First of all... It's been a while since I've posted. This is because the end of the semester is stressful, holidays are busy, and more significantly... I have moved out of my apartment and into my new home. Life is busy, but life is good.
Why is life good, you ask? Well, today is a pretty important day.
Today is my anniversary with Dillon.
Today we celebrate 3 years of being together, 3 years of growing together, 3 years of laughing, love, tears, smiles and so much fun.
So, Dillon, thanks for the memories. When I type that my mind automatically goes to that tacky Fall Out Boy song. Make. It. Stop.
Regardless, I love you and I look forward to many more years - cliche, I know, but I mean it <3
This picture is from a carwash-date we had when we FIRST started dating back in '08
And this picture is from my 21st birthday back in September, isnt' he so manly and handsome?
Now if this doesn't make you smile, then you are in some serious need of some help. I am obsessed!
This little creature is now the background on my mac. I love him forever, and ever and ever.
What's his name you ask? Well, of course it's Lobster. Because lobsters are love, and he is love. (Yes, we are to the point of naming him, that's how close I am to him after 5 whole minutes of goo-ing over this cutiepatutie-booty.)
But, I can't take credit of finding him all by my lonesome. No, Dillon, who obviously knows me so well, just emailed this to me. And I am so very grateful.
You see, today hasn't exactly panned out the way I thought it would. So before Lobster came into my life, I was feeling slightly defeated. BUT NOW, thanks to my everso brilliant man, Dillon, and the everso adorable Lobster. I am confident I will get through this dreary day.
Meet Lobster, he is bound to make all your gloomy days bright.
The Saturday before Halloween I was blessed to spend the day with my precious and handsome fellow, Dillon. So for a huge chunk of the day we carved pumpkins, which I haven't done in years.
If you carved pumpkins recently, you will know that it's not nearly as easy as it was when your parents were there helping you. Just the whole process of cleaning out the seeds and whatnot took me a good minute.
After that the pumpkin design I decided to carve was without a doubt much harder than I had anticipated. I bought the cheap pumpkin carving kit at Walmart, which didn't really suffice for getting the job done of scraping away at the outer skin stuff.
Regardless, I didn't give up! And so these are some moments that my delightful roomie captured for us.
Yeah, that's me. I'm becoming a slacker. I don't know why, but I am so ... just not doing everything that I need to be doing for Christ.
I feel like my priorities are in a tizzy, and I'm not quite sure how to overcome this.
I used to read my bible everyday. I used to journal everyday. I used to. What am I doing making excuses? So what if it's only been a few days since I've picked up the Bible, that's no excuse.
Nadda.
I was journaling last night begging God to fuel my fire again, to give me the light that I thought I had lost and I realized something... the only reason I've lost whatever it is is because I've let go. It was never really lost, but instead God was always by my side. He never once left me to go watch a movie, to cook dinner or even to go to class.
And I need to do the same. I never need to leave his side. I always need to be right by the one who always stands by me.
Although I've still got some blowing to do on my fire - people do that right? to make fires bigger? you blow on them? - I know without a doubt I will get to where I need to be if I just always remember the one who is at my side.
How lucky are we? Let me go ahead and answer that for you, we are beyond lucky.
We are blessed.
So instead of being fun and uploading some pictures from halloween, or bowling on Friday I'm going to go read my bible. I've got some catching up to do.
Today marks the weekend of when Allison and myself gradually move out of our classy apartment. It's something to celebrate because we will hopefully be transitioning into something, well... for lack of a better term, nicer.
Don't get me wrong, our apartment is alright, but with the infestation of critters that I'm far too afraid to kill and the thin walls I look forward to not having to blow a fan every night to drown out the noise of the people above us walking.
I could go on and on about all the benefits of moving. But instead of boring you with that, I have to say I am still sad.
Not sad to leave this dreaded place we've called home for a little over a year now, but sad because leaving here means leaving Allison and moving on.
In my last post I mentioned she was fantabulous, which is the truth. She's the best roommate a gal could ask for, and not having her to come home to every night will be heartbreaking. She's funny, kind, and so willing to go above and beyond for anyone. Allison has been a spiritual mentor in my life, and it's just going to be different without her.
And all these months that have gone by we have experienced everything together!
Tornados, blizzards, floods, and not to mention all the personal battles we've both overcome.
But while it's sad to say goodbye, I know that she has so much to look forward to. She's brilliant, remember? She's funny, smart, beautiful and kind. She has talents beyond description and her heart is set on God. It's a beautiful thing.
However, the most beautiful thing that whatever she does, whether it's as serious as being a math teacher or a youth director or as fun as being a Disney princess or a dog trainer... I know without a doubt she will do it all to the glory of God.
So as we move on and out, what in your life do you need to pack up and pursue? Is it a friendship you need to get away from, is it a career, or do you just need to give your all to your education?
Whatever it is going on in your life I'm sure there are ways you can improve on putting God first.
Do it. Move on from this old life you're living. Be renewed.
Shine brighter than the sun for all the world to see.
To share something delightful, this is a video by Lecrae called "Don't Waste Your Life" - don't stay comfortable. If you think Christ is real what are you going to do about it? Sit pretty and wait, or are you willing to GO? Go.
This time last year, Allison and I went to Disney on Ice right after we moved in with each other and that was the beginning of many "Roomie Nights" - we decided this is going to forever be a tradition we share every year, whether roommates or not, we will without a doubt be enjoying this production together.
So, as I'm sure you've figured out Disney on Ice came through town, and I am so excited to say that it never fails to entertain me and my roomie, Allie. It was BRILLIANT.
We giggled, danced, clapped and smiled like we were the little girls dressed up as Cinderella. How superb :)
Have I mentioned I love my roommate?
She's such a blessing, can't imagine living without her - I thank God for her, and I thank God she loves Disney more than I do. I am so pumped to go with her to functions like this! Who cares if we're in our 20's without children going with us?
Do what you love :)
Everyone needs to embraced this, I think. It's time to stop worrying what everyone else thinks. Maybe next year we'll dress up as Disney princesses - go big or go home, right?
Here are some shots from the show - I unfortunately was really distracted with the songs and fun-ness that I didn't get nearly as many good shots as I could have, but here are a few:
And last, me with my fantabulously gorgeous roomie, Allison :)
That stands for rest and relaxation, sometime college students, and I'm sure just the American population in general completely forgets about. Individually and as a whole, that's just... bad.
But if you are a follower of Christ, forgetting about this step in our life is a sin.
I mean, do you follow me? Not taking the time to take care of our health is a sin.
I'm not telling you that you just need to eat healthy, or that you need to exercise regularly, because that is an obvious step in the way to maintain "your body is a temple," what I'm saying is something that seems to be blatantly forgotten.
It's like in our culture it's a goal to be the most busy people, or to strive to run off the smallest amount of sleep. What's up with that?! How are you going to glorify God if you're running low on energy? How are you supposed to give it your all when you're not taking care of yourself?
What I'm saying here isn't just for you, but for me too. It's almost 11 pm, I still need to study for a quiz in the morning, and I need to be awake by 6 am. Why do we do this to ourselves?
I think tomorrow everyone needs to make it a point to savor the day; I'm not saying play hookie and forget about your obligations - instead make it an effort to make time to take care of yourself. Plan somewhere in your schedule to rest this week.
And always remember, Sunday afternoon naps are always the best :)
This weekend was our much belated fall break, and let me tell you if it wasn't this weekend I'm not sure I'd still be alive. I know for a fact I was suffering from an overload of due dates, midterms, and examinations that fall break couldn't come soon enough.
But instead of spending my break tucked in bed and eating nothing but brownie batter, I drove four hours with my fantabulous roomie, Allie, to visit my old suitemate from my Knoxville dwelling days.
Cara is the girl who lead me to Christ. She is a true woman of God who changed my lifestyle for the better, she's always challenged me, and I appreciate her wisdom and honesty. Despite her intimidating good-looks, she is one of the most down to earth people I know.
Cara lives in a small town outside Greenville, SC - and since there's nothing to do where she lives, we spent the entire Saturday roaming the streets of the incredible downtown of Greenville.
Oh. MY. I want so badly to buy an overpriced flat and live here for the rest of my life. Here's some moments I capture from this sunshiny visit.
While I've yet to blog about him, I have a dog. He's a 74 pound heathen that's on a diet, and is consistently eating things he shouldn't - like my bible[s]. However, despite his mass of destruction to my prized possessions, I am convinced this creature I adopted from a shelter a year and some months ago was born just for me.
Meet Gibson.
Or as I often call him, Gibbs. Dillon sometime calls him Gibanthony, and others call him Gibbers, Gibby or just fat.
Although this picture could be in better focus, I adore everything about what's captured here. This was right before we got into the car for him to undergo some surgery, and he was being ever-so patient, and grinning :) despite the fact he was fixing to go under the knife.
I love how dogs can be so naive... I mean, I love how dogs just live in the moment.
They don't care about what might happen next, instead they just choose to indulge all they have into the exact moment they're living.
I think that's a lesson we all need to learn, live in the present.
The bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. All I can say to that is "amen."
Like I said earlier about Gibson being a heathen, I can honestly say he is such a delight. He is what keeps me sane sometimes, and while the rest of the world stresses me out, a disgusting, wet, slobbery kiss from him brings me back down to the level of living in the moment.
Live like a dog today, and I don't mean that as giving you an excuse to smell your friend's butts - instead live in the present, seize each moment and cherish all you have.
Life has been such and interesting thing I'm swept up in recently. It's been a couple of days since I have posted in this, and in the midst of it all I've been a little bit overwhelmed. Between all my school work, work-work, and life there's just been a lot going on.
I think that the Lord has plans, and I am convinced he has something delightful ahead. That the struggles I will face are not just trials to show I trust God, but they are opportunities which are programed to set me off track. But, I am so lucky at how big God is because he is stronger than anything else.
On Sunday I had to open the sermon at church, and it was interesting to go up in front of the congregation after my printer refused to print my "script" and the internet wouldn't let it email it to myself. I really had to let the Lord lead, trust is vital to our relationship with Him.
We had a guest speaker who preached about witnessing, he was so good! He was funny, and you could tell he cherished every moment of life. He seized every moment with the world.
He talked about living for Christ while riding the elevator. His thought process is being stuck with them for a few floors could be enough to change lives. Beautiful.
Being in Christ means you can't be of this world, so what if we look weird? Do not conform to this world any longer, but be transformed.
Today's post is looking back at my visit to the farmers market with Dillon, and my best friend, Ashley and her hilarious boyfriend, Harrison. I might add how perfect they are for each other! It makes me so happy to see them happy.
Love is lovely. And so is fall, it's my favorite time of year. Yeah!
Shine throughout the world this week, share your light and don't let anything get away from you loving the Lord.
