70-degree Winter

I love cold weather

but I definitely don't mind the fact that I'm outside,

sitting in the sunshine

sipping on some green tea

on this beautiful, 63 degree Monday morning.

Amidst this being day six without coffee

I'm one happy lady...

but if I get bit by a mosquito I might cry.

Blessings Flow

I'm sitting here enjoying this glass of Cab
and I'm still in awe of this past week and writing about it puts it more into a fog.

Let's go back a few months when I applied for Winshape.

When I considered it, it wasn't because I really wanted to work for them.

I saw it as one of those chances I could take, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if I didn't spend this upcoming summer as a counselor.

As I filled out the application, the job of photographer popped up. 

This was right when my business got busy,

and the idea of spending my summer doing what I love most

was even more intriguing. 

I finished the longest application ever, and didn't think twice about it 

until the 8th when I interviewed in Cookeville.

I had a great, easy interview and thought everything went smoothly.

Well, fast forward to this past Thursday.

During the morning, a co-worker asked me about the event I photographed last week,

and proceeded to ask me to photograph one of their upcoming events

How awesome!

Later that afternoon, I got asked by another co-worker to photography another event!

By this point, I was just excited about the next couple of months.

But then, right before I got off work I received a call from an unfamiliar Georgia number.

Remembering that Winshape is based in Georgia, I answered.

After talking to a familiar voice, I heard him say, 

"We would like to offer you the position of photographer."

I felt my heart enlarge and it suddenly became harder to breathe.

I was so excited,

so happy and so incredibly blessed.

I am so excited to be spending the summer with Winshape as a photographer.

More than that, I am humbled at what God is doing in my life and how he is pouring blessings into my life and my photography business.

It is amazing me more and more everyday and I couldn't be happier.

Father is so good, and I must stay focused and remember that this is all from him.

Things can only get better from here,

and I can't imagine what else he's got up his sleeve.

Wondrous Weekend

I've spent a few hours in my journal since Sunday evening.

Putting last weekend into words and thoughts and memories has been difficult.

And that never happens to me.

Normally, when I need to write, I can't even think straight until I can write.

I find myself jotting down words as quick as I can write them 

but this weekend was different. 

It's truly hard to really explain last weekend.

I was hired to photograph our high school ministry's event, Collide.

I went into it with a completely professional mindset, knowing I'd be working

instead of working with students or fellow adults.

What I didn't expect was to be completely humbled in God's presence,

lost for words at what He taught me through the speaker,

and realizing that He is all I need.

I've known that before, 

but this weekend really sent it home.

God sent Jesus so he could be our Father.

Jesus called God "Father" every time he referred to him except once, 

when he was on the cross.

He is our Father.

I am beginning to get in the habit of calling him Father all the time.

Jesus made that possible and for that we should be grateful.

Calling him Father reminds me of another great blessing.

Also, the speaker, Chad Norris, spoke about the redundancy of the Lord's prayer.

First, let's read it:

Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be your Name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in Heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those
Who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
And the glory are yours
Now and forever. Amen.

First, Jesus calls God Father, as should we.

Second, when he says "thy kingdom come" he means that we are to be heaven on earth.

That's huge.

Third, our daily bread.

Chad talked about worry, and how we live to plan out our lives.

School, jobs, families, all of it. We live to plan.

However, it's a huge sin. Period.

God gives us enough for each day, every day, and nothing more.

You could study in this for hours and Father could reveal more and more.

These three points have completely blown my mind.

Besides all of that,

getting to worship Father alongside some amazing students 

was a bigger blessing than I could have ever imagined. 

Father, 

you are good. 

you are worthy,

and you are enough for us everyday you bless us with.

This last weekend was truly wondrous and as I sit and edit these photos 

(which I'll share later)

I still find myself in awe. 

My, my Father is good and true.

Playing Catch Up...

Current status:

Working job #3 all weekend.

Taking a break from #1 & #2.

On cup #2 of coffee for the day.

4 1/2 hours of work to go. 

This weekend has been a bigger blessing than expected.

Monday is a day off and I can't wait. 

Tired.

Feet hurting from standing since 7am.

Blessed beyond measure.

See you soon...

Valentine's Day

February 14th is a day dedicated to love.

Love...

I have a desire to write about today, 

but where do I begin? 

I guess could go into my personal life and tell you about my hopeless romantics,

my stories of past loves that failed for various reasons,

or my dreams of a truly, honest, good man...

which I often wonder if he really exists.

Or maybe I could go into what the world says love is,

and how I really feel about it.

"If you buy me this, 

do this,

or provide this then you really love me."

Ha.

Or maybe, just maybe I could tell you the truth about love and what real love is.

Yes, I think I'll take the third option.

My friends,

Love comes from God. 

Period.

It's patient. It's kind. 

It does not envy and it does not boast.

Love is never proud.

It is never arrogant and never rude. 

It's not irritable and keeps no record of being hurt.

It doesn't enjoy injustice, but is happy when the truths wins out.

Love never gives up,

never loses faith,

is always hopeful 

and endures through every circumstance.

Love is not just a feeling,

but an action and will.

Love is a choice.

And today, I choose to love.

Passions

I've always strived toward a passion.

In middle school, I wanted more friends so I fought for acceptance. 

In high school, I wanted to be my best so I worked toward goals.

In college, I wanted to be different so I looked the other way.

Whatever I was passionate about, I fought for.

Now, after all that seeking and not-finding, I believe I may have stumbled upon something.

There are very few things I really want for my life. 

I want to please the Lord.

I want to marry a good man who loves me.

I want to have children.

I want to minister to girls and women.

And last, but not least, I want to write. 

I share this for two reasons.

One, because I am so excited about what is happening in my life.

And two, because I want to encourage you to seek out what life has for you.

You're never too old to chase after your passions.

Breath of Fresh Air

Lately I've been going non-stop at about 100 miles per minute.

I haven't felt like I've had time to slow down and enjoy friends or write or even sleep...

but then yesterday came.

I had the day off because I had an interview in Cookeville for Winshape camps 

and was so busy the days ahead I really didn't get a chance to get excited or nervous.

Yesterday came and I hit the road to Cookeville.

The interview was wonderful, 

but what I was really looking forward to was spending time with my sis, Hannah.

I got to her house and she had a lovely lunch prepared for us.

Marigrace was clearly happy to see me.

After lunch we chatted about life, boys, marriage and being a mom.
It felt like we were 10 again, playing with our American Girl dolls.
All those feelings of growing up together came back as we reminisced
and saw how cute we were as kids.

We also talked about our attempts at getting crafty and that struck a cord for the rest of the day.
She showed me this dress she made for Marigrace from some fabric we wore in her wedding.

Marigrace wanted to model it for me and show me how cute she'll be as my flower girl...

but she prefered to show me how cute her diapers are.

We then attempted to get crafty with the rest of the fabric.

We started with some fabric flowers...

...and that went into a brooch for Hannah...

...a headband for me...

...and a headband for Marigrace.

As a few hours came to a quick end, 

I felt a calming peace come over me.

I was so thankful to have yesterday with Hannah and Marigrace.

It's hard to make time to see one another, 

but yesterday was such a blessing.

A blessing for my heart and my mind.

Everyone needs time to relax and just share life as it happens.

And every girl needs a pink headband made by her aunt Abb.

Wreck of the Day

Sometimes you're an emotional wreck,

and then you get to a place where you realize what that term really means.

Today I'm an emotional wreck and I'm surprisingly okay with that.

It's not that a lot in my life is "going wrong,"

or that there's a lot of stress or anxiety.

Just a ton of emotion.

Not emotion that you can figure out,
but emotion that just has to be given to God.

In the midst of all this,
I've began to work on my book.

Call it my personal project,
but it's all of my heart and passion laid out for the world to see...

...or read.

It's prayerfully being written and figured out and I can't believe I'm actually doing it.
But God is allowing it and for that I'm blessed.

So, there's my ramblings for the day.
I promise, more productive, real posts to come soon.

5 days in...

It's already February?

I can't believe it's already a month into 2012, 

and more so, a week into a new month.

I feel like this week was one of the longest I've had in a long time.

Balancing three jobs,

dealing with the pains of hurtful family members

and being on a roller coaster of emotions

has certainly taken on toll on my mind and heart.

I am so glad that tomorrow starts a new week.

It isn't much, 

but we as followers of Christ have hope.

Although our circumstances might be less than perfect,

we have hope because our God is in control.

Isn't that freeing? To know we don't have to worry!

As I lay here trying to rest my mind and come to ease,

I find it comforting to know that I can tell God to deal with these things so I don't have to.

And He will.

It's a peace I pray we all find and cling to.