Temporary Home

If you are like me, you struggle often with things of this world. Things like fitting in, feeling loved, and juggling life's demands...just to name a few. It's so easy to get caught up in our feelings towards circumstances in this life and again, if you're like me, it can be disheartening. I frequently feel as if there should be more to life. Like I'm missing something, ya know!? Then it occurred to me, until the time of His return I will always feel like that because THERE IS MORE!! Thank God!

This morning, we sang a song in church that I have not heard in a very long time. The words touched me so deeply and allowed me to experience God in a way that I haven't since my Emmaus walk. I cherish the moments when I feel God's presence as I did this morning. It reminds me that I'm not alone...He is always with me (even if I don't "feel" Him) It may sound basic to say that God is always with us, but it's in child-like truths like these that I find comfort and restoration.

Here are a few lines from the song "You Hold Me Now" by Hillsong United

In this life I will stand through my joy and my pain

Knowing there’s a greater day, there’s a hope that never fails

Where Your name is lifted high and forever praises rise

For the glory of Your name I’m believing for the day

Where the wars and violence cease all creation lives in peace

Let the songs of heaven rise to You alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering

You hold me now, You hold me now

No darkness, no sick or lame, no hiding

You hold me now, You hold me now

Until we meet again...

My parents left for a mission trip to Costa Rica this morning. It is my moms first mission trip and she is beyond excited! I am so glad they get to experience this together and I know they are going to have a fabulous time serving the people of Costa Rica and sharing Christ with them. I, on the other hand, already miss them terribly. Did I mention they just left this morning?? Seriously though, I talk to my mom at least two-three times a day on the phone. Sad, I know, but my mom is my best friend. Sometimes we call each other for a reason and sometimes we just talk out of boredom, but we always have good conversation. For the next week or so my blog is going to be updated with “things I would call my mom about” as a way for her to see how much I love her. It might also be a wake-up call to myself that it’s time to grow up and stop depending on her so much! Haha. Anyway, here it goes…

1. To correct her of a statement she made in our last conversation about what I meant in my previous blog.

2. I got to leave work early on Friday! Yay!

No fear?...No Fear!

It is no secret that humans are fickle, females in particular (yes, I can admit it). We can go from being happy and excited to moody and depressed and not even really know the cause. Heck, there might not even be a cause! Well, I have procrastinated in updating my blog because I wanted to be in a better mood, but I have come to the conclusion that I need to update this regardless of my inconsistent emotions. Everyone goes through ups and downs so why should I not document this particular state in which I find myself.

I’m dealing with the age-old question of “What is my purpose?” A year ago I felt like God was calling me to be a teacher and I have no doubt that is still true today. I know I am where God wants me right now and I’m trying to be content in that, but I find myself always looking forward to the next chapter. Normally I have an idea of what the next chapter is going to be or I have a dream of what I want to do, but that is not the case. Right now the possibilities are endless and while to some that might be a good and exciting thing, for me it is overwhelming and scary. Over the last several months, my desire to live a “normal” life of a wife and a mother, living in suburban America has become my greatest fear. I fear living a life of comfort and normalcy and not making a difference for what really matters. I know everyone is intended to play a different role in being the hands and feet of Christ, but I cannot justify living a life of luxury and excess when so many live in shambles. This may not make much sense. I’m trying to verbalize how I’m feeling, but it’s difficult when even I’m not quite sure. I guess to put it simply…I’m fearful of what my future may hold and I think it’s because for the first time ever I am willing to be used in whatever capacity God wants to use me. It’s a great place to be…I’m not complaining. Really. It’s just unfamiliar territory and I need some guidance in how to give this over to God and put all my trust in Him.

A dear friend gave me a passage to read by Oswald Chambers and from it I took the following:

“If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and he will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live.”

It’s that easy! My focus needs to be on one thing only: developing my relationship with Jesus Christ. Through this, He will make all things clear in His perfect timing.

Domestic Diva (or the pursuit thereof)

In order to save money and broaden my horizons I have tried to become more crafty and domestic. Little did I know I would spend more money trying to make something than if I just bought it! But, what's the fun in that?? Some of my projects have been successful...and some not so much! I have learned a lot though!

Here are a few things I have learned:

• Unbleached flour doesn't work as a substitute for bleached flour (if you don't modify the recipe). See attached picture to see my failed attempt at pizza dough. I finally got it right, though! It ONLY took me three tries.

• Parchment paper is amazing! It helps cookies bake evenly and not burn on the bottom! Well worth the $3.00 that I debated spending, since I didn't realize it's added utility.

• How thankful I am for my KitchenAid mixer. Thanks Mom and Mike!

• It's really hard to cut a straight line! Did I not learn this in 1st grade??

Monster Cookies

Failed attempt at pizza dough

Art project designed to

add some color in my bathroom

I'm a Blogger

I'm excited about becoming a blogger! My intentions are not to have a ton of people who follow my blog, and it probably will not contain deeply insightful thoughts or beliefs. Hopefully it won't be completely boring either. This blog is intended for me to document my year. It's going to be a busy year, but I think it is going to be a life-changing one as well.

I just celebrated my 25th birthday and it made me realize how fast time goes by! I am not at all where I thought I would be at 25, but I am exponentially happier than I could have ever imagined. I have a great group of friends, family, church and, most importantly, a great God! I trust that I am exactly where God wants me to be right now and what more can I ask for?!? Over the next year I will finish classes and a student teaching to earn my master's degree in elementary education from UAB. God has called me to education and I am so excited about how and where He is going to use me once I graduate.

Recently I decided I was going to start living life...really living! I was tired of just trying to get things done in order to get through the day. That's not much fun. Which is why I titled by blog "A Life With Purpose". Also, below the title you will notice one of my favorite sayings that reads, "How we live our days is how we live our lives." How true is that!?! Those simple words make me look at life differently. I want to start living each day with purpose and direction; to make a difference for His kingdom. Isn't that what really matters?

I hope you enjoy reading this blog. I will try to update it regularly, but I can't make any promises. You see, since I decided to start "living," I got this condition called FOMO. It's an acronym my friends introduced me to that means "Fear of missing out." So, I'll try to be diligent in my blogging, but I can't miss out on all the fun! ;)