Happ happiest time of the year

Family and friends gathering.

Reaching out to people you don't normaly reach out to during the year.

Lights that shine and make everything more attractive.

It truly is the happ happiest time of the year. 

All cozy in love

There are times that I can feel my cup overflowing. My friends are an amazing blessing that keeps my laughing. The beauty in life is extremely obvious when I spend time with my lovely ladies. 

As it comes to you

You always see other people's life and thier fun and may want in on it. You wonder why aren't those people my friends what do I not have?  There is truth in letting time flow and letting what is supposed to come find you. When you let loose and give the people around you all your energy instead of focusing on what others have you find a new vibe and happiness within your reality. Give your slide the time and engery you give to comparing it to other's life and you will see all the blessings around.

Humans

We are all humans. Think of that. Think of all the good people have done and don't forget all the bad you have done... 

You can't throw stones, no one can. 

Moving forward

Never question. Keep moving forward. Know you have a master that has everything planned. It may seem like a dull or unimportant phase of life but in reality big things are happening. Keep moving forward and know theah upstairs is on your side. This isn't happening for nothing. 

YOUR surroundings

Thanks to social media you think you know someone. You can look at someone's profile, wall , whatever you say and think your know everything about them but really they are assumptions. A mind can run off with thse assumptions and next thing ya know you are comparing yourself to them. 

STOP. 

We are each a creation. Each an individual. We are each where we are supposed to be. Stop looking at everyone else's life and take in what is around you, blessings you did know you even had will start to appear. 

One way road

It's crazy how you can remember wanting to be different. Wanting to be the better , more spirtual , more mature , more focused you. Then you find yourself being that person. Being apart of the church, working more hours , getting good grades, and being healthy. You never thought of the challenge that comes with this new you. You still have an eye on the old lifestyle. You see your friends and you think if I didn't go this weekend I wouldn't miss what they are going to do. You see your ex with new people and living a new life, without you. And then you realize no one else has been in my shoes. This is me, this is the time. My feet will not fail me as long as the Lord is my guide. People all around me living their own life on thier own time. Its time to live on my time. Read and follow the signs the Lord is sending. Follow them. My feel shall not fail. 

Shake it off

It's crazy how fast a new storm cloud will take over you mind. Once one issue, stressor, problem, concern, or whatever you want to call it moves out a new one moves in. What's even crazier... How we notice this yet we allow these storm clouds to bog us down. We are just opening the door and inviting stress in. Each storm cloud has flown out with the wind, remember that and pray for some strong gust. 

As it comes to you

You always see other people's life and thier fun and may want in on it. You wonder why aren't those people my friends what do I not have? I have been in those shoes and not long ago. There is truth is letting time flow and letting what is supposed to come find you. When you let loose and give the people around you all your energy instead of focusing on what others have you find a new vibe and happiness within your reality. 

Rewards come from work

Seeing a sunset like this while running  proves beautiful things can come along in times of sweat and exhaustion. 

Open skies

Clear and open blue skies remind me how much more life is out there. It won't always be like this. I won't always bein these conditions. Don't let them slip away and only have created memories of despair. Let them slip away as you share laugh, smiles, and dances with loved ones. 

Bold

We must not only have bold actions but bold words. We speak bodly about what we deeply believe in. When The Lord has done so much in mylife it's hard to hold it back and not share. It was no one but The Lord and his work and peace that changed my heart and my life direction. 

Here comes the sun

When you like what you do early mornings feel good. When you are chasing your dream early mornings help your day feel accomplished 

Uncomfortable times

For the last couple days I have been not sad ir even down and out but I have not had my usual spunk and pep in my step. I have nothing new going on that would be a bails reason for them to go away so I started to feel uncomfortable. It's like the flow of life is going on all around me but I just stuck it clogging up the flow. And then I realized I have been in the same place spirtually and mentally for a long time. Maybe all these urges to better myself in hopes of getting back into the flow are really paths to new doors opening. Maybe all the wants for new and better practices are the beginning of a change. BE BOLD. MAKE THE MOVE TOWARD THE PATH AND FIND THE DOOR THAT IS OPENING. 

Lessons

"But if these years have taught me anything it is this : you can never run away. Not ever. The only way out is in. " 

Junot Diaz

You can't get out of the situation you are in. In order to get to the other side you have to come to terms with where you are and trust you are thier because it will teach you. Once you live in the situation you are in you will on the way to the other side .

Realize your size

When I realized I am the only one who can take charge of my dreams and make them happen I realized how much bigger I am than I thought I was. Sometimes where we fit in the world is a gray area but it becomes more clear when you take charge of the individual you are.

No one is more you than you. 

Share how God has changed you.

My story is not a mistake... It is a gift. It took me awhile to figure out how to use it. I have a unquie knowledge about a relationship with Christ because of how I was drawn to him in hard times. That's a light I must shine; the fact that smiles and true joy can conquer sorrow and utter confusion, only with The Lord. How will you shine!

No one but me

No one else had been exactly where I am or where I have been. It's time to be thankful for the places and circumstances I have stood in. It is these that are making me who I am. 

Goliath sized battles

As a child of the Lord we each must face different sized battles. David before he became a king was a shepard and had to protect his sheep from many animals before he faced Goliath after the army of God trembled back into thier tents for 40 days. If we can not trust God in the small battles how will we make in the larger battles? Yes it's hard to accept the battles The Lord puts in our life but I have come to see I can not be who I want to be in The Lord untill I allow him I do his work in my life. Sometimes what we go through is ridiculously tough but if you look deep enough and seek God hard enough you will see why The Lord has picked you for this unquie battle. Open your heart and look for the Goliath battle or battles The Lord has chosen to place in your life, not anyone else's. Trust in him  and understand transformation is coming. 

This all became clear to me within the last week in which I spent in Knoxville TN. Working with highschoolers spreading the love of Jesus and roofing in need homes. I thank The Lord for answering my prayers and answering some of questions ; such as why is this happening to me? Why me, well because he has a plan for me and needed me to understand and get it together. Just like a shepard breaks a sheep's leg that continually wonders off to teach it how to be dependent on it's leader The Lord had broken my leg and has shown me who my leader is, my Lord.

Patience is a virtue.

Pain is beauty. Embrace the pain and know you will be on the other side sooner than later, and once you are you will be closer to who God made you to be ! 

Healthy habits

Write hard. Allow your brain to work through your feelings and circumstances. Open your mind and listen to what you are being told. 

The journey

Found some beautiful moon rocks on the beach and it sparked a thought process that calmed my soul. As I looked at all the shells in the beach and then back to the smooth, round, and unquie rocks in my hand I thought about the journey that brought each one to same island I was standing on. I thought about the waves that crashed them into the sand and carried them away. I thought about all the miles traveled. I thought about all the years it took to make the rock so smooth and round. Then I thought about me. I don't know where I will end up but The Lord has planned this journey. Waves will crash on me and carry me away from everything I have come to know, but I'll end up on the island The Lord wants me on. 

Sunsets around the world

At the end of the day the sun setting is the same sun that will set over other parts of the world. Thinking back on South African sunsets I realized the beauty is still with me in Wilmington sunsets. This made me think harder and floated into the idea of how I am like sunset. No matter where I am I am me. The world is big and I am so small in it but being me is a blessing no matter where I am because I am the same everywhere. 

And this is the same for you...

< The Little Things Make Me Smile >

Coming Home

Not gonna lie. I have been home from South Africa since Monday afternoon. I don't think I have felt energized untill today ( Friday). 

Memeories of the land, people, and spirit of South Africa constantly flood my mind and it makes me eager to get back. 

Knowing the world is so big and being in small Wilmington is starting to challenge me. I know there is so much more to see. Yes, there is my education here in Wilmington and my dearest closest family and friends but I feel led to go out. 

And I plan to go out. 

Every morning as I read a couple passages I feel motivated and encouraged to learn everyday where I am supposed to heading next. 

Africa here I come

It's wild to think this is my life. As I spend my last full day here in America for awhile I take in my life. Why don't I realize how blessed my life is without knowing I am leaving my comfort zone? I realized I am right where I want to be. I am almost a full fledge teacher and everyday I get to spend hours with some of the cutest babies in the world. I should be able to see that everyday. I should not have to leave the country for a few weeks to make me realize how I am where I want to be?.

Only in your eyes

No one knows what your eyes have seen. Don't let anyone tell you the best for. Take what you have seen , grow from it , then go about being the special person you are! 

The foundation fact

There are plenty of examples of people crying and wanting more from God becaue they have forgotten the fact that God had rescued them from slavery. 

Sometimes I have to stop and quiet my mind to get back to the foundation; the fact that I have been rescued... It is not right to only want more. We need to realize how The Lord is caring for us each day. Society now only wants more more and more . 

Planes

As I ran yesterday, right at sunset, I saw a plane taking off. Who knows where it was going. It reminded me there is so much happening outside of my life. The realm of reality is ridiculously large. It reminded me next week at this time I will be miles above the world flying to another country. Another way of life. Another reality. Africa here I come. I thank the heavens I have the opportunity to travel this ridiculously large realm of reality.

Follow YOUR gps

With so many people going in so many different directions it's confusing why people judge. People think what works for them and how they think should be applied to others. It's strange.  When I see people going against the grain it makes me happy. They are happy and I am happy. 

Go your own way

How can you catch the perfect wave when you follow the crowd!? 

You think you know

It is funny how life works. You think you know what's coming and then you are reminded God's plans are unknown and will prevail. Who knows what the next has in store for you. When the pastor wanted to talk to me little did I know I would be receiving a scholarship to do missions in Africa. Who knows what I will learn on that journey. 

God's will is not always so obvious keep that in mind. 

Open yourself up to God's plan for you. Know he has plans for you to prosper not to harm you. 

Live simply on the path of Christ and The Lord will make his work obvious in your life. 

A child's laugh

There is something about a child's laugh that moves my soul beyond how words can describe. Children are my passion because of the passion they have about life. Children have not seen all the bad in the world that adults have. When a child laughs and you can see the pure joy in their face my soul is renewed. There is joy among the darkness. 

Easter

The Cross shows us new life and forgiveness is possible, if we believe. 

Happy Easter 🐰🎉

A peace that surpasses all

Today I took a long cruise. With some good music ( soja, tribal seeds...). While I was crusing and breathing in the salty ocean air I was once agian reminded of how big my God is. Just yesterday stress and worry filled my mind and prayer journal pages. Feeling the wind and smiling at complete strangers made me realize " don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be alright". Beauty is all around me and I am going to miss it if worry and stress win this battle. I love cruises on my board it calms my mind and connects me back to what really matters, living a full and happy life. 

Go for a ride, see what it can do for ya! 

He is constantly at work.

Never doubt. Never have a heavy head. Keep your head up and know each day is a piece of the Lord's masterpiece. 

Audrey

Audrey has always been one of my favorite role models. Aside from her timeless fashion her endurance is what caught my eye. I have actually read books and articles about her and the complications she faced. She always held her head high and went about life. When I come face to face with a situation I picture Audrey taking a deep breath and walking on . She inspires me to keep moving.