{Of The Year}

Sort of how I’m feeling right now…lots of expectancy for  2013.

As the new year starts, I can’t help but smile. I truly love new beginnings and that’s exactly what a new year offers. I recently spent some time reading through my old journals and oh goodness at the treasures scribbled there. A recurring theme in my journals is my growing intimacy with God and that brings me such joy. So as 2013 begins I wanted to have a verse of the year, a word of the year, and a song of the year.

Verse of the year:

My lover spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one and come with me.” Song of Songs 2:10

I love, love, love the imagery that this verse provides. It reminds me once again that I am the Bride pursued. God pursues and it’s my responsibility to step out and follow Him.

Word of the year:

INTIMACY

As I mentioned above, over the past two years I’ve been awakened to the glorious truth that God desires intimacy with me. I can truly say that this has radically changed my relationship with Him. Intimacy takes intentionality and I want the desire of my heart to be to cultivate intimacy with Christ. I snagged the piece below from an article in Set Apart Girl months ago, and it reflects my heart for intimacy beautifully…

“That is what the gospel is all about – how to get the wrong man out, and the Right Man in – and to exchange the Lie for the Truth! On your own you cannot do it! But I have good news for you! You can’t! But He can!”

“As I am meditating on this truth recently, I thought about the beautiful harmony that exists when a groom offers his adoring bride, who absolutely delights in the ability of his strong arm to protect, aid, and fight on her behalf. As a woman, she depends on her man – and loves every minute of it! She does not walk around resenting help or bitterly trying to prove she doesn’t need him. Rather, her joyful dependence on him creates a sweet intimacy in which she is willing to make herself vulnerable to him, for she knows he will only wield his strength for her good, and will never refuse to give it.”

“Likewise, as the Bride of Christ, it is our great joy and privilege to enter into an unceasing intimacy with our soul’s Husband, as He becomes the moment-by-moment source of our righteousness, purity, and holiness.”

Song of the year:

“Called Me Higher” by All Sons and Daughters

I know that I have been called to deep and abiding intimacy with Him. As I step out to follow His calling to come higher and go deeper, it will effect every part of my life. I want people to know that there is something different about me. That when we interact they would think “there’s just something about that girl.” And that will be because of my relationship with Christ.

I urge you to listen to these lyrics. So powerful.

Christmas Coziness

Girls, I’ve completely embraced the coziness of Christmas break and it has been entirely lovely. As much as I love being at school, I’m loving this month of rest and relaxation…

Waking up slowly. Sipping on cup(s) of coffee. Studying the Word in my pajamas. Wearing comfy clothes all day long. Writing and receiving handwritten letters. Watching television classics. Lots and lots of reading…I’m currently on my sixth book within the last three weeks.

I Love Lucy makes me laugh every single time and I just adore watching The Dick Van Dyke Show with the young Mary Tyler Moore. Ah! These are the best.

 

Pure coziness being in a t-shirt wrapped in a throw blanket.

 

I spent a majority of the afternoon reading yesterday. If you haven’t checked out this book yet, you should! It’s a little lengthy (624 pages), but I couldn’t recommend it more.

 

One last thing, my friend Jasmine just started a blog! She will be completing an internship at an art museum in LONDON next semester. How exciting is that?! Go check her out here and tell her I sent you over...

 

Wishing all of you a cozy weekend as well!

Friendships and Intentionality

Right this very moment I’m curled up underneath a throw blanket listening to this and spending the afternoon catching up on blogs (and writing this post). I’m incredibly thankful for the sisterhood that exists in the blogging community. I never expected the friendships that have blossomed and flourished with you. I treasure getting to connect with girls from all over the world as we walk through similar seasons. I truly adore getting to share in your journey and invite you to share in mine as well.

With all that being said, I’ve been thinking about friendships. And my goodness I’ve been blessed with some incredible young women in my life. I cherish these women that are in my life and the deeper our relationships grow I’m reminded that true friendship takes intentionality. So thank you for taking the time to read my blog…thank you for each and every encouraging comment…thank you for your sweet emails. It truly means more to me than you realize.

Also, I’ve been tremendously blessed by a few of my “real life” friends recently. Their intentionality in our friendship has made such a positive impact. I wanted to share these beautiful girls with you and the sweetness that they bring to my life.
One of my best friends, Vanessa, has challenged and inspired me more than she could ever know. Since I moved to Tennessee to attend Lee University, our friendship has only grown stronger. Since we live in different states, intentionality is a must. We talk about anything and everything and I know this girl will always be a part of my life.

One of our Skype dates earlier this month.

 

Next is my precious friend, Ketura. I actually wrote about the impact Ketura has had on my life a week or so ago. Ketura lived across the hall from me last year and we connected almost instantly. This girl’s heart for Christ spurs me on like no one else! And her intentionality and encouragement has blessed me in abundance…it’s amazing how much a simple text can encourage you.

 

 

My friendship with my friend, Jasmine, has grown exponentially over the past two years. Even though I moved away to attend school and she attends Florida State University our friendship has strengthened with the distance. We text all the time, write letters, and have Skype dates. I’m so thankful for Jasmine and she even surprised me with a package in the mail recently. She sent the sweetest card and coffee from my absolute favorite coffee shop in Thomasville, GA. Before I moved to Tennessee, we used to go on day adventures often and nearly always ended up in Thomasville to visit this coffee shop.

Also, sometimes we even send little video messages to say hello. You may think it’s weird, but they’re so fun and always make me smile. She sent me this one last week…

 

And then I sent her one back…

 

 

So be sure to be intentional in your relationships! It makes all the difference.

Roadtrippin’ {Biltmore}

Merry Christmas Eve, sweet girls! Last week my mom and I went to Waynesville and Asheville, North Carolina on a girls trip. My dad was out of town so we figured we should take a short trip to get away too! Since my grandparents live in Waynesville we went there first before going to Biltmore in Asheville the following day.

Back roads on the way there.

When we got to my grandparents we decided to spend the evening in downtown Waynesville. The downtown district was decorated for Christmas with lights and garland on every streetlight and there were Christmas trees in every store. I just love the quaintness of small towns.

My mom chatting it up with the owner of one of the stores…how cute is she?

My grandma was taking an extra long time in one store so we took pictures…

We woke up slowly the next morning…cozy mornings in the mountains are the best.

I so wish I had taken pictures as we were driving into Biltmore…after you enter the gates you drive 2-3 miles before getting to the estate. The land was just gorgeous.

My dad called right before we got out of the car and had lots to talk about so I took pictures (of course) to pass time…

Finally we were off to tour the house! And oh my goodness was it GRAND. I hadn’t been to Biltmore since I was in second grade and there were many many details I had forgotten. The house was decked to the halls (is that even an expression?) with Christmas decorations. I felt like I was in an episode of Downton Abbey as we explored. As we walked, I kept trying to imagine what it must have been like to live there in the early 1900s.

Unfortunately, they don’t allow you to take pictures inside the house so the few pictures I do have are from outside.

The pictures don’t do these mountains justice. You see them through almost every window in the house. Gloriousness.

I so so wish I could have taken pictures in the house, but you’ll just have to trust me that it was majestic. I love days like these and I’m so thankful I get to go on adventures with my mom. We headed back to Waynesville that evening and crashed after walking all day. Despite the graininess, now you know what I look like sans make up and such. :)

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We drove back home the next day in the pouring rain and then my dad came home after the rain stopped but cold temperatures ushered in…we made him a welcome home sign.

Wishing you all the merriest of Christmases!

Books Galore! {2012 Reading List}

Good morning, sweet ladies! At the beginning of the year I set a goal of reading at least 20 books this year and I surpassed that goal (yay!). I definitely read a wide variety of genres…children’s literature, Christian fiction and nonfiction, young adult, memoirs, literary classics,etc. I wanted to share with you what I pulled off my bookshelf throughout the year. Maybe there will even be a book or two you will want to add to your own bookshelf…

1. Crossing Jordan by Adrian Fogelin

2. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

3. Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot

4. Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

5. Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

6-8. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

9. The Cafe Book by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser

10. The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz

11. Inklings (The Oxford Chronicles) by Melanie Jeschke

12. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

13. The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

14. The Jewel of His Heart by Maggie Brendan

15. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

16. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

17.Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

18. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

19. Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit: A Son Remembers by Sean Hepburn Ferrer

20. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

21. Bloom by Kelle Hampton

22. Fame by Karen Kingsbury

23. Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes

24. Love Worth the Wait by Sandy Weyeneth

25. Front of the Class by Brad Cohen

27. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

28. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

29. Rekindled by Tamara Alexander

30-32. Cool Beans, Latte Daze, and Double Shot by Erynn Mangum

33. The Journals of Jim Elliot by Jim and Elisabeth Elliot

34. Beautifully Gifted by Angela M. Bisignano

35. Chasing the Dragon by Jackie Pullinger

My favorites: Kisses From Katie (a must read!), The Hunger Games series, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Rekindled

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I’d love to know your favorite reads from this year! Any that I need to put on my reading list for 2013? Bring on the suggestions!