about a best friend.

Two weeks ago Brian and I packed up the Civic and headed to California to surprise my Bestie. The plan had been in the works for months but she had no idea. The roadtrip out was crazy and so fun{more on that in a later post}.

{Waiting for Katy to arrive!}


We spent 6 days together! It was so refreshing. We laughed the whole week.











After California, Bri and I drove to Colorado- we will be in Colorado til the end of July. We are taking Bible classes and learning a ton! What a sweet season of being in the Word.

S & A

In August 2009-right when we moved to Norfolk- we met Abby and Steve. And, ever since that Saturday afternoon in August we have been so blessed by their invested and sincere friendship. And, it turned out that their home was just a 10 minute walk away from ours. They are the kind of people that would do anything and go anywhere for you. They have taught me a lot about friendship.
For about a year now we have had consistent and crazy nerts nights! Always a highlight in my week{even though I lose every single time-and we've played hundreds of times}. But the best thing about "nerts night" is always the stories that we share between each round. Almost always when someone yells "NERTS!" (meaning that round was over) someone else would launch into a story, or a highlight from the week, or something that was making them bummed. We've talked about:

how long is too long to keep chicken in the freezer
babies
ice cream
country music
Trader Joes
American Idol, duh.
MVPs
RBIs
even UTIs
sewing garlands
iphones
5ks
losing people we love
uncooked calzones
the Hope College "pull"
dogs and dog parks
answered prayers
unanswered prayers
trips to Spain
cruises
broken bones
seal team 6
deployment
hot yoga

We just said our goodbyes. They are moving to North Carolina. A 10 minute walk turns into a 3 hour drive.

Abby & Steve were easily and are easily one of the best gifts the Lord gave us in Norfolk. We are forever blessed.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17


We love you guys!

God is great.

I remember sitting in the back of the youth room in 6th grade praying, "God, I want to marry a guy that loves you with his whole heart-nothing less. A guy that wants to do ministry and live boldly for you." All through middle school I prayed that. All through high school I prayed that. All through college I prayed that.

On May 20, 2007 that prayer was answered.




The Lord is so kind to give me Brian.
Amen.

Carrot Cake Weekend!

In celebration of my Dad's birthday we headed to his house for some Saturday cake making! Dad loves carrot cake. Dad loves maple cream cheese frosting. I found the perfect recipe thanks to the Smitten Kitchen!{The link is at the bottom of this post}.

If you are looking for a treat to give someone or make yourself- try this! I have had 8(maybe 9) cupcakes since Saturday at 3:30pm! *ohhhwelllll*

Here's the link:{fyi:we did add walnuts and raisins. We also used half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour} http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/12/carrot-cake-with-maple-cream-cheese-frosting/

Thoughts on...

A couple weeks ago I prayed: "God would you make me a woman of peace". I want to be someone that:

*trusts Him deeply.

*doesn't have anxiety as the default setting.

*has a light heart.

*"...laughs at the time to come!" Proverbs 31:25 {Someone that doesn't worry about tomorrow but smiles, laughs, welcomes whatever God has next because she knows He is good}.

--Fast forward--

Just a few nights ago I was sitting with my dear friend Ginny in her apartment. Her phone rang and it was the girl that lives in the apartment right across the way from her. We were super exicted to see that is who was calling because just 3 days before this neighbor had given birth to her first baby. Ginny answered and to our surprise and delight she asked if Ginny wanted to come over and see the baby & so I tagged along too.

Within minutes of being welcomed into this strangers home I noticed something very different about her. She exuded peace. She had this peace about her- the peace I had been praying for. Even though she had this 72 hour baby in her arms. Even though she had family coming in and out and in and out seeing the baby. Even though she didn't have time to keep the house in order. Even though she had never been a mom before. She had this spirit about her- a spirit that was gentle, kind, others-focused, still. It was just so refreshing. She even offered to pray for us as we left.

Then, the next day I was listening to this sermon below with my friend Amy. It brought even more focus to my "peace" prayer and I felt like it put into words the type of woman that I had just met the night before. If you have 30 minutes-grab some coffee, chai, tea{peppermint tea is my thing right now, Merry Christmas to all} & listen to it! It really encouraged me and I think it will encourage you too! www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/roh/today.php?pid=9784

So thankful that God can create in us peaceful, restful hearts. Amen.

In other news, I love coffee now. About once a week over the past year I would get a coffee when I was out instead of a chai or tea. But, then Brian's mom gave us a Keurig for Christmas{pictured below}. I loveee my Keurig. I still only have coffee coffee 1-2 times a week but what I am really loving is decaf coffee at night. with a good book or amercian idol. {below you will find my picks for American Idol 2011}.

My top 5 picks:
Casey
Tim
Paul
Kendra
Julie

the end.

A football story.

I went 25 years of my life without ever watching a football game.

But then I moved to Morgantown, WV and things changed. I was all of the sudden in a place where football was everything. And, I loved it! As the years went on, Fall made me think football--cookouts made me think football--Saturdays made me think football.

And, not too long after the move to Morgantown I met Brian. He loves football- A LOT. Not only Mountaineer football but Pittsburgh Steeler football. He REALLY loves the Steelers. He recently ranked his sports love for me:

1. Steelers

2. WVU football

3. WVU basketball

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

5. Pittsburgh Penguins.


Anywayyy. I now LOVE the Steelers & the NFL too. I have even played fantasy football the past 3 years.

As you can imagine the Steelers going to the Super Bowl was a HUGE thing around here. The two weeks leading up to the Game was filled with impromtu dance offs to the song Black and Yellow{YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS!)-terrible towel waving-and Brian screaming"Steeeeeelllllerssssss" without warning several times a day. It was a mad house.

Game day arrived. We were ready.

We all made predictions before kick-off:


We even had a good friend from Pittsburgh, Jon Mathieu, come for the weekend and watch the game with us. It was SO fun for Brian to have a die-hard Steelers fan{that's a boy} to watch the game with.

As we all know the game didn't end as we hoped.

But something that I kept thinking about through the entire game was how far Ben Roethlisbeger(Steelers QB) has come this year. Last April or something he was accused of doing weird things to women in bathrooms. This led to a 4 game suspension....so when the NFL kicked off this year he was at home watching it on his TV. For 4 games. 4 weeks-no team interaction. I just feel like when that happens you don't end up going to the Super Bowl that year.

But. It. Happened.

I keep hearing whispers that Ben is praying more. getting discipled now. starting to love God.

Time will tell how serious Ben is about his faith, but 2 days before the Super Bowl a reporter asked Ben:

What does Jesus Christ mean to you?
Everything, honestly. Everything.

Ben didn't finish the game the way he hoped. But, I feel like in a lot of ways he still won this year.

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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