mostly concerning tea & DUBLIN

We are finishing up our last week in the Dublin diocese, which coincidentaly is also our last week of ministry before our December retreat and Christmas break. In the past few weeks here in Dublin, our team has been doing lots of confirmation retreats. Just today we had one as well. It has been great to get to reach the young people and to help them realize what being an adult in the church actually means. This past weekend we were at the enrollment mass for one class of candidates and then today we were able to have a retreat with them! Today on the feast of the Immacuate Conception we were even able to have Mass on our retreat, it was amazing to see the reverence they were able to conduct themselves with when just a short while before they were screaming and shouting along to the song with us. One thing is for sure, these young people are FULL of energy. They love running and they love shouting, most of them also love singing with us. If this is any reflection on what is to come for the church, I'd say that we should get ready for it, cause it's gonna be massive. The joy that they have is really contagious and it really pumps our team up even at the end of a long day.

Since we've been staying

so close to the city centre here in Dublin, on Saturday we had a day off and many of us were able to go in to the city centre to explore and, of course, go shopping. The city is all decorated for Christmas, and although it may be jumping the gun a bit as we are still in preparation mode during advent, it looked beautiful with all the lights strung over the streets. We even got to hear Christmas carollers outside the GPO, which is the General Post Office for you non-Irish readers. It was a bit different for me since I am used to experiencing all this Christmasy scenerey with a steady falling of white snow, but a light drizzle of rain was the only contribution from the atmosphere. Meg, Tanya, and myself got quite lost on our way home and ended up in the nicest and most posh part of Dublin by accident. It was a nice surprise to get to experience the great architecture of the buildings there, and eventually with a little help we made our way back to our host home safely where a cup of tea was waiting for us.

Much of the team, myself included, who are going back to North America for Christmas are also bringing along a great friend and contributor to our team; Lyons tea (gold blend). It is being debated whether or not this is for the benefit of my family, or merely because I am going to miss it ourselves. Honestly, it is a bit of both. The way I see it Christmas is a season for sharing the joys of life. A good cup of Lyons tea (goldblend) can bring true joy, so by bringing it home I will be able to spread that joy to my family and experience the joy by having a cup or twenty with them. So, if you'd like to experience a real cup of Irish tea, drop in on me during my Christmas break which begins in just one week!!

As I mentioned earlier in this post, today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. When we were back at training in Canada, each of the women was given a marian title to take on for the year, and I was given Immaculate Conception. So I couldn't write this post without giving a shout out to Mother Mary. Today I was thinking a lot about Mary's obedience to God's will and how she conducted herself in such a docile and gentle way and how much we all need to imitate those virtues that Mary had. Good to know though, that Mamma Mary is always ready to pray for us as we strive to get closer to God's will. All in all it was a good feast day, and some of the girls even bought me some ice cream to celebrate! Then the six of us walked around the streets of Rathmines eating ice cream out of the carton with plastic spoons while pondering the Immaculate Concaption. With Mary and ice cream, you know its a party...

Well I think that is all I have to say for now, so I hope you all are contiuing to stay warm (I heard there's snow at home!!) and well and are getting ready for the birth of Christ in our hearts at Christmastime. Please pray for our team, especially this week as we will be traveling to our various homes around the world. Hope to see you all soon when I get home for my break! Love yous!

PS: These first photo is Sara & Matthew performing one of our funny skits for a group of young people, the second is some of the women of the team in St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, and the last is Laura & mysef enjoying a good cupa Lyons.

Shopping (Evangelising) in the city

Apologies for the randomness of the title of this blog. If you understand it, laugh, if not then someday you should as one the the Grimes sisters about a certain home video named "Shopping in the City"...

Anyways the last you heard from me was Athenry. I will attempt to summarize the past few weeks...

Since Athenry we spent time in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal during the schools Halloween break and were able to relax and prepare for coming retreats. If I had to choose a place in Ireland where I feel most at home it would be Ballybofey. I can't quite put my finger on why, because its not as if it looks anything like home, the weather is CRAP most of the time, and the majority of the people in the town are strangers to me. Maybe it's because people know what NET is there and so I'm not consistently explaining who I am and why I'm here, but I more apt to think that it's because its the first place we came to in Ireland and were immediately met with tremendous generosity and, for lack of a better expression, open arms. Now this isn't, of course, to say that we haven't been met with the same welcoming spirit everywhere we've been, but merely to point out that Ballybofey has a special place in my heart as "home" in Ireland. Plus the people there are just such good craic. (Irish slang for extremely fun)

After Ballybofey we moved to the big bad city of Dublin. Everywhere we had gone before Dublin was consistantly warning us to get ready for the city, talking about how much harder it was going to be. So I was a little nervous coming to the city after our week of relaxing, but decided to jump in with both feet. And I am so glad I did. The first couple retreats we did in Dublin were absolutely amazing. During the retreats we always have small groups, which is a time for the young people on retreat to ask questions, share their own stories, or to ask me, as a NET member, about my experiences of God. At first having small group was a little scary, but I've felt like in these past few weeks in Dublin I've really been able to be comfortable sharing my own stories with the young people and once at the end of the day when my small group was sharing our favorite part of the retreat one girl said that what she loved most was hearing our (the NET members) stories about our lives with God because they were real and she believed that they could happen to her too. And in that moment I realized the importantance of telling others about our experiences of God. It isn't so that I can get attention or so that people will think I am this great, brave, holy, or intelligent person. It is so they can see God. It is so that people can realize that God is in their everday lives, so they can know that God cares about the small seemingly insignificant details. So all that is pretty humbling, and pretty amazing to think that I have been chosen to share my stories and by doing so can bring people to God.

So thats a little snippit from my experiences in Dublin. Not so scary afterall...

Right now the team and I are in Arklow, Co. Wicklow. Exciting things this week include the world cup deciding match between Ireland and France. On Saturday we played France as well and lost 1-0, but on Wednesday we get a chance to redeem ourselves. The way I understand it is as long as Ireland scores 1 goal in the match then we will still in the World Cup, so pray that it happens cause I love the World Cup and I love Ireland so the two together is fabulous.

This past weekend our team had a chance to experience the beautiful scenery at Glendalough, which is the site of an old monastery/cemetery and is also a nature reserve and park. It was simply breathtaking and we scored a day of great weather in the midst of many days of rain. While walking down one of the roads we came upon this huge waterfall up a hill and myself and Sara decided to run up the hill to get a closer look. Well, once a few of us were up there the rest eventually decided to follow and we ended up saying our team rosary there on the hill beside the waterfall. Some of us were sitting on the ground, some were standing, and some were perched on rock ledges. (One guess as to where I was...) It was really powerful to be praying all together with the sounds of nature in the background. It was also laughable because you could see other tourists walking along the path and staring up the hill and I wasn't quite sure if they were mezmerized by the waterfall, or puzzled as to why there were crazy people climbing about it. All in all it was a good day of hiking filled with team fun, prayer, and many many laughs. But thats our team for you, we laugh at nearly everything. Its a good thing though, God made humans the only creatures that are able to laugh so we should use the talents and gifts that God gave us to the best of our abilities. =)

On that note, I will leave you. Until next time, God bless and don't forget to laugh.

It's not lonely around the fields of Athenry

The past few days we've been spending time with the parish team in Athenry. And let me tell you with 16 team members in total, it it neither quiet nor lonely in Athenry. Sometimes it gets so loud in their small house that I really feel like I am back at home.

It is a pretty little town and I've enjoyed being here and having time to wander a bit. I still have these really random moments where I remember that I am in Ireland. Like this morning when I woke up walked to catch the bus to Galway City and had to walk past/under this gigantic stone archway which is probably older than America. (The house I am staying in is about 400 years old.) In the end I wasn't able to get to Galway because today is a bank holiday and the buses weren't running, but I was able to spend time with the girls and have tea, so it was a lovely day anyways.

Funny story. Since we are not natives to this lovely country, and also since we just travel travel travel all the time, we are not always up to date on the sort of things you would expect people to be, such as what weekend daylight savings time will go into effect. So this Sunday morning (yesterday) we literally could not figure out what time it actually was because most of our clocks said 9:00. But mine and Diana's ipods said 8:00, and they had been correct the night before. But we were so confused and it took us about an hour to figure out what was going on when finally someone volunteered to go ask at the hotel down the street. Luckily we were able to find out what time it actually was before any of us showed up for the 10am mass at 9am... Rest assured we're all set on winter time now.

So thats my update for now. Athenry is lovely and visiting with the parish team is always good times. We've eaten like 85 packages of biscuits in the past 5 days, but hey you can't have tea without biscuits, it just wouldn't be right.

This week we have time off of retreats since it is midterm break here, but we will be plenty busy preparing for next week when we head off to the big bad Dublin City. We've heard a lot of rumors about how hard it will be in Dublin, so I'm just saying extra prayers and you all should too.
Thanks so much for reading & I love you all!

Oh and one last thing... MY TEAM HAS A FACEBOOK! So if you friend us on facebook you will be able to be introduced to my team members and you'll see pictures and get random updates from us on facebook. Search for us under NetIreland TeamOne. Can't wait to be friends with all y'all.

swimming & guinness. NOT swimming in Guinness...

Get excited folks cause this is your FIRST OFFICIAL UPDATE FROM KELSIE IN IRELAND!!

Almost a month into ministry I have been having a

terrific time and I am so happy to be here in Ireland doing God's work. Our team has been done retreats in four counties so far; Donegal, Down, Wexford, and right now we're in county Galway. To be specific I am in Tuam, Co. Galwa

y. It is not pronounced Tu-am, its more like "tchoom", don't say it wrong they'll correct you swiftly. I think the best thing about Tuam i

s the three priests that we h

ave been eating dinner with each night. They just have the most amazing sense of humor and instantly ma

ke us feel comfortable with their jokes and entertaining stories. But somehow they are able to balance out with answering all the cr

azy questions that we come up with, some of the

m our own and some of them from retreatants. The recent topics "do ghosts exist?", "have you ever done an exorsism?", and I think tonight I'll ask "is there a limit to how much water you can make holy?" I'm hoping the answer is "No, I cou

ld bless your backyard pool or perhaps even the whole atlantic ocean." I mean, honestly, how cool would it be to swim in holy water! Really cool.

Retreats have been so good, I'm really enjoying the

ministry. I gave my first talk two weeks ago and I'm meant to give it again this Friday. It is slightly scary getting up before all the young people, but I just try to remember that it isn't me who they need to hear from, it's God so I just channel the Holy Spirit and it's all good.

Today we performed a drama in which I played the main part, which was also scary, but I am getting used to being called upon to do things that I find scary.

The country as a whole is simply beautiful. Everydrive we take my eyes are either glued to the window or shut shut while I'm napping cause I am tired from all the hard work. We do get some play time too though. Almost once a week we've had a "team day", which is just a day that we spend together as a team doing whatever for bonding and having fun. Last week we went to the beach and I got the chance to swim in the Irish sea! It was amazing cold, but so worth it. One of my teammates took a video of it, so perhaps eventually I will be able to share the experience with you all.

I also was able to experience my first official Irish Guinness. NET has a one drink

policy, and I personally hold fast to the belief that there is no finer one drink than a pint of Guinness. It was the first item on my Ireland To Do List that I was able to check off. When we get the chance to go out as a team to the pub it is really revolutionary to most bartenders that a group of young people would just have one drink, but it's kind of cool that we also get the chance to explain why and evangelize through our recreation. Bartenders need Jesus too.

Well it is getting late and I do have to be up in the morning and looking and feeling my best for retreat, but I'll leave you all with these pictures and hopefully I'll pop on again to give some more updates soon.

God bless & keep praying for me!

Slan go foill! (goodbye in Irish)

PS: I asked the priests and they said there's no limit to how much water they can make holy. Sweet, eh?

Leaving on a Jet Plane.

We received this email from Kelsie on Saturday. Her hope is to be able to up this blog on the road, but I will also be adding some messages that she sends through me to pass on...

Training in Canada officially ended for me on this past Friday night, it was a bittersweet leaving since I've gotten to know so many of the team members who will be staying in Canada very well, but I am EXTREMELY excited to be flying out to Ireland tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. I was placed on the traveling team in Ireland, so for the first week we will be in Donegal and shortly after that we will be spending a few days in Northern Ireland, which is technically part of the UK. Training has been an amazing experience for me to grow in my own faith with 60 of my fellow missionaries as well as become equipped for the ministry which we will carry out. On each team all the members are given roles to spread out responsibilities, on my team I was given the role of "entertainment" which simply means I get to choose and cast the funny skits/jokes that we do on each retreat. So it doesn't necessarily mean that they think I'm entertaining, but I like to think it does.

My absolute favorite part of training was bonding together with the women and finding that when we really embrace our identity as women of God and be who we were created to be, our beauty shines. I found that women are called to use their compassion and emotions which are gifts from God, and that men are called to be strong and to protect and fight. Not to say that women cannot fight, I mean honestly think of St. Joan of Arc, but I really enjoyed seeing how when both the men and women embraced how God created us to be our strengths truly complemented each other. God is so smart.

Tomorrow I fly to Ireland with my teammates and start on a whole new chapter of the ministry, the actual carrying out of the mission I have been learning about and preparing for in the past month. I am still nervous, but every morning brings new energy and excitement and new strengths from God that I never knew I had. I am just relying totally on God's gifts and trusting that He will provide for me since He's called me here. Thanks so much for praying for me!

Photos of my team and the rest of the teams are up here! And be sure to check out the rest of my photos from training in Canada.

My contact info for the year is:

Kelsie Grimes
Net Ministries of Ireland
13A Lower Main St.
Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland

Fact: the milk comes in a bag.

So, I'm in Canada!!! I've been here since Friday night, stayed with Heather's friend Mel (whose sister is doing NET Canada this year) until yesterday night, and now I am staying at a house with some NET Alumni/staff members. It's been tremendous so far. I haven't actually begun NET yet, that's why I am able to be online, but it's coming on fast.

I've met TONS of new people in the past couple days. It's crazy and it's about to get crazier.
We might go out to music training tonight to see their talent show, so I'd get to meet some more "netters" then. (For the record, I do not enjoy being called a netter. Makes me feel like I'm twelve. But that's what they call us, so I guess I have no choice now that I've signed up for it...)

Canada is awesome so far. I have done away with all my American change, so I don't get confused. The money is so similar.
Tell you whats not similar, the milk. Well, actually the milk itself is just normal milk, but the packaging is all sorts of weird. They have milk in bags. So so strange. I went to have cereal this morning and I was looking for a carton or a jug of milk and I couldn't find any. Thought that was strange cause they had told me that there was cereal and why would they offer cereal if there was no milk, right? So eventually I found soy milk and used that. Then I was at the store today with two of the girls and they are talking about buying milk and whether or not they already had some. So thinking that I am being helpful I chime in "Oh yeah, this morning I couldn't find any milk. It's probably been finished..." So they bought it and we come home to find out they DID have milk already, it was just in bags. Sorry, I'm American...

Another thing; beer. I keep being taken aback whenever someone asks me if I'd like a drink. I keep forgetting that it is legal here for me. (Don't worry, I'm keeping myself in check and am very responsible.)

Other than beverages, Canada has some awesome people. Everyone I've met so far has been tremendously nice and tolerates me poking fun at the way they say their "t"s and "softdrink" instead of soda.

Also, Tim Horton's is awesome. Like Dunkins, but better cause it's new to me and everyone loves a novelty.

On that note, I think it's nap time. Enjoy the pictores from the roadtrip up, which was amazing and scenic.

ready to leave, but I still have a to do list

So I've preparing for this day for the past couple months and I've wanted to write something inspiring and captivating to let people know how extremely excited I really feel about all this, but words are failing me.

I can't think of anything in my life to compare it to. I am scared and nervous, but calm and completely relaxed at the same time.
I have been completely overwhelmed by the continuing generosity of our friends this week. I'm now almost halfway to completing my fundraising goal which is AMAZING because I won't have to worry so much while I'm off.

I've found the address that y'all can send me things at, but keep in mind that I will only be there until SEPT 25. So feel free to mail me things if they'll get there in time for the 25th, and after that I will get a new address for you.

Kelsie Grimes
c/o NET Ministries of Canada Inc.

1820 St. Joseph Blvd.

Orleans, Ontario K1C 7C6

So in less than 7 hours, I'll be off to Canada. Apparently I've a lot to learn about Canada since all I know is that there are ketchup chips and that there is a fair amount of frozen tundra. We'll see what new factoids I come away with.

Yesterday I went out climbing for the last time until Dec. so naturally I was depressed and needed a pick me up in the form of Boulevard dinner french fries and Cafe Dolce cappuccino. It was terrific and amazing and a perfect last night with the sisters. I think cappuccino is my favorite coffee drink; but not at Starbucks, Starbucks cappuccinos don't seem the same. Good thing I have like 50 other favorites at Starbucks to fall back on when I am disappointed by their cappuccino.
I finally bought a Central Rock tshirt, so you better believe I will be representin the gym over in Ireland. I told Erin that I am definitely going to have to find somewhere (anywhere) to climb over there, even if it's just once. I'm sure I can search one out.

Which reminds me, last night Erin, Heather, Colleen, and I made an Ireland To Do list. It is basically exactly what you expect a to do list to be; a list of necessary things to do while in Ireland. For example...

1. Kiss the Blarney stone
2. Drink a pint
3. Find a shamrock

...and so on and so forth. So if you have any suggestions to add to my list, please let one of the sisters know, and it will be added to my list ASAP. Or you can just post it on here in the comments section! Keep in mind that I am going to be living a missionary lifestyle and will have limited funds and freetime. Even within thsoe restrictions, it is a pretty exciting looking list so far, and continues to grow. I should also mention that one condition of the list is that I photographically document each and every thing on it. Needless to say, photos will be shared with all of you wonderful people on this very blog.

That all said, a millipede looking bug just ran across my carpet, and that completely grosses me out. Good thing I'm leaving my room in 7 hours!
Farewell to you all until I get internet access next. Pray for me during my training please!!

Love you all!

Awake is the new sleep.**

I know I should sleep, I know I should. But most nights I find it impossible until about 3:30 am when I basically fall over from exhaustion.

Yesterday I lay in bed for a couple hours staring at the ceiling, then the wall, then the suitcase, then the ceiling again; cycling through those views like a broken record, all the while just thinking about leaving.
Plus, I'm no good at sleeping in this room alone. Mickey left to visit with our cousin Jenna at our grandmother's so I've been alone the past few nights. I just like knowing that someone else is in the room, we don't even have to be talking or doing anything, just knowing that someone else is there makes it feel right for me to sleep somehow.
I don't like being alone in general though, unless I'm praying. To me it just makes no sense, there are billions of people in the world, why should you ever have to be alone. At least I know that while I'm on NET I won't be alone hardly ever. Heath said that team members are with each other almost 24/7 so thats one thing I won't have to worry about.

I think it's mostly excitement keeping me awake, with a little twinge of sadness. I'm gonna miss a lot. I have officially said good bye to 1/4 of the family; Amanda(plus baby and hubs) a few weeks ago, and Mickey & Nat yesterday cause they went to Penn until Sat and I leave Fri. I haven't cried yet, but I think I might very soon, perhaps even in the course of writing this entry.
I was playing with Emily today, trying to get in as much babytime as possible. The weirdest thing is that I will come back and she will have nearly no recollection of me. So strange.

I gave Natalie some quality advice for going to high school when I said bye:

1. Don't wear heels to school. It's not worth it.
2. Everyone there is dumb, just so you know.
3. You can wear my clothes, they're cool.
4. Have fun; work hard, but have more fun.
   

She'll follow it, if she knows whats good for her. It was the least I could do as a confirmation sponsor.

I think I told Mickey she could wear my clothes too, not sure if that was a mistake or not... Just kidding, Mic, I know you'll rock them out. (Just don't lend them to anyone outside immediate familia, I'd like to still have a wardrobe when I get back...)

Heaven help their teachers.

Today was ridiculously hot out, it's been such a strange summer in New England, just when I thought it was winding down, we get this hot streak. Last week there were actually leaves falling in our front yard, and now I am melting in the sauna that is my room. My hair and nature is all confused.

Heather finalized out plans for the Epic Canadian Dropoff trip this weekend, apparently it includes a visit to Upper Canada Village; which from the website seems like Old Sturbridge Village, just more Canadian. The cartrip is also to include a great mock singalong to every Taylor Swift song that we know, sounds promising, eh? (Already embracing Canadian lingo.) You know you wish you were coming along.

Tomorrow's gonna be more hot weather I guess, Colleen, Erin, and I are headed to the gym for a bit, then back home to write all my thank you's, and finally out to Springfield tomorrow night to visit with my Western Mass friends before I jet. Should be another packed day. Only 3 days left though, gotta get it in somehow.


**Please note that this post's title was stolen from a wonderful artist named Ben Lee. I wish I had come up with it myself, but he's the man and deserves the credit.

tired bones and blistered fingers

Was at the gym all day today (Central Rock Climbing Gym).
Got there this morning to help out with a party and 2 blistered pinkies, 1 chalk covered outfit, 206 tired bones, 1 starbucks latte, and 8.5 hours later I left completely exhausted and ready to go back tomorrow...
I plan on living there for the next couple days before I leave because I'm going to miss climbing a ton.

It's not even just the physical exercise either, that in itself is great and I know I am way stronger than before I started, but what I think I like most is the mental exercise of it all. It's all about finding your limits and then pushing them. And you have to completely get rid of self doubt, doubt's not gonna get you any farther up the wall.
Sure, there are somethings that at this point in my climbing are impossible for me and knowing that is important, but at the same time I'm not gonna let that keep me from trying difficult routes. If nothing was ever hard, then I wouldn't get any better.
Today was really nice cause Chris from SF came down to climb with us and he is a super crazy monkey climber, so he was giving me some good pointers on how to finish my problem ones. (Nicknamed "beasts" by the sisters. Like "Hey did you finish that one yet?"... "Nope, it's my beast right now though"...) I learned a lot, I love figuring the routes out and doing them right and you can't believe you ever did it another way or just see how ridiculously hard it would have been if you had kept trying the "wrong" way. Plus it was just amazing to do something I love with some friends before I leave, but hanging out with them is always amazing no matter what we do.

On that same note, the dinner last night went extremely well. We had a great crowd of friends show up to support me and it meant a lot that they were all there. Good food, great conversation, lots of laughs and smiles, all in all it was a success.
The food from O'Connors was amazing, and fortunately enough we have leftovers so I got to have it for dinner again tonight. More unfortunately our dessert didn't work out as well as hoped, the brownies sort of turned into rock solid dehydrated astronaut food.
My friend Erin Lynch, from HeiferProject camp, was an absolute champion and did a few samples of Irish dancing for us even though she had a sprained ankle. We also had some amazing singing by Mary Casiello and Erin, Heather, and myself did a few songs.
Apparently we are recording a cd that is going to be sold for donations toward my mission, so I'll let you know when that drops. It'll be number one for sure, rivaled only by this terrific band I know called SpaceTiger. (Look them up on facebook. They're hilariously awesome.)

As far as fundraising goes, I have a total of 2,275 raised to date. I am extremely overwhelmed by the generosity I witnessed from our closest friends last night. God is so good to have brought you all into my life, I cannot say it enough. Thank you for everything. For sharing your families, homes, and wisdom with me. I'll remember you all while I'm in Ireland and can't wait to share my adventures with you on here and in person when I come home for Christmas.

And now I think it's time for a strawberry-orange vanilla milkshake. Fruit & ice cream combined, can't really go wrong there.

Just me, Jesus, and James Dean

I finished packing up my room today. Took down all my pictures and boxed up all my things. I feel strangely out of place in the room I've spent the majority of the past 3 years in.

With nothing but a crucifix and my James Dean calendar on the sickly, teal stained, wood paneled walls I tried so hard to disguise with pictures and posters I feel like I am in some sort of monastery. Although no monastery I am aware of would have pictures of James Dean next to their Jesus.
Pretty sure Jesus would be cool with it though, I've heard he eats with sinners and saints alike.

As weird as it is to have a room with barren walls, I had to do it, once I entirely vacate my room on Friday Heather is moving in. I don't blame her, if a piece of real estate as good my room had become available to me I would have jumped on it just as fast. Available real estate is a rare commodity in the Grimes household.

Tomorrow, or today rather, is my fundraising dinner. It's shaping up to be a good time. I decided not to stress over it a long time ago. Mostly everyone who is coming are our close friends anyways, so they aren't expecting anything elaborate or showy. I'm just going to be myself and be comfortable. Not get worked up about it, what comes of it will come. I'm trusting that it'll work out.

SIDE NOTE: I'm still looking for sponsors who want to support me financially while I'm in Ireland. If you're interested, you are amazing! I love you intense amounts, please email me. If you can't donate, I understand, please please please pray that some people with generous hearts will stumble into my path.


I'm enjoying my last few days at home, defeated the huns with H last night (Chinese food style) went blueberry picking with Colleen today, and on Sunday we're going climbing with some amazing friends from soulfest.

However, I am still slightly stressed out about the fact that I only have six days left at home. It scares me a little, ok a lot, that so soon I will be thrust into something completely and totally new to me. All new people. All new places. All new responsibilities and commitments.

Half of me just wants to RUN, turn in the total opposite direction and hide.
But the other half of me knows that change is good and being outside my comfort zone means that I am learning and growing.

And besides, God wants me here to do my part in the Kingdom, so it must be good. When we were at soulfest this year I heard this amazing praise and worship song for the first time. (It's probably really popular, we just don't get very much of the P&W at the Cathedral...) I think it's called "The Stand" and the chorus says

"So I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the one who gave it all. I'll stand; my soul Lord to you surrender, all I am is yours."

So instead of running, I'll stand. I'll stand and surrender my whole self to God.
I'm pretty sure it is going to be the most agonizing, but the most rewarding decision I've ever made.

Speaking of agonizing, I have to give up my facebook and my phone while I am on NET, so that is really the purpose of this blog. Yes, yes, it's going "to suck" (such eloquent vocabulary) and yes I will miss creeping on, I mean talking to, you all, but it is a small sacrifice and I'm pretty sure I won't die from it.
The optimal and most efficient way to get in touch with me is on here or by email kelsie.grimes@gmail.com. Or there's always good old fashioned letter writing. As soon as I get my address I will put it up on here for you all.

Thanks for reading and I'll do my best to keep at this. Love you all!