Romans 8:28 We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan.

"Oh hey there Monday. Oh hey there 6:30 am Eric Church alarm. Oh hey there super sassy attitude."

That's how my Monday morning started.

That picture, that one right up ^^ there, is how I felt before I even let my feet hit the floor. & I'm pretty positive thoughts of "is she serious? her junky butt is sassy every day.." or "today? more like 24/7" & I'm sure some of you are thinking you are glad you aren't around me and my sassyness (is that even a word..?) today. Knowing that I was feeling feisty and sassy from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head, I said a prayer before I even rolled over and did my morning rituals. You know, facebook. twitter. get ready. coffee. 

I was just like "Okay God, I'm not praying for patience because that never works out in my favor, just guidance , a controlled temper, and a positive attitude." 

You can pray for patience but you better be ready, that's all I'm gonna say. 

James 1:12a NLT--God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation

I woke up knowing I would be going non-stop from 9-2 with class and camp. First day of summer camp, and I get to meet the first week kids at 9am; I knew I needed to be smiling and ready to play and have fun. So waking up at 6:30 am with Eric Church singing to me, and getting ready listening to KLove on iHeart Radio, I was just ready to see what this day brings my way. 

So shower, attempt to get ready, I have nothing to wear (says the girl whose floor is covverredd with clothes) and I don't get fully dressed and ready until it's about time to walk out the door. Ooopps. 

So today was full of firsts.

First day of camp, made a lot of new friends, had lunch with some of those new buddies, and went to Compression for the first time (which is a crazy insane hike and I may or may not have complained a few times on the way up and down) 

The super pretty falls, God's handy work.

Of course I had to get a picture for blogging purposes.

How happy I was to be finished with that hike. It kicked my tail & I KNOW tomorrow will be full of complaints of soreness.

Such good company & such a sweet family

So so so so thankful for what God did with my day and my sassy attitude. I had an amazing day full of wonderful things; laughs, smiles, crafts, and good company. If that's just Monday, bring it on rest of the week. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Oh Hendersonville; My hometown, where my roots run deep, where my family has been for decades upon decades and everybody knows everybody & their cousin, and people are what my teacher calls "Carolina Nice" 

Okay, so coming home is always exciting (especially when I get to surprise a handful and a half of people, gah I'm so sneaky and I love it), and leaving is NOT. Here lately it has been getting harder and harder. It's 12 am, I should be getting up in 6 or 7 hours and heading back to Boonetown. I know when I go to bed though, that when I wake up it will be time to pack Big Burgundy up (and for all of you who do not know who Big B is, that is my truck. Old Faithful. She is somethin' that is for sure & has cost me more money than any guy I have ever dated. We have a love hate relationship, but I have learned more about cars than I have ever intended thanks to her.) and head towards the higher elevation. Work and school are what keeps me there; only for 6 more months though and I can make it. Every time I come home after being away I fall more and more in love with my home town. Good ole Hendersonville, NC. 


Anyways, I am avoiding the bed right now. In these 3 days I got to spend some good quality time with all my Grandparents and some good friends. Tonight I got some amazing family time, some dang good ice cream with some pretty amazing people, and shared a bushel of stories and laughs with some real good company. I could not think of a better way to end my stay. As hard as it makes it for me to actually leave, it keeps me from being bummed out about leaving. It really keeps my mind off of it for a while. Now don't get me wrong, I love my Boonetown life, but there are a load of things pulling me back towards home. So just as January faded into May quicker than I could blink, I'm sure May will fade into December and I will be back here before we know it. And I KNOW by the time January rolls around, some of y'all will be wishin I would take my loud sassy mouth back to Boone, but it's not going to happen. I know God already my has story planned out, but I wouldn't mind digging my roots deeper around this town. Don't ever try tellin Him what's up either, He will clearly let you know who is boss. 


This is my one life to love, and I am ready to fully embrace every moment, not just let the time pass me by.




So goodbye sweet, southern, crazy town I call home. Until we meet again. 

Job 10:12 You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love.

Sometimes, when we are having the utmost worst days of our lives (or so it seems to us) and there is just NOTHING we think could make us feel better, everything goes wrong, and we just are so flustered we can even explain how we feel. You wake up and it's horrible weather and you had a day full of outside plans, you got into a fight with somebody first thing in the morning, you forgot your school stuff at home, you didn't get enough sleep or you just did not have enough coffee and you are just ready to beat somebody silly, we just want something to go right, just one thing to make it all better. Often, we look to the wrong things for encouragement or to simmer our tempers and heated mouths. And I may or may not be speaking from experience here, because we all know I'm always just a basket full of sunshine and happiness, and never have a temper. (Honestly, I wish I could be a fly on the wall as some of you read this. I'm pretty positive that just gave A LOT of you a good laugh with that one!) 

In my devotional this morning it says:

Talking about our days, "There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the treasures are trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence: sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayers."  

Colossians 2:2-3 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

SO, here are a few simple ideas for you and me both for when we just feel like we are drowning in our bad days.

1. Remember all of the things we are encountering all have a purpose and a hidden message. 

2. "When the dog bites, When the bee stings, When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don't feel so bad"  Whatever it may be, whatever brings you joy, or puts a smile on your face, remember them; just like the song says. Sometimes, its the smallest of things that can bring you the greatest joy. It just so happens, the things listed in my devotion that reveal His Presence are some of my favorites. Probably some of your favorite things are different from that but still have a way to show you God's Presence. So you may be a bit of a grumpy gills, think of or surround yourself with some of your favorite things; friends, flowers, your favorite worship song or songs, chocolate, or a dang good plate of french fries and a big ole milk shake (aka: my comfort combo, aka: heaven in food form).

3. Romans 15: 2-3a We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. ³ For even Christ didn't live to please himself. 

If there is just nothing you can do to make yourself feel better, make somebody else feel better. 

If you are looking for encouragement, encourage somebody else. 

If you are looking for a compliment, compliment somebody else. 

If you are having a bad day, make somebody else's day. 

Speaking from personal experience, it does work. When I make somebody else smile or build somebody else up I feel a whole heck of a lot better. 

4. Pray about it, be thankful for every trial and tribulations, every smile and every ray of sunshine. Even if it is hard to be thankful for the things, they all have a purpose. I am thankful for everything in my life because it has made me who I am. Some of the WORST things that have happened to me have actually been some of the best things to happen to me. So pray for guidance with thankful, trusting hearts. 

"Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,

that you still have a reason to sing,

'cause the pain you've been feeling,

can't compare to the joy that's coming"

BEFORE THE MORNING - JOSH WILSON 

I'm just going to share a few things I found on Pinterest (the worlds best procrastination tool) that are a light for me. 

Happy Wednesday! Friday is right around the corner! 

Psalm 31:14 But I am trusting you, O Lord saying, “You are my God!”

I'm sure you have noticed, majority of my blog titles come from Psalms and Proverbs. Well, they are my favorite books of the Bible. They are jam-packed FULL of amazing wisdom, and we could ALL use a little wisdom and guidance. 


This blog post is going to be a little different today, hope that's okay.


A lot of us, me included, pray for things to go a certain way instead of asking God to do have His will be done. We (me included) get so discouraged when things don't go our way and wonder why instead of trusting. Trusting God is something I know I personally struggle with. I wanted to just share what I read in my devotional today. Maybe many of you on this beautiful May morning have already read this in the devotional Jesus Calling, or you will be reading it later because I know it is such a common book. (mainly because it is so amazing!) I'm just going to type it here because I feel like I should share.

"May 22


When things don't go as you would like, accept the situation immediately. If you indulge in feelings of regret, they can easily spill over the line into resentment. Remember that I am sovereign over your circumstances, and humble yourself under My mighty hand. Rejoice in what I am doing in your life, even though it is beyond your understanding.
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Me you have everything you need, both for this life and for the life yet to come. Don't let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective.


1 Peter 5:6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.


John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."




In Him we have everything we need. For today, tomorrow, and every day to come. How awesome is that?  

eve-ry-thing

pronoun: 1 all things. 2. all things of importance. 

That is not something we can find in alternatives, or any being we are surrounded by. No significant other, no bottle of alcohol, no drug can give us all things of importance. God knows what is bests for you, and He will do things according to His will not yours. Don't ask Him to do things your  way, because there is a fat chance you will see that happen. 

Proverbs 19:21 You can make many plans,

    but the Lord’s purpose will prevail

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

I won't lie to you, I have walked by this book on my desk for a month and not picked it up. It's not that I didn't have time, or didn't want to read it, I just didn't pick it up. So after cleaning the kitchen this early morning with coffee in hand I thought, GO get your book. So I did. Maybe it was because I needed to focus more on what the message is in this passage, or I needed to read it to feel the urge to blog about it. 
I write this blog mainly for myself, to get a better understanding of things I have read, or things I've been think about. However, I hope I won't be the only one who benefits from the things I ramble about. 


Enjoy your day! 

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him

I live in a college town. I am in the middle of a constant battle. 

"There's a struggle, it's God and the devil; it's love against the enemy.

Life's a fight of wrong and right that's tearing me apart

Oh but what the cross has done

Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart but the war is already won."

-Chris August 

Every day there is an encounter with something that challenges my faith, my walk, and my sanity. I have to make choices daily. Normally it isn't hard to make the right decisions and it is really clear which path I should take. However, this age, this town, this time period, it is hard to not make certain choices. You want to feel comfortable and to be happy and you see others happy and comfortable so we try to do what they are doing. 

Sometimes that isn't the best option at all.

Most of the time those around us find happiness in money, materials, alcohol, sex, looks, and so on.  

Worldly Things.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Looking a certain way, acting a certain way, or doing things to fit in won't make you happy in the end. The right now happiness isn't always worth it. In 20 (almost 21, how could I let you forget, it's so close) years of my life I have done this a number of times. I see people around me doing it. I still do it now honestly. I have been doing it all week, fighting with body image and imagining what I would look like with other features and so on. This won't make us happy, it doesn't make me happy. When we search for happiness in other people and other things, or try to live our lives like others, we are conforming to the patterns of this world. Eventually, it just tears you down more. I have to remember every day that trusting in the Lord is what I should be doing because He knows what is best for me and you. 

Whether you choose to believe that or not; it's your call. 

Just sharing from personal experience, don't conform. Don't give in to the worldly desires as hard as it is. 

So a note for us all, that we should remember daily; don't give in.  

The Lord is good & He knows what's best.