A Snapshot of Now....

My main purpose for being home for these 4 months before I go to India are: 

• To get refreshed and take a few moments to breathe and process in between seasons
• To spend time getting reacquainted with my church family and and friends
• Spend time with my family (maybe the last time I'll live with them...
• To Fundraise

I have also acquired a part time job while I am here..... I think you would love to hear about it :)

My JOB: Tis the Season

I work at a Year Round Christmas Store - it is really beautiful - enchanted really.  I am going to take a video one day for you to see. :)  I am a cashier - however I listen to Christmas music all day, and do little things like tie ribbon on ornaments, package snow, and organize bubble wrap. Ha ha .....I absolutely love it. :) The best part is that they don't open until 10 so I don't ever have to go in until then (if you remember Corrie, I told you that would be a perfect day if I didn't have to work until 10 :)  That was a little special gift from the Lord to me!). 

So I work about 4 days a week, try to run every morning - which is fresh air to my lungs! (if you know me you know that a really good day must include a morning run!), I am trying to find a routine for my Quiet Times, If I'm not working I am accomplishing tasks from the lists and projects that I am constantly making for myself, and my evenings are dedicated to dinners with my family and spending time with them. 

A Bit of a Crisis.......Yesterday it started to officially feel like fall here in in Ohio - I tasted it on my morning run - crisp and cool!  So today I was aching to enjoy the weather and do something "fallish."  After a busy day of work I was ready to have some fun and hang out!  However Felicia was busy, so I called my mom to see what the family was doing.....when she answered and said that her and dad were on their way to the Rodeo, they had to leave early,"  I felt like crying....where did that come from?  Saturday night and I felt lonely.....:)  So I texted Trav (my brother).... and he texted back....Sorry I'm out with my friends.  Seriously!  Ohhh, at that moment I really missed being at Teen Mania and living with all of my friends.

I am a confident woman and not afraid of being alone - however those few tears were unexpected tonight.   I guess this is just a different season. 

I am looking forward to planning fundraisers soon and enjoying the fall!

Her BIG Day is tommorrow!

The Day is Tomorrow!  Sunflowers, ribbon, bows, a white dress, the man of her dreams, and LOVE to tie it all together!  I Love weddings! :)  I absolutely love, Love especially in the purest most Godly state, I love planning the whole production, all the details, artistic elements, and decorations, but there is one thing that is a special privilege.....

To stand beside your dear friend when she is getting married.  


That is such an honor...


Roxanna Mullet is getting married tomorrow and I am so proud to be her Maid of Honor.  


She has been my friend in High School and so much more.  We met in 7th grade when our elementary schools joined into middle school.  She has been a God send especially in those high school years, but even now I am so thankful to have Roxanna as a friend in my life for these adult years.  And adult years - here we come!

A New Cove

My Newly Decorated Room, 


I came home to my room that I left as an 18 year old.....that was decorated when I was in middle school, and still full of childhood memorabilia!  


SO - I cleaned out the closets, neatly packed away the keepsakes in 2 tubs, threw TONS of stuff away, packed trash bags to go to the thrift store, and STARTED OVER. 


Here is my newly decorated room, since my room in TX was spring themed, I went with a fall theme. 

The Treasure I found in a thrift store!  I LOVE this orange vintage flower chair!  $2

The curtains from Felicia's apartment that she didn't want :)  I'll take them! Another treasure!

This large painting is my inspiration for the room!  Another Thrift store find.

Oh must have an introverted bookshelf!

A wall for memories at Teen Mania :) One of each of the 4 years there.

My Favorite parts of this room is the hanging frame above the orange coach and hanging doves by the photo frames.

TWO Beautiful Girls

The Lord has been blessing me so much since I've been home! I have been able to get refreshed and re-acquainted these first 3 week returning! I have been spending time at home - baking, making dinners, redecorating my room, loving my family - I feel made for HOME - I thrive here - and feel so close to the presence of God. The Lord has also given me opportunity to spend time with families - my grandparents, pastors wife who is new homeschooling, and babysitting 2 dear children to my heart.....I LOVE women, home, and caring for people! ...... Thank-you Lord!!


TWO Girls are really precious to me....


Their names are Eden Rayne & Dannicah

This is Eden - 6 years old
This little girl is a gem, she is smart and sweet like her mom.  I have a special place in my heart for her.  Her mom - Carrie was the girl I looked up to when I was her age!!

Dannicah - 9months
Danny is a little "bug", squirmy, ornery, and lovely!  Tall just like her Daddy!

We had ourselves a little picnic, wildflowers, nutella, peanut butter and all!

There's the ornery!

Don't you love when little children hold their baby siblings!  Such a little momma. :)

And little Lady - she knows how to pose!

Giggles, hurry up and take the photo! I'm gonna slip off!

Ha ha...rescuing her from the tree!

Beauty!

LOVE!

So how do I go about this Spiritual/ Physical Life?

I just went through a 2 day inner healing conference called Kairos at Gateway Church near Dallas, TX with my mom who flew down from Ohio to spend the weekend with me.  It was phenomenal!  Not only did we go through just about every area of inner healing including, mother/ father wounds, generational curses, unforgiveness, rejection, etc, we got the opportunity to work through each thing.  It was a divine appointment for my mom and we will continue to work through the material to administrate inner healing in our lives!

What I wanted to share with you today is one of the most life-changing things that I took away from the conference. 


Consolable and Inconsolable Desires
A Consolable Desire: Is something that can be satisfied in the physical (hunger, clothing, home, relationship with another person, craving, etc). For example I need toothpaste so I'll go the the store and get toothpaste, or I want a latte from Starbucks so I'll go to Starbucks and order a latte.  


An Inconsolable Desire: Is something that cannot be satisfied in the physical (acceptance, love, salvation).  For example, I need to have a sense of acceptance but I do not feel that way from my community. I need to be known and supported but no one really understands me.


Everyone is made with inconsolable desires that cannot be filled by others, things or our own efforts however we often try to fill our inconsolable desires with the physical things that fill consolable desires.  


What is the answer to these unsatisfiable desires and why do we have them?  The answer is GOD of course, and we were made to depend on Him because He is the only perfect one that can truly care for our needs and wants fellowship with us in this way!  Of course, but do we really get this?

I went through an experience this year that revealed how I was dealing with my desires that I will tell you more about later however in a short summary this is what happened. 


God gave me a relationship that was really good
He took that relationship away
It hurt really bad
I got mad
I didn't understand 
I fought
Cried
Asked for it back
God didn't give me what I wanted
So I gave up my fight
Asked Him what He wanted to give me
And found...........


Something Holy....Something uncontainable....Not even a 'something' 


I found the answer to a desire that I didn't even realize I had been trying to fulfill. That answer was not found in the heavenlies - a realm greater than this world, and I discovered that the result was far greater than anything this world could offer as well!  


I've always known that Jesus is the answer, He is everything, All that I need, but oh how our fleshly hearts try over and over again to function on our own. I feel as if I rediscovered my need for salvation!


This past few months have not only been a learning season but a transitional life launching season!  Still at work, God is establishing Himself in my heart like he has never done before  and I believe that He is preparing me for the long hall on this Earth to LIVE and move with Him.  


I still have questions like:  How do I minister/ mother people without drawing them to myself but to God but I think those will be answered with the right alignment of my heart. 


The main question I ask myself daily now is:  Will I allow God to take that place in my heart? Do I believe that He is enough?  


I will stay in this stage until that is set in my heart forever!


Doves Eyes!
Isaiah 26:3 "Him who's eyes are steadfast on the Lord will be at perfect peace, because he trusts in Him"

I Love Vintage Fashion

A dear woman in my life - Merrie Scriber taught me the trade of crocheting.  This was my last winter's project. 

Ruffled shoes!  Gotta love it!

Love these dark chocolate lacy tights and leg warmers. 

School Girl Shoes from my Fave Ohio Thrift Shop

The Mustard and Sea Green Pillows on my Dorm Room Couch

Affirmation

What She Said About Me........

An email that was sent to me and my team in the office this morning.....

This week I want to make a habit of us simply connecting a 2^nd time after morning meeting to pray together and give everyone an opportunity to accomplish projects face to face rather than only email.  Also, if you want to share something from your quiet time, something that you are wreslting with, or something that God is speaking to you specifically in regards to ministry please bring it.

I just want to try this out for this week!!!

Below are thoughts that I had about each of you today:

Corrie Lynn

[Discipleship.]  Corrie knows how to take people along the way with her. SHE TOOK HER INTERNS ON A ROAD TRIP THIS WEEKEND!

  Her interns love meeting with her :)

Sarah Coleen

[Beautiful simplicity.] Sarah does well with making her CAs feel special and loved.  She has won their hearts and made them love Organic.  Last but not least, she is killing those PRs!

Mummau

[Responsibility.]  Sara takes ownership of her hall- she knows each of them very well and takes ownership for their growth- she’s put a few of her girls on growth plans that she personally created and she’s followed up with them.  BOM…  She’s getting this done!

Catherine

[Balance.]  Cat’s influence on campus is wide- she has CCM, directs Driven, and is running strong with the Executive Track. She inherited a group of girls that need a lot of training and counseling.  On a daily basis I see her balancing her tray- its fully and diverse- yet she is doing it with passion and love.

.Becca

[Confident.]  Becca, although she is a dorm director just the same, she faces a job that is different and challenging in its own sense.  I have seen her handle herself with great confidence and compassion.  Most of all, her love is confident in her relationships- with her women, her man, and us !

Shyla [Me)

[Genuine] Shyla is one of the most genuine people that we all know.  She  is taking her hall and CAs through a healing process, and without hesitation, she is allowing the Lord to do the same work in her.  Her dealings with the office and others is blanketed with a genuine heart.

..........As always – Affirmation is a source of strength to me and I am blessed and astounded to hear these words…. It has been my heart to bring healing to people and just LOVE each person that God has divinely put in my influence over the past years and I am so thankful when God allows me to carry His manifest presence inside of me. 

I have a deep and needy heart and a very capable flesh that can easily take control and fulfill these needs in reckless and destructive ways but it never fails that I RE-DISCOVER the amazing fulfillment that comes from Christ – and only Christ, and how that naturally overflows to other people to create pure community.

Lord – I pray this over my friendships and over my ladies and hall. 

To all of you:  Thank-you for your affirmation in my life and exhorting God inside of me.

I Love You!

My Girls (CA's)