My top 10

I realize that Thanksgiving has passed, but I have decided to continue giving thanks. I don't think I can put into words how thankful I am this year. My life has radically changed in many ways. In honor of the holiday, and because Meg, Sarah, Jenna, Hannah, and many more did it, I've decided to as well.

The Top Ten Things I'm Thankful For:
(In no particular order)

1. My cat Rocky. He's cute, he's fluffy, and he gives me a reason to vacuum. HA (If you are confused, reference Confession #3)


2. Family Dinner/ Mafia. Every Sunday night, people pile into my house for dinner and a few cut throat games of Mafia. I love the family that has begun to develop through these evenings together. I love the pile of shoes at the door. I love how people are now as hooked on Mafia as I am!




3. My roommates. They are amazing women, and are just genuine people. I have had a LOT of roommates, and these two are by far the best yet. And they both love my cat.... well, maybe LOVE is a bit of a stretch. They tolerate him at least!

4. My Life Group. These women are amazing. They share life with me, and I continue to grow and learn from them. There is a very unique dynamic and rhythm to our group, and I love every minute I get to spend with them.

5. Windchimes. I love how soothing they are. I love really windy nights, when I can hear them even with my window is closed. That's my favorite.

6. Peppermint hot chocolate. By far my favorite hot drink. I get instant comfort from drinking it.

7. The beach. Any beach. I grew up about 2 minutes away from the ocean, and the beach is my ultimate place of comfort.

8. New friends. This past year I have made a TON of new friends. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the old friends too, but there is something special about meeting a new person, and beginning a new journey with them. Hearing their stories, and learning their unique quirks.

9. The deep passion for children that God's given me. God has brought so much purpose to my life just through this passion. I know exactly why I am here, and that is to teach His children. I love being around kids. God has given me His dream for the children of this world, and I couldn't be more excited to live out this dream. I'm not sure where it will take me... Africa perhaps? Maybe China? Wherever I end up, I know the calling on my life, and that is something I am truly thankful for!!

10. Back surgery. I know, you are all probably wondering "why in the WORLD is she thankful for having to undergo back surgery?!" Well the answer is simple- it forced me to slow down. I was moving so fast ALL the time, that I never slowed down, ever. By having surgery, I was forced to slow down, and God really blessed me in ways that I can't even begin to explain. New friends, new home, new roommates, new job, new opportunities.

It was a crazy year. A good year, but a crazy year. I could continue to list things I'm thankful for until the sun comes up, but I must stop.

Happy Thanksgiving

... and wait I will

Tonight was such a good night. I felt more joy tonight then I can ever remember feeling. I got to hear some amazing testimonies tonight, and pray with some amazing women. I got to reflect on my life tonight, and really, truly, fully thank the Lord for what he's brought me through. Tonight was a night of celebration and thanks giving. I have a lot to be thankful for. At the Stirring tonight, we had some time to share testimonies. I wanted, so badly, to share mine with everybody. To grab that microphone and let everybody hear what it is EXACTLY that God's been doing in my life for the past two years. I wanted to, and I almost did... but He told me to wait. He told me to be still. To wait. So I did. It's funny to me because so many people know a sliver of my story, but very few know the whole thing. I remember a couple of times Nate asking me "What's your story? And if there was anything I ever wanted to share... anything going on in my life that I wanted to talk about on a Sunday night... My answer was always "I don't really have a story..."

Well, that's a lie!

I have a story. A seven year story. A seven year battle. I have a story.

But God's telling me to wait. And I will. A HUGE chapter of my story is finally finished, and I am ready to share, but not yet. When the time is right, I will know and my story will be heard.

So tonight, I got to thank God for ending this chapter of my life... for rescuing me. And tonight I got to see just how FREE I am from the bondage I was under. Just how FREE I am from the ties that used to be upon me. I got to see just how much joy I have now. God is so so good. I am so so thankful.

Seriously??

So, this morning at about 8:15 I got a phone call from the Enterprise School District telling me that I GOT THE JOB! I'm pretty stoked. I'll be a one-on-one aide for a student with special needs at Boulder Creek school. SWEET! I get up to go celebrate with my roommates, and THIS IS WHAT I FIND!
My car, COVERED in sticky notes. Pretty clever if you ask me. Somebody went to an awful lot of trouble to do this, so I've got to give them credit. I'm pretty sure my neighbors think I'm crazy... but Meghan will be happy... she won't have to spend money on sticky notes for months! So great... Happy Wednesday everybody! I'm off to bet my TB test.. yey for jobs and cars covered in sticky notes. Ha

Family Dinner

Evey Sunday night, around 9:30, my house is full of delicious aromas, and a ton of laughter. You walk in the door to a pile of shoes, and a warm "hello!". Each week, the menu is different. Two weeks ago it was a huge pot of spaghetti, and an oven full of garlic bread. Last week we enjoyed tacos and Sarah's AMAZING salsa. This week, Danielle made us some seriously delicious taco soup, and cornbread. Regardless of the dish, it's always so tasty! After we're all stuffed, the REAL fun begins. I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the game Mafia, but it's become a tradition at Family Dinner. When we've all finished eating, it's Mafia time. Last night, we played until midnight, and if we could have kept our eyes open any longer, I'm sure we would have continued! People let their true colors shine when playing Mafia. You see who's a good liar (SARAH!) and who's a horrible liar (ME!!). Alliances form, and alliances are broken. Family Dinner is probably the highlight of my week. I seriously look forward to it, and find myself sad when all the shoes by the door are gone. I love the friendships that are forming from this weekly tradition. Everybody is invited, so please, stop by for some tuna casserole (next week's main dish). Bring some salad, or a plate of homemade cookies and get ready for a few intense games of Mafia! See you Sunday!!

Monday Funday!

So, today is Monday. I am always super tired on Mondays. My legs are always super sore too... probably from being on them ALL day Sunday... hmmm. Well, I feel quite accomplished today. I got some homework done, I scrubbed my bathroom, I did 3 loads of laundry, I cleaned Rocky's kittybox (yuck, I know), I vacuumed, and I even got a phone call for an interview with the Enterprise School District for an Instructional Assistant job. So exciting!! It's on Wednesday at 10:20, so be praying for me! Family dinner last night was out of control. We played about 7 games of Mafia... so much fun. Danielle made some amazing tacos, and Sarah blessed us with her delicious salsa. Good night. Good friends.

So, thanks to Hannah, I made this fun little picture.

Confession #6

I feel like I'm either confessing my many crazy secrets, or ranting about win-co.... hmm...well, with my last confession ya'll learned about my fear of feet. It's true, I hate feet. They are clammy, smelly, dirty, and just all around NASTY. Well, this next confession is even stranger (if you can imagine) than my fear of feet. It is something that absolutely drives me crazy to no end. Confession #6: I have an outright hatred for wreaths/bows on vehicles. AHHHHH, even thinking about it drives me crazy. The season is upon us where people find it necessary to decorate their cars with ANNOYING wreaths and bows. I can't really explain to you why I have such a dislike for these particular items. It's not like stickers on cars bother me, or wreaths on doors... It's just the combination of wreaths and cars... it makes me angry. Like the I-want-to-rip-them-off-of-cars-and-burn-them kind of angry. I am NOT a violent person, but seeing a big red fluffy bow on a car can drive me to think some pretty violent thoughts. Sometimes I imagine walking through a parking lot in mid December and collecting all of the wreaths and bows I can find on the cars (usually they are on SUVs.... can't imagine why...) and throwing them in the river! Of all the things I dislike (feet, trains, windshield wipers, people who talk during movies) this one takes the cake. If you are reading this blog, and are the owner of a car-wreath or car-bow, please do not take offense. I understand that people have the right to decorate their car in ridiculously festive Holiday ornamentation. So embrace this right, but please understand that I cannot be held responsible for what I do when I see these JOLLY trimmings on your JOLLY car... you must remember: THE WREATH MADE ME DO IT!!

The highlight of my day...

All I have to say is today's the first of the month. I sure wish somebody would have told ME that before I headed to Win-Co for some light shopping. Seriously. Pandemonium. People everywhere. Babies wearing ONLY diapers, screaming and chewing on shopping carts. People pushing 3 shopping carts and not noticing (or caring) who they take out as they round the corner (yeah, that would be me). I think I have a broken toe from the experience. No joke, some lady, talking on her Blue Tooth (I HATE those things) pushed all three of her carts into me on the cereal isle. I almost strangled her. Then I knocked over a display of canned peaches trying to dodge this half naked little boy who was weaving in and out of shoppers. By the time I had everything on my shopping list, I was so stressed and on edge that I wanted to ditch the cart on a random isle and leave.... but I really REALLY needed diet pepsi, so I quickly came to my senses. The whole thing was surreal, I'm just glad I made it out in once piece! I can't believe I went shopping at Win-Co on the first of the month....