how are you? i'm good.

I was walking through the hall this afternoon and ran in to one of our substitutes. She is such a sweet lady and I've always enjoyed visiting with her. When we were passing each other quickly we both said "Hey, how are ya?" in unison, then both replied, "I'm good," in unison... As happy as I am to know that she was "good" I think its sad that this is how our society interacts and greets. Obviously, we were both in a hurry and going different directions but I really feel like we all just assume that when we are asked "how are ya?" that the expected response is, "good." Maybe this doesn't really make sense, the words definitely aren't coming to me today but I've thought about it all afternoon. Honestly, I had just heard some really exciting news about 10 minutes before that so I was really excited but at the same time I was bummed about other things, my mind was distracted with other thoughts. So here's a challenge: This week, ask people how they are in a different way and with intentions! Or... if someone asks you then tell them the truth! Yea, some people may think you're crazy and really not be interested but they did ask how you were, right?

Hope you all have a wonderful week! I had an absolutely wonderful weekend and will be posting pictures from my new camera soon! :)

Be a blessing to someone this week!

impatiently waiting.

My camera was supposed to be here today and it wasn't. I'm getting impatient! But just in the "this is annoying cause I really wanna play with it" kinda way! I have now received one of my lenses and my awesome camera bag that my siblings got for me for my birthday but still no camera. So in my spare time (haha, actually my time that should have been spent being productive) I have been looking at a couple cool blogs. These are some great, fun sites!

kevinandamanda.com

craft snob

in every season <---- this is my cousin Lesley's blog

House of Smiths

Home by Heidi

Hope you're making it a great day!!

Scripture Sunday

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

  You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

  You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

  Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

 Psalm 139:1-4 ESV

I have really been struggling with what to write about on here even though I want to so often. A couple times a day I will start writing a post and either delete it or just save it and not come back to it. I like the idea of having a theme for each day, at least for when I don't know what to write about so Sunday will be "Scripture Sunday." I got this idea because today I opened quite possibly my favorite birthday present of all time. I got a beautiful new Bible from my parents. It is a really nice study Bible. I'm so excited to dive deeper in to scripture with more background and references than I've ever had access to. 

So, about this scripture.. I think about the quote "A true friend knows all about you and loves you just the same." God loves us even though we don't deserve it. I have a few notes from Sunday school the other day that I thought of and looked back at. We were talking about God's Grace and the note said "It's not about us; it's because He wants to." We can't make God happy enough to have his blessings, we always fall short, yet He does it anyway! Pastor Chris described it like a dictatorship for good. God is going to bless us even though He knows us inside and out and knows our sinful nature.  The song "I Am a Friend Of God" always makes me smile. How awesome is it that we can be friends, true friends with God?

You definitely don't need my "insight" or commentary on this verse or any I will be posting in the future but this is how it affected me. What about you? 

I'll post a picture of my beautiful new Bible in a few days when I get my new camera in! I bought an awesome Nikon that I cannot wait to receive!! Yay!

I'll be 23 in 18 minutes, yep, I'm getting old! But I'm continually learning that its exciting and there are so many things to look forward to! Here's to a great year as a 23 year old! 

i serve a big God.

How wonderful it is that my God is bigger than any stress I can ever feel and much bigger than cancer! Thursday evening we found out that my sweet Grandpa has cancer. He had been in the hospital all week but that was the very unfortunate news we heard. However, Poppy is actually feeling really well. They sent the biopsy to the Mayo clinic because they couldn't determine the type. They do know that it is a very rare location (in his bile duct near his gall bladder and liver) but were really reassuring that it is very treatable. Praise the Lord! When I saw the message from my mom I felt like the whole world was just caving in on me but was quickly reassured the next morning when I got to visit Poppy. He was so happy. Really, he was in such good spirits and was the one telling me that everything is going to be ok. And it is. He was able to come home on Friday afternoon and we all sat around after eating dinner together just chatting. Poppy started quoting scripture to us... 

Isaiah 40:31 ( <---- his favorite)

"but those who hope in the LORD 

   will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

   they will run and not grow weary, 

   they will walk and not be faint."

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For it is by grace you have been saved,

 through faith—and this is not from yourselves,

 it is the gift of God— not by works,

 so that no one can boast."

Even after he heard such scary news less than 24 hours before he was so hopeful and thankful for the strength and blessings of God. Why can't I be more like this? I over sleep and it causes me to be in a foul mood all day long. I have always admired my Poppy so much but the encouragement he has given me over the last week has changed my life. I want to become more like him. 

God really has blessed me with such a strong, Godly family. 

Thank you Lord for the many blessing you give me. Thank you for the family I have. For the strength and encouragement they give me in all aspects of my life. Thank you for Poppy and Grandma and the impact they have and continue to make on my life. ~Amen

easy way out.

I got this idea from my beautiful cousin, Lesley. You should check out her blog, she does a phenomenal job!

seeing: melting snow! woohoo! I liked the snow but I'm really going to like pretty green grass and yellow flowers

hearing: the laughter of some students while I eat my lunch. We have quite the crew in here today :)

smelling:  my hazelnut coffee, thank you FCCLA for bringing it around!

tasting: a cough drop... hoping to be done with this soon!

feeling: happy, yet overwhelmed. So much going on that is really exciting but that means there are many decisions to be made

reading: about prayer. Pastor Chris preached on it Sunday and it's been on my mind since.

loving: the many blessings that God has given me lately. He's been bringing new people in to my life, renewing past relationships, and strengthening relationships that mean so much to me!

anticipating: Senior Night on Thursday! The wonderful girls that I coach are preparing a huge performance! They'll do awesome and I can't wait to be there cheering them on.

making: myself do this blog! I want to keep up with it so badly but never have a topic. Any suggestions?

wishing: that Ozark wasn't so far away!

a new time. a new look.

I'm starting over with this whole blog. I very seldom wrote for my old one because I never had anything important or worthwhile to say. Not that I do now but I enjoy it none the less. I have been home now for going on 5 days and I'm about to go crazy! I started searching a couple different things and came across a couple fun sites. One was suggestions of 50 things to do during your lifetime. I don't want this to be a "50 things to do before I die" list I just want it to be a list of things I want to do in general. Some may be done in a week and some may take years but I want to accomplish them all!

1. Pass on a nugget of information - like how to ride a bike, tie your shoes, or crochet a potholder
2. Scuba dive

3. Become a wife and Mommy

4. Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live in NYC

5. Grow closer and closer to my Lord and Savior

6. Be more spontaneous - I love this song...

7. Take photos for the beauty that I see in things not because I want to take a pretty picture

8. Tell those that I love, "I love you" not out of habit but because I do

9. Lay in the grass and find shapes in the clouds

10. Make more meals from scratch

11. Take fresh baked goodies to people, just to say hello

12. Have a paint fight - I like this movie and this scene

13. Be more creative

14. Ride a hot air balloon

15. Go to Disney World

16. Climb a mountain

17. Run a half-marathon

18. Crochet a blanket

19. Own a horse

20. Do my best to serve my husband and children (I'll have to share my philosophy on number of children I want sometime!)

21. Sleep under the stars

22. Know my neighbors, and take them baked goodies too

23. Learn something new

24. Go to a big sporting event like the SuperBowl, World Series, or even the Olympics

25. See a whale like "Free Willy"

26. Keep a clean house

27. Keep a journal, at least a few times a week

28. Be able to do 100 push ups - or maybe just 50

29. Paint on canvas and hang it in my house

30. Lose 10 pounds

31. Build a snow man

32. Read my Bible everyday

33. Take more time to do good for my family. They truly are the best

34. Do something nice for someone how will never find out that it was me

35. Introduce two people that fall in love

36. Be a better listener

37. Keep up with friends and family better.

38. Go for a picnic in a secluded place. - I have an awesome picnic set from my wonderful brother and sister in law.

39. Keep up with a garden for the whole Spring and Summer

40. Visit more places. That includes a cruise!

41. Buy a home, not just a house but a home

42. Grow something and cook with it. i.e. tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin.. oh I dont know.

43. Take dance lessons

44. Photograph an endangered species

45. Make something that will outlast me

46. Plan an elaborate practical joke

47. Keep fresh flowers in my house

48. Be cautious with my words but say how I feel

49. Visit Bethlehem

50. Be Happy.

I'm hoping to keep adding to this, probably will subtract a thing or two as well.

I enjoy making lists, some more than others. I make lists of things to do and things to pack. Lists to help with reasoning. Prayer lists. And I even keep a list of things that are necessary for that certain guy to be. :) Yep, I like lists, they keep me straightened out.

Here's to keeping up with this!! :) I'm SO looking forward to getting out of the house tomorrow! I'll have to report back on the Revolve Tour this weekend! 

 Have a wonderful weekend!