Just Living Life....

 I checked my email, and opened one from my mom. It was a forward, and as I ended it all I could do was smile. Then I read the ps. Will I meet you someday....All I could do was laugh. It was an email from 2006 a pretty handsome guy. Heck, who am I kidding- he's a total hottie! It was an email from my now fiance. The first email I received from him. 

 I still laugh while I remember what I did after I replied to that email. Go up to Amanda's ( aka my beautiful other hips's) dorm room and stated I am not dating this guy. No way. After a bad break up I was done with guys. I was sticking to the single life...But Charles slowly won my heart. And now 7 years later we will be married soon! 

Crazy how time flies , and things change so fast!  A year ago I was almost done with my first week of classes, and sharing a dorm room with the most amazing girls ever. Now, a year later I am making my apartment a home, and planning a wedding. 51 days and I will be a wife. It's still a mind blowing thought. But, I couldn't be more excited to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. 

Wedding planning is beyond insane. But, I love ever second of it. My summer has pretty much been spent with family, and my fiance. A dab of some friends. Which I am ok with because this is how my future will look very soon. Every day is a new adventure of getting to know my fiance. Even if it's just hanging out at the apartment. Everyday is days of hugs, laughs, and odd conversations. Really, if people heard some of our conversations they would wonder what's wrong with us. 

School and everything else in life is on it's back burner until the wedding. But, i'm excited for what's to come.  My life may seem a bit boring lately. But, I love it. Every second of it. This next month and a half is going to be super busy. But, i'm ready for it...I think ha ha.

I do miss my friends at school. Especially my roommates. Especially when I need some girl time. Going from just walking into a room with girls I can trust . I've found coming back home my friends are slim to non. Especially when it comes to girlfriends. But, I guess that's what happends the older you get. But, no matter what happens the older I get. I know happy with how things are in my life at the moment. It's as close to perfect as you can get. 

Almost the end.....

    So, i'm looking around my dorm room. Most of my stuff is packed into the trunk of my car. But, there is still a lot I still have to pack. Mostly little things. As I write this I look at my desk, and see the things that mean a lot to me for a specific reason. My picture of all the girls  during summer semester  at Ellerslie, A group photo of our Sister Section, my piglet given to me a few years ago from my best friend Beccie, the star fish from my love, a photo of my Grandpa Vansickle and I when I was 5 years old, the teddy bear pillow given to me from my beautiful other hip Amanda, and a family picture. 

  As I look at these, and get ready to end my semester at Frontier I realize I am once again ending a chapter of my life, and starting a new one. If there is one thing in life I have learned it's to not make any plans. God always seems to change mine. I wasn't sure how long God called me to come to Frontier when I applied last summer. But, I knew I was supposed to come here in the fall. Last year was the hardest I've had. Bad thing after bad thing seemed to happen, and I needed out. The " Small town" of Saint Johns was the last place I wanted to be. I needed to get away, and re evaluate my life. Get to a place where I could breath again. I needed to be as far away from the town I grew up in. Away from the people, and the drama. I needed an escape. As far as I was concerned La Grange Wyoming was just that. Everyone seemed to come to bible college to learn more about the bible, and God. In all honesty I came to get away from life at home. 

 Though I did want to get a good background on biblical teaching for counseling that wasn't my main reason for going to college. I just needed to get away. Though it was only a semester God used it in an amazing way. I was able to work with Youth Group, and Awana's, I was given such amazing roommates that I could totally be myself with, I made great friends, and went to a great church. I was given the chance to really experience college. Though I went to Cornerstone I didn't get that experience since I didn't have a roommate. 

  There are so many things I learned here about life. Especially my own. I learned to be real. Not pretend. My roommate told me the other night that the minute she meet me she seen how real I was, and seen how confident I was with myself. I knew who I was, and I wasn't going to change that.  My roommates, and friends became a safe haven for me. It was the first time I let myself be completely real with anyone, and not have to sit into some cookie cutter Christianity where everything is nice and neat. Yes, I was blessed to grow up in a christian home. But, my life was anything but a cookie cutter Christianity that was nice and neat. It's been anything but that. I've had a great life. But, a lot of trials, mistakes, my life sometimes felt like a crazy ride, But, I always keep it to myself. But, through listening to Joe at Youth Group I seen how being real is what people need, and want.

  I  also seen how important friendship is. Real friendships that is. I seen how some frienships can do nothing but tear you down. When I was talking to my roommate about this one night about a friendship I have been praying about because it wasn't doing anything but tearing me down, and just wasn't good. She opened the bible to a verse in Romans. I seen how amazing it is to be able to walk into my room, and tell my roommate I needed to pray or just to talk. It's amazing to have friends I can be real with. I am going to miss then dearly. But, as Molly told me the other day on our " Roommate date" that this was just the beginning not the end. I'm excited to see where God is going to take these new found friendships- that feel like I have had for years. As well as each of our lives.

 Working with the Youth Group this semester has been amazing. It' just given me the passion, and fire to work with youth even more! I love all the teens at the Youth Group! I am so excited to see where God will lead their lives! I am so thankful I will be able to keep in contact with them, and continue to enjoy every time I talk to them even more. 

I love everything that happened this semester, and all I learned in and outside of the classroom. I have so many amazing memories here. But, I am also so excited to see my family, and start the next chapter of my life. I know God is going to do amazing things as always :)
   
 

almost the end......

Crazy to think the last time I wrote about my time here at Frontier I was just in my third week. Now, I am into my last full week. The time here has gone by so fast! Yet, it's been amazing!!! Last weekend I drove down to Windsor Colorado to the Ellerslie Campus. Also known as my " Heart Home." I still have never found a place that feels like home as Ellerlie does! Once on the the campus I walked down to my favorite spot on campus. A bench out looking the lake. You can see the mountains in the back ground, and in the middle is a cross. I always loved looking out at all the beauty, and thinking.

That day I was there for Eric, and Leslie's adoption " baby shower". This day came to my mind a few moments ago as I was looking through some books of mine. I stumbled upon my first copy of When God Writes Your Love Story as well as my 10th anniversary copy that is Autographed by both Eric, and Leslie. I smile as I think how just a few years ago I started reading their books. Never did I think i'd meet them when I first read their books. But, God didn't only give me the privilege of meeting them but to be a part of their lives in a small way. I loved going to the set a part girl conferences then when God told me to quit my job to attend Ellerslie last summer  people thought I was crazy! But, God did amazing things that summer. I was even re-baptized because when I was first baptized I didn't fully understand the meaning of it at the time. It was just the thing you did. There I learned to pray- really pray. I heard truth like I had never heard it before.

After the shower, and visiting with some friends who still live on campus, and some of the staff I went to find the Ludy's to say goodbye. I smiled as Eric looked at me and said " Hey, look who it is." as he gave me a hug. As I spoke to the Ludy's about what was going on in my life before I left I wrote home with a content smile on my face.

My life has been so crazy lately. Once again God is calling me to go back home instead of continue with going to Frontier. People think I am crazy. But, I feel content, and satisfied. God allowed me to experience college. Really experience it. Having roommates, section devo's with amazing woman, prayer group once a week. It's bitter sweet. I am going to miss hanging out with my roommates, having road trips to walmart (when it's an hour away, and it takes part of the day. Yes, going to wal mart is a road trip!) , helping with youth group, helping with Awanas, being able to drive down to Colorado, and see my Ellerslie family. But, I know that God is leading me home. There is so much I want to do there! Every day God has given me the burden and desire to work with the teens at our local public school. I don't know what God is going to do next. I learned not to make plans. God always seems to have different ones, and is always seems to be shaking things up. Taking me down a path I didn't expect. But, I am excited for what's to come. Whatever that will be! The next few days will be studying for upcoming tests, finals, memorizing verses, spending time with my friends, and getting as much as I can out of these last few days!

When God Writes Your Love Story...Originally written 01\23\2007

So, I found some old journal entries, and found this one. This is from the first time I ever picked up and read When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy....This was from January 23,2007.. But, I thought i'd share it anyway.... :)

Yesterday I started reading When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy. I can't put the book down. I am in aw at the things God has shown me. Some good, Some well, I don't want to say bad, I guess sad. I realized through reading the book, that I not only put God to the side, but I started taking control of well pretty much eveything in my life. God was just there. I soon realized I was becoming the per son I was all through highschool, someone I don't want to be. I had put up the wall again, and was keeping everyone at arms length. Including people I really care about. I wasn't letting them see me for me. I was pushing them away. I've felt blah latley since after christmas, I thought it was because I was still bumbed about not going to Cornerstone. Which in a way I still am. I miss it. But instead of seeing what god has for me at home, and why he wants me here. I was to busy thinking of all the things i'm missing by not being at Cornerstone. Which was making being at home even harder.

       But I decided not to keep that wall up anymore. I want to learn to trust people, which is something i've always had a hard time at. I want to let people in, and not hold them at arms length. I've also completely given full control of every part of my life to god, which isn't easy for me to do. But i'm doing it. I am trusting god completely, and not like I used to " Trust" him. In the past when I would trust god, it would be like this " ok god I trust you, but I think you should do this and this in this part of my life" Then soon god was pushed to the side, again. I don't want that anymore. I want to know god not only as my savoir, but the lover of my soul. My first love. Yup, that's what I want, and plan on doing.

     The book had a really awesome way looking at Purity too. Eric Ludy was talking to the guys in this part of the book, But I also got a lot out of it. He said whatever you are doing, imagine your future spouse is with you, and if it's not god's plan for you to marry, imagine god is standing next to you when you're doing something. Think of what god, and your future spouse would think and feel in they seen or or heard you say a certian thing. Think of how they would feel. It's a great way to remeber to " Does him good, not evil all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:12. Living for the person god has intended you to marrie ( If that's his will) all the days of your life, even  before you know them isn't easy. But I think what Eric Ludy suggests is a great way to live for you're spouse, and not only your spouse ( if god has choosen to have you be married) but to live for God.

    Now, what I learned about true love...girls, I know you can remember this....Sitting in front of the tv in your pj's watching as prince charming finally finds cinderella, puts the glass slipper on her foot. The prince had finally found his true love. After embarrassing cinderella, and kissing her the prince and cinderella wisk off to be married, and live happily ever after....aw, the movie every girls dream is based on. Finding the prince. As a little girl the "perfect" prince can be described like this the typical ken doll ( blond hair, blue eyes, musclar) + a white horse= the "Perfect Prince".  As a little girl gets older, and become a teen,then eventually an adult that's when you replace those ken dolls with ( I can hear the guys grumbling now) yes, chick flicks. Because all girs know that once you fall in love you're going to be on could 9 24/7, showered with love, chocolote, flowers, and affection 24/7, and you and your guy will never get sick of eachother. there will be nothing but holding hands, kisses, cuddling, looking at eachother and feeling no one else is there. It will be happily ever after, with the sappy love song in the back ground that makes all the girls cry, and think, i want that romance. To be sweeped off our feet, and never have a bad feeling ever, because hey, your in love!

    Yes, I know you don't have to tell me, I've read to many christian love storys, and seen one to many chick flicks ( even though a girl wonders, is there such a thing? ) aw, the feeling of being in love. It's nice, But yes, now comes the reality check.  My definition of true love- Choosing to love someone even when you don't feel like it. Putting the other person first, when you want to be selfish, and have things you're way. Forgiving completely like christ forgives, which means, when the person says their sorry, and you say that's ok you forgive them, you don't dwell on it or bring it up again in the future. Act like it never happened. Then being completely patient with the person no matter how hard it is. that's what true love is. you choose to love them, and all that really matters is making the other person happy, and lifting them up.

  Now, since were being relistic. the perfect guy isn't all that perfect. They mess up, and drive a girl insane! But at the end of the day, if you know that person is who God has made for you, no matter how insane or mad they make you only one fact remains. you love them, because you choose to. Even when you don't feel like loving them, or even talking to them, you love them. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend reading When God Writes Your Love Story! It's a great book!!! Well, Dishes are calling my name. So i'm off to get them done. Unless someone wants to do them for me ha-ha. hey, can't blame a girl for trying.

Melinda

When it all comes down to it...

    So, I keep thinking what was said in chapel today. With where the world is going we need to get ready to be persecuted for our faith because more then likely it will happen, and I wonder. Is that what we truly need? I mean how many " Christians" Will claim to be when they are being persecuted?! When it comes down to it will the world truly see a difference in you and know your a christian, or will you be a secret christian? I mean all I hear lately from all over is how Christians are supposed to show God's love. Which, yes is true. But, what about speaking truth? That is love.

  So many things are supposed to be ok, or just not spoken of these days. Today I found out that homosexual marriage is legal in Washington. This broke my heart, yet I wondered how many people are going to sit back, and honestly not care. Oh they don't "approve" or " support" this. There words say it. Yet, what about the life style?! I mean really, it's more then just showing God's love. I mean it's fine to live like the world as long as we are showing God's love, and not hating people. It doesn't matter what we watch, read, talk about, dabble in, or spend our time doing. Just as long as we are showing God's love.

 Now, I am human and I also struggle with these kind of things. But, I am seeing this is the norm for Christianity these days. I don't know what it makes me more sick or sad. I believe it's time for Christians to stop being luke warm. Stop making excuses to why the way they live their life is ok when it's not. God conquered  sin at the cross. It's time we stop playing in it, and purposefully doing it. That's why God gave us his word, accountability partners, etc. Sometimes it will make drastic changes to a person's life. But, it's time we make our choice and stop being on the fence. We are either all in for Christ, or all in for the world. You can't have both worlds. Christ didn't die so we play Christian and play in the world at the same time. We are either serving God or Satan. It's simple as that.

Melinda

COLLEGE LIFE-WEEK 3

It's so weird that I am only on my third week at frontier. It feels like I have been here for months!!!! The classes are amazing, the teachers are really nice, and I have made some of the most awesome friends ever :). A lot are younger then I am. But, you'd never notice at all. It feels like we are all the same age....

College is the typical college. Classes, a ton of reading assignments, papers, tests, more homework then I could imagine. But, it keeps me busy. I've gotten used to life in the middle of no where. lol A trip to the store always feels like a fun road trip :). Who would have thought you can get excited about going to walmart?! My roommates are still amazing as ever! I love them even more each day, and they crack me up all the time. The hallway of our dorm is always filled with entertainment. you never know what someone is going to say or who is going to start singing I like to move it move it, and start dancing ( ok, I admit I do it all the time hahahaha.)

Weekends are filled with a little bit of homework, and hanging out the rest of the time. College isn't the most exciting thing all the time. But, there is never a day were I am not laughing, or having a great time. Unless i'm reading a really long chapter of a book I want to throw out the window haha just kidding. I  am having a great time in college, and so thankful for the amazing people I am becoming good friends with :). Especially my roommates. Without them I would completely, and utterly be lost. They are already family to me. Well, it's time for bed. on to another day of classes, a test, and homework....

ps. My mail box is still sad and empty. lol my address is on my last blog ;p

And So It Begins....

" Don't get into trouble now." My roommate Jaimie said to my rommate Molly and I as she left our dorm room.
" What are we going to do to get into trouble? Cow Tipping?" Molly replied
" Oh, perfect first date! Cow tipping! That's how to win a girl's heart right there. Cow tipping, then go on a walk."  I replied as we all crack up laughing...

Yes, this is how my first day at Frontier began. It was a long drive here, and a bit of a culture shock when I got here. The closest store is an hour away, and there is hardly any cell reception. The campus feels more like a summer camp then a college campus. But, I love every second of it!

Saturday began with crazy registration. ID pictures taken, books being picked up,and meeting new roommates for the first time with butterflies inside praying you get along and like your roommates. Thankfully both mine are beyond amazing, and we all get a long great!!!

Sunday was relaxing with orientation, and then a lunch at the park. Then hanging in the dorm with my roommates. Today was the start of classes. All we covered was introductions and what the classes are about. Basic first day stuff. But, I know i'm going to love this place, and the year will be great!!! Well, that's really all for now :) Got to go do my reading unless anyone out there wants to do it for me? Any Takers ;p....didn't think so.

~ Melinda

Ps. Write a lot of letters. My mail box is empty and sad :(. Hint Hint.My address is:
Melinda Kruger
Frontier School Of the Bible
po box 217
Lagrange, WY 82221