work in progress.

hello sweet friends!

as you can see, my blog is under a bit of construction- i got to changing it around but now i am kind of at an awkward stopping point. i don't know much about how to change things to make them look like i'd really like- so this is my cry and plea for help! i know what i want it to look like, i just can't seem to make the design translate from my head down into the blogosphere... so help me... pretty please (with sprinkles and a cherry on top)...

things i know that i would like in my blog:

-wider text space (kind of achieved right now)

-my header to go all the way across- not at all right now, and it is driving me crazy! (if not all the way across, at least centered in the space that it is going to be in)

-green (or darker) blog titles... not this gray business, so difficult to read!

-a button... i just want to create my own- but i have no idea how to make it work (i wasn't kidding when i said i had no clue what i was doing!)

the whole new design feature on blogger was just so appealing... but now my blog is in a state of disrepair and is in need of help! give me some help, ideas, advice, whatever you want to throw this way!

also- give me some feedback on the changes... pros/cons, likes/dislikes!

just a thought.

never have i ever...

hello sweet friends- i was thinking recently about a lot of things that i would really like to do, but, for whatever reason, i haven't done them... here is the list:

[one] go fishing... this was mentioned in a miscellany post awhile back, but i just feel the need to restate it (and also side-note that i might be going tomorrow... i'm pretty excited about it!

[two] wilderness camping... i've gone camping before, but never truly gone camping in the wilderness without a shower (which would mean that the only camping i've done is at a camp ground) and i don't think that really counts... just ask my boyfriend- he'll tell you that it doesn't count either... (i might have heard about it once or twice)

[three] go rock climbing on real rocks. of course this would mean that i actually need to perfect my rock climbing on fake rocks (who am i kidding- i need to learn how to do that!)

[four] explore europe... i just really want to do this- however, my lack of expendable income will make this dream difficult to obtain.

[five] go parasailing- i just think that it would be fun- that's really my motivator for wanting to go!

[six] jump out of an airplane (with a parachute on my back!)- i guess i should start by saying that i would like the courage to do this, but then- i would actually like to do it... we shall see.

[seven] go scuba diving... explore the ocean and get to swim around with fishes? yes please.

[eight] ride on a sailboat- one day this will happen... (or so i am told)

 [photo credit]

you see? that could be ME!... one day (maybe).

this list makes me sound like i would like to be some adventure woman... but maybe i would- who knows!? however, i just think those things would be fun to do at some point in life- some of them are more obtainable than others- but you know... that's...

just a thought.

joyful.

so much updating needs to be done, however, it probably won't all happen today! last night sean and i got back from taking a visit to southeastern seminary- it is in the town of wake forest... not the location of the university of wake forest (that was a topic of much confusion before the trip- no one understood where we were going!) which is now in winston salem.

back to business: as i was saying, we went to visit seminary and see if it was someplace that sean could see himself taking classes and just see if it fit us. let me just say that it was so incredibly amazing. everyone that we met on campus was so incredible and it was just such a joy to be there! another bonus of the trip was that my friends abby and david live up there- so we got to hang out with them- which just added to the comfort level of the entire trip. abby is such a sweet friend, i have known her for 6ish years and has been such an encouragement to have in my life... she's really fun... this picture was taken in hungary in 2008 (i think) i'm sure she won't be super excited to see it when i put it up! :)

for some reason i just find this picture hilarious... i don't know why- somehow we found the tiniest peaches (or some sort of fruit) that i've ever seen... so logically we took a picture with it! oh wow- talk about chasing rabbits during this post! i have so much excitement going on around me right now that it is hard to stay focused!

back to school: while we were talking around campus it was just so excited to see everything and really just get excited about the future and where God will put us. the whole time we were there i just felt a sense of joy and i felt like smiling- then this morning at church i just continued to feel a sense of joy and excitement in my heart- hence why i am writing this post right now! going up to wake forest was such an encouragement. right when we got home i made a binder for all of the papers and brochures that we got while we were up there (i have this disease that i need to keep all things organized... sometimes it comes more in handy than others) and i must say, i keep getting more excited whenever i look at it (which has been semi-frequently, i'm not going to lie).

at this moment i feel so blessed and know that it is so much more than what i deserve- i am so thankful to the Father for His provision and the testimonies of students that we heard while we were up there. i can honestly say that i am so excited to see where the Lord will be taking us and feel so encouraged by His provisions!

just a thought.

is it bed time yet?

whew... poll manager (worker) round two- republican runoff election...

today was the runoff election for the republican primary, which meant getting to belle hall at 6am- i had planned to wake up at 5am so that i could shower eat a leisurly breakfast, and then take my time getting ready and gathering my things for the day... however- instead i turned off my alarm and woke up at 5:30am- but i still pulled into the parking lot at 6am- it just included a quick job of getting ready, eating cereal in the car and then forgetting my composition book so that my mama would have to come and bring it to me- but hey- it all worked out in the end!

the day was long- however, i did get a whole bunch of stuff finished! i read 300 pages in my book that i'm reading (redeeming love), wrote a paper (yes, a whole paper!), and took notes on two chapters of stuff for my music class! i'd be lying if i said that i wasn't a little bit proud of my productivity level for the day! i'm glad that i worked at the polls- it was honestly pretty fun and it was a cool way to meet new people and to see people that i've known for a long time!

speaking of early mornings- hannah at aspire is currently hosting a giveaway of epic proportions- a festive coffee/espresso maker- i would like to win this gem... it would be so fun to be able to make espresso in the comfort of my own home! plus- who doesn't love free stuff? [the appropriate answer is that no one wants to turn down free stuff... especially not in this economy!]

if you want to know more about this giveaway you can follow this festive button to hannah's giveaway!

or to get to her blog you can click here:

 

just a thought.

miscellany monday.

you know the drill- it is monday, that means it is time for some miscellany!

[1.] whenever i read a book (or anything in general) i read really, really fast. i don't say this as to try and brag and imply that i have some super high intelligence level- because that is surely not the case... though i do read really fast- which is a blessing and a curse all rolled into one! it means that i get to read and know what is happening, but that the book gets finished that much faster- i.e. i run out of things to read fast.

[2.] i don't like holding hot beverages... i don't think that i was ever burnt as a child, but i just can't handle it when i have a hot drink and it doesn't have a lid.

[3.] i apparently go to a lot of weddings... when i went to bed bath and beyond to buy a shower present for my friend aly, the woman at the desk said, "are you familiar with our registry system?" i then replied with a simple, "yes" to which she then said, "that's right- you are in here all the time- that's why you look so familiar"... however, when i got to thinking about it- i do know 12 people getting married between may and december of this year... i guess that is a lot.

[4.] i have only been to the beach once or twice this entire summer... i blame it on the fact that i work a lot... and that on the days that i have off (like today) it is raining, but don't get me wrong- thankful for the rain- we need it!

[5.] i'm on the hunt for my very own slr camera... trying to decide between a nikon and a canon... i've used both and like them equally, so at this point i'm thinking it is just going to come down to the deal that i can get.... help me out! do you know of anywhere that i can get a deal? do you have thoughts on what kind of camera i should get?

that's all i've got for today- i hope that you've enjoyed the miscellany! happy monday!

just a thought.

fabulous find.

this week i'm linking up with ashley at 6 inches of ribbon- she's started her own link-party called "fabulous finds friday" and boy have i found something exciting to share with you!






while shopping at marshall's this week i found a lovely hobo wristlet... it is a lovely shade of green and i think that it will work for both dressing up and dressing down- it is regularly $78 in the store, but at marshall's it was only $24.99! i was so excited when i found it that i scooped it up right away! i've found some other good deals this week, but we'll save those for later!

today was the last day of vbs- thank goodness! i love vbs so much, but i am so glad that it is done, though i must admit that i'm pretty excited for next year- we started talking about next year's theme and ideas at the leadership meeting today- so that was fun, but it will be nice to have a break from vbs for a little while!

i hope that you've enjoyed my find- i know that i am loving it and can't wait to use it!

just a thought.

deep breath.

breath in. breath out. deep breath.

deep breaths have been getting me through this week. it has been pretty busy, not to mention i haven't really been up on the school work like i need to be... i guess that's what tomorrow is for!

this week has been vbs at the church- i.e. 500+ kiddos running around and screaming... and i love it. it is so sweet to watch the children sing and get excited about being at church and learning about Jesus- so refreshing and encouraging. it was my job to go around and take pictures of the sweet kiddos during all of the festivities- it was such an immense blessing to have that actually be a job- i just loved it. when i get stressed or frustrated with vbs i stop and think about how privileged i am just to be in a church that values children's ministry. i am then instantly thankful. God is so gracious in giving me such a wonderful place of true worship- and i sometimes forget how much i take that for granted. not everyone in the world gets to wake up on sunday morning and drive to (an air-conditioned) church, listen to the Gospel being proclaimed, and worship the King without fear of persecution... but i do and i am so thankful that i can.

when the world tries to bring me down i can just remember that i am blessed beyond all measure because of the work of Jesus on the cross for my sins... and for that i am eternally grateful.

Father God,

i praise you for your abounding grace and mercy in my life and know that Your hand is over me in all that i do. i praise you for a wonderful place to worship You and pray that you will continue to mold me and make me more like Jesus in everything that i do.

for Your glory until the end

God is so, so good and His love endures forever.

even as i was writing this post my whole focus for it changed. i started out writing about my week- but it ended with writing about the glory of God... it is so amazing to me when the smallest things all end up bring the glory to Him- i pray that my life would be a better representation of the Gospel and i would be a true ambassador for Christ.

just a thought.

faithfulness.

now unto the King who reigns over all,
and never changes or turns,
unfailing justice, unfading grace
whose promises remain
yes, Your promises remain

the heavens ring, the saints all sing,

great is Your faithfulness

from age to age we will proclaim,

great is Your faithfulness

everything changes but You stay the same;
Your word and kingdom endure
we lean on the promise of all that You are;
and trust forevermore,
yes, we will trust forever more.

the heavens ring, the saints all sing,
great is Your faithfulness
from age to age we will proclaim,
great is Your faithfulness

from generation to generation
You never fail us, oh God
yesterday, today and tomorrow
until the day You return

the heavens ring, the saints all sing,
great is Your faithfulness
from age to age we will proclaim,
great is Your faithfulness

how great is Your faithfulness

song by matt redman- "how great is Your faithfulness" ... listen to it here 

when I hear this song i am reminded of how faithful God is to us, no matter what life situation we are in. i am so humbled and amazed that i have a Father who is provisional, loving, and all knowing. i rest knowing that i am loved by the creator of the universe, and that he cares for me. i am so thankful that the pressure is off of me and know that i can find rest for the plan for my life has been perfectly penned by the author of life.

when i think of my life i can see how God's hand has been over me and has guided my path and my footsteps, and i am so thankful for that. i know that in all things God's plan is perfect and will be what is best for me, now when i'm thinking about big decisions i am just excited to see how God will use me to bring glory to Him and His kingdom- i'm so excited to see where His path leads me.

praise be to God.

just a thought.

miscellany monday.

[1.] yesterday afternoon i went to a hydrangea festival with my mother... it involved walking around and looking at flowers, all while trying to avoid getting attacked by roosters... this is what i looked at for approximately an hour (it was crazy hot outside, so the fact that we made it an hour was pretty impressive)

[photo credit]

[2.] i am deathly afraid of roosters- not just ones that are alive. short story: one time my mom bought this rooster recipe card with corn cob arms (sounds scary, right?)... once i walked down stairs and saw it i just sat in the kitchen and cried- needless to say, it was returned that afternoon. however, looking back- i don't really think that roosters were really what my mom wanted the kitchen to have in it... i should also note that i was like 13 when i sat and cried- not a small toddler.

[3.] if i could wear nothing but plain white shirts all time time... i would. i prefer wearing a white shirt to almost anything else in my closet- now don't get me wrong, i love color- but i love something simple about wearing a white shirt.

[4.] when i know that someone is having a birthday or holiday coming up i like to get their present really early... but then once i have the present i have to hide it from said person for a really long time... yet i don't break the cycle- hopefully i will always be able to come up with good hiding places!

just a thought.

a day in the life...

...of a poll manager [don't let the title impress you- i was just a poll worker]

in order to be a poll manager worker you must first wake up at 4:45am- not trying to complain, but usually that time of day and i don't see each other unless it happens to be after 12pm... which would then make it 4:45pm... the morning wake-up was a little bit nuts. you must then show up at your precinct at 6am in the morning and get set up for the day... let's just say that by 10am it felt like it should be after lunch time. then you sit around, wait for people to come in to vote (which wasn't that many... shame on you precinct 27-i'm partially kidding) and then wait for it to be 7pm so that you can say "the polls are now officially closed." not going to lie- that was one of the highlights of my day! all in all my day started at 4:45am and then lasted until about 11:45pm... to say that i was tired today simply does not even come close to say how i was feeling- we were joking that we didn't even know how i was standing up... :) i believe that the title of this post should probably be "sleep deprived" since that's the overall emotion that i've been feeling for the past week- but tomorrow i get to sleep in! so excited! just need to do some school work in the morning but it shouldn't be too much! can't wait for the sleeping... [i have no idea how i am going to make it as a real-life adult... this lack of sleep is killing me]

in other news- my atm card arrived in the mail today along, with my roomie carrie's save the date card for her wedding, and my netflix movie- dear john... can't wait to watch that tonight! i also must admit that i have been completely sucked into "the bachelorette" i just can't help it... it is the only tv show i watch and i feel ridiculous while i'm watching it- yet i still can't help but watch it online since i always seem to miss the actual tv airing of it... i'm almost too embarassed to write this, but since i already have, i suppose that's that then. something sad about my atm card is that i have a new pin number [which will arrive in the mail within 5 to 7 days... why it didn't come with the card- or why they even changed my pin number- is beyond me]... so close to being incredibly helpful dearest wachovia, but yet, so far at the same time.

just a thought.

miscellany monday.

hello sweet friends- it is time for miscellany monday again! i hope that you enjoy the miscellany!

[1.] last week the atm machine ate my debit card... which means that i don't have a card until the end of this week or beginning of next week. needless to say, i haven't been spending any money- which is good, since i'm trying to save money to buy a car.

[2.] i haven't done laundry in way too long... today i must conquer my whites, darks, and colors.

[3.] i secretly hope to be rachael ray... she is just so festive and has all kinds of fun sayings. i like to write "evoo" on my grocery list just so i can be a little bit more like her- sad, but true.

[4.] in the last week i babysat 2 boys (on two different days), 2 dogs and a cat- i guess that i'll watch all creatures big and small- that, or i'm just a poor college student... yep- that's it.

[5.] never in my whole life have i been fishing... it is true- i've lived in mt. p my whole life and never been fishing- i'd like to go sometime though.

just a thought.

lead me to the cross.

Savior i come
quiet my soul remember
redemption's hill
where Your blood was spilled
for my ransom
everything i once held dear
i count it all as lost

lead me to the cross
where Your love poured out
bring me to my knees
Lord i lay me down
rid me of myself
i belong to You
lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as i
tempted and tried
human
the word became flesh
bore my sin and death
now You're risen

to Your heart
to Your heart
lead me to Your heart
lead me to Your heart

"lead me to the cross"- hillsong united

the first time i heard this song i was brought to tears. every time i hear this song i think about how it all comes back to the cross and the work done on it. i don't think that there will ever be a day that we will fully be able to understand the love and compassion that was acted out on that day, and i know that i will never be thankful enough for the blood that was shed- but glory be to God for the cross, His grace, and unending love.

how deep the Father's love for us,
how vast beyond all measure
that He should give His only Son
to make a wretch His treasure

"how deep the Father's love for us"

may i never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and i to the world. - galatians 6:14

just a thought.

peanut butter jelly time.

anyone remember that song "peanut butter jelly time"?... well i do, and now i think that it is stuck in my head... henceforth- the reason that this notion even came about is all because of the smucker's uncrustable "sandwich"... i can't seem to agree that it is a sandwich, considering it starts out frozen and then you thaw it in the fridge, but i don't know- maybe they are the most delicious thing it the world (please note that i doubt this).

there it is... in all of its shining glory. if you're a mom who feeds these to the kiddos, please don't be offended, i actually fed this to liam today while i was babysitting- though they just don't look appealing to me, but maybe i am just wrong- or maybe you just need to be under 10 in order to find them appealing. i must also take this time to say that if you are a stay at home mom- you have my respect. the more days that i spend babysitting from 6:45am to 5pm, the more i realize that it is work! don't get me wrong, i have always respected sah mom's, but wow. so amazing.

in other news, there is a giveaway over at michelle of michabella: living a life of love's blog... it is clinique- i love love love clinique... feel free to jump over to her blog and check it out.



just a thought.