New Sister

This morning I woke up to a text from my precious Little Brittany that read as follows:

"I just wanted to tell you that last night I dedicated my life to Christ." That is the greatest thing that could have possibly started my day! Tears immediately came streaming down my face (of course). Brittany is at Summer Beach Project with Campus Outreach and is loving it! God is obviously doing wonderful things in her life already and I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer holds for her. I am so proud of her and so glad that she is not only my AGD sister and Little but also my sister in Christ. 

side note: I also find it very amusing that right after posting this I read something almost identical on Lindsey's blog. just another reason why we're soul mates.

Dear Swine Flu

It's hard to believe that a month ago I was blogging about my hatred of the swine flu, followed a few days later by reports of the cancellation of my trip. Now no one even gives the swine flu the time of day and considers it old news. I can't believe that I would have been returning from Mexico yesterday. It feels like it was a lifetime ago. Rather than be too sentimental, I have composed two different letters to the swine flu. *clears throat*

Dear Swine Flu,

  I hate your stinkin' guts. You make me vomit. You are the scum between my toes.

Love,

Caitlin

then I decided to stop being bitter.

Dear Swine Flu,

  Thank you for canceling my trip. Yes, that's right, I said "thank you". Bet you never thought I would say that. Well... I didn't either. Thank you for giving me this month to spend with Timmy. Two weeks would not have been sufficient time for building a whole relationship back that could withstand a month in Costa Rica and 414.39 (but who's counting?) miles between our schools. Thank you for giving me this wonderful time to be with him. Thank you for allowing me to do this Bible study with Mary and Kelly. It has been such a great thing for our relationships with each other and I am so thankful for them and the opportunity to do this study together. Thank you for allowing me to spend time with Coach, Jess, Kirkland, and Charlie. That is such valuable time to me that is too few and far between. Thank you for allowing me to go to Woodstock's graduation and the beach with the Tottens. Such a fabulous time with a fabulous group of people. Thank you for allowing me to go to the Hillsong concert for  possibly the best night of worship I have ever had. I'm sorry for all of the mean things I said about you. Though I will not extend friendship to you, please forgive me.

Sincerely,

Caitlin

God is so good dear friends, so good!

Rock & Reef Tour

Today began VBS at Noonday! For the first year in a long time, we're doing our own version of it for middle school. I know, I know, no middle schooler wants to go to VBS. But it is nothing like VBS at all. I can't remember what we're calling it exactly (but I'm pretty sure it signifies awesome), but it has much more of a camp feel to it, and the theme is Rock & Reef Tour, so it's not that childish VBS junk. None of that around here. (although I do miss 4B and the crafts and singing and motions and duck duck goose and...) As 5:45 got closer and we had no kids pre-registered, we really didn't know what was going to happen. What if we didn't have any kids at all? We were so pumped and ready, but what if they didn't show up? We all decided that if 1 kid showed up, we were going to love on that one kid (in the least awkward way possible). If 3 kids showed up, we were going to build some great relationships with those 3 kids. And if no kids showed up at all? We were going to still have worship, still praise our God who is still good even if no one shows up, and hit our knees. We were going to pray until something happened. And if that took 3 days then so be it. We ended up with 6 kids tonight, and I realize that isn't many. In fact, I got a little discouraged thinking about how many churches around us have these huge middle school ministries and wondered why we didn't. But the thing is, it's not about how many kids we have. Our success isn't measured on how many kids come. The biggest question is was God glorified? Did we do what He asked us to do? Are we serving and obeying Him? And most of all, is He why we're doing this? If we can say "yes" to all of these, then we have been successful. With those kids, we had more fun than I think I have ever had in the walls of Noonday Baptist Church. And I hav been there for 20 years. We laughed until we cried, we danced, we sang, we made a train, we talked, and we praised Him with every step. We experienced joy the way it is supposed to be experienced. We were totally and completely undignified before God, and loved it.

Please pray for the rest of the week. Pray that we grow if it is God's will, but that we build relationships that last with these kids. Pray that the leaders can keep this level of enthusiasm we had tonight. Pray that God moves like we have never seen before, no matter how many people are in the room. He is doing a marvelous work!

Also, Timmy leaves with FBCW tomorrow (or in 4 hours actually) for their middle and high school camp. Pray that God uses the leaders, gives them strength and patience after many sleepless nights, and does a mighty work in these students' lives.

My Inheritance

There is a song on the new Travis Cottrell CD called My Inheritance. Marcus put it on our CD for our beach trip and I immediately fell in love with it. Today the CD came out and Tammy bought it for me and I am obsessed with it! I started thinking about the word inheritance on my way home tonight. The song says: "I will dance, I will sing, Jesus, You're my everything. You're my treasure, my inheritance. I am rich, I am blessed, in Your love and faithfulness. You're my treasure and forever You are my inheritance."

inheritance: property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed.

When Jesus died, He made us his successors, those entitled to everything that He owns. And the things that He owns are far more important than those of this earth: joy, peace, life, eternity, happiness, contentment, friendship, love. The definition says "those entitled". The thing is, we aren't anywhere near entitled to anything that He could possibly give us. Day after day we turn against Him and hurt Him. I don't deserve anything that He could give me, but He gives willingly. Without His inheritance, I have nothing. It's amazing that He could look beyond my faults and transgressions and give me a full and eternal life.

Remember that time we went to the beach? That was fun.

I seriously just had the best weekend I can ever remember. Friday Timmy and I decided to go on an adventure. We ended up going to Atlantic Station to spend the evening. We walked around for a bit, went to California Pizza Kitchen, and Coldstone and then came back to my house and had a little fun with this photobooth business. This mac is loads of fun, and we just could not stop laughing. 

Saturday started bright and early with Kati's graduation at 9. It was such a sweet ceremony. That afternoon, Tammy and I spent some great time at the pool chatting and working on our tan. I am so thankful for times like these, such precious moments.

Sunday morning, bright and early, we left for Savannah! (we meaning Timmy's family, Marcus, and I) We made it down there around lunch time, grabbed some pizza, and headed to Tybee Island for the day. It was such a beautiful day and we had so much fun sitting at the edge of the ocean chatting. And I even got in for a bit. The things I do to be with that boy. ;) We went out to eat that night and just hung out and watched a movie. This morning we got up bright and early (again) and headed back to the beach! Timmy and I took a couple really long walks (Hi, my name is Caitlin and I enjoy long walks on the beach) and we all played in the ocean for a while and before we knew it, it was time to leave. Sad day. The car ride back was quite possibly one of my favorite parts of the trip. What started with "what's your all time favorite movie?" somehow (and by somehow I mean because of Timmy) progressed into "who has made the biggest impact on your life and why?" and was a great time of laughter and conversation. I don't think I have ever laughed as much as I do when I am with these people. I am truly so blessed. I didn't even want to come home tonight. Life seriously doesn't get much better than this, my friends.

Sending Off My Young

Both of my Littles have left to embark on their journeys for the summer. Sara will be in Swaziland and Brittany will be on Summer Beach Project with Campus Outreach. Two months is a very long time for both of them to be gone, but I couldn't possibly be more excited for them. This is going to be such an amazing experience and I am so proud of them for stepping out in faith like this. I ask that you join me in praying for them, especially these first few days. Sara and Brittany, I love you both so much. I feel privileged to be able to be with you in spirit, even if I can't be there in person.

I Am Yours

Last night I got the awesome opportunity to see Hillsong in concert. It was absolutely amazing! The best part was it never actually felt like a concert; it felt like worship. God really showed up and made Himself known. While we were waiting for the concert to start, I started thinking about all of the people that work there. We have no idea where their hearts are or what they believe. Whether they are a Christian or want nothing to do with Christianity or God at all, we made a statement last night. At first it may have seemed like we all just came to hear some people sing, but as they started playing, it was clear that it wasn't about the people playing; it was about singing praise to our mighty and matchless Creator. It was so wonderful to be surrounded by so many people who share my beliefs, share my love, and share my heart. In case you didn't know, I am a very passionate person. I give my all for whatever I believe in and whatever I love. I also love music and I love to sing. When music comes on, I can't sit still, even if it's just tapping my foot. That being said, I am not a very still worshipper, if you will. I don't care what anyone else says, there is something about singing to God that genuinely consumes me, and I love that.

There have been many moment in my life where I have suddenly had a revelation, if you will, about a seemingly elementary principle. This night was one of them. I suddenly truly grasped who I am in Christ. For a long time now, I have felt totally and completely secure in who I am and who He made me to be, but I think I really got it. First of all, I am a friend of God. What is a friend exactly? My friends mean the world to me. I love every second I spend with them and cherish every moment. It amazes me that God would feel that way about me. Not only does He want me to want to spend time with Him, but He also wants to spend time with me. This has never been a one sided relationship. He really wants my friendship. Second of all, I am a conqueror. When someone says that something was conquered, what does it bring to mind? Complete obliteration. Destruction. Overpowering. Through Him, I am a conqueror of sin. He has bestowed upon me the power to completely obliterate, destroy, and overpower sin in my life. But most importantly, I am His. Totally, completely, undoubtedly His, and nothing can ever take that away. I pray that I never get over that fact.

"we aren't afraid, we aren't ashamed, Lord we know who we are. we are Your people and we won't be silent! unified, hear us cry at the top of our lungs, You are our God and we won't be shaken! Jesus, Savior, in my life You are everything. my future decided, I will praise Your name. I know that I am Yours!"