A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

Two months ago yesterday, I married my best friend. It has been a tremendous blessing and joy to share life with him.

Here are a few of my favorite snapshots from our special day:

My wonderful bridesmaids

My Family

His Family

Our fun, crazy bridal party

Us with the cutest little people

Cake time!

Settling into married life has been wonderful, although it has had its moments of transition. One of the lessons to learn has been prioritizing time for the things that truly matter in life. I feel like it is a huge lesson that the Father has been teaching me lately. I'd like to share more on that soon and look forward to sharing more posts in the future (now that wedding planning is behind me!) :)

Thanking the Giver of Good Things

So many things happening lately, so many reasons to thank the Giver of good things.

In 24 days I marry my best friend.

I'm having a hard time fathoming all of the 

changes that are now taking place in my life.

But as Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, 

"There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:"

I can attest to verse 11a which says, 

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."

Thanking Jesus for His faithfulness!

This lovely lady was a beautiful bride 

and I count it a great honor to have her share

in my special day soon. 

The four of us have shared many

 fun memories together

so it has been bittersweet to say goodbye. 

Life brings changes and with it distance.

Yet distance can't interfere with heart connections.

So glad for the blessing of friendship,

 especially through the years when I most needed them.

This past weekend we took a road trip out to the 

beautiful city of  Pittsburgh to visit my cousin and his family. 

Family and Phillies :)

Had lots of fun playing with these girlies and 

their little brother. High energy and quite the entertainers. 

Never a dull moment!

It was so nice to get away from wedding planning 

and explore a new city. In 3 1/2 weeks, 

we get to do it again! :)

One more thing I'm grateful for- amazing family 

and friends who are stepping up to help us 

with planning and details. God is gracious 

in meeting our needs, big or small.

What are you thankful for today?

Happy heart

It's officially summertime for me. *Happy dance!* Another year of teaching has come and gone and as usual it brings feelings of bittersweetness. However, this summer will be like none other. This summer I marry my best friend and my heart couldn't be happier. :)

I've been meaning to share some of our engagement pictures with you, but haven't had time until now. Credit goes to the wonderful talent of Tawanda Faye Photography. She did a phenomenal job and we thoroughly enjoyed our photo shoot with her. Plus it was a gorgeous spring afternoon.

[My favorite]

Our Heavenly Father has blessed both of us more than we could've ever imagined. My heart is continually overwhelmed by His goodness. My prayer is that our love would be an example to those around us of the Father's love for each one of them as unique, cherished individuals created in the Father's image and for His glory.

Experiencing His Rest

Sometimes I get frustrated with myself. That never happens to you, does it? :) My perfectionist personality really shines through in the summertime when it comes to creating to-do lists and goals that I aim to accomplish in a short amount of time. Problem is that when I don't achieve all that I desired, I become easily frustrated with myself. However, I am realizing something new- I don't have to do it all.

I've been doing a Women of Faith book study with a dear friend. The book is titled Resting in Him: I need to slow down, but I can't! It has been a definite challenge for me to accept the fact that I don't have to be superwoman, especially in these few months where I do have extra time to work on projects. Sometimes taking an afternoon off to relax and spend solely with Jesus is a much better alternative. "When we take the time to rest, we begin to realize that what feels like doing nothing is really allowing God to do something inside of us." ~Margaret Feinberg.

Since I've come to this realization, I've planned more restful moments into my schedule. It really has made a difference! If I feel tired, I take a short power nap to rejuvenate. If I have the urge to read, I sit down and relax for a bit with one of the books from my summer stack. :) I've also made morning devotions and prayer time a huge priority. Beginning my day with Jesus is the best way to start off my day and brings a joyful heart and attitude!

One final thought:

"When we stop, we are in a better position to allow God to move in our lives. Rest is a physical reminder that we are not in control of everything and, at the end of the day we are not the ones who have to hold it all together. That is God's job. Rest reminds us of our place, not just in life, but in Him." (Feinberg)

May you experience the blessings of His rest today!

Blessed beyond measure

One of the many reasons that I love journaling is the simple joy of reflecting on old entries from months and years gone by. It is so incredible to see the faithfulness of God in my life in many ways. The prayers that I've prayed and verses that have spoken to me in the past take on new meaning.

My Father has indeed been showing me His faithfulness in these areas over the past few weeks. I am blessed beyond measure to share the news that He's brought me a special Mr. to begin a brand new adventure with. :)

Dustin & I have been friends for years.

He's such a fun loving guy with an incredible heart

and passion for serving the Lord and others.

 

Dustin & my brother Justin

[yeah, it gets a bit confusing..haha]

are so much alike it's almost scary.

Never a dull moment when I'm with both of them! :)

 

We are so excited for this new journey God is taking us on.

To Him be the glory!

 



In other news, I can't believe the summer is slowly winding down. Only a few short weeks till school begins again. Wow! It's definitely time to get busy checking things off my to-do list for school projects. Things will certainly be busy, but God is indeed good.

Press On

How do you summarize a week in which God moved in hearts and lives, continually demonstrating a piece of heaven on earth?

There's something about going into a week feeling vulnerable, yet leaning on the Lord as your rock. He showed His faithfulness time and time again at Joni & Friends camp in relationships that were newly established as well as in those that had a previous foundation. We experienced both sorrow and joy throughout the week, yet His grace was ever present.

Before the week started, I chose a passage of Scriptures to claim as my own for the week.
1 Peter 3:8-10, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

Many times when I felt frustrated or weak, I came back to these verses and the reminder that I was to love deeply and offer hospitality even when it was the last thing I felt like doing. The gifts God has blessed me with are not my own. They are meant to be shared, along with portions of grace that I too have received from my Father.

Our theme for the week was Press On- "I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

This continues to be such a challenge to me- pressing on through the trials as well as the joys in life. Reaching the heavenly goal and prize will be well-worth it some sweet day.

Now to some snapshots from my week::

The official Pocono 400 pace car stopped in one afternoon :)

Having fun in cooking club

Beauty is God's handwriting! -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sisters with their pinewood derby cars

My sweet friends

Family for the week :)

 

I'm grateful that I was given yet another opportunity to truly be Christ's hands and feet serving fellow brothers and sisters in need of refreshment and renewal. It was a blessing to be a part of this sweet fellowship. My prayer is that the families we served received just what they needed and much more.





Summer Lovin'

Summer is for family. For vacations. For rest.
I was anticipating last weekend for quite awhile.
My family's annual weekend away.
Nothing but natural outdoor beauty, sunshine & cool breezes.

 I was not disappointed.

 This swing is my favorite devotions spot. Ever. I could spend hours there. And I did.

 Journaling at its finest. Me and Jesus time. Perfect.

Pretty flowers [at home]

 

I came home feeling refreshed and loved on by my heavenly Father. As I reflected on the weekend, the one experience that blessed me the most was stargazing. There's just something about a black night sky lined with bright twinkling stars that brings peace to my soul. One night I was curled up with a blanket on my balcony taking it all in. The lyrics from the hymn The Love of God came to mind- "It [the love of God] goes beyond the highest star..." I thought to myself, "These stars are HIGH. My Father's love is so much more than that." And just like that I saw not one, but two shooting stars. My face lit up with a smile and my heart was so touched. He loves so deeply and I am continually in awe of the ways in which He reminds me of that.

 

This coming weekend I am embarking on another adventure- serving for a week with Joni and Friends at Spruce Lake Retreat. I am excited to reconnect with what we call the JAF 'family' and anticipate the ways in which God will move in each one of our lives. To God be the Glory!

Summer reading list

I'm happy to say that I actually managed to read the following books this summer:

• Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

I'd highly recommend this one.  The title kind of speaks for itself.  If you're anything like me, life can  be crazy and this book is very challenging.  It's from a few years back, but the title grabbed my attention when I was at the library.  You can read more about it at this website.  I was fortunate enough to buy it for myself {barely used} at a local thrift shop.  The price of $1 was pretty sweet too.

• Every Day Deserves a Chance by Max Lucado

His books are always good.  Enough said.

• In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne & Sean Tuohy with Sally Jenkins.

This is the couple behind the movie The Blindside.  Excellent story.  {Thanks for the recommendation, Natalie.}

• Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs 

This is a fictional account (with biblical backup) of ten bad girls in the Bible, from whom we can learn some valuable lessons.  {Jess, thanks for lending it to me.}

• Slighty Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs 

A continuation of her Bad Girls series, this book takes a look at five women in the Bible, who made both wise and unwise decisions, much like us today.

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 

A classic Christian author who has penned many famous books.  This one takes a look at the various components of the Christian faith.  I wasn't sure that I'd enjoy reading this one, but I did find some classic quotes and many challenges.

• A Man Worth Waiting For: How to avoid a bozo by Jackie Kendall

This is a follow-up to Lady in Waiting, which I learned so much from. This book, however, gives words of wisdom on how to avoid a bozo in a relationship and instead hold out for a Boaz. It was an interesting read, but I felt like I've already experienced or came to understand some of the points already in my life. This was more of a teenage book, I do believe.

• Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

I don't even know how to describe this book, except to say that it's a must-read.  Seriously.  It will change your life.  It was my favorite book of the summer.  Please do yourself a favor and check it out!  I'll just leave it at that...

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This was probably my second favorite book.  It has hilarious humor, along with serious points.  This is a story of 3 women living in Mississippi in the 1960's.  You may have already seen this recent movie, but I'd encourage you to check out the book as well.

The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias

You might be questioning this one so I'll admit why it was on my list. I had to read it for school. Yes, this teacher had to do a summer book report! This book discusses the various learning styles that guide children in the learning process. While it wasn't my favorite summer read, I did learn a lot.

10 books in 3 months.  Probably could have been better, but I had a few week-long trips thrown in there.  Now it's back to school this week, which likely means I won't have as much time to dig into more good books in the upcoming months.  But I shall do my best!

Goodbye Summer~ Hello Fall

I'm sad for summer to leave because...

1. I could eat ice cream every night.  But it's a good thing I don't- you'd be able to tell.
2. Fresh fruits and veggies make mealtime so much more enjoyable.
3. Flip flops and cute sandals are so easy to wear.
4. Short skirts and dresses are my thing.
5. I relished in reading a lovely list of books over the past few months.  More on that soon.
6. Stargazing thrills me.  It's not so enjoyable in December.
7. I want to go back to my beach trip with the cousins. Twas so enjoyable!
8. I never did get an authentic photoshoot in with my friends.  This fall?

I can't wait for fall because...

1. Leggings and boots are calling my name. 
2. Layering is too.  It's great when you can make the most of your closet (and I'm tired of my summer wardrobe.)
3. Flats are fun.  Speaking of which, I think I could use another pair.  Shopping anyone?
4. Sweatpants and fireplaces just go together.
5. I heart hot drinks, especially enjoyed at a cozy coffee shop with friends.
6. A hearty bowl of soup, chili or apple crisp is so satisfying.
7. Crisp cool air is long overdue.  I've had enough of this heat and humidity.
8. Running (or exercising in general) should be more refreshing without the above mentioned.
9. I really want to have a family campfire at my grandma's.  Fun, food & fellowship.

What's your pick & why- summer or fall?

July Adventures

Mainly, my July consisted of 2 trips.  One relaxing, one rewarding. 

Let me share about the relaxing one first.

Beach sunrise. 

There's nothing like it!

Cousins and forever friends

We had a wonderful time relaxing for 4 days, soaking up the sun, doing LOTS of laughing & memory making!

Then 3 days later, I embarked on a stretching adventure of being a small group leader at a local youth conference. It was called Take Back Your Life, which is a conference done by the Door of Hope Ministry, based in North Carolina. They are a counseling ministry. It was so stretching to be used in that way. I've never really seen myself as a leader so having to be Spirit-led in leading group discussion, ministry, and prayer time was hard. But I learned a lot and feel like God has given me the "gift" of being able to care about people and their burdens. I feel like God has shown me this for a reason and He's going to lead me in that direction somehow and in someway. Not sure how yet, but He is already opening doors, which I'm excited about! 

Me & My girls

I'm blessed to know these 2 beautiful women of God! 

I couldn't have made it through the week without them.

 

And now I have 2 weeks to prepare for the start of school.  Oh, how time flies!

 

How are you finishing out your summer?

 

June adventures

I know it's July already, but I just wanted to give a little update on what I've been doing lately:

For about a year, I've been growing out my hair for Locks of Love.  I figured if I'm going to grow it for awhile, I might as well donate it to a good cause! 

Here's a before shot:

At the salon:

And after (14 inches later):

Whew, it feels so much better and it's nice to think that I can be a blessing to someone else!  I wanted to get this done before my next adventure...Joni and Friends Camp, which I believe I shared about in this post.

I had a wonderful week at camp being stretched, challenged, molded, and being made in His workmanship (our theme for the week from Ephesians 2:10.)  I was assigned to the same great camper that I was with last year so it was a blessing to continue our relationship.

We were able to take part in fun activities such as:

Airhockey.  She beat me every time!  Haha.

Paddleboats  :)

Crafts

A coffeehouse

And opening birthday gifts.  :) 

My favorite picture of us from the week!

Let's not forget the annual campfire with singing and smores; the waterslide; and the excellent Talent Show, put on by campers and their STM's (Short-Term Missionary's.)  I was grateful to share the experience with a good friend this year.  God is good and I'm thankful I was able to experience the joys (and many tears!) of JAF once again.

One more adventure that I'm about to begin: A couch to 5K running program with my brother.  We'll see how that goes.  Last night was our first attempt and it was a little rough.  Let's hope it gets better!  I'll try to keep you posted.

What have some of your adventures been so far this summer?







Summertime Bliss

Yesterday I returned home from a lovely weekend away with the family.  Absolutely perfect weather, naps, good books, games, and lots of snacks was the equivalent of just what I needed.  Oh, let's not forget the prettiness of twinkling stars! 
I was in my glory.

Just some snapshots from the past few weeks:

My wonderful black tea lemonade concoction which my family disliked... 

which meant all the more for me to drink! 

Chocolate Peanut Butter whoopie pies.  Need I say more?

 

Happy Father's Day to my Dad!  I love this picture of the 3 of us. 

And yes, I did make him a candybar card via Pinterest.  He laughed!  :)

My favorite devo's spot.  A swing overlooking a gorgeous mountain view.

 

Quick 10 minute photo shoot at an old barn located on the
same property as the cabin we stayed at.

What can I say?  My brother takes good pics.  :)

This coming week I'm anticipating a few adventures as well. 
Maybe I'll feel inspired to share about them soon.

Have a wonderful week!