Halloween.

                  It's Halloween today. Many Christians view this day as an evil holiday that's good for nothing. But let's rethink this. Every Halloween I help give out candy to small adorable children. However, along with the candy, we also give a Christian track. Basically we change something viewed as dark and evil and make it an opportunity to share Christ. 
                I personally have had many fond Halloween memories from my early years. I remember getting all dresses up as a rock star, Tweety Bird, or baby bop from Barney and then heading to my school's harvest carnival. I would then enjoy rock climbs, slides, spinning rides, and tons and tons of candy. Some Halloweens my family and I would also carve a pumpkin and set it out front. So as I type this I'm preparing candy and smelling our Pumpkin Pie Yankee Candle. Its a good day.

No?

              I'm going to be very honest here. I absolutely hate saying no. I hate it. Its so hard to disappoint someone, to know that you have let them down. Many people also take no's as... rejection. And the fact of the matter is this... No's aren't always rejection. No sometimes means "I'm not ready" or "I'm happy how things are now" or even "Not the right timing." But you see, no matter how kind you put it people always take "no" the same way. I'm someone who hates to hurt others, I always want to liked by others, and make everyone happy... so saying "no" is hard. Hope you understand.... if its possible. 

Brighter than the Sun...

This video makes me smile, I honestly wish my house was as full of plants and flowers as the one in the video...

A time to cry...

                  We, as Christians, many times feel that we must somehow hold all our problems and bear them all alone. Yes, we understand that God is in control, but we keep all our heartache and brokenness to ourselves. We don't want to "bother" others with these kind of encumbrances. We don't want others to feel "weighted down" by our own problems.... so instead we say everything is great and go on to ask about the weather. We sidestep the honesty of the question "How are you?" and simply answer with the typical reply of "I'm good" or "Everything's great". Even with trustworthy friends, we feel it easier on ourselves and others to not bring up our problems.
                   I am so lucky to go to a Christians school where I can regularly attend small groups every week. I also am very thankful for the girls I have in my group and how open we've become with each other. Today, during our small group time many of us (myself included) became very emotional. We had been holding in things in for so long it was great to pour out our feelings towards God and to give Him everything. To share our pains with one another, to relieve our burdens. That is what the church is all about. Bearing each others burdens, giving our pains to Christ. Sometimes in life you just need a good cry. And that was what today was all about - crying out our sorrows and expelling our despondent afflictions.


"Tears are words the heart can't say..." (Unknown)

School Work and Daydreams

             I've found it especially hard lately to keep my mind focused on school. I sit there staring at my computer screen trying to write a paper or finish a research project and my mind just drifts. Its incredibly annoying, but enjoyable at the same time. Homecoming week is coming up and I've already bought my dress for the dance. I keep thinking of that enchanting night and the excitement that's coming and I just loose focus a bit. Its probably not healthy. But even so, I thought might post some pictures. Below is a picture of my dress :)

Now Here's the hair I'm aiming for.

And the eye make up... (Smokey/cat eye...)

And here's the shoes... classic black heels.

Let's just establish I'm a bit too excited. Anyways, I'd better get back to my homework. 

Where do we run?

                Where do we run in trying times? Do we run to the open arms and comforting words of our friends? Do we confine in the luxuries of sweet and savory foods? Do we collapse into the warmth of our sleepy beds? Or do we instead cling to the strength of our Creator? Unfortunately, I seem to always place God last on the list when I'm needing comfort. I seek friend's advice, relish myself in "comfort food", or loose myself in a romance novel, trying to forget my worries. Eventually after shoving my feelings under for long amounts of time or simply not knowing where to put my heartache, I break and pour out my frustration on the Lord. Wouldn't it have been easier if I had just given him my struggles daily, and let Him lift my burdens continually? Wouldn't it be less painful in the end to give my heaviness and confused heart to the Lord regularly?
                This summer I went through many different hardships, many of them were things I had never thought to ever encounter in my life. During these struggles I poured out my heart to the Lord, wept bitterly, and cried out to him, yet I never asked him to heal me and take my burdensome heart. Months later, after the summer had ended I found myself crying still about those problems, wondering why I still was so scarred and despondent about the trials I had encountered then. I longed to share my hurt with anyone, I longed to run to friends and pour out everything that had happened. Yet that was a luxury that was not granted to me. I was supposed to keep my family's hardships between us in order to protect and support them. I complained to God, asking why I was not allowed to share my hardships with a physical presence rather than Him alone. He slowly revealed to me that although sharing your heart and mourning with others is needed in many situations, I was also called to respect and protect my family and keep the specific details of what had happened between the family and no one else. He then called me forth to lay my sadness upon him and put my heavy burdens in His strong arms.
                So where do you run? I now know, it it best to lay the problems I have at the alter of Jesus Christ. He alone is the amazing Comforter. And He alone can heal our heartache and weariness.

Picture Perfect?

What will it feel like when we're together?
          How will we show our love towards one another?
                    Will he be handsome and strong?
                              When we share that first kiss, will it be pure and innocent?
                                        Will I be a better person because of him?
                                                  When will he step into my life?
                                                            Will he hold me in his arms?
                                                                      Will the wedding be sparkling?
                                                                               How will he draw me closer to God?
                                                                                      Will he make me feel special?
                                                                                               Will he twirl me around the dance floor?
                                                                                                        How will I draw him closer to God?
                                                       
          Will it be... picture perfect?

The "Fall"-ing of Leaves

               Fall is beginning. Summer breezy afternoons are soon fading into windy autumn days. And for most of us, leaves are beginning to fall. Shades of orange, red, yellow and warm brown fill the trees. Pumpkin spice is smelled throughout our homes. Well for most... Unfortunately, not I. I live in Florida, yes the state full of retired older citizens and tourists. A land with no seasons. So while most of you have cool and brightly colored falls, white Christmases, and blooming springs... we only have two seasons... Warm summer and cool summer. Sure it sometimes gets into the 40's for a week of the year and into the 70's for a month of it, but mostly it's 80 degrees and above here. Yes, it can be nice swimming in your pool in December, but the fact that I've only made 2 snowmen in my life and never gone sledding or had a real snow-ball fight is really quite depressing. One white Christmas is all I ask for. Every year I pray for a Christmas miracle, that it would snow. Last year it actually frosted for one day and the dew on the grass froze.... IT LOOKED LIKE SNOW... but it wasn't.                                 
            Yes, sadly we have no seasons where I live, but our humid tropical climate is surely one to visit. Please visit us here in sunny Florida, taste our oranges, visit our beach-side shops, and of course, go snorkeling in our sparkling waters, but please, know this when you visit, there's no southern hospitality here, and most drivers on the roads are very grumpy. But still, please visit. Its beautiful and warm all year LONG.