All the little happenings. . .

So at what point does everything change? I mean I know 'they' say it is a gradual thing, that change takes place over a series of minutes, hours, days, months, and even years, but I still can't understand. I was driving the other day, being very thoughtful in my car on the short drive to work at mellow mushroom , and it hit me that everything is so different.
The things I once found comfort and support in are no longer there or at least not the same and all the hope I stored in the spaces between them seems to have relocated. I will say that the day I found myself thinking these thoughts was the very day that the PC volleyball team was reporting back for there first day of pre-season, and if I had stayed this would have been my last one. I put a lot into that place, those people, and those memories, and never did I think that a year from now it would lead me here.
So my questions, At what point do you find yourself in a new place? At what point did the year change? At what point did new friends become old ones? At what point did I decide to move forward? All at once it seems like these little decisions and happenings all came together and took me here.
Well those are my thoughts.

ohhhh High School

My friend, MaryFrances, turned 21 today, and It has made me really miss High school. I started to look through old pictures from high school, and just realize how much fun it really was.
Also, I have read my sister's blog, and she is now the new Eastside Eagles Varsity Cheerleading Coach! She is going to make such an amazing coach. I am not sure if she knows this, but I have always looked up to her, ever since I was in the 8th grade, and she was going on a beach trip with her friends, I can remember running in to her room, and offering one of my turquoise tank tops, in hopes that my cool stepsister would want to take it to the beach and wear my clothes! Ha, It is so neat to look back on those times, and see how our relationship has changed. She has become one of my close friends, and I think that is something that is just going to keep growing. I love getting on FB and just debriefing with her, and talking about our week, guys, life, work, Matt, Parent's, Ambien moments, and really just anything. I have so much respect for her. I think she has really become someone that I would love to model myself after. :) She has really been there for me in some KEY times when I needed just the right amount of "protection", or just the right amount of "encouragement." She is really good at that.
So yeh, all this leads me to realize I am almost 4 years out of high school, and I can't even begin to tell you where the time went. So I have decided to go down memory lane, and take you with me.

EHS blackout at RHS :) nothing can beat some High School spirit.


Senior DC Government trip! oh yeh baby.


:)


me and My brother :)



football!


I used to LOOVE this hat.


Before Ash left for YWAM


SO there are a few little pics for ya, thanks for joining me on my road through Highschool.

Mipso Trio

This band came up on my mini feed from a friend, Shelby Mason.

I like em.

Lauren!

http://lolofree2be.blogspot.com/

Please check out Lauren's Blog, go here and learn about Hope for Haiti. Lauren is doing an internship all summer with this program, and it is going to be insane. I know the people who read this blog, may not know her, but your prayer will not go unnoticed. :) She also needs to raise a good bit of money, so if you feel led to give to hope for haiti under Lauren, it would really help! Any amount will be a huge blessing!

way to long.

Can't sleep. Need to update this blog. WAY TO LONG.

Recently I got back from the DC Mission trip through FCA. It was wonderful. I walked away with an entire van full of new friends, a refreshment from the Lord beyond words, and an idea of what community is going to look like for me starting in May. Before leaving for DC things were a little dry. I needed this trip. I am very sure that the Lord placed me there very specifically. I think this Blog entry is going to be stream of consciousness. . So hopefully you can follow along.

So there are a group of guys I know that live life together in the closest way possible( that i know of) to what the Bible says Community is supposed to be, and that blows my mind. I love it. I am pumped to do life with Ash, Meghan, Katie, Liz, and Lolly. I told Lauren a few weeks ago on our jog, that I knew the one thing I would never really have here at Clemson was a close group of girls like i did at Pc that would be holding me accountable, and Yeh God blew that out of the water. I can't even begin to imagine what the next year of my life will look like.

That leads me to think about what I was doing this time last year. My roommate often refers to " This time last year". . . and will speak about how differently life is.. Well I was thinking about that yesterday.. this time last year, I was at PC, and to be honest really liked a guy, you could say he was a best friend at the time, and that person, does not play the same role in my life as he did then, which is hard to think about.

I am being way honest with you blogger world. So feel privileged. It pretty much, for sure, scares the crap out of me. I HATE losing people, I hate losing people who are close to me, and maybe I am not really losing anyone, maybe I have just convinced myself that I am losing them.. who knows.. who really knows what all that means.

All I know is, I am not where I used to be, spiritually, mentally, physically, or emotionally. Isn't that insane.. that in just a few months, the Lord can completely take you from point A to Point Z. I am being a little bit dramatic, but hey.. that is how I feel.

I have been super reflective lately. I miss my friends at Pc, but I love my new ones.

I wonder where I will be on March 27th a Year from now. I like to think, studying abroad.. or leading other believers in some way.. not just following. Maybe I will be applying for an internship somewhere with YL or just an Art place. Maybe I will be dating, maybe not. Maybe I will be in a completely different season of life .. AHHH who knows.

I never thought I was one who was scared of change. And I still don't think I am, but I know that lately the Lord has had to remind me that his will is good, and pleasing. He places people in and out of my life at the exact right moments for the exact right amount of time, and I HAVE got to believe that, or else... I get sick with worry that I am losing someone.. So that is my struggle lately, it is being journaled and prayed through don't you worry, but if there is one thing that Keeps showing up year after year.. it is that.. my worry of losing people.

bleh.

That is way to much for tonight.

Goodnite

Game Night

A few nights ago, The roommates decided to have a little game night.








I would upload more pictures, but it is taking about 120982349-239402374981233,00000,000 minutes to do it.

Prodigal Girl: Here we go!

Prodigal Girl: Here we go!: "So I am not a writer by any means, although I have kept journals since I was 10. For some reason I can process through things better when I ..."

Home is wherever I'm with you

I have NO idea how to start this blog. I am currently in Clemson, South Carolina, sitting on a couch in the Ridge, APT 107 to be exact. Looking at Betsy, and Susannah watching some show on television, while I have my headphones in listening to "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. This song brings a lot of sweet little memories to my thoughts. Specifically being in the Ceramics Studio at PC. Duncan Cecil introduced me to this one, and I absolutely adore the lyrics, and playfulness of the song. I just picture myself dancing around, rinsing the slip out of my brushes, singing, and laughing while enjoying the company of other art majors.
So this first made me a little sad, right? I mean, I am no longer a Blue hose. Here I am, a "Tiger," and currently that doesn't carry as much weight to me as it probably does to most of the students here. Please do not take this the wrong way, and assume that I am unhappy here. Because I am VERY happy. It did, although, make me think, and wonder why else I like the song. I love the phrase, " Home is wherever I'm with you." I have just realized that, wherever I am in life, I will always, in some way be, "Home." As long as I am pursuing Jesus, and TRUSTING where he is taking me, I feel that I can't get to far from Home.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y

The Beginning of something great.

Hi, blogging world,

I have missed you. I am thinking about going behind your back, and making another Blog, but this one will only be a Photography blog. No need to be worried.
So last night was my first night in Clemson, ended it by watching Love and Basketball with the wonderful Ashley Marshall, and woke up this morning to a winter wonderland. GEEZ. This place is beautiful. I have been wondering when it will hit me that I am in a new place. I mean, I get it, but I just feel like I am here to hang out for a while, and play with new friends. I have been to excited to sleep, so I have spent a lot of time in my bed, just thinking. I can't even begin to imagine what this year will look like. I know I have so many wonderful relationships to come, and THAT is a precious thing.
So I was trying to explain this "move" to someone the other night, and all that kept coming to my mind was a fresh start. I know that God CLEARLY pointed me here, and took me where I needed to be. He truly does know the desires of my heart. :) I needed this, the FRESH start.
I am at a place where I could soak up so many different things, and THAT is a wonderful place... I want to be committed to updating this thing. So stay tuned people.

Looking Forward

Yheesh,

It has been quite a long time since the last post. I promised myself I wouldn't do that.

Well lately, I have had a lot to look forward to. That really is the only way to sum up the past month or so. Leaving Pc, I thought would make me come un-glued. Maybe it hasn't hit me yet, or maybe God intended for me to be able to walk away now, pain free? Maybe he knew that was the only way I could handle a change. Either way. It is starting to feel a little more real, and tangible. I am not sure yet, I can't quite describe it all. Either way, I know I am being taken in a completely new direction, and I am ready for whatever is to come. :)

Life for me has been jumping from one great thing to the next. ( How blessed I feel to be able to say that.) Leaving school, I came home to a great family, and home, decorated beautifully. Christmas festivities have all been fun, from the annual Christmas party...




then to Skiing with Daniel, Julia, and Miles at App Ski Mountain,


And straight from there to Ashley Marshall's Lake house to visit some friends from Louisiana. :)





I can't even begin to explain how amazing it was to see these Guys. Chris, Eric, Chase, and Jacob, you boys are absolute GEMS. and I am so Blessed to know all of you.

It was not that we did anything extraordinary, just shared un-interrupted time with one another. I always love my time with ANYONE from Louisiana. ;)

So then I came home and enjoyed the surprise of a new camera on Christmas morning! Hopefully this will help me with my future dream of photography. Ha. One can dream... I really have loved this break. I feel like every time I come home, I get closer and closer with my lovely sister Brittney. I really enjoy her and time with her more than she knows. She has such a childlike and unique love for the people around her. I love it. It is really contagious, and I find myself wanting to spend more and more time with her.






Then I had a wonderful time with a few summer Workcrew girls and Summer staff Friend!



Tomorrow I will be going to see one of my very favorite Bands, THE AVETT BROTHERS, in one of my favorite little towns, Asheville.

I will update this thing a little more in the next few days. :)

roll away your stone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL_zuWHrLdI


I am pretty obsessed with this song.. I think it has a lot of meaning tied up in it... yeh.. Maybe I will write more about this later..

"Remind me to tell you how I escape all the Noise."

So here I am, weeks away from a few things, (volleyball ending, my best friend getting married, potentially a change in schools, majors, friends leaving, and friends coming..) Things seem to all the sudden be creeping up on me. Does that happen to you? Thinking things are so far away, and you will figure it out later and then all the sudden, BAM it is right in front of you, and you realize you have a lot to deal with, or just a lot of directions that life could be going, and having to figure out how you FEEL about each one individually, and collectively.
Well.. I have come to the conclusion that I am joyful and excited, but of course.. nervous/anxious.. that always seems to be my nature about things. So I am trying to reach a little harder for the joyful side :).
Okay so with all this Speed and things creeping up, I have struggled to find my quiet place.. or just time for the Lord, finding time to listen for his voice. I was in New York recently for an Art trip, and i just noticed how different the culture was there, everything moved 20 times faster than life in clinton, and I left wondering how in the world these people find that place.. where everything is slow, and God's voice is easy to hear. How could these people possibly block out or escape this noise, chaos, business, and overall hurried lifestyle?
So I asked a friend how he did it when he was visiting New York in the Summer, and here was his Response..
"Lindsey, you have to go to Central Park, Lay Down, and close your eyes, block out the noises, force yourself to listen for 5 things other than the obvious... Listen for the simple sounds."
-Thomas Joyner
-- If you do not know, Central Park is of course surrounded by the city, with horns, cars, and just noise EVERYWHERE. I never had the time to make it to Central Park. ( This will for sure be on my agenda when I go back.)

So... What are the simple Noises? To know the simple, I think we need to know the opposite, what are the complex noises?

Complex: 1. So complicated or intricate as to be hard to understand or deal with."

Simple: 1. Consisting of one element or part only; not combined or complex: a simple mechanism
2. Free from complexity or difficulty
3. Clear, intelligible, understandable, unmistakable

I want to listen for the simple noises, the things in life that are unmistaken, and clear.. Like the person obviously needing love, affirmation, or a listening ear. There are SO many things in this life that are FOR sure things, that are RIGHT under our nose, plain as day to see, and yet we so often miss them because we are to busy searching for the complex noises, and complicated ideas.
When it comes to our faith, I have observed people trying to make sure the "non-believer" GETS the idea that they are "This and not That," and trying to pound every piece of information into their head, and help them wrap their minds around the FULL Picture at the very beginning, when of course it will seem SO complex to them because you are trying to grasp the extraordinary before the simple.
I think Christ calls us to look for the simple in the world, and when you start to see and hear the simple needs of others, and discover his simple joys THIS is when we will stumble upon the extraordinary...


"Such simple things,
And we make of them something so complex it defeats us,
Almost. Why can't everything be simple again?..."
-John Ashbery

Benjamin Nathaniel Savory

Simple Joy of : Benjamin Nathaniel Savory

-Building forts out of blankets and couch cushions
-towels out of the dryer (after running through a sprinkler)
-pictures of people i don't know in black and white
-old notes folded like a paper football
-popping bubble wrap.
-Reading the last line of a book before i start it
-singing a song at the top of my lungs with someone else without the music

and
-getting mail :)

Ben and I shared a month together in wonderful Canada at a Young Life Camp called MALIBU. :)

A few things I enjoy about him:

-His nature to be so incredibly intentional with people.
- His intelligence
- Child Like Spirit
- His never ending Energy
- how Spontaneous he is.





These come from a dear friend, Ben Savory.

‎"But its a matter of the little things, my dear, Little things + Little things = Big Things." - A Wise Woman

Left Turns with the Window down.

A friend, Lauren, sent me some Cds the other day, and I have not stopped playing the songs since. While I build my ceramics pieces, paint, drive, or just whenever.. I have a few favorites of course. There is one song, " The Lime Tree" but Trevor Hall. I think this is my new favorite song. I am not sure why, but I love one of the lines.. " It took a while for you to find me, but I was hiding in the Lime tree, above the city and the rain cloud, I poked a hole and watched it drain out. I just keep thinking about how I go hiding places sometimes. . . not really physically, but mentally, or spiritually. I just run away from things sometimes. Or I hide from God, and try to just hold on so tight to what I know, or what I can control. Lately I have just been realizing a lot about myself. I am in the process of making a huge transition in life. Like HUGE. I am so thrilled, but at the same time, I have realized in the past few days, how many things are going to be different. I am going to have a lot of decisions to make, and just adjustments to make. I know God is leading me here, into this new season of life, but with this season, comes change, and willingness to let go, and follow, two things, I am NOT good with. Anywho, yes, got it, hiding.. equals no good.
On a simple note.. Today, I discovered one of the little things in life that I just LOVE, and it makes me smile every time .. Okay, I will set the scene, I have been running around all morning, packing for my volleyball trip, packing for New York, getting my withdrawal slip signed, and then turned in to registrar before it is to late, la la la.. and FINALLY I have it all done, and I need to be to the gym in like ehhh 15 minutes. So i am in the car on BEAUTIFUL day, just pulled out of McDonalds (where I purchased a dollar menu sweet tea), windows down, breezy, and I am going to make a Left turn.. Okay, so here is the small part, if you don't read slow you MIGHT miss it. LEft turn, and the wind brushes across my face a little faster, and with a little more cool air. I keep going.. and then head back to the gym. RIGHT there. the left turn and quick cold breeze across my face. I realized how much I love that. EVERY time it happens, it is one of my favorite things, because it is a little warm from the sun, and that one little second of a left turn, and that air.. ha I know that sounds like nothing, but I know for sure that it is one of my favorite little things in life. We will throw that in with cold side of the pillow and clean laundry smell.
So we just won our game against Radford, we play Highpoint tomorrow, and then I head to NYC for an ART trip with a bunch of other art majors on Sunday until Tuesday.. I am SO excited, we are going to a show, and museums, and all that fun stuff. Well I don't have much else going on. I actually have a million things I could chat on, but this will be all for now.

My little challenge to you.. my lovely blog reader.. Find one new thing.. one "simple thing in life" that you just love, and remember it, write it down, comment me back on it, or just tell someone.. or thank Jesus for it. :) I would love for you to email it to me, I like hearing other people's "simple joys". rlharris@presby.edu

Have a great day :)

Patiently Hope.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.... For in this hope we were SAVED. Now Hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. "

Romans 8: 18-25 [ random parts]

Patiently Hope.. those are two words that have been on my mind for the past few days..

I think often we associate hope, with a sense of urgency, as if we hope something happens fast, or soon, or right now. Even if we say we hope " in the future," we--well ME, I hope that it happens soon. I usually don't set my " Hopes" like 5 years in the future, they are usually short term hopes. I want to learn how to set my hopes for the things that I do not see, and to realize that there is a glory that is beyond words that is going to be revealed to me.. :)

" Trust in the Place of Unity"

" Right now you experience an inner duality; your emotions, passions, and feelings seem separate from you heart. The needs of your body seem separate from you deeper self. Your thoughts and dreams seem separate from your spiritual longing. You are called to unity. That is the good news of the Incarnation. The Word becomes flesh, and thus a new place is made where all of you and all of God can dwell. When you have found that unity, you will be truly free.
- " Trust in the Place of Unity"
by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Recently, I have been feeling a little, i dunno, like my joy is being attacked, and there are just certain things that have gone on lately that are really challenging me. I know that my heart is in this certain place, and where I want, and long to be, but my actions, emotions and feelings are telling me different. I keep coming back to it. This has been a pretty rough cycle for me, for quite some time, but needless to say, I am hopeful. Ashley Marshall gave me a sweet little book for my birthday, that is filled with wonderful little 1 to 2 page entries that really speak truth into what I am going through. So today, this was that one I discovered, and I think I can understand a little better.

Your thoughts and dreams seem separate from your spiritual longing.<--- this part rings very true to me right now. I have things that I think about a lot, and they do not quite line up with my spiritual longing. But I see where I am, and where I want to be, and those are two different things, so I want to keep taking steps towards uniting the two. Maybe this makes sense? Somehow it all made sense to me.

I have also realized, I have become COMFORTABLE with all the discomfort I allow in my life, and so much so, that I am ANxious to lose it. ha CRAZY right?! yes, it is. But praise the lord I am starting to see it now, it goes from anything to relationships, and volleyball, or just things in general, and I am sick of changing to fit other things or peoples visions of what I should do, or trying to mold, I want to be who I, LINDSEY HARRIS, is in Christ, and step out and realize that it is alright to let go of the things that are holding me back from becoming truly free.

Part of my story...

I was going through some of my old pictures on my Mac, and came across these, I have never actually taken the time to sit down and write out what happened the summer after my Sophomore year in High School, but why not do it now? I have actually been able to share this story with a few people recently, and I am realizing how God is showing me that he really did have a greater purpose for my life.


When I was a sophomore in high school, I was driving up to Presbyterian College [ the college I am currently at now]. I was going to help Kelsey move in for her Freshman year, and I had stayed up late the night before, and woke up pretty early the next morning to drive there by myself. I got there, and helped for a few hours, and was headed back, it was August 7th, one of my friends birthday's and I was really excited about planning a surprise dinner for her at monterrey's that all of our friends could come to. I had been talking to a few people on the phone earlier, but I hadn't talked to many people while I was driving. I remember feeling very sleepy, and at the time, I had not been driving long [ experience, or time] and my eyes started to shut a little, and i would wake myself back up, and just turn the music up or try to sing a little.
It all happened so fast...
I don't really know how long it took, but it obviously wasn't to long. before I knew it, i really did feel as if I was in slow motion. Gripping the life out of my steering wheel. I will never forget that sound. The sound your tires make when you are going 65 mph down a major highway and you realize you are going off the road into the median, and you make a sudden swerve. . .
The awful screech, it was like nothing I had ever heard, immediately my entire body was struck with fear. Before I knew it, I was watching myself tumble across 385. Yes, I did not make a mistake when I said 'watching myself.' You know when people say you have an out of body experience, well this was one of those times, I am trying not to exaggerate any part of this story, but this part is so strange, because it is not like I remember it from my driver's seat, this part of the story I see like a movie?
Either way, I woke up, and instantly FREAKED. It was like my mind first went to the thought that my car was going to blow up, so I needed to get out. I tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge, so i put BOTH of my hands on the broken glass, swiveled around and went feet first out of the car. The car was sitting ever so nicely on the guard wire, and it was a small fall down to the gravel and dirt. Right when my bare feet hit the ground I took off... running.. ' Where was I running?' ' Why was I running??" I don't know, but I did, straight up the middle of the highway, I looked down and saw my phone in my hand, and I instantly called my Dad. screaming the words, "I am okay, BUT..." and take it from there. I think he was in the car and already headed my way by the time he answered the phone.



I didn't really understand why my phone was in my hand, it completely threw me off when I saw it. Because my phone, i remember was sitting in my cup holder, where it always sat, and my car did 4 flips.. how could it be in my hand? I remember my hands both gripping the wheel as if it was my only way to stay in the car. There was no humanly way that the phone ended up in my right hand. I used both hands to crawl out of the car.. i still don't understand that part.
Cars were everywhere.. waiting for me to stop running.. and people seemed to be shocked, they were all just standing outside of the wreck. There was a woman, who had been driving beside me for several miles. She stopped me and sat me down and offered me her shoes and a Deer Park water. I was shaking, introducing myself to anyone who was helping me. She came and went. Next, there were two older women who sat, one on either side of me, and simply said, "we are hear to sit with you until the next person comes, you are alright," and I never really got a name from them, not that I can remember. strange. One after the other, people came to sit with me and calm me down while I waited on my anxious father to arrive. I couldn't believe what just happened. It didn't seem real.
I have grown up with this small birthmark on my forehead, not everyone notices it, but some do, and it has always been somewhat of a joke, because it tends to look like a bruise, food, a burn, dirt, or anything else that is not supposed to be on your forehead, so I have had a lot of people try to take it off. haha [ ITS NOT COMING OFF PEOPLE.] Anyway, God has a way of calming me down, because a truck driver came up to me, and said in his Southern voice " hunnie, looks like all ya got there is a little bruise on yur fored," I smiled and said it was a freckle patch.
My Dad finally got there, and he was in tears, that was hard to see, he was wearing a bright red shirt with khakis, nicely pressed, and his usual work shoes. When I picture my dad in my mind, this is the attire I usually picture him in. ;) We watched the paramedics pick up all the markers, clothes, cups, and anything else that happened to be in my car that was now strewn all over 385. One thing in particular was a painting that Kelsey Mckee had made for me, and it had a bible verse on it, (i really should know it, but it is packed away,) they held it up and looked at me and my Dad and said,
" We think this is why you are still alive sweetie."
I sat down and watched as cars S l o w l y passed by. I remember passing wrecks like this before, those ones on the side of the road on the way to the beach or something, you see it and it makes everyone buckle up, and look around and thank God that their family is safe. Yes, it was that kind of wreck, except this time, it was me. I was watching them all look at me one by one, and wonder if whoever was in that car actually made it out alive.



I was about 5 ft away from the cop car that was currently writing me a ticket when a car coming the other direction at about 45 or 50 mph smacks into the back of the police car.
THAT was the loudest noise I have ever heard in my life. I will never forget it. within seconds two hands reached under my arms and hoisted me up and ran me over to an ambulance to sit in the front seat where I would be "safe." People instantly freaked out after that. I had come to near death 2 times. I know that sounds a bit extreme, but when your car flips 4 times into oncoming traffic and lands perfectly upright, that seems to be number one. Then when you are literally 5 ft from getting ran over by thousands of lbs. coming 50 mph towards you, that seems to be number 2.
the truck driver went to talk to my dad and said they were all waiting outside of the Jeep when I wrecked, He said, I didn't hop out right away, but when I did they couldn't believe it. He told my dad he had been driving for 40 years, and had never seen anyone walk away from an accident like this one.
"but when she jumped out of that car, I had never seen a little girl run so fast." ha..

But the amazing thing was, not a scratch. I mean, the steel rims of my car were RIPPED in HALF, and I didn't have one scratch on my body.
A little less than 3 weeks later a Boy and his dad were driving the same drive, and he did the same thing, and didn't make it. this was really hard for me to understand.
Me walking away from this is not something that just happens. This was not by chance. You can not say that all the stars lined up and I just got lucky.
I forget about this wreck a lot, but when God reminds me, it is an amazing thing. I am not sure why I am still here.. but I am.

So yes, this is part of my story, I am realizing, probably a much larger part than I actually understand.

CANADA

Ohhhh the princess

this was the boat that brought all the campers in! and this is a Summer staff guy zip-lining down to welcome them.

Okay, so I never got to really have a blog for Malibu, and all the wonderful things there, so I will attempt to put up a few pictures, and just let you see from there, I feel like I honestly couldn't describe in words [ as cheesy as that sounds] how amazing it was, from the people I met, to the scenery around me at all times.
ALL incredible. :)







The Camp Lit up at night.








This is where I worked [ The totem Trader,] and this is now, one of my best friends, Jordan who worked there with me !



Scenery, and
"Inspiration Point"








My "Molly-Pocket" ( She was on work crew, and worked with Jordan and I all month, I fell in-love with her, and she reminded me of my love for Young Life, she is so special to me. ) Terri was my retail boss, but quickly became like a mother to me, I know God directly placed her in my life! And jordy :) so wonderful and precious to me.

These were my wonderful Roomates, and now amazing friends :) Jordan, DeAnna, and Abbie. I love them so much!


All of my new, beautiful friends from all over. SO dear to me. :)


Two of the craziest guys I have ever met, Jeff and Jesse. :)











Leah, Jaymi, Allison, Jordy, and ColTon!

After Canada, I got to spend a few days in Seattle with a few people from Summer Staff.



These are just a few of the hundreds of pictures that I have of my trip, but I thought it would be nice to have on here for keeping track of my travels! Hopefully there are a lot more of these in the future!

Comparison is the thief of all Joy.

I feel like I have had a lot going on the past week or so, and a lot has crossed my mind that I would want to blog about. I have been journaling a little here and there, but really I have had SO many thoughts going around in my head, and honestly I can't really decide which topic to blog about. So here it goes. This one might be a little deep, kiiiiinda/maybe/sorta, but hey, I think it maybe could speak to a lot of the girls.. but guys feel free to read.

I was with a friend last night, a very very dear friend, one of my best friends actually, and we were laying in bed talking, as we always do, and 10 minutes turns into 2 hours.. of course. Let me just say that this was one of the most eye opening conversations I have had in a while, and I have had a lot recently, with MANY people. It was almost like both of us were discovering something miraculous together in that short amount of time. We have laid in that same place hundreds of times, I have grown up spending the night there, in that very bed, on the exact same side .. [ I love that ], but this time was different.

I was telling her that God was starting to give me eyes for the beauty of my friends around me. People that I have grown up with, done life with, hurt with, cried with, laughed, loved, shared, depended on. These are girls that I really and truly love, and i am starting to see new things about them that I have never noticed before. I have noticed their love for others, little things they do that are so unique to them, certain talents they have, funny little quirks that are only theirs. Certain laughs for certain moods, their strengths, their weaknesses, their own personal style, or handwriting. The books they read, things or little 'nothings' that they love. :) I could go on and on. Seriously, I have the most unique and absolutely beautiful friends, and there is NO ONE LIKE THEM, in the whole world.
Isn't that crazy? There is not one other person that is the same as 'her.' No one else on earth can see the world like 'she' can, no one else can love me the way that 'she' does, no one else but her can pray, worship,love,comfort like 'she' can. Isn't that neat? God put each and everyone of us on this earth JUST as we are. These Women of God that I am referring to are a few among MANY.
As we were laying in bed we discovered that girls struggle tremendously with comparing themselves to others, and constantly trying to measure up. God has revealed this to us at an early age, and I think there is a reason. I don't want to be one among the many that put myself through that, I don't want to live under the pressure of measuring up, or thinking that I am not enough, or comparing myself to EVERY girl in the circle.
Enough is Enough.
I have come to realize, that it is just a cycle, we sit and think that we are the only ones, and we look and say, wow She has it all, or how could she EVER be insecure? The truth is, we ALL have insecurities, I am realizing that my friends who I think are absolutely, BEAUTIFUL in EVERY way, have the EXACT same insecurities as me, and have also battled with the same problems that I have. I never would have thought. Sometimes I think we tend to isolate ourselves and think we are the only one's feeling this way, but that is far from the truth. I have also realized that when I am not allowing God to love me, and I can't see how HE views me, then I am not able to love others the way I would like to. [ That is the worst ]. So yes, Girls, you are a daughter of the KING, he made you and instantly fell in-love with your beauty and your heart. He looks at you and sees this beautiful little girl, dancing, free of worry, fear, doubt, and insecurities. His greatest desire is to take every fear of not measuring up, and completely carry it for you.
If you could understand the love he felt for you, you would never again fear other's thoughts about you.
Wouldn't it be so wonderful If we [girls] could allow God into that area of our life, and build for the next generation of women, that they have no idea what it means to compare themselves? I know that seems NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, but that is my Jesus, I believe with all that I am that he can do something that radical. I know I say this now, and it may seem as I am typing this, that I do not struggle, but I am FAR from that. I have my own places to allow God into that are far from being completely healed, but I do know, that there is no one else who sees the world like I do, or has the mind that God has given me, so I don't want to spend my time on this side of heaven wishing I could have what someone else has.
Women, and Men... YOU are fearfully and WONDERFULLY made, in his image, and we were intended to have life to the fullest. I know that he means this. :)
I did not want this to be some Self help blog, that empowers all women to stand up and "love themselves" it is more to say, STOP living in the pity that " you are not her, and you don't have what she has," and live in the place of knowing God created you for a GREATER purpose, and try to allow yourself to feel his love for you.
Remember, your eyes are the ONLY set of eyes that see the world the way you do.. so take advantage of it.

"Comparison is the thief of all Joy."

phew, I will get off of the box now. haha that was intense.