Happy Birthday Frances!

Today is my best friend's birthday!Whitney & I went to lunch with Frances & then the 3 of us got ice cream. YUM. I absolutely love that girl. We went to high school together, but it wasn't until our senior year that we became really good friends. And even though she went to college in Alabama for 4 years & I only got to see her for about 3 weeks out of the year, our relationship didn't fade-it grew. Hundreds of miles apart, we went through hardships and celebrations together. Now I'm lucky to have her back home while she goes through law school and we get our weekly lunch dates. She is such a joy to be around. I just love her a lot and I can't wait to see what Jesus does in her over these next few years.

While Whitney & I were waiting for Frances to pick us up for lunch, we started talking about wedding stuff & what Jesus is doing in my heart. It's pretty great...and I'm just seeing the front end of it...

I have been praying, asking Jesus if Dust is 'the one'....and I have heard a yes from Him. At first it scared me and thoughts would jump into my head like, 'what if i screw up' or 'what if it's too hard' or 'what if he falls out of love with me' or 'what if i'm hearing wrong'? So I went back & asked again....and again, He said 'yes'.

Now, I'm just excited and the thought of marriage doesn't so much scare me as it does make me happy. I still don't know when that time is for us, but it's ok. It feels weird knowing that yes, Dusty & I will get married one day and that is actually a gift from God, not me being selfish or making my own plans...but it will actually be me following Jesus' plans.

And I do find myself thinking of what our wedding will be like...and I'm actually starting to find out who Jesus made me to be in thinking of what kind of things I would like for our wedding. See, for the longest time I was a passive girl who just followed behind people. I let others make decisions and for the past year or so, I've seen how little I know about myself. It's hard for me to answer questions like, 'what is your favorite_____'? I always wanted to have my own taste & my own passion for things-clothes/art/music, etc. like my friends did, but I don't think I believed it would be good enough, so I just took in everything around me.

Now I'm just starting to get to know myself a little bit better....I can't wait to find out who Jesus made me to be! Maybe I'll start posting 'things I like'. hmmm....Yes.

Dream Job

I just want to take pictures.

I sit at my desk for 7 hours a day...reading blogs & looking up photography equipment. All I want to do is quit my job & be a full-time photographer.

Maybe one day I will.

...cont'd

I just walked outside to grab a bite to eat and it is absolutely GORGEOUS! I SO want to get my camera and walk downtown or in a field taking pictures. I am just dying to explore & experiment with my camera. I want to learn how to be a better photographer & be confident in my shooting. I would love to be a wedding & portrait photographer.


I started praying about it on my walk to the Student Center.
It would be really hard if Jesus says this is what I'm supposed to do...but it would be freaking amazing!

I want...

to be selfless.

That's pretty much my goal for the year.
Over the last 3 months, Jesus has been revealing places in me that are so selfish...it's disgusting. I've seen where if things don't go the way I want them to, I get frustrated and I am not at all quick to give grace. I've seen where I am frugal with my money, but don't think about what others sacrifice when they offer to buy me food, etc. I've chosen comparison and desired attention.
I want to be rid of all of that...I want to be more like Jesus.

This year I get the gift of being a part of a leadership group at church...at the beginning, our pastor warned that it would be a hard and very stretching year for anyone who chose to participate. I heard Jesus telling me this was the spot for me right now, so I said yes. I don't think I realized how it could even be as hard as Pete was making it out to be...

Then last night we had our first 'Horizon' meeting...and he started to show me the beginnings of what this year is going to look like. We found out what group of people we are going to be with this year, getting to know each other, growing together and working together on projects. Within the first minute of sitting with my group, I started to cry. Preferences were uncovered that I had no idea were there. It was gross, but great that Jesus would reveal that to me up front so I could get rid of it & make way for everything to come.

I can't wait to see how He changes me this year. It is going to be uber challenging, but it will totally be worth it.