Original

You are an original work of art....you do not need to change who you are to please anyone...

Listen to this song...it is EPIC..and she's a Catholic artist!

I read in one of the many books that my mom has given me this excerpt today...
"Do not try to change who you are; change the way you look at things. Expand your viewpoint."
I think  this happens every minute of my life practically because I am constantly learning new things about life, and myself..so my views change which ends up changing how I act...

I just wanted to share that little bit with you all.

God Bless.

Remember that you are LOVED!

-Erica Jean

Lord, I'm Overwhelmed...

"Lord I'm Overwhelmed...I often lose sight of You. Please rejuvenate my soul and help me look to You for strength and comfort when I need it most. Remind me that I can't control everything and that it's okay that I'm not perfect. Amen."

-Whispers of Joy, Day 47

I have been sick since last week Wednesday and I honestly don't think that I have gotten anything completely finished since then because I have been so worn out. I finally went to the doctor today though and got some antibiotics and other medicine to take and after a long night's sleep last night I already feel better.
The sickness has set me back a little bit though because I haven't been staying on top of a few things that I have been needing to stay on top of so it has just piled up, so I am overwhelmed.
I was sitting in Marmion-Snyder tonight with some sisters who were on RA duty tonight though and I was working on one of the projects that has been needing to get done when one of my fellow peer ministers came along and I was reminded that it's okay if things maybe don't get done as planned and that's when the Holy Spirit came along and worked wonders! It was amazing how things fell into place after that. I was so worried that I wasn't going to be able to focus on this retreat this weekend that I will be at because of everything I had going on, but now with that off my plate there's one less thing to worry about!
I sometimes get so caught up in life that I forget for a second that it's God's plan not mine. Even though I can be a perfectionist sometimes, I have to remember that what ever happens will be perfect in God's eyes and it will all work out according to His plan.

Pray for all of the retreatants, chaperones, youth ministers, and NET Team 2 that will be at Bethany Center this weekend. <3

God's will be done.

Peace and Love,

Erica Jean Boehm

It's the little things in Life

"Take time in your day to be inspired by something small--the scent of a flower, a hug from a child, an 'I Love you' from your spouse....Then thank God for the little things in life."

-Whispers of Joy

I got a new book of daily encouragement quotes called "Whispers of Joy" for Valentine's Day from my grandma. I opened it up to day 43 which is today, well yesterday but I haven't slept yet, and that quote was on the page.
Today I had the opportunity to go to Busch Gardens for our leadership conference for school. We got to listen and participate in a leadership presentation from this awesome speaker. Even though most people, including myself didn't want to be there for numerous different reasons, I got a lot out of the speaker. He was very easy to relate to and pretty cool. He explained leadership in such a simple way and demonstrated it very well. After the speaker was done, we got lunch and then had the next 7ish hours to wander the park.
Wandering inside the park was a lot of fun even though I hadn't slept the night before really and I was sick, but I still really enjoyed it even though I probably looked like I was sleeping. Being able to interact and just watch people today that I knew was awesome. Watching a bunch of college guys on the bumper cars, looking at peoples' roller coaster pictures, looking at orangutans, running out of the snake area, and just learning about animals makes me so happy. The simple things are sometimes the best things. I didn't have to be at Busch Gardens to be having fun though...I could be in an almost empty room and have fun with people..I mean have you ever hear of toothless vegetable!
Stepping back and remembering the simple things is hard sometimes, but those are sometimes the things that mean the most.
Someone telling me they like my pearls or my shoes, or I look at peace or am calm or I have a good joke...it's stuff that I don't notice really..but it's awesome to hear. So thanks God for people such awesome people and experiences in my life..

Peace,
Erica Jean

Falling in the water--PRAISE GOD!

So this morning...
1. I missed my 8am class.
2. I couldn't find my flip flops, so I put on my $3 WalMart shower flip flops.
3. I was running late for my painting class and on the way to my class I fell in the courtyard because the pavement was wet.
4. I broke my shower shoes when I fell.
5. I was late to class.
6. I am sick.
7. PRAISE GOD!

What I think about each of those things:

1. No big deal...I'll figure it out...and I got extra needed sleep.
2. My shower flip flops are Teal-ish..cool color!
3. It gave my jeans some character because they got darker because of the water.
4. I get to get a new color shower shoe and I got a reason to walk around barefoot.
5. Only 10 minutes.
6. It gives me a reason to sleep.
7. Praise God!

This week has been phenomenal. I have barely gotten any sleep, but I gained 16 new, amazing, beautiful sisters because of it. I missed something I probably should have gone to, but I got to be somewhere else and it helped me relax and just laugh for awhile.
Everything we think is bad or sets us back really has something good come out of it..with every no, there's a bigger yes!

-Erica Jean