Two Thousand and Thirteen

2013 was full of love. I am so incredibly grateful for this past year. I finished my final internship in graduate school and graduated with my Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling. I got my first 'real' job. I became engaged to love of my life, planned our entire wedding, and got married! I went on my first Cruise! I gained and lost friends. I realized more the beauty of family. I built some real relationships. I pursued a healthy lifestyle. I became a Zumba certified instructor. I have been so incredibly blessed over the last 12 months, and am extremely excited about what 2014 will bring.

I want 2014 to be full changes and excitement and growth. I want to grow spiritually. I want my relationships to grow in depth. I want to run toward challenges, and embrace the tough times. I also want to simplify a lot of areas of my life. I want to focus more on what I need rather than what I want. I want to focus on fitness, and helping others in their weight loss journey. More than anything, I want to make God the center of every decision that my Husband and I make.

Here's to 2013...Bring it on 2014!

atl: The Kingdom Project

Matthew 6:10 "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

 

This past week I took an amazing group of students to ATL for an Urban Serve Mission Camp with Student Life. I cannot express to you in words what we experienced throughout the week. We worshiped with genuine hearts, we served with selflessness, and we fellowshiped with our guards down.  God showed up, and we got slapped in the face by Jesus a couple of times. We have come home renewed, restored, and with a attitude to respond to God's call.  I just wanted to share a few of the things that we learned:

•  It is the presence of a King (Jesus) that makes the kingdom--a kingdom.
• Surrendering your life to Christ is more than finding something of value; it is finding something nothing else compares to.
• Praising God is like buying your dad a gift with his own money. All we have is what he has given us.
• When salvation manifests itself in spirit; it presents itself in truth by living it out.
• If you believe in heaven, you have to believe in hell.
• John 3:16's call to believe in Jesus is more than simply knowing some things about Jesus and acknowledging that they are true. This belief consists of trust and surrender. It is belief in our hearts, not just our head.
• Jesus came to reveal both the King and the Kingdom, and he has trusted us with the Kingdom keys until he comes back.
• The reality of eternity should greatly impact how we live life each day.
• Be open minded, the tension we typically feel with people different than us is the tension that we mentally create.
• As a youth minister, I should budget to serve and offer opportunities to youth who would not normally get an opportunity for things like camp.
• Don't separate the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). When we do that, then we can pick favorites that  make us 'feel good'. They all work together for the Good of those who love Him.
• God doesn't just speak English.
• People experience the King when Kingdom people show up. The King lives in us. We are the Kingdom.
• Self-Righteousness is just as sinful as unrighteousness. There are a lot of good people who aren't citizens of the Kingdom.
• People will not know about King Jesus unless we tell them. It is our job.

Honestly, the list could go on and on and on and on. It is my prayer that these students will not take what they have learned and experienced this week and leave it in ATL. It is my prayer that this experience will simply be a spring board for what is to come.

The Story

Okay, so there have been a lot of people asking me for the story. Here it is!

First, there is a little I need to catch you up on. A few years ago when Andrew and I first met, he planned a date for us to go to Nashville, TN and see ICE. It is the thing they do every Christmas at Opryland. We went, and walked around ICE and walked around all the rooms at Opryland. I was amazed because I had never been there before. Towards the end of our Opryland journey we came across these dancing fountains. We stood there for a while and enjoyed them and then eventually made our way back home. Months later, after Andrew and I officially started dating, he told me that he wanted to kiss me in front of those fountains but didn't because of the 3 1/2 hour ride home and what if had been awkward. lol We have gone back ever year since then, but I still hadn't got my kiss in front of that fountain. One year we didn't walk around the hotel. One year they were covered up with Christmas decorations. It was always something.

 

Our traditional Picture Every Year at ICE

 

 



I knew that an engagement was coming. Andrew and I went together to pick out the ring. He said that if I had to wear it he wanted to make sure I like it! In my head, I had all of these ideas about how he was going to ask me. You see, Andrew is not very good with keep secrets. I just knew that he would give it away! I first thought that he was going to ask me at my graduation party (I recently graduated with my MS in Rehabilitation Counseling), and then maybe after my graduation downtown. Maybe it was going to be simply on a walk or while looking at stars (one of our favorite things to do). I had siked myself up multiple times....and it never happened.  Things had gotten stressful after graduation and starting a job immediately after. Andrew and I NEVER saw each other working different shifts. Somehow we ended up getting off a Wednesday and decided to take a day trip to Nashville. I had some thoughts in the back of my mind that he might ask me in Nashville. But on the way there Andrew acted so normal. We just talked about life and church and laughed about silly things. It was fun. He seemed so cool and casual. Because of how calm he was, I had convinced myself on the way there that he wasn't going to ask me on this trip. There was no way. If he were going to ask me, then he DEFINITELY would have given it away.

While we were on the way to Nashville, I got a phone call from the Department of Human Services with the State of TN offering me a full time job being a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. I was so excited! I remember looking out the window saying, "Today is going to be a great day!" Little did I know....

We Got to Nashville and went to Opryland. We walked around all the different rooms enjoying how beautiful it was. We were looking for the dancing fountains, but couldn't find them. We had almost given up, but then we went around the curve and there they were. Finally, Andrew was going to get his kiss in front of the fountain! lol We we stood there for a minute and watched them dance. Then Andrew said that he was going to get a lady standing close by to take a picture of us in front of the fountain. He came over and we start to pose for a picture when he turned to me and said something along the lines as this, "Do you remember the first time we were here in front of the fountains? I let an opportunity pass, and I am not going to let that happen again." He got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. :) I, of course, said yes! I was so excited. He put the ring on my finger. And come to find out our 'picture taker' was actually recording the whole thing!  It was absolutely perfect. I was crying. He was shaking. We were both smiling non stop.

 

A screen shot from the video. I said yes! :)

None of the ways I had imagined him asking me could have been better than he way that he did. I am the luckiest girl on Earth, and I am excited to marry my best friend! Right now our date is set for 11.9.13. We have a lot of planning to do in a short amount of time, but we are excited!

Thanks!

Thank you.

What makes those two little words so hard to say?

I have had a couple of experiences lately that have really hurt my heart. I seems like no matter how much some people try; it will never be good enough. It's sad.

I'm the Kind of Friend

I am not the kind of friend who is going to call you all the time. I'm not good at sending cards or thoughtful messages. I am not good at the whole social media thing. I cannot read into subtle clues well. I will more than likely forget your birthday. I will not spend a lot of money on a gift for Christmas. I might not talk to you for months at a time. I will probably occasionally say things that hurt your feelings.

But I will always have your back. If you ever need me, I'll be there. When we catch up, we really catch up...about the important things. I'm the kind of friend that cares more about your happiness than the trivial happenings of your everyday life. I'm the kind of friend you can call at 3 in the morning. I'm the kind of friend who will listen. I'm the kind of friend who will rejoice with you, and when the time is right mourn with you. I'm the kind of friend who genuinely cares.

I know I'm not perfect, and friendships sometimes fall apart. There are people who come into my life for a season; and then there are those people who come and settle into my heart. Those are the people who know me and accept me and don't care if I fail. Those are true friends.

And I have really realized the richness of a true friend here lately. How seldom we come by those people. How seldom they stay.

Restarting

I failed. I was going to start updating this more often, but looks like I dropped the ball. I'm going to try this again.

Restarting....

I turned 25 almost a month ago. I graduate with a MS in Rehabilitation Counseling in 3 days. Andrew and I have picked out an engagement ring! I had my first 'real' job interview today. I have started to slack off going to the gym. I have dug myself into a spiritual rut.

There are a lot of things I need to restart in my life. And I'm doing that....now! I've realized that it is all about my frame of mind, and I need to get back to my optimistic view of the world. There is beauty in imperfection and flaws and mistakes and brokenness. Sometimes I need a reality check. I need something or someone to point out that beauty.

I am ready for the new and exciting things to come, but I am also just as excited to get back on track with my health (spiritual and physical).

I'm restarting.

Update

I can not believe how quickly time has passed. A quick update: I have now entered my last semester of graduate school. I am in the middle of my full time internship at a local Behavior Health Hospital. I have unofficially been offered a job at my internship site after I graduate. Praise be to God! I have started a Sunday night service at my church with the tag line: an alternative worship experience. I have realized a lot more of what makes a true friend. I have realized that some of who I thought were real friends; were really just there out of convenience. Andrew and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary, and we are talking a lot more about tying the knot. His sister, Cait, got engaged and I am going to be a bridesmaid! So honored! I've realized my love for dogs. (for those of you who know me, you will understand how big of a deal this is) I will turn 25 in the next few weeks. I am going to make a commitment to document my 25th year via blog. I think this is going to be a big year for me. I am excited about all the growth and the changes. I'm excited about the journey. Come along.