When the little car is totaled...

Well, I found out Friday that my car is, in fact, a total loss.  So that means I have until this Friday to find a new car. Ready, go! While this is a somewhat challenging process, I am grateful for so many things: 1. The other driver's insurance is giving me more money than I expected they would. 2. I have an amazing and generous dad, and 3. My car (that I just this morning saw all taken apart when I went to get my belongings out of it) had battery acid spilled on the back seat last summer (long story), so it was unusable and made it smell kind of funny - won't have that in the new (to me) car! So, God works in very intricate ways and in all situations...and I love Him.

On another note...

With the car mess and having a new love for getting everything organized, I have not been diligent in my time in the Word and prayer this week (not good).  So yesterday before church I just prayed that I would soak up everything like a dry sponge.  Sure enough, I found myself just sobbing (like a lot) during the songs.  Just so in love and grateful for a God who is all powerful, but chooses to see us and love us and comfort us and be with us. This is good stuff.  (Also on the way home after church I looked in the mirror and my make up was a mess...most apologetic to the friends I talked to afterward.)

Back to the car sitch...

I had a pick up truck as my first rental vehicle, so I decided it would be a good time to get a dresser (I've been wanting one since I had to get rid of mine last April).  And I found one, and I think it's pretty.  So I cleaned it up and will make it my little project.  I want to replace the hardware and have a few ideas that I'll keep you posted on.

Aw looook. :)

46. Glimpse into world missions

47. Listening to the voices of the church during worship in song

48. Finding hilarious notes passed in college

49. Catchphrase with family and friends

50. Finally getting to watch "My 600 lb Life" :-p

51. Advice from helpful friends during car-finding challenge

52. My daddy

53. Big brother getting married next month

Accidents Happen

This is many days in the making, but I don't have internet at home, so there you go.

Well...Tuesday night I was driving home from work and as I was about to go straight through an intersection, a car from oncoming traffic decided to take a left in front of me.  What went through my mind was really: "Why are you doing this, ninny?  I'm not going to be able to stop in time. I'm gonna try. I'm tryin. Here I am -" BAM! Hit 'em.  Roommate called, police called, really nice lady checking to see if I was okay, car starts alright (just looks bad), I can walk, other car's driver can walk, information given, roommate comes...and we're off to CHILI'S!  Overall...a very successful Valentine's evening :).

But really, I am amazed at God's goodness in all of this.  A year ago I would have been a basket case in the same situation, but with the trials and consequent refinement of character, I was a little shaken up, but very much at peace.  I know that, even in this, God is sovereign...and not only sovereign, but very good.  And I can rest in confidently in that.  Besides the other mercies like - the lady I hit was okay and her family arrived quickly, my car is driveable until insurance stuff gets worked out and I can have it fixed, and nobody (as far as I am aware) was injured.  Ptl.

On another note - there has just been the greatest sense of urgency to love and share the Gospel in my heart.  Is anyone else feeling this?  It feels like everyday could be the last one, anything could happen at any time, and the world needs to know.  And I need to tell them.  And I need to love SO big.  Honestly, there have been times where I'll be looking at a customer I'm helping or talking with a friend and just love them SO much that I would do anything for them, I don't want to leave their presence, and I honestly and earnestly desire the most wonderful blessings for them.  I pray that this doesn't fade.  What an impact we would have on the world if we really did love like Jesus loved and has called us to love. I mean...for real. With this has also come the burning desire to serve abroad - like, I want to go now.  My hope is to be able to go to Peru with a team from my church in June (I will update as this comes together) and I would welcome any prayers as this process begins.

39. Life chats at coffee shops

40. Playing guitar

41. Everyone's okay after accident

42. Kindness of a stranger

43. Silly roommate date nights

44. Beds made neatly

45. Reuniting after many months

Some days I wonder...

Why I am even allowed to wake up and breathe the air. 

And live here:

And work here:

And relax here:

And play with friends. 

And share life with a whole lot of intensely beautiful people.

27. Talking about Jesus with a stranger-friend

28. Singy-worship times in my room

29. Coffee chats with new amazing friend

30. Roommate bonding conversations

31. Good news from texts

32. Impromptu praise and worship with roommates

33. Roommates with mermaid hair

34. Random acts of kindness

35. Friendships reconciled.

36. Conversations with mommy

37. Big brother getting married to awesome woman!

38. Schedules working out exactly perfectly

It's the small things

Like...

12. Road trips with friends
13. Making new friends

14. Late-night deep conversations with new friends

15. Visiting somewhere for the first time

16. Mountains in NC

17. Snow just in time

18. Dance parties

19. 3-cups-of-hot-chocolate days

20. Mittens

21. I made it down the blue squares without falling! (this is pretty epic for me)

22. Warm fires after cold

23. Sleeping after a full, fun day

24. Ice cream

25. Edifying road trip conversations

26. Returning to family

...it was a pretty great weekend.  Sadly, I forgot my camera...but you can probably imagine. :)

Overflowing, overflowing, overflowing with love for my Creator.

Get Up and Go

Ready?

Set.

Go!

I love running and I pretty much want to be running all the time.  Except for the times I don't...and usually the times I don't are the times I actually can (like early in the morning, or during the middle of the day when I'm working or at church).  I am trying to practice being more self disciplined - not sleeping in just because I can, not eating just because I like how it tastes, not watching movies instead of reading/writing/playing guitar/cleaning. Many of you may have conquered this years ago, but it has been a struggle for me.  I'm getting better at using my waking hours to be productive and invest in spiritual growth - but the sleeping and eating parts are so much harder!  I can wake up early if I need to be somewhere, but if it's solely to get up so I can run before going about my day, it is much harder.  And food? I just like the wrong things too much.  I have given up fast food for 2012 though, so that has helped some (minus Chick Fil A...CFA is always the exception).  I keep dark dark chocolate around so I only have a piece a day and don't go crazy with chocolate cravings (which happen at least twice a day), and I don't buy groceries that are too much of a temptation (lots of processed snacky foods that I never stop once I pop types). I discovered Unsweetened Almond Milk last week which has rocked my world (it is totes the lish lish). I try not to eat out too often and keep a budget for my groceries, but somehow still find ways to eat a lot of food.  

I'm pretty content with my body image, so I'm not trying to get all cray cray diet-y, but I would like to lose some weight before I start training for another marathon...it would make running SO much easier.

Any suggestions for what you do to curb cravings?

Anyway, today was a lovely, chilly morning for a run and I always feel better after I run no matter how tired I'm feeling beforehand.  I wish I could get my brain to remember that every morning.

6. Thumb-holes in long sleeve running tops

7. Lap "beeps" from Garmin

8. Stretching achy muscles

9. Silly morning chats with friends

10. North Carolina skies

11. Conversations through difficult breaths with the Creator

One Thousand Gifts

Two thousand twelve has been the greatest year ever.  I knew it would be the greatest year ever.  I determined it would be before it came.  And so it is.  I can not put into words the leaps and bounds I went through over the last 11 months that have led me to such a place of soul-rest - but, over time, I will try. I recently started reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  At first I enjoyed the challenge she posed to make a list of one thousand things you are thankful for, but was not so engaged in the book that I couldn't put it down.  Now, however, I find myself crying with a heart full of...fullness...whenever I turn the pages.


I am so blessed. Seriously.

In the last week, I have found myself driving down the road, listening to choral music from my senior year All State Festival with tears flooding my eyes and racing down my cheeks at the goodness of God.

Things aren't perfect. Those of you who know me well enough to know what happened during my 2011 know that this life has been far from easy.  Yet here I am.

Soul-rest.  Heart-peace.  I am full.  And so the fullness runs down my cheeks because I can't say enough words fast enough to release it.

I am grateful - for sweet fellowship, for families to love and love me, for babies, for provision of every sort, for the greatest running store in Raleigh, for wisdom, for growth, for Truth, for every Word of this precious book, and a God who came to serve and give His life for us (who even does that?!).

I am surrounded by shiny things - even asphalt sparkles in moonlight.

1. Morning sun making long shadows through trees

2. Ducks flying 

3. Geese talking like humans

4. Cool lake air on sweaty running-cheeks

5. Smiles from stranger-friends as we pass on the trail