watch this!

just be a child.

So yeah....I am kind of like completely overwhelmed with JOY right now. Ever get those times when the Spirit just goes BAM and all of a sudden you are laughing, smiling, and singing like crazy?
Times like this, I just wanna play a concerto on my piano, go run a marathon, re-decorate my room, fiddle up a storm, or write like crazy....hehe
I'm listening to one of my favorite songs, "I Got a Feelin'" by Billy Currington. This song makes me so happy. Reminds me of summer, and gives me so so SO much hope for what the Lord is doing in my life, and all the things He has planned for me. One day, I'm gonna be able to sing this song to someone, and I know Jesus is just gonna be laughing and smiling right along with me ;)

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds!!"

 Psalm 9:1

He is so GOOD, friends!! Oh, that we would all know and believe that, and live our lives differently because of it! I just cannot wrap my mind around why He does the things He does, and I sure has heck don't understand His ways...and oh, the sweet sweet innocence of it all. Faith. The faith of a child. That is all we need bring before our loving Father. Just remember that today... all we need to do is trust Him. Keep walking. Keep believing that He is good. Keep loving Him. Keep serving Him. He has all the rest under control...
"God's got a plan for everything! No matter who, no matter what, no matter where...God is in control!" Cling to that truth today! Just rest. Let everything else fall at the feet of the cross. All your stress, all your worry, all your uncertainty. All your failures, all your mistakes, all your regret..lay them down. Let your Father take them upon Himself. And just dwell in the freedom that He gives! Be a child today. Laugh. Smile. Giggle. Crazy dance around your living room. Go on a walk and just enjoy His creation. Read a book. Close your eyes and sing a song. Bake cookies. Take a nap. Just be a child in the arms of your Father. He's got you, and He's not ever, ever, ever going to let you go. And that is a promise.

little miss nurse.

had my first day of pediatric clinicals this week. needless to say, i fell in love with the kids right away. and i loved the feeling of having 8 little ones following me around non-stop, showering me with hugs, kisses, and so much affection. it was so wonderful. i think i have found where i belong :)

such a beautiful, real song...enjoy!

"Dirty Dishes"

 -Scotty McCreery

Mama hollers Supper time,
And don't make me tell you twice
Wash your hands and wipe your face.
The table's no place for your toys,
And try to use your inside voice,
Don't dig in 'til we say Grace.
So we put down our forks and bowed our heads
And then she prayed the strangest prayer ever said:

I wanna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
My husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen
And dirty dishes.

We all got real still and quiet,
And daddy asked "Honey, you alright?"
She said, Dear, ain't nothing wrong,
Noisy kids are happy kids,Find more similar lyrics onAnd slamming doors just means we live,
In a warm and loving home,
Your long hours and those dishes in the sink,
Means a job and enough to eat.

So I'm gonna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
My husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen

For my little busy bees
Beggin' mama, mama can you please?
Always wantin' me to call their name
Loads of laundry pilin' up
Crayons crushed into the rug
In those little sticky kisses
And dirty dishes,
And dirty dishes...

meant to live...not exist.

"I want to live so FULLY in the Spirit that all my thought may be as sweet incense ascending to Thee and every act of my life may be an act of worship!"

-A.W. Tozer

I went to an unexpected funeral this weekend...a very, very dear friend, my "Uncle" Charlie, went to be with the Lord. He and his family own the farm that I went and worked on this past summer. Anyways, just like always, funerals got me thinking.Thinkin about life, thinking about what I want my legacy to be when I go. Not ot sound morbid or whatever, but I don't think it's ever too early to think about dying and going to be with the Lord. I have no idea how much time the Lord has given me to be on this earth. But I do know one thing: I want to live every single moment He does give me to the fullest. Life is too short to waste. To valuable to live without Jesus. Too precious to just blow through without considering all the people around you. Never underestimate the power of a kind word, a hopeful comment, or a smile you give to someone passing by. You never know. That could very well be the only chance you get to show Jesus' heart to them. Remember who you are-- You are a child of God, an ambassador for Christ, and a herald for the Kingdom to Come.
So just chew on that for a bit :) hehe

Live every moment for Jesus. Act like it depends on you. Pray like it depends on God. And just shine. Shine for Christ. I am praying He helps me to do the same. Praying for you all, love you, and hope you have a wonderful rest of the week!
 
 
 

Some pictures i took this weekend...

 

 

 drivin' home...

and finally home in chesapeake.

"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." -Jack London



Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Wow, we made it to 2012!
It's funny. The start of a New Year to me is one of the best times. We all get a fresh start. New chances to start over. The hope of "doing better", and of making more of ourselves than we did last year. Kind of like we get to bid all our imperfections and failures goodbye, and nothing but hope and fresh beginnings are on the horizon. I love and disagree with this all at the same time. I love new beginnings, don't get me wrong. Yet I also would encourage any of you who read this blog to remember something...
God's grace doesn't "restart" with the change of a year. His grace is always there. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. It's a new year, a new season, but the same Jesus. Just a little tidbit I found encouraging. :)

So, have you come up with your lists for the New Year? I have. I don't know why I do it, I mean I honestly make up stuff to stick to for the year just to say I did. Hahah anybody feeling me right now?

But no, my thoughts for the New Year have been very encouraging actually. I don't have many things that I am trying to accomplish that I haven't already started (except for reading through the Bible in a year...I did start that.) But rather, I have been doing alot of reflecting. Just thinking about my life and where it's going. This Christmas Break was one of the best of my life, and one of the most encouraging. I was able to receive alot of encouragement from people I love so much, and I have been so filled with hope regarding what the Lord might have for my future. So many plans. So many dreams. So many hopes. I don't ever want to lose the fire and drive that I am feeling right now. I have no idea what God has in store for me this year, but that's okay. I don't want to. Okay that's a lie. I would love to know God's plans. But I don't. So I gotta just keep trusting. Keep walking. Keep living.

My goal for this year is simple, and I wrapped it up into 4 simple yet profound words that I know the Lord gave me...
Love. Laugh. Listen. Live.

4 things. Those are my goals. I want to love God and people like never before this year. I want my life to reflect the beautiful love of Jesus that He daily and graciously bestows on me. I want to laugh more this year. There is so much joy to be found in life. Joy in the simple things. Life is too short not to laugh. The joy of the Lord is my strength! i want to listen to the voice of the Lord this year. I am so tempted to get caught up in all the noise and distractions of this life, that i often  shut out God's still, small, encouraging voice. But no more. I commit to listen this year, and the rest of my life. His voice is a voice I can trust. I can depend on. I can always count on. I want that voice to guide me always. And finally, I want to simply live. Live each day to the fullest. One day at a time. Not always looking ahead, but focusing on what the Lord has set directly before me.

"Our main business is not to see what dimly lies ahead but to do what directly lies at hand." -Thomas Carlile

That is what I plan to do. Will you join me? Just live.

On another note...
Christmas this year was just amazing. We reconnected with our oldest friends, and had the best Christmas. It was by far my favorite. Words cannot describe how much our families love each other, and it was just so timely that we reconnected with them this year. My family and I have been very lonely, and it has been a very hard year. God was SO kind to bring our dear friends back into out lives. I got to reconnect with my lifelong friend, Pierce,  and it was so wonderful getting to spend time with him, and the rest of his family. I love them all so much. The plan is for me to go to Arkansas on my Spring Break to visit....I CANNOT WAIT :) God is so good!!

Have a wonderful year friends! Go in the grace of our God and don't be afraid to love more, laugh more, listen more, and live more! Just lift your eyes to Him!

All of us at the Wright Brother's Memorial

Me

Christmas Eve Sunrise at the OBX!

Our beautiful beach house tree :)

Haha Pierce being his usual silly self :)

Christmas mornin'

The guys playin' Washers

One of my favorite presents: an adorable apron!

Me and Nanny...love her so much

Naomi and I

Pierce giving Aunt Tami the beautiful bracelet he and I picked out for her :)

The boys opening their presents

Our gentle giant, Saxon

Little Brother! Love him!

Our Izzy!

Me

Kitchen= Always busy!

Love the sisters :)

Thank you Lord for family, for beach houses, and for Christmas! :)