It's just a bunch of Hocus Pocus...

I have realized it's been a while since I last posted, so I figured I needed to while I had a few minutes. I went a couple weeks ago with my sunday school class at First Baptist Church Opelika to paint a lady's house for a My Jerusalem project. What that is, is where a couple times a year groups in the community get together a complete about 50 projects around the community. These are projects such as painting houses, doing yard work, plumbing work on houses, putting roofs on houses etc. Anything that needs doing, these groups do it! Not only was I doing work for Jesus, but I had fun in the process! It's so rewarding to know that I am helping someone who truly needs help and otherwise wouldn't be able to complete the task themselves.On a different note, actually, tonight, our sunday school class had a Halloween party. We dressed up in costumes, carved pumpkins, ate good food and just had a good ole time. I really enjoyed being able to dress up (I always LOVE to do that!) and just hang out with good friends and laugh. Here are some pictures from our fun night!

























Such a fun time! And more fun to come this weekend! I'm off to the races at Talladega!! Gentlemen...start your engines!!! :) Oh yeah..and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Vicariously living through all my wonderful friends..

Lately I have decided to start living vicariously through my wonderful friends. Although, I have to admit to myself that I do have a pretty good life (even when it doesn't feel like it sometimes). I am independent, I am fortunate to have found an awesome person to live with (my Natty), I have amazing friends that I wouldn't trade for anything in this world, I just got back from a great trip to Vegas, I have a good job that I love doing (most of the time) and so much more! You're thinking what more could a girl ask for, right?? Well...I guess there are lots of things I could think of, but I WON'T GO INTO THAT. :)

It has really hit me lately what amazing friends I have. These are the kind of friends that I know will last me a lifetime. God has been SO good to me in placing the right people in my life at exactly the right time-He is SO faithful! Even though I may lose touch with some of my good friends, we always pick up right where we left off and that is simply something money can't buy. There is a quote that comes to mind when I think of my friends:

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” --Anais Nin

That quote is so true in so many ways because each friend truly represents a different world in us. I believe God places people in our lives to fulfill different purposes. It's neat to me how people come into your life that you never thought would, but end up being apart of your life forever. I have certain friends that I consider to be my "voice of reason", friends that make me laugh all the time, friends that just listen, friends that I share my deepest darkest secrets with etc..

Lots of my friends are married and have children (or have babies on the way) and although that is something that I want, I have learned just to "live vicariously" through them until it's my turn. I love all of my friends (and their babies) dearly and love sharing their lives with them. I consider it a TRUE blessing.

Smiling..and VEGA$!!

Ok..so I have been on a little hiatus from the blogging world, but I am BACK! I just got back from a vacation in VEGAS and am ready to write!

So I left last Monday and made my way to Las Vegas. I must say..it was SO great to go and visit and see the city of lights. Let me tell you, it was definitely full of them (amongst other things that I won't go into). All around it was a good trip. I have always said I wouldn't gamble (I have learned to never say never), but I ended up actually playing some slots (the penny machines). One morning..I was up by myself and decided to play. I lost a little and it kinda kept going up and down for a while..then I hit the jackpot!! (well...the jackpot for me anyways). I won $250 betting 60 cent!!! You can't believe the excitement and surprise I felt! I pretty much stopped while I was ahead, which was probably a good idea. I got to see lots of the casinos, the Vegas sign (something I really wanted to do) and got to see the Blue Man group!We sat front row and center in the splash zone. They were pure awesomeness!!! OMG!! Just watch the video to get a little snippet of what I got to see..it was incredible and so much fun!
Another thing I have been thinking about is laughter. Seriously...if someone asked me my most favorite thing ever in life, it would be LAUGHTER! I was thinking about how much a good laugh means to me and how I love it when something just makes me laugh so loud that I can't even control it. It really is THE BEST feeling in the world to me. I also had a thought about smiling (goes hand in hand with laughter, right?). Someone actually came up to me on the street in Vegas and said "you look scared...you should smile!". That got me to thinking..I love laughing and smiling, so I need to do it MORE. I think of myself as a happy person most of the time, but have realized that my face may not always show it. I found a few quotes I really like about smiling/laughter....

Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to.--Unknown

A laugh is a smile that bursts.
-- Mary H. Waldrip

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.
-- Author Unknown

Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit.
-- Author Unknown

If you smile at someone, they might smile back.
-- Author Unknown

The person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.
-- Shirley MacLaine

Thank Goodness God Doesn't Make Junk!

I watched this video tonight and I HAD to post it and write about it. Please take the time to watch it because it is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! It will definitely bless your heart because it most certainly blessed mine.

It is SO true that God knows what we need even before we realize it or even know we need it. It continues to amaze me how things happen and then I realize "that was SO God". It's such a neat and comforting feeling when I actually realize that. This video has such a good message and God knew that I NEEDED to hear it. Lately, I feel like I am in such a battle with the enemy. I feel like just when things start going good and I am happy in the place God has me, the enemy comes along and tries to make me believe otherwise. The enemy is VERY good at doing that...very good at casting doubt. But the truth is, if we can recognize when it's the enemy, then we really have the upper hand. We can choose to believe the lies the enemy tells us everyday, or we can choose to believe the truth that our Heavenly Father tries to impress upon us everyday. It is hard not to believe the enemy..he is very good at what he does, but God is SO much bigger and better. I make a concious decision everyday to believe what I know to be TRUTH. God says He will make us His masterpiece and He doesn't make junk. He created each and every one of us in HIS image....and anything He creates is "good".

For so long I have let the enemy tell me that I am really not a good person or good enough etc. But God tells me different. Sometimes we get to points in our lives (just like the video says) where God is trying to "chisel" away what shouldn't be there. I'm sure if you sat down and thought about it, it wouldn't take you long to come up with a BIG list of things that shouldn't be in your life. I know I can. Another way God has come through and helped me defeat the enemy is by words of encouragement through my wonderful friends. I have realized that over the last 2 or 3 days, I have gotten so many words of encouragement and I had no clue where it was coming from...then I realized..this is God. This is God letting me know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and whatever bad opinions I may have of myself simply aren't true--they are lies. So watch the video and BE ENCOURAGED!!!

It's Been a While

It has been FOREVER since my last blog post, so I figured while I had some free time, I would try to write a little and post some pictures. A couple of weeks ago I went to Birmingham to visit with Dacy, Robert and DC. While I was there, I also got to hear some friends (Jaden South) play at a place called Wine'd Down. It was really a neat place and tons of fun! Here are some pics from that weekend.


Lately, I have just been working (still lovin' nights!) and just hanging out. I am getting ready for my big trip to Vegas in September!! I'm SOOOOO excited! It's definitely going to be an experience that's for sure!

So...for some reason, as I sit here looking at the computer, my mind has drawn a blank. Normally when I sit down to "blog", I have tons to say, but for some reason tonight, the words just won't come. I guess I will leave you with this thought :

"We cannot go back and start a new beginning, but we can start today and make a new ending."

I found this and I really liked it...thought I would share...

"Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive and bless us with patience and empathy and love. "

WOW!! Makes you stop and thinking huh?

Letting Go and Letting God

I found this in a little monthly devotional called "Journey" and thought I would share it. It really spoke to me.

"When someone has hurt you, forgiving that person is the only step to take toward growing, healing and moving on. In order to free yourself from chains of bitterness and anger, release any thoughts of revenge.

Forgiveness is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, so don't be alarmed if your anger takes a while to fade and doesn't disappear immediately after you've made the choice to forgive someone. Depending on how much you were hurt, you may have to continue to forgive on deeper levels as the Holy Spirit reveals how badly you've been wounded. When life isn't going like we expect it to or want it to, it's time to take a closer look at our expectations. Behind our expectations our pride and self-centeredness give our wishes and desires preeminence. When we get upset because life isn't going like we planned, it often reveals exactly how strongly we believe that we are more deserving or more important than others. The truth is, life does not revolved around us. Plus, we live in a fallen world, so life will most likely not go according to our plans.

When your expectations aren't met, talk to God about it. Acknowledge to Him that His ways aren't always your ways, and ask Him to help you let go of your expectations and depend on Him. When someone's telling us something we don't want to hear, but they're right and we're wrong, it's time for us to swallow our pride, take advice and change....."

My mom actually gave this to me to read and I was like "WOW! if that's not God speaking to me, then I don't know what is!" The last part where it talks about life not going as you had planned...MAN! That is SO me right now. I think lately (just being honest), I have felt a little...down. I can't really put my finger on why exactly, but I think after reading that, it helped me a lot. I think I have just been feeling lately that nothing is going my way. (Sounds like a 5 yr old doesn't it??). It seems like everything I touch is doomed for failure or something. Maybe I am in a depressed mood..I don't really know, but all I know is that I want OUT of this FUNK--NOW!! It's like the devotion said, I know I just need to take that and lay it before God. Let Him know what my expectations are and give all that up to Him. I need to let Him handle it. He knows far better what is best for me than I could EVER imagine. I THINK I know what's best for me, but He has definitely proved me wrong there before. I need to remember times where God has proven himself to me the most and know that He is taking care of me. Even in this season of my life where I feel like nothing is going right...He is there, every step of the way, taking care of me..I just have to let HIM guide my steps. Maybe I haven't been doing that as much as I thought I have...maybe it's time to really hand it all over...but that's the hard part right?? Actually handing it over? I know God is trying to draw me closer to Him right now...now more than ever maybe...and I just need to surrender it all. I am starting the Beth Moore study in the next week or so called "Esther" and let me just tell you--I am PUMPED!! It's gonna be awesomeness! Here is a quote from the study that I found, that I L-O-V-E!!

"Even those most serious about their pursuit of God and godliness fail to be perfect examples all the time.... The mystery is not that an earthly hero can still be flawed and fall to cultural pressures but that God, in His mercy, chooses at times to retain only the snapshots He took when they were standing firm."--Beth Moore