…..

{Holding on to this truth.}

Good morning, sweet girls! Even though I haven’t been around much in the blogging world lately, I want to share a little of my heart with you this morning. I want to be honest and vulnerable by sharing how I’ve been struggling lately. The last few days it’s been a battle to choose joy. Instead of speaking life, I’ve been speaking death. I’ve let discouragement creep in and turn my gaze away from Christ. Do you remember when I wrote about singleness & struggles at the beginning of the year? Well, in a way I’ve let that struggle return.

Yesterday evening I went out to run with the intention of pounding this discouragement into the ground. With my earphones in and the music turned up I took off running…30 minutes later I found a spot on the side of the river to cool down. I pulled my earphones out and just started to pray. There weren’t many people around and I sat there telling God my heart (although He already knew). There was no hiding that I was sad; that I had given into doubt and anxiousness. I wish I could say that I came home with a totally renewed heart, but I was still holding on to the discouragement. I pulled out my journal when I got home and flipped back to an entry written earlier this year that stopped me immediately. I wanted to share that with you:

Monday, February 4, 2013

Talking about Abraham: “His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.” –Galatian 4:23

“And You fulfill Your promises. When Abraham took issues into his own hands it all became skewed because of manipulation. Ishmael was born in an ordinary way and then division followed. BUT when Sarah and Abraham finally conceived it was the result of a promise. It was Your plan all along. You see the entire narrative and we only see how we are struggling and feeling inadequate in this moment. We only see the circumstances in the “right now,” but You see and know it all. When we see the impossibility of a promise “forgotten,” You see the fulfillment and value in the waiting season. Help me to cling to the promise instead of settling for the ordinary.”

I don’t have many more words to say other than I’m on a constant journey of learning to surrender. I only see what’s in front of me, but He sees the entire story. When doors are shut now it’s because He knows that there’s a far better door ahead that WILL be opened at just the right time. That’s something I’m daily learning.

{Summer Favorites}

As I type this I’m sitting on the front porch with country music turned up. I’ve officially been on summer break for two months already…what?! The days are flying by but I’m soaking up every single one of them. When I’m not in school in Tennessee, I come home to western North Carolina. We actually live right in the corner where North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia meet. I’ve grown to love this area more and more and I wanted to share a few of my favorite summer memories so far…

Hiking with this energetic puppy (she loves it).

Spending afternoons at the lake.

Running in my neighborhood with Eric Church cranked up.

Intentional friendships (especially thankful for this girl).

Back roads.

Coffee and pajamas = lazy summer mornings.

Attempting to take pictures before church…

Finally a decent one…haha.

Some favorites not pictured:

Eating coconut popsicles every single day

Sleeping in

Kayaking

Encouraging conversations

Riding in the mountains

This summer has been so so good and it’s only halfway over. I’ve fallen more in love with the area that I live in and I’ve been spending as much time outside as possible. Even though I grew up in Florida, I don’t think I can ever see myself moving back. The mountains are my favorite and I’m thankful for this summer here. Next week, one of my best friends is coming up to visit and spend my birthday with me. I can’t wait to show her around this area that has captured my heart. Here’s to even more summer favorites and memories!

Life Lately

Well, it looks like another week has passed since I last blogged….woops! I thought I would be much more on top of blogging during the summer but I was wrong there. So I’ll just share a few photos that capture last week’s activities…

My mom convinced me to go to water aerobics with her because that’s what a good daughter would do…it was definitely an experience. :)

Afternoon in Bryson City, North Carolina.

Father’s day….church, potluck lunch, jammin’ to oldies in the car, and kayaking.

Spending a little time at the Toccoa River.

Not pictured:

Started to watch Lost from the beginning (I’m hooked!)

Learning how to drive stick shift….overwhelming but so fun!

Skype/Facetime dates :)

Making plans for two of my friends to come visit…yay!

Life Lately

Hello, friends! Let me start by saying that I’m back from my longgg blog break. I didn’t plan on being away for over a month, but I’ve been living fully in all of these summer days. I figured the best way to jump back into blogging was with a mix of pictures taken over the past month. If you follow me on Instagram a few of these will be familiar to you… :)

Lots of afternoons spent at the river make both of us happy!

I’ve been joining in with #shereadstruth to dig into Hosea, Nehemiah, and 1 Peter so far this summer. So I’ve spent lots of mornings on the front porch for my quiet times…it’s my favorite place.

I’ve taken my sweet puppy to go hiking and exploring at the Ocoee River a few times.

I’ve been trying to get back into running (more like jogging though!).

A spontaneous day trip to see one of my closest friends. Happy, happy heart!

I’ll be back soon, sweet friends!

Hello Summer!

As I type this I’m sitting on my front porch with my puppy right by my side which means it’s officially summer break. Wahoo! Yesterday I finished my last final…finished packing up and cleaning my apartment…finished my last afternoon with my preschoolers for the semester. So I celebrated the first day of May by waking up in my own bed and heading out to the porch to soak it all in. Aaahhh…my heart is just so happy today.

Last day with my rambunctious three year olds! 

Now I’m back home where I get to start my mornings on the front porch with coffee and Jesus. I can hear the sound of the creek across the street flowing gently and see the green leaves rustle in the breeze. Do mornings get any better than that?

Here’s to a sweet summer, friends!