Real Life-Life Update!

Ive been wanting to blog for a while now...I get all these ideas of things to blog about late late at night but definitely dont want to crawl out of my cozy bed to type them up, so while I had some time to myself on this beautiful Wednesday evening I figured I would share some thoughts.

Starting with school, boy have I been sooo extremely busy, lately I feel like I havent had a break but at the same time its been cool to see myself maturing in time management and taking time to take care of myself. Many of you may not know this, but I tend to go, go, go and do, do, do and I cant say no, no, no. Seriously though, always been a problem of mine, but I dont complain because I love hanging out with people so I tend to look at it as an awesome thing until I hit my breaking point...no good. So yea, I have 19 hours this semester, been for the most part staying on top of things...make my momma proud :) 

Which leads me to a family update, it was my grandmas birthday on Valentines day!! Yayyyy grandma, I would say her age but 1) not important and 2) she would hightail it up to NC to beat me for putting it on here. Cute story: When I called her on her birthday she asked me if I knew why she was such a great grandma and when I asked why, she replied because I have the greatest grandchildren in the whole world. Needless to say my grandma is way cute.

As for friends, God has been blessing me over and over again for the new friendships and even old friendships that I continue to grow in everyday. I've definitely talked about this before but this year is kind of a big year when it comes to friends because I have many, many of them who are graduating and I constantly find myself asking "what am I going to do!" Most days I am totally being dramatic but some days I am SO serious, because most of these people I get to run to so that they can give me some good advice maybe even shove me down the right path versus the silly one I would like to choose. And I wont have that next year, I have to put my big girl pants on and just do it. AHHHH! Ok, done ranting but on the positive side of it all, I have been learning to step up in many of the relationships I have and be more of a leader instead of a child, (well if I'm being honest I'm balancing out the two)...I am learning to seek God in new ways and it has been beautiful.

Really, I am just living it up some more here at GWU, still have much more to learn, much more growing to do, and so much more fun to have.

**OH AND MY BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP!! WHOOO!

Real Life-Finding a Purpose

Im back! Its been a crazy long time since I've blogged and I sure have missed it! There have been many a nights where I go to bed and then I just start thinking about so many things and want to get up a blog but it doesnt happen. Tonight I decided to make it happen because I have had a lot on my mind these days... So here goes...

The reason I titled this finding a purpose is because I am currently trying to find my path again and have been struggling greatly. School has started back which has been great because I love the community of people it comes with BUT...yea there is a "but" school itself is not a passion of mine. Of course if we are honest with ourselves, who really likes school? Very few people, too bad I am not one of those people. I hate school! I've had plenty of discussions with people about not liking school and not really seeing its purpose for me, yes, I know I get a degree but thats when I say, is that it?? Because society says so, we must attend school, walk across a stage 4 years later, receive a slip of paper, be a lucky one who gets a job, and fulfills our duties as adults. Ok, maybe its a bit dramatic but think about it....

With that I am not trying to really find my purpose in school because I know I have a purpose on this campus and to be honest how much I like school or not is irrelevant many, many years later and tons of money being spent...I'll make it count, no worries. SO...on a grander scale, I am looking more for my purpose in Gods kingdom...I've spent days wishing I was not at school anymore, feeling very unhappy, and just kind of 'stuck' in a weird cycle. What does God have planned for me in all this? What is He trying to teach me? 

Fun fact: I really really hate when I dont know things, do you see my predicament? Haha but seriously... I guess I am trying to see where God is trying to place me in order to serve as intended. Since I have been back at school, there have been changes in different places and some that just break my heart to be quite frank and trying to grow from these changes has been a challenge BUT I am trying so a little bit of credit is needed. 

Anyways this is just my thoughts tumbling out of my head...I dont know what else to do with them. Goodnight!

Real Life-Garden

Needtobreathe: Garden (Acoustic)

Song of the day...just listen to the lyrics. SOOO GOOOD!

Real Life- Gods Will

Question of the day: What is Gods will?


Lately I've been laying in my bed, sick, but with plenty of time to think about things and life in general. I haven't decided yet if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but either way its a time to reflect and just think. Last night I found out that there is a relatively good chance one of my best friends will have to transfer out of Gardner Webb. Of course this made me really upset because even though a person is just simply moving away, to me it is a lot like losing a part of you. I treat my friends as my family and I hold them very close to my heart. When I was talking to this friend about being sick, Gods will was something that came up, that if this was Gods will then we have to trust in Him, which I completely agree with. BUT... yep it was coming, the thing I've been thinking about is what if what I think is Gods will and what someone else believes is Gods will is completely different, which is why the question of the day is what is Gods will?


I know this question seems far out and maybe there isnt really a clear answer to it...but, I dont know really how to finish my thought so I'll just leave it at that.... if you got any answers throw em at me. 

Real Life- EMIE

Time for another friend introduction, someone who in the past month or so has been growing closer and closer to my heart and I am crazy thankful for, her name is Emie. I first met Emie through Young Life leader training, but I'm still not completely sure how we have become good friends but I know for sure its been an awesome journey so far. 


I'm not always a person who realizes when God is showing up in my life, I see His creations and admire the beauty of it all but generally things don't just jump out at me. Over the past couple years I've definitely seen Gods work through people He has placed in my life which is why I talk about my friends so much because they have worked in my life so much over the years and through them God is so clear to me. Through Amy, Chelsea, Hannah, Brittany, and now Emie, its a wonderful thing.


In Emie I see a strong woman through God, someone who doesn't take things for granted and always sees the glass half full. I see so much love from the way she loves her family to the way she loves the stranger sitting next to her in class, constantly pursuing people and finding good in everyone and everything. I see, patience, boy this is something I lack which is why its a quality I tend to admire most. I also see a good friend with a good heart who loves me for me and that is always something I am extremely thankful for and couldn't ask for anything more.


I love the friendship we share which we haven't shared for long but thats the exciting part, so much more to learn and many more memories to make and lots of laughter to share cause she's a funny one. I am so thankful for her and this opportunity to build a new friendship where the Lord is so evident. 

Love you Emie!

Real Life- Thanksgiving

Earlier in November a friend of mine brought up the idea of sharing daily something we were thankful for because it was something that her family did every year in the month of November before Thanksgiving. Obviously we should be thankful every day not just this one time of year but this idea was cool and it definitely makes you more aware of your surroundings and really gets you thinking of the small things that you can be thankful for. Needless to say we kind of failed at sharing with each other every day but I havent forgot and I've thought about it every day, so I wanted to share with you all instead a few things I am thankful for.

1) I am extremely thankful for my family. Family is something we all take for granted because they are always going to be the most consistent people in your life, they will love you no matter way, they arent always the one challenging you with things so you tend to not run to them as often as you would a good friend. We tend to look over our family, guilty :), but I am so thankful for the disfunctional functional part of my family, we all have it right? haha No seriously, families are crazy but they are what makes life so interesting and fun. I get good laughs and good meals, so definitely not complaining.

2) I am thankful for the ministry I serve in, Young Life, I know I've mentioned it before. A month or so ago we had our YL Banquet and the theme for the night was "A Night with the Stars" in which the leaders were the ones showcased for the night. It was so awesome for me because I realized I was a leader, I was a star, I finally was the person God intended me to be and I was lucky enough to see what Gods love looked like and what a relationship with Him was like. Young Life changed my life and provided me with opportunity to know the Lord, and ...life has never been the same.

3) I am so thankful for the people who have been placed in my life. Sometimes I sit in a room full of my friends and I just thank God for them, its amazing the amount of laughter, love, and fun you can put in one room. I've been blessed to share my life and all the fun stuff that comes with it and for them to share theirs with me, that to me is one of the most of beautiful things to me.

These are the top things I am thankful for but there is so much more that I could ramble on and on about but I would need more than just a blog to express them. Mmm... but something to leave you with, go out and look at the sunset one evening, its absolutely beautiful... think of some things you are thankful for, kind of gives you a new perspective on some things in life.

Real Life-CCF

CLEVELAND COUNTY FAIR 2011

Cleveland County, North Carolina home to the biggest county fair in the state of North Carolina. Yea, thats right people this small town I was born in is good for a few things. But real life, the Cleveland County Fair is one of the biggest highlights of the year for people who live around Shelby, including myself.

For 2011 CCF, it was bound to be a big year--bigger and better! The fair came to town Sept 28th-Oct 8th and out of 11 days here, you would find me there 8 out of the 11. I know, I know, it's absurd but IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! Of course, it is all about strategy, you cant go for the same things every day you'll just get bored so you have to space it out; a couple days for food, a couple days for rides, might want to throw in a day or two for sight seeing because some of the people that show up are surely a sight to be seen and you cant forget about the pig racing where you would find Amy Brown at every race there was when she was at the fair. 


I could go on talking about the fair forever but pictures will really tell the story: