COLORADO. could i describe this trip in one word? no. could i describe it in 100 words? no. so i will do my best to explain parts of it in a few paragraphs. 
for those of you who don't know, i went on a road trip to colorado last week. it was quite the adventure that was full of joy, new experiences, times of tiredness and confusion, and lots of mountains! i did not know what to expect, but yet again God blew my mind away with how great it was. i expected to do some hiking, not shower for a few days, and have some quality conversations....but i did not expect to learn so much from my brothers and sisters that went and be amazed by the Lord's faithfulness. that is one of the most prominent things that God did- He showed me that no matter what we are going through, He is there to answer His children. we had many instances when we needed to find something (like our second tent) or wanted something (like a parking lot or to see a shooting star) and God would answer us within seconds. it was the love and faithfulness He showed us in the small things that made me realize how faithful He is to us in the big things. God spoke to me a lot on this trip and i am not going to explain it all now because it would take a long time (so lets grab coffee if you want to hear more!), but i would like to say that no matter what season in life you are in, you have the opportunity to see the Lord's faithfulness. it might be different from what you expect, but open your eyes (and mind and heart) to what the Lord has planned for you. ask and you will receive. knock and the door will be open. God is pursuing you and HE IS FAITHFUL. i feel so rejuvenated after going to colorado that i know i am ready for this next year at NWC. i am ready to be an ARD, have one last year of homework, and trust God with what will happen after this year. this was not the case months ago, but God used my time away in colorado to prepare my heart and body for what is to come. 
another thing i didn't expect to experience was the feeling of being extremely small. we hiked around in rocky mountain national park, and i felt like an ant compared to the beautiful mountains. this made me think about how big our world is and how God is working in all of it. He is a big God who can move mountains (literally and metaphorically). while we were hiking we met people from estonia, texas, austin mn, and many other places. our world is full of people who are all unique and i learned that i am different from all of them. God is so creative. He made each mountain different and He made each person different. i am so happy for that. people plus mountains are a wonderful combination.well, that is a small part of my adventure. i highly recommend you taking a road trip with friends if you ever get a chance. it will make you appreciate showers, grandma's mini van, and your bed a lot more. hopefully my next trip will be to Seattle or somewhere close to it with the blazing rebels traveling church (ask me if you want to hear the story behind this) & anyone else wanting to join.
OTHER EXCITING NEWS OF THE DAY: i got to give natalie jorde a hug, i found knowledge of the holy for a $1 at goodwill, i tried key lime ice cream with raspberries for the first time (it was delicious), and i am going to bed before before midnight (hopefully this will become a habit for school).
