waiting, singleness, and worry.

In the past 2 weeks I have been face to face/voice to voice/email to email with so many friends & students that are waiting. waiting for something--in most of these scenarios it is for the right guy to come. and stay. forever.

I remember feeling the exact same way. With each new or familiar guy wondering could this be it. But if I've learned anything it is that God will and does line it up{in His time} and it's good. He has a plan for us. It's better than our best any day. I grieve over seeing girls date, marry guys that are just okay. It's better to be alone than to be with a guy that doesn't lead you and love you and love God first. The guy should make you really love God more.

I know it's easy to just think about the future. I know I do. I worry about tomorrow. I worry about the summer. I worry about what my staff team will be like next fall. I worry about when my Dad's dog Sugar will die{she isn't even sick}. I worry about tunnels and germs. I worry about if the meat has been sitting out too long.

I used to worry too about the guy. If I had only known that God was lining every detail up. When it came time to meet and get to know Brian--it made so much sense. This is what I have been waiting for and praying for. Every so often I think to myself-"thank you God. You know me so much better than I do. Thank you for not letting me marry the guy I thought was a really good dresser and drove a car that is 4 times more expensive than mine, thanks God for not letting me marry the guy that loved photography more than You. Thank you for directing my heart.mind. Thank you for giving me Brian."

I wonder what you're waiting for? Or worried will happen or won't happen? Everytime my anxious heart goes toward the future I hear{sometimes louder, sometimes softer} just live today. Be present for today. I made today for a reason. There is SO much I have for you today. Don't miss a thing. Why worry about things that you think will go down tomorrow?

God is writing a story with your life. I believe it. I see it. Wait well, friend. It will all make so much sense one day.


"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." *Matthew 6:34






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a little review.

I can not tell you how many blog posts I have started over the past 3 months and not finished. I want to be a better blogger. honest. There was a blog in the making about this crazy life moment I had at a Switchfoot concert. I also started one on what I was learning about advent. Oh, and there was one about if things happen on purpose--here is part of what I wrote and a lot of what I still think about:

Do you ever wonder if the people that are around you at Starbucks or in the student union or in the cars next you or in the Wal-Mart line with you are there on purpose? Sometimes I like to pretend that each person I see God has placed right there, right at the moment and right for that moment. I pretend because I want my heart to tune to that naturally. I want to see each person around me. Really see them. Move towards them. Get to know them even. At least say hello- especially if they are there on purpose. I mean God knew they would be there, right?

I wonder if I miss a lot of opportunities.

There was also a blog semi written about saying Hi to 2011:

I can't believe we are about to say hellllllo to 2011. ahhh. This year seemed to fly by. But I love how each year the Lord gives us is filled with things He wants to teach us and places He wants us to go and people He wants us to meet and love and scriptures He wants us to see in a new light and dreams he wants us to pray into existence and meals he wants us to share with friends and fears He wants us to fight through and tears He wants us to talk to him about and steps of faith He wants us to leap into. I love that each day{each morning} is handmade by Him for us to live. I believe it. I love the stories He writes with each day and each year.

I'm going to try to make the most each day He gives me in 2011.

And, then I had this collage of pictures I wanted to share from when I turned 30. ugh. It was a great day though! It was filled with dachshunds. dog walking. good good friends. a party bri put together filled with games and some of my favorites. vintage soda. laughter. a homemade cake by Kristin. lots of nerts. thankfulness.


There was also a blog about my book club--that. I. ADORE. It's with my friend Heather and 4 of our friends from China. They are studying at ODU. Every other Thursday late afternoon we get together and discuss Tuesdays with Morrie. Trust me we tried to have our club on Tuesdays but it just didn't work out. We talk about life and death. We talk about living with purpose. We talk about marriage and love. We laugh a lot. I leave this time renewed and so encouraged. I have grown to love these girls dearly.


Then there was this quick blog about birthday pictures. I have a picture of Amy on her birthday that I just love. You can see people singing to her in the backgroud. Just love it. Forgive her though for the sweater. Her birthday fell on the night we were having our tacky Christmas party.


And, this one was taken on Heather's birthday. Just love this one too. so simple & pretty.


And, then finally there was a blog about my staff team and my dining room table. The thing is I love having them around it. Whether its for a meal{like of Christmas dinner below} or playing unending, forever fun games of nerts. i love living life with them.



the end. i love you. thanks for reading all that.

love captured on a phone.

Every now and then you have a weekend that is just what you need. I just had a weekend like that. It was so full of things I love. people I love.

*I loved the 17 plus hours driving in the car with Bri.


*I loved crossing into WV(& staying in WV all weekend)!


*I loved that it was actually FALL there. The leaves were starting to turn. The crispness was in the air. ((It still acts like summer where I am from)).

*I loved getting quality time with Ashley: so. much. fun.


*I loved getting quality time with April! We launched into deep convos almost every second that we were together. It was refreshing!!


*I loved watching the groom & his men watch a golf game in the distance for a LONG time:


*I loved watching the bride prepare for her groom:


*I loved the ceremony: beautiful.


I LOVED the program:


I loved the rose petal aisle:


Most of all I loved this:

Congrats Chris & Amanda!

The team.

I am in full-time campus ministry. And, I just love it. I am in the midst of a new school year on 4 campuses. Each day is wild. Each day I see God in a new way.


But, the thing that restores me the most these days is a group of people that I sit in a circle with every Monday morning from 9-11:30. It's a group of people that listen well & laugh often. They pray HARD and care deeply. They carry dry-erase boards and boxes of water bottles across 95 degree campuses. They help carry burdens too. They don't complain. They drive hundreds of miles/week to care for students. They are honest about insecurities. They put others ahead of themselves. They stand at CCC info tables and do "the small talk" thing for hours on end. They love well. They work hard even the day after serious surgery. They text encouragements. They rub your back when you cry. They make thousands of copies of fliers. They pass out thousands of fliers. They arrive early. They stay late. They ask good questions. They love Twix & Snickers. They are gracious. They pursue purity. They initiate conversations with new students until they are blue in the face. They carry sound equipment up long staircases. They see the best in people when I don't. They are funny. They pray to be bold. They are bold. They pray for new ways to share the gospel. They pray to see campuses changed. They are my staff team. They are an inspiration.





And, when you can't stop thanking God for such a dear team you get an email that says another teammate is coming and SOON! Heather Louk will be here in 2 days- can't wait!!

Sunny With a High of 75.

As we walked in to the LAX airport I said a quick prayer under my breath: "God, please let our flight get cancelled! I want to explore LA! Amen." We were then hustled through security{all the while looking for famous people, come on LA is stocked with them!} Brian was hoping to see Kobe I was hoping for Taylor Swift or Frances Chan(or both!). We get to our gate and we are scheduled to leave right on time: bummer! I pop my Dramamine(flying freaks me out!)and walk to the Starbucks LINEEEE and wait for a scone. The girl behind me is questioned by the guy behind her about the book she is holding: Church Planting something something. He asks if it has something to do with gardening. She proceeds into a great convo about Jesus with this guy who has not had a positive experience with church. It was cool to hear her talk about Jesus- it encouraged my faith(and his too, I think). Apparently more can happen in the Starbucks line then I thought. I got my scone and then headed back to Brian. Flight still on time:bummer. I decide to sit on the floor-every seat in LAX was taken...the only spot left was next to 10 5th grade boys who were about to travel to Japan to compete in Battle of the Brains and represent America or something crazy. I've never been more entertained in my life by how intelligent and weird their conversations were. A few moments later I hear over the intercom: "Brian and Brooke Barnett please report to the US Airways counter". At first I thought I was just having a Dramamine side effect...but as I saw Brian get up I realized that YES our name was just announced throughout the airport. We roll our bags to the counter and they say: "You are getting on an EARLIER flight out of LA" Noooooo. Whyyyy? I want to stay where it's 75 and sunny! Where I am flying to has a 107 heat index! I prepare by myself to be on a plane sooner than I thought(I really do have to prepare myself for these kinds of things). Then, ALL of the sudden the lady at the counter says, "CANCEL THAT. It looks like your original flight will be leaving on time again." Oh, great. We wait for awhile now. I'm feeling really loopy. I get up(it's probably been 45 min now) and walk back up to the counter(The flight she wanted us to get on and then didn't want us to get on had been gone for 40 min now) and ask the lady what is the reason for the delay of our flight, she looks me in the face and says "Medical Emergency!" I lean and whisper in her ear, "I need to know if it's contagious!" she looks back and says, "no mam!". WHEW, close one. I turn back around and wait again. Moments pass and a new guy calls us over. He whispers "This flight isn't getting out of here anytime soon, WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY ANOTHER NIGHT IN LA? You won't make your connecting flight in Philly so you might as well just stay here or sleep on the floor in Philly!" I quickly respond, "AHEM WE WILL STAY IN LA!" I look at my phone it's only 2:33pm- Brian and I have FOREVER to live it uppp in LA! Brian and I can't stop smiling! I thank God for hearing my prayer and answering my silly request. We even got $30 dollars from USAIRWAYS to cover a few meals. I said my goodbyes to the people I had gotten to know in the past 3 hours of my life. And, we ran out in to the SUNNY LA streets.
We booked a hotel.
We dropped our bags in the room.
We hopped on a trolley that took us straight to Manhatten Beach.
We watched people surf.
We watched the sunset.

We ate at Whole Foods.

We shopped in cute boutiques.

We never saw famous people.
We laughed a lot.
We took pictures:

East to West.

Back in May of 2004 I met Katy.
We've been Besties ever since.
The 2,728 miles between us just makes the visits even more special.

Here are some highlights from our recent trip to Cali-this time it wasn't just Scott & Katy we were visiting it was also Miles{the sweet new addition to their family}:

thankful.

Your love is strong.

This song has been the prayer of my summer. I just love it. I hope you love it too! The lyrics are below(it's simply scripture meshed into a song, powerful).



Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I walk to the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Chorus (3x):
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong.

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken townThe kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

(Chorus 3x)

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons.



Amen.