Here i come - And I'm so ready

"the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones that do"

I'm sitting here, waiting. Waiting for YoungLife fall weekend, at Rockbridge Alum Springs. And I'm so ready. Who's not ready for hanging out with all of their friends, and eating tons of good food, and doing all of the fun stuff? I'm so excited for that. But what I'm most excited about, is hanging out with people that aren't my friends.

I've always been a shy person. No one really believes me when they hear me say that, but if you've ever talked to me at school or anything, you have most likely innitiated the conversation. Because I can honestly say, that is my biggest weakness in life- putting myself out there.

But this weekend, I feel like I'm so ready. I'm ready to put myself out there, talk to people I don't know, make some new friends, strengthen old relationships, and fix broken ones. At this point, I'm crazy enough to think that I could change the world. But I can. Everyone one can. I'm so ready to just sit behind an unfamilar face on the bus, or in club, walk down the sidewalk, and talk to someone.

Most importantly, I'm ready to show people Christ this weekend. They may not even understand, but I'm all for it. People have changed my life so drastically, and now its my turn to show others how I've changed, and who I am through Christ.

So bring it on, Rockbridge. I accept the challenge.

Up until now...

Who would have thought that time would have flown by this fast?

Starting when i was about 18 months old, i started going to a private babysitter, Gail.  My sister had already been going there, so we knew her pretty well. I didn't of course, because i was a baby, but my family did. She was such a great person, and definitely shaped my childhood in a dramatic way.
Also while I was there, I made a lifelong friend. There are no words that can even describe our relationship. From the fun times at my house riding down the long driveway in those plastic cars, jumping on my trampoline and making up "routines" for our parents, you drinking all of my chocolate milk and convincing me that I had already drank it, and so much more. But in the past year, its transformed into so much more than that. I can come up to you laughing until my stomach hurts, crying my eyes out, or just in a good mood and you always know how to handle it. To be real honest, it sorta blows my mind. The fact that you always have the right words off of the tip of your tongue, to make me feel better, or celebrate with me, is insane.
Literally, there are no words that I could ever write down on paper that could ever describe my thankfulness, joy, pride, and love for you.
To tell you the truth, I would not be the same person I am right now if you weren't in my life. You've lead me to my best friend, Jesus Christ, and that in itself shows me how wonderful you are. If i were to list off everything you've done for me, this post would be way to long and no one would want to read it. So i'll leave it at that, but I just want you to know how special you are to me. I love you.

What keeps me truckin'

"The gun goes off and everything changes... the world changes... and nothing else really matters"
- Patti Sue Plummer

You can relate this quote to nearly any sport. The obvious gun shot for track or cross country, first blow of the whistle in soccer, the first serve in a volleyball game, first pitch in a baseball game. As soon as you make that first move, everything around you changes- the way you treat people, talk to them, whether you listen to them or not. Everything changes. The only goal for you and everyone around you is to win, of course. But what if you don't? Do you quit afterwards, or do you stand back up on your feet?

Now relate that to Christ.

• gun shot - accepting Christ
• everything changes - your outlook on how you can change the world
• winning - the Lod has taught you something
• losing - Sin

Do you quit after you make one mistake? or do you ask for forgiveness and "keep on truckin'?" Many times in my life, I can honestly say, (not proudly, but honestly) that i've given up, said "forget it" and quit. But I can tell you from first hand experience just how far that got me. Nowhere. And no matter how many times I figured that out, it didn't really stick. I'd quit and then realize that was another mistake, so I would fix it, and try again- always quitting again after the next mistake, however. Through "trial and error" I learned that I- nor anyone else, will every win. And no matter how hard we try, we will just never be "good enough". Nobody ever will. That was the plan.
The Lord, put himself on a cross for us, knowing we didn't deserve us, but loved us enough to do it anyways. And thats what amazes me. Thats what "keeps me truckin'"

Bucket List

I've always wanted to create a bucket list. Every one has always said since they were a little kid, that they want to "grow up and be a doctor, make a ton of money, and travel the world." But have you really stopped to think about what is important to you? What you want to have accomplished in your life, by the time you reach the kingdom of God. I took a step back tonight, and just thought. Thought to myself about what i truly want to do with my life. and this is what i've come up with.
1. Make a bucket list
2. spend a day by myself- turn off my cell phone. no facebook, or twitter, nothing. just Me.
3. run a half marathon.
5. join BVS (brethern volunteer service) and go on mission trips to third world countries
6. share the gospel with a stranger
7. find my spiritual gift (and put it to use)
8. memorize an entire chapter of the bible. most likely one of the gospels. (aka anything but malachi, because basically.. its about a town building a wall...)
9. Forgive someone
10. and of course... find my Prince Charming

Some of you might be thinking.. why did i make "to forgive someone" stand out? Thats what my next blog will be about. I'll leave you with a little cliff hanger.

Who am I?

Who am I? What does the name Brooke Ellyn, mean to everyone? Well i looked it up in a name book, and it said that a Brooke is just a stream- simple enough. Ellyn on the other had, comes from Lyn, meaning beautiful. I was thinking to myself, am i beautiful? Do i always wear the right clothes? Does my hair always stay in place? Is my face clear? No. but it doesn't matter.
I am beautiful. I'm not beautiful because my best friends tell me I am. Not even because some guy tells me I am. I am beautiful because I was made in the image of Christ. In Genesis 1:27 it says "So God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them"
So many times, i sit there thinking to myself, Who am i? I dont have to ask myself, that. All i have to do-or anyone for that matter, is open up the bible. It will tell you who I am, who you are, your neighbor, the so-called "freak" you have to sit next to in class- it will tell you who they are.
on september 5, 2011 fetz chose a topic at campaingers. It was about who we are. I wrote down a lot of the terms that people were blurting out- (yes i use the term blurting out, because we didnt really stop to think about them all) but for starters, here is a list. we are- children of God, right hand of the Father, justified, one in the spirit of christ, understood, powerful, witnesses, saved, body of christ, creation, filled with grace, adopted, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, full, confident, free, unseperated, eternal, loyal, purposeful, limitless, citizens of heaven, glorious, God's temple, reconcilled, righteous, shining, and beautiful.
Wait, what did that just say? We are beautiful? I am beautiful? Yes. I am, you are, your neighbor, the so-called "freak" you have to sit next to in class. Yes. Every single one of us. Beautiful.