It's official :)

My dear friends! 

I am so excited to be writing to you about an exciting journey that is ahead for me :) For months I have been wanting to run around hippy skippy and tell everyone, but I had to wait! Writing this makes it feel even more official than the phone call months ago! 

You have all known for some time now that I have felt led to GO but was told to WAIT. 4 years of waiting, growing, seeking, refining, learning, following, leading, listening and life has passed. I am confident more then ever that the time is now to pack up and go!

Come March I will be doing just that. Packing up my car with a few things and heading to Denver, CO to intern with the Denver Rescue Mission. It would take too long to explain how it all came about. Long story short- anything ordained and orchestrated by the Lord just works. I can't even explain how refreshing it feels to have a complete confidence and peace to pursue this opportunity!

I will be a part of this internship for 6 months // March-August! I am so excited to be set free from an on the clock perspective of ministry. 

Confession: I am looking forward to working in a ministry that doesn't cling to a cheesy little feel good saying of "come alongside" or "dive into"  they just DO IT. and by just doing ministry// that means building relationships, hard conversations, hard work, messy, not picture perfect strategic serving and consistent discipleship.

There is still a lot of details that I don't have answers about just yet. That kills the planner in me, but I am learning to just go with it an be patient. I will find out a lot more in February I am told :) haha! 

This is not a paid position, so I am working like crazy doing extra jobs to save up to pay all my bills while I am away. No need for me to stress, I know the Lord will provide a way! I am so excited to see the Lord meet my needs in a whole new way in this stage of my life! He is always faithful to provide and equip me with the needs in my life to pursue after Him and the calling and purpose to bring Him glory! 

Nothing about this adventure has anything to do with me, but everything to do with me getting out of the way in order for the Lord's name to receive all glory. The fact that I get to be a part of something like this is incredible. I am so thankful!!

This last questionnaire is for the worriers out there that think I am a crazy and who ask me these kinda of questions!

1) Are you scared? Nope, I'm sure there will be times that I will be worried but that's normal.

2) Do you know anyone there? Only my grandparents, they live about an hour away in Colorado Springs. 

3) So you will have no friends? Nope, but I will meet good ones..I'm sure of it!

4) What is Liv gonna do? She is going to crawl in a corner and whither away...bahaha, seriously people?? She will be doing her thing and I will be doing mine! We will just be a few states a part challenging and encouraging each other over the phone and laughing at the random happenings of life! She is my sister and that will never change!

5) Oh my goodness you will meet "someone" there?  Stupid expectation and furthest thing from my mind! It 's not a priority and has nothing to do with me getting out of Fort Myers. 

6) What are you going to do after 6 months? I don't know and that is exciting :)

7) What do your parents think? They are the most supportive and encouraging parents I could ever ask for! I think they are more excited than I am!! haha

There are a lot more questions I have been asked but those are just the most popular ones :)

Final note:: I am so thankful for the people in my life that have continued to point me to Jesus and have challenged me to not make comfortable decisions but right ones. Obedient and disciplined decisions. Decisions that cost me something and require understanding and strength that I alone have no strength to pursue.

Following Jesus isn't following the American dream. It's more exciting than that :)

so boots, banjos, city, hippies, and mountains...Ima comin atcha :)

December has been too busy to write! The best kind of busy that could possibly be! If you care to lend your ear :) ...

Dec 7
Packed up the gold digggaahh and hit the road with @livhelman. We have both been itchin' to get out of town, visit some friends and have an adventure! This was the only week that was available to take off, so we took full advantage of it!

:First Stop: Whitney Miller // Asheville, NC. Arrived late and was greeted with a 17 degree embrace. It has been so long since I have existed in a temperature like that, and I must say I have not missed it at all. Worst part is running to your car to then try and hold it together before the heat kicks on 20 minutes later. Are there any cars that have steering wheel heaters? If not, I will be sure to invent such a thing!

The three days we spent with Whit were much needed. Got to relax, laugh a lot, wear 15 layers of clothes, see a folk and bluegrass show, hang with the granolas, hang downtown and got to go to the Biltmore!

:Second Stop: Steven & Kristi Anderson // Newport News, VA.
Steven, Kristi and their boys, Jonathan & Tyler left us recently, and it worked out perfectly for us to stop by for a visit! Always a great time with them! One of the coolest families who has made a huge impact on my life! Wish we could of stayed longer! So thankful to see them and go to their new ministry @WEC!

:Third Stop: Savannah, GA- for fun :)
The biggest adventure of the trip and possibly the year was driving through the snow. 15 mins after we were on the road to Savannah from VA it started snowing. First 30 mins were exciting. We did the whole pull over and take a picture thing. 30 mins later and I was bear hugging the steering wheel, couldn't see 2 feet in front of me and cars were in the ditch and over the bridge. The town ahead had already been covered in snow and it was coming down thick. For a moment there I didn't see any way of making it to GA that night. Thankfully we only had about 40 minutes until we would make it out. All that to say, this beach bum drove in a blizzard...done!

We were so exhausted from driving over the course of those few days that that we literally fell asleep at 9PM each night! Hilarious! I absolutely love downtown Savannah! Everything has so much character and charm and is precious! Need to go back again and stay a little bit longer. Thankful for that time to relax before heading back to work and life.

It was a great trip! I am richly blessed to have a community of incredible friendships all across the states!

It has also been such a blessing to have a best friend like Liv. She is truly the sister I never had! Our travels together have been some of the most fun times of my life!

I hope to spend the rest of my life traveling, seeing new things, being a part of adventures, meeting new people, serving, and in pursuit of my Father.

Holiday Pet Peeves!

1) Playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Don't do it! 30 days of Christmas music should be enough! While you're at it, don't decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving too! Thank you!

2) When people wish me a Happy Turkey Day.

3) When girls paint their nails every other red and green.

4) A tacky yard explosion of lights and figurines. One things I do know is that tweety, mickey mouse, santa and Jesus shouldn't be having a dance party on your lawn to the techno music that is programmed to your Christmas lights.
Keep it simple and classic!

5) People who listen to Christmas radio 24/7. That's just weird! No, I don't want to hear 25 different versions of "Little Drummer Boy" or "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer."

6) The whole worship set list transforming into a caroling session. I am here to worship, not jingle jangle!

7) Buying a Christmas tree when it's 95 degrees out.

8) The Mass Text:: Might as well say "Hey, I'm thinkin of you on this day along with all 350 contacts in my phone!" Yep, real special! Don't do it! If you care enough to send one...make it personal!!

9) This one is a given...When we disguise Christmas with the word Holiday! Come on!

10) Anything Christmas mixed with Characters. So tacky, ehhh!

Sorry for the Debbie Downer Pet Peeves! I promise I love a lot about Thanksgiving, Christmas and traditions! :) I will be sure to blog about that too! :)

It's Friday!

So these past couple weeks have been so busy. There was so much stuff going on that I was literally getting 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Every bit of it was worth it! The best kind of exhaustion. I did get sick though, figures! Been sick the past week, but I think it's over now!

Changes, Changes, Changes

The reacurring theme of the past few months of my life has been changes, changes, and more changes. It's really quite amusing! Right when I adapt to  a situation it either changes completely or is completely taken away. You can imagine that the first few weeks of getting used to that were not too pleasant. Let me remind you if you have forgotten...I am stubborn! Few months later, and changes are a new normal for me!

God has used these continual changes do nothing but tear my world a part in order to make Himself known in my life and the road ahead! A lot of growing pains for sure. He continues to save me from the the American Dream and show me His way for me!

So many things I am looking forward to!

So excited to spend Thanksgiving with my family! One of my favorite days all year! Love spending the day sittin around telling stories, being crazy and on the beach!

Going to see Needtobreathe @ HOB the 27th! YES! I have been waiting for two years to see them! If you want to join us let me know!!

ROAD TRIP! I'm ready for a vacation and road trips are the best kind! Liv and I are headed up to see Whit in Ashville, NC, The Anderson's in Newport News, VA and then we're gonna stay in Savannah,GA for a couple days on the way home! Counting down the days! Never been on a road trip in the winter!

What I have been listening to this week and you should too!

The Civil Wars- Poison & Wine EP
Keith Urban- Get Closer
The Icarus Account- Sunshine and Rain
Mumford & Sons- Sigh No More
Gatlin Elms- Carry Me Home

Have a great weekend, my friends! :)

Attention all my single people! Just a few things the Lord is continuing to teach me in my singleness that I would like to share with you!

Enjoy it.

You  have the opportunity to whole heartily pursue the Lord and the coolest journey in ministry with no distractions! Let's submerge ourselves in God's word and be 100% available and ready to follow Jesus as His disciples. Pretty much I'm saying...Don't sit in the pew and rot! You don't have time for that! :)

Don't look.

Stop looking for a mate and serve! Not only do you look desperate but you also will end up living a life consumed in self. What you want, what you need, waiting, waiting, it's all about me, blah blah! People who are always looking to meet their own needs will never experience rich fulfilment in Christ because their heart is no where near being aligned with the will of God!

Accountability & Community

Protect your time with the Lord and surround yourself with a community of friendships that will hold you accountable!

Set communication standards in your friendships with the opposite sex

It is very important to be clear in your friendships with the opposite sex. Don't be naive. Communication is key. A lot of my friends spend a lot of time and a lot of heart trying to figure out "what's going on." Waste of time!

Girls, You want a leader! If he isn't clear of his intentions then he isn't for you!

Adventure

Have fun, travel and be young!

One day the Lord will place someone in your life to walk beside you on this journey, and it will be a sweet thing! Until then...don't worry about it and put all your energy into knowing Christ and serving Him! There is no greater thing :)

The Dungeon

A little story for ya!

Ok, decided randomly to get my nose pierced again on Sunday along with Kory getting his lip pierced. We looked up the nearest place and stumbled upon a gem of a tattoo slash piercing place called "Dungeon Tattoos."
Yep, the name alone sounds anything but sanitary and safe. I had forgotten it was Halloween so you can also imagine my surprise to be greeted by a bunch of spike wearing people. I'm talking half footer spikes around the neck! AH! I would of been out the door immediately, but everyone else seemed to think it was sanitary and normal, so I kept my mouth shut. I start signing the papers and then went to the bathroom to calm down. I hate needles. Bad place to calm down...their bathroom looked like a murder had taken place there...creeper sounds, leaking plumbing, random objects, dirty, etc. Yikes!

When I came out a 40 year old sunglass inside wearin man came in with a container full of candy mixed with baked goods.

The guy who was about to pierce my nose definitely took a handful of those baked goods. Glad he hadn't consumed them before hand...Just sayin!

This all made for me, a pansy, to want to pass out. Thankful Liv was holding my hand through the whole process. It wasn't too terrible, but the moment a blinked my eyes tears came flowing out. Not embarrassing at all...

There you have it...Just another normal day in my life! :)

:Today:

I desire a disciplined, steady and obedient pace on this journey and road I travel. Free me from selfish motives and ambition. I trade my way for all that You are. Cover me and bring light to my eyes, my all and only.

Psalms 13:2-3

What do we have to show for all this " strategic planning and thinking?"

It is great to seek wisdom, be patient, creative and plan ministry, but there comes a time when you can strategically think your way to a process that has no ear to the Spirit.

I think back on my life and wonder what it would look like if I would of just said yes when the Spirit was leading me rather than making a "plan."

I'm an organizer, a planner and an analyzer. 

Lord, set me free from a disease of tangled comfort and control.

I don't want to be a hearer of the word. I want to be a doer//James 1:22-25!!

Fantastic Friday!

Steven, Kristi and the kids, are moving to Virginia in 3 weeks. Their family has had huge impact on my life over these past few years! I am so thankful for their encouragement, friendship, support, and example in my life.  I will miss them dearly, but I am so excited for the new ministry the Lord has prepared for them! Adding VA to the road trip list!

When I first started working in the Student Ministry we had 5 full time staff members. We’re now down to two, and I’m the only person left from that first team. Too much change for a Student Ministry in 4 years if you ask me. Poor things! It’s a good thing I like to organize. Fixin’ to go into organize freak mode! I will be doing lots of volunteer recruiting!

What I have been listening to this week and you should too! // Phoenix, Needtobreathe, Kings of Leon, Brooke Fraser, Sarah Bareilles, U2, The Temper Trap, Fiction Family, The Icarus Account. 

Its official, my staff infection is finally gone, and I didn’t have to get surgery! I am so thankful!  What I have learned in the process of that mess: Your true friends will stay within 3 feet of you!

Blueberries and cream coffee is back at 7eleven. It is delight in a cup! :)

Fun trips ahead!

November// 2 Orlando trips

December//road trip to VA and NC and random places along the way

January// ATL for Passion!

February //Guatemala

I am a happy lady!

I can now watch the news in the morning in my room! Simple pleasure for me! Life feels back to normal! One of the things I have missed from my morning routine from when I had my own place! The Schaar’s are so sweet to let me use one of their tvs!

I think last night was the first night I have gotten more than 8 Hours of sleep in the past couple of months, and I think my body is rejecting it! Still feel so tired and this weekend is too busy to be low on enerrgy!

Have a sweet weekend :)

Time, hurry up and pass already!