Letter #518: Big Announcement

May 17, 2012 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Dear announcements,

You come in many forms. Phone calls. Hand-written notes. Emails. Texts. Newspaper articles. Press conferences. There are a ton of different ways you make your debut, but I’ve learned the debut isn’t nearly as exciting as the process leading up to and following.

Think about it. Engagement. The girl shows off her ring for a few days as the couple tells the story of how he perfectly proposed. It’s an exciting moment, but it wears off pretty quickly. What doesn’t wear off is the process the couple went through to arrive at the point of realizing they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together and the years that lie ahead in marriage. The moment is vital and marks a very significant time, but the process leading up to and following is the adventure and is far more exciting.

This doesn’t change the fact you’re really fun to make. There’s just something special about making the unknown known. Sometimes we dread sharing you. Other times we are bursting at the seams because we’re so anxious to get it out. Today is a time of excitement.

People say pictures say 1,000 words. For once I’m going to let these pictures do my talking and make you.

In case you interpret better with words than pictures, my oldest sister, Jamie, is expecting!!!!! The Smith clan is growing. My cute nephews are going to be big brothers, and I’m going to be an aunt for the fourth time! We couldn’t be more excited!!!!

While a new baby is maybe the most exciting one of you to make and these pictures might be the most creative way to share you ever, the moment my sister and brother-in-law found out and shared together was more special. Telling the baby’s big brothers was way more fun. Waiting anxiously to get far enough along to tell family and friends was difficult and fun. The process leading up to you has been exciting and sharing this is fun, but the journey that lies ahead is incomparable. A new baby will be brought into the world, sleep will be lost, love for another child will be discovered and life will never be the same.

You are fun and memorable, but the process is always more exciting.

Little baby Smith, we can’t wait to meet you but right now focus on developing properly! We’ll also curiously be awaiting to find out pink or blue?!?!

Cherish moments worth announcing, but don’t forget to cherish the process as well,

Cherisher of the process

Letter #517: ‘Game On’

May 16, 2012 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Dear year,

For the past six summers I have spent a portion of you living in a non air-conditioned cabin in Lampe, MO. Tomorrow marks moving day and the beginning of summer number seven. For the last five of you I’ve spent three months each one of you out at K-West. That’s 15 months. Dang, I could’ve almost had two babies in that length of time!

Summer is approaching quickly, and I’m frantically finalizing paperwork to prepare to move to the woods for three months. My to-do lists are large and time frames are small, but it has been really fun to see the Lord’s hand in all the preparation coming together.

Tomorrow begins a whirlwind. One that lasts for three months. With each new you, some things are similar, but nothing is ever the same. I’m anxious to see what’s at stake for this one. This time of you is exciting because it’s game time. It’s time to implement all the planning, practicing, studying of film and team meetings. Sure, we could use more practice or a better understanding of the playbook, but this is what it’s all about. These are the moments we live for. It’s game time. GAME ON!

In the meantime I’m going to take advantage of one more day to prepare, catch a Thunder game, enjoy A/C and hang with my roommate and other Branson friends.

Lots to do but as excited as ever,

Embracer of the ‘game on’ mentality

Letter #516: Legacy of 90 Years

May 14, 2012 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Dear 90 years,

I’m not sure I can imagine living for 40 years let alone for you. This weekend I made my first of three treks to Oklahoma this month to celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday! Wow, you are a long time to live and create a fun reason to celebrate!! Nearly all her family showed up to honor her 90th year of life! What a fun afternoon.

This celebration of life was a great excuse to eat ribbon cake (so good!), but it also got me thinking. Thinking about the legacy left after you. Thinking about my grandma’s legacy, but also thinking about the legacy I want left regardless of how many years I live.

Grandma Brueggen has left a legacy of strong work ethic behind her. All three of her children and basically all of her grandchildren are committed to excellence and working hard. She grew up on the farm, was determined to give her kids a good life and might be a harder worker today at her age than a good number of folks in my generation.

Grandma with her three kids: Joe, Mama Roth & Pat.

She’s also left a legacy of education. Her most important goal was for her three kids to finish college. After only completing the 8th grade and fighting to provide through farming, she was determined for her kids to do education different than she did. The vision and commitment she set for her kids was successful. All three of her children have collegiate degrees. She couldn’t have been more proud, until every grandchild capable completed college as well.

Grandma and the majority of her grandkids.

Lastly, a legacy of dedication to family follows her. Family has and always will be priority to her. This has overflowed into the generations she is the matriarch of as well. Family takes precedence over almost everything. This is true for my grandma, for my aunts and uncles and for even the youngest of grandkids. It’s truly a neat family to be apart of and an even neater legacy left by Grandma Brueggen after nearly a century of life.

Sisters with Grandma B!!!

Grandma B is a neat lady, but celebrating you in her life caused me to evaluate the legacy I long to be left. The above isn’t a bad start, but there are a few other things I long for in my legacy. If I could handpick three things, they would be this: 1) A woman of generosity. 2) A woman of integrity. 3) A woman who operated out of Christ-centered obedience more often than selfish ambition. If my legacy is more about Christ and less about me, this life will have been successful. The crazy thing is none of these just happen. Every single one of them is rooted in my daily decisions. My legacy at 90, if I make it that long, is completely dependent on the choices I make today. Forget 401k’s and long-term health insurance, this might be the most important long-term planning I ever embark upon.

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma Brueggen! We LOVE you tons.

What do you long for your legacy to be?,

Daily events spark deep thought in me ALL the time

Letter #515: Virginity for Sale

May 11, 2012 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Dear media,

You talk about Tim Tebow A LOT. He might be referenced on TV more times a day than the Duggars have children. You probably cover him more than any other current sports figure. He gets traded to the Jets, and I’m pretty sure more members of you were covering that than there are people working on America’s debt crisis.

He’s a fascinating story. Heisman. National Championship. Leader. Philanthropist. Professional Football Player. Overcomer when everyone said he’d never make it in the NFL. He gives you guys interesting stories to write. He continues to remain in the spotlight for positive reasons, and you just aren’t quite sure what to do with that.

You’re also not quite sure what to do with his faith. Tebow communicates his faith in a pretty forward fashion. When given the opportunity to speak or be interviewed, he is very open with where he stands on issues. He is unashamed of his God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He strives to be a positive role model. Last week he spoke at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast event and said this:

“When athletes and entertainers say, ‘I’m not a role model,’ I say, ‘Yes you are; you’re just not a very good one.’” -Tim Tebow

Hah. This made me laugh. He doesn’t say what people want to hear, instead he strives to say what he is truly convicted by. Some respect this about him. Others despise it. Another reason he provides you with great stories.

Last week my friend came across a crazy Internet article involving Tebow. A website is offering ONE MILLION DOLLARS to anyone who can prove they have slept with Tim Tebow. Are you kidding me?! The NFL player and celebrity has been honest about his sexuality and virginity. He is waiting until marriage, like God intended, to have sex. His virginity is now worth $1 million.

The CEO of the controversial website is quoted saying this:

“Sports and sex (and of course, infidelity) go hand in hand. If Mr. Tebow is indeed abstaining from adult relationships, I would encourage him to find a nice lady or two and enjoy his youth and fame as much as possible. We are beyond the days where pre-marital sex has a social stigma, and it is my hope that soon we will also feel the same about infidelity. I guarantee that no man of Tim Tebow’s stature could survive a season in New York without succumbing to the temptations of the city (i.e. pull a Brett Favre).”

I can only imagine the temptations that come with the world of professional athletics. Now women are being offered a million bucks to seduce a man many women would sleep with for free. We live in a crazy world, a world where no story is too wild for you. People can speak out and take stands on whatever they want, but someone wants to live a lifestyle contrary to the world and a bounty is put on his head. Wow.

Tim Tebow, good luck as women get wind of this and throw themselves at you. Stay faithful to your convictions and truth. Pray against temptation and put yourself in situations setting yourself up for success. Your platform and opportunity to take a stand for biblical principles is far more valuable than a few pleasures of this world. Our God is worth it.

Now my next question is, what happens if Tebow falls in love and gets married? Does his wife get to claim the prize?!?!

Praying for our country and people, the famous and the average, to stand tall on biblical convictions,

Nothing amazes me anymore

Letter #514: Finished!!!!

May 8, 2012 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Dear grad school,

YOU ARE FINISHED!!!!! Honestly, I never thought I’d pursue you to begin with. I’ve never been a die hard academic. I always put decent effort into doing well, but let’s just say studying in college wasn’t my greatest priority :) So for me to begin a whole new endeavor in the academic realm wasn’t on my radar. Then, I decided to go to the Kanakuk Institute, and it only made sense to also get my Master’s in the process. Thus, you began.

As I think back over the two year span I completed you, I laugh. I coined myself the JBU slacker during my Institute year. Not so much because my performance lacked, but more so because while everyone else locked themselves into study mode I was making memories with my friends! I may have slept less, but I always got my work done and never felt I missed out on memory making. I knocked 24 hours out during my year at the Institute, took a year off because I didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew by pursuing school and my first real, big kid job, and completed my last 12 hours this year. 36 hours of coursework, countless papers, presentations and discussion boards, and three years later, I am officially a master!

I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do with my Masters of Ministry with an emphasis on Leadership and Ethics, but I do know I learned some great stuff along the way. Tons of practically applicable information I’ve already been able to apply to my life and job, but also countless intangibles that have shaped the woman I am and am becoming.

My takeaways from my time at the Institute can’t be defined. A foundation was laid in my life I will build on forever. An understanding of the Bible as a whole is something I can’t put a price on. Researching, writing, studying and defending my beliefs before a panel backing everything with Scripture taught me more than I can ever gauge. Practical leadership skills I can use for life. I’ve read books I can drop in conversation and sound smart. Learning to balance a full time job and a full school load these last eight weeks, I’m convinced will allow me to balance even more important things in my life better, especially concerning future family. You have allowed me to learn so many things. Even though I don’t know exactly how you’ll benefit me career-wise, you’ve already benefited me personally.

While I am unbelievably relieved to be done with you, seriously a giant weight is off my shoulders, I think I’m also going to miss you a smidge. We’ve had a long relationship going, and now it’s over. I’ll miss the opportunity to learn and will have to train myself to learn on my own. Completing you is one of my greatest accomplishments simply because I had to manage a balancing act of life in the process. My anthem was true: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!!!

Thanks for a fun, challenging, knowledge-gaining ride,

Grad school graduate

Letter #513: Weekend of Fun!

May 7, 2012 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Dear weekend,

You were filled with so many great things. I became a ‘Master,’ enjoyed an afternoon at the outlets because sometimes being a girl just wins out, spent time with friends, didn’t study!, took pictures at a friend’s engagement, danced the night away at a beautiful wedding and all around had a ton of fun!

You were filled with lots of old friends. Bodie, my Kanakuk Institute classmate, married Marissa, friend from the K-World, so tons of classmates and friends from other stages of life were in town. What a sweet weekend you were!

Thankful for a year with these people and SO many more not present! There's just something special about these friendships!

2010 Kanakuk Institute Class!!!

Lawson!!! My friends, the Schmidt's, baby!

Sweet Branson friends!

Their story is awesome! Both early thirties and never been married. Both individually content and seeking the Lord fervently in their own unique ways. Both adventurous beyond belief. Each complementing the other perfectly. Together a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness and perfect timing. Likely not what either of them individually planned, but could never have worked out the way it did without the Lord’s sovereignty and perfection. What a great reminder and a super fun wedding!!!!

The happy couple!

I also got to take pictures at another Institute friend’s engagement. So excited for you two and can’t wait to break it down at that reception! Perfect weekend to the ending of grad school!

Institute friends at Nate and Stephanie's engagement!

Already excited to the weekends that lie ahead,

Lover of weekends

Letter #512: Crazy Color Fun!!

May 3, 2012 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Dear test dummies,

Secretly, I think you are a really fun job. I served as one of you last week to test ‘powder paint’ for potentially awesome usage at camp this summer. It is my dream to bring the idea of a “Color Run” (the trendiest way to currently run a 5K) to K-West. I’m dying to run one of these myself, but of course any of them near me are right in the middle of summer. Watching the videos immediately got my head spinning on how I could get this to camp. My friends Kara and Rachel who work at K-Kountry had similar thoughts and did a truckload of research for us.

The crazy thing is it is typically used in India ‘for religious purposes.’ The packages even say this on them! Apparently they use it at some festival they have over there. It’s not easy to come across, and I’m super thankful for their research. They found the substance!!! They ordered a small amount and that’s where you come into play. We can’t let thousands of kids use this stuff without knowing what it does to skin and eyes. What a great reason to HAVE to test it. Last week, we got the package, and I think the adults were more excited to try it out than the kids!!! **Note my face: “Kara, throw it in my face to see what happens!” Probably not the smartest comment I made last week,that’s why you’re called a ‘test dummy I guess, but no allergic reactions or loss of eye sight!**

It starts...

Check out how awesome the sky would look with a hundred kids all going to town at the same time!!!

Precious children having a blast!

The Test Crew!

Old clothes necessary if stained=college frat tee!

You have fun jobs. Imagine getting to test products like this on a regular basis. I also bet you hate your job at times. Imagine taste testing sardines or testing the power of a stun gun? Sick. We also learned from our mistakes in the process. Putting the powder in water to make it last longer…bad idea. It stains. We only tried the purple, and I had a purple tint for a week. The rest of the colors came off surprisingly easily.

I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to do it at camp or not yet. Don’t get your hopes up, it’s a little expensive. I also think we might try putting the powder in pantyhose if we really did it. Regardless, this was one of the most fun things I’ve done in a LONG time. I continue to dream we get to bring this to camp!!! If nothing else, I’ll continue to dream of participating in a color run someday. Until then, I’ll just find random ways I can be you in enjoyable settings!

Dreaming of a ‘color event’ at camp this summer,

Lover of random fun

Letter #511: One Month from Today…

May 2, 2012 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Dear June 2nd,

One month from today, campers will be inside the gates of K-West!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is unbelievably exciting and a bit overwhelming. I am just as excited for my 7th summer of camp as I’ve been in the past, but I also have more responsibility than I’ve ever had. Thus, the next month means TONS to do!!!! Excited to put the finishing touches on what I believe is one of the greatest places on earth for a bunch of crazy awesome middle school kids!

Besides that, one month from today I won’t even be present for the arrival of the kiddos! I’ll be celebrating my best friend’s wedding!!! Another thing I can’t wait for you to bring!

Between May 2nd and you, lots of crazy fun events are happening too. I’ll be a master and done with grad school, attend three weddings and be in two of them, celebrate my grandma’s 90th birthday, move to Lampe, MO, coordinate the training of a couple hundred K-West staff for camp, travel to Oklahoma three out of four weekends in the midst of camp happening, hopefully watch the Thunder continue to win in the playoffs and who knows what else!

Looking forward to it all and reminding myself to be faithful in each step along the way. Being overwhelmed isn’t worth it. I want to enjoy each one of these events thoroughly, and I’m committed to making that happen! To say the least, the Lord’s definitely teaching me to let go of control.

Can’t believe it’s May 2nd,

Excited and if I’m honest, a tad bit overwhelmed

Letter #510: Tulsa Town

May 1, 2012 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Dear Tulsa,

You are a hidden treasure. Last week I had the opportunity to come to you for work. Kamp paired up with an OSU-Tulsa Campaigns class, and I got to be on the panel to judge their presentations. We were the client for their final project, and their job was to improve staff recruiting by 50% on Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus. I knew the range of quality could be vast, and vast it was. Three groups gave presentations. One was good all-around, the second had good ideas but the presentation was lacking and the third…I’ll stop there.

During my undergrad, I had to do a campaign for the exact same class. My client was the Humane Society. I don’t even like animals. Had I had Kamp as my client, I would’ve been ecstatic. This group even said their friends taking the Stillwater version of the class were jealous Kamp was their client. This being said, I can remember being so nervous giving my big campaign presentation. The nerves were evident in these students as well. Looking back, my nerves make me laugh. I had an entire semester to work on one campaign. I easily work on and make decisions for at least 300% more things every single week. We think college is SO stressful, but looking back it wasn’t really that bad. Guess that’s why they say hindsight is 20/20!

Overall, I was very impressed with the job these students did. They were able to grasp and understand an organization that is extremely difficult to understand…especially if you’ve never seen Kamp in action. They had great suggestions for staff recruiting and a few ideas a very doable. But the neatest part of the whole process was hearing the students share about their view of Kamp and on an even bigger scale the Lord.

I have no idea where the students in that room land on spiritual things, but every group framed Scripture in their campaign on their own. One group did a focus group with OSU staff and highlighted multiple times that they never felt pressured toward religion or judged for their lifestyle. The people in this class walked away with a healthy perspective of what young Christians look like, and the way they talked about their experiences with Kamp and OSU staff was evidence of this.

We were able to walk away with some great ideas for improving our recruiting techniques, but we also got to see the Lord use a class client to drop a few spiritual truths into a group of students as well. My panel had nothing to do with it. It was all based on their research and interaction with college-aged staff. Great reminder how the Lord is at work in levels of lives we can’t even fathom.

You also brought another highlight…Harrison!!! My timing of dinner was terrible, so it was super quick. He was overdue on his feeding so I couldn’t wake him up or he would’ve been ticked the entire 30 minute drive home, but it’s always good to see that little guy!

Tulsa always seems to bring unforeseen treasures,

Potential future resident?!?

Letter #509: Small Town USA

April 30, 2012 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Dear small town USA,

This picture pretty much sums up my Sunday afternoon. I had the opportunity to speak at a Blue Eye graduation ceremony at a co-worker’s church. The town sign said population 38. There were more than 38 people present at the event so I think it’s a bit inaccurate, but still I was definitely in you for the afternoon! Best part of this place…you could literally walk across the street and be in Arkansas. Loved the opportunity to meet people outside of my normal circle, to hear 18 year old’s dreams and getting to encourage them.

I’ve been crazy busy finishing up grad school, but I committed to doing this event a while back. I’m so thankful I had. You were such a great reminder that there is life outside of grad school. Every time I speak at something, I’m reminded how much I enjoy it. Yesterday was the perfect break to staring at computer screens and writing papers.

Don’t forget to take time to do things you love in the midst of chaos and busyness. It’s unhealthy to constantly be grinding out things you have to do. This is necessary, but throw in the things that give you life and you are passionate about as well. Yesterday was so good for my heart. Little Blue Eye church, thanks for letting me be a part of your ceremony.

Finding ways to refresh myself,

Lover of small town USA

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