Well it's been over a month since I got back from Uganda...guess it's time to post about it. lol
I'll be posting by days from my journal with pictures...first one coming soon! Thanks for being patient :)

11 hours til lift off!

The errands are done. The bags are packed. The goodbyes have started. The plane leaves in 11 hours. Good bye America. Hellllooo Uganda!!

6 days and counting!

6 days till I leave for Uganda!!!

I am so excited about this trip words aren't even fathomable. I have wanted to go to Africa for the last 4 years, and God has finally shown me the right place and time. I'm going with a non profit organization some friends of ours started called Ten Eighteen. There is a team of 6 of us going over ..Mrs. Jennings (the founder of ten eighteen), her daughter Ryan and son Zeke (who both worked at camp with me this summer), one of my bestest friends Erica, and another college aged girl names Catie. It's a 10 day trip ...Thursday the 4th we leave!

While we are there, we will be doing a 4 day basketball camp with 40 kids from the slums of Kampala, distributing clothes and medical supplies, going on an over night safari, and just loving on the Ugandan people.

I know God has so much in store for these 10 days, I can only just pray I will be His hands and feet.

Summer at NLC

I have had one of the most amazing summers yet. A summer full of character building, new friendships, strengthening old friendships, discovering new things about my self, growing closer to God, humbling experiences, hilarious moments, quotable talks, and memories that I will never forget. I have spent my summer working at New Life Camp. I grew up going to NLC for a week every summer, starting when I was nine years old, along with my brothers and sister. I always loved the staff there..I looked up to them, and thought they were just great. Well this year, I had the opportunity to work on this Staff, and it blessed my socks off. Living there for 1 week of orientation, 6 weeks of overnight camp, and then working 2 weeks of day camp, I wouldn't re-do a single day. I wasn't a counselor but was on Service Staff for the 9 weeks. Though I would of rather been a counselor, God knew exactly what he was doing when he put me as a service staff member. I washed dishes, cleaned bathrooms, and took trash out..but you know what? It was all Awesome. not because those jobs are awesome, but because I got to serve others through those jobs. I was able to serve the counselors, while they poured into their kids. I was able live and work with my sister for 2 weeks before she moved to TN. I was able to work with one of my best friends for 2 weeks as we protected our cabin from killer beetles. I was able to get to know campers from all cabins, and spend time with them. I was able to create new friendships with other non counselor staff. But the best of all was that I was able to serve God through all of this.
I finish up working on Friday, and it's going to be really hard to say goodbye to people as they all head back to school. I am extremely thankful for the 9 weeks I was given at New Life Camp. I don't know what God has for me next summer, but all I know is that the 2011 NLC Staff will always have a special place in my heart.

lists.

- WEIRD LOVE? Lists are probably one of my favorite things. There is just something about bullet points, numbering, lettering, organized columns that make me happy. I guess that's where my slight OCDness comes in...and probably why my heart jumps for joy when multiple choice questions come into play in school.

- READ IT. I have a new favorite blog. it make me happy. I read it all the time. and you should to. www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/

- PROM is in 7 days and I am extremely exitedddd.

- HUH. ..have you ever noticed that when someone wants to emphasize a word they just repeat the last letter a lot....or am I the only one who does that?

- ROAD TRIP..The day after prom I'm setting off with my seester and best friend to my lovely friends Kelly and Rob's wedding in the mountains..hoooray! :). And then off to Nashville, TN for a few days to help with Safe World Nexus (the organization Sarah and Ellie will be interning with starting in July) event to launch their new campaign - join a new story.

- TORNADOES. everywhere. My family has been lucky and blessed enough that it hasn't effected any of us or our home. I pray for everyone that was affected... the lives that were lost, the homes that were destroyed, the injuries. it's all just awful.. ...No one likes tornadoes, and they should just go back to where ever they came from.

- GRADUATION IS IN 37 DAYS. wait what? yea. 37 days. I have 37 days of highschool left. I'm so not excited and sad. AND I'm so excited and happy. you would think, that you can't have these two emotions together, but let me tell you. it's possible. I'm so not excited and sad, because I liked high school. I'm gonna miss playing volleyball. I'm gonna miss playing basketball. I'm gonna miss my lighthouse sports family. I'm gonna miss going to classes with my friends. I'm gonna miss having all my friends around. I'm gonna miss life as I've known it for the last 4 years.

But, I'm excited about what kind of changes are in the future. I'm excited about where the Lord is going to take me. I'm excited to see how He is going to work in my friends lives. I'm excited about road trips to go see my friends. I have no clue right what I'm supposed to do. I don't know what I want to do or where I want to go. I am just waiting on the Lord. But I am ready where ever he wants to send me. For now I'll be taking classes at community college in the fall.

Passport.. Check!

My passport came in the mail yesterday! Now I can legally travel the world when ever I want. Besides the fact that the picture is horrible..and no I don't mean the kind of pictures that people say they look horrible in , but really they look awesome. I mean I don't look so hot.. I'd like to thank the lovely lady at the post office who told me the camera had taken the picture, but really it hadn't until I started talking to her after she said it had. But hey, I figure the only people seeing the photo in my passport will be the people who will see me in person after an extremelyyy long amount of time in an airplane and traveling...and believe me I'll look like a super model in that photo compared to in person under those circumstances. Oh well. luckily I get to try again in 2021... one step closer to Uganda!

Today I got up at 6am..on a Saturday..to go to a school so big that even the illustrators of Where's Waldo would lose him..then I tripped up the stairs after the third time of going up them to find the right classroom...then I sat at a desk for 5 hours..then I came out and it was raining. yep. ACT's...I don't like you very much.

Then on my way home I stopped to pick up a package at the post office to find out that the national Passport day didn't get canceled. EVEN though the website said that it did due to the silly government not being able to make any kind of decision. But then they did. and so they had it. but didn't fix the site. Thanks a lot US postal service. Anywayyss. I then preceded to stand in line for 2 hours to get all my passport application paperwork in order. Now it's all on it's way to Philadelphia where it will be processed and I should have my passport in two weeks! (paid a little extra to make sure I get it quickly) ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO UGANDA!

Speaking of Uganda, I am a little more the $400 short on my fundraising, with 5 weeks to go! It's been so amazing to see how God has provided in ways I couldn't of even predicted. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me so far! God has taught me such about relying on him and having faith that he will provide. I can't wait to go! 124 days til I leave! whoooot!

Another exciting news...I have a summer job..and I'm so excited..eekk :) I am on Summer Staff at New Life Camp for the summmmerr :) 7 weeks of overnight camp and 2 weeks of day camp. So I'll be gone most of the summer, home on the weekends. But I'm really excited about serving the Lord this summer with all my new friends whom I love mucho mucho.

Liberty 2011

Liberty was great. hilarious. exhausting. sad. good. tiring. draining. entertaining. and all the words in between that are just unexplainable. We ended up being the 5A Championship runners-up. Though we didn't bring home the championship title God is still good. We can't let one loss over ride the 27 other wins He gave us this season. I have been so lucky to be able to share the last 6 months with these wonderful ladies. It was amazing to watch the trials everyone faced and over came, and how close we got with each other, but not only that, but how everyones relationship with the Lord strengthend. I'm so glad I decided to play my senior year. I am going to miss playing with you Erica, Lil' Bit, Joy, Cheri, Lauren, Lesley, Alex, Tiffany, and Faith. I love you all so much, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you!

<3 2010-2011 Lighthouse Varisty Lady Eagles .. 27-1.

On our way...

Liberty is my favorite part of the season...and this week has BIG potential of being great. I pray God will bless my team and the others going to Liberty. Not only on the court, but some of the last memories we make off the court with each other. I have been so outragiously blessed to be able to play high school sports with these amazing people. I plan on making this week the best yet.

"It's not my ability, but my response to God's ability that counts" ~Corrie ten Boom.

I'm pretty sure I repeat myself every post. Life is just so busy, but I guess life would be no fun if you had nothing to do. God has blessed me with such a great life.

I have a little over half the money for my Uganda trip! God has provided the $1,500 in such cool awesome ways, I can't wait to see how the rest of it will come! Cupcakes on a Mission has been such a big hit. We've sold over 700 cupcakes so far! Everyone keeps asking when we're opening a shop..haha just sticking to it as a hobby for now.. :)

We had our Awards night for basketball the other night. It was a very bitter sweet night for us Seniors. A lot of us have been playing or been apart of Lighthouse Basketball and it's sad to see it come to end. I have developed some of the greatest friendhships and some of my favorite memories through highschool have to do with basketball. Now, I'm a senior...but since I'm staying around doing community college next year, and my family basically runs the program, I'll definitly still be around the gym. :)

The Liberty tournmant is in 3 days! I'm am so excited. Liberty is my favorite part of basketball season...and it being my last, I plan on making it the best. whoo hoo :)

We fly high...

My basketball team..the Lighthouse Varisty Lady Eagles, made up of 10 seniors just finished an undefeated season 20-0. Became NCHE East Regional Champions, and after last night are the NCHEAC Varsity Girl State Champions. We have a all been through so many highs and lows as a team these past two years, and God has just blessed us immensely this season. I can't wait for the HSPN East Coast Championships at Liberty University in a couple weeks....my favorite part of the season :)

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

busy? busy.

Busy. So so Busy.

6 classes..one to go to everyday. And I'm just super lucky to go to two on Mondays. The best day of the week. ha. lots of homework.. and then some more homework. BUT GRADUATION IS IN 4 MONTHS! 4 months?? 4 months! So exciting, weird, sad, scary, and good! I got my cap and gown this week..trying it on all on I felt like a mix between a penguin, gospel choir singer, nun and a jelly fish. all at the same time. Though I did find that swinging your tassel back and forth in front of your face can be more entertaining then you think. I now know how I'm gonna kill time during the ceremony....

Basketball is so great! A team made up of 10 seniors who love each other so much. Not only are we team mates, we're sisters, but most of all daughters of the King. And it's not with out him that we could of accomplished what he have this season. UNDEFEATED 19-0. God has done such awesome things with in and through this team, and I'm so happy I'm finishing my high school basketball career with this team. We've got our last season game tomorrow and then it's off to getting ready for Regionals..and then States...and then LIBERTY!

Prom planning is going wonderful. We got a new website made this year, which is the bomb.com ...get it? .com..haaa...we already have 80 registrations in..which is so better then last year when we were a week before prom and had like 20.( 100 more poured in with in days before the event!) So this year we actually have the money to put the deposits down for our venue - The Sutherland Estate. and our dj and caterer. Andd still have money to start figuring stuff out for decorations and such. We're hoping for even more people this year than last. I'm so excited! now just have to find a dress....

Erica and I are coaching a 1st and 2nd grade Upward basketball Boys team at New Life camp. We've only had two practices...but these little boys are some of the smartest funniest 1st and 2nd grade boys I've ever met. This season is gonna be such a blast, and I love that erica and I get to act as silly and like a kid as we want with them and they still laugh and smile. Andd I have a feeling we're going to dominate.. :)

Cupcakes on a Mission

In order to go on the Uganda trip, I need to raise about $3000 ( depending on the final cost of the airline tickets ) This number seems insurmountable, but I KNOW, because I have seen with my own eyes, that God is in the miracle business and provides for us in ways far beyond what we can ask or imagine. So I am trusting and making plans in faith that the funds will come.

My mom and I both love the Food Channel, and lately had an obsession with "Cupcake Wars" and baking gourmet cupcakes! So we came up with fundraiser to help raise money for the trip called "Cupcakes On a Mission"! We are offering a different flavor cupcake each week....which friends can order in exchange for a donation of $12 for a dozen or $6 for a half dozen.
The flavors we're doing are...

Jan.31–Feb.5
Mexican Hot Chocolate - chocolate cake with a kick of spice topped with a mound of cinnamon buttercream and a dusting of cocoa

Feb.7-12
Carrot Cake - dense moist carrot cake studded with walnuts and pineapple, topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting

Feb.14-19
Chocolate Mint - rich devils food cake filled with chocolate mint cream and frosted with a mound of smooth pink peppermint buttercream

Feb.21-26
Chocolate Peanut Butter - moist chocolate cake filled with peanut butter cream, dipped in silky chocolate ganache and topped with a swirl of peanut butter frosting

Feb.28 –Mar.5

Pumpkin - moist pumpkin spice cupcake topped with out-of-this-world maple cream cheese frosting

Mar. 7- 12

Boston Cream - golden sponge cake filled with smooth vanilla cream and double-dipped in dark chocolate ganache

Mar.21 -26

Chocolate Chip Cannoli - vanilla cupcake filled with chocolate chip-ricotta cannoli filling and topped with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate curls

Mar. 28 – Apr.2

Mocha Cappuccino - mocha chocolate chip cake topped with a coffee meringue buttercream

Apr. 4 -9

Sweet Coconut - moist coconut cake topped with a mound of vanilla buttercream sprinkled with more coconut

Apr. 11 -16

Strawberry Lemonade - tart lemon cake with chunks of fresh strawberries topped with a swirl of sweet strawberry buttercream

Where you lead me...I will follow.

For the last 4 years I have had a growing desire and heart for international missions. After four years of trusting God, waiting for his perfect timing, he's finally given me the opportunity to go on a missions trip this summer. So please pray with me as I start this journey to travel in August, to UGANDA! I'll be going with a non-profit organization friends of ours started called Ten Eighteen. They had been doing some awesome things in Uganda over the last couple of years. The main purpose of this trip we will be running a sports camp for the street kids in the slums of Kampala. I am so excited that I'll be able to use something I love (basketball and volleyball) to serve God in Uganda! how awesome!
We're at the beginning stages of preparing...so please pray with me with as I start raising support to reach the $3,000 needed. I know God is faithful, and if this trip is His will He will provide in ways I can't even imagine.

looking back...

2010 was such a packed year full of lessons, miracles, struggles, blessings, stress, and laughter. It was nothing like I thought it was going to be...but I wouldn't of changed one thing. God taught me so much this year through everything, I feel like I've just grown so much. God's plan is always so much better then your own, even when you can't see how at the time. I'm so blessed to be able serve such an awesome God and I can't wait to see what he has in store for 2011.


A couple highlights of 2010..

Liberty tournament...HSPN East Coast Varsity Girls Championship runners up

Washinton DC with Emily's family

Prom!

Family camping trip to Mammoth Cave National Park

After 4 years, I finally finished my quilt!

World View Academy Leadership Camp

NCHE Volleyball Varsity Girl State Champions.

Lots of Adventures with some of the most amazing friends God has blessed me with.

holiday overview.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. The whole family was home, there was a lot of yummy food, naps were taken, movies were watched, What more could you ask for?seester, mommy, and me!

the childrenn
the boyss.

We went to Massachussetts to spend Christmas with the family. It Snowed. a lot. and then it snowed a lot again. And then there was more snow. Infact there was so much snow we couldn't get home and had to delay our departure home for a day, and then it took us 17 hours to drive back. I wanted to cry. and then cry again. But Christmas was good! Spent Christmas Eve at my aunt and uncles cafe for the annual Donatelli christmas eve party. This is the Italian side...so lots of deliciouss homemade food. Christmas we spent at my grandmas, went to the movies to see Tron, and ate more food. (We ate a lot on this trip...) Got an Ipod touch! :) Rest of the trip was spent hanging with the cousins, playing video games, watching movies, an intense game of monopoly, and my 13 year old cousin complaining I breath to loud when sleeping. haha she got over it quickly.

New years we went to some friends house to play games, eat food, the big count down, drink sparkling grape juice, and play with sparklers. :)

I love all these holidays...and I kinda sorta not really maybe? want them to be a little more spread out through the year...because all of a sudden it's all over and you have to wait another 365 for them again. and that's dumb.