vids

This week seems to be video week. So many good videos are making me laugh, cry, praise, and really just enjoy life this week... I thought I'd share them :)

JOY

JMU

So many emotions

it's only wednesday

Also, Partners on CBS, monday nights :) It's literally hilarious!

birthday

23.  When I say how old I am it makes me seem old, but I don't feel old at all.  I guess that's just how it's going to be from now on.  It was a beautiful weekend, absolutely beautiful.  It's finally Fall, and I'm obsessed with everything there is to do.  Pumpkin EVERYTHING!  A Fall bucket list is coming soon :)  In the meantime here are some pictures from my birthday weekend.

Jeremy took me to a vineyard, Keswick vineyard.  We sat on the hill and had a picnic... with this view, who could complain.

 Thank you Martins for the RANDOM assortment of snacks. 

 He makes me so happy :) I love falling more and more in love with him.

 Kind of really impressed with Jeremy's wrapping skills.

These are the most delicious substance I have EVER put in my mouth! I'm not kidding! Want the recipe? check out Bake at 350.  This blog has so many recipes! 

My birthday was simple yet beauty FULL.

Thank you all for all the wishes, cards, and love! It was a wonderful day!

Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.    -1 Timothy 6:6-7

This past weekend I got the opportunity to attend the fall youth retreat with my church in Richmond, WEAG.  It was seriously one of the best weekends I have had in a really long time.  The theme was contentment and boy has it made me think.  It's amazing how God works when you least expect it.  I was there as a leader, but the Lord had just as much to teach me about contentment as he did some of my new middle school and high school friends.  I am still processing it, and will probably for a while to come, but I am so thankful to be aware now.

Thank you leaders for giving your time, effort, gifts, prayers, sleep, patience, wisdom, love, and tons and tons of energy to the youth this weekend.  You all are truly admirable.  I think I got a little glimpse of the kingdom at work on retreat and am so thankful I was able to be apart of it.

Southern 1 Ladies.. enough said.. you have a special special special place in my heart. 

thankful for fridays

Today I am thankful for a lot and even though sometimes I complain that I don't have anything to do.  I am still thankful that I have been blessed with so much time and opportunity to explore, make memories, and relax before this semester gets extremely crazy and stressful.  Today Mary took us to an auction and wow.. was it mind blowing.. There was so much stuff and it was all so cheap.  I think Mary ended up bringing an entire van load of things home and only spent 9 dollars.  What crazy!  It did, however, make me thankful for my family.  The items that I have received from my grandparents are so precious to me and they have a story.  That's what makes these things special, the memories behind them.  And that's worth more than any price offered.  I did find a lot of beautiful things though.

 books. old, beautiful, classic books. 

if I hadn't already received a sewing machine from my gram i seriously would have considered bidding on this one.

On the way home from the auction, Brently and I stopped by this farm to take in the breathtaking landscape, and to buy some local vegetables and honey :)

enough said.. 

Bridgewater is growing on me.  It has a lot to offer and a story of its own.  The lifestyle here is simple, and everyone is seriously the nicest.  People are willing to stop and talk to you and help you in anyway possible, the best.    Today I am thankful.

a little bit of hope

I did it.  I found my first blog that I absolutely love.  It's called Today's Letters.  I found it while scrolling through Pinterest.  She, Em, had posted about 10 things that have made all the difference in marriage.  It was beautiful.  It was real. It was simple. Recently, I have felt like everywhere I turn I am surrounded by broken relationships.  Marriages that are failing.  Men who are leaving their families.  Unhappy couples.  Breakups. Wedding photos. Engagement rings,  or just conversations about marriage or why marriages fail.  It's everywhere and I can't escape it.  There was a point last week that I just couldn't take it anymore.  I was consumed with fear and doubts.  I had a breakdown.  It was hard to focus on the relationships around that were healthy and long lasting.  My grandparents just celebrated 50 years of marriage.  That's amazing! That should count for something.  It does count for something.  It counts for more than something.  But still I could only focus on the negative.  

I think back to a time when I was hanging out with one of my friends, Tori.  She is a sophomore in high school this year, and i love her.  Her parents are married, but while we were hanging out she told me that she was never getting married.  Of course my response was skeptical, and I just told her that when she gets older her thoughts about marriage would change.  She resisted my comment, and continued to explain why she would never get married. I remember she words exactly.  "No, I'm never getting married.  Marriage is so boring.  Half the marriages that happen don't last, and the other half just aren't fun.  Look at my parents.  They are not happy. Why would I want to be tied down to something that isn't fun and with someone who doesn't want to do fun things with me.  I want to go rock climbing and travel.  I want to go skydiving.  I want adventure.  When you get married, you can't do any of that. My parents aren't happy married, so i'd rather not get married and have fun and adventure."  Wow, did those words come out of the mouth of a high school student or a grown woman?  I mean she had a point, and she had tons of examples to back her opinion up.  Lately, through this time or doubt and fear, her words have seemed so much more truthful that I could ever imagine.  

Coming across this blog was truthfully, an answer to my prayers.  Em's words about the world and how she expresses her love for her husband is inspiring.  Although, Tori does have a point that marriage is boring, Today's Letters makes me excited about love.  It makes me excited about my relationship with Jeremy.  It restored my hope in marriage.  It shows me little things to be thankful for.  It shows me that marriage can and will be fun.  It eases my worry about change.  It makes me want to embrace all life has to offer.  If you are feeling the same way I was, or if you aren't and never have been worried about marriage still take a look at Today's Letters.  It's wonderful, and I am so thankful that I discovered this hope, joy, and love.  Enjoy :)

september

it's the first day of september! that means fall is coming, and THAT makes me so excited. i think virginia is the best place to live when it comes to the seasons.  we get every season and we get every season to the FULL.  i mean look at that picture.  it's real, no filter.  i took it last fall in broadway, virginia.  the seasons in virginia make me appreciate God's timing so much more i think.  right when I am just getting a little bit tired of the hot or cold weather the season starts to change, but it isn't like a slap in the face.  we ease into each new season. it's wonderful.  oh gosh I LOVE IT!  

im so excited about crafting and fun fall projects.  the color. the trends. long pants. boots. scarves. apples picking.  brently, abby, and i are making it a goal to go apple picking.  you can expect that blog to be coming soon.  

i think i forgot how many great things are to come when the semester started.  i found myself getting a little overwhelmed and stressed about the work load to come.  yesterday i almost had an anxiety attack because i couldn't organize all my homework and my schedule.  sometimes i have a little bit of OCD.  but then i drove through town and watched the sunset behind the mountains and fields and it all just seemed to go away. bridgewater helps.  it clears my mind and i can focus back on what life is all about.  life out hear is just simple. its safe too.  i get a little glimpse at how community and the body of christ is suppose to be.  everyone says hello to you as you pass.  even if they don't know who you are.  and they  praise jesus for everything.  they help you when you when you need it and even when you don't really need it. haha.  it's easy to put off responsibility though.  i have put off all my school work and i know it will all catch up to me on monday. sigh. but for right now september has come and life is good.  life is simple and real good.  'fried green tomatoes" is on, i'm surrounded by friends who love me, and who are real, and the pressures of the world are gone.  happy saturday, happy september, happy soon to be fall. :)

hidden treasures

This summer flew by.  Like as in I don't even remember the month of June happening at all.  I think we skipped it.  I did, however, find the time to fall in love with the city of Richmond again.  It became a daily treat when I would be doing my everyday routine and I would pause and look around me, be blown about at the world, and say to myself, "Wow, this is really beautiful."  If you don't believe me ask Katie Johnson she was with me when I said this out loud, and I think she laughed at me.  Going to school in Harrisonburg surrounded by gorgeous mountains and sunsets that could be actual paintings makes it a little more difficult to find beauty in the hustle and bustle of city life...  It's there.  Trust me.  I'll prove it. 

 Short Pump, sitting at a table outside of Whole Foods. 

Rocket's Landing.  Dinner along the river facing the city at sunset.  What is my life!

Scuffletown was my favorite hidden treasure right in the middle of the fan area.  I went to dinner with my current roommate Brently, and she showed me this beautiful garden.  The most wonderful thing about Scuffletown is that it is literally someone's back yard.  Brently told me that a little old man did all the work and opened it up to the public, or I guess just allows people to enjoy it.  Just because he wants to.  He doesn't take any money for it.  It's clean, beautiful, and truly an oasis.  

I took Jeremy after he took his Hebrew final.  Which he got an A in. :) It was the first place in Richmond that I introduced Jeremy to (that he didn't already know about), so it was a big deal.  He loved it, and was just as surprised as I was when he saw it.  If you are outside of Strawberry Street Cafe (on Strawberry Street), just walk across the street through an alley way and you are there.  

Did I mention it's beautiful.

It even has rules. If you want to take your rabbit for a walk... don't take it here...

HAHA this was hilarious.  It's just a garden area.  Who knows what will happen if you venture where you are not suppose to be.

It is magical indeed.  

It was hard to leave Richmond to go back to JMU, because I felt like there was so much more that I just simply hadn't seen.  I can't wait to be back in Richmond, but I think I learned something really valuable in the process.  God's beautiful creations are everywhere.  It's all about perspective.  We can choose to look at the dirty and plain parking lot or we can turn around and admire the flowers and the colors that surround us each and everyday.  If you find any great treasures let me know!

home.

When I look back on the summer I am overwhelmed with the great about of blessing, trials, and adventure it has shown me.  I can't believe that I even took a class in May.  It feels like an eternity ago that I was graduating from JMU.  I prayed for friends, and I got them. I have had such good and deep conversation.  I had so much fun with the boys I have been nannying.  I can't believe it is my last day with thursday.  crazy.  This summer has been incredibly good to me, and I am thankful for it.  When I reflect back I do, however, crave one feeling.  comfort.  I have been pushed way out of my comfort zone, which it good, and that is what the Lord calls us to do.  We have to rely on him when we are uncomfortable.  so in that way it's good.  but it's exhausting.  I long for a couple hours a day of comfort.  maybe it's the introvert in me, but a few hours a day to sit at home alone, i crave it just as much as i crave mexican food, only mexican is a lot easier to get it seems.

I started writing this post a week ago, but it all just seemed to be so negative that I decided that I would just give up on it and try and just think of the blessing and positive things in my life.  I feel, however, that this is something that has been a part of my for so long that it has started to consume my mind.  I want a home.  The smell, the feel, the mess, the colors, the memories, the conversations, the comfort.  A place to call my own.  But right now, that is not what the Lord has for me.  It's something that I need to seek him in, because honestly we should always crave home.  No matter how hard we try to make own home on this earth; we were created for so much more.  Our home is found in heaven.  I don't really know what else to say.. it's just a part of life.  but i choose to be thankful. no matter where I am.

steady my heart

Walking in Light

I honestly don't know how to start this post, my heart is so overwhelmed with the glory of God and the true good and faithful character of God.  I feel like my head is going 100 miles a minute and I can't form my words to save my life, but I am going to try.  About a year and a half ago I was reading though 1 John in the bible and was struck by verse 5. "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." Literally in my bible this verse is highlighted in purple and the words "at all" are underlined.  I wasn't quite sure what it meant, but for some reason every time I look at it I find myself pausing and dwelling on the verse.  Earlier this morning I was praying, and I specifically prayed that God would use my blog to share his truth.  Without God there is NO purpose, and I want my blog to have purpose.  By the end of the prayer this verse was yet again placed on my heart.  SO, I am taking it as a sign to start the process to uncover what the Lord wants me to get from it.  I by NO MEANS am an expert on the Bible, know all about the culture, or facts about the time period in which it was written.  But, I am going to try and let the Holy Spirit lead, and see what happens.

"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5

Why do bad things happen to good people?  or better question... Why does GOD let bad things happen to good people?  Typically, when we give into these questions and start to believe them we loose sight of the character of God.  God is love.  God works for our Good.  Those are truths.  Believe them! So, when things in the world happen like divorce, death, lies, betrayals, hatred, murders, abuse, and so much more God is working for our good?  That doesn't seem right, does it?  That's because it's not right.  As human beings we are unable to see the full plan on God.  If God's plan is the ocean, we are like ants.  We can not comprehend it.  Okay, so if that's the case.. and in the end the plan will end good.. the verse says "in him there is no darkness at all."  In him, in his plan, in who Christ is there is no darkness.  Then why as a believer in Jesus Christ do I have a heck load of obstacles, trials, and seem to be experiencing incredibly dark days?  I could take the easy way out and just say "sin" and be done with this verse.. but I think it is so much more than that!

I don't know about you, but I like to be in control.  I like to know what is going to happen and when it is going to happen.  I like to have the final say, and sometimes I find that I am this way with God.  God wants ALL of you, but sometimes I want to choose what parts of my life I want God to be control of.  Usually, I give God the easy jobs.  The harder, messy, complicated, and shameful parts of my life I want to keep to myself, because I THINK I can handle them.  This is how darkness creeps into our lives and we find ourselves in ugly situations.

My parents got a divorce when I was in 3rd grade and over the years my earthly father has become less and less of a person I would even call family.  In high school, I found myself eliminating him completely from life.  I was happier, and it made life easier.  Was it really?  No.  I basically told God that my dad was unfixable and that it would be easier for me to just forget about him than it would be to fix him and our relationship.  WHO AM I TO DO THAT!  Who am I to hide things from God.  He already knows, and if I let him, he could definitely handle those circumstances better than I obviously did.  Needless to say, when I was a senior in college, it all caught back up to me.  I found myself getting ready for class and then out of no where breaking down and crying for a straight hour and a half.  God doesn't let us forget or run away from our trials.  He tells us that there is no darkness in him at all because if we allow God into those areas that we are ashamed of or just seem unsalvageable he will show us the light.  We need to give him EVERYTHING.  He deserves the glory, not us.  He works for our good.  He is willing to heal.  So WHY HIDE?  We all have dark spots in our lives.  As a body of Christ wouldn't the Lord be more glorified and be able show us his true power, glory, and majesty if we let him work for our good.  How long can we run?  God is love.  He loves us more than our minds can comprehend.  Trust HIM.  Because, Light truly IS stronger than Darkness.    

I want a grown up room.

I'm 22, going to grad school, living with my parents, and have zero monies. I feel like when I was a little girl and you asked me to pick the perfect age, which meant that I could do anything and I would officially be a real grown up.. it probably would have been 17 haha.  Now birthday after birthday I am still finding that I have so much to learn about "growing up."  Right now I dream about the days when I can own my own house and decorate it just how I like.. aka no budget :) A girl can dream right?!  Well, my really good friend Katie decided that she was going to redo her room, top to bottom, and she wanted it to be like a "grown up room."  Perfect! this was exactly what I wanted to do! I couldn't redo my own room, for the circumstances above wouldn't allow for it, but helping a friend reach this step, I would be honored.

It started out with our FAVORITE store HomeGoods.  If you haven't been you HAVE to go.  It has really nice looking things for really good prices.  Prices that college girls love, or anyone on a budget really!  If I had to describe it I would say a Ross' for strictly home decor.  Katie had described to me what the colors she wanted and I was immediately on board.  We literally looked through the entire store and ended up leaving with 3 really beautiful, but totally different, picture frames.  Although Katie said they would go perfect I was having a hard time picturing it.  I have a hard time visioning things I guess.  Friday, after work we started the makeover process, and one of the best weekend's I have had thus far this summer!

I'll start with the before photos.  Katie's room, much like a lot of people in the transition stages of life, had walls painted a bright  teal color, she and her sister painted while she was in high school or maybe even earlier, I forget.  Anyhow, she had a lot of stuff to go through.  So, we made many the trips to alternate bedrooms to store her things.

We removed the bed, before I could take pictures :) oops we were excited for a change!

BUDDY!! Buddy was a hugh part of the process.  I would like to say that he was the overseer of the entire makeover process.  We couldn't have done it without him!

We went to Lowe's to select a paint color, and after many many many options we decided to go with "Spiced Delight" and we were extremely happy with our choice!  Dinner, lifting, spackling, sanding, taping, and priming took us to very very late hours of the night, but we were so motivated to get the entire painting done before we went to sleep.  So needless to say we were VERY VERY excited and thankful with Katie's sister Kelly showed up! 

Our trustee overseer didn't leave our side the entire night.  Didn't move an inch.

Saturday morning, it was time to shop for those finishing touches, and shop we did! Because we were on a budget the priorities had to be met first.  The bed.. DUH!  It was my favorite part of the room when we were done!  A great find at HomeGood added the perfect pop of color in a throw pillow, and beige sheets from Wal-Mart definitely completed the look we were going for! Katie had already purchased the comforter from IKEA, which was really what we tried to based the room and color choices around.

Katie's favorite painting "Almond Blossom" by Van Gogh

Assortment of picture frames covering an entire wall :)

                    

HomeGoods! You have to go! This mirror was only $30! It was my second favorite part of the room... a little heavy so make sure to have heavy duty nails.  We may or may not have created a little bit of a "Swiss Cheese" action in the wall??

I mean check out the detail :) so beautiful!

Katie had an iron, a legit iron, from her grandmother! I thought that was so cool, and it really added character to the room.

Jane Austen...enough said.

"I want a grown up room!" I think we accomplished that, and I am so excited about it.  Even though it isn't my own room, I am so thankful that I was able to be apart of the process with Katie.  It was so much fun and we got to use our HGTV knowledge, firsthand.  If I had to give one bit of advice it would be that "less it more."  Definitely.  When on a budget don't try and fill the room up right away.  Wait for those special items to come to you and build your room overtime.  I think it's a lot more fun that way :)  Life is so complicated in itself, it is so nice to come home to a room where there are no distractions and just peace. What room am I going to do next?? I think I'm addicted!