Ode to Krogs

When I am sad I go to Kroger because Manager Special's (MS) cheer me up. Fact: I almost always buy MS, even if I don't need the item. Fact: I've enjoyed many delicious $1.99 dinners because of them. Today I enjoyed a 25 cent bag of salad complete with croutons and lite Ceaser dressing - it was the most delicious 25 cents I've ever eaten. I should find the Manager and give him a big hug for all his specials.

overwhelmed with goodness

Praise God for His goodness - I haven't been able to get enough of it lately. He's got me in His hand: a hand that comforts, that reassures, a hand that prods. Prodding me to seek and to find. He's so easy to follow, so easy to trust, right now. I feel spoiled and sometimes fret about how I will look to Him if (when) a really difficult time comes my way. But He is always the same, He never changes... He is always the same, He never changes!

Of all the many many years I've dreamed of serving orphans overseas, He's taking me there now. Now, when I can return to Lynchburg and continue serving the orphans here -not just return to my normal life and wonder what I should be doing. He's giving me guidance as to using my time more effectively for Him, to be able to look back someday and not regret (too much) time wasted. Material possessions - that's what He's digging into my heart and conscience about right now. I need wisdom, but I keep coming back to... in the end, seeing His face, am I more likely to say, 'Lord, I wish I had a nicer house with cute decorations and more stylish outfits' or 'Lord, I don't know why I didn't give more of my (HIS really) possessions to the poor and needy'?

Heidi, Jenn, and I

Peter Pan at LU Theater

This past weekend was great.  I was out of work Thursday and Friday with this nasty head/sinus thing. My sweet friend, Courtney, brought me Panera soup on Friday in between her babysitting jobs. What I love about Courtney is she knows when she doesn't need to ask, and she just does. Her text said, 'I'm bringing you soup after work.' That didn't leave much room for discussion. I want to be that kind of friend. Saturday was pretty relaxing with a pedicure with my wonderful friend, Keely and then a little shoe shopping for my friends' wedding that evening. I had a great time at the wedding as well, weddings are always fun for catching up with people! Jennifer was a beautiful bride and I am so happy for them both. I taught the two's on Sunday morning and then went to the park with Keely - I love the park when it's sunny! From there I left to pick up Princess for our date at Peter Pan which was playing at Liberty's theater. They are incredibly talented and Princess loved it... all three hours of it (I may have nodded off a time or two!). After grabbing a few groceries on our way home, we made Alfredo pasta, salad, and garlic bread for dinner; followed by some chocolate chip zucchini bread and delicious fruit smoothies. It was some awesome QT! I am getting to know her a little bit better and it's really fun to see a little bit of progress each time I see her. I still haven't the slightest idea of what difficulties/abuse she has endured in her short life, but all I can do is be a friend to her, hopefully a good example for her to see...and continue to pray...and pray... and pray.

And now it's Monday. I hadn't made an appearance at the gym in over a week for various reasons so going to SuperFit this morning made me a hero to myself and since all heroes need rewarding, I went to Subway for breakfast. They have this awesome deal where you buy a breakfast sandwich and get a 6" for free! I'm pretty sure my second sandwich was intended for lunch... it didn't make it till lunch, it didn't even make it till I got out of my car for work ;-) Oh well, I need all the protein and 'healthy' calories I can get as my triathlon is this coming Sunday. I already foresee  needed a lot of chocolate and hamburgers to reward my body for what I am about to put it through =D

Have a great week!

Well It's five in the morning and I am lying here, awake.  I know I am sick, just debating whether or not it is simply a bad case of allergies or if I've caught a little bug. Anyways, Pride and Prejudice is being played again but as powerful a sleep aid it has been to me, it doesn't seem to be able to hold It's own against a sore, swollen throat.

Blind date #1 = completed with only slight nervous breakdown and minimal embarrassing, awkward remarks made on my part. A first date is the ultimate two-sides-to-every-story experience but I really enjoyed spending a Friday evening getting to know a nice guy who is able to carry on a good conversation.  I only wish someone had reminded me to set aside my competitive nature for one evening and allow him to win disc golf. I feel bad now - haha.

so i have my first ever blind date tonight. he suggested disc golf, that's a pretty good start! haha

it's worth it, it's all worth it

I wish I had the perfect words to tell how God has been working in my life lately. There is a big shift taking place in my heart and in my mind in regards to my Christianity. As if my entire Christian worldview up until recently has given much focus to the Lord solely as my provider: He will bless me if I do right, He will help me through my hard days, He will protect me. But what I didn't realize was how much that lends to me thinking this life is about me and my prosperity. What about me laying aside or selling all that I have, picking up my cross and following Him? What about forsaking all to be a disciple of Him? It's an entirely different life and it's less about me. But what will that look like? What will the costs be? I'm pretty sure that I've almost completely decided that the reward will be worth the costs... but wasn't Christ a little more sure than that when He chose to bear the weight of my sins on His shoulders?

I'm excited.
I'm fearful.

Maybe God’s perfect will for your life isn’t to just make you comfortable. I know that we ought to learn to be “content in all circumstances,” but I’m talking about this feeling of unrest that you sometimes sense in your soul. I’m talking about that passion that gets stirred when you buy a homeless person lunch or have a trip like I did. It’s the sense that all in this world is not right and that you might have the tools to fix it.

I believe that God actually wants to make you uncomfortable—to the point that your old way of living is ruined, that you have no other ambition than to seek and serve the least, left-out and forgotten. At first, it may seem painful, hard, or even confusing, but it’s worth it. It’s all worth it.

                                  - from The God of Chaos and Order by Jeff Goins