"Fathers Be Good to Your Daughters.....

..... And Daughters will Love like You Do"

If I love anything like my dad does, I think I'll be in good shape for the rest of my life.

My Daddy is David Stone and I'm so thankful he's MINE!! After I'm introduced to someone, someone who knows my dad, I love when they say, "Oh your dad is amazing! I love him." I love responding with, "I love him too! He's the greatest!" My dad loves those he comes in contact with, he helps those he comes in contact with, and he impacts those he comes in contact with.

Let me tell you about the David Stone I know...

My daddy supports me, he encourages me, he teaches me, he corrects me, he disciples me, he challenges me to be a better person, and most of all he loves me unconditionally. We have a song, like every dad and daughter should, and it's Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God." When I think of this song, I first think, "My God is GREAT!" and then I think, "My God is great because he gave me my dad." Seriously, I don't think any other man on earth could deal with what I've dealt to my dad. Through high school, through college, my dad has only been there for me. Sometimes he was almost too close to me, pushing me to be better. I always pushed back though. I always wanted to be what I was at the moment. My dad encouraged me, it went in one ear and out the other. My dad gave me options in life, I chose to stick with my own options. My dad loved me whole-heartedly, I tried to love him the best I knew how. When I think of my dad, all I think of is love. He loves God, he loves his wife, he loves his children (daughters-in-law included), he loves his family, he loves his company, he loves his friends, and he loves his life. He knows God's love and that's what he pours out to all that are in his life. He has set an example of what it means to be forgiving, to be loving, to be encouraging, to be solid in God's identity, and to be a pursuer of life. He chases after God, who in turn provides my dad with opportunities to travel, to learn, to teach, and to pour love out on those he meets. I'm slightly jealous of those he gets to sit down and talk with because I only get to see him every now and then, but I'm happy to share my dad with the world. He has comforting arms, he has knowledge to share, and love to give. I don't want to keep my dad to myself, I know there are people out there who may not have one, so I don't want to keep my dad in a box! He's a special man and he's my hero.

My dad has been good to me, I hope I can continue to walk in his footsteps and love like he does! Happy Belated Father's Dad, Daddy!!!!

I Made a Change Today

Well, really, I made the change a long time ago, but it's finally sinking in and being applied to every day life. What a great feeling.

Two months later and I'm finally posting a blog. Gee, what's wrong with me?? I have lots to update you all on!! We'll start with base life.

In early May, I fully took over the responsibilities of Hospitality and I have been on a journey! I am learning what serving means, how the details add up to make a whole weekend operate, how it's better to ask people for help than to do it myself, and how tired I am after a weekend! You may be wondering what hospitality entails, well I'll enlighten you! I put guests and teams in rooms (housing), I plan snacks and desserts for teams coming in, I keep track of cleaning supplies and coordinate with the campus cleaning lady which rooms need to be cleaned, and I run the Butler's Pantry (where all of Hospitality supplies are stored). It's been fun, interesting, tiring, challenging, and non-stop. You know those thoughts "There isn't enough time in the day", "I just need more time", "Where did the day go?" yeah, I ask those questions every day. Every day. I feel like I don't do much, but I stay busy every day with meetings, spreadsheets, and thinking of new ways to make this area more efficient on base. I love it! I was so grateful for the First Rate team coming to Mexico and building a house, along with Gary Walker and some of his employees of SCM. I truly enjoyed seeing my family and my FR family. I'm learning each day how to better live in community, how to be more efficient, and how to finish a task until it's completely done. Pray that I have less stress, more smiles, and more peace-of-mind. Also, if you have any ideas for easy snacks for large-ish groups, send me your ideas! I can't keep doing the same thing over and over again (hummus and pita chips or chips and salsa). Also, I really like the tacos here in Mexico. I'm addicted to them.

In personal updates, I have decided to run a half marathon in August! I'm going to run the America's Finest City half marathon with a few fellow YWAMers. I technically started training today, but I'm going to do it! And I'm going to enjoy it!! This is something I'm super excited about and super nervous about. I have this new mindset and goal of finishing everything to completion. I've developed an awful lifestyle of half-heartedly doing tasks assigned to me, I hardly ever finish tasks assigned to me, so I have a new life to live! A new life of being dedicated, a new mindset that I can complete things, a new life of being positive and seeing the little successes that add up to the big finished pictures! I will definitely be posting pictures of running places, updating you all on progress and I will be posting a blog about how you can support me with this half marathon.

I am in amazing place, learning from some of the best people about how to serve with a smile, remembering that God is who I'm here to serve. A quote from this past weekend's staff conference, "When you take care of God's priorities, He takes care of your needs." So God's check-list is the one I'm checking off daily, asking Him for my to-do list, asking Him for peace-of-mind and calmness throughout the day, and going throughout my day. The days will be more productive which makes everyone happy :)

Please feel free to call or email or Facebook! I would love to hear from you all about your lives and the ways you're spending the summer! Please keep me in your prayers as I'm still raising support for monthly fees and needs, and please keep praying that I just listen to the Lord and do His will here in Mexico.

LOVE LOVE LOVE..... more updates soon!! Promise 2 months won't go by again...