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. :)