Thoughts on JOY.

What would happen if we simply sought out joy and gratitude in every situation, regardless of how seemingly terrible it may be? That question has been transforming the way I have been thinking lately. 

Just a thought...

Bright & Early

Right now I am in Minneapolis, ready to leave in the morning for camp. However, I noticed tonight the car making a weird sound and after my brother checked it, he told me one of the brakes has to be replaced. Not a super big deal, but I didn't get the car to him until after every place was already closed. My roommate from school, Carly, who is coming to camp with me this summer, and I will still leave tomorrow, although a few hours behind schedule. It could have turned into an entire day late, so I am thankful that we can still get going tomorrow morning. Anyways, if you want to hear from me this summer and send a note my way, the address is:

Gretchen Luhmann

P.O. 657

Newberry, MI 49868

I'm reading a book titled, One Thousand Gifts, and it is totally making me rethink the concept of being truly thankful. You should read it too. Definitely a wonderful read that challenges every Christian to encounter what may seem as the commonplace, as one more way to acknowledge our wonderful Creator and Savior. 

Last summer, I wrote a list of prayer requests I had going into the summer and I have a few for this year.

1. Travel. This may seem obvious, but having a car that will get me to Michigan is a huge blessing and I am always thankful when I get there and back again. Not to mention all the driving that takes place throughout the summer.

2. Friendships. I really hope and pray that the staff melds together well again and that past grievances of any kind can be worked through to make for a wonderful staff once again.

3. Not to us. I thought about that phrase a lot before I went to camp last summer and I really think it helped me to put the entire ministry into perspective. My hope is that this phrase would define the very essence of the staff, for me individually as well as for the entire staff. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the daily tasks, but the reason we should do everything is to ultimately praise our father in heaven. 

May you be content right where you are, yet still striving to glorify Christ in all that you do.

Happy Summer!

My house.

i want this house. yes, i am the girl that dreams about houses and after watching stepmom for the 1,000,000th time tonight, i still want this one. it is so homey, so perfect. i just need $1,999,999 and move to NY and it's mine. will you chip in? thanks in advance.

Grandpa Harvey.

so while i was home last weekend for easter, which was beyond wonderful, my mother and i started going through a shoe box of letters that my grandma had saved over the years from my grandpa. we were organizing them by date in order to read them from beginning to end. for a while, i have been thinking about these letters, hoping they would prove useful for a senior seminar project. after we started reading through some of them, i got out my scanner and began making copies so that we could have them forever. they are that precious. i never knew my grandpa, but i would never have expected a farm boy in the 20's, growing up in a rural community, to express himself so. his handwriting is perfect and his grammar, a little lacking. they are a treasure. here is one excerpt from a letter dated January 6, 1924.

"Dot I'll never forget the day you and Luke (Dunn) walked past the bank in the direction of the Dunn residence (where my grandmother boarded while teaching in Nekoma). Little did I think at that time that there was a chance of me being lucky enough to win part of your love. Darling from that time on the image of you has never once left the brightest and most distinct part of my memory. For almost a year I worshiped you in silence and then one Sunday I ask you to go for a ride and then waited in suspense till you said yes. Dot I never told you all this before did I?"

i love the stories history reveals. being a history major, everyone always asks you your favorite war/event/etc. but i just like these stories i learn about the "good ole days" when life was simpler and all the stories that you hear. i am so looking forward to working my way further through these letters and to discover all the things i never had a chance to learn for myself during their lives. 

Beautiful People.

Some of the most beautiful words 

in the entire world 

have already been used 

thousands of times. 

but that doesn't make 

them any less beautiful. 

so too with people.

in His time.

I'm going home today! I am so happy. The last time I was home for more than an overnight, was the beginning of October for fall break. This time is much needed; I need to get away from here and just rest. Life is busy and school can be hard. really, really, hard. But there is so much to look forward to also, like going home and in a couple of weeks, some friends are coming to Minnesota! There are so many great things ahead. 

A verse that is hanging from a garland above my bed reads, 

He has made everything

beautiful

in His time...

Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Such a good reminder every morning. Remember that. I'm trying to.

Farther Along.

This song is so good. You must have a listen. Lately I have been so overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of me: research projects, especially for one of my classes that completely intimidates me, graduation applications I need to take care of, and concerns about my possible internship next fall and everything that needs to be completed within the next year. It seems crazy to worry about things that will happen and that I will have to work through in a year, but I am. A while ago I became super fed up with Christian music and thought that God has created all his people with special gifts, so I could experience God through other music. I still believe that, but there is something about the optimism in Christian music. I am still very particular that the lyrics have some depth amongst other things that still bother me. Anyways, there have been a few songs that have been helping me make it through the tough times in life. This song was introduced to me by my friend, Michaela, while we were in Europe this January. We were actually in a bus when she told me that I have to listen to this song. She, like me, is very particular about music taste and we actually are quite similar. I hope this song brings some comfort to you in this busy life; I love that this song asks that we only trust in God and that farther along, we will understand why.