I’ve tried to write this latest post what feels like a 100 times. I’ve got at least 6 different saved drafts, and several blurbs and ideas jotted down, but the truth is, whenever I sit down to write them out, it just feels forced. I’m sure I could string together the right words to convey that “Trusting in God is more than simply believing in Him. It’s trusting in His plan and doing what He says to do,” or that “Sometimes you need to evaluate if you’re being Stretched or Stretched Thin”, but it just feels so forced every time I put my hands to the keys. I go at it thinking, “Well, maybe if I just start typing out my thoughts, it’ll come together!” but what comes out is forced and generic.  Continue Reading…

I remember a pastor sharing a story about a church camp he attended once. A group of leaders were talking about the greatest experience they had had with God. One person spoke about the camp the previous year, another about a missions trip he went on a few years before.  Everyone had a story of how God had moved in their life.  And then they got to this one kid, who said, “I want my greatest experience with God to never be more than 10 days away.” Continue Reading…

Hi. I’ve been gone for a bit, and I am sorry for that. I told you before that I wouldn’t write if I didn’t have something to write about, and unfortunately, I have had things to write about, but for some reason just couldn’t put my hands to the keyboard to do it. Everytime I went to begin, well, I got bombarded with these thoughts. So I thought I’d let you in on them. Continue Reading…

Yesterday I found out a friend of mine has died. I wish I could write that we were very good friends, because that’s just how great of a person he is, but the truth is, if he had kept a list of his top 100 friends, I highly doubt I would be on it. And yet he had a huge impact on my life. Continue Reading…

If you follow me on Twitter or are “friends” with me on Facebook, OR actually know me in real life (crazy, but I do have a few of you) you’ve probably heard me talk about Mexico, and how I’m leaving for a missions trip TODAY!!!! It’s going to be fantastic.

This will be my 11th trip down with my high school, and I’ve been going every year for seven years now. I’ve seen these kids grow from tiny little 8 year olds to big strong 15 year olds who tower over me. I’ve seen little babies grow to have actual personalities. I’ve seen people go from dating to getting married to now they have kids, who have their own little personalities. It’s crazy.  When I first went down, I was a junior in high school, and sure of who I was and what I wanted to do. Since then, I’ve become unsure of what I want to do, sure of something else I want to do, helped others figure out their own crap. I’ve gone through some of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. And all of what I’ve gone through, well, it’s greatly been affected by my trips to Mexico. Continue Reading…

It’s Valentines Day. I should probably write something about Love and all of it’s magical properties, but let’s be honest. I’m soooo single, it actually is funny. This month is plagued with the L topic. Seriously. We’re talking about it in the youth group I work at. It’s the subject of many a movie coming out, (by the way, saw the Vow, and actually loved it. And I am so not a Romantic Movie Girl.) and the subject of many of the conversations I’ve had with friends and family. Every blog post, and video is dedicated to it. And rightly so.

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The other day I was helping my mother go through her closet. I rid her of the most atrocious ’80′s blouses, complete with shoulder pads and neon satins. I believe a white blouse with what appeared to be an entire doily sewn to the center went in the donation pile, as well as some other relics of styles gone by. 

Then I reached the section of her closet that held my family’s “collection” of formal wear. Dresses from Spring Formals, Homecomings, weddings, and Christmas parties; some from garage sales or friends , each a marker for a fun and fond memory.  As I pulled them out, I remembered playing dress up with my mom’s wedding dress, hearing that I was nominated for Homecoming court, a Barbie birthday party, wearing my great grandmother’s dress for one of my plays, trying to find some fabric to make straps so that my dress would be considered “suitable.” (Heaven forbid those 2 inches of shoulder show!) I think of the friend that worked so painstakingly on making my dress senior year, and my sister’s.  Continue Reading…