It's in these moments...

Happiest of Monday's to ya! How was your weekend? Our weekend pretty much revolved around our youth and it was so fun. Between fundraising events, girls night with my youth girls, and taking time to recognize our graduating seniors during church, it's safe to say we had a teen-filled weekend.

 

I'm so grateful for the opportunities that God has placed in our lives. The doors He's opened, the windows He has cracked, little things and big things to get us where we are today. I couldn't help but reflect on the last 1.5 years in our ministry. It's funny how God works isn't it?

I posted the above picture yesterday to my facebook. That tiny country church and the people that fill the pews are just part of the reason why we do what we do, and love it. The other reason we're on fire for the Gospel? The people outside of the church. The people who are searching for something to fill their souls. The people who need some Jesus. With this photo, I attached these lyrics from a song that really speaks volumes and I fully encourage you to use today, and every day, to seize those opportunities that God has placed before you:

Holy Spirit you are welcome here
Flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

 

 

 

Let's get happy

Today definitely doesn't feel like a Friday. It might be because I took off yesterday from work to catch up on things around the house and youth stuff. It was glorious! So today certainly feels like a Monday for me. Mind games, people. Mind games.

 

Have ya'll had a wonderful week? Mine has flown so fast, #whatsnew? Today I want to focus on a special lady in my life - my grandma. She's always been a huge source of inspiration for me. Her independence, kind soul, and loving heart have always driven me to be like her. I've always said, "If I can be half as awesome as that woman when I'm her age, then I'm doing alright."

 

Grandma,

 

Thank you for loving me, despite my flaws. Your ability to see something beautiful in everybody is truly humbling. I wish there were more people like you in this world. These last few weeks haven't been the best for you. Despite that, you're still fighting and you will up into the very end. It's in your nature, you don't know any different. Thank you for raising some pretty awesome kids - they're the best aunts/uncle/father I could ever imagine. You taught them how to work hard for what you want in life, how to show others the kindness of Christ, and how to save every.last.little.item! Oh wait, just my dad does that...?

 

When I visited you in the hospital, I'm not going to lie. That was hard. I don't like seeing the woman I have so much respect for suffering. But I'm glad I got to see you, reminisce on things, and talk about how dad's "getting too big." Ha! I left that hospital that day with a full heart.

 

I love you grandma. I know you're going to fight until the very end. And when God is ready for you, I pray that He takes you swiftly and without any pain. I am so jealous of you because you're going to get to see Paw Paw again. You're going to get to see Jesus face to face, and dance to the "Chattahoochee" by Alan Jackson. You're going to be healthy and without ailments. You're going to be whole again. Give em hell for me :)

 

Love you always,

Kelly aka Darlin'

Wherever you would call me

Have you ever reached that season in your life where you're looking around at everybody and realizing you're on a completely different wavelength than they are? And I'm not talking about intelligence, per se. And no, being on different wavelengths isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

I'm at that point in my life. I have been at that point in my life for some time.

 

I feel like I'm at that point where I'm looking around and I feel like I'm absorbed into an entirely different mindset than many of those around me... And I can't seem to let it go.

 

Allow me to elaborate and humor you. I would describe myself as having a servant heart and nature. I thrive on helping others. I love seeing my labors turn into fruits. I am constantly craving for more. With that being said, it's safe to say I have a "missionary mindset."

 

I want to help people in all ways.

 

I want to serve others and share the love of Christ with them.

 

I want God to use me in all ways and purposes to further His kingdom and glory

 

Sometimes I feel so completely and utterly alone in my passion to serve others. I'll be the first to admit it - it is so dadgummit hard sometimes to stay on fire for the Gospel. I absolutely go through seasons of faith but surprisingly, my passion to serve others never wanes.

 

All Christ followers are called to serve others and make disciples. Think I'm lying? Read Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:46-47, John 20:21, plus so much more. So it's pretty clear what is being said here, no questions asked. Then why aren't more Christ followers doing just that?! It's something that has utterly baffled me and the million dollar question that I would LOVE to know the answer to.

 

Honestly, I think it comes down to this: Believers have become some comfortable with their faith that ya know what, I'll let somebody else take care of reaching others. It's the simple fact that because we are allowed to believe what we want to believe without serious repercussions (unlike several other countries) that we have allowed ourselves to become lazy and disobedient in the command to make disciples.

 

I'll be completely honest: A believer's disinterest in fulfilling the Great Commission absolutely irks me to my very core. How can you experience the love that Christ has shown you and not share that with others who haven't experienced that love? As a matter of fact, how dare you deny somebody of that love?!

 

What I'm getting at is this - if you are a Christ follower, seriously take up your cross and stop allowing the world to pass you by without a single thought of sharing the gospel. Stop being lazy because honestly, that's where the devil wants you. As long as you're not sharing the Gospel, then you're doing exactly what he wants you to do. It doesn't mean you have to travel to the ends of the earth to help somebody. It doesn't mean you have to go to great lengths to become an eloquent preacher. All it means is loving on others, building relationships with people of all walks of life, and showing them the glory of the Gospel.

 

It's. Really. Not. That. Hard.

 

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever you would call me

 

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith would be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior..."

Coffee + Fishing

Happy Monday friends! And happy almost-mid-May... Yep. You read that right. Let's get to the things I'm grateful for today on this almost-mid-May:

 

one// coffee... Or some kind of caffeine to kick start my mornings. If you want me to function properly, I'll need it.

 

two// Wedding showers and seeing friends that I don't get to see too often.

 

three// Sprinklers and pools for our hot summer days. Our coonhound particularly loves the sprinkler and insists on screaming the entire time he runs through it. Yes, our dog screams.

 

four// Time spent with both my family and my in-laws. I love that they like spending time together!

 

five// Fishing trips for the hubs. He was able to go fishing this past Saturday and I think it's safe to say it did his soul some good.

 

 

What all are ya'll grateful for?

 

 



Friday Fluff

So the last couple of weeks have pretty much passed me by in the blink of an eye. No, seriously. I blinked and it's May 8, almost the middle of May. Like, what?

 

In honor of a beautiful Friday, some Friday fluff for you lovelies...

 

ONE// When you're married to a forester, your life pretty much revolves around "burn season." Hunter's work does prescribed burns starting in about January/February through July sometimes. So when your husband comes home and says, "No work this weekend" you get all sorts of giddy like a schoolgirl who was just promposed to. Feel all the feels!!
 

 

TWO// We're celebrating a couple of love birds' marriage next month with a shower tomorrow. Oh how it brings back the memories...

 

THREE// Guys, It's going to be 95 degrees tomorrow #sweattherapy. I'm not really sure if I'm ready for this much heat in one day!

 

FOUR// Hunter and I are pretty dang sure that Jep is finally reaching the chill mode. 1.5 years old with a little bit of snippage at a young age has finally paid off. Granted, the pup still needs to run some but overall, he's been a huge blessing. It makes me a little less anxious for our move in July to a much smaller yard.

 

FIVE// Speaking of moving, I've been in purge mode - less things to move with, the better. See, here's the thing, we're moving in July. At the end of July to be specific. If you're not aware, that's the hottest freakin time of the year here in Florida. Blessed Jesus, what was I thinking?!

 

Happy Friday my peeps! Don't forget to hug your momma, grandmomma, MIL, a woman on Mother's Day this Sunday!

Welcome to the world Abel

I absolutely love showers - baby showers, wedding showers, showers just to shower somebody... They're so much fun! To me, the theme is what I always have the most fun with because you can associate so much around that one, simple theme.

 

A few weeks ago, some galfriends and I all got together to put on an epic baby shower for some awesome sauce friends and their sweet newborn, Abel. Thank you to Jen for the pictures and allowing me to steal borrow them!

 

 

Welcome to the world Abel! You are loved by so many people!



Testing testing. Is this thing on?

Why hello ya'll! It's been quite some time since I've graced this here blog space... And it's so good to be back! So much has happened in the last week and a half, and it's been amazing. Just a few things to catch ya'll up...

 

.... 2015 Florida Legislature Regular Session has completed its course. I was pretty dang excited to come to work this morning in business casual clothes.

 

..... Hunter and I built a kitchen table. We have a couple more things to do to it like stain it and build braces along the bottom of it but we're pretty proud of ourselves!

 

 

 

.... Hunter is picking up guitar again! He said it's been about 6 years since he's touched one but he is beyond excited to get back into it. I'm so excited for him and let'zbehonest..... I'm swooning over my husband serenading me with a guitar and his deep voice.

 

 

 

.... Life with youth students has been glorious! We had 4 baptisms yesterday, 3 of them being teenagers. God is working some awesome wonders in our community. Glory be to God always!

 

Today I'm so grateful for that break that I took. Sometimes in life, you need to slow down and drink in the moments as they happen. I'm learning how to slow down, enjoy my experiences, and never wish today away. Tell me, what in the world have ya'll been up to?!