I went to a small private Lutheran elementary school for my elementary and junior high years of my education. Here I had the same instructor for the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. He made us journal on a regular basis about various subjects. His favorite topic was "My Weekend" in which we would divulge those experiences that procured over the weekend. Sometimes I was a snot, telling about the hours I sat at home, doing nothing (complete falsehood- I was always making up stories with my Barbies that I played with on a daily basis until the eighth grade); others journal entries in my blue notebook were filled with action packed stories about weekend camping expeditions with my family. Where the notebooks from these three years ever ran off too I'm not exactly sure. I'm hoping that my mother saved them in the large rubbermaid containers in which she stores our childhood works of art, but I can only hope that this is the case.
Thus this is the subject of my post and a fitting one at that.
Last weekend was the best I had in a long time. The only thing that may have been able to top it would be my weekend at Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, IL this past July.
Thursday morning started with a very confused Jenessa. I wanted to go to Generation Revival (3 hours away), I wanted to go to the bonfire IVCF was putting on (3 minutes away) but I also really wanted to go to Lifelight Music Festival (3.5 hours away). I vowed not to go to Lifelight unless one of my friends was attending as well. As no one from UMM had any interest in going, I buckled down for a weekend in Mo-town. Thursday morning I receive a text from my friend Melody, a resident of North Sioux City, South Dakota. Off of a hunch, I asked her what she was up to this weekend and to my delight she had decided to go to Lifelight with a few members of her family (who, may I add, are AMAZING!). I had not seen Melody since, oh, last December and really wanted to spend time with such a dear sister in Christ. Not to mention that The Wedding was performing that night, but that's a different discussion for a different day. Needless to say, the three point five hours driving down were filled with keeping myself from boredom while driving. To do this I simply pretended that I was Matt Shelton (lead singer of The Wedding). You can imagine the hilarity that ensued and the innumerable amount of times I was able to laugh at myself.
I did get to see The Wedding at Lifelight. Here's one of the guitarists, Trevor. I also have one of him licking his guitar. GROSS.
Finally I reached Lifelight around 6 p.m. on Friday night. The rest of that night was filled with tons of hugs and great discussion on the ride back to North Sioux for some sleep. Melody is definitely a woman after God's own heart. God has given her a passion for the hurting and broken; He is also definitely stirring up within her a ministry to the poor. It's so beautiful to see someone who realizes what can be done in her own community... ah, just so good.
My favorite part of Lifelight had to be Saturday morning at Melody's house- it was... magical? I don't know how to describe it. Her family is incredible and talking with her mom for a while was the best thing to have happened in a while. We chatted about everything- my family, faith, her family, Catholicism- it was great. Her mom was so open to everything and intensely loving that I couldn't help but talk to her. Plus playing with Melody's two nieces was more than a treat as I don't get to see kids much up here at school. I honestly felt at home within the walls of her house and hope that I can go back soon to see everyone.
Melody and I right before Thousand Foot Krutch. We're so rad.
Saturday came and went, saw some shows and was able to talk to Silent Substitute about their recent trip to China. The Lord used them so much while they were over there- it was incredible. Definitely a growing experience for all of them and a way to show kids the light of Christ in a nation where that is illegal. Please pray for the people in China affected by this (everyone) and pray that God's light will be shown amidst the darkness. Pray for strength, guidance, wisdom, and protection for those spreading the message of Jesus.
Thus, Saturday was finished with a long drive back to Morris far too early in the morning. Silent Substitute plus frappucino was my equation to keep me awake and it worked for the last 45 minutes of my trip. A shout out to James and Micah (who fell asleep on the other side of the phone while trying to keep me awake, but I won't hold it against him) for keeping me awake for a while on the drive back. Thanks guys, you are the best.
9:00 a.m. the next morning came way too early. But I got up, showered, and headed to the Minnesota State Fair with my two roommates. We sat a lot, saw a lot of stuff, ate some (but I had a stomach ache all day- dumb thing to have at the fair!) and hoarded the free goods we came across (including a tree- my favorite give-away!). Thus my Sunday was spent, with good friends at Minnesota's largest get-together.
Yup, that's me and the roomies!
Alleluia for a Monday off. A day to recuperate from my travels all over the midwest.
Just kidding.
When do I ever rest or give myself a day off? I'm always doing something, which is how it should be. Pretty sure laziness is a devil-inspired attribute. I think there's a verse in Proverbs that starts "Go to the ants, you sluggard..." and continues to talk about how hard they work. Thus I strive to model myself after ants, minus living in the dirt and having three segments make up my body.
So Monday comes, I wake up after sleeping for 12 hours (yes, you read that right, 12 hours!) and call my friend Dave back. He asks if I want to head out to Glacial Lakes State Park and go hiking for the day. Of course I say yes, pack my bag, and head out. The rest of the day was filled with tons of laughs, four pictures being taken (I actually did get him to whip out his camera!), some violence (tree branches snapped in my face, pushing each other off the trail or attempts to push him off the dock) and dinner at a small café in Benson. The perfect way to spend an absolutely glorious day. And I now have a new friend that Dave gave me, his name is What the Duck and he's adorable. See? He's going to be my friend and come along on many photo excursions.
Back to Morris, back to school, back to homework. Upcoming weekends boast of many fun times to come but we'll see if it can outdo last weekend. Unlikely dear friends, unlikely.
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