SICK

Yes, I am sick.  As in, stuffy/runny nose, sore throat, entire body aching, wishing-I-was-in-bed sick.  Ugh.  But I came to work, because I'm a faithful employee (and part-time means if I don't come to work, I don't get paid).  Yet, all I want to do is go back to bed.

So, to take my mind off the fact that I'm not feeling too good, I want to praise God for the things He has done/is doing in my life.  Ready?  I thought so :)

First of all, I want to thank Him for my family!

Me with my nephew, Liam, and my niece, Bella, at Disney for my 25th birthday :)

Me, Mom, my brother-in-law (Matt), my nephew (Liam), my niece (Bella), my grandma, and my sister (Jessica) in New Mexico this past March.

Me, my two sisters (Jessica and Sara), my Mom, and my niece and nephew in church last year :)

My cousin, Jennifer, her daughter, Bailey, and I at our family reunion in Marietta, SC at the beginning of July 2013.

Next, I want to thank Him for my closest friends :)

Me, Hannah, and Amy :)

Me, Stephanie, and Amy :)

Dakota, Amy, and Me...I hang out with Amy a lot :P

And finally, I want to thank Him for Tyler :)

We take silly photos together :)

We hug a lot.  This is us, hugging.  Without hair.  Or clothes.  Or noses.

I am thankful for so many other things, but these are the people God has put in my life to bless me beyond measure.  Thank you, Lord! :)

Writing

For those of you who know me (I mean, really know me), you know I like to write.  I just have a big problem with laziness, procrastination, and finishing things I start.

FOR EXAMPLE, there are at least 2 writing projects I have started and 2 I would like to start.  My question to YOU is: which one should I give my attention to at present?

1. Camp Tandy - fictional story based on my summer as a counselor at Camp Gilead (I have about 4 chapters written)
2. The I.T.D.S. - a fictional Sci-Fi story about a boy, a girl, and meeting in the girl's dreams (that's all I'm saying about that right now - but I am at the beginning of Chapter 2)
3. An adult choose your own adventure book! - I've never written one, but it can't be that hard, right?!
4. A devotional book - I don't have a format in my mind yet, but this is something I have briefly thought about before

Also, instead of focusing on any of these, I could go back and work on typing out my many previous journal entries, songs, and poems...

So what do you guys think? Opinions, please!

Office Grind

People often ask me, "So, what do you do at the church?"

I get to work at 9:00 (if you round by 15 minute intervals.)
I check the mail (if the grass is not to high or dewy.)
I listen to voicemail (unless the phone is blessedly silent when I pick up the receiver.)
I read through emails (MOST of them are professional, anyway.)
I answer the phone (and random questions such as: what is so-and-so's phone number; where does Mr. Such-and-such live?)
I call various hospitals (for updates on members who are visiting for some reason or another.)
I update ACS (our church directory.)
I proofread the bulletin (for every prayer service and Sunday Morning/Evening service, adding and taking away announcements as needed.)
I type up visitor letters (copy and paste is my best friend.)
I change the order of service (and make up powerpoint for the Sunday morning songs.)
I copy, I print, I cut, I fold, I call, I speak, I sit, I walk, I greet.
I eat lunch at 11:00 (early enough so my boss can take her lunch when I get back.)
I go home at around 4:00 (or later, if my day is super busy.)

These are my days at the church.

Last Blog Post of 2012 (Most Likely)

Wow!  This year has flown by fast!  I can't believe I've only written 7 posts this whole year, and last year, I wrote almost 7 times that many!!

A lot has happened in my life this year.  Some notable events:
1) I am 30 pounds lighter than I was in January (yay!)
2) I now work as a receptionist at Faith Baptist Church on MWF, and I love it!
3) I work as a babysitter for 3 adorable children and their parents (well, obviously, I don't babysit the parents; just the kids).
4) I am approximately $2,500 more in debt than I was in January (But I have completed 4 more classes toward my Masters degree!)
5) This summer, I took an intensive toward my degree program at Liberty University, and it challenged my view on my expectations in life and in relationships.  Praise God for His conviction and teaching power!!
6) I joined a band!  It's a Christian Rock group called Boomarang Trip.  I love it!  (I wanna see!)
7) I've made a lot of friends this year, and gotten closer to some old ones as well!  Some names that come to mind: Stephanie Short, Tim Kittelstad, Amy Hiebert, Chase Riner, Luke Alcala, Elvis Le, Tyler Volpe, Beka Leonard, and Rachel Leonard.
8) My BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD, Hannah Osborne, is now Hannah Hancock, as of this past May.  Yesssssss :)
9) I have been writing music lately, and I'm in the process of learning guitar!
10) I got a NEW CAR!  No more Buick Century clunker!  I am now sporting a Chrysler Sebring!

Those are just a few things that I'm praising and thanking God for!  He is SO GOOD!

Quiet Night, Raucous Thoughts

(Originally written as a Note on Facebook on Saturday, October 6, 2012, at 10:39 pm)

My mind is everywhere tonight. I am sitting in a virtual stranger's house, babysitting two extremely beautiful children who are asleep, and I didn't bring a book to read so I'm at odds as to what to do. So, of course, I initially Facebook stalk people. Which led me to my friend Kelly Ann's most recent blog post, which was beautiful to read. And then I thought, "When was the last time I posted a blog?" So I figured I'd write a note that showed my heart and what's been going on inside it lately - hopefully this does just that, and God uses it to, in some way, bring glory to Himself. Because that's what my life should be all about. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

*deep breath*

Okay, so, as many of you who know me already know (haha, are you lost yet?), many of my friends as of late have been getting married or engaged. Which makes sense, because it's about that time in my life where friends will do that; I'm just at that age. But God never cites a specific age for finding THE ONE; it's in His timing, which is vastly different from mine. So anyway, friends getting engaged and married - check. And how do you think this made me feel?....sorry, I mean, how do you think I initially reacted to this? Like a spoiled brat. "God, why can't I get married like everyone else? Why am I still single? Why haven't I found THE ONE yet? WHYYYYYY?!" ...you get the picture. Now that I think back on it, it's kind of embarrassing...

So this was my attitude. And I was getting more and more frustrated with the "LACK" of attention I was receiving from the opposite sex; I was finding everything to blame it on - such as guys being "shallow," other girls being more "aggressive" and "flirty" than I was... dumb stuff. My heart was growing ugly and bitter. So foul.

I went to do my intensive up at Liberty this summer, and God COMPLETELY wrecked my heart and my emotions with the realization that I was being INCREDIBLY SINFUL, PETTY, AND BRATTY. I was SO focused on my discontentment that I was fully missing everything that God was trying to do in my life. Praise God, just like He brought me out of my most recent ungodly relationship, He brought me out of my most recent ungodly nonrelationship. (That may not make sense to you, but it makes sense to me.)

When I came back from my intensive, my attitude had totally changed. It was definitely a work of God and not of myself, because it was miraculous. I felt so free and light and amazing. But my flesh and the Enemy had other plans. A few weeks ago, I started to grow discontent once more. I began to desire to settle for right now and satisfy my fleshly longing to be in a relationship rather than continue to serve God and patiently wait.

Sometimes I really despise the word PATIENCE. It is not a fruit of the Spirit that comes naturally to me. Which, when you think about it, is a weird statement to make, because none of the fruits of the Spirit are natural, that's why they come from the Spirit and not ourselves. But I think out of all the things that the Spirit supplies me with, I quench patience the most.

So anyway, I began to get impatient. And grow discontent. And, just like He always does, God used His Word and the Spirit and fellow believers in my life to hold up the mirror and show me my UGLY. Praise God. Even though it's hard...especially in the quiet, lonely times (like right now)...God is good. And He has given me so many defenses against my deceitful heart, my flesh, and the Enemy.

Once again, God focused my gaze on what matters most in life, which is NOT ME BEING HAPPY. That should not be my life goal. God forbid I should EVER forsake all else to pursue my own wants in lieu of what God wants. What matters most in life is that I GLORIFY GOD WITH ALL THAT IS IN ME. That I seek to be conformed to His image. Because His image is the original. Mine is just the copy. And I am but dust. God, fill me with more of You, because I long to respond to You...You won't relent (Praise God!)...great is Thy faithfulness. So many songs are coming to mind right now. I think I will go praise you through music. :)

Blue Crush & Failure to Launch

I recently bought the movies Blue Crush and Failure to Launch.

I watched Blue Crush a few days ago, and I'm watching Failure to Launch now. I forgot how funny/awesome these movies are!!!

Let's start with Blue Crush. 5 reasons why I love that movie so much:

1) It has surfing. The crash of waves. The awesome special effects that actually make it look like the actors are surfing. They all add up to equal amazing-ness! I mean, it makes me feel more fit just by watching it ;)

2) It has snarky girls in it. They're sassy, and they crack me up. Although, there are times in the movie when I want to smack the youngest one, Penny, upside the head, because she's being such a brat...

3) It has HILARIOUS football players in it! There's a scene where they're getting surfing lessons from the girls, and it makes me laugh every time. :)

4) It actually has a plot. I hate movies that try to be hip/funny, yet they don't actually have a plot. Lame. Also, the girls all work in a hotel, so it kinda has a Maid in Manhattan element to it which I LOVE.

5) And last but not least, it has - THE GUY FROM LEGALLY BLONDE!!! And he's GREAT in this movie. He makes me sigh in happiness =D


So there you go. I know it might be completely shallow and superficial, but I love the movie Blue Crush.

Now onto Failure to Launch. Granted, there are scenes with bad language and sexual innuendo/nudity, but what PG-13 movie doesn't have that? Also, if you know where the scenes are, you can FFWD! Novel idea, right? Ok, now for the 10 reasons I love the movie Failure to Launch (Yes, 10 reasons. Don't hate me because I'm beautiful):

1) The paintball scene - it's my FAVORITE scene in the whole movie. Don't ask me why; it just cracks me up when I'm watching it. The guys are such guys in it (Bradley Cooper is a genius, and that nerd guy they hang out with is so cute and adorable). Sarah Jessica Parker and Zooey Deschanel are brilliant in this scene as well.

2) I love the fact that every time they are in nature, Matthew McConaughey (sp?) somehow gets attacked by some form of wildlife - a squirrel, a dolphin, a lizard - every time, the other two guys are so chill about it. Haha!

3) The parents - you know the ones I mean. Kathy Bates and...that guy from Coach? They are comedic gold in this movie! In one of the scenes, his mom tells him to clean the bathroom and do a load of laundry. When she walks out, the guys are like, "Dude, something's wrong with your mom..." So. Funny. Oh, and the dad tries to set up a "naked room" in the house. Inspired/creepy.

4) The mini-love story between Zooey Deschanel and Matthew's nerdy friend. They bond over shooting a mocking bird with a BB gun. Their relationship is adorable in a geeky/awkward way.

5) The scene where their friends stick them in a room together, tie Matthew McConaughey up, and record them fighting/making up on video for his parents and an entire coffee shop to see. Cracks me up every time.

6) Zooey Deschanel in and of herself. She's so sarcastic. I love it.

7) The nerdy friend in and of himself. I just want to pinch his cheeks, he's so cute!

8) The activities that the three guys do together. Paintball. Mountain biking. Rock climbing. And last but not least, yoga. The most random, and my favorite, activity of all :)

9) Um...I forget the last two, but....

10) I love this movie! (And I didn't want to end on 8. That's just tacky.)

Well, that's it. Hope you enjoyed my superficial/shallow movie critiques of the day! Later!

Spring Cleaning

Today was an amazing day and also a heart-breaking day.

Pastor Osborne delivered two incredible sermons today, but the message he brought tonight (technically, last night) was profound. He used spring cleaning as a metaphor. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul alluded to the "spring cleaning" Israel had to do by finding all their leaven and removing it from their homes. For those who don't know what leaven is (and I really didn't until tonight), leaven is leftover dough that ferments and can spoil the rest of the dough if used.

So anyway, Pastor Osborne compared that to us and how we need to confess our sins and renew our hearts DAILY. He said that "it is harder to get your life clean than to keep it clean." That is so true. I have experienced it over and over again in my life.

When I don't stay in the word and confess specific sins DAILY to God, I become a hoarder of sin and laziness in my heart. Eventually, there's not even room to walk through the pathways of my heart, because they're so cluttered with meaningless distractions and "small" sins that I've become desensitized to because I haven't confessed them. When I finally become convicted to actually "catch up" and "get back to where I used to be," it's a HUGE struggle to overcome.

D        A        I          L        Y.

That's a word I struggle with, because I'm so undisciplined and lazy. I create plans all the time to get in the Word and spend time with God, but it falls apart after a few days. Every time. And I'm left feeling hopeless and defeated. Every time.

Let me take a break from talking about that really quick and go somewhere else. For the past month and a half, I've been on a "healthy eating plan," "lifestyle change," or "healthy food regimen"...whatever you want to call it. I've been telling myself for the longest time that I need to lose weight, but I finally had to buckle down, decide what foods I could and could not eat, and commit to it. It takes a DAILY (there's that word again!) decision to deny myself bread, pastas, and other high-carb or high-sugar foods and instead choose to eat the foods that are good to my body and not just good to my taste buds. Sometimes I want to cheat. There are days where I eat a cookie...or a piece of bread...or...fill in the blank. But then I envision the end goal once again. I am determined to be at a certain place by December, so I will stick to what I'm doing in order to attain that goal.

Okay, so let's go back to the whole DAILY discipline devotions thing. Same concept, right? I just need to "begin with the end in mind" as it were. Where do I want to be? And how do I get there? Answer: I want to be at His feet, following in His steps, IN HIS WILL. I get there by DAILY deciding to spend time in His Word and talking to Him...confessing my sins.


I never want to get to a place where I can't recognize sin in my life. I never want to be living in sin and moral filth and consider myself to be in a "close and loving relationship with God." I found out something about a missionary in my church tonight that broke my heart. He is being blinded to sin by Satan and his own selfish heart, and he still considers himself to be serving God.

Please Lord...

                                                                                                                                ...change his heart.

And help me find and remove the leaven from mine.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8