following grace

life is so crazy. my planner has more scribbles and scratch-outs than a child's coloring book. but lately im learning that in my being busy I am so incredibly blessed. I sat down last night to help lead our life-group with my sweet middle school girls. and as we dug into the Word of God and his truth, and just shared honestly our doubts and misconceptions about the Lord and pursuing him daily.. there was moments I just zoned out, and was just completely in awe of how amazing God is and was especially in that moment. I mean who would've thought that i would learn such deep and heart wrenching lessons from 7th and 8th graders. gracious, if only I was that wise and vulnerable as a middle schooler. I left with such hope. their hearts of hunger for the Lord were inspirational, I couldn't wait to get home and pray for each of them and dig into the word finding answers to their questions. may it always be our priorit...

well hey there stranger! it's me again..     working 40 hours a week, it being summer, working with a new ministry at church, and living with one of my best friends; leaves zero time of just sitting around, much less finding time to focus long enough to blog.   but while the time has presented itself, here I am.. and I've got a few thoughts I want to share with you, friend.   My Pastor started a series last week, and it's got me thinking...   He started talking to us about "the Plow" we need in our lives.   because sometimes just like the soil in the field that needs plowing, our hearts are fallow and in need of some plowing some changing and rearranging in order to allow for the Lord to make us fertile, or fruitful.   just like the plants planted in the unplowed or fallow ground we can't grow and be fruitful without turning over that new soil.   "the church that refuses the plow, writes its ...

since moving into my own place and starting a full time job being able to go home and visit my peeps has been super rare so it was super nice to be able to get away from work and life in VA to spend 10 days in Florida with my favorite people.   We started off our vacay in Orlando where we hit up Disney for a day and spent the next morning in Downtown Disney.   Stephen had never been to Disney so it was so fun to make his dream come true.     then on Monday, we packed it up after lunch at the Rainforest Café and headed down to Sanibel Island. One of our favorite vacay spots, which we hadn't been to in 8 years so it was much needed.   We just spent the week on the island touring around spending days on the beach and at the pool and just relaxed it was so so nice to be on island time and the perfect getaway for our little L family.   our 2nd full da...

    Lately the Lord has just really been stirring my heart.   With the end of school stress, moving into my first place, learning to adjust to summer and getting news I never wanted to hear.   it has been quite the adjustment, but such a glorious one. there's something about just knowing him intimately that beats anything I could ever explain.   ya know I've been thinking  he knows each and every hair on our head he knows the bags under our eyes after long nights he knows the wrinkles on our forehead the lines on our hands..   but do we know him like that?   is it possible that we're missing the point. we say we know him but do we really know Him?   It's been my goal in the past few days to just be still, and know.   quite frankly sometimes or all the time I'm lost. I look up and don't know the cleared path is and I know how to walk, but I don't have any idea w...

  although school has been out for about a week now it is still so fun to look back and think about all the chaos, and craziness that I survived the last few weeks of school.   it was such a wonderful ending to a wonderful year and I'm forever grateful for the memories made amidst the absolute insanity we call finals week.   So here's a little look back at some fun moments wrapping up the school year.. last day of classes. acting crazy with the roomie after cleaning our room for days on end, until it sparkled. slipping away with friends to pamper. signing the lease to MY FIRST PLACE. having our last prayer group together of the year. saying goodbye to the best English class ever. getting brave at the salon, and going for some bangs! enjoying our last convo of the year. and my last required one as a residential student. slipping away to my fav local coffee shop to hear a good word and drink...