See Something More

“How fast did we go?” I yelled to my dad when he stopped pedaling to give our legs a break. “44!” He yelled back. I smiled as we flew past a speed limit sign that read 30. Flying down big hills and seeing how fast you can go is only one of the many things that I love about biking. I also love the wind in my face that keeps me cool and the sun on my back that makes me sweat. I like watching the trees go by as I pedal along. The more mileage you cover, the more sights you see: windy lakes and trickling rivers, fields of wildflowers and horses, drifting clouds and brilliant sunsets. Riding with groups of friends and family is extra special because I love the camaraderie that comes with group cycling. I even enjoy the burning of my thighs when I climb a big hill and the sense of accomplishment when I reach the top. It’s funny how I didn’t always enjoy biking. Running has always been my first preference, but this semester I injured my leg to the point that I was no longer able to jog

"Welcome to the Fill 'n Go gas station!" I said enthusiastically as the children entered the classroom and parked themselves in the parking spaces that we made using yellow duct tape on the floor. Our center for this summer's VBS was colorfully decorated with gas pumps made of large sheets of butcher paper. At our "service station", we were teaching the kids about choosing to serve others instead of self. "Just like cars need gas to go, we also need fuel to energize us and enable us to serve others," we told the children. "It is only when we fill up on Christ's love that we are able to pour it out onto others." At VBS, I was the one teaching those children as they gazed up at me from their parking spots on the floor. But in real life, I am the child gazing up at the Lord as He is trying to teach me the same lesson. Ashli, you can't go out and live passionately for me without being filled with me first. And you can't be fil

With the sun burning bright on this 95 degree day, nothing felt better than the cool, clear water of the Buffalo River. Lathered in sunscreen and equipped with inner tubes, my family and I happily kept cool on this hot summer afternoon by relaxing and floating down the river. The water was the perfect temperature for an occasional dip, and the current was swift enough to keep us bobbing along. Dad summed up the way we all felt when he said with a smile, "This is the life!" We especially enjoyed shooting the small rapids in our inner tubes. We would link arms, pick up speed, and let the water carry us. Then, in the pools where the water was not moving as swiftly, we would take a quick swim. In those lazy-river-moments, you could just lean back, close your eyes, and free float downstream. At first I didn't like closing my eyes and floating freely. Without seeing, I didn't know where I was going. Even after closing my eyes for a few seconds, I felt like I had to peek

I glanced outside the large window of the car dealership at the little white 2007 Honda Fit parked nearby, and then I turned toward the office window where I could see my parents signing the papers. A sweet smile crept up the corners of my mouth and I started to get excited about driving that little car home. "Are you getting a new car today?" A salesman interrupted my thoughts, but I turned toward him and said with delight, "We sure are!" "And who will be driving that cute little car?" "Well," I began to explain, "My mom will drive it for now, but I will get it in a couple of years." "Oh! You must be learning to drive. Are you about fifteen?" He asked. "Uh...no, I'm twenty." I think I saw a silent "oh" come out of his mouth as he turned red and walked back towards his office. I just laughed to myself because I'm used to it. People usually think that I am younger than I really am, so I m

After twenty years, the project has finally been completed. My mom just added the last pages to my baby book! I have thumbed through some of its pages before it was done, but I have never seen all of it. Just the other night, my mom and I sat on my bed and looked at each page together. We read cards that my grandparents had written to me when I was just a baby. We looked at old pictures taken at VBS - the kind that popped right out of the camera after you took the picture, and then you had to wave the picture in the air while you waited for it to develop. We laughed hysterically at stories I had written and pictures I had drawn when I was in preschool. Before we were even half way done, we realized that we had been pouring over that baby book for an hour. Each picture, drawing, card, and letter reminded me of something from my childhood. My grandmother's card reminded me of going to her house and smelling the aroma of chocolate cake when I walked through the door. The pictures I

"Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts...Remember the wonders He has done." Psalm 105:2, 5 How quick we are to forget everything that God has done for us! This Psalm reminds us to reflect on everything that God has done for us personally as well as what He has done for others. We should write it down as a testimony to His character, for we are so quick to forget who God is and what is able to do! He is a faithful God who has written a story for our lives. How simple and meaningful it is to chronicle each chapter that He writes so that we will not forget His faithfulness. Then we will be ready to share with others all that He has done. ~~~ "Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare His praise?" Psalm 106:1-2 Who can fully declare God's praise? We can see His works and tell of all He has done, but ultimatley His love is so beaut

"Remember when we used to have GAP time in the summers?" Mom enthusiastically reminded my sister and I one morning. "I think we should do it again this summer." When we were younger, my mom cleverly named our daily devotional time together as GAP time, which stands for gather and praise. Every morning, the three of us would sit in the living room floor to do a devotional, sing, and pray together for a few minutes. When my mom announced her idea to "revamp" GAP time, my sister and I were a little hestitant at first. In our heads, we pictured an elementary-style circle time with VBS songs and picture books. But we agreed to give mom's plan a try since she was so excited about it. Now that we have completed almost a week's worth of GAP time, I am proud to announce that I am just as enthusiastic about it as my mom is. It has been so much more than circle time. Now that my sister and I are a little older, we are using GAP time to dig into God'

For a girl that is used to college life, coming home for the summer requires a little bit of adjustment. I am used to running at a hundred miles an hour, packing every day with as much activity as possible. At home, we sometimes don't even eat breakfast or get dressed until 10:00. When I ask mom, "What are we doing today?" She replies, "Laundry!" like that is the big event of the day. Now I am not complaining in any way - I love staying in my pajamas until noon. I really enjoy not having a to-do list that is ten pages long. At the same time, this kind of lifestyle switch has required a little bit of adjustment for me. I have a goal-oriented, purpose-driven personality, so I wake up every morning with this question on my mind:  What is my purpose today? At school, that question was easy to answer with so many opportunities available to me. This summer, I have struggled a little more with answering that question. How do I find meaningful purpose in doing la