home sweet home

Oh the holidays...

It's literally my FAVORITE time of year. :)

I meant to post on Thanksgiving, but I got sidetracked.. i mean who wouldn't with all the hustle of friends, food, football, and family?

This week has really shown me everything I have to be thankful for. I've been so beyond blessed to have grown up in a place like Allen, TX and with the incredible friends and family that I'm surrounded with. I got to spend time with my best friends, Jen and the girls, my parents, brother, and grandparents, as well as my crazy cousins and aunt and uncle. I caught up with some old friends, and enjoyed every second of it.

The week was full of laughter and joy, and peace. It's the little things in life like the hilarious carwash in the wind with my mom today, where we got pink foam soap all over ourselves that stained our hair and our clothes, that make me feel so blessed. Watching my favorite little one year old try to take her first steps and dance for us, hearing my favorite two year old laugh, being with my absolutely ridiculous best friend, and enjoying the wisdom of my grandparents, life just seems so simple.

I needed the simplicity of this week. God has taught me a lot about patience the past few days, and I think I'm finally learning to let go, and give Him that.

I'm excited to get back to school to see my friends, but this week has a super intense workload, prayers please :)

anyways, I'm burning cd's full of Christmas songs... SO exciting :)

love y'all.

it's been wayy too long.

So, I've been ridiculously busy lately and i feel like it's time i update you all :)

1. I picked up a Christian Studies minor, emphasis on children's ministry.. now officially graduating on time in May 2012! :D
2. I'm learning how to play guitar! (thanks to Ryan Hull)
3. Miss MHB Pageant consumed my life the last week and a half, but it was INCREDIBLE, amazing beyond words, simply beautiful.
4. Erin (Matt's little sister) is here visiting for preview weekend, LOVE it :) we're having fun.. dancing at the coffee shop, making puppy chow, watching Christmas movies... life is good.
5. Work is still work, I still am in awe each day of the beautiful creations God places in front of me, and I am still reminded at how much I love children and their love of life.
6. Younglife is amazing, loving it and watching it grow.
7. I'M STOKED TO GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanksgiving break is SO close! I can't wait to see my parents, brother, lindsey, sarah, amanda, jen and the girls.. AH, so excited.
8. Had dinner with my dad tonight, it was lovely.
9. Still workin my tail off at the gym.. lovin the results...Florida, here I come :) haha
10. I'm simply happy. I really don't know how else to put it.

love.

spoken to.

"for I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content"

Philippians 4:11

So, I was going to go to bed early tonight, but I came across this verse in my reading, and it spoke volumes to me.. I had to share it!

Basically, what I got out of this was God saying, "Stop worrying about everything, and just be content with your life." It was like a reality check to me because lately, I'm not content with just fixing one aspect of life.. I wanna do it all. I want to make good grades, I want to become a servant leader, I worry about my appearance (hey, i'm a female), I get over-involved, I think about relationships and the future, etc., and I do it all WAY too much. If I would just be completely content with my life the way it is, God will add to it as He sees fit.. and it would be so much easier. Without worrying, there isn't stress, and without stress.. there is plenty of happiness :) I know that seems like a long shot, but it's so possible, and I'm beginning to see how God's already started showing me where and how to be content. Gosh, God is good.

I'll update you on my life real quick:

Today, I worked from 8AM-6PM... long stinkin day.

but I am so blessed to have the job I have.

I love working at FBC Belton!

I love the people I work with, and I love my kiddos.

I have been getting so much fulfillment out of my job lately,

and it's a beautiful thing. :)

those 3 and 4 year olds really make me smile!

Tonight, I went to dinner with my home group from TBC: NASH BASH!

love them, love them, love them!

Everyone in our group is so absolutely different in so many ways,

but we have SO much fun together,

and we get along so well.

I am just so happy around them.

I decided to become a college YoungLife leader..great decision.

I already love it!

I love the other leaders, I love the small groups, all of it! :)

I'm super excited to invest in lives and see God move in huge ways!

I recently started going to the gym again...

and it's a great stress reliever.

I'll probs be spending lots of time there :)

and my rangers.. well, they're not so great right now,

but at least they're in the world series! :)

and now, I'm ready for bed, but I had to share :)

love youuu

inspired...it's time.

call me crazy.. but today i'm going to write about my favorite sports team... ever.

The Texas Rangers. I know that sounds a little ridiculous, but this team reallyinspires me.

Yeah, maybe not all of the guys are Christians, maybe they don't make the best decisions in life, and maybe they all make mistakes..but they're human. I've noticed more and more lately how much of a TEAM the Rangers are. They pour into each others' lives on and off the field, and it's so evident, especially this season. The Rangers, as individuals, and as a team.. inspire me.

example number 1: Josh Hamilton.
I know most everyone knows his story, or at least the gist of it. I know you've heard that he leaves the room during the crazy celebrations with alcohol, and I know most of you probably know that he relapsed in his addiction and made mistakes, fairly recently. I bet a lot of you don't know that he sometimes goes out and shares his testimony with fans after the games, and i bet a lot of you don't know that the songs he chose to play while he walks up to bat are Christian songs. The man is incredible. If you haven't watched his I am Second video.. watch it:

http://www.iamsecond.com/

example number 2: CJ Wilson.

I watched an interview with CJ recently and I was blown away. I had no idea that he was such an incredible guy. He has never had a drop of alcohol, never smoked, and never done any drugs in his life. He goes with Josh Hamilton to do alternative celebrations, too. This is my first example of showing how incredibly close this team is.. as individuals, and humans, not just professional baseball players.

example number 3: David Murphy.

David Murphy is also an remarkable individual. He went to Baylor University (Sic 'em bears!) and played baseball there. He is always so humble in his interviews, on and off the field. He would hit the game winning home run, and still not hesitate to give God the glory. His walk-up song, similar to Josh Hamilton, is Strong Tower by Kutless... love it.

These three guys are a very small part of this Rangers team. Nonetheless, each one of their stories is incredible and each one plays a HUGE role in the team's overall reputation.

Now to look at how legit the Rangers are as a team/organization:

example 1: Ron Washington admitted to using cocaine and offered to resign as the manager of the Texas Rangers. He admitted to the league and to the team, before his drug testing results came back positive. He apologized, and the team accepted. The players, owners, and organization decided to forgive Washington for his faults and keep him as the manager. Look where this took them: the World Series.

example 2: all of the playoff wins are so exciting, and the celebrations are the same through out the major leagues.. champagne and beer being sprayed everywhere in the clubhouse. Josh Hamilton, as a former alcoholic and someone who strives to bring all glory to Christ, is uncomfortable with these celebrations and doesn't participate. So, the team got ginger ale to celebrate with, just so Josh can be included. If that doesn't scream true teammates... i'm not quite sure what does. :)

It's incredible to watch this team rally around one another and pull together through the mistakes, through the losses, through the wins, and through everything. I love watching them play the game, and i love hearing their interviews off the field. I'm so proud to call myself a Rangers fan. and I am even more excited thatthey will get their chance in the world series this year. It's a beautiful thing. and I think they've earned it. Just because of the kind of team they are...full of love and full of drive.

Claws and Antlers baby.

As for me.. I'm doing well :) I took two road trips this week.. one to CSTAT and one to ATX :) it's been a blast. I'm loving every second of life. It's so beautiful. and God is SOOO good.

:)

stress.

"therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34

SO, this week has been CRAZY. I have 4 tests (2 down, 2 to go) and lots of pageant and CAB planning to take care of! Life is full of the craziness and the busyness, but in the midst of life flying, there is peace. God is good. I have been reminding myself daily of this verse and it puts me at ease. So, i wanted to share it in case anyone else's week is as insane as mine :)

In other news, life is full of joy as well! :) my cousin is pregnant after many failed trials, praise Him. :) My friends are the absolute greatest, and i'm having so much fun. I got to go home this weekend and spend time with my family and my best friends! it was pure bliss :) AND, to top it all off... daddy got tickets to the rangers playoff game saturday!! :) We sat in the second deck, and even though they lost.. it was the experience of a lifetime. I grew up in that stadium, going to all kinds of games and getting tons of awesome experiences.. so going to this SOLD OUT PLAYOFF game, just made it all the more special. I loved it!

and as for tonight... THE RANGERS WON THE ALDS AND ARE GOING ON IN THE PLAYOFFS! :D :D :D :D :D i was excited.. beyond excited!!!! :) and i got to celebrate with my friends.. we're making brownies.

What a life i live... love it

life.

It's been about a week since my last post.. dang, i've been busy!
Here is what consumes my life (in this order):
1. School--next week, I have 4 tests.
2. Work
3. Church and related events (biblestudies/homegroups)
3. CAB events/meetings/planning
4. Miss MHB and Crusader Knights Steering committees
and finally,
my social life.

I'm still making new friends, and my new relationships are growing stronger each day :) It's wonderful, and I love it. I've been struggling a lot with trying to gain the world's acceptance and trying to "fit in" lately, but I finally figured out that I should be trying to gain the acceptance of Christ and "fit in" to his kingdom, so that is what I'm working on. What a faithful God I serve. He has fulfilled each desire I have given Him and I feel so entirely blessed! Its an amazing feeling.

So that's where I'm at.
See ya!

God is good, all the time.

This is a picture from the house we worked on in Salado. :) and in my last post, I left you stating that I was really learning how to serve, or at least desiring to have the heart of a servant. Since then, I have heard two sermons on service and generosity. One was on Wednesday night at FOCUS (which is my FAVORITE part of the week!) and one was Sunday at TBC :) I just love when God places exactly what you need to hear, right in front of you! He is so good.

Here's the run-down on the rest of my life..

Family weekend was wonderful, I love my family and I miss them SO much! Cowboys won the game vs. the Texans! UMHB is still undefeated. Rangers clinched the AL West, and My daddy is the BEST and got me a ticket to the TEXAS RANGERS PLAYOFF GAME! i'm SO pumped. I skyped with Jennifer, and finally got to see baby Alexis..can't wait to go home and take her to the zoo! I'm continuing to meet new people and make new friends! It's officially fall here.. and I'm not sure I'm okay with the morning/evening temps, but the afternoon is wonderful. There is a dreaded stomach bug going around work right now, prayers that I stay healthy, please! Miss MHB Pageant practices officially kicked off tonight, and I'm so blessed to be involved! Classes...(i guess since i'm in college and all, i should say something about them) they're hard. It's already been a tough semester, but God is good, and I'm surviving.

welp, that's all for now!

love. :)