remember me?

since I last blogged I've...

played in and sat by the Pacific Ocean...

read through this post and was convinced that Jon Acuff was inside my brain...

went to my first SoapBox Derby in Macon...

finished my taxes... on time...

witnessed Cicada Swarm '11...

been busy, busy, busy with everything at work...

completed my first live tv interview...

and then talked to the same station about seniors and technology...

watched Michael Scott say goodbye forever...

helped host a shower for Baby Muffin...

found my first WHITE hair...

watched (drooled and gasped) during the Royal Wedding...

visited Turner Field for my first game of the season...

had a flutter in my heart...

met Nick Arrojo...

been challenged by this article...

cheered Ruthie on for her first triathlon...

had a mini-reunion with sweet high school friends...

(note: the two boys in the middle were my junior and senior prom dates=)

ran/crawled/swam/walked/jogged/climbed the Warrior Dash...

welcomed niece #3, Isla Grace into the world...

helped/laughed while my friend made beautiful flowers for another sweet friend's wedding...

got back into running...

started planning lots of moves at work...

got out of running... (but just went today!)

was reminded that even on a bad day, it's a good day because I have Him on my side...

watched these two wayyyy too many times...

started using Pinterest (looooooove this site)...

witnessed God's sovereignty...

and learned more about myself.

All of the above were good {well, ok, I was a little upset about the white hair} with the exception of the that last one. You see, I am what some would call a perfectionist and when the perfectionist in me starts measuring up to the only One who is a good rule of thumb, I come up far short.

But the good thing is, I am realizing where I need to grow and how much more I need to rely on Him during that "growing" process. I don't want to be comfortable with the complacency I often find myself floating in. I don't want to be consumed with the things that I think are important but really have no point after tomorrow.

So here goes... to being real.

eeeps, I'm scared.

pauses and procrast... (I'll finish the title later)

In approximately 24 hours I will be landing in California.

A little pause from my Macon, Georgia life.

But currently, I have four loads of laundry in baskets that have to be done before I leave (or it will drive me crazy while I'm gone). And did I mention I've yet to start packing? I wasn't too stressed out this little minor detail... until my sweet little brother (who I'm going to visit) kindly sent this week's forecast.

It's going to be in the 50's & 60's, people. Not exactly flip flop, tank top weather like I was dreaming of. And now I'm back to square one. And now that I'm thinking about it, I don't even know if I have a suitcase to pack my stuff in. oh goodness...

But all this to say, who cares. I'm going to Cali-FOR-n-i-aaaaah (said just like Ah-nuld would say it) with Dad, Mom and Ruthie to see my little brother Caleeeeeb.

Maybe we will get sun, maybe we won't. But we will have fun.

And I will be sure to dance to this song while we explore a new place.

how sweet it is to be loved by you...

My favorite part just might be when he calls her "Wrinklestiltskin".

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speed bump(s)

woweee.

It's been a day. Normally when I go into work, I don't plan on crying off my makeup before 10am, but hey who doesn't like a little surprise every now and then?

Friends, you remember when I wrote just a few days ago about feeling God move? Well today, He was having fun surfing on the waves of my life! (wait, does that even make sense? I do not know. I blame it on the fact that my brain is dried out from crying so much today.* [*note-that doesn't make sense either. brains and tears? what? that's it; no more metaphors today.] )

Through all that I went through today, stress at work, heartache for friends, answers to other questions I've been waiting on, my God was aligning everything in place. And the part that is incredible, is God used the person who was experiencing the most heartache, my dear friend C, to send me a text that would be exactly what I needed to hear then - and in the few hours to come. While I was trying to think of words to comfort her, to encourage her, to be an example of Christ love but still be sensitive to what she was going through, she sent these powerful words:

My faith and the love of God is holding me together.

I do not question why and will not let this shake my faith.

I know all things are done through Christ.

I don't think I realized until today what His love does for me.

His will be done.

Written like someone who knows what is going on. And like I said, I read that, paused, and just thought to myself, that is someone who understands that the Lord has it in control. The things I had faced are somewhat trivial in comparison to what she is experiencing but she is confident in our Lord and the plan He has paved before her. Speed bumps and all.

So for now, my eyes - although a little puffy- are dry, and my heart is mending. But through it all, I remember these words of truth that I learned recently from here: I already know who's going to save you. I already wrote the end of your story. You were made for me and I'll never leave you; in the end, it's all for my glory!

Thank you, Jesus.

And thank you family and friends that have guided and encouraged me during my moments of uncertainty and weakness. Oh and speaking of friends, please go read this post by one of my sweet Oklahoma friends, Jena Carper. I read this while typing and uh, I think she is inside my head!

p.s. - I like listening to this song on days like this... beautiful.

pardon me...

... while I update my look on my little blog.

check in soon to see a (hopefully) fresh look!

why I've been quiet(er)...

I thought about writing many times. But I didn't.

So here I am, making myself write (or should I say, right?). Either way, it's kind of like making yourself exercise after you've been away for a while; you know you don't want to start moving, but once you do you feel better.

One of the reasons I haven't written as much is because what the Lord has been showing me. Now most of the times, I would share it. But in these moments I've been experiencing, I've felt the need to sit quietly and intimately with my God, understanding that His hand is at work... moving all around me, lining things up so that I can sit in His presence and remember just how great my God is and how small my view of Him is in comparison.

When our team was in Haiti, I heard a song, called "You Won't Relent" by Misty Edwards. I remember hearing some of the students sing this song first at our house and then a few more times throughout our trip. By the last day as they were singing I had picked up the words but couldn't bring myself to singing them.

You won't relent

Until You have it all

My heart is Yours

I'll set You as a seal upon my heart

As a seal upon my arm

For there is love that is as strong as death

Jealousy demanding as the grave

And many waters cannot quench this love

Come be the fire inside of me

Come be the flame upon my heart

Come be the fire inside of me

Until You and I are one

Have it ALL. Whew. That's alot. Have I been giving Him my all? No. Not even close. Am I really ready to give Him... ALL? As I found myself struggling, I was reminded of the words just prior to that: He won't relent. My God loves me so much, that He will not let me go through life truly feeling complete, when I am lacking so much without Him.

You haven't relented until You had it all from me; thank you, dear Jesus, my heart is Yours.

It's been a full year since the earthquake.

I remember being at my desk on January 12, 2010 around 5pm and reading about an earthquake that had just happened in Haiti. Honestly I don't really remember thinking it was that big of a deal. I didn't understand, nor could I really comprehend, how 200,000+ lost their lives in about 20-30 seconds.

As our team was driving down the busy, tight streets just a few short days ago, all I could think about was the chaos that probably wrang out that day. I could imagine the screaming that must have been heard, the tears that were probably cried, the people that were trapped with no way to escape. It was all a bit overwhelming - and that was just me trying to imagine.

Returning for the second time was definitely interesting and definitely a privilege that I am so grateful for. SharingJesus with the children of this country that is hurting - what a task set before us. But honestly, upon looking at them, you would never know that they are in pain. Oh no. The smiles on their faces, the strength in their voices as they sing, the way they move their shoulders when dancing, it would all lead you to believe that they are the richest children in the world. God is teaching me so much through the Haitians right now.

Until then, pray with me for these people. They need healing - emotionally, physically and spiritually. Thankfully, we serve a Mighty God.