one year!

It's official. I've had this blog now for over one year! Grant-it I have been slacking major on updating, I'm pumped to have one year of my life recorded for all the social media butterflies to see. That's actually kind of strange and creepy..maybe I should rethink this whole blogger deal.. nah:)

Gosh, the week has been absolutely nuts! Went from a (sort of) relaxing Thanksgiving break to this extreme of studying and being super busy. It's so funny to look back on previous years of Finals week throughout my college experience. I thought I was busy then, hahah.. It's been somewhat enjoyable getting to work on Public Relations-related projects, though. I really like my major:) Nerd alert, huh?

Times like these that remind you, or..not even remind--they straight up show you-- that I simply cannot even possibly manage to do all of this on my own, or even dwell in the stress of it all. You learn he provides rest, and him alone. All you can do is pray, and laugh a little at the ridiculousness of college.

Been skimming through Jeremiah this week; talks a lot about God's wrath. Those people were

in a constant state of restlessness without God on their side. I remember feeling a lot like them

before knowing Him. It's exhausting. It's like Finals week every day of your life, and you feel like no one understands you or even wants to be a part of your mess.

God does.

How sweet is that?

"Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret

places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord"

Jeremiah 23:23-24

hm.

man I'm almost nervous about this pieces of joy posting. It's been too long. Too much thankfulness to be listed ...seriously.

Here goes nothing...

Joys:)

-thanksgiving with friends/family....and by family, I mean the Gridleys

-Running the half in 2:03 without training (last year 2:11 with) and almost dying/passing out..hahah..

-Deciding it was a good idea to run 13.1 miles with turf toe

-Going to Anna Maria the beginning of the break and sitting on the beach

-Falling out of a tree...are you suprised?

-Writing on my blog when I should tooooootally be studying

-Having moved OUT of the Green House and into the sweet new APT

-Having HEAT, AC, WASHER/DRYER, DISHWASHER!!!!!!! THIS PLACE IS THE RITZ!

-Learning to just love with no strings attached (hey, nsync)

-Sitting in the libe study rooms with Jules, Katie Mac, and Ashtyn as they worked for over 17 hours STRAIGHT on some Exercise science project

-Being surprisingly productive, and realizing I've been spelling 'surprised' without the 'r' for quite some time now..

-Jacob encouraging (okay, forcing) me not to stop running during the half, AND staying with me the entire time when he could have ran it way faster. He's way nice:)

-The picture taken of me during the half that my brother so graciously posted on my wall..It's hideous. Or did I mean to say hilarious?

-Having christmas lights hanging from my ceiling! I LOVE THIS ROOM SO MUCH.

-Christmas parties!

-...I would say cold weather is a joy, but let's be honest.. I really, really dislike coldness.

-Oh, Twilight..the movie. Mm.

-Short hair!...ish

-Talking to my mom for a really long time today. And realizing how hard it must be to be...well, a mom. Parents need our prayers too ;)

-John Mayer's new CD, Battle Studies.

-My sister is a joy.

- Picking out a new bicycle so I can start biking! For real. And give my mom back her comfort bike. I will miss you, comfy seat.

-Driving to Atlanta to see a Drive-in Movie, haha, like Grease. Except we brought lots of gummy worms and chex mix:)

-Finished a journal and got to start a new one:) I do love notebooks.

-Thinking it's about time to retire the Hello Kitty blanket. Sad, sad day.

-Looking forward to seeing old friends over the break!

-Learning to just not make a back-up plan, but to just pray and trust the He has my best in mind, and will do things as he sees best fit. My ways are way ...more dumb.

-Wondering how I am such a Grandma and I'm still only twenty... Gosh, I'm only twenty.

- Oh yeah, Jenna, her dad, and my dad all ran the half as well! hahah.. so funny. Thanksgiving

dinner was a little slow to say the least

shew. I cannot write anymore. There's no way. It's 11:24 PM...way past my bedtime, haha, but seriously..

ps. IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS! yessss!

his love! (way sweeter than my own)

For when I am weak..

Just got in from a relaxing evening with the girls.

We made bracelets. So girly, and so..well, refreshing.

I do love being in a crafty mood; seems to be happening more often lately, but I can't figure out what's the meaning behind the sudden urge to be artsy. Maybe sitting in Blackbird coffee shop did it to me. Then again, maybe it's the past week's unusual gift of free time. Regardless, I don't hate it. But I do wonder what it'd be like to be one of those really unique, creative people. You know who I mean. The person who's every thought keeps you unusually interested. It's 11:32 pm, which might explain this rambling. Maybe there's a point, though.

Ah, yes. Here it is, haha: I was reminded a lot this week of how the lord created my heart uniquely and creatively. Only he knows the remedy to bring my heart and soul to rest. Makes you really realize you're his child when he calms or creates a situation to show his strength through your weakness. hm. Way to be awesome, lord.

and then he showed me this:)

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

aaand

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

(1 Corinthians 1:25)

...gosh I have so, so much room to grow.

pieces of joy time, yes!

-baking bread and not following the recipe, hah...

-the oven warming up my house, thank goodness

-waking up in the middle of the night with a frozen face

-playing 'lucky' by jason mraz on the guitar and slowly learning to sing along

-lying in the grass and watching leaves fall

-sunshine:)

-sitting on my roof!

- girl time

- linner with alicia, and our current obsession with Einstein Bagels

-sleeping in until 8!

-having a newfound love for photography

-plugging in a night light...I'm twenty.

-tomorrow and sunday:)

-rest

-downloading matt wertz' cd FOR FREE online!

-talking to jboi on the phone, finally

-seeing the power of prayer

-i already said this, but i love it that much. AUTUMN and LEAVES. mm.

-needing to purchase a pair of closed-toe shoes... TOMS perhaps?

-debating whether or not to turn on my heating blanket..hm

-dropping my straightener on my foot, did I mention that in the last blog? but it's healing:)

-learning how my ways are really and truly so much lesser than his

-thoughts of bringing out the slanket. It's about that time.

- Jacob and I going to walmart to buy a slingshot to shoot at squirrels from my roof. Probably not safe

-Walmart being sold out of sling shots?...and York peppermint patties.

-wanting to go to NYC asap. or the mountains. or even the beach for that matter.

I'll try to be updating this more often. So much goodness going on

his love!

Take and Seal it

"Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above."

I love when lyrics seem to sum up your exact feelings.

Gosh, I'm so prone to wander. The thought of leaving the God I love.. hm, hurts my heart.

Sitting in the libe, as usual. Been sweet to see how priorities have fallen right into place when I leave it to the Lord and manage to seek him first. I willfully try to plan each day, hour by hour, and where do I end up? Frustrated and hating spontaneity more than I thought possible, haha, gosh.

When I just realize I have nothing, I've lost it all, things just ...well, work. It's the strangest thing. The lord is so deserving:) and sufficient.

Found this verse this morning, Psalm 51:12 "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."

He sustains our lives, so he IS sufficient; further proving our being a whole lotta' nothing. But then I'm reminded of my dad's love for us and his building us and growing us up in him, so we lack nothing when seeking him and his glory in all we do.

I love how faith all connects. Each aspect leads to another and clarifies many other aspects.

Wow, most random blog entry ever, huh? haha :)

ode to joy (revamped pieces of joy, haha:)

music

lyrics

mom sending texts where she writes in ALL CAPS

learning to love cold weather..(tough)

slumber parties with D group girls

laurie making breakfast for brittany and I :)

dropping my straightener and it clamping on my foot, typical

eating HOT soup every day (and tea)

making a linner with Alicia and discovering 4:30 to be much too late a time for linner

running in cold weather ( numb body= no pain)

the lord teaching me about priorities

focusing on strengths and weaknesses being perfected through them

restful weekends

going to an Army Ranger school graduation(awesome)

plans to go home this weekend to be with bay! and hopefully trick or treat, haha

sowing my moccasins after breaking (by sowing I mean hot glue..)

having a pet squirrel that hangs out on our AC window units all day and night

meeting 13 members of jake's family..all at once, ha. they're really great.

having aspirations to actually start cooking something besides my "dish" (rice,chicken, veggies, and sauce...it tastes much better than it sounds. I think.)

not wanting to go back to my freezing cold house.. and thinking of ways to campout in the libe

sitting on the roof:)

being asked "If I were a power ranger, which one would I be?" and "Why"?

....responding to the previous question, "the pink ranger, Kimberly"

discovering i like Grace Potter a lot...and discovering this after I had already NOT gone to the deep roots festival that night, haha, whoops

the temptation to buy TOMS..

that's all for now:) his love!

perspective.

Listening to Francis Chan and eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch on this Friday afternoon:)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7815550195732165394&ei=LJDYSoGfMJC2rgKixbW0Dg&q=francis+chan+sermon&hl=en#

I love how the Lord provides exactly what I need (not necessarily want) to hear. The week had been interesting to say the least, got super caught up in school work, and almost even got mad at God for it. Wow.

So, in light of Francis' sermon 'Intimacy with God," What if I had just had an eternal perspective?

I acted like a...well, fool.. questioning my own father. And he still stands there, holding my hand; guiding my way. mm, mm.

Psa 73:23 Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand.
	Psa 73:24	You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
	Psa 73:25	Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
Fall break was a really sweet time. Got to spend some quality time with Bay. It's so neat watching her grow. I think that's something I love most. Watching people grow into the characteristics of Jesus. Really a beautiful thing. She's such an encouragement; the most chill fourteen- year old you will ever meet. But seriously, interesting to see how someone that young can teach me so much. ello, joy:) seeing family grow. seeing family, period. watching bay kick butt in soccer, and trip a girl.. having had this cough forrr.. 1 month and 1 week (record). SAVANNAH with elle, mary alice, and molls this saturday! Jenna winning homecoming last weekend. my Father and his crazy(awesome)plan. rain jackets. the sky looking like it should give us some snow:) learning patience with technology.. laughing with tae. photographs. watching the leaves change. whippin' out the sweats and hot tea to prepare for the freezing winter ahead. hugging friends. sleeping in until 7:15! boyfriend jeans. thinking my sis was having a sweet birthday bash last weekend, but finding out it wasn't until..well, today :( understanding. learning about a life devoted to prayer plenty plenty more joy, but my brain is quite honestly fried. haha, dang school. his love!		My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

oh,hey

well. this is depressing.

thought I was oh so computer/social networking savvy; i was oh so wrong.

so, hey blog:) nice to see you again after a month, or two.

haha, ohkay, wait..I actually feel bad. uh..sorry blogspot?..this is just weird.

back to being semi-normal, ha--naturally, lots and lots to update. plenty i could bore you with, i'm sure, but also plenty to be pumped about.

so far escuela es fantastico, pero (okay, i'm not actually even taking a spanish class..gotta let that one go) i'll repeat:) Classes are great. Friends are encouraging. God is rocking me. Schedule is nuts. Mass comm is awesome! My house is toasty as heck-- actually it's just humid after all the rain. And york peppermint patties are my new best friends. Pretty great, huh?

i'm sitting in my norm libe spot (libe=library for those of you who have forgotten my constant abbreviations..of every word. ever.).. supposed to be writing this Colonade article. It's actually a really sweet feature article, so I'm pumped to write it, buuut this is the part where I must go through all the interview recordings and type up their responses. Think it'd be possible to stream music in behind their talking? because i'm really wanting to listen to some Colbie Callait right about now.

Actually, I'm really wanting to procrastinate in any way possible.

aaand jacob just came into the libe so now getting work done is toast. no offense, jake.

i'll go ahead and list some joy, i'd say it's time:)

1. realizing I have every color in the rainbow in the form of nail polish this morning
2. waking up at 6 and the smell of coffee.
3. loving mornings
4. listening to miley's Party in the USA with tae atleast 4 times. A day.
5. colossians:)
6. watching friends get married and getting all teary-eye; Jules-i'm warning ya!
7. starting training(ish) for the half marathon
8. the font, Lucida Grande. Why have I never noticed you until now?
9. feeling grown-up
10. his love that I cannot earn and cannot lose:)
11. SKYPE with stephet!
12. alicia signing up to do the half, yeaaa!
13. becoming more and more scatterbrained with each passing day..er, hour at this rate.
14. a letter from my lauren:) miss you, elle
15. grass roots on wednesday nights, mm.
16. having to dress up every day. but then today deciding I would change into shorts and a daytay tee shirt. Hallelujah.
17. being challenged
18. watching the lord work through weakness
19. seeing jenna this past weekend and reminiscing on our favorite High School Musical songs
20. slowly but surely learning guitar, and really really loving it. hm.
21. support and understanding from friend, teammates, and family
22. my mom and her last birthday before 50
23. witnessing my parents growth:)
24. having to schedule a dinner with my own roomie, haha:)
25. putting a television in my room and being able to count the number of times i've actually turned it on (four).
26. cooking the same meal each week and thinking its a "signature piece"-- it's rice and chicken :/
27. sitting at chick fil a with alicia for 3 hours, hahah...whoops:)
28. okay,okay this one's old, but jacob thinks it's definitely 'piece of joy' worthy-- the chickfila worker (who was atleast 32) saying "My pledgssh" as opposed to "my pleasure" way to be awesome, chick.
29. SCOOPS last night with jules and alicia!!
30. being forced to have to start writing this article...

"Unlike humans, He does not lose heart."

his love.

take heart!

down time:) alas.

One week has come and gone sadly just as fast as I imagined it would. The roller coaster of a schedule has definitely taken its toll, but clas

ses are so great, people are wonderful, and the Lord remains faithful-- How often do I doubt that? And how silly of me to even question that my God will move. He's awesome, you know?

It's been a week filled with a fair share of convictions. After the summer my life certainly isn't the same, but coming back to this home and these surroundings, it's ridiculous how quick I am to fall back into old habits. Even with the downfalls, it's been a real sweet time to see how the Word comes into play when I begin to fall. Also really interesting to see how I've reacted. In some instances I've allowed the Lord to take control, in others, I've tried to manipulate the Word, somehow managing to make it seem okay since I'm giving him control of other aspects of my messy life. That, my friends, is not alright, and of that I am wellllllll aware. That's just sad. So, I woke up this morning, opened the sweet Bibe, and lone behold, Psalm 95:6-8

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord , our Maker!

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.." Well, there it is; I've been straight up hardening my heart; being cold towards my Dad. It feels like it takes so much will power and makes living so much more difficult, and yet, I do it. Ridiculous. Ridiculously stubborn, haha. Just gotta keep praying the Lord will strip me of that dang stubbornness, that's not an attractive trait by any means. . BUT the fact that I know the Lord is changing and renewing my heart and spirit inwardly and outwardly(2 cr 4:16 ;) is enough to keep from being discouraged. Take heart! eh? (Reminder to self, quit saying 'eh'--not from Canada..) but seriously.. Proverbs 28:14 "Blessed is the one who fears the lord always, but whoever hardens his heart falls into calamity." So, so true. Learning that the hard way. Pieces of joy time, yay:) CLASSES!!! ...but seriously, i love them :) JULES GETTING ENGAGED!!!!!! She'll make such a beautiful bride. And Eric is so great, too. Gosh:) attempting to decorate my room feeling grown up volleyball in the rain! trying to rid my sweet watch tanline, leaving my wrist severely burnt seeing my housemates being reunited with old friends walks in the forest good conversation going through wedding mags with jules getting to know some seriously humble folks awkward moments buying a curtain that's atleast 2 feet shorter than the other my bed rolling around on the hardwood floor every second carrying Mason Mac to class:) being re-taught guitar, and discovering my complete lack of rhythm, but still loving it, and admiring those who can play my sweet new job in the University Television station, thank you Lord for that hearing about people's summers and being super encouraged seeing my beach projecters! new friends:) sorting through dozens of pictures still not having my television plugged in, and enjoying it running up the hills in Milledge, and feeling it. discovering that the Lord will provide energy to get through the day going to the laundry mat and running out of money, then running to cvs across the street to get more money, and the coin machine at the mat eating my 5 dolla bill...sweeeet loving Mass Communications, haha, nerd. being reunited with elle:) jules' "blingin' ring!" making pizza! and salad! and brownies with jake. AND it tasted great:) who would've thought. laughing to the point of tears while taking pictures on Mason-- ie: tae and i on a rollercoaster, obviously.hahah.. that's all for now:) hope you're amused his love.

do not fear.

What a great summer:)

Never thought I'd miss Daytona, Florida, and yet here I am, honestly wishing I could go back. I could go without a few of the Makai's "luxuries", but still, it was home.

The week back here in Fayetteville has been challenging to say the least, check-mark on the culture shock, but it's been so sweet to see how the Lord is using all the training in different aspects of life. He's revealing more and more how dependent I have to be on him. It's an odd feeling when you realize you have zero control over your own life. I'd say it's peace. Sad when I'd forgotten what that feels like. It came so naturally when you were surrounded by this community of love all summer. But it's an even greater peace when it's among all the ruckus surrounding me. hm, thank you Lord.

Was reminded today that being afraid, which is the opposite of trusting the lord, is a sin. Dang. My mind has been reeling with sin over fear of where the lord might lead me, or rather, where I know he's calling me for upcoming days.

I thought I'd be so eager to, i guess, indulge in all the material things I was without at beach project, but it was really sweet to see how none of those things are sufficient. Not my favorite television show, not my new mac ("Mason", though he works much better than Dellie), not my own bed, not the fully stocked fridge, and not even having free time. Reminds me of John 14:27-

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

God is proving this truth to be, well, true, now more than ever. Ha, imagine that:)

All in all, Beach project was seriously life changing. As cliche as that might sound. It's just so neat to see how He honors our prayers to challenge our hearts and to really change us from the inside, out. He does it, that's for sure. And he'll teach you how insufficient you are and that he really has to be your strength through those times. Funny, he doesn't have to be here for me; he doesn't have to care and guide me through life, but he is:) Shew, thank you, Dad. That's some grace.

Pieces of joy!

1) friends from home; spending time with them and their genuine interest in my summer.

2) feeling ridiculous while attempting to ichat

3) my mom talking in this squeaky voice 24/7, where did this come from?...hahah..gosh.

4) laser show! and wet bottoms after sitting on the previously rained-on grass

5) having ADD and not watching a single pitch or hit of the Braves game

6) going to a braves game and laser show all in a 5 hour span; hooray, atl!

7) wandering aimlessly around the house the first day home, in complete culture shock

8) seeing summer and mike outside of the Makai- weird, but great:)

9) RITAS lives on-- meeting with SBP friends and eating italian ice. Swedish fish flavored italian ice, to be exact. (not recommended)

10) laughing out loud at text messages

11) not being able to break the Barnes and Nobel habit; I'm here at this very moment.

12) not having unpacked from beach project, ahah..

13) getting to share my summer with the youth group's bible study:)

14) watching Sneaker Night Extreme on youtube for the first time in moooonths

15) Going to mom's new school and seeing all my old teachers from kindergarten, and my telling them I am a Junior in College, then their reaction.

16) buying school supplies. and my notebooks matching. Good news, I'm still lame:)

17) my sister

18) seeing my dad's heart change:) the lord is good.

19) laughing at how sore I am from running in Georgia. Hills are no fun.

20) browsing through pictures from beach project:)

21) going back to Milledgeville in the am!

22) cheerleading starting up tomorrow. we'll be practicing in the suuunshine for four hours. Coach texted "bring sunscreen" haha, sweet.

23) feeling like I'm 80 and not being able to remember what all has gone on this past week.

24) jboi cutting his locks!

25)learning (the hard way) what it looks like to live a life compelled by His love.

the end for now:)

hislove.

just came across this:)mm.

(Psalm 34:9-14)

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.