Taylor Swift?

I am heading to Nashville tomorrow morning for the rest of the week for a work conference. For some odd reason, Nashville is on my list of places to visit in the US. Maybe because I secretly love country music and listen to it shamelessly with the windows down? Probably. I hope I run into Taylor Swift. And I hope I have time to go to Forever 21. (I’m pretty sure I won’t.) And I hope we go downtown at night so I can see the city as in the picture above. So, farewell until Monday!

ps- my VW wagon is broke-down and no good. Pray for money to fall from trees sometime soon so I can drive myself around again. And thank you, Jesus, for good friends who lug me around or let me borrow their car!

things I’m thinking about.

• How ridiculous facebook is. I just went to say something to my brother (sadly how I keep up with the boys the best) and my homepage said, “Highlights” and underneath that was: ’so and so’ is single. With a picture of the person and a little graphic of a heart, broken down the middle. What a highlight.
• I’m going to be crafty tomorrow all day. And I’m thinking about setting up shop on the deck outside to enjoy the pretty day! Sewing + homemade lemonade + the sunshine + hubby @ home = perfect Saturday!
• Wanting to make these for baby gifts.
• I wish I could express to the blog world how much I really love to go to www.weather.com and see 92 degrees as today’s high. I love the heat! Bring it on, Columbia!
• I spent two solid hours in silence last night. It was incredible (and hard.) Really hard. I hate that about myself. Shouldn’t it be easy to be silent and not try to think about my to-do lists while I just spend time thinking about my God who created me? Well, at least He is working on my knowledge of the need for silent times.
• Romans 8 is still pounding me.
• As I purchase flights for my summer missionaries, I secretly wish I could get on the plane with some of them and spend 2 months in an orphanage in Bangladesh.
• Happy Brandon will be home in 6(ish) hours!!!

week without my hubby.

• B is in Florida with all of his best friends. He gets to hear people like Matt Chandler and Francis Chan teach through God’s word. It’s sunny, hot, and beautiful there. Tough life my man leads this week…
• I miss him. And I am glad I don’t have to do life without him. Reasons? He’s a good cuddler, listener, and friend. And he’s a charmer as you can see here. (yes, I’m doting on him. I have many reasons to do so!)
• I’ve been productive and trying to spend loads of time with sweet friends & Jesus while I’m husbandless.
• Spend-the-night parties with Court.
• Monday, I had dinner with almost all the bachelorettes of the week!
• Yesterday spent quality time with my dear friend Erica. & spent a lot of time on the phone with Laura Lou.
• Today having “Best Friends Forever Bash and Shopping Spree While Spending No Money” night with ol’ BK.
• Tomorrow: full night of silence/time with Jesus. (I’m no good at the silence part. I might allow myself to play “How He Loves” over and over, but that’s it!)
• Speaking of…loving this song.
• (not tech savvy enough to know how to embed that video.)
• “If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.”
• Getting things done! I got all closets cleaned out this week + attic organized + underneath all the beds in spic&span shape. Now, I need to paint the front door and the front porch and my to-do list will be all clear!
• “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8.15-17

pray for…

• Midtown staffers. They are at a conference all week in Florida and are spending time growing, learning, and something about brotherhood…
• Courtney. She’s heading to the doctor today @ 1. Pray for a clear ultrasound.

I’ve been…

• so pumped for this weekend.
• looking through this free magazine.
• daydreaming about my yard project that my sweet husband will help me do tomorrow…it concerns salvaged doors, windows and frames. glory.
• dressing up like a disco diva from the 70s. pictures soon to come. See 70s Midtown staff here.
• wanting to make homemade lemonade.
• praying for little kiddos in Mexico.
• trying to work on a budget.
• excited about family beach vacation.
• wishing beach vacation was tomorrow.
• looking forward to The Summit!
• wanting to organize my craft/sewing stuff like this.
• wishing I was cool enough to wear this.
• thinking about how awesome Courtney Tipping is and wishing her a happy birthday today!
• learning Romans 5-6 like the back of my hand.
• wanting to remember daily that God’s kindess is menat to lead us to repentance. (romans 2.4)

happy friday.

hiding this in my heart…

“…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
-James 1.19

he is risen. hallelujah.

My sweet friend (and local singing genius/queen) Ashley hit the nail on the head today: “I am so comfortable with the law because it makes me feel worthy. That’s also why I become nearly devestated when I fail or mess up. I am absolutely aware of how much I need Jesus but I often live as though MY righteousness is what counts. GROSS. Thank God for repentance and for knowing that He cares so much about me, even when I try hard to be a pharisee.”

This is exactly what Jesus is teaching me right now! Word for word. Why do I continually rely on my own self to “save” me? Can’t do it. 

“That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham” (go read Romans 4)

back.

Life is hectic. I love it. Here’s a rundown of life in a nutshell:

• Work: Leadership Conference + Summer Missions Orientation all weekend. Fun!
• Getting to know all 48 of my summer missionaries! I’m so excited. They are all so much fun and are going to make huge differences this summer. I can’t wait until August 8 when we all come back together to see how the summer went. Soon you can go to www.goandsend.org and start praying/catching up on our students that are serving from all over the state.
• Days off from work! Monday, I did practically nothing. Tuesday, I grocery shopped, organized, and spent time with Courtney. Today I work and tomorrow I get to leave at 10 to go home for Easter!
• Next week, I get to visit CIU. Pray for me to realize what I’m supposed to do with my life. (ha ha… but really, pray.)
• Happy Easter. Praise God for His Son and the Resurrection and making all things new and the promises we have in Him…and He alone.

april 1.

The whole April Fool’s day deal absolutely drives me crazy because anything I hear or am told, I think it’s a lie.

But, it’s April! Woohoo!