Something inside is AWAKENING...

ARTwork Blog

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:56:36 -0500

I am making an attempt to make a business out of selling my glassware. Check out my blog: ccreynolds.blogspot.com or a site that sells hand crafted pieces: ccreynolds.etsy.com.

kissing our medals when the race was OVER!

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:11:21 -0400

kissing our medals when the race was OVER!

WE DID IT!

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:08:15 -0400

We had no idea what the day would hold but we were excited and anxious. We jumped in a taxi at 5:45 and got to “Charity Village” around 6. All the World Vision team got togehter before the race and had a little photo shoot before we headed to the start line. Rebecca and started the race together for the first 9 miles. Right around then I began to get sick from being overheated (it was 15-20 degrees hotter than what we trained in and hotter than expected for Chicago). Without going into the gory details, I was forced to basically walk from miles 10-20 with stops at the Portapotties every mile (DISGUSTING). By mile 20 I had recovered from being overheated for the most part and ran the last 6.2 miles. It was definitely a challenge and one I am glad that we tackled. I would like to do another one at 100% to see what I can do. We’ll see when/if that happens! ; )

Betty, Katie and Scott finished around 4.5 hours, Rebecca finished a little over 5 hours and Amy, Emily and I finished after ~~being tortured~~ running for over 6 hours. We’re all thankful that we finished and that we can all walk as of 4 days out!

We had a blast in Chicago too! It’s a great city, one that I want to spend more time in for sure. The people were incredible and the city is beautiful. Lincoln Park was my favorite part that we ran through and the water front is so cool. We took an “Architectural tour” by boat on sunday night where we heard all about the main buildings in downtown. Trump’s new building going up in the city is spectacular. I reccomend taking that tour next time you’re in Chi-town.

Thanks for supporting us through the process of the marathon! Thanks for giving toward our goal to raise money for World Vision! Thanks for cheering us on and praying for our ailments! We couldn’t have done it without you!

Pre race (5:30am)

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:58:23 -0400

Pre race (5:30am)

In 11 days a group of us will run the Chicago Marathon!...

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:28:00 -0400

In 11 days a group of us will run the Chicago Marathon! It’s hard to believe that it is already here! It seems like yesterday I was visiting my parents (in May) and got a call from Betty. As we chatted I suggested do a particular Half Marathon and she said she was thinking of doing Chicago and asked if I wanted to do it to. Without much thought I agreed… WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

Training has been challenging but good and I think we are ready for the big day. Our team (8 of us) have raised over $7000 for World Vision. The money will go to some water projects in Africa. So exciting!

So October 12th is the big day! We head to Chicago on the 10th and will do a little site seeing and hanging with the other 40,000 marathoners. If you’re in the area, come out on sunday and look for the World Vison Runners in orange! I’ll be the one with an oxygen tank and walker! ; )

It has really come to an end...

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:45:32 -0400

As of July 31st I am officially off the YL staff. It’s a little hard to believe that the page has turned and now I am onto a new chapter. It feels freeing and a little surreal. I am so curious to see what the next pages hold!

I am working at the children’s furniture store and also working with a friend (Johnny) who does residential design and drafting work. JPCADD Services is the name of his company (www.jpcaddservices.com). I am helping him market the business right now because it is a new start up… so some cold calls to contractors and realtors… funtimes! Johnny is also (re)teaching me auto cadd which is a huge blessing and will be valuable in this next chapter.

As mentioned a while back I’ve decided to run the Chicago marathon with a group of friends from Charlotte. We are in the middle of training and it has been a real adventure so far… aches, pains, power gels and LOTS of water! We are not just running for the fun of it though, we are on the WORLD VISION TEAM. We’re raising money for water projects in Africa. Each person is raising $900. So our team alone, made up of 8 people, will raise $7200 for World Vision. This is so motivating when there’s no desire to train, we just remember why we’re doing it, so people can have clean water and live!

This weekend we run 14 miles, one more mile than I’ve ever run in my life! I’ll let you know how it goes!

Photo

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:31:20 -0400

Freedom

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:22:32 -0400

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

A friend of mine is working at a YL camp this summer and gets the privilege to hear gifted men and women everyday share about following Christ. She shared some thoughts recently that have stuck with me…

” Jim Branch, our speaker for Session 1 talked about our identity and how it isn’t achieved by what we do, but rather bestowed upon us. He talked about freedom being found in truth and talked about how if we aren’t feeling free, then we are believing a lie. This along with trust has been my prayer this summer. That I would trust God, believe and live out the freedom that is in Christ, and that I would stop trying to perform and live as who God has made me to be.”

What an amazing goal: to live as who God has made us to be rather than who the world says we should be. It’s my hope that today I (and you) can live out of the confidence of being a beloved child of the King… we are free to live, love and laugh a whole lot at how much we fall short!

My thoughts exactly... from someone else's hand...

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:32:40 -0400

My thoughts exactly... from someone else's hand...

I started working part time this week at a children’s...

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:32:33 -0400

I started working part time this week at a children’s store called Nesting. They have a design department and one full time interior designer. Their hope is to build the business to the point of needing 2 designers so… I am working there right now doing more of the retail side and may be able to grow into the design position.

If you want to check out the store come by! (in the specialty shops bedind South Park beside Williams Sonoma) or check it out online www.imnesting.com!

The Dream Team of East Meck 2003ish.

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:43:16 -0400

The Dream Team of East Meck 2003ish.

As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey...

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:41:00 -0400

It’s true, every step of my life, but especially the last 8 years on the Young Life staff, the Lord has led me on an amazing journey! There have been major inclines to climb and great coasting moments but all in all I have grown and experienced the Lord in ways that blow me away! From starting my internship in a small town I had never even heard of, Pinehurst, being apart of wonderful staff teams with faithful committees and leaders, climbing 14,000 ft mountains, sailing in the Bahamas, mountain biking in Tahoe, to planting roots in Charlotte, it’s been INCREDIBLE. There are so many memories that when I stop to recall all of them I am amazed at what the Lord has allowed me to be apart of.

I have LOVED serving on the Young Life staff over the last eight years. It’s a place I always thought I would stay and then this year the Lord started moving me in surprising ways. I couldn’t put my finger on what He was doing and wanted to understand and follow where He was leading. That’s when I pursued taking an abbreviated sabbatical. Thankfully that was graciously granted and I took six weeks this spring to get away and reflect.

After much prayer and counsel it became clear that the Lord was leading me away from the Young Life staff, at least for a season.

It’s with great anticipation that I enter another stage in my journey. I am saddened to step back from such wonderful relationships but am certain that it’s where I am being led. So I am taking a step “out of the boat” not sure where I am going to land but knowing the Lord is leading me and will keep me afloat.

Thank you for being with me along this journey. Thank you for your friendship, prayers and support. I am honored to have served with you and on your behalf as you gave of your resources. I am blessed to have you in my life and am looking forward to how the Lord continues our relationship!

last day of sabbatical

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:51:37 -0400

Well, this is it, my 6 weeks are drawing to a definite close… it’s bitter sweet. I love not having an agenda and demands on my day but I miss the Young Life crowd bunches!

Some highlights of the last 6 weeks are…

- of course, 2 weeks in Africa and 5 days in Germany.

-celebrating my 31st birthday with great friends… pedicures, PF Changs, Thomas Street Tavern.

- spending some days in Greenwood with my family, hanging out with my 4 beautiful neices, shopping with my mom, driving with dad, and spending time on the deck overlooking the lake.

- DECIDING TO DO A MARATHON!!! WHAT?! Chicago, October 12th.

- celebrating my roomie’s (amy) birthday at Village Tavern and getting my meal for FREE along with a $50 gift card!

- Going to the mountains with Betty and Ava Joy, staying in an awesome house and buying new clothes at the outlets!!

- Reading 3 books

- Going to Charlotte Eagles’ games

- Spending time with Jesus in various ways… journaling and reading through Acts and Romans to name a few.

- being a part of a beautiful wedding… thanks Katie for including me! And also getting to seeing old friends that live very far away!

- Hanging out with the roomies when I would typically not be around.

- trying to do a “cleanse” but getting 2 days in and giving up!

- Getting to see Al Murfee, even if only for an hour.

- And last but definitely not least, feeling affirmed in the next step in life… details to come!

I’m finally back from the other side of the world!! We had...

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:44:00 -0400

I’m finally back from the other side of the world!! We had an amazing trip to Ethiopia… the Lord did wonderful things in and through the team there! The picture above is in Langano where we “camped” for 4 days. This was the soccer field that we played on (note the cows) and this is one of the Ethiopian (Abesha) boys that came out everyday to see us and play with real soccer balls.

On the way back I stayed in Germany a few days with some family friends in Marburg. Two of the Eagles came with me. We were quite blessed by by our time there… a great transition between the 3rd world and America.

Thank you for praying for our time there! I would love to share more stories with you anytime!

We head out tomorrow and this is how you can be praying for us...

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:13:59 -0400

We head out tomorrow and this is how you can be praying for us during the 2 weeks!

THANK YOU so much for all the financial support! I only have $700 to go!

Well, just after it was determined I was to take some time away...

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:36:52 -0400

Well, just after it was determined I was to take some time away I had an offer to join the Charlotte Lady Eagles (pro soccer team) on their trip to Ehtiopia. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity and we leave APRIL 1st!!! Woah!

You may be thinking, “I didn’t know CC played soccer, or any sport for that matter”… well, YOU’RE RIGHT! I don’t but I have a great friendship with the Eagles. They are “owned” by Missionary Athletes International so they are going over to train Sports Friends missionaries in ministry aspects… THAT i know a little bit about! The girls will also play games against some of the national teams. We will also get to go to some orphanages and more rural areas.

Please join me in praying for this trip. The Sports Friends organization is doing amazing work in Ethiopia through soccer. It will be a privilege to come along side of them and flesh out the Gospel for two weeks. (We get back to the states on April 15th.)

THANK YOU for your friendship and partnership!

The next step...

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:27:33 -0400

The 50th year celebration was a complete hit a few weeks ago! There were around 600 folks there, the majority of those being folks that have made Charlotte YL what it is today. We had a great time reminiscing of the beginnings, the crazy bike tours, countless trips out west, and the big hair of the 80’s (and let’s be honest) the 90’s too. It was a night Charlotte won’t soon forget.

With this BIG event behind us we look intently on finishing the school year strong with kids and leaders. One thing I’ve come to realize in a very clear way is that I am need of some time to reflect, reenergize, and renew my calling and passion. So, with that said, finishing the year strong for me is going to take the form of a 6 week sabbatical. I know, it may seem a little backward because I will actually be out of the lives of kids and leaders during that time BUT I am hoping to return stronger than ever from the time away.

I am planning to do a little traveling, meet with some folks that are much wiser than I and can provide direction, and seek the Lord whole heartedly in an effort to affirm my calling at this point in my life. PLEASE join me in praying for this time! I will actually try to be disconnected from ministry all together which I anticipate being difficult, especially at first. My sabbatical starts April 1st and will go through May 16th.

Please also pray for the parts of my job that will go undone while I am gone. I am certain that the team of volunteer leaders at my school will be amazing during this time but they will take on more responsiblity. Pray for female leadership in the area. Pray for the high school girls that I have relationships with to continue to stay connected to the ministry in my absense.

Thank you for your friendship and support! I am grateful beyond words for you!

Saturday night we will celebrate 50 years of Young Life in...

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:44:06 -0500

Saturday night we will celebrate 50 years of Young Life in Charlotte. It is going to be an incredible night of sharing stories, laughing at classic skits and hearing from Ty Saltzgiver and Allen Levi.

I am so blessed to be a part of the legacy of Young Life here in Charlotte. I pray that God continues to bless the ministry here, reaching high school students for Jesus.

Video

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:01:11 -0500

some call it screaming… i call it singing!

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:49:32 -0500

some call it screaming… i call it singing!