When beauty outweighs all else

Maybe you've been to the depths of despair, wondering if anyone cares about you. Did someone reach out and let you know your value? Maybe you know someone who has been without a place to live, or without their next meal. Did you let them stay on your couch and eat your food?

I want to introduce you to a bunch of big hearts. This is Team 314 (www.team314.org), they have been on the road for 2.5 months, raising awareness about youth homelessness with the goal to #endyouthhomelessness. Jordan (the fella with the beard) is actually running across the country, 40 miles a day, 5 days a week. In the midst of an argumentative America, some really incredible things are happening! Here's a man with extreme discipline and selflessness. Here's a Team of people who love the cause more than they desire to be comfortable in their day to day lives. For example, Hector misses home, he's from Florida. They are devoted and determined to BE THE CHANGE they want to SEE in the world. What a beautiful example for us, I am highly encouraged on a daily basis by the endeavor they've taken on. It's as though "giving up" or "quitting" are no longer options. I mean, for crying out loud, I am not running 40 miles a day- everything else seems rather minor in comparison. And of course, Team 314 sees what they are doing as minor in comparison to what the 2.8 million youth who are homeless in American have to endure on a daily basis.

Team 314 is "Running so they don't have to."

Where the Journey Began: Team 314 in NYC September 15, 2012

At the Safe Place, 24 hour help for teens, in Louisville KY. Imparting HOPE

Kendall, me, Jordan, Jayme, Michelle at Synergy in North Kansas City: November 4, 2012.

Card board testimonies that Team 314 has collected along their journey from teens who are without a home.

Jordan on his 60 MILE run (he usually only runs 40 MILES), more than half way across the country.
Titus 3:14 "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives."



So, it is December 4th, 2012 and Team 314 is now in New Mexico. Their goal is to reach the Santa Monica Pier on New Year's Eve.
My hope is that you have become familiar with what they are doing and that you will make a small sacrifice to join the fight to #endyouthhomelessness. What ever that sacrifice looks like for you, make it! Check out their website at www.team314.org and donate a dollar or $100,000- they'll name the library after you- in the youth center they plan to open in Union, Missouri.  "Like" them on facebook at "Team 314". Tweet @Team314... I do not tweet, but you may! All I know is, I believe in what they are doing.

Showing up for LIFE

 

 

Stephanie, 28, Shawnee, Kansas

So this is a POST in response to "Kelly's Korner- Show us your singles"

 

Just plain cheese'n. This was taken at a Christmas party 2 years ago when I was a campus minister.

 

This is the most recent one, taken August 2012. I love the outdoors and animals!

A friend needed a "model" to practice using new lighting, I had a blast goofing around!!! I do enjoy making faces, I have taken a lot of people off guard with some of my facial expressions. Must be a gift from God, because half the time I don't even realize I'm making a funny face.

 

Here I am enjoying the Atlantic during a visit to NC at the end of May 2012

 

 

If you look carefully, you'll see me at the top. This was a couple of weeks ago while at a church retreat. Too bad I didn't get a snapshot of the bull's eye I hit during archery... surprised myself (beginner's luck for sure)!

 

I do show up for life, and it has been extraordinarily meaningful thus far,

so I am excited about what's to come!

Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am pleased for the possible chance of maybe making your acquaintance. I am a daughter, sister, and friend to many. My church family is rather large and stretches throughout most of NC, and now I have a family of believers here in Kansas. I relocated to Kansas August of 2011, so I am still pretty much learning things about my new territory on a daily basis. This past year has given me several curve balls, all of which have grown my faith and given me a greater gratitude for my heavenly Father.
I've been told: "you have a great sense of humor"; "you are mature and wise beyond your years"; "you're brave". I have been hearing "you're brave" a lot lately, probably because I don't have anything to lose, I have a ton to gain, so I just get out there and enjoy every opportunity. I am a great communicator, very social and fun. I love the outdoors (walks, runs, kayaking, horse back riding, biking) and sweet tea. Jesus is the center of my life and my everything. He took my rags and has turned them into riches. I have been living a life set apart for Him since January 21st 2006. I always believed in God, but didn't really understand what Jesus had done for me until college.
I am currently a Crisis Stabilization House Staff with a local mental health agency, but am working my way up toward being a substance abuse counselor to put my Masters degrees to good use. My passion is simple- help kids get and stay off drugs. I volunteer at the Juvenile Detention Center, sharing a message of hope. I know Jesus is in the business of setting people free, so I desire to join Him in that cause. After all, He put that desire in my heart. He has also put the desire to marry and have children in my heart, so I am taking a step in faith here. I am looking to be "equally yoked" with a man who has a strong faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

There are some moments in life that take my breath away. On July 3^rd 2012 I had the privilege of experiencing TWO of these moments.

My third, beautiful, nephew (Jackson) was born first thing in the morning and I received several pictures and updates thanks to my brother and sister-in-law. I had a pretty busy day as I am a full-time nanny and the 5 year old I watch keeps ALL of my attention. But, once Jack (the 5 year old) was asleep during naptime, I had a moment to realize just how FAR away I am from the new baby. I felt a pain that touched my bones as I studied a photo of Jackson’s little self!
I wondered, “Why am I in Kansas?”

It was about 5 hours later that I received an ANSWER.

The second experience that took my breath away… I began volunteering to take HOPE into the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center. And although there were only two girls who showed up to hear what I had to share, ONE of them was a girl I’d spent 6 months with at my previous job, the group home for troubled teens. I was not necessarily surprised, but I was blown away by God’s perfect timing. I was floored by the fact that I am EXACTLY WHERE I NEED TO BE!

Holding onto the wrong things

What's so difficult about letting go? Let me share with you the pattern I'm recognizing as my attempt to control the amount of pain I'm willing to experience at a certain time. God tells me that He won't give me more than I can handle. I tell Him, well yea, but let me help you out... I'm not willing to deal with that right now. And He lets me go a while being in the driver's seat. But He loves me too much to let me stay there. I have selfishly taken measures to numb my mind. Yes, my job is exhausting and I struggle to turn off my mind. But in the process of numbing my mind, I have blocked out a potential to heal. Or maybe I've got it all wrong, I am human and I am bound to fall and fail- well duh! So maybe it's just God's perfect timing. He knew I needed 5 months to adjust after all heck breaking loose. And now that I am settled in, I'm able to grieve and heal.
Yes, I am sleep deprived and more susceptible to crying. Yes, I am at the 6 year mark of my new life in Christ and sobriety- this too can make me more sensitive. But with these facts aside, I am L I T E R A L L Y, just now processing my Grandpa's passing.
Oh how the good Lord does use people in my life to help me in the process of letting go. You see, the other day I met an older gentleman who reminded me of my Grandpa Darley. I have always LOVED my Grandpa Darley. We never lived in the same state, so our visits were always jammed packed with fun and love.The last time I saw him was for my brother's wedding in December of 2006. And I'm sad he won't be at my wedding.

Why have I kept myself so insanely busy that I couldn't possibly take a moment to grieve the loss of my Grandpa? Probably because I am simply doing the best I can with what I've got. He passed August 20th, his health had been declining for quite some time. I called him a lot toward the end (super grateful about that) and he was no longer himself. And so when he did pass I wrapped all my emotions in the neat small package of 'it's for the best, he was miserable anyway'. Not to mention I was in the back seat of my own car, Kendall was driving and Jayme was in the passenger's seat. We were trying to find me a home in Missouri seeing as how we'd realized the night before that my "living quarters" at my "new job" were unfit. So yes, my life was a bit topsy turvy.
Next question: why am I blogging about this and not just sticking it in my journal? Not sure, maybe my thoughts will help someone. This life is not my own. It is His, the Lord of Lord's.