rambling...

• My brother went to college this past weekend. The house is much more quiet and "our" pew at church rather empty without him. We miss you, Cabey Jones.
• I went to a friend's bridal shower yesterday and was encouraged by like-minded women. Thank You, Jesus.
• I am constantly coming up with new workout plans, but am being rather slothful. yes. me. I know. I ran a marathon. That was four months ago, people. Habits can be lost or made in thirty days, remember?
• The Lord is blessing me with peace to FACE the pain in my life rather than continually avoiding it.
• I need to stop eating late at night.
• THE LORD IS ENOUGH. Some moments I feel this in the most secure and beautiful way, and other times I feel so shaky and alone.
• I plan to rearrange my room. start fresh. Hey, fall is totally the new spring.
• It's all about glorifying God. all. of. it. --love, laughter and the little things--
• I'm considering making this blog more theme related, but my life doesn't really have a theme, does yours? If it did have a theme, I'd like it to be that I loved the Lord above all. But alas, I am so sidetracked by ME.
• Okay, I'm done for today. The sun is shining and calling my name.

No one

Today, remember that no one loves you like the Lord Jesus. What a comfort and overwhelmingly undeserved gift that is. Revel in it and live by it. Oh, and give it.

He will hold you.

Old Habits...

die hard...

 Cereal--it will be hard, but I am sending you to your grave.

...Well, then let new habits LIVE, instead! Ever since I graduated from college, I have slowly given up some of the good and healthy habits I had at school. The result? I am more tired, less athletic, about ten pounds heavier, less educated, and SO ready to get back on track. Although it is discouraging to see that I am not "where" I want to be in some ways, it is is neat to see what the Lord has taught me, the rest He's given me, and the excitement He's blessed me with about getting on with life--full of joy and determination.

So, starting today--my [edited for blog] list of new habits to be formed--

1. Run first thing in the morning. Remember the Nike symbol, and JUST DO IT. An extra thirty minutes to an hour of sleep is NOT vital.
2. Train for half marathon--I do well with deadlines and goals
3. STOP eating breads, sugars, and watch the dairy--I've done this before and was healthier--and my acne chilled out.
4. Relax about food one meal a week (on the weekend)
5. Always be reading a book--actually finish them--I currently have three going
6. Memorize scripture (MOST IMPORTANT)

These are in no particular order, but I wanted to put them out there so that I would be more apt to stick to them. I'll let you know how this new plan unfolds. There have been immense changes take place in my life the last few weeks.
The Lord is helping me to look towards the future with joy--through the pain. I am scared to push again, and be the strict and dedicated athlete, but I am excited.

P.S. "They" say it takes thirty days to form a habit. By September 18th I should have some new "old" habits established. I will let you know tomorrow how I've done on day one. : )


EDITED: I did it! One day down--twenty-nine to go.

One Day at a Time

Isn't it such a blessing that the Lord only gives us one day to live at a time? Sometimes I scare myself thinking about carrying a certain pain or burden for months or even years. But I just need to trust God and praise Him TODAY.

So today, I will look at those birds in the air and those wildflowers along the road. They do not worry about tomorrow--so why should I?

At the end of high emotions and long analyses, I must come to the steadfast conclusion that HE IS GOD and He does indeed love me in a huge way--even if I question it.

Oh, Lord, I will praise You!

You give and take away, and my heart will choose to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Today--I will praise you.

SOS

Sometimes as we grow older, we get this notion that we are supposed to have it all figured out. When I graduated from college, I felt pressure to have a ten year plan and all my little duckies in a row.

Here I am, a waitress. I don't even know if I have "little ducks" to have in a row. Whatever I do have seems more like chickens with their heads chopped off--flopping around in a crazed and aimless way.

But last night I prayed for help. Okay, sure, I've been praying for a long time, but I prayed, "Lord, I need help--tonight." It was a prayer of faith coupled with desperation.

The Lord answered my prayer with a conversation between my daddy and me that lasted late into the night.

In a culture that tells us to be self reliant and self indulgent and self focused and self--ISH...I was reminded to just ask. Sometimes the Lord wants us to wrestle and wait, but He will always be there.

My junior year of college I was an R.A., and we had countless "teaching games," which OF COURSE were my favorite. ; ) But anyway, one really stuck with me--they blindfolded us for nearly two hours and led us all over this camp and into a roped area where we had to figure out how to escape. Just imagine 40 college students blindfolded for two hours--nightmare of nightmares.

Yes, it was as terrible as it looks...and worse.

Taryn and AA at the beginning of the torture game

The answer of escape--and taking that blasted bandanna off of my head? (drumroll, please)

Ask the Resident Director for help.
That was all. Two hours of wandering aimlessly, bumping into people, being stepped on...

"Help. I need somebody." That was all.

Just keep knocking. The Lord is faithful.