Are you Ready for the Great Debate?

Just thought I'd start with something happy today :)

Happy humid and rainy Sunday, everyone!! Sorry for not posting last week.  The joys of my last semester as a college student are, once again, getting in the way of more important things such as blogging on Sundays.  I don't think I'm alone in wishing that fall would just hurry up and get here!! Hello! Pumpkin Spice flavored items are available, which means the temperatures are supposed to drop and not be in the 90's! I'm just saying...it better be cooler before more Christmas commercials start airing...anyways..

As I was reading the paper this morning (yes, I am a 35 year old in a 22 year old body), I came across a picture that looked familiar.  It was my church and my pastor.  It turns out that people have a problem when the church actually talks about things that pertain to our every day lives.  At Seacoast, we have been in a series called "Trending" and we have discussed numerous topics that appear on Twitter, Facebook, newspapers, etc.  The tough stuff.  The disputed stuff.  The things that people need to be informed of so that they do not sound ignorant when arguing about them with other people.

We are all created differently. Thank goodness for that.  How boring would it be if we all thought the same?! We are meant to have different opinions because each of us has our own personal lens to see the world through.  So far, we had discussed "trends" such as: heaven, eternity, hell, politics, 9/11, economics and today we tackled good ole gay marriage.  Talk about a great debate in the south.

I am proud to go to a church that accepts ALL people.  Today's discussion was not about whether something was right or wrong or whether or not you will go to hell for acting a certain way.  We were told to "love one another desperately!"  None of us are any better than anyone else, so why do we care about thinking we are right all the time?!? It's not about being right, it's about being Christ-Like! 

Accept one another, then just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. -Romans 15:7

Think about the impact you are making in each interaction you make throughout your daily routine.  How many people do you come in contact with who are slightly or extremely different than you?  When it comes down to it, we are called to LOVE.  Let's let this be our daily challenge!  I believe that great things can happen in this world, if we just stopped judging and started loving.  Just a thought.

Speaking of great debates...if you haven't heard, on Thursday, September 29 at Physicians Auditorium at the College of Charleston, there will be "The Great Debate" on The Existence of God.  Trust me!  You do not want to miss out on this opportunity to see Herb Silverman and Jack Hoey Jr. debate this "trending" topic.  Hope to see you there!

For more information on "The Great Debate", check out their Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=223913970989529&ref=ts

Remembering....

‎"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed"

-Isaiah 54:10

Where were you on that "normal" Tuesday morning on September 11, 2001?  It's incredible to remember in such detail a day that happened a decade ago, when I can barely remember what I ate last night for dinner.  For me, I remember being in the 7th grade at Dawkins Middle School in Mrs. Brown's class...

As our normal routine was commencing, someone runs into our classroom and whispers frantically into Mrs. Brown's ear and the television is immediately turned on.  All she kept saying was that this was going to be in our future history books and we would be studying this event for the rest of our lives.  As you can imagine, we were all a bit confused at what she was talking about.  It just looked like a building was on fire.  The TV was really small so it took us a while to realize that an airplane had hit that building.  Like most people, we thought it was a tragic accident....until that 2nd plane hit.

For 7th graders, we were pretty intuitive that a 2nd plane hitting a building was not right and was fueled by anger.  Even at age 12, I was a news junkie.  I think I started watching the Today Show before I could walk, so I actually grasped what the news anchors were saying, and I was terrified.  I was scared that such anger could push someone to do such unthinkable evil to another human being, let alone thousands of innocent lives!  My heart shattered at realizing that the world was much darker than I had grown up thinking...

I could not be prouder to be an American.  But I am even more proud of the fact that our nation can come together and fight through the adversities of this world.  One Nation Under God!  I know with all my heart that God is bigger than any terrorist that tries to face us; bigger than any threat that tries to destroy our courage; bigger than anything that tries to inflict evil on His children.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who were personally affected by the tragic events on 9/11/01. My thanks go out to all of those who are fighting to protect our beloved country from further acts of evil and violence.  For the land of the FREE, and the home of the BRAVE! 

Remembering...

 

Politics in church?...

"We're not righteous because of what we do.  We are righteous because of WHOSE we are!" -Tim Scott

Happy almost Labor Day!  I rocked my white shoes for the last time this year today...see ya next Easter!  Anyways...today I experienced something different than I normally do on a Sunday.  A mix of church and state.  Representative, Tim Scott came and spoke at Seacoast this morning, and he did the most amazing job!  Can I just say, that he might be one of the funniest people ever, simply because he gave a message that allowed everyone to laugh at politics while growing in understanding it.  As for me, I used to be a political science major, but I truly hate this time of political season of elections...all the bashing and terrible commercials make me want to gag..so I promise, this is NOT a campaign blog post...

As I'm sure each and every one of you know, our country is in a bit of trouble financially.  But, not just that, our country seems to be going through all kinds of darkness and difficulty.  But today, Mr. Scott brought up a great point, that seemed so simple, that it gave me such hope for our beloved country.  Have you noticed that throughout history, the United States has faced A LOT (a few world wars, slavery, a depression, etc) and yet, we have overcome them all.  God has protected our country throughout history.  Who is to say that He will not continue to take care of us now?  A good way to see how God works is to look at the past.

We have gotten a little off track, haven't we?  We are letting pride and unimportant things take over.  We have forgotten how to humble ourselves and remember what it is like to work hard for something.  I agree with what Mr. Scott said this morning...it will not be government that saves us, it will be our individual efforts along with the church.  The government is not meant to be where we tithe; that's the church's job.  The church can do more with our money effectively than the government ever could.  Individually, if we took the time to serve instead of try to lead, we could make such an immense change in this world.  "In order to be a leader, you must first be a servant." 


My challenge for us all this week, is for us to take a step back and look at how we are spending our lives and spending our money.  Where are you called to serve?  The beautiful thing is that we are all blessed with gifts and talents for specific areas that serve for the greater good!  Let us humble ourselves so that the Good Lord can pick us up and use us to redeem our country and then bring light into this dark world!

On another happy note...

...Pumpkin Spice is coming to Starbucks! AKA fall is almost here...like I said, Happy :)

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...

A New Beginning

"It's not having what you want. It's wanting what you've got." -Sheryl Crow

I think this past weekend was one of the hottest on record, and of course, it was moving weekend.  The streets of Charleston were flooded with Uhauls and other moving trucks.  Anyone who visited this beloved and historical city this weekend got a big ole' surprise.  There was no parking or room to walk around because of all the furniture and belongings being moved into cars and into new homes. But for me, it was the start of a new beginning...and adventure to my first place.

After one year of no cable, no car, no walking alone after dark and rodents wanting to be pets of the apartment complex, it was finally time to leave King Street.  To say that I am happy is an understatement!

What a wonderfully humbling past year it has been.  With lacking certain "necessities" that I had been used to having my whole life, I still had more than most people walking around Charleston have ever had in their life.  Right outside my apartment were people sleeping in Marion Square.  How could I complain about not watching HGTV on my own personal television or having to go to a restaurant to watch the Women's World Cup?

With my last semester of college ahead of me, and a great job that I am thankful for, I have a whole new appreciation for the little things that I once took for granted.  I will enjoy having a parking spot (that is FREE),  paying for my own cable, and having a place to call home that is safe.  I am full of thanks to the Big Guy Upstairs for teaching me some extremely important lessons over this past year.

Now, to give some much needed credit to that little apartment...I was blessed with a great roommate and was about 10 feet from campus.  That's about it! :)

My challenge for you all this week (especially if you moved as well) is to be thankful for what you have and enjoy it!  As for me, I am going to enjoy a nice long nap and ibprofin after the past two days of hauling furniture!  I hope you all have an incredible first week of August!! Until next week...

Remember: Love what you have! 

Surprise!

"When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.  And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow." -Shanna Niequist

Hello wonderful blogging world! I hope you have had an awesome week.  I thought my week was much less than awesome...until Friday that is.  Let's just say that this past week was one of those weeks that you are thankful for because they make you appreciate the good weeks.  You know what I mean?

This past week was filled with all sorts of craziness.  Let me just give you a quick example of what was experienced this eventful week:  too many people getting sick at work (including myself), testy attitudes, annoying insurance people that continue to put me on hold for at least 45 minutes, walking to work in 110+ heat index while still trying to look clean/professional, and going through my groceries much quicker than I should have...

I know that all of these things are quite petty.  For some reason, when all of them bunched together in attack mode this week, I fell to them and had one of the greatest pity-parties of all time.  I was pretty lame.  Little did I realize, until recently that is, that this is NOTHING in comparison to what other people have to face every day.  My "hard" week would be a type of heaven for others.  Who am I to complain?!  I have more than I could ever be thankful enough for!!

A few months ago, my bike was stolen from inside my apartment complex.  As bummed as I was, I just figured I was officially initiated into Charleston.  It was sort of a right of passage as a Charlestonian.  It really made me wish I had enough money to afford parking so I could have my car back.  Little did I know that my bike was stolen so that God could teach me a valuable lesson this week.  On Thursday, I met a youth pastor at the chiropractic office I work at.  We had a pleasant conversation talking about Hannah's Hope Ministries. It's so encouraging when God places so many fantastic people in that office who want to talk about their faith.  Well, to make a long story short, on Friday, I get a phone call at work telling me to come outside because the youth pastor has something for me...

A bike.  Are you kidding me?? What in the world have I done to deserve a bike from a new acquaintance?  He said that the Good Lord put it on his heart to give me means of transportation besides walking.  Technically, he does not want any credit for what he did and asked me not to tell anyone. Too bad, buddy! I am very thankful for what you did and I want you to take some much-needed credit!    He did good, too.  Not one splash of pink on the bike.  It's medium sized with white and light blue paint.  Winning!

Why do we complain so much when instead we should be thankful for what we do have?  This is something that I am going to try and make a part of my daily tasks, but I know will be a daily challenge.  Take time this week to really open your eyes.  Open them wide and see all the good things in your life.  We all have a little bad.  But, without those not-so-great obstacles in our lives, we wouldn't be able to recognize all the good.

Smile! Life is good :)

Mischief Managed

What do I do with my life now?...

This week was filled with so many mixed emotions for me.  As I'm sure many of you know, the final Harry Potter film premiered this week (and it was pretty epic I must admit).  In 5th grade, Mr. Gray read our class a book that would become a part of my life for the next 12 years.  Who knew that this one man would introduce me to a story that would capture my attention for all future book reports, long trips and any spare time to myself.  As excited as I was to finally see if my imagination had been correct while reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I felt as if it was the end of something.  More than just the end of an era, but the end of my childhood.  Most people refer to me as a "35 year old" who gets more middle aged every year, but J.K. Rowling wrote books that kept me young at heart.

Even though I will always have the books and the DVDs, a part of me is pretty sad that there will be no more surprises from Harry, Hermione and my beloved Ron :) But, I have a feeling that Ms. Rowling will have something else up her creative sleeve for all of us Potter fans! Until then..."Mischief Managed".

Now, I promise that this blog post will not be a complete debbie-downer, because as you all know, this is a happy blog!  I just had to get that off my chest! 

Okay, now this part my seem sad, but I do have a happy thought to go along with it.  I am beyond bummed that the Women's US Soccer team lost the World Cup Final today.  I just knew we were going to win, and America would finally start believing in US Soccer...down the tube.  BUT, I must say, there is a much bigger lesson to be learned from today's game.  Not only did we give up way too many opportunities, but this match showed how quickly we all forget what really matters...

• Although we have dealt with some terrible natural disasters in our country, we have not had a tsunami rip our country apart.
• Even though we can find many things to complain about (the economy, politics, social issues, etc) at least we have the luxury of having our homes intact and our loved ones with us for the most part.
• Even though I WOULD HAVE LOVED for the US to finally have a soccer victory, Japan's victory meant so much more to their nation that it could have ever mattered to us.

You see, it's okay to be sad and disappointed that we lost after such a Cinderella-like story of a World Cup, but there was such a greater victory of positive news to cheer about in another country that was desperate for anything uplifting.  

I am proud to see some of the messages from Americans on Facebook displaying their love and support for Japan.  I know that each of these individuals is sad about the loss, but their response shows integrity and respect.  I am proud to be an American.  I am proud of our Women's US Soccer team!

"Look at people through lenses of love; see them from My perspective.  This is how you walk in the light and it pleases Me."  -Jesus Calling

I hope that each of you has such a wonderful week!  You never know what is planned for you this week, so get excited about the possibilities ahead of you!  Until then..

USA!!!!

Ah!! What an exciting game!!! Ben and I sat in Mellow Mushroom for 3 hours watching that crazy game!! I love watching American's come together, especially for a Women's World Cup game! Just a quick shout out to the Brazil team in thanks for their great acting skills.  If it weren't for their wasting of time pretending to be injured, we wouldn't have had 3 added minutes to score and tie up the game!  Way to not give up Team USA!!! :)

That was fun.  Now, onto this week's blog post!  Sorry for not getting one posted last week.  4th of July weekend made it very difficult to be at a computer!! These past couple of weeks have been difficult ones.  Even though I have more than I deserve to be thankful for, these past two weeks have been humbling ones for sure.  It's my fault though.  You see, I prayed for patience.  Now, for those of you who do not know, if you ask for patience, the Good Lord will give it to you.  I am definitely being tested in the patience department.

When it comes to buying your first place, patience is the WRONG thing to ask for.  Just when you think everything is going smoothly, WHAM!!! You get pushed back another month.  Now, this wouldn't be so bad if my lease didn't go out at the end of this month.  A new challenge of finding a temporary place to live for one month has become my new obstacle to tackle.  Thankfully, I do have options, but the wait was a hard pill to swallow.

Have you ever been there?  Maybe not with real estate, but in life?  You are on cloud 9, everything is going pretty great, and then all of a sudden, things change.  I am so thankful that I believe in a God that never experiences that.  NOTHING ever catches Him off guard.  Where as for us, without the crappy days, we would never appreciate the good.  So, I guess that is the silver lining.

One major lesson that I have learned through this entire process is that even though things happen and place situations out of our hands, they are never out of God's hands.  No matter what we face in life, there will always be a way out, another door will open or another opportunity will arise that we never saw coming.  We truly have nothing to fret about, yet we do it anyway. (I'm so guilty of being a fretter..)

Just like in the US v. Brazil game today, DON'T GIVE UP!  No matter our circumstances, there is always hope!  Make that your mantra for this week! No matter what each day brings, pray and know that God has a plan that cannot be faltered by anything that He doesn't already know about!  

"Who is in charge of your life?  If it is you, then you have reason to worry.  But, if it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive."  -Jesus Calling 

Now, after such a fabulous game.  I am going to relax and enjoy the rest of this Sunday!! I hope each of you do the same! Looks like these two guys already got the memo! Until next weeek...

Second Chances

"God doesn't say, 'Change your life and I will accept you.' He says, 'I accept you--Now let's change your life!'" -Max Lucado

Happy beautiful Sunday everyone!! What a glorious day we have been given! I swear, I am getting a little creeped out by how on-the-dot Seacoast is with having a message that seems to fit my life perfectly.  This morning was one of those mornings where I just knew something cool was coming.  Even though it's been a long week, I couldn't keep the smile off my face, and I couldn't explain why.  Then I heard the message at Seacoast and realized that was exactly why my heart was so full of joy today.

Before the message even started, a question was posed to us.."What do you do when you realize God has answered your prayers, and the great things you never thought possible were coming true?"  That really hit home with me.  Almost 3 years ago, I decided to stop living for myself, and begin living for God, and my life began to rapidly change.  At first, it was really difficult because my closest friends didn't really know what was going on with me.  My desires were completely changed and then I felt the calling to transfer...biggest risk I've ever taken.

Now, almost 2 years after I transferred, the things I never thought possible are beginning to happen.  It is as if I have been given a second chance to make up for the mistakes I had made in my past.  God is placing me in opportunities that allow me to do what I love, be with who I love and have a chance to watch Him work miracles.  It is incredible to know that when the good things come along in our life, all the Big Guy wants you to do is watch.  Simple as that.

At first, I used to be nervous about what others would think about me, because my world had been rocked by God.  All I wanted to do was celebrate and spread the awesomeness I was feeling to others, but I didn't know exactly how to do that in a status-quo-driven world.  Now, I am completely uninhibited.  I don't care who thinks I look silly or odd.  My security lies in something much stronger than this world.

This is my challenge for you fine people this week:  CELEBRATE!  Who cares what others think?  We are all given second chances!  We all make mistakes (I have way too many to count), but we all can try again and succeed!  That's the beauty of grace people!

The only word I can use to describe this week's video is cute.  It really speaks for itself though.

Holy Hot & Humid Hump Day!

Cooper

Sorry for the delayed post!! Life has been wonderfully hectic this past week, but have no fear, a new post is here! :) I'm beginning to adjust to this new haircut quite well.  My long hair would have been such a burden in this 100+ degree weather!  I don't think I've ever been so thankful to work and not be outside...it's been miserable out there.  At the end of some days after walking home from work, I would think to myself, "I'm so glad that this day is over and I do not have to endure it ever again!"  That got me thinking...

We will never live the same week twice.  But, essential lessons are learned each day.  As a history nerd, I've come to the conclusion that we can either choose to ignore history, which usually repeats itself in some form or another, or we can learn from it.  As for me, there are some things in my past that I wish beyond anything that I could erase forever!! College unfortunately produces those kinds of things...but seriously, I know each of you has something you wish you could take back.

Of course, that made me continue down this path of thought and I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't trade any day for the world.  Apparently, my story has a few (or many) bumps in the road, but each bump has taught me a new lesson, and I wouldn't be the person that I am today if it weren't for each chapter in my life.  Even though I am thrilled that I do not have to live the same day twice, for those days that I try to mentally block, I know now that there was a reason behind each of those days.

Challenge for the week:  The past is the past!  No more feeling guilty.  Set yourself free and choose to learn from those mistakes.  Each day is a new day filled with new opportunities!  Look for the good!  It's out there!

"Our earthly wilderness experiences are designed to develop us into men and women of faith." -Charles Swindoll

Here's some good right here...

Nothing better than some Harry Potter excitement!...only 23 days!

We Are Promised a Destiny

I am overflowing with joy this weekend!! What an awesome week this has been!  I feel as if I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve, yet again.  Not only did I get my first place, but I finally donated my hair after almost five years of growing it out.  I know that each of these incidents are quite opposite of one another, but each has such a special place in my heart!  I am thankful for the joy that is in my  heart and I hope that this joy will be contagious and spread to as many people as possible! 

This week has been a week that I have been waiting on since I transferred to Charleston almost two years ago.  It was a combination of numerous moments finally coming together and making sense.  As if a giant light bulb finally turned on. So many opportunities are coming my way all of a sudden, and it is as if I can hear God chuckling up there saying, "I told you so".  I just had to be patient (which is quite a challenge for me).  

I think the reason I am so happy at the moment is that I had to go through some trials and valleys to get where I am today.  It definitely makes you appreciate the good times.  I know that more valleys will come, but now I have a new sense of clarity that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Each and every one of us is going to go through difficult times (for you, that time might be right now), but don't fret! There is a plan for whatever situation you are in and there will be joy again! 

"The joy of living in My presence outshines all other pleasures."  

-Jesus Calling

Even though tomorrow is Monday, another way to look at it is seeing tomorrow as the start of a fantastic week that lies ahead of you!  You never know just what might happen!  I hope that each and every one of you finds joy this week and holds on to it tightly! There is still good in this world to be happy about! :)

Here is the most joyous sound I've ever heard...

What a Wonderful Wedding Weekend!

Wow! What a fabulous wedding weekend in Columbia! Congratulations Lauren and Zac Rhinesmith!! I wish you both all the happiness in the world!! I know that God will do great things in your lives!! And to the bridesmaids....Thank you for such a fun weekend!! What great friends I have been blessed with!! I think we should have reunions more often!!

Just like last weekend at the Bachelorette party, I learned a few more things that I thought you would all be interested in yet again this weekend.  I know you have been waiting all week for this:

• It is just as hot in Columbia as it is in Charleston, maybe even worse...I think that weddings in the arm-pit of the south should require much less clothing to be worn. 
• Once again, heels are the spawn of Satan's shoes!  I think I might actually have a slight ankle injury from that glorious wedding day! (All for you Mrs. Rhinesmith!)
• Rehearsal dinner speeches need to be rehearsed just like the wedding....note to self. 
• Having a hotel room with a flat screen in the bathroom really made this weekend feel like a vacation.  Thank you Sheraton Hotel!
• Getting a second weekend to reconnect with some of my FAVORITE people from PC = Priceless!  I wish the weekend never ended! 

This weekend, I got a call from a friend.  I was startled because she sounded frantic on the phone!  It turns out that something had caught her attention, and she just had to tell someone about it.  I was honored to be the person she decided to call! :) It turns out that what she had stumbled upon was a story about a young girl who was raised atheist but then saw God and heaven and began to paint.  Her works are something else!  You would never believe that this girl was self-taught.  But here is the real clincher....her first vision/painting occurred when she was only 4 years old!  Holy cow. My friend was completely awe struck and didn't go to sleep that night because God spoke to her through that little girl's story.
(Check out her story!)

Has something like that ever happened to you?  As for me, I believe that certain things effect certain people differently.  God created each and every one of us in a unique way, so why wouldn't He speak to us in ways that only we would understand!?  Not everyone is going to have a "burning bush" occur in their lives, but God desires to communicate to us in whichever way we will listen.

For me, and for so many others, God spoke to me through Hannah Sobeski and her battle with cancer more than four years ago.  I cannot wait to finally donate my hair (which has taken 5 freaking years to grow) in honor of her and Ben's grandmother.  I hope that we do not lose the awe that comes with knowing that the God of the universe wants to talk to us and get to know us personally!

"I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it!" -Jesus Calling


I hope that each and every one of you has a fantastic week!! I guess I will get off my vacation high and get pumped about going back to the real world of work and no TV in the bathroom.  Later!

This picture is dedicated to this past weekend!  May we all learn to rock out on our air-guitars like K. Dils! :)

Happy Memorial Day!

Okay, so now that you are a big pile of love after watching that video, let this week's post begin! :)

I hope everyone had a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend!  I just want to take the time to say a special THANK YOU to all of the men and women who have given their lives for this country!  We should never take freedom for granted!

I got to spend this weekend with some of the most amazing girls in the world!  One of my best friends and old roommate, Lauren Bagnal's bachelorette weekend commenced and Charleston will never be the same because of it! It was such a wonderful reunion and I was so sad to see some of my favorite people leave Chucktown!  During the 60 epic hours we spent together I compiled a list of things I learned from a Bachelorette weekend (Don't fret, I'm keeping it PG)

• Bike Taxis are expensive! ($25 bucks are you serious?)
• High heels are the worst idea ever in downtown Charleston....so even when you think you have found a loophole with wedges, your feet still feel broken the next morning!
•  Groucho's makes the absolute greatest sandwich and salad tray.  Those massive platters were fabulous re-fuelers at 2 a.m. (Don't forget the pickles!)
• Boys are idiots...Even though this is self explanatory, boys listen up. When a girl says she is not interested...she means it. The end! (And do not anger "Samantha" after a night out!) haha!!
• Lastly, and MOST important!  Time is not a factor when it comes to best friends!  I transferred almost 2 years ago, and the friendships I made at PC have only blossomed! I am so thankful to have such great friends in my life!

I cannot wait until Lauren's wedding next weekend, and you all can bet that there will be a killer blog post about it, so get excited!! I hope you all have an awesome week!! Until we meet again, here is some more happy:

 

I guess the world didn't end...

Sorry I didn't get to post on my usual day, but this weekend has been full of fun and celebrations!  Not only is today Ben, my dad and Ben's grandpa's birthday, but this weekend has been full of other birthday celebrations as well!! I have officially devoured way too many cakes in a 48 hour period!  (Not that I am complaining at all!)  I would just like to take this time to say a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all you wonderful people who are celebrating being born! You beat the "rapture"! hahaha


Speaking of which, for those of you who heard that ridiculous news that the world was supposed to end on Saturday, I guess we can officially laugh at those who started such garbage!  I'm sorry, but no wonder people think Christians are crazy!  As a Christ Follower, I hope that people will soon realize that in the Bible it clearly states that we will not know when the end of the world will come, (Matthew 24:42-44 to be exact) so stop fretting people!!! Gosh, I feel better now that I've gotten that off my chest...


Okay, now onto the goods.  Have you ever wondered why you are chosen to deal with certain trials in your life?  I think about it all the time, which sometimes turns into a serious pity-party.  But, then, all of a sudden, something happens and that big light bulb finally turns on over your head.  You finally begin to realize that what you are going through is just a part of God's will that is preparing you for something far greater.  Like, helping another person who is dealing with a similar issue or realizing that your trial has led you into people's lives that never would have happened without your difficulty.  The latter has been something that has been brought to my attention lately.


As you all may remember from one of my posts a couple of months ago, I have a running injury/condition called piriformis syndrome that makes my hips come out of alignment easily.  It just so happens that a stranger in a yoga class tells me to visit this chiropractor and all will be fixed!  Well, for someone like myself who does whatever it takes to avoid doctors, it was very difficult for me to trust someone who cracks people.  Little did I know, this was a key part of the plan that God had for me because here I am over a year later working for that very chiropractor and meeting the most wonderful people ever!! Not only that, but God has given me one less thing to worry about because every time I get hurt, I have an on-call fixer! Thanks God!  


Everyone that comes into that office has a story.  As a genetic chatter-box (thanks to Chris Lawrence) I have learned some great lessons and met some great people that I never could have come in contact with if it weren't for my stubborn hips!  I remember being so angry at God for putting this struggle in my life, and now I could not be more thankful!  The older I get, the more I realize that I would rather not know everything about everything!  It totally spoils the fun when I actually begin to understand what God is doing in my life.  It just gives me another reason to put my entire trust in His will for me!  


This is my challenge for you fine readers this week.  When you are analyzing your life (don't deny it, you do it) take a step back for a second and breathe.  You never know if what you are going through is all a part of a greater plan that has been given only for you to accomplish.  God would never give you anything that He didn't know you couldn't handle, and He loves you too much to do that to you either!


"Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me.  When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you." -Jesus Calling


As a way for each of you to celebrate the world not ending, here is something to start off your week and maybe make you forget about your struggle just for a little bit!  Have a wonderful week!! :)

Please pray for those were were devastated by the tornado that hit Missouri.  Every day is a blessing!

An Epiphany

"Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; No, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction." -Max Lucado


Hello and happy Sunday!!  It is a stunning day here in Chucktown and I could  not be happier to be alive!  I had a lot on my mind today, so I decided I should definitely share it with my blogging community!! As you all probably know by now, I am a little bitter about the fact that I have to wait until December to graduate.  I think this feeling has been heightened ever since I saw all of my friends looking fly in their cap and gowns.  I couldn't seem to wrap my head around why God wanted to make me endure another semester of servitude to college.  I think I finally got my answer this morning.  At Seacoast Church, we are beginning a series on David and God definitely spoke to me, even though David's story has nothing to do with graduating from college.  


You see, we are studying about how God chooses people to fulfill his works here on earth.  A question was asked to the congregation..."Would God choose me?"  I had to really think about it and let it sink in that I am not so sure that I am a capable vessel for God to use for His glory.  That was a hard pill to swallow.  


Let me begin with a few things that stood out to me this morning:

• "Don't be in a hurry when God isn't"-Easier said than done my friends.  This was definitely a quote that made the light bulb over my head FINALLY turn on.  Maybe God just does not want me to graduate right now because He has specific plans for me to accomplish before I do walk across that stage.  He has been doing the most incredible things in my life since I have come to Charleston and I know that none of those cool things could have been concocted by me! God is doing incredible things, and not just in my life...but yours too!  Transferring was never part of my "want to do" agenda, but I am sure now that transferring schools in the middle of my college career was all a part of God shaping me into the woman that He wants me to be.  
• "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones.  If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities" LUKE 16:10-Now, for those of you who know me fairly well you know that every time someone asks me what I want to do with my life, I answer with something like..."I want to help people" or "I just want to make a difference".  Even though that sounds all well and good, it isn't going to happen if I follow my own path and not God's.  Maybe He simply wants to teach me little lessons now to prepare me for what is to come.   Nothing is too small of a task to make a difference.  I do not have to do something HUGE right now, especially if I am not meant to.  
• Everybody is called to serve-"The goal is more important than the role" (Greg Surratt) It is essential to have a humble heart!  Nothing that we do here on this earth should be for our own personal glory!  I am so encouraged when I think that each and every one of us is uniquely designed to do something incredible!  Whether big or small, each of us was wired a certain way for a specific purpose!  

I don't know about y'all, but I think that is pretty awesome!  I am so motivated to really practice listening to the Big Guy and spending daily time with Him so that I cam prepare myself for what He has planned for me.  I desire to be used in a way that will help this world and bring glory to the One who deserves it, not me.  


I hope that each of you are encouraged to use the wonderful gifts that you have been given to make a difference!  It's the little things that make a BIG difference!  I have become accustomed to leaving on a happy note, so I found yet another happy video to keep you smiling throughout your week!  

Summer is finally here!

Happy Mother's Day!

What an absolutely beautiful day in Charleston to celebrate Mother's Day!  Too bad my wonderful mom (Janey Fresh) lives in Spartanburg.  If she were here, today would have been perfect!  I just want to take a moment to thank all those awesome mommas out there!  I am so thankful for my mom and I hope she knows how much she is loved! I don't know what I'd do or who I'd be today without you! :)

So, it has been about a week since my last exam and I could not be more thrilled!  Congratulations to all the graduates out there! I cannot wait to join you all in December!! Even though I've technically only had one day of summer, I will take working over school ANY DAY! Also, there are so many awesome things happening this summer, so my excitement level is intensely high!

• One of my best friends is getting married in less than a month!! WOOT!  Bags, I cannot wait to celebrate you and Zac's big day with all of our friends!! This is going to be the celebration of the year...move over Royal Wedding!  Sorry Lauren, I just had to put one of our Freshman pictures in this one! Hanging out with the most wonderful bridal party ever is going to be a highlight of my year! 

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2:  Where do I even begin?  For more than a decade, I have been been that nerd who goes to every midnight premiere (book and movie) usually in my Ron Weasley shirt.  It is going to be very bitter-sweet sitting through my last premiere...I do not know what I am going to look forward to movie-wise after this. (I guess the Twilight franchise will do for now..).  
• Simply enjoying NO classes and living the dream in Chucktown:  For those of y'all not living in Charleston, you really do not get to enjoy it during the school year.  I am looking forward to spending zero time in Addlestone Library and enjoying the beautiful culture that Charleston has to offer!  I finally went to the beach for the first time this season today.  This is not right for someone who lives here.  I can honestly say that school has humbled me to appreciate the little things in life!  

This morning at Seacoast Church my sister and I heard a sermon about the importance of being a friend to everyone.  There are always those who are harder to love than others, but you never know when you might need that person in a difficult time.  "Let nice be your default" was one of the quotes Greg Surratt said this morning and I thought it was definitely quote-worthy!  This week, challenge yourself to love everyone, even those who take a little bit more effort to love.  

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.  It has no survival value. Rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." -C.S. Lewis 

Done....well, sort of.

Holy exam week(s)!  Sorry I have not had the chance to post anything new...you can blame school for that! What a crazy past two weeks this has been!! Thank the good Lord that exams are now behind me, and only one more semester left of my collegiate career!  In only two weeks, I have learned so many lessons that I just had to talk about here in the good ole blog!

First, umm...hello ridiculous amount of news!! First, tornadoes, a royal wedding, and then the death of Osama bin Ladin. Even though I do not have cable (which is awful, no one should ever do that), every social networking site exploded at the announcement of each of these events.  I'm thankful I at least have the Internet to keep me connected to the world!  

• To the families of victims in those deadly tornadoes, my thoughts and prayers are with each of you!! It is times like these that remind us that we have very little control over this world, even though we like to think we do.  I hope that disasters such as this will only unite us all together in hope so that we can work through this sad time together in order to bring a brighter tomorrow to those who are hurting. 
• On a happier note, the Royal Wedding was a burst of needed "happy" news, which is lacking in our media.  Even though I did not get up at 4am to watch it (I had already pulled too many all-nighters that week for exams), watching the highlights of it warmed my soul!  What a beautiful sight to see!  Even though I heard many females crying over the loss of a single Prince William, I think we can all agree that Kate looked gorgeous and stole the show! 

Don't we look great? 

• Now to the news that seemed to stop time.  In the middle of studying for an exam, all of a sudden, my Facebook news feed blows up along with my Twitter feed with chants of USA! USA! USA! and Team America, etc.  The death of Osama bin Ladin had taken over the Internet, and my studying.  I had so many mixed emotions.  I can remember exactly where I was in the 7th grade when my teacher turned on the news to show planes plowing into the Twin Towers.  My blood began to boil and I was actually glad that he was dead.  After waking up the next morning, I found myself convicted for celebrating the death of someone.  Even though he deserved what he got, that does not mean we should celebrate that specifically.  So I am going to take the time now to celebrate the fact that we are blessed to have such amazing troops giving their lives for our country and to defend us from terrorism. Thank you to all the men and women who keep us safe!  

Now, Ben and I went to another wedding this weekend that was just as beautiful as any royal affair!  Congratulations to James and Natalie Neal!! I hope you all enjoyed your absolutely perfect day!! It was wonderful to be able to see some PC faces again!! That 12 hour trip in 24 hours was totally worth it!! 

For those of you still suffering through exams, here is a happy thought for you!  And for those of you who are  living the dream of summer, this is also for you!  And for those of you who are graduated and realize that you no longer have summer vacations, guess what....this is for you! Hope it brings a smile to your face! :) 

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." -Mother Teresa 

Thank you

Isn't it crazy how things just seem to fall easily into place sometimes? I do not know about you, but I definitely take those things for granted!  Sometimes, I am so focused on what is going wrong or what I wish was different that I miss the wonderful gift that is right in front of my face.  Life in Charleston has changed my perspective in a way that I never imagined possible!  

You see, when I was at Presbyterian College, I thought life was good.  Life was pretty easy (besides the schoolwork).  And I did not realize that the life changes that were happening to me at PC were simply preparing me for what I would face here in the Chuck.  God's good like that, you know?  Let me give some examples:

• I believe Ben and I were brought together at just the right time because God knew that we would need to help each other get through the transition of transferring mid-Junior year of college.  I do not know how I could have gotten through those first months without him! (And some pretty awesome roommates too!)
• Work opportunities popped up out of nowhere that helped me get by in such an expensive city!  I have never had occupations simply fall into my lap before, let alone work that will help me in my future career!  Thank you CofC Communication Department!  
• Just when I thought I was on my own with my spiritual journey in Charleston, God placed just the right amazing people in my path that continued to motivate me and have fellowship with me.  What encouragement God has provided for me!! 
• Just when I thought God was done being so good to me, he brings my sister to town!  I am so blessed to have my sister and best friend living in the same town as me! (Especially since she has cable--Hello HGTV!)

You know, during stressful times like these (I know all you students out there know what I'm talking about) it is always nice to really open your eyes to the awesome that has happened and is still happening today.  As I am typing this, I am reminded to tell the Big Guy Upstairs, "Thank you!".  Even in the midst of any circumstance, there is always something to be thankful for.  Continue to dwell on that thought until happiness consumes you!  This is my challenge for you all!  

"I believe that I shall see the GOODNESS of the LORD in the land of the living!" -Psalm 27:13

Oh my, I can already feel the summer heat, visualize the inside of my eyelids from being able to sleep in every once in a while and am getting so excited about reading every Harry Potter book before the final movie comes out in July (that one is bitter-sweet).  The joys of summer are so close, yet seem so far away!  We can do this guys!!  If this video doesn't brighten your day, I honestly do not know what will! :)

Happiness Begins with a Smile

It's that time of the year...exam time.  For most people my age, this is a time to rejoice because it means that these exams are the last exams that they will ever take! (unless they go to graduate school, of course.)  Since I transferred from a private collage to a public college, I lost about a semester's worth of credits...yeah. But, instead of wallowing in self-pity, I am going to take this time to look at the positives.  Hmm...since the economy is still attempting to come out of the hole, I do not mind waiting a tad bit longer to become an official "adult", and maybe graduating in December will be like a jolly Christmas present. I will just keep telling myself these things while so many cool people walk across the stage this May! 

Now that March Madness is over, the Bridge Run is over and too many tourists are flooding the city of Charleston, I am officially ready for summer to be here!  It is such a tease to be inside from 9-5 and watch people soaking up all that Vitamin D outside.  Now, all you graduates who say that everyone who has a job has to deal with the same thing...let me remind you of one thing you have forgotten. Homework.  It is like having another job once you get out of your first job.  AND students have to pay to work instead of getting paid to work.   Ah, I feel better now that I have vented to all you wonderful people.

"Peace begins with a Smile"-Mother Teresa

Ok, so for those of you who knew me at Presbyterian College, I was that girl who was up and ready for her earliest class smiling at every person I passed.  I'm sorry if that was thoroughly annoying to any of you blue hose!  But, the logic behind that nonsense was that maybe, just maybe, I could brighten someone else's day with a genuine smile.  For the most part, the smile was reciprocated.  It always brought a little more joy into my day when I got a smile back.  Well, as soon as I stepped foot into Charleston, that all changed!  People do NOT want you to smile at them, and they sure as heck do not want to smile back at you.  This was a big change for me to deal with over the past year.  Now, let me be clear, over the past months there have been many people that I have gotten to know and they are wonderful and they smile all the time!  But, it was a very hard transition for me when I first arrived here last January.

Just think about it, you have absolutely no idea of what is going on in people's lives that you pass everyday. Sometimes, all people need is to see a light somewhere during their day.  Maybe it's a smile, maybe it's a nice gesture or maybe it's just acknowledging someone's presence.  There is so much darkness in this world that we live in that we need to try our hardest to shine brightly in order to remind people of the good that is still happening.  One thing I have noticed is that when I stop focusing only on myself so much and make an effort to think of others, my day actually gets better too!  Got to love those God-moment endorphins!

This is my challenge for you (and for me!)...especially during this final crunch time filled with debbi-downing exams/projects/massive papers:  try to find something to be happy about!  When we take the time to remember the good...it always outweighs the not-so-good! 

"When you focus on what you don't have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened.  You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me." -Jesus Calling

If each person focuses on something good, and tries to share that good with other people then we would have a lot more happy people with happy things to think about!...just a thought to leave you with! Here's a happy picture to start off your fantastic weekend!

(stole this from Ellen's twitpic album!)

Holy Cow! What a Weekend!

Hello and Happy Sunday everyone!! I am overjoyed at the moment because this weekend has been one of the greatest all semester!! So many wonderful things happened that I just have to share with you.  Let's get to it..

1.  The Thorn:  The BEST birthday present ever!! (Thank you, Ben!) This play was a mixture of "The Passion of the Christ" and cirque du soleil, which equals an incredible performance!  On Friday night, Ben and I went to the opening show of "The Thorn".  I did not know what to expect except that everyone who had already seen it absolutely loved it.  I was told to bring tissues (which I forgot), and definitely needed them throughout the show.  What a wonderful reminder of the greatest story ever told!  I was deeply humbled throughout the show, and was constantly reminded of how much each and every one of us is loved so much by God.  Seeing the pain and punishment that Jesus endured for each of us (including our rotton sins), broke my heart.  But, the great thing about this story is that there is no need for any broken hearts because Jesus defeats death, defeats Satan and defeats sin.  Woot Woot!  We do not need to be sad...we need to be celebrating!!!  (http://www.thethorn.net/)



So...let's just say that "The Thorn" gave me the right perspective before the Cooper River Bridge Run the next morning...

2.  The Cooper River Bridge Run:  Where do I begin!?  Well...it all starts at 4am...with my pack of oatmeal, bananas and water, I head towards Calhoun Street to find the numerous busses waiting to haul over 34,000 people over to Mount Pleasant.  I love meeting new people each year when waiting hours before race time.  It is a great way to simmer the nervous butterflies that always flutter constantly in my stomach before a race.  This year, I got to meet a silver fox of a man that had many marathons under his belt, two awesome women who make their 40's look amazing, and a man from NY who was so happy to be somewhere that did not include snow.  Finally, at 8am the gun sounded and the Kenyans took off! (They only need about 25-30 minutes to beast that 10k). 

The weather was absolutely perfect and my legs were feeling good until I was about 3/4 up the bridge...I thought my calves and quads were going to explode any second.  These are the moments in life where you realize that you cannot rely on your own strength.  I remember begging God to just give my legs a little bit more juice so I could get to the glorious downhill part of the bridge!  Lo and behold, just as I am about to give in, He gets me to the downhill portion!  It's all a mental battle from there...and NOTHING is as bad as going up that bridge so the last 2.5 miles are possible!  The one really lame thing that the creaters of the Bridge Run course did was tease the runners with the last .2 miles.  You think you're finished because there's this huge sign that says you're at mile 6 (and looks like a Finish Line banner), yet you are fooled.  You still have .2 more miles to push before you can fall over!  After 49:32 minutes I crossed that glorious line! But, nothing is better than the feeling of crossing that finish line and seeing the vast array of bagels, muffins, fruit and water before you!  Next year, I'm bringing a grocery bag with me and loading up after the race!

To all you Bridge Run participants out there...I'm beyond proud of you!! Way to "get over it!" 

Now, more than 24 hours later, I still cannot move my legs properly and it hurts to go down stairs, but there is still more to celebrate about...

3.  Two Years:  Even though our anniversary is Tuesday, thanks to school, Ben and I had to celebrate our two year anniversary this weekend.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have been blessed with such a wonderful man in my life!  I thank God every day for allowing me to have Ben in my life!  (Sorry if this is embarassing you, Ben.)  I promise this will be short and sweet!  Thank you for the past two years! I love you! :)

So, after a great weekend filled with many celebrations, I am completely bummed that school is right around the corner.  There is so much to be done in only 4 weeks...I find myself questioning how in the world I am ever going to get it all done in time!!! But, then I realized, I've been wondering that all semester, and everything that has needed to be done, got done!  It is a constant battle with me to fight off the worries that parade in my mind.  I've decided that I enjoyed this weekend so much (because I completely forgot about school), that I'm going to continue each day in sort of the same way. (Unfortunately, I have to think about school a little bit for now...).  Why take school so seriously?  It has to be done, but it doesn't last forever! Thank goodness! 

"Don't take yourself so seriously.  Lighten up and laugh with Me.  You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about?  I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will.  The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you" -Jesus Calling

Lighten up everyone! (Including myself!)  I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful week filled with things to celebrate and be happy about!! If you open your eyes and look hard enough, you'll find these things!  If not, don't fret...I have a picture just for you!  Enjoy! :)