some things i didn't write

I shared some words back in November that I didn't write and what's funny is that two of the people on that list are on this list today.

1. I shared a few weeks ago how I couldn't get this song and these words out of my head. Ann's words and the video in this post. Just...yes. We are blessed so we can bless. We are loved by God so that we can be His love.

2. Angie's post over at (in)courage on not being Moses. I think this kind of goes along with this post from 2 months ago. It is still stuck in my head that there is no competition when it comes to God's Kingdom. We. I. so often pretend like there is. I used to really struggle {and still sometimes do} with being a missionary's sister. And if it wasn't that, it was being the "most hip" female youth worker. {We all know, that I never will be, but, I aspired...} ;) God made me. Me. Not Sarah. Not one of countless women I call my friends. Me. And if I can't be me and serve Him the way He made me? Then, that's pretty lame. I am a missionary. Whether it says that on my business card or not. Not that I think Sarah has business cards. But you know what I mean. It's just...convicting all over again. Go read it.

3. Annie's vlog about the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It may seem all fun and games but the last minute or so...yowsa. "God tells way bigger stories than we do." and "What I would have written for myself is far inferior to what has been written for me."

Mind.

Blown.

I think this really struck me for two particular reasons.
{a} Obviously...there's the whole job thing. Do I really need to explain that one?

{b} Some friends of mine had a sweet baby last Thursday. Life doesn't always go the way we thought it would and I know Jordan and Marty weren't necessarily expecting Morgan to be born with all the difficulties that she has been born with. But to know that God knows way more than we do. And He always writes the best stories. This tiny girl is going to change some people's worlds. I'm pretty sure she already has. In ways that we can't even imagine. I immediately thought of this verse:

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. - Eph. 3:20, The Message

 We have a choice. To believe that God is telling that bigger story, or...not. What will we choose to believe? 

For updates on precious Morgan Noelle you can check out their blog, this Facebook page that was set up, or follow Jordan and Marty on Twitter. (or the hashtag #PrayForMorgan).

Go.

Read.

Or watch. :)

Take it to heart.

Happy Tuesday, y'all.

P.S. If you can pray for me some sleep? It's 5:04 a.m. and I've yet to be asleep. :( Booooooooo.

what i learned from france...

I think we all may know how I absolutely love (in)courage.

It.

Is. 

Awesome. 

Sauce. 

And fortunate little me received the opportunity to be a daily guest blogger over there. 

Today! 

So head on over there and read about what I learned from France.

Or Disney. 

Whatever.

:)

P.S. I've never actually been to France. I bet my mom was really confused for a second.

:)

I think I might move to Canada

Not because it isn't a blazing 100 degrees there, although that'd be nice, but because I'm hoping if I do, I might somehow bump into Sarah Richardson and she'd instantly fall in love with my personality and want to hire me to work with her even though I have absolutely NO design experience whatsoever.

I knew when I moved in with Matt and Molly that I'd be watching a lot of HGTV. Mostly because Molly has a degree in interior design and I am totally okay with that. I love HGTV. Love it. And have I ever mentioned that they renovated their house when they bought it a year and a half ago and she has it designed in the most beautiful way ever. Every time I walk in, which is a lot lately, I feel like I've stepped into a design magazine or something. She is just so uber-talented. If I had a house, I'd totally hire her.

All that being said, I did not know that she would get me hooked onto Sarah's House.

I don't know if you've ever seen it, but the premise is Sarah buys a house that hasn't been touched by a renovator's anything, (seriously, there has been some TRULY horrendous rooms. Hor. ren. dous.) and then goes in and renovates the house to make it a house that she'd want to live in. Totally makes sense to me! I mean, when you buy a house (not like I know) that has been partially renovated, you're paying for those renovations, whether or not it's how you would actually do it or not.

So, I'm quite sure I saw part of an episode less than two weeks ago of Sarah's Summer House and since then?

I have watched approxmately 41 episodes in less than 2 weeks. 

That is more than slightly ridiculous.

But it's just so pretty and funny and entertaining.

You can watch full episodes of Season 2 and Season 3 online here.

The Master Bedroom in Season 3? I think it's my most favorite room that I've ever seen in my entire life.

 

I want to live there.

Apart from all the house renovation/design stuff I've learned, I've also learned some new words.

Pro-cess. Which, is what we in the U.S. call process. But they put the emphasis on the PRO part. I think it's funny.

Bang Up job - a really good job.

I think I learned bang up from my Irish friend Luke that I worked with in Dallas. He'd say that sometimes. I also learned "Bob's your uncle, Nelly's your aunt." from him. Which, I still don't know what that means. He'd just say it sometimes. I think it was to throw me off. ;)

But seriously, if you like design or home renovation stuff and you haven't seen it before? Check it out!

I'll be back later this week with more spiritual and holy stuff. I just had to share my new obsession!And by later, I mean, tomorrow or Friday. :)

Today is Wednesday y'all! {Way to go Captain Obvious!} Which means I'm only about a week and a half away from the BEACH!!!

WWWWOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

i'm having intermediate school flashbacks

Y'all.

I'm going to the BEACH!!!!!!!

For a whole week!!!!!!

I have never been to the beach.

Apart from 2 hours spent at Pensacola Beach when I was 16 years old. But...that's not really what I consider going to the beach. 

Anyway, I'm tagging along with the parents, and the kids I keep to help keep an eye on them and all that jazz and I really, am just so beyond thrilled that there is no possible way I could communicate it to you. 

I feel like I'm a character in this...

 

Please tell me you remember that? 

Oh goodness. We leave in 2 weeks and I'M SO EXCITED!!!!! 

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

And I also feel like Jessie Spano wth all this I'M SO EXCITED business.

I'm so...scared.

Now you understand why I feel like I'm in intermediate school.

:) 

Y'all have a super weekend!

i promise i'm alive (ep. 2)

Oh my goodness.

I just wanted to drop in and say a big hello to all the tens of you that read this blog.

{Grin}

:)

But really.

It's been kind of hard to blog because as some of you know, I don't have a computer at my house. That makes the whole blogging thing kind of hard.

{If any of you want to buy me a computer because you love me and my writing that much or simply because you're the most awesomest person ever and have a generous spirit. Let's talk.}

;)

I would say I'm kidding, but crazier things have happened. I assure you. And...I'm really not kidding. Well...only partly kidding. 98% of me is completely serious.

And I would blog at Mom and Dad's but their computer was shipped off somewhere to be fixed 2 1/2 weeks ago and it has yet to return. They're not expecting it back until the END OF DECEMBER.

How does one survive? Good thing my sister and mom can check Facebook on their phone or the world just. might. end. (And mine too, I ain't gonna lie).

Anyway, so that's why it's been the crickets around here lately.

I had the best of intentions to tell you all about the crazy awesome trip to Deeper Still {if you pause the video at the 45 second mark that's TOTALLY me in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. What's up with my hair? And my mouth? Oh well. Moving on.}

I also was going to tell you about the first Thanksgiving without the sister. A synopsis: having Thanksgiving on Saturday is BIZARRE. And I kind of liked it...but at the same time, I was completely thrown off Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Weird.

I was going to tell you how my Christmas tree is STILL not up. Neither is Mom and Dad's. I still have my wreath hanging on my front door. And there isn't a single bit of me that's freaking out over not having my Christmas decorations up .

Not a single bit.

I was going to tell you all about the most fabulous birthday I've ever had in my life. For real. The. most. fabulous. birthday. ever. The only actual gifts I received were 3 packs of sweet tarts {just because I'm curious, what side of your mouth do you chew sweet tarts on? Let's do a study. I'm serious. Stop laughing.} and a very special ornament with the letter 'R' on it that blinks. Oh, and a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE.

Like, a bajillion people wrote on my Facebook wall. I got just as many texts and phone calls and emails. Having caring friends and family and people that you barely know is SO hard. I mean really. So hard.

And...what else...ummm...I met a ton of cool and awesome people at Deeper Still.

Example 2 {example 1 is the link above} ;)
Melanie aka Big Mama. She was so so so sweet. And I told her how I'm awkward too. That in and of itself is awkward enough. But really. I can be so awkward.

P.S. That is one CRAZY eye on my behalf. For real.

Example 3


Kelly from Kelly's Korner was sitting with the Compassion Bloggers and due to some seating issues we got to sit with them on Saturday morning, but this was Friday night when I was like, "Yeah, I read your blog and Harper is so cute and you're just the cutest little pregnant lady."

More awkward.

And while not a cool and awesome person. How about these cool and awesome SEATS thanks to (in)courage and DaySpring??


And again, not cool or awesome people, but I GOT TO EAT CHIPOTLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 16 MONTHS AND IT WAS JUST AS FABULOUS AS I REMEMBERED.


Oh, Chicken Burrito Bowl. I'm quite sure you will be served in Heaven. And guacamole, you too.
Sigh.

Okay, so...that's all I have time for. And there were very serious and spiritual things that happened and yes this post is just fluff, but I had to share. I couldn't keep it in any longer!

OH and I got to meet Lisa-Jo and Ann (we are on a first name basis now...ha.)

And I'm being COMPLETELY serious when I say the first words I said to Ann Voskamp were,

"I LOVE YOUR WORDS."

Yes. For real.

I can't go on anymore. Because really. Those were my first words to someone that writes the most beautiful words that I don't even UNDERSTAND sometimes.

Sheer fabulousness.

And awkward.

But we've established I rule at that.

Y'all have a good weekend.

:)

{Sorry, I just don't have time for more words!}