Fall

As much as I am in love with the sun, the heat, and the bliss of summer... I do have to admit that I am a little bit excited for what the fall will bring. Such as:

• More crocheting projects (that can actually be used)
• Clarity with my job situations (Hopefully!)
• Sweaters and sweatshirts
• Warm Starbucks coffee 
• Trips to Stillwater with Tiff
• To get a grip on how youth ministry will ACTUALLY work at SOV:) (and to build relationships with the students and leaders!)
• Sweatpants
• Being able to take Theo on longer walks where he doesnt over heat
• Being able to run in a comfortable climate
• Football games
• Our trip to Duluth
• Darker hair that will not fade with the sun!

I already feel like I'm "cheating on summer" by thinking these things, but what the heck, I guess I cant deny that fall is NOT so bad ;)

Adios <3

standing still

Ever find yourself waiting for some of those you love to come around?
It seems like they are often off in their own little world with little realization of just how much harm they are doing to themselves and those around them.
More than it saddens me/ someone to watch this, it is tough to picture the damage that is being done on the person's life.
As I in fact know, wisdom and learning often comes from your mistakes. However, at what point do you stop "acting in a way you may be able to learn from" and actually start learning? Because my biggest fear is that months turn in to years, and then a couple years turns in to a lifetime. One that you cant get back.
What is my part in all this? How long can you watch and support when everything in you wants to intervene and pull them away from all the destruction.
I do believe change is possible, but I hope it is not false hope. I guess thats not up to me.
Just know I love you.

Slumberland

So as I traveled with my friend Genette to buy some furniture for her new place, we encountered the most dorky/ heart warming "sales man." It was not only entertaining to chat with him, but so ever refreshing to see such an innocent and glowing perspective on life (even at slumberland). It was so cute, and according to him, he "has a lifetime friend now!" Anyways, it was just very pleasant to be around someone with such a light hearted and innocent approach to life. I don't think words can describe him! All we could do was smile. real big :)

I am so pleased to be a part of Sam's new career path as a youth director. It is such an uplifting journey filled with some pretty amazing people at the church. I cant wait to start building lasting relationships with all the students there. We are truly blessed to be where we are. The future excites me. I am not sure where it will go, but i know that it will be promising!

5 years ago, I never would have guessed that I would be where I am now. I always hoped my life would be put back together again and I would someday find peace and happiness in non destructive things. Who would have thought that I would have been given the love, support and tools to actually get here? Im sure everyone I grew up with would be surprised. Our God is good and faithful when we follow Him.

The phrase thats on my mind (and soon hopefully on me) is: Saved by Grace

We all are.

Adios<@

::Life::

Life is beautiful, hard times and all...
It is precious not just because it is a gift, but that each moment is filled with opportunities to give and love and appreciate what is around us!
I need to "stop and smell the roses" more often. Its so easy to just speed on by and forget the beauty in the moment.
I am thankful and I am grateful for all that we have been blessed with. Why do I often overlook this??
It makes me feel guilty for not always being grateful for all that I have when others have so so much less. However, they are probably more grateful than I!

Waiting

How long do you have to wait until everything falls into place?
It seems as though you spend your who life building up for these moments when you are finally there...when all of the countless years of learning, and searching for "the one" have paid off. But where is the guarantee that the next things will just fall into your lap. Yes, I know what you are thinking, this IS NO guarantee, but it sure feels like there should be one, or at least a time frame on when you should expect them to fly your way. I feel so uneasy when even the slightest bit of nothing is out of sorts, so these big things are driving me crazy inside! I know I should be thankful, so thankful, for what I HAVE. But it is human nature to want more...and to want to do/ be my best. I know I am so close to those next things where I truly feel I could be my best, if I could just BE there.
Soon. Hopefully, soon...

Humility in times of greatness and troubles alike

 "¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
 ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
 ⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
 ⁷but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
 ⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
 ⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
 ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2: 1-11

In times when everything is going amazing and you feel very blessed. Be humble, and praise the one who is in charge. Also, in times of heart ache and feelings of hopelessness, be humble and praise the one who is in charge. He does not create evil, but instead is the opposite. However, we have the free will to act as we please, and that is the source of awful times. I am trying to find peace in the fact that someone bigger is in charge and that life is bigger than we see it. 

Sincerely,

-A seeker 

green paint

So I enlisted sam into helping me paint the entryway as well as the stairs going up to the main level solely for  the reason of tolerating this town home for another year. I could not stand the white walls down there any longer. Hopefully the paint will make it a little more tolerable and the dirt will show a little less. Its so hard to rent for all these years when you are so anxious to just BUY! However, hopefully in a year (or less) we will have all our finances in a great place to buy! in the meantime I guess we have to live by my frugal husbands motto: "live like no one wants to now and we can live like no one can later." Easier said than done for a girl like myself! In the long run though, i think he has a point.

I think we are finally starting to enjoy life without the stressors of school and being newlyweds...Its kind of nice.

all that to say.... nothing interesting is going on, and it is kind of nice for once!!
<3