Irene who?...

Talk about fretting for nothing....way to go Hurricane Irene.  Now, to be fair, I was one of those people who was a bit nervous about that approaching storm.  For those of you who really know me, I have a super phobia of tornadoes.  I hate not knowing when it is coming, or where it's going to go.  I have absolutely no control over them, and that is probably why I am so petrified of them.  But, with a hurricane, I had time to prepare, make a plan, and I had safe places to go if I needed to.  I was actually looking forward to being able to "beat" scary weather...turns out the joke was on me (and all of Charleston).

Turns out all that planning, fretting and leaving work early was a WASTE!  Now, for those people north of us on the eastern coast, I am super glad that you all planned, fretted and left work early!! But, that is not the point to my rambling.  I feel like I am such a worry-wort. I get nervous when I do not have control over things (which happens a lot actually), and I forget the most important fact, that I don't have control over anything...I just think I do.

Little miss Irene got me thinking...no matter how much we think we have control over something, we don't.  God has control over everything.  And thank goodness that He does.  I mean, it's silly really....for us to think we should have control over everything!  When we have a God who is more powerful than any natural disaster, any disease, or any fear, why would we want to take on all those things on our own?

This is my challenge for all you fine folks (and myself) this week....Stop trying to have complete control over everything!! It will never happen, and we should be thankful for that!  If we had all the control, can you imagine the havoc that would commence?  Holy cow! Instead, let's remind ourselves Who we should always be putting our trust and confidence in.  No matter what we face, we can rely on a God who has I complete control over every breath that we take.

"I want you to know how safe and secure you are in My Presence.  That is a fact, totally independent of your feelings.  You are on your way to heaven; nothing can prevent you from reaching that destination." -Jesus Calling

Are you smiling now? See you next week!

Last First Day

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...

Okay, please do not make fun of me for this, but I am actually excited that tomorrow is the beginning of classes.  Not only does tomorrow represent my last first day of college classes, but it also means I am one step closer to graduating in December! (Hello best Christmas present EVER!)  I feel as if this summer just flew by, but I learned so much along the way that I will take with me during this last semester.

I feel as if I already got a taste of the real world this summer...since I technically only had one day of summer before starting work.  Through my job, I got to witness first hand how a real business works.  It was as if I was taking a course on "real life business" this summer.  If anything, I am more motivated than ever to do my best these last couple months just to prepare myself for what is to come once I am officially an adult.

Here are a few things that I have come away with this summer:

• The stress you learn to deal with in college prepares you for constantly being stressed in the real world. But, instead of papers/tests/projects to strike fear in your heart, things such as mortgages, gas money, and not disappointing your boss become the new things to stress about. 
• There is actually something to look forward to....no more homework.  You literally go home from work, and enjoy watching Wheel of Fortune and House Hunters...it's all about the little things that bring pleasure to life!
• You become very appreciative for being paid for working your hardest, instead of going broke paying for pulling all nighters and getting carpal tunnel from loads of school work and procrastination. 
• I will still have to take each day as it comes...so be ready.
• Unfortunately, you realize that you actually did learn things in college that will benefit you in the real world...just not math.

Now, I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone (teachers, students and new "adults") a wonderful new school year!! I am currently living with two teachers while waiting to close on my first condo, so I feel like this is an exciting time for everyone.  You never know what each new year will bring, and I hope it brings awesome things to each of you!

Hopefully, my next post will be about something awesome that I learned from an incredible week (trying to stay optimistic before the hectic student life sets in again).  Until then...

Even though I go to CofC, I will always be a Blue Hose at heart!

Trusting

"Hold My hand, and walk with Me through this day. Together we will savor the pleasures and endure the difficulties it brings...I am your Guide, as well as your constant Companion.  I know every step of the journey ahead of you, all the way to heaven." -Jesus Calling

Have you ever been stopped in your tracks, and realized that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.  Despite any not-so-great circumstances you might be going through, you all of a sudden have this realization of clarity, that where you are is all a part of a greater plan that has been set out for you.  I just had one of those moments...

I was reading "Words of Hope" on Hannah's Hope Ministries website, and Hope's most recent passage truly made me stop and wonder How did she know I needed to hear that?  Lately, so many extraordinary things have been happening in my life, but it always seems as if something keeps getting in the way.  I was beginning to think that maybe God has another plan for me...and I was becoming really bummed about it.

But then I read that blog post, which was about staying where you are and not fleeing from your situation.  Keep fighting and keep trying because you never know what God has planned for you in the exact place that you are now.  That is going to be my goal...to not trust in my situation, but trust in the One who has complete control over every situation I will ever encounter.

When you begin to think with this new sense of clarity, you begin to see things through a new perspective.  There are little reminders set before you throughout your day that if you just take the time to look at, you will be reminded that there is more to this world than whatever you are facing.  I am so thankful for that reassurance.  I pray that each of you know that wonderful gift!

I'm sorry to have missed 2 weekends in a row of blog posts.  I was dealing with technical difficulties and am in the process of a huge move. I hope everyone has a great week!! As usual, I will leave you with a happy thought...