My heart rejoices

What do I have to be thankful for today? The list is very long but I will entertain you with a few of the wonderful things I have to be thankful for today...

1. That God is doing big things on LC's campus and I got to witness that today at our church on campus. Fun service and fun kids loving Jesus together.

2. The Beautiful weather that allowed me to walk to and from work 2x today and to walk for an hour with Sully today (PS I started this new thing called house hunting while exercising! I run/walk around and look for "for sale" signs!)

3. Wonderful people to work with and wonderful students to work for. Today was a celebration for the seniors and what an inspiring group of young people who are going to do big things and are great people not just great athletic trainers. We also heard a very inspiring message today on perseverance from one of our ACI's that was filled with a love of Jesus! Amen!

4. athletic ability: while I just play for fun now it's amazing that I have the ability to run around be silly and kick a soccer ball with friends at the age of 26. Never ever take your ability to run around pain free for granted!

5. coming home and unexpectedly having 3 of the most wonderful people I know on my front porch, sitting and chatting with them, and being able to laugh, giggle, and tease each other.

6. Chinese food and life conversation with a wonderful man of God and a wonderful woman of God at 10pm. "what time does the restaurant close" "eh when everyone leaves" haha oops!

It's an amazing testimony to God when in a world filled with despair, pain, suffering, and starvation that because I have Him in my heart I can be happy no matter what is going on around me. I can shoot 100 soccer balls over the cross bar and still realize that my worth is not in how far or well I can kick a ball but in my love, faith, and trust in Jesus Christ as my savior. That is the biggest thing that I have to be thankful for today.

Always the bridesmaid never the bride twist...

So today I had a moment of obsession.... something happened and I realized that I am very blessed to have some very amazing guy friends but why am I always the friend?! These wonderful men are very special people in my life but upon doing some thinking this afternoon I was pretty sure that none of them had ever even thought of asking me on a date. I mean I'm a girl so of course I process the potential datability of every guy I meet but do guys do that? If they don't I would really like to learn how they avoid it!

So what is it about a girl that makes her always the friend and never the girlfriend? Is it because I'm too independent? Well if I'm too independent then where is the line between too independent and too needy. I mean do I need to walk around needing something from every guy I meet because that's just not who I am. Is it because I'm too friendly and I'm just sending out what guys call "the friend vibe"? Some guys tell me well you need to act interested.... what the heck does that mean? Isn't the fact that I'm hanging out with you and don't have a boyfriend mean that there is potential that I am interested? I mean if I'm not interested in dating you at all I'm pretty sure you are going to know.

Well what is this balance and the right equation? How do you people with boyfriends and husbands do it? I think the first thing I need to do is let go of it! Pray more for making me the right person and less for praying for the right person to come along. Totally lift it up to the Lord and make it his will and his plan instead of inviting him into my plan. He has good plans for me and He does most of the time want what I want. I definitely don't think that He wants me to be single forever but I know that there has been an obvious purpose for my singleness for the past couple of years... some of the purpose I know and some I don't and some I will never know. What I do know is that in His PERFECT timing all that I desire in my heart and that God desires in His heart will be revealed to me. If I trust and pray and give it completely to Him I won't have to worry because I will be living whatever life he wants me to live and that is what matters. Whew that was a lot of venting!

Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for the cares about you.

Something about this place

I just got back from doing a little traveling down to North Carolina. I saw beautiful flowers (first flowers of the year), a huge castle, cute little neighborhoods, and fun downtown areas but there's just something about coming back to Lynchburg that makes me smile. Luckily I've felt that way about the last two places I've lived. I have been very blessed to live in wonderful places the past couple of years. You can't beat Charleston, SC! Lynchburg is different and special in it's own way and I have no doubt that this is where God wants me right now. I love the mountains and how they stare at me everyday saying to me "I am beautiful, majestic, and amazingly made". I love the beach more than anyone ever should but there's just something about those mountains that makes my heart smile. I also love the cute little neighborhoods in Lynchburg and the mostly warm and friendly people. I have built a few wonderful and lasting friendships here as well which makes coming home that much better. If you haven't found that place yet that makes your heart smile I can't wait until you do. There's nothing like coming home and taking in the scenery that just makes you smile and relax at the end of a long journey.

One LuCkY Birthday Girl :)

I have to admit I was a little nervous about turning 26... it sounds so much older than 25 and really it means I am getting closer to 30. My lack of true plans for my birthday I guess left me not really expecting much out of the day but boy did it turn out to be way more than I planned on! First of all it was 60 deg today! Thank you Jesus! Sully and I had a wonderful almost hour long walk this morning after some Saturday morning cleaning which was just what I needed! For lunch my mom, step-dad and brothers came south to see me and hang out for a bit. Laughing and hanging out with them was good today. The boys behaved and were actually very sweet and I was very thankful that they could come. Walking around Target somewhat aimlessly with Mom and watching her process things that she wanted made me laugh and smile the whole time. It was a perfect Target trip complete with running into Carly and Marley! A few unexpected things happened on my birthday as well...

When shopping today I was asked "How young I was turning today?" Upon answering 26 the salesperson tried to hook me up with her 28 year old son!

Erin and Mitch came to visit me! We had a wonderful evening filled with laughter, pizza, stories, and Cat trying to keep up with the whole experience of Erin and I literally talking up a storm! Not to mention the fact that I was really thinking earlier today that I would really like someone to bring me flowers and then Mitch and Erin showed up with a beautiful bouquet along with a Hoops and Yoyo card (they crack me up), and candy! What great friends I have.

Cat gave me a All Fired Up gift certificate as I was on my way to go there! Couldn't think of a better present except for friendship which she has definitely given me more than I deserve over the past few months!

To kick off my birthday weekend I went to All Fired Up for free (thanks Cat)! Had a wonderful time and then Mason picked me up for smoothies and a movie with friends. It was a pleasant surprise to catch up with him Friday evening! Always a good time!

Brittany, Nicole, and Katy screaming happy birthday across the movie theater parking lot at 11:54 pm when it wasn't my birthday yet!

This birthday was more than I could ask for and after practically skipping my birthday last year it feels so good to celebrate with friends and family and the unexpected little surprises were the best. I can't explain how blessed I feel right now. I only wish I could spend my birthday with ALL the ones I love! Can't wait to see what else the birthday weekend brings!

More Thankful

I keep hearing a quote on the radio lately that every time I hear it makes me stop and think. I'm going to try and get it correct or as close as possible so here we go...

"Maybe we don't need more to be thankful about but just to be more thankful."

We as a society want to think that our lives are so hard, we work for everything we have, nothing is easy, and life is full of hurt and pain. We have all heard the phrase "life sucks then you die". The people that say that have no idea what they are talking about. They obviously don't know Jesus as well because if they knew Jesus they would know how much our lives really would truly suck! No matter how you try and avoid it life is going to happen... and it isn't always going to happen the way you would like it to. What we need to remember in these situations is how lucky we are to have a savior who loves us no matter what happens in our lives or who screwed up today. Not that we should be sad that we lost a dear friend but how thankful we are that a wonderful person was in our lives even if only for a short time. God has a plan for everything, we will never know his intricate plans for our lives or understand them completely but what we do know is that as he states in Jeremiah 29:11 his plans for us are good and are for a future and hope for us.

So when you are struggling through your day, finding yourself down and out, stop and slow down to hear what God is trying to tell you. He will pick you up when you need Him if you only ask. Turn your attitude around and find a positive in the situation! I read the other day that we become exactly who we want to become. So if you want to be happier get happier! Smile, laugh, read a funny story or call someone who you know will turn your outlook around! We all have so much to be thankful for you just have to let yourself see it!

Things (short list) I'm thankful for...

1. My wonderful family and friends no doubt!

2. Jesus who loves me more than any earthly being ever could

3. Sully who snuggles with me and makes me smile

4. My health and ability to provide for myself

5. A job that I enjoy

6. Coffee

7. laughter and smiles

8. chocolate!

So wonderful friends of mine go back to the top of this post and practice your beautiful smile!