A dry summer's day...

The wind is unyielding and it seems like a very hot blowtorch is with your every step when walking outside. Forget running or even slightly exercising. Death, let alone a heat stroke would surely catch you. Believe me. I lasted all of 5 sec one day.... never to pursue  getting fit "outside" again.

My new summer romance is this little, lovable, blond haired boy... that I babysit! Yes never knew so much love could come from someone this young and adorable (: 

Of course this would clearly be awesome if he was actually my age, and someone who could hold me and not vice versa. But you can't complain the way the gifts of love are sent to you from God. Thanks for this little sly smile (and occasional cry).  Definitely a keeper!! 

So the first week back home I was waiting for you. But you were no where to be found. I figured classes were out and you should be waiting on the doorstep as I pulled into the gravel driveway back home. Nope. Utter disappointment when a week later I still couldn't put a finger on you. Yep YOU darn ole summer were no summer at all. "Being a child at home alone in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour, she can hurt you." -Erma Bombeck Maybe that was just it. I have not been home in so long and I have yet to have a summer already planned for me so it would be normal for me to feel lost and out of place in what should be a relaxing summer at home. But wait I have a life. And that life consists of cramming as much stuff into my day as utterly possible. Wow I really can not be happy with just a spare moment gathering my thoughts!


Blogging, scrapbooking, Pinteresting, Reading, and trying discover simple yummy recipes are the new goals for the month of July. Oh wait thats also tagged onto a job taking a summer school class. Yep perfect chemistry of having no spare time. Thank you summer for showing up again (:

Life's Story

....and then there was last week. The week that I will always remember as the "set back week" of my college career. Fact is there are probably a few more of these yet to come. Yes indeed I just wanted to throw up my hands and give up. Really. I never give up on anything.


.... and then there came a breath of fresh air and the realization that these are just trials. A friend tells me that "We are in his hands. He will give us the mindset to persevere." Yes I can persevere. But why do I always have to get to the point of giving up to realize that things were not in my hands to begin with. How quickly I forget I am yours. Wake up call. Get it together call. Giving it all up to Him call. He really is there for me, for us.

God never meant for us to be in control, We were created to live like little children, dependent on the care of our heavenly Father. 

I can not live in fear of what is next.... because being fearful shuts me off and I am not able to just listen. I have to be patient and know that the greater good is working in my favor.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am hopeful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it is painful

But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident 

Takeing every step in obedience
I will serve You

While I'm waiting

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They make me feel BEAUTIFUL and like I am one of a kind.

The heartfelt counsel  

of a friend is as sweet as perfume  and incense 

Proverbs 27:9

"When we consider the blessings of God- the gifts that add beauty and joy in our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering- friendship is very near the top."

Note to self: Just Breath. 

Keep running his way....

He has so much in store for us, so keep running his way.

His love overshadows our smallest doubts, so keep running his way.

He wants to fix your hurts, so keep running his way.

basically God is Awesome... so keep running his way!!

"The Lord, your God, who goes before you, 

will himself fight for you.."

[Deuteronomy 1:30]

To the God who pursues me even on my worst days, 

THANK YOU.

To the Father who understands that I still have faults, 

THANK YOU.

To the Protecter who can help me win the biggest of battles, 

THANK YOU.

To the Father who gives me the smallest things to 

let me know that I am loved, wanted, and beautiful, 

THANK YOU!

AMEN!

I just really felt like being simple. As much as this week has already been hectic and crazy and as much as I have blown things out of proportion and unnecessarily  worried, I keep coming back to the fact that I will be ok. Oh the trials and tribulations of life! Really. My mission this week- " Do not to worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself." [Matthew 6:34] Thanks Kels (:

God's Love makes life so simple.

It is Friday night, the eve of Spring Break, and I am reflecting on this past week. In short words: the week=overwhelming, the love of God=my medicine to keep pushing on. Needless to say, its a matter of taking it one thing at a time and not stressing because in the end it always seems to work out. Funny how that is. Life is simple. And that is what God's love helps us to see.

I love how God speaks to us. As a father, friend,lover, and savior.

(I stole this from one of my dear friends Miss Kaitlyn Shaffner's blog. She has a way with simplicity in a powerful way. Thanks girl.)

The one thing I would like to say is that we are never alone. It is that perfect song on the radio at the exact time we need to hear it, or it is that confidence walking into a test we suddenly gain out of nowhere. He constantly shows us he is around. If we could just let him in half the time how much more direct we could feel his arms around us.
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On another note, I came off of one of the best weekends any one could be a part of. Thats right  the combination of God+LOVE happened at Aggie Awakening #91. What touched me the most was the people I got to share it with.


Yep shout out to Table #15!!!  (:  Its so nice to share brothers and sisters in christ. 

Prayer and Sacrifice can tough souls 

much better than words.

-thank you St. Therese of Lisieux 

Take heart and just smile!

Shadows.

This last week and a half has been so off balanced that it has been hard not to just throw in the towel. I had to drop all plans of going to see my family for a few days at the Stockshow and make a last minute trip home for the unexpected funeral of a beloved Ag teacher, mentor and friend. That was rough and very heartbreaking. I  lost what was a great start to my daily devotionals and have not found the time I have wanted to be "creative" and just let loose. There has almost been this overbearing shadow in the way of all that I want to accomplish and it seems to be blocking my happy and motivated emotional state. It takes a lot to hide my smile and most of the time I tell myself I am being ridiculous and can snap out of it . But there just seems to be that shadow again.....


That is when I actually came across this quote today by Helen Keller- "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow". Yes I was making it hard to see this very simple concept that could have saved me days ago. Our plans are going to miscarry and nothing is easy in life (especially resolutions!) but it is how we handle the setbacks that get us ahead to where we want to be. I think I just kept waiting, anticipating, having these expectations that things were automatically just going to snap into place and that I was somehow going to be ideal overnight. 


"If you want to make God laugh tell him your plans" and sure enough I don't doubt that he was smirking a bit but he did put me in my place. Yes he did. He has made me realize that I am going to have to rely on him a weee bit more than what I was if I am to see what he has in store. I have to imagine his love and plan. I have to believe in his love and plan. And I have to pursue his love and plan. I am looking toward the sunshine now!

Renewed

Renew. We all know that it is still the start of a new year and hopefully the start of a new belief or even a chain of events that finally go your way. Renew.... but what does it really mean? By the dictionary's definition it is to exhilarate, mend, start over. I certainly need to mend a few things and I can honestly say I need to start over in others. But I really want to focus on a few words that "renew" brings to mind. These are three resolutions I really want to pursue and become more involved in. Sometime I feel as if success isn't always measured by what you can put on your resume, what connections you might gain or even how well you accomplish that day to day tasks. I believe it is finding ways to add to your personal growth that make you more of an ideal person to be around.


I want to restore to a greater level, my love and patience for what God's plan is for me by starting a daily devotional and lifting a different person up each week.
I want to revive my appreciation for the beauty that surrounds me and share stories of the beauty I see in other's lives as well as my own.
And I want to replenish my favorite hobbies of scrapbooking, taking pictures, and being creative.


Three goals that I have for this year and three words that go hand in hand to "renew" and achieve that personal growth I am looking for.


Roughly 42 weeks and 329 days left. I can do this by your GRACE God.