors who poured into me and challenged me. It is because of some of these people that for the past two summers I have gone back to this camp as a counselor, trying to give back at least a part of what others gave to me.



Through the past two summers the Lord has taught me so much. Last year I learned what it truly meant to worship through a week of silence after I lost my voice for the first time ever. This summer the Lord reminded me of what it means to be heartbroken for the lost and to speak the truth in love even though it might hurt. There have been tears of both joy and sorrow. There has been laughter and giggles and hurt and pain but through these two summers of ministering to others I have gained a greater respect for God and surrendering to His will and His timing.



It is true that I could have made more money doing other things, and that at other camp there is cooler "stuff" but at East Iowa Bible Camp it is more than a week of fun it is a week of growth and that is why I love camp!


Love From Liberty,
Peggy

Truth Or Chew

So tonight after church a group of us went to Sonic. It started with about 20 people or so and as time passed the crowd died down until it was only my leadership team and Scott from our brother dorm. As we were sitting there I thought it might be fun to play a game I learned at camp called truth or chew. For those of you who do not know how to play it is a lot like truth or dare but instead of dare you have to chew something. This could be anything as you will soon find out.

We started with easy chews such as a flower petal and a straw from the trash can but soon it turned into far more challenging objects. Kat was given the task of chewing a metal sign that someone was leaning against. I had to chew a motorcycle tire. Stephanie chewed a strangers baseball cap. But the worst one was given to Scott who chewed the inside lip of the trash can lid. We were scolded twice for being to loud and after the last person had gone we called it a night. I feel like this is a night that many will remember for a long time and a great bonding experience for my team.

Back in the Burg

So I officially back in Lynchburg at school which means I am also back to high speed Internet!!! I left on Sat. and drove 16 hours through the night to get here on Sun. morning. I did have a co-driver so that was a big help. Thank you to all who were praying for me on this trip.

Every year my mother helps me pack. And when I say helps me I really mean I throw everything in a pile and she puts it in boxes and makes it fit into the car. This may not seem like a significant thing but when you have as much stuff as I do it truly is a miracle. Well my mother continues to amaze me because this year not only did she get all of my stuff in the smallest car I have had but she also managed to get all of Jay's (the guy who rode with me) stuff in the car as well.

While we are on the topic of my mother let me just tell you that she for one loves me a lot and I know this and because she loves me dearly she wants the best for me. So every time I come home the number one question she asks me is about my love life of which it is always the same answer that there is nothing to speak of. Well just before I left my mother informed me that she would like a son-in-law this year. To this I replied that I would marry the first man I saw and when I got my divorce I would move back in with her and my dad and they could support me for the rest of my life. She then changed her mind and said that a perspective son-in-law would do. I just laughed and told her I would see what I could do. I don't know why I am sharing this story other than it made me laugh and because I love my mother.

Love From Liberty,
Peggy