So I haven't posted a real update in awhile......but most of you know what's going on in my life anyways. OSU starts in a week and a half and I'm scared to death, I had an amazing church camp last weekend, I got a laptop yesterday, I had free chipotle for lunch today, and Jon gave me a heart attack while playing bloody murder with my youth group at the bonfire tonight. I think that about covers all the major events in my life recently . Except for what God's been doing. It never ceases to amaze me how you never ever ever have to stop growing as a christian. There is always something else to surrender to God, always another truth to learn, always a new way to allow God to work through you, always a deeper level to worship at, and no matter how close you are to God He can always draw you even closer. It really is amazing. And wow, thank you Lord Jesus for giving me such encouraging friends! Bonnie and I spent like 2 1/2 hours at panera just talking about heaven the other day, and it was one of the best afternoons EVER! And just last night, I was in a chatroom with four other people and it turned into a really really awesome online prayer time. Then of course there's bible study with Liz once or twice a week that's always soooo encouraging. And of course all the spontaneous "God talks" with Gabri, Ashlie, Pam, Josh, Casey, the list could pretty much go on forever! I am just so blessed. SO blessed.

~Bethany    

Stir in me, a fire that the world can not explain,
I come to worship You!
Stir in me, a passion that my heart can not contain,
I come to worship You!

Hold me, break me, mold me and make me more and more like You,
I come to worship You!
To love You, fear You, draw ever near You as I worship You,
I come to worship You, oh Lord!

Lord reign in me,
Reign in Your power,
Over all my dreams,
In my darkest hour!
You are the Lord of ALL I am,
So won’t You reign in me again!

Over every thought,
Over every word,
May my life reflect,
The beauty of my Lord!
‘Cause you mean more to me
Than any earthly thing,
So won’t You reign in me again!

Lord, reign in me!!!!! 

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.      

Psalm 42:11

I just got hundreds more pictures of the Williamsburg Mission Trip from Ex!!!  Here's some of them:

Me, Katherine and Rosa making signs for VBS to put out by the road.

This is Shawn throwing candy into my car. Okay kind of a long story, but on our way down the passengers in my car decided they felt like starburst, except all the guys in the other vehicle had them. So we made a sign that said "we want starburst!!" and put it in our window. They decided they would just pull up next to us and try to throw us some starburst through the window! Of course this was kind of hard as both vehicles were going 70+ miles an hour. But it was a lot of fun, and in the end we got two whole pieces of starburst into our car.

Joe, Matt, Ben, Carolyn, Anna, and Shawn "cutting the tape" to the new church building.

Me and Katherine at the food bank!

The whole "food bank" crew forming assembly lines to load the vans with food!

Mr Immel leading the kids in praise songs.

Philip handing out bread on bread day!

Rosa and I putting on the "cooking show" for the kids at VBS.

This is Michael. Isn't he adorable??? He couldn't really talk, but by the last day he was at least making sounds and trying to talk with us. It was sooo awesome to see how much ALL the kids changed throughout the week.

First I'd like to say.........HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZ!  This is one of only four days of her entire life that she can say shes an adult and I'm not . but i'm still taller........

I thought once my trips ended and I got home from bnyc my summer would get really boring. But actually I think this past week was busier then any other week this summer! I got to spend each day with a different sister: Gabri, Liz, Bonnie, Danni, Leah, and Aricka! And then all day saturday was spent with Matt, Ex, Aaron, Alyssa, Deborah, Anna, and Daniel at Aaron's party!! Today was sooo much fun. Aricka and I went to chipotle, tried on hideous outfits at target, and then came back to my house and sang for four hours straight-no exaggeration. It was a blast, I love that girl. I also started babysitting a few nights a week again which is very good because I need the money. Tomorrow I'm going to King's Island with my family, and this weekend I'm doing birthdayish stuff. And next week is Cedar Point with the quiz team! I can't wait. Okay, now you're all caught up on my life. There you go.

I said I had a lot to say about bnyc, but I've told most of you in person, so I won't make you read it all again. If you want details, you can ask. I will tell you that this year was very different, but in a good way I think. Enough to make me reeeeally want to go back next year. The speakers were all VERY good, especially Francis Chan (surprise surprise) and Nick, a guy from australia who was born without arms and legs. I also met a lot more new people than in previous years which made it really fun. Let's see, a few of my favorite moments......probably the first airplane ride with Brooke, singing relient k songs with Phil playing the piano, me and Evan's (or Evan's and my, whatever) water fight, me and Brooke dropping water bottles for entertainment, full contact spoons with chesapeake, Evan singing My Redeemer, going to skid row, and of course every single time we got to sing with Todd Proctor!!!!! Ah yes, in spite of the 115 degree heat and no air conditioning, it was an amazing bnyc.

leave me lots and lots of comments  and have a marvelous week!

~Bethany 

The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of the life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:1, 4-5, 14