today is the day... my sister left this morning for college. (she's actually driving out east right now to pick up her violin in pittsburgh) aside the point, i can't see her until november unfortunately. pray for safe travels and a good start to her junior year. i leave on thursday for joni and friends camp. i am very excited to go serve another year! last year was just incredible to see how God moved so many people, and i am beyond stoked to go back! for those of you who are unfamiliar with the camp, it is a christian disability camp for families, and i will be an stm (short term missionary) hanging out with these awesome people. it will be stellar!

this past few days have been toughies... i got sick on food poisoning at my job on thursday - not a good day. my sister was kind and took over for me, but the puking didn't end for me there. i'm over that now, thank goodness! but now i am onto a cold...

on another note: i have been realizing so much about praising. every circumstance. every moment. every pain. every good. i heard a 90's song the other day (surprise surprise) and it was "let everything that has breath". now one of the verses goes a little something like this...

Praise You in the morning
Praise You in the evening
Praise You when I'm young and when I'm old
Praise You whem I'm laughing
Praise You when I'm grieving

Praise You every season of the soul

... and the point is that no matter what we're enduring we are to praise in someway. pain is hard. hurt is more than understandable. it's hard to praise when you're hurting. it seems impossible to give everything to God when you want sole control. but you hit a point where you can't take anymore... and sometimes you just need to let go.

i'll keep you with that. have a blessed week yall!