Currently's

 

"Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen."

Eating: PB&J's + Cliff chocolate chip bars. Gotta love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

 

Thinking: About the chicken noodle soup I'll be making tonight for a sick boy of mine. I'm really hoping it's just allergies that are getting to him.

 

Wishing: June were here because hellur beach vacation for us. I honestly cannot remember the last long vacation we took. Honeymoon maybe?? No, youth camps to the beach don't count as vacations. Ha!

 

Thanking: The Big Guy because honestly, I have no idea how we make it day to day without Him. Even when the finances can be tight, allergies are flaring up, and/or change is in the air for us, He's still got this whole gig in His hands.

 

Shopping: Deodorant and soap because stinky people ain't cute.

 

Planning: Our beach trip and pinching pennies to save up for it. Hey, we're splitting a house with my folks, it's going to be so much fun!

 

Praying: Continuously for friends, family, and people who don't know Him personally; where God is leading us at this juncture in life and peace over every decision we make; and for God to continue to move in His way at the places we've left behind because He {so clearly} closed those doors for us.

 

Happy Wednesday people! Be sure to smile at somebody today. And stock up on Flonase + Mucinex because #hellospringweather.

Broken Vessels

Have you heard the song Amazing Grace {Broken Vessels}? For some reason, each time I hear this song I'm moved by the lyrics and the deeper meaning behind them. It's those moments where the words meet me where I am in that point in my life, captivating my soul, and resonating deep down into my roots.

 

I love that I can go to Him as I am - broken and empty handed - with really nothing to offer. Knowing that even in my darkest hour I am still loved and not forsaken by Him. Never forsaken by Him. Through the good, the bad, the ugly, His love endures and the strength is everlasting.

 

 

Everything I do, I want it to honor You. Whether it's through my daily work grind, the way I love friends and family, my reaction to a bad situation; I want it all to glorify Him. At the end of the day, if people see You through me, then it's been a great day. Fellow brothers and sisters, please understand that you are being watched intently by society. Use that as a vessel.

 

 

In a world where love is superficial, comes with strings, isn't pure, it's so beyond comforting knowing that I have His love. With that hope and faith, I really can endure anything that this world hurtles my way. Thank you, Jesus, for laying your life down to raise this broken girl to life.

 

 



From one {NOMAD} soul to another

Ecclesiastes 3:11

I would consider my soul and spirit to be nomadic - sitting and waiting for the world to come to me just isn't my style. Rather I find it exhilarating and freeing to seek the world, pull up to it face-to-face, ask it all the hard questions. My mantra tends to be, "Don't waste my time."

 

Having a nomad's spirit doesn't necessarily mean I must move from town to town, city to city, seeking that land's next best thrill. More so, my nomadic spirit yearns to seek the broken and lost, form relationships with the unwanted, and bind myself to their seeking souls. I find true pleasure in just being with people, loving them as they are.

 

I've wrestled with the demons that taunt me daily - "Nobody can handle your wild spirit. You make people uncomfortable. You're a jumper." On my worst days, I truly believe them. I can't help but to wonder why I am the way I am, and how can I possibly tame that wild mustang.

 

But on my best days? I'm proud of the joy I find in needing to travel amongst the people around me, engaging in their lives, shaking and moving to the rhythm of life and finding my fill in that. The sedentary life just isn't me. And that's okay because at the end of the day, my nomad soul was designed by the One and Only.

 

When He knit me in my mother's womb, he dubbed me with the need to seek and declared that it would all be for His glory. On my worst days, He reminds me of that simple yet complex fact. That I am His, and He is mine. Regardless of the restlessness in my soul, I will always find peace and tranquility just by resting in Him and His love for me.

 

To my fellow wild spirits - NEVER be ashamed that you are most content running free. Seek the world around you with the guaranteed notion that tomorrow is never promised. Don't waste your time in forcing your nomad soul to stay put because "that's what is normal." Normal is ghastly boring anyways.

What's new?

This past weekend, I made it a point to totally disengage from social media of all kinds. You name it - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat - I was far, far away from those things.

 

And it was so utterly glorious.

 

Other than totally disengaging myself from the social media realm, the weekend was spent building my first ever garden, celebrating new life, and just enjoying the beautiful weather.

I decided to start my garden from the seeds. Something about it is so symbolic, to be starting from the ground up. Knowing I will have to nurture these little seeds so regularly, and then having so much joy as I watch the tomatoes and peppers burst forth. I'm also realistic and started small with just 2 plants. If they survive and thrive, then I'll add more.
 

Hmm I'm thinking some cute artwork is needed for the back drop...

I've been knocking out projects here and there for our little home and it always feels so good (list-maker nerd) to cross those items off the list. Our home is little, but it's ours, and we're so proud of it. We strive to make our home an open and loving space for anybody and everybody.

 

I just finished a book by Nicholas Sparks, See Me. It was so good and gave me all the feels. I prefer all the books over the movies simply because I can get lost amongst the words.

 

source

 

I love that I notice the crave the soul feels for God's Word when I've been out of it for a day or two. It's like my heart is itching to dive into the words, look at the application in my life, and just meditate on them. It really is like a drug to my starved soul.

 

Power in {Prayer}

As a Christ-follower (fun fact: my husband says I use that term all the time as opposed to Christian. It's true, I think "Christian" is overused and more times than not, incorrectly used), I fully believe in the power of prayer. Are my prayers always answered right away with a definitive answer? No, but I still believe in the power of it.

 

When we pray, we tend to spout off a to-do list to God: "God please fix this. God please do that. God please make this mean person disappear!" It's okay, I'm guilty of it too and I will be the first to admit it.
 

 

What if we stopped giving God a to-do list, but rather prayed for HIS will to be done, HIS to-do list to be done? That's a pretty radical thought right? So let's turn those previously mentioned to-do's above to be God-centered:

 

"God please fix this."

"If it's your will God, please fix this. If it's not your will, I will still praise you always."

 

"God please do that."

"Thank you God for allowing these events to occur in my life. I pray that you will continue to lead me where you want me to go. Whatever happens God, I will embrace the circumstances because of the hope I have in you."

 

"God please make this mean person disappear!"

"God, thank you for this person's life. Thank you for bringing them into my life. God please help me to be a light to this person, and my words are reflective of you. And God, please control my anger towards this person."

 

Do you see the difference? When we stop making demands for our sake, but start embracing demands for His sake, I fully believe the power of prayer is real. It's hard to not be self-centered and want what we want; trust me, I would know first-hand. But oh the wonders of what He will use you for when you stop saying me, myself, and I, but instead, You, only You, always You.

 

So I challenge you with this -  move yourself out of the way and stop making demands. Rather open your prayer life to the One that can actually do it all. And do it joyfully!