November

so the month of November is where i got to show Sean off and introduce him to almost everyone. here are some pictures of mine and Sean's adventures during his stay here in Birmingham:

our first picture together.
eating breakfast at chikfila in atlanta after picking Sean from the ATL airport.


us trick or treating with the Long family.

tailgating at LSU v UA game.

i got to take him around downtown b'ham for a little bit. one place Sloss Furnaces.


Katelyn & Marc's rehearsal dinner.

Katelyn & Marc's wedding. (11/11/11)


hanging out at my aunt's house after weekend full of weddings. when i mean full, i mean 3 weddings. we were a little exhausted.



so i finally got my tattoo that i have wanted for 3 years. it says "kalos" meaning "beauty" in Greek. It is based from my favorite Bible verse, Song of Solomon 4:7.



me and socks, sean's cat. his cats are huge! i got meet them over Thanksgiving.


this is our first black friday adventure at walmart. waiting by the wireless printers at 8:30 pm. naturally, we make silly faces.


we got the printer. we actually got 4. one for me & the rest for his mother. they were gifts.


this is me waiting to pay at midnight & waiting for his mom to come the walmart we were at. we had a fun experience on black friday. it was a little crazy but fun.

well i hope you enjoyed a little bit of these pictures. only having one month together was harder than i thought. trying to squeeze a bunch of things in one month is not easy. but i can't wait for us to be in one city so we can really start our life together. so stay posted on our adventures together :D

how we met :)

so it has been a long while since i have updated my blog. one reason is because the news i wanted to share, i had to keep quiet until November.
well here is the reason:
i now have a boyfriend! :D
many of you know that we have been talking for a while but for those who don't know here is the story of how we met:
Sean is a part of a traveling ministry called the American Awakening with Tommie Zito Ministries. they go to churches all over the country to share the gospel by training churches how they can do this on a daily basis & make it a lifestyle. they have come to my church a few times now.
this past july, the team was here. on their last day at my church, i decided to go out on the streets with them to witness. i had been struggling whether to go or not; well i decided to go at the last minute. after a few minutes of me getting there Sean walks up to me & starts talking to me. He starts to talk about my water bottle. I have an IHOP water bottle that i basically take everywhere. then we start to get paired up with a team member to go out onto the streets. as my turn was coming up, Sean yells to Ryan, "i want her!" in front of everyone. so while i'm walking towards him, i am thinking, "today is going to be interesting... and fun." i was already nervous to talk to strangers about Jesus and that made it a little worse.
we go to the bus station in dowtown Birmingham with a few other people. Sean and i talked to a few people but we mainly talked to each other trying to get to know each other. we then proceed to the Galleria (because it was cooler) to talk to more people. Sean and i only talked to one person! we mainly walked around to all the stores showing each other what we like.
we get back to the church to eat lunch. Sean and i get our food from the kitchen and walk to the choir room. as we are walking to the choir room, he tells me that he thinks i'm attractive & that he likes me. i basically said the same thing :D
from that moment we have been talking every day.
he spent the whole month of November in Birmingham. we went three whole months without seeing each other from that day we met until Halloween. needless to say, i am one happy girl and i'm so thankful to have a man who fears the Lord and loves Him with his whole heart. God could not have brought him at a better time nor in a better way. i enjoy how the Lord is so unpredictable and everything truly works in His timing. God is good.

frames, frames, frames

another obsession i have... frames! i love frames! i love how people place them and re-use them. thank you pinterest for giving me ideas.
so enjoy these pictures!

Who are you?

Something i have been thinking about is one's image.
i was on the phone with a friend and the words that were told to me were this, "you were/are a goody-goody." i immediately told that friend to not call me that because it has a negative connotation. then i realized that our society needs to change that statement/identification into a positive meaning.
i was a goody-goody in high school & in college (i tried to not be for a little while). i don't regret it because the decisions i have made have brought me to where i am today: serving as a high school leader in my local church and being able to travel the world. my life goal is to remain pure at heart and follow the Lord with every cell in my body.
so why do we not want to be a goody-goody? i have an idea. when i was in high school, i wanted a "cool testimony" by having conquered struggles. however, one thing i have learned as i have grown in my walk is that we don't have to go through certain struggles to have a testimony. if we want the likeness of Jesus then we need to follow His example. easier said than done, i know. We all struggle with different things but i want my students to know that it is okay if they have no desire to date or party. it is okay that you haven't had your first kiss, it is wonderful that you have never dated and you are only 16! i'm 23 going on 24 and never have been in a relationship. i was 19 when i had my first kiss and i don't regret that. i do wish i have waited for my first kiss but we learn by the decisions that we make. the purity testimony needs to encouraged by our fellow churches. we need to explain what it means to be pure and why it is so important. we need to tell these kids that being pure is accepted in our society. we need to break the skewed vision of this world. I pray for purity to be released on this earth.

Blessed are the PURE in heart, for they shall SEE God.
Matthew 5:8

I want to see God and i am willing to stay the goody-goody & have my identity in God.
are you willing?

Psalm 25

My prayer for today:

A Psalm of David.

¹ To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
³ Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

⁴ Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

⁶ Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.

⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
⁹ The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

¹² Who is the man that fears the LORD?
Him shall He^[a] teach in the way He^[b] chooses.
¹³ He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴ The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
¹⁷ The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
¹⁹ Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
²⁰ Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.

²² Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all their troubles!

puzzle

i want this cookie cutter so i make some fun cookies and put writing on them. i think that would be so much fun! and also do this with kids to help them learn Bible verses or have for name places for parties. i will be buying this soon. :D

august

i cannot believe it is already august. this year has flown by so far.
to start off this month right, i took a very short trip to the beach to visit kendall + fam in gulf shores. it was a great couple of days to just relax and not have to worry about anything. i also love her family.

i then went to visit my dad in the same week. i was asked by his pastor to come speak on my trip to Kenya. i was a little nervous only because i did not know what to really say and if i really to prepare something. i just gave it to the Lord and got up there and spoke whatever the Lord laid on my heart. speaking on a trip where your life is changed is really hard put into words. i forgot stories that i wanted to mention but i didn't want to take up the whole service since the pastor was going to speak but i really enjoyed going and speaking. the best part of the whole weekend and that day was hearing my stepmom telling me that my dad started to cry as i was speaking. nothing feels better than making your parent proud. it was a good day.

today, i'm heading to columbia, south carolina to visit my sister and brother-in-law. i'm pretty excited! i haven't been up there yet and i get to see the bar/restaurant that they just opened last weekend! it's going to be a good weekend. lots of cooking and baking. you all need to check out her blog: Modern Day Housewife.

i hope it's this pretty this afternoon as i drive.

kenya

here are a few pics from Kenya.
enjoy!

Phillipians

rambling thoughts

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
-Psalm 16:11

i'm loving life right now. i've been reading this verse over and over this week. although i do not know where God is going to take me next but i know that i can trust Him. always acknowledging Him in everyday life really helps me know that He is in control. I am just a willing vessel waiting to be used. i know that i'm not always ready but i thank Him for His grace and mercy on my life. the Lord is doing something good in my life right now. i can't wait to see where i will go or do next in this new season.

Lord, guide me with your righteous, right hand.

from kenya to kentucky

it has seriously been a crazy month for me. i have to been to Kenya and then two weeks after i got back, i went to Kentucky.

Kenya was amazing. it was beautiful and peaceful. i honestly did not want to leave. my heart is not necessarily for Africa but a child of any age has my heart. i wanted to stay with them. i did not miss a single thing in America and i honestly believe that i am capable of being a full time missionary if God called me to it. I know that is not my calling but i am learning to do what the Lord wants me to do in the present time. i don't want to miss anything. there are so many stories i could tell you from Kenya but i will not write them all on here but as i think of some to share, i will do so here. i also blogged while we were over there on the Restoration Ministries website. you can view there if you want to know a little bit more on our trip.

Kentucky is a beautiful place. I went with Fuel Student Ministries to Kentucky Church of God Youth Camp. i absolutely loved it. i never think i would to do ministry at a camp but i really enjoyed this one. i didn't get to interact with the campers that much but just praying for them and for my students blessed me so much. The Lord we serve is so good. we definitely had some trials but the Lord reigned and i continually encouraged my kids to let go of their frustrations so they can serve with a servant's heart. i also had to give my frustrations to the Lord because those kids drove me nuts sometimes but we can't serve unless we are right with the Lord. The Lord moved so much at this camp. we were the young teens and these are the most troubled kids. they may have behavioral issues but i didn't see it; however, they come from families who are not good to them. i loved being with them. The Lord is so good. I'm in awe of the work i got to do for the Lord. I give all of the glory to Him.

peace!!!

i leave for Kenya in the morning!!!
today, i got to spend my morning in worship and prayer with some of my wonderful friends from church. afterward, my best friend and her little sis came and spent the day with me. they helped me get my last minute shopping done (i got a bunch of snacks) and pack. it was a low-key day which is what i love about my friends. we are so laid back. tonight, i ended my day with worship and prayer with some of my other friends that live in Moody. waffle house was a great end as well.

i'm so full of the Lord's joy that i can't contain it! it's wonderful! i'm so excited to leave tomorrow and ready! a day with the Lord will definitely prepare you. i love you guys and i hope i get to post on here; if not, go to www.restoration-ministries.com to keep posted on our adventures.

see ya in two weeks!

Come away with Me

My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

As i prepare for Kenya, i consistently ask the Lord if I am truly ready to go. "Am I prepared? I am not prepared." I have been going to a Song of Solomon Bible study these last few weeks. We studied this passage above this week. it was explained to me that the Lord, our beloved, is calling us to come out of our comfort zone. He is asking us to come with Him to go on this adventure with Him. He does not want us to recoil in fear and yet we do when He wants us to do something new. I have been in this waiting period and now it is time to do something radical. this is new and Kenya will be a start for a new season. I cannot wait to see where He will take me in our journey together. i'm ready to run with Him and for Him. Are you?

love is in air, it's everywhere!

so my other best friend got engaged today!
i absolutely adore her and her now fiance. their story is so unique and wonderful. the Lord definitely put them together and writing their love story. i am so excited for the two of them and their marriage!
love you christy and jeremiah!

weddings, weddings, weddings

How i love weddings!

within two weeks, two of my close friends got married. they were both gorgeous weddings too. both weddings were inspired with antiques and the vintage style. (will post more pics if requested)

first one: Bethany & Shaun (April 30,2011)
Bethany and i have known each other since she was three and i was five. we met at church and have been close since (for the most part). Shaun and i have known each other since i was two and him 3 (i guess). His mom babysat me and my sister. we went to a different church together. they met in high school and it was really weird to see two different worlds come together but i'm so glad they met and finally got married!

second one: Heather & Ryan (May 14,2011)
Heather and i went to Alabama together and met in the Social Work Department. a fun friendship we have. She is a great friend and we planned all of our classes together and had weekly dinners with some other friends. I was honored to be in her wedding and i adored her antique decor.

I truly enjoy weddings. it is always wonderful to see how the Lord unites people that are compatible for each other. i can't wait to see who i will marry. it will be so exciting!
i am so thankful to have Jesus as my Husband. I am His bride and i seriously can't wait to see who He has, for me, as my earthly husband.

two extremes

so it has been a crazy month in alabama. tornado season. today my former school was hit terribly by the tornado. my heart hurts for my friends that still live there and for all the people who lost their houses. here are a few pictures:
the apartment complex i lived in my senior year of college


these next two pictures are of 15th street. 15th street had a bunch of restaurants where a bunch of students would eat and it was one of the main roads to get to the University.

there are more pictures that people have been posting but you get the point of the devastation. so please pray for the city of tuscaloosa and for the state of Alabama.

on a much lighter note here is my announcement:
that's right!! i'm going to AFRICA this summer in June. more info to come soon :D

i'm so blessed to be going and i really need prayer of protection and guidance for this trip. also be praying for guidance and that i would be obedient with my walk with the Lord. some changes will be happening soon in my life.

love you guys!

i've been learning so much with my relationship with the Lord. i have realized that i am so blessed and i will continue to tell myself that because it is speaking truth to myself. i've realized that i am truly loved by my Father, His Son/my Husband, and by His Holy Spirit. it's such a comforting thought.

speaking of love... two of my best friends got engaged a little over a week ago. i can honestly say that i am so excited for them and that we are all still friends. the three of us have been through so much with different things that we have experienced together and/or separately. it is a blessing to have them in my life for so long! congrats you two :D

so i have made a decision that is basically life changing. i'm really excited but i also do not feel like the Lord has released me to tell more than a few people. unfortunately, those who read this and do not already know will have to wait until i can tell the virtual world. it's going to be great and i can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do but i completely trust Him with everything that i have!

love you guys!

compelled by love

As our hearts become pure, our vision becomes clearer. -Heidi Baker



so i recommend this book. Compelled by Love by Heidi Baker. I knew very little of what this book is about until i bought and started reading it. it is about the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. this book is very sobering and it challenges me to want to live like she does in Africa but in Birmingham. i really admire her because through out the book she continues to talk about the simplicity of Love. I honestly believe that people forget the God's love so simple and so easy to accept. I know i do sometimes.

The quote above has really stood out to me as i read this book. I am not finished with it yet but i just really love focusing on certain things she says. i love to really meditate on what she says to see if i am really doing what the Bible says to do. She explains how to live the beatitudes really easily but yet it is so hard to accomplish. especially in america.

So go get this book! be challenged and encouraged by this book. it really gives you a new perspective on life.

have a great day!! Be blessed!

all over the place...

so here is my monthly update:

work has continued to be super stressful and with my dear friend leaving and getting a job elsewhere, i have been struggling. she has only been gone for a week and a half now but i have been miserable at work. last week (the first week of march), i worked five days which is roughly between 55-60 hours. some of you may be used to that but i am definitely not and it was so hard to optimistic and joyful for the Lord. my workplace is very dark place spiritually and being the one of a few people who actually love the Lord it is easily to get lost in the midst of the chaos.

one thing i did learn last week being by myself for the whole week, as a believer, is that i am still His vessel. It was made very clear to me last Friday. We always hear about being the Lord's vessel and being obedient. I am pretty sure i was not always obedient last week but i was miserable all last week and exhausted. i go to our monthly young adults' dinner at my spiritual parents house. one of my dear friends and i got there at the same time. as he greeted me, he told that i always have a great smile and always full of joy! it was so comforting to hear that with the week that i just had. the Lord just made it clear to me with that statement... that even though i am miserable where i am He is still using me even when i don't see it clearly. i was so encouraged that night being with all of my lovely friends who love the Lord. I am so blessed to have all of them in my life.

this week at work has been a little better. my coworkers do not understand me at all. i kind of like it considering that it is very evident that they need Jesus. i am close to two other coworkers but one of them loves the Lord, like me. After one night we got off, we just stood in the parking lot just talking about everything in our lives and just encouraged each other. She is amazing. she encouraged me even more. i am so blessed! anyways, i told my coworkers last night that i am going on a trip this weekend with a bunch of high school/middle school kids. they asked if the people were desperate in taking me (in a jokingly manner). i told them no and that i was super excited to be with my kiddos.... i am really excited! the Lord is good and he puts these kids in my life for a reason and i am very thankful to be their leader. :D

so with all that has been said in this post today, i have learned that in the midst of all chaos i have endured, i am so blessed! He has blessed me with great friends, i got free tickets to see Ben Rector & Steve Moakler a few weeks ago and a free ticket to see Hillsong United on Tuesday. He has just overwhelmed me with everything He has done for me.

Biblegateway.com verse of the day:

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9

have you been disciplined recently?

it's been a stressful week in my world. work has been crazy this week with seeing over 70 patients each day that i have worked. so, i'm very grateful that i have today off. i have been able to rest, a little bit, and just take my time with everything i do. i like to have an agenda and get things done but when i'm off work, i realize how exhausted i am and i just want to rest. i wonder if God does that to me on purpose... to teach how to rest, because i honestly don't know how to do that very well. but i'm trying...

on another note, i have been reading a One Year Devotional book. all the youth leaders received one as a Christmas gift. it has been a blessing for me to read it everyday. i don't get much time in the mornings to read my Bible so reading this book has helped me start my day off right. God is so good and i get to accept his grace, love, and mercy every morning when i read each verse of the day. here is one verse that really stuck out to me this week:

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (NKJ)

a couple of weekends ago i went on a retreat with the young adults group from my church. i had a great time. i seriously love the group of people the Lord has brought to my church for this new season. it really is an answer to prayer and a blessing. i tell them all the time too. anyways, we had a great time but i was not able to spend hardly any alone time with the Lord. after we got home and got back into my somewhat work routine, i felt ashamed. i felt guilty for not making time to spend with Him over the weekend and it took me days to really let that go. i really came to terms with my guilt and shame when i read these two verses. i need to be disciplined for not spending time with Him when i have time too. these verses are actually comforting to me. As we let Him discipline us, we then let Him mold us into His image. Then, once we are shaped in the liking of Jesus we start to become like Him. His light and love comes through us and His glory is shown through us. i absolutely love how the Lord wants to mold and shape us into His liking. it's comforting that He wants to be with me. the feeling of acceptance is wonderful.

Daddy, You are so loving.

guard your heart

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from you mouth; keep corrupt talk far from you lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths fr you feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:23-27

As kendall and i were talking on our way from ttown, i just kept remembering this passage. it is for us. to keep our hearts guarded from the world and to just gaze on the beauty of the Lord. as we guard our hearts and gaze to the Lord, purity comes from His love. We start to look like Him and become like Him. we start to walk the narrow path. we no longer want the things of the world; we only want Him. We then encounter the goodness of His presence and the side that we never see of Him. I love sitting in His presence because everything i know and hear from the world fades and i get to rest in Him. I love praising Him. I love that i get to love Him. I am honored that He wants to be with me even in my lowest times and my worst times. I become joyful because of Him and i am able to love others because of Him.

i encourage anyone who reads this to learn how to guard your heart. if you don't know how to do it, ask the Lord. He will show you how to guard your heart and every thing else. let Him guide you on the path that you are destined for. He's see the potential you have. He is great; He is glorious; He is wonderful.

joyful

here is a long over due update on life.

God is soo good! there is nothing better than having a relationship with Him.

This last weekend i was able to have 3 days off from work (which is awesome) and to start it off right, i went to ttown and surprised some of my favorite people... Dunamis. kendall and i drove there right after i got off work. we both realized how much we miss spending time with each other and the Lord has been growing us individually. we got to catch up and share our hearts once again. i absolutely loved seeing my friends. The Lord has truly blessed me with them.

Friday was great as well. i got to spend time with a friend for the afternoon and talk about the Lord. That night was filled with even more joy with more friends. The Lord is restored my joy for Him and i'm in awe of Him. He is wonderful!

2011 has begun!

so the new year is here. i honestly can't believe it is already here.

i did have a great new years. i got to worship into the new year with some great friends. most of them are in t-town still and getting together was so special to me. the Lord is good. i'm really excited for this year. great things are already happening all over the earth and in our city. it's wonderful.

i'm reading The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning right now. It's all about GRACE. The Lord has been showing me grace and i want to know more about grace. how to have it in my lifestyle. it's hard to have grace in this society.

here is one passage from the book that has stood out to me:

"Although truth is not always humility, humility is always truth - the blunt acknowledgment that I owe my life, being, and salvation to Another. This fundamental act lies at the core of our response to grace."

wow. i need to be humble more and do everything in humility so that grace will be shown. So that the glory of the Lord will be shown in everything i do.

needless to say, my ONE resolution for this new year is to grow more in my walk with my Father and fall more in love with Him than ever before. i say that every year but it's something i constantly desire. Psalm 27:4.

love you guys and gals. i hope this year will bring you great joy and love from the Father.