Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

I feel like everything about this post is going to be totally cheesy, but I finally decided I don't care and am going to write it anyway. Lately I have felt totally overwhelmed with how much I have to be thankful for.

A lot has gone on in my family over the past few weeks, and I have seen how truly blessed I am to have my parents. They support me in everything I do. When I thought I wanted to transfer, they helped me look up programs, figure out scholarships, and find out which classes would transfer. They prayed and fasted with me over my decision and agreed when I felt like I needed to stay at North Georgia. It took them a few years, but they have come to fully support my passion for missions. They talk to me about my future all the time: where I want to student teach, where I want to go to seminary, and about leaving the country for 6 months or so after I graduate. They encourage me to go where I feel God leading and pray about all of it too. They pray for the man I will marry and talk to me about him. They show me what it means to have a God-centered marriage and how to love other like Jesus loves. They encourage me every single day. There isn't a day that goes by that they don't tell me I am beautiful, I can do all things through Christ, and I am loved. As if all of that weren't enough, they love me unconditionally. They think I am the funniest thing in the world (come on, who doesn't love that?) and laugh at everything I say, even when no one else does. They listen to me talk incessantly about my friends and sorority and what is going on in my world, even if they have no idea what is going on; and they don't even get annoyed by it. They never tell me to stop singing. They don't think I'm weird. I wouldn't be who I am without them and even though they drive me crazy sometimes, I am so thankful that they are my parents!

I am thankful for my friends. We laugh sometimes because we act like we are in love with each other. They encourage me every single day, no matter what the day brings. They don't mind when I randomly start crying over seemingly stupid things or have bad days when the tears just can't be held back. They have been there for the good, the bad, and the ugly. They ask the hard questions, hold me accountable, and challenge me. They make me laugh more than anyone in the world and always put a smile on my face. They indulge me with long conversations that most would blow off, such as which Biblical man they have a crush on. They love that I am obsessed with my Greek and Hebrew dictionary. They hardly notice my outbursts of song or unrecognizable words or dance. Somehow, they love me. I could have never made it this far without them and I love them more than words could say.

I am thankful for so many godly women in my life to show me how to live. They allow their motherly instincts to kick in when necessary but know when not to. They put aside their titles of "mom of so-and-so", "sunday school teacher", and "person who took me on my first mission trip" and replace them with "friend". They know when to call me out and when to let me make my own mistakes. They never judge a single action I take or a single thought I have about any given situation. They have listened to me pour my heart out, sometimes in the most pathetic way, and have been a shoulder to cry on. They have stopped me from making stupid decisions and helped me make the most difficult ones of my life. They have been a safe-haven in times of trouble and a source of laughter when I had none. They show me that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world and inspire me to be a better person. If I can be even half of what they are when I am their age. You know who you are. Thank you for investing in me.

I am thankful for the joy I feel in my heart every day when I wake up. There are always going to be days when I don't want to get up: school is too hard, I don't want to answer to 56 fifth graders, I'm scared of what the future holds, my heart feels heavy, and nothing feels right in the world. But then I am reminded that God is on my side. He is for me. He will never leave or forsake me. He loves me! He pursues a relationship with me. He pursues me! He has forgiven me. He has set me free. He has redeemed me. Satan has no power over me or my days! I can jump out of bed every single morning knowing that my Savior has conquered anything and everything that the day could throw at me and I don't have a single thing to fear. I have said it before, but I have never been happier in my entire life than I am right now, which is a total God thing. And for that, I am forever thankful.

Squirrels vs. Diabetes

It suddenly occurred to me that I never wrote about Gold Rush, which is only the biggest thing that happens ALL YEAR in Dahlonega! They close all the roads down, and basically it is a huge craft festival and is so much fun. Ya know, if you're into that kinda thing. Which, turns out, I am. For our philanthropy, we do this thing called Rock-A-Thon. We set up rocking chairs in the square and rock and sing songs all day and people donate their spare change. All of the money goes to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, which supports diabetes research. This year we raised about $1200.

Kelly and Mary came up on Friday and we had a mini birthday party for Kelly, complete with cake, streamers, junk food, really late night, party hats, and noise makers. Then Saturday my mom came up for the day. Good, good weekend. :)

too much party for Mary...

Noonday bunch at lunch. ha.

we didn't want to go downstairs to drink our hot chocolate, so it came to us

Bless Her Little Heart

My car has had some rough times over the past month. Let's back up to a few days after I returned from Mexico. Allow me to set the scene for you. Linds and I both had our cars at my house all week. We have more cars than people at our house anyway, so this made for way too many cars for us. My dad lined all the cars up going down our rather steep drive way: Lindsey's closest to the house, mine in the middle, and my dad's city car at the end of the drive way. Earlier that week, my dad had cut the grass, which caused much grass to be on the drive way, and it was now pouring rain. This information will be important later. So there I was, looking real cute, ready for a great lunch with some great girls. I got into my car and thought that I could back around my dad's car because I hate having to go up the driveway when I'm in the middle of it like that. I was wrong. So I tried to go back up the drive way, my tires spun on the wet grass on the drive way, and I rolled back and hit my dad's police car. He drives an Expedition, so my little car was no match for it. After about 45 minutes, we got his car moved, and mine back up the drive way and I made it to lunch. His car was untouched. Mine has a rather large dent, missing paint, and crack in my bumper.

Fast forward from that story to last Tuesday. Our movement class is at an elementary school about 15 minutes away. Savannah and I were sitting at the stop sign at the end of my road, about 3 cars back, waiting to turn when homeboy in front of me decided he needed to back up. So he did. As if I weren't even there. Of course I didn't have time to react, and all Sav could do was yell, "watch out!" and he hit us pretty hard. I got out of the car, and I didn't know what to do. The man asked me if we should call the police (as if this kinda thing hap

pens to me all the time and I know exactly what to do. 20 year old girl here, hello!) and I told him I had no idea so I was going to call my dad. Of course my dad said yes, so I called the police to come out and file a report (bet 911 isn't on your call log right now). The police man was accompanied by a state trooper, who was much nicer. He kept asking Sav and I if we were ok and if anything hurt. Turns out he's from Hartwell, so he was on our side. The best part of this little ordeal is that homeboy legitimately had Safe Auto Insurance. As in 1-800-Safe-Auto, pick up the phone the call is free... for real. We found this very amusing. Who knew people actually call the people they hear on TV. Needless to say, we were late for class. We're ok, but my car suffered a little damage. We were shaken up and really sore for a day or so, but nothing major. At least the front matches the back now... :(

Come As You Are

I should be writing a 10 page case study on a 6 year old student from my first placement right now. That's precisely why I am writing this now.

During recruitment (aka rush), there are girls who disassociate from their sorority and are recruitment counselors, called Pi Chis. They're not allowed to wear letters or talk to their sisters much from Thanksgiving break until after recruitment, which is Martin Luther King weekend.

Savannah and I applied to be a Pi Chi this year and we got it! Training started today and I am so excited! Basically our job will be to guide the girls through the recruitment process, answer any of their questions, get them to the parties on time, be a shoulder for them to cry on when they get dropped or have a hard time making a decision, and take care of them. This year's theme is "come as you are" and I am really excited about being able to practically drill into these girls heads that they truly can come as they are and be loved and accepted by the women who will be their sisters. Basically, I get to be their mom for the weekend! I can't wait to carry a backpack containing proper mother objects for a whole weekend. It's going to be just like camp again.

And, in case you were wondering, this is what I plan for my backpack of goodness to contain for my sweet girls, who I do not know yet but I am sure they will be sweet:

- hairspray

- makeup

- mints

- candy

- lotion

- chapstick

- tissues

- Tylenol, Excedrin, Midol, etc.

- water bottle with little cups

- and more. I just can't think of anything else right now.

*edit* -also band aids

It's gonna be the best backpack ever. For sure.

The B-I-B-L-E, Which Man's The One For Me?

Lindsey and I have had a very interesting night here in Ruby Hollow (that's our residence). In fact, we have been very funny.

What I need to know, sweet bloggy friends, is this:

"What Biblical man could you have a crush on?"

I'm serious, y'all. I need your answers. We have put much time into this question. There are only 2 rules.

#1- you have to say why.

#2- you can't say Jesus. that's cheating.

can't wait to see what you people have to say about this!

Y'all Pray For Him

It has recently been brought to my attention that I am a strange individual.

Someone whom I love dearly said, "I pray for him because he's going to have to be very special to be with a weird girl like you." I'm alright about that.

The more I thought about how strange I really am, the more I realized how much I love that about myself. Turns out I can actually be kinda funny sometimes. And I feel like I am more me right now than I have ever been. I love that I can finally totally be myself and not worry about what anyone thinks. It amazes me that there is a man out there that could possibly love that about me.

This conversation was had tonight about the subject...

Me: I already love him, so I'm sure he already loves me.

Linds: I wonder if he knows he loves a weirdo.

I think he does.

Y'all pray for him. He's gonna need it to put up with me. :)

Autumn Acoustics

Every season/ road trip/ event of any sort requires a new playlist. Fall is no different, and I must say that this fall playlist pretty much rocks. I realize many of you don't love music like I do, but for those of you who do, enjoy the latest creation :)

1. Table For Two- Caedmon's Call. "we made speculation on who's in the web of our futures. and how everyone's lonely but still we just couldn't complain... but it's not my job to wait by the phone for [him] to call... and You know the plans that You have for me. and You can't plan the ends and not plan the means"

2. By Your Side- Jamie Slocum. thank you, Shazam, for helping me identify this song.

3. City On Our Knees- TobyMac. It needs to be said that I didn't love him for a very long time and I am not pleased to announce that we are very much so in love.

4. I Am In Love With You- Darrell Evans. "because Your love is better than life, Lord, I long for you more than I ever did before. I can't get enough of You, 'cause I am in love with You."

5. Never Alone- Lady Antebellum. such a sweet song.

6. Wanted- Jessie James. don't judge me.

7. Whatcha Say- Jason Derulo. how can you not love it?

8. Before the Storm- Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. I won't pretend I don't enjoy them. once again, don't judge me.

9. Big Green Tractor- Jason Aldean. in honor of the tractors in the Gold Rush parade and Athens farm day.

10. I'm Yours- Jason Mraz, Lil Wayne, and Jah Cure. I really loved Jason alone, and now it's even better.

11. Sweep Me Away- Kari Jobe. I pretty much love any of her stuff, Spanish or English.

12. You Are For Me- Kari Jobe. Like I said, love it.

13. Everyone To Know- Bethany Dillon. I'm pretty sure she took my heart and put it into a song.

14. Vanilla Twilight- Owl City. I also did not love him because everyone else did, but now I have repented and we are great friends.

15. Hold Onto Hope, Love- Amy Stroup. "hold onto hope, love. I've searched high and low for you. Each day gets closer so hold on stronger to me and you. Someday soon I'll find you. Someday soon I'll know you."

Also, the new Fee CD is INCREDIBLE!!! I am seriously obsessed and do some serious worship/ car dancing with this CD.

Good stuff friends, good stuff.