ATHENS!

Hello Friends!

I am so sorry I have not posted yet! 

We only have internet in the hotel lobby so by the time we are done in the city I am just so exhausted I hardly have the time to even send an email.

But on even though it is exhausting I LOVE IT!

Getting adjusted to the foreign language, symbols, and being the general outcast by the locals is difficult but such a learning experience!

My Travels across the ocean and into Athens were not bad at all! Very smooth, yes extremely tiring but not awful! I really could have used my parents when I was there and their German Speaking Abilities! 

German Airports are VERY different than American ones, not as comfortable and very dark.

This is the Group in Frankfurt, Germany!

This is the girls favorite add in the airport. We found it humorous **kisses**

 But finally we landed in Athens and was greeted by the illuminated Acropolis and a top the Parthenon! 

HOW BEAUTIFUL!

 We had our first dinner as a group and after walking through the cobbled back streets right below the Acropolis we found our little oasis. Thespis.

These are two of my sweet new friends Maggie and Katie!

 Our whole table! The paintings on the wall were of the streets around the restaurant no joke I cant believe I walked on them! 

 A real Greek Salad which is served at every dinner and you can get it basically any where. 

I immediately sent it to my mother and she made it at home :)

The night was full of get to know yous and laughter but such a great way to start off the trip! We went back to our hotel and crashed with the help of some sleep aid to battle the jetlag!

The next morning we woke early and set out on our first full day in Athens!

Unfortunately my pictures from this day are stuck in my memory card in my computer :(

It really is a tragic story but hopefully I can get it retrieved when I get home!

On this day our new Tour Guide, aka Best Friend Ever in Greece Maria, led us through the streets and introduced us to the area. We walked through the meat market and say lots of skinned lamb, pig, and chicken.

It looked just like it would have on sacrifice day in earlier times!

Then we walked up the hill and made our way to the Pnyx!

It was an open air meeting area at the top of a hill under the acropolis. Citizens of Athens would meet there to discuss issues and voting. Very important in Ancient Greek History.

Then we made our way to the Aereopagus. Which is under the Acropolis and was used in times of trials!

I would really encourage you to read Acts 17 where Paul travels to Athens to preach the Gospel. 

He gave his famous speech on the top of the Aereopagus. So I stood in the exact place Paul did. CRAZYY

We then went to the Acropolis Museum which was one of the most incredible museums I have ever been to!

It has glass floors because below it is an ancient part of the city!

Interesting Fact the Parthenon was once a Temple, Church, Mosque, and Gun powder room until its end explosion! What an incredible piece of Architecture!

Thankfully that night on my way to dinner I snagged a new memory camera so this is where my pictures resume!

We had a fabulous dinner at another tucked away family restaurant on the  hill. We had amazing Greek cuisine !

After Dinner a small group of students decided to go to the oldest Greek coffee shop. 

Of course being the smart people we are we thought no big deal we can make it there easy!
Not so much haha but the memories we made were unforgetable!
The girls!

The boys!

The stray dogs that are EVERYWHERE

In the TUBE!

The girls **leaning** haha

My sweet Roommate Abby!

We finally made it to Zonar!

VICTORY GROUP!

Sweet Victory!

MOre to come later but thanks for being patient!

Love and Blessings,
Diane Elizabeth

New Look, New Adventure

Hello Friends!

So I took a very, very long sabbatical from my blog.

With school and friends and everything I really just could not find the time to sit and write.

But as you can tell my blog as a new look!

That is because I am doing things a little differently for now because I have some exciting news!

I AM GOING TO GREECE!!!!!

I am so excited!

I cannot wait till January 6 when I will meet with the rest of my classmates and teachers to embark on our journey!

I am going to take a class while I am there (Crucible of Civilization)
But I also wanted to go because I have never been :)

I don't really know anyone going a few a acquaintances and people I have met through meetings but that's really it!
Kinda scary but I have a good feeling about it!

I know that the Lord sometimes requires us to step away from our comfort zones in order to grow and learn new things.

So you may be wondering what this has to do with my blog...

My sweet roommate gave me the idea of sharing my adventure along the way through my blog.

That way friends and family can keep up with my travels and the things I am learning.

Now I have a lot of actual class stuff to do while I am there which includes daily journal prompts, reading a few books, and a presentation, so I am a bit worried about the time I will have to dedicate to this..

but I really think this will be a neat opportunity to share my adventures and in order for you all to be up to speed!

So here is my itinerary for the next 3 weeks!!!

Day 1: January 5 I will fly from the Tri-Cities regional airport to Atlanta. Meet up with the group at Lufthansa Airlines then set sail across the ocean to Frankfurt, Germany. From there we will fly to Athens Greece and will land at 5:15 on January the 6th (Athens time)!!!

Day 2: Jan 6 Arrive in Athens!! We will hike Mt. Lykabettos and have dinner in Plaka!

Day 3: Jan 7 Athens: Acropolis, Theater of Dionysius, Acropolis Museum

Day 4: Jan 8 Athens: Afora, Areopagus, Pynx, Olympeion

Day 5: Jan 9 Athens: Piraeus, take a ferry to Aegina and visit the temple of Aphali.

Day 6: Jan 10 Athens: National Archeological Museum, Kalambaka

Day 7: Jan 11 Meteora

Day 8: Jan 12 Delphi

Day 9: Jan 13 Olympia

Day 10: Jan 14 Poulithra

Day 11: Jan 15 Poulithra

Day 12: Jan 16 Poulithra

Day 13: Jan 17 Nauplion, Mycenae, Tyrins

Day 14: Jan 18 Epidaurus, Corinth

Day 15: Jan 19 Heraklion, Crete

Day 16: Jan 20 South Central Crete: Phaestos, Fortyn, Matala, Kali Limines

Day 17: Jan 21 Heraklion, Crete

Day 18: Jan 22 Rhamnous, Marathon, Brauron, Thorikos, Laurion, Cape Sounion

Day 19: Jan 23 Last day! Exam, Farewell dinner

Day 20:  Jan 24  Leave Athens airport and return HOME!

And that's my trip!

I am really excited to share this adventure with you!

I will be praying for safe travels and peace in Greece throughout my journey!

Love,

Diane Elizabeth

Summer Staff...When in Doubt, Peace and Pout!

HELLOOO World!!
I am home!

Actually I got home Sunday but I just couldn't bring myself to the computer to write this post.

How am I suppose to put into words the most amazing 3 weeks of my life?

I can't.

I can't even describe it in my own head because I am still trying to process it all.

Oh how the Lord is GOOD!

I have been simply blown away by him.

Lets start from the beginning.

We all have seasons of harvest and seasons of drought, and to be real honest I was pretty dry going into camp.

I knew that I would have a great time but I just didn't want to leave my home and my loved ones for 3 weeks.

I couldn't bring myself to spend time with the Lord and I was just running on empty.

Little did I know what I had in store [no pun intended].

Jesus met me where I was, sweetly broke my heart and loved on me in such intimate ways!

Whether is was from the community of strong believers that I lived and worked with

 (24 girls, 24 boys, 3 coordinators, interns, or assign team),

the  beautiful landscape and view of God's creation,

the "get real" talks with the girls,

or just basking in the light of the Lord,

God just wrapped me in his arms.

He did this especially through the sweet girls I worked with in the store.

I have never felt so challenged, encouraged, or loved in my entire life.

We asked each other hard questions and what our hearts really looked like.

We were silly but serious,

Honest but respectful,

we laughed and cried.

We [mainly I] messed up [a lot] but we poured out father's grace over one another.

I really saw how important community was.

There is a difference in living in a growing Christian community and living with someone who only believes.

We need to be challenged and help accountable by our christian friends but we also need to be loved by them and accepted through God's lens of Grace!

Another awesome thing about my time at The Gap was the

Gettin' Juicy 2K11!!

This was the special time I had with all my summer staff sisters.

We had "girl talk" once a week but it also happened constantly throughout the 21 days.

We all jumped in from the very first email**

 **yeah ladies you all know which one that was ;)**

and GOT REAL,

or as Jess says it BROUGHT IT!

We opened up and shared the real struggles in our lives and what our heart really looks like.

I often find myself covering up little spots of my heart that I don't want people to know about because I am embarrassed or ashamed of them.

But by me seeking out my sisters in Christ I was able to heal and grow from those things.

A third thing that I loved at camp was my quiet times.

I woke up every morning and just sat with Jesus.

There is something about starting your day off with the peace maker that just gives you a peaceful day!

I was able to read his word and write it on my heart in order to live it better throughout the day.

The hard thing is taking that home with me.

I am a busy person at home and find it hard to spend time with Jesus everyday but I need and WANT to!!!!!!

I love seeing the cool things he points out to me in scripture.

He has a funny way of showing me exactly what I needed to hear.

[and that is on a coincidence].

During my time at Windy Gap I learned a lot of things about...

• surrendering
• making Jesus #1
• my need for the cross
• my need for community
• putting away pride
• trust
• JESUS' ABOUNDING LOVE FOR ME!!

This is only to name a few because I could go on for hours.

I read this really cool quote in Jesus Calling one morning while there and it is the perfect moto and life quote for my right now!

"Do not miss the JOY OF MY PRESENCE by carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders"

Sweet Lord,

Help me to stop trying to carry the world on my shoulders.

Oh how I fail miserably.

Allow me to be filled with your joy and let it completely overflow.

Help me to surrender my doubts, worries and pride in order to be filled with your peace!

You are good My Father! So good to me.

Help me to find my contentment in the one thing that is ALWAYS good and ALWAYS steady.

I praise you for my sweet time at Windy Gap,for my 300 teenage friend's lives that decided to give their lives to you, and the amazing family of summer staff that you blessed me with!

Most importantly, I cannot thank you enough for the cross by which I am made whole and pure.

Thank you my sweet Lord.

Help me to call to your all the day long.

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

THE GAP

Good Bye Blogger friends!

(if anyone actually looks at this thing)

I will be at Windy Gap doing my Summer Staff duties in the Country Store!!

I am so excited to get to be around strong Christian women and men who gave up 3 weeks of their summer to serve the Lord.

Please Pray for time at camp and the kids I will come into contact with!

I can't wait to share with the blog world how amazing my time was!!!

But while I am gone I would LOVE for you to

write me :)

or send me silly pictures!

or write  a song for me!

I will write you back!

I will not have my phone or access to a computer sooo...

your just gonna have to do it the old fashion way!

I CANT WAIT TO BE HEREEEEEEE

Here is my address

Diane Storie-Summer Staff

Young Life Windy Gap

120 Coles Cove Rd.

Weaverville, NC 28787



With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Mud or Stars

Sorry about my sabbatical.

Life came at me fast and I forgot how to blog.

Lets recap...

So I got home from school on May 12.

The week before that was full of studying for finals, taking finals, and having some awesome dinner dates with friends.

The past week I have been home has been filled with nonstop Chrysalis things.

I love it!

I got the last minute opprotunity to serve on the team.

Even though I only found out a day before I know that God knew I was apart of Journey #23 from I was born.

I am so glad that I got to be apart of his ministry.

It was an incredible weekend of experiencing the Lord's love, sharing stories, rekindling friendships with friends, and hanging out with some pretty cool girls.

This past weekend of Journey #24 which was for the boys.

Words cannot begin to discribe how amazing it is see your best friends serve the Lord.

I am so proud of my J's and S!

I love watching them share their faith with other college boys.

What a beautiful weekend.

I have talked about it a little in past blog entries but lately one of my biggest struggles has been Control and Anxiety.

I want to be in control and make things perfect.

I believe that I know whats best for my life so I try to controll them to end up "perfect" for me.

When I fail...

(which I always do)

I get personally upset because I was in control and it didn't work out right.

 This need for control has lead to my anxiousness.

There are somethings in life that I have absolutely no control over.

For example, what my future will look like.

As hard as I try control things now I have no idea where I will be in 4 years.

This scares me to death.

I catch myself having freak outs because I so want to do things my way.

I become anxious, stressed, and nervous because  I can't control.

As you can see this is a big problem.

But thankfully the Lord has been showing me over the past 6 months my desire for control.

It has not be fun butt when he makes me aware of the problem it helps me to see that I need to change it.

I was talking to a very close friend of mine about my struggle and she suggested the book

Calm My Anxious Heart

by Linda Dillow

I have only read one chapter but I already am noticing a difference when I apply what I learn to my daily life.

So I want to share with you all some of the cool things I am learning...

First, Contentment begins with Eternal Perspective

 not on tomorrow because tomorrow is not ours but the Lord's!

So every morning I must remind myself that I only have to worry about today.

only today. only today. only today. only today.

Second, Contentment is not based off of our circumstances.

"True Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs." 

A really cool example of this is shown through Paul.

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul makes a cool statement on contentment.

"I am not saying this because I am in need,

 for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret to being conten in any situation,

whether fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

It is amazing to see how conten Paul is in any situation.

This is especially cool coming from Paul because he was

beaten, chained to a guard, locked in a nasty dungeon with no sanitation or decent food...

 YET HE WAS STILL CONTENT.

A key word in the passage above is the word "learn".

It proves to us that we can learn to be content which is promising to people like Me!

Another cool thing from the passage that Linda shows is a translastion of the last verse.. a verse I know everyone who reads this knows.

It is translated by Kenneth Wuest and says,

 "I am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me."

How does God infuse strength into us?

Through his WORD!

Third, I want to share with you a key verse that Linda gives for encouragment.

I have written this verse on my mirror, post its throughout my room,and on my hand to remind me that I am not in control.

"God is the blessed controller of all things, the king of all kings and master of all masters."

1 Timothy 6:15

Fourth, Linda shares a neat story that I have been thinking of throughout my day to keep myself positive and content in situations.

"Two women looked through prison bars.

One saw mud, the other saw stars."

Do you see MUD or STARS?

With Love From My Father,

Diane Elizabeth

Squall

My heart goes out to my fellow Alabamians.

(yes I just made that word up)

Being from the Tennessee Mountains I have never had to deal with tornadoes.

Man has this year been a surprise with the annoying sirens going off every day.

I just cannot get over the power that the tornado has.

The hundred mile and hour wind.

The hugee diameter.

The sucking tunnel.

It baffles me to see something that humans have no control over.

Now a days we can get basically anything we want.

Knowledge at the tip of our finger tips.

Any type of food.

Travelling all over the world.

We can control technology, human wills, and basically anything else in society.

But nature is one thing we have Absolutely No Control Over.

It just brings my mind back to the Lord

and how he has complete power over our lives.

People now a days think they don't need him

because they can take care of things themselves.

But guess what, you can't.

Storms and natural disasters bring us to our knees.

It reminds us that we need the Lords power, safety, comfort, and strength.

It reminds me of a little storie.

In Mark 4:35-41

" That day when evening came, he said to his disciples,  'Let us go over to the other side.'

Leaving the crowd behind them,they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.

There were also other boats with him.

A furious squall [storm] came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him,'Teacher, don't you care if we drown?'

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,

'Quiet! Be Still!'

The the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples,

Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Incredible.

So heres a recap Jesus and his friends were on a boat.

A HUGE storm came upon them.

Where was Jesus... SLEEPING!!

His friends freaked out and woke him up.

What did Jesus do?

Stood up and said be quiet.

Seriously it gives me chills.

Thinking back to tonight and all the storms I try to imagine...

 First if I were on a boat instead a huge steardy building.

I would have been 1otimes more scared!

Second if someone was trying to sleep through not only the storm but the freakouts of hundreds of girls. seriously pretty impossible.

Finally I think of all the pictures of the huge funnel clouds and tornadoes.

Jesus just stood up in from of them and said

 "BE STILL."

Our. God. Is. So. Powerful.

He not only can control the powerful winds outside your life.

But also the powerful winds inside your life.

Don't Ever Forget That!

Nothing is too big for our God!

To the families and friends that lost loved ones today I pray that you just cling to the Lord in your time of need.

With Love From My Father,

 Diane Elizabeth

Bride

If you knew anything about Samford you would know that getting engaged before your senior year is a must.

Yeah I know kinda crazy!

The idea of that makes me anxious in good and bad ways.

It is very hard to be content in the present when your constantly wishing for the future.

But the thing is... I am a Bride...now..

I am a Bride of Christ.

He woos me and pursues me daily.

He blesses me.

He chooses me.

He loves me in ways I cannot even fathom myself.

He looks at me in awe of beauty.

Song of Songs4:7

 "All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you."

He purchased me with his blood.

He endured the worst death for me.

But the love he had for me beat death.

I am forever his.

Nothing can take me away from him.

He will never leave me.

He will forgive me even when I turn away.

I am the Bride of Christ.

I am the Bride of Christ.

I am the Bride of Christ.

I am the Bride of Christ.

I am the Bride of Christ.

forever.

love these girls