Peace on earth... and in my heart

Peace.
I recently read in My Utmost for His Highest that peace is God's mark of approval from when we obey Him.
I recently made a few decisions (insert "duh. you're 22 w a mediocre income, depending on your parents, deciding ab grad school vs real world, still living in a college town with a heart as big and as tossed yet as anchored as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon).
I accepted a new job still in Auburn, turned another opportunity down and am patiently waiting to see a few more decisions unfold themselves.
While transitioning into my new position working with development in AU's College of Architecture, Design, and Construction, but still working full-time in my old job with Special Events, I realized there was deep unrest in my heart. I felt hasty despite knowing good and well the Lord will never leave nor forsake me.
I thought I was lacking peace because I didn't pray for months about some of these decisions like I had in the past. ex 1) I have prayed since freshman year for a fulfilling job, and I prayed even more fervently before graduation about which job to take because I was blessed to have two promosing options. ex 2) I pray for my husband, but I admit, I may/may not have asked the Lord to hold off on that one until I had ex 1 at least semi-controlled. Commit-a-phob strikes again. Moving on...
Today, this phase in life, everything is different now. I didn't have months this time.
I had urgency.
Funny because Jesus didn't have months either while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, but I'm pretty sure the blood sweat came from a deep sense of urgency for His Father's will too. Not that I'm sweating blood bullets here, but I find courage and so should you knowing it's not always the amount of prayer but the need of the prayer. Yes, there have been months and years of counceling/prayer in the Word, so when the time came, I would know His will. I'm not saying Jesus nor I hadn't prayed about a day that would come when we'd need the Lord urgently-just saying, sometimes, He calls for our immediate action, and we should be prepared to pray accordingly.
Never doubt the Lord's response (though it might not be what you want) to the sincerest prayer that come from the most humblest of circumstances asking for the wisdom to do His work.
But be ready because He'll ask you to "go" or "no" or "stop" or "now" at any unannounced moment... And He expects you to do just what you prayed for-His will, not yours, to be done.
So here we are at Christmas, and I can't help but sing,
"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."

Hit it Gladys...



live in love,
grace

A little sugar goes a long way

Find the theme:

"Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch. You know that I love you. Can't help myself..." or

"Sugar, Sugar. You are my candy girl, and you got me wanting you..."

And my personal favorite Stevie Wonder's "Sugar" "Sugar, sugar, I want to be your main boy... All I got is good, good lovin."

Geez. Just typing those words makes me want to find an unsuspecting victim (or Fred Astair) and dance floor.... Anywho.

Baking for Good is an online bake sale with peppermint brownies, chocolate crackels, gingersnaps and many more (including vegan options), but that's not all... 15 percent of your purchase supports a cause YOU pick!

You can support nonprofit causes such as American Cancer Society, Action Against Hunger and Art for Change, or you can support community causes such as art.party.theater.company and the Red Swing Project. These are only a few of the manyyyy causes Baking for Good supports. Shoot, you can even e-mail them about adding a cause!

So, not only are you sending a beautifully wrapped, delicious treat to bake, you are supporting national and international causes.

That'll convict me next time I'm tempted to pick up that convenient pre-packaged, shake-and-bake cookie package...

It's a smart choice too. Manhattan-inhabitant and founder, Emily Dubner, grew up raising money for school projects with bake sales, and continued baking for fun while studying at Harvard. (Try to make a woman-in-the-kitchen-joke after that line) After working as a management consultant at a fancy NYC firm, she was inspired by a gift package delivered to her mom and started Baking for Good creating unique, gourmet treats, which support causes all over the world.

Call Barbara Walters. She beats Gaga, Kim K and Betty White for most fascinating woman in my humble, but pretty dang accurate opinion.

I love you more than blank... a live in love campaign

I love (love, love) campaigns. I'm not talking political today. I'm talking about personal and innovative campaigns. I love campaigns that cost nothing or cost a fortune, but either way, improve quality of life.

I love large-scale campaigns such as Pepsi's Refresh Project, which is giving away millions of doll-hairs to individuals supporting community projects just because... It's Pepsi. It can. Awesome.

But as generous as Pepsi is, I think I found another campaign where we can all win. It's called i love you more than blank dot com.

The campaign started in a paperwhite studio in NYC's lower east side from the belief that someone can't evaluate the value of something unless it can be measured to something else...

They even divided your love into categories: the benjamins, coffee vs. fizz, wired, eatables, wax poetic, if you only knew, homies, i heart and motley crew...

Go to i love you more than blank to find your category and submit a reason why you love

If you know me, you might know which one I submitted...

In their words, it's "a small project w a big heart"

live in love, me

Where the Battle is Won or Lost

’If you will return, O Israel,’ says the Lord . . . —Jeremiah 4:1

Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world.
The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.I should never say, “I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test.” Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth. " Psalm 46:10

This was today's Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest

live in love, me

Everything I need to know, I learned from everyone else...

I have lots of people to thank for any amount wisdom and growth I've acquired in my short life. I can honestly say, I have had little to do with my own maturity, but everyone to thank for making me grow up with integrity. Soo... Here are some lessons I've learned from nights spent with sun roof open at the lake with my best friends belting T.Swift at the top of my lungs or words merely shared over the most epic ham sandwich ever with my granny to the most difficult lessons learned from the position of bruised and scrapped knees yearning for more from my Lord.

Needless to say, I have comprised some lessons from various people and sources.

"We live by the choices we make, but we don't get to know if the choice others made came from the heart or head."-Granny

"You alone decide how much baggage you take into relationships whether it's a U-Haul or empty handed."-K8ie Gurl

"I wish I could be with you right now eating Little Debbie cakes"-Kelli

"You don't get to choose who you minister to. If you give it up to Him, He does. Just because you love doesn't mean that attention is who the Lord has intended for your ministry"-Bec

"I'm proud of you... You still need to prove your productivity."-Dad

"I dig it when your fancy dressed up in lace. I dig it when you have a smile on your face."-Van, Warm Love

"I do not think we know our own strength until we have seen how strong love makes us."-random card I bought in Charleston, SC

"Nobody puts baby in the corner."-The Swaze, Dirty Dancing

"Resolved to study the Scripture so steadily, constantly and frequently, so that I may find and painfully perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same"-Resolution 28, Jonathan Edwards

"When you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."-Harry, When Harry Met Sally

"Let love be genuine."-Paul, letter to Romans

"Everything I need to know I learned from Noah's ark: 1. Don't miss the boat 2. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark 3. Stay fit.When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big 4. Remember, that we are all in the same boat 5. Don't listen to critics, just get on with the job that needs to be done 6. Build your future on high ground 7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs (Note: this doesn't necessarily guarantee a good looking or funny boyfriend, sometimes it's a dog or best friend or brother-and I'm A-OK with that) 8. Speed isn't always an advantage-the snails were on board with the cheetahs 9. When you're stressed, float awhile 10. Remember the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals 11. No matter the storm, when you are with God there's always a rainbow waiting"

Courtesy of Father's Hands

And my favorite

"There is NEVER a moment you're not loved."-Mom

So I vow never again to work to be loved. But I will die working for love's enduring sake, and that's the difference between truly living in and being in love and simply gaining the world's approval, of which I am no longer a part of.

live in love, grace

Look who got the last laugh... WDE

You know what they say: Behind every good man, there's a great woman. She is definitely behind him down to the littlest detail...
Apparently, the bride paid for the groom's cake, but you know her family got the last laugh.

WDE

Best friends near or far

Two of my best friend's WEB LOG.
If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace (jk. I think I'm better than most people with MySpace. Besides, I think it's for the music crowd), you know I am obsessed with my two friends, Jordan and K8ie gurl Anderson.
He's a chaco-flannel-Levi-wearing Tiger Head (AU alum), wet cat (AU swimmer), Banjo picking and skit performing enthusiast (YL leader).
She has a Moe's-pizza-and-Birthday-Cake-ice-cream palette with a rockin body. She loves nicknames, lilies, notes and early bedtimes. But I love her most for her unmatched ability to deeply love a wretch like me despite my mood swings and all-too-often tendency to pull away from the ones I need the most.
Freshman year in ADPi, I was blessed to meet Katie . Then I got to live with her on the ADPi hall and in 36 Mafia with 4 other best sista friends. I met Jordan through my "magnet" friend whom was also influential in kindling the K8ie+Jordo=4eva fire.
I liked Jordan because he entertained me in between classes in the Haley Center. He was (who am I kidding-IS) way cooler than I, so I appreciated his companionship.
Now, when I say I liked him-I did. But that didn't mean I liked him coming in and dating my bff.
I need to confess this because for all who knew me at the time Jordan was pursuing Katie so patiently and confidently, I was not-so subtly protective.
I was protective because she had been hurt indifferent to what Jordan was or was not doing. I was also protective because of the caliber of man I knew him to be in the short time I had known him. That sounds backwards, but isn't that the mind of a girl for you?
I have been affirmed EVERY time since the first few days of our friendship he was as genuine and intentional as they come. I knew he was the real deal.
THAT terrified me because those are the kinds of guys who ride off into painted sunsets and steal your best friends.
It didn't take long (well, I was the last bff to accept them, but give me a break) for me to concede my reservations and happily support this couple. The rest is history documented thanks to various Facebook albums, visions of swim meets dancing in our heads and countless stories that will be re-told to their all-star kids and my red-headed heathens of unforgettable porch nights and lake trips.
Now, I have a brother AND my sista friend.
Here's the kicker: He is actually stealing her away-not to never never land via side saddle on some tantalizing stallion, but to England via Delta (maybe even United).
AND I'm not even upset about this fairytale. I'm pumped.
Because it's not a cursive "The End" after a Disney movie or "happily ever after" just yet...
It's the beginning.
I joined my best friends in marriage, and you better believe I'm using my dad's Sky Miles and sick days to go visit.
Now that K8ie gurl blogs, I can shout out to her with hope she'll see it:

Here's a toast to... you know the rest, but most of all here's a toast to my best friends!

Like mother like daughter. Or not?

My mother is my mother.
She's not my best friend.
She doesn't want to be my bff, and to be fair, I don't want her to be my bff.
My mother raised me with morals, integrity, curiosity and a strong will. She raised me the best she could, so that I could find friends with similar values and create friendships that would enhance my life.
On the Today show, there was a debate on whether moms and daughters could be bffs.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I too envied friends that talked to their mothers about boys, clothes, school and even their walk and struggles with faith, but as I've grown up, my appreciation for our distance has made us closer. But how does a mother discipline her daughter if the daughter doesn't respect her? There must be a line...

I got so mad because she never let me put Kelly-Clarkson-blonde chunky highlights in my hair or wear makeup until the eighth grade. I hated when she told me my blue lip gloss, Sketchers and glitter eye shadow wasn't my best look. She really urked me when she wouldn't let me visit my high school sweet heart who went to college a few states away when I was still in high school. She wouldn't let me go to some of the cool parties where people were drinking and needed me to clean their houses and drive people home, but when she conceded, let me go, and we inevitably got in trouble, she grounded me... Like who did she think she was? My mother or something?

To say we had a strained relationship is a flattering understatment, and only a very few people knew just how strained it was from middle school until my fateful freshman year in college. I could never understand why she didn't want to be my friend until now. I am starting a new phase and need her more than ever. Boundaries don't keep us out. They keep us close. They give structure to a relationship that needs the most delicate structure . I need a mother like I need my best friends. Need mom to explain why things happen in life and need friends to help me through it. Need mom to force me to pay bills and need friends to overdraft at Moe's with.

If you know me, you know my fear is having a girl of my own... not that I don't love baby Auburn cheerleader outfits and frenchbraiding, but can you imagine what another Grace would do to this world? I don't wish that upon anyone... but if I do, you better believe I'll surround her with love and attention, so she can confidently grow into a woman seeking after the Lord in relationships around her. And I'll prolly let her wear Steve Madden, black, clunky shoes with Limited Too jorts because she has to learn some things the hard way.

Family 101

Because my lil bro is one of my best friends...

All you need is love...

We are family...

Lean on me. I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on...

Have a little faith in me...

Man, I feel like a woman...

OK that song didn't fit in at all, but when is Shania not wanted...

I only got a few days of vaca, but it was spent with my best friends and family. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Sometimes, we don't want to hear the truth. We take certain liberties and say the most flattering version of the situation, and we want hear we did exactly the right thing no matter what.

When I don't want to fool myself, and I need a come-to-Jesus opinion, I ask my most trusted, honest friend. That's my lil bro.

Do I look fat?

Did you like him?

What should I do with my life?

He's brutally honest lacking compassion every now and again, but always sincere. We are both quality timers. I blame myself for encouraging that... Anywho, since he grew up with me, the most emotionally needy person ever, he's sensitive to my sometimes/usually/all-too-often ridiculous ways.

He's the best brother ever. ever. ever.

That's fam 101 from me.

Coming soon is the adventure in Roanoke, Virginia where I celebrated Katie and Jordan's engagement and spent quality time with one of my favorite families in the whole-wide world.

Everything GUYS need to know...

Outtakes make me want to do this show... Courtesy of Hulu

...can be learned by watching a season of The Bachelorette with us ladies.

If you know me, you know that since high school, I center my life around (God...), but admittedly, The Bachelorette/Bachelor.

My heart broke for Trista, who was my pick, in Season 1, but I fell in love with Ryan during her season... I sat through that magical yet gosh-awful-Pepto-Bismol-pink wedding where unity candles burned ugly scars in my memory, and nobody but me remembers it was hosted by the guy Trista didn't pick, Charlie! How awkward would Mel have felt conducting the wedding of Molly and Jason? Talk about stormy.literally. If I were her and they made me host that rainy production, I would have worn a belly shirt because the chica's got abs...

Anywho.

A good great friend, Joe, told my other great best friend, Bec, if any guy wanted to know the best way to her heart, he should just watch The Bachelorette with her.

It's true.

We watch one hour late, so we can fast forward through commercials. We're strict about minimal talking during the show and rewind if we miss anything or need to see an awkward boob graze again. With all that, we ladies still tend to commentate every hit or miss of CCC or Roberto or Heather Whitestone, I mean, Kasey.

So if you're looking to know about the ladies and have no plans on Monday nights, watch the show with us. Planning on coming or not, here are some things you can learn about ladies from watching The Bachelortte/Bachelor:

1. Girls love it when you say something right before you kiss them.

Ex) You know it girls: Cape Cod Chris is King of this move. "Cuss, you're cute." "You know I love you." He has mastered timing...

2. If you ever wonder if we wanted to dance in the middle of the street, the answer is always YES. If you can dance like Roberto or not, we don't care to be completely honest...

3. My fam is anywhere near picture perfect, but we're dang funny and ceaselessly loving. Those things overcome how odd we can be. BUT If your dad has a taxidermy business in your basement-Kirk, or your mother is a Looney Tune-Naomi, you should prolly opt to meet in a safe spot like Waffle House where the characters around you will make your fam seem tame. Or go on a fam date to a movie at an Imax because you won't have to talk, and you know it'll rock.

4. If you think you still have feelings for a past gf, you should A. get over it B. not go on national TV on a reality show about finding love. That's selfish and immature... skip the coughing under my breath and flat out say-Frank (why i oughta...)

5. If you think your break up was bad, it could always be worse. You could get a tattoo of a pulsing heart with a chick's name you've known for a few weeks and the slogan "guard your heart" all to get left on a glacier while she rides off in a helicopter with a guy who's nick name is Rated-R (who you find out later had 2 girl friends he was probably texting from that helicopter).

You might learn a few more lessons when I make my debut on the show. My mom has submitted me behind my back. I know it...

IHateGreenBeans by Lincee made me cry I was laughing so hard about the season...

Circumstances... You don't want to answer my prayer?

Listening to another podcast from the Austin Stone Community Church, Matt Carter said, "Did you ever think that maybe God won't change your circumstance because He wants to change YOU?"

Why, of course I have never thought of that because my view of myself is so ridiculously good looking.

Circumstance 1:

The scripture is John 9.

Short version: Jesus makes clay and makes the blind man see. Pharisees jump all over this because it was the Sabbath, and they claim this was labor. Default, Jesus is a sinner (for healing a blind man? pretty positive 'no work on Sabbath' was intended to mean don't make your kids mow the grass or fold laundry on Sunday-not quite... but it's def OK for Jesus to heal a blind guy any day He wants to). Pharisees ask him not once but three times why can he see now and is Jesus a known sinner. After questioning his parents for crying out loud, he said,

"Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." John 9:25

He's been surprisingly collective up til now. I start to sense a little sarcasm here though...

They say, 'We're disciples of Moses, but have it your way, if you want to be his disciple.' In their most LiLo-Mean-Girls voice they add, 'You know, God spoke to Moses. I don't know where this Jesus character came from.'

Now, the keep-calm-and-carry-on attitude just flew out the window, and the once-blind-but-now-he-sees man says,

"Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.
If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." John 9:30-33

Circumstance 2:

Now, don't go thinking, how in the world don't these pharisees get it? Jesus's own disciples who would have been tagged in most of his Fbook pics and been a fan of the Jesus page had Al Gore and Steve Jobs been around said something similar after Jesus's resurrection. They look at the man who they know to be Savior and Messiah before He ascends to HEAVEN and ask him, "Are you going to restore the kingdom of God to Israel now?"

What a bunch of nincompoops. He 's not going to Happy Hour at Sonic. He's going to Heaven because He just restored the kingdom!

He restored it in ME. in You. in ALL who will believe for Pete's sake-o that was punny.

Jesus responds in Acts 1:7,

"And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power."

Our circumstance (me interpreting Matt Carter):

God, my life is hard right now. What do I do?

David is a great place to start. Ask to be bailed out just like he did... Because I'm God's daughter, He wants to love me and dust the dirt off my J.Crew skirt. But if he says, "No..." to my pleading, I must cling to the Word, and you guessed it, wait.

Psalm 86:11 "...unite my heart to fear Your name."

Be changed.

Jesus was single... Hello

I listen to podcasts like old, rich ladies play card games at my country club: seriously, socially, privately and often.

Recently, I listened to a podcast by Matt Carter from the Austin Stone Community Church on singleness.

It made me laugh, think and pray deeply about my condition. And no I don't mean the poor-pathetic-hook-me-up-with-your-sinlge-good-looking-friend-who-comes-from-a-great-family condition. I mean Paul and yes, let it rock your mind, JESUS'S condition.

He said singleness secures an undistracted devotion to the Lord.

I mean, Jesus was total man and total God here on Earth. He could have had his pick of any fine dame, and he CHOSE singleness. I mean, He literally could have said, "Let there be light. Let there be a white picket fence. Let there be a red Golden Retriever named Jake. Let there be a hot girl to make me chicken parmesan with a side of summer squash, and we'll make some wine from water together."-if you know what I mean in more than one sense of the analogy

Paul talks mainly ab sex up until here... Then he just gets all personal and says he wishes everyone was single. (He talks ab fellas first, but I cut that bc let's face it, I'm in this part. Go look it up here).

"I would like you to be free from concern... An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35

If Paul were to have Toomer's Coffee with me today, this verse would look more like this:

"When you are single, you can buy minimal groceries, one pair of shoes, one outfit, travel for cheap (if you'd sell that blast-it, gas guzzling Tahoe) and give all the rest to fund your friends in Campus Crusade and Grace Campus in China or sponsor Tim Tebow's dad's orphanages in South America.

And talk about 'All my single ladies put your hands up.' Have you looked at your prayer life now that you're a prayer Beyonce? It's not about anybody or yourself, but it's devoted to the Lord's will because we all know you have no idea what you're doing with your hott-mess of a life. Besides, you never remember to clean the coffee pot, and any husband would get annoyed with that quick. Then you'd be all worried and turn into Martha on me, and all that leads away from the cross."

Instead, Carter urges us to set our sights and start sprinting to the cross. He says every now and then to look around, if there is someone on the right or left to run with, marry him. But don't slow down or take a detour...

I mean, have I not mentioned I run daily already? Now, I have that calorie counter on the treadmill and Nike ID iPod attachment motivating me, but much more importantly, I have Christ in sight.

This is what we look like when we start considering our condition as leprosy or athlete's foot instead of a beautiful season...
All Single Ladies Gone Wrong... painfully wrong.

Always a bridesmaid... and getting good at it

Celebrating the bride at MCC for bridesmaid luncheon. Eating charm cake by Cake Designs

Goin' to the chapel.

Rocking out bridesmaids. Making up the bride.

Reading her note from Mark. Putting the finishing touches on the bride.

Glowing on the trolley ride to the reception

He had his eye on her since fourth grade. She agreed to "go out" with him in sixth, and they started dating in tenth.

He's studying seminary and working as a student minister in Montgomery, and she's starting her second year in pharmacy school in Auburn.

It's not perfect, but it's dang close...

Now, we all know, I'm no relationship expert, but I am perceptive. I've seen enough wonderful and disastrous relationships to know what works and what doesn't and what surprises everyone.

Here is my breakdown: There are three types of relationships.

1. Lovers- These love birds can't keep their hands off each other. They may be complete opposites or as I'd like to say "compliments," but they're differences or similarities don't matter because their love for each runs deeper.

Ex) Edward and Bella... hate to use pop references, but who doesn't see the picture when I paint it with this example

2. Best friends- They love to spend all their time together. They match, and I don't mean jack and jill outfits. Their personalities match. They usually have been dating the longest of the three. The comfort and security in each other comes from a deep, unwavering trust.

Ex) Britty and Mark

3. Partners- They work apart, but they work better together. A bit of this comes with years of marriage and figuring out the kinks, but this kind of relationship is based on patience and understanding. The two may be compliments or twins, but they rely on the other for support, care, driver service and dinner.

Ex) Taxi mom and working dad

One is not better than the other. It's not like my parents, partners til death, would say they'd change their dynamic and sacrifice their 30-year marriage to be more like best friends.

All relationships experience ups and downs, but depending on which relationship you are will determine how you deal with the unexpected.

Very rarely a couple comes along that is the perfect combination of all three...

The celebration of that couple is coming Sept. 4 in Franklin, Tenn. Get excited. I'm wearing boots IN the wedding.

Meet Katie and Jordan.

If my new job doesn't work out, I have a ballin back-up plan. I'm a for hire MOH/bridesmaid. I am great at bachelorette party planning, make up, hair dos and my uber talented mother comes with me. Package deal. Call, text, comment, e-mail, gchat or fbook me for rates. The longer we've been friends, the better the deal.

This is when my mother and father would laugh at my naivety and tell me to go on a stinking date and stop analyzing every little detail or I'm not going to have any of the three and I'm going to settle for a dog, cat or some one-sided relationship such as a love for As Seen on TV kitchenware...

King of Anything

You’ve got opinions, man
We’re all entitled to ‘em, but I never asked
So let me thank you for your time, and try not to waste anymore of mine
And get out of here fast

I hate to break it to you babe, but I’m not drowning
There’s no one here to save

You sound so innocent, all full of good intent
Swear you know best
But you expect me to jump up on board with you
And ride off into your delusional sunset

Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

Have you taken your humble pill today... Happy Monday

Intriguing...

I write like
Vladimir Nabokov

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I thought all you Bloggers might want to discover who you write like... Don't exactly know this guy personally or academically well, but I might go to Amazon or the AU Public library and check him out.
He must like to write about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness intertwined with boys, growing pains, movie characters, Justin Bieber, Glee, God and pop culture if we're so similar.
Can't imagine anyone named Vladimir writes/wrote about adventures of being a blogsmaid, but who am I to judge?
Who do you write like?
Find out HERE

The one thing that stays the same is change itself...

Recently, there have been some changes in my life.

Again.

A change of mind. Heart. Whatever.

But it's another change nonetheless.

When reading Search for God Knows What by Donald Miller, I read something that subtly changed my mind about the beauty of change. Turns out, it's not as hurtful or horrible as I thought.

He challenges people like me who micromanage life by following this fine formula or steps as a way to organize and conquer their life.

The ugly, harsh, beautiful, humble truth: there is no formula. If there was, Jesus would have given it to us...

"I bring this up only because life is complex, and the idea that you can break it down or fix it in a few steps is rather silly.

The truth is there are a million steps, and we don't even know what the steps are, and worse, at any given moment we may not be willing or even able to take them; and still worse, they are different for you and me and

they are always changing.

I have come to believe the sooner we find this truth beautiful, the sooner we will fall in love with the God who keeps shaking things up, keeps changing the path, keeps rocking the boat to test our faith in Him, teaching us to not rely on easy answers, bullet points, magic mantras, or genies in lamps, but rather in His guidance, His existence, His mercy, and His love." -donald miller

Umm... If this was Twitter I would simply trend: #humbled #smallmindedness

All I want to do is love God, love His creation and follow His commandments. Why do I still miss the Big picture when my intentions are sincere?

I think I found my answer in His answer to my never ceasing prayer. I pray that God will be obvious to me because obviously I love to be blind and deaf.

And in this prayer, I found that God is being obvious not through some sign or apparation (though I'd love to have one of those mirrors in Harry Potter that would show me the true desire of my heart/life path). He is being obvious to me in His grace.

God is letting me change my mind about my future, and His grace is so sufficient that it'll cover me where ever I go.

So bring it life... because I'm not scared of change anymore. My Nike IDs, Tory Burch flats and cowgirl boots are ready for the million steps that don't promise success or happiness, but total dependence on Him.

What's your love language...

So my Bible study did this, and I think it's one of the most beneficial things to know about yourself and others. Yes. Yes. This is intended for married people, but I know you're curious...

Click here to learn your love language...

Obviously, if any of you know me, you know without a shadow of a doubt I'm a quality time kind of girl, which to me is the worst.

In the words of Harry in "When Harry Met Sally," I'm the worst kind of maintenance because I'm high maintenance, but I think I'm low maintenance. And we're not talking about taking hours to get ready and get done up kind of high maintenance because let's face it-I often times don't brush my hair when I get out of the shower and use tinted moisturizer as my sole source of make up. No, no. My high maintenance is much worse, much more demanding. It's emotional high maintenance.

I've been lucky because I have friends, a guy and a fam who understand me and love me just the same. But dang. I exhaust myself sometimes...

So everyone go figure out their own love language.

Then go watch one of my favorite movies of all times, "When Harry Met Sally." It's about best friends staying friends and falling in love at the same time... (insert sigh).

Anyway...

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

original by Dr. Kent Keith

the girls are back and ridiculous as ever... sista-friends unite

I came.
I saw.
I conquered.
Before the first movie, I had never seen an episode of SATC. I thought it was about silly superficial ladies with dirty minds, and I could never justify watching something with the word s-e-x in the title if my family walked in.
But sitting in the Union Station theater in DC where I was working with my best friends who came to visit me, K8ie Gurl and Camil, I found myself weirdly connected to these soul-mate gal pals in spite of myself. It's not about clothes or shoes or even dream jobs at Vogue. It's the best friend part that gets me.
My friends too found each other, and plan on staying sista-friends through whatever the future holds whether it's weddings, adventures in far away lands aka London, cull-de-sac shindigs with our fams, etc etc etc. We'll always be sista-friends.
I constantly tried to analyze myself to pick which character I am. I am a journalism and poli sci major, so naturally I leaned toward Carrie. She's terrified of commitment, another notch for me, and she's a hopeless romantic seemingly oxymoronic. In the second movie, I could actually see myself having that conversation between she and Mr. Preston about her fear of being an old married couple. We need sparkle... But then again, what's so horrible about a sofa and takeout if you're with the one guy you prayed would love you too?
But just when I wanted to write myself off as a Carrie... The aspiring law student in me feels oddly attached to Miranda, the work-aholic corporate lawyer with a quirky husband who adores her and a red-headed kid. We all know I'm having red-headed heathens... She says her type-A personality is in full swing on vaca and plans an interFUNtion for a much neeed interFRIENDtion. Bec jokes with me, but I plan on being the sista-friend who plans all our BFF adventures when we're old and livin the dream. No red-headed kids allowed. When any of the ladies need to vent, cry or laugh, she's the solid one they turn to for advice and a cocktail. Work hard. Play hard. Love hard.
Ahh... Then I can't help but dream I'm as bold as Samantha. Hate her or love her. She's so sincerely Sam and confident to a fault, but that's not it. She's loyal to her soul mates. She turns down a literally and figuratively hot date in the desert because it's GNO as Miley Cyrus would "sing." And I'll Diane-Summers diet til I drop to have a body as rockin as hers.
The pearls and love for cardigans unite mine and Charlotte's kindred spirits... She believes in love like she believes in life itself. I envy her for her selflessness, and I hope I'll someday be that joyfully submissive not to mention baking in a vintage cream skirt with a beautiful adopted daughter.
I hope my soul-mates are ready for their movie debut because if you thought SATC karaoke was something, wait til you hear us sing GLEE's "take your bow" in harmony, the Spice Girl's "if you want to be my SISTER" in rush, Momma Mia with karaoke subtitles and "Fancy" by Reba at the AL Slammer.
Cheers.

the L-word

So I was passing through a little gem called Greenville, SC on my way back to The Plains from Charlotte when my chauffer asked me if I wanted to stop and see Holly one of my endearing, best and most-missed friends.
Elated upon meeting up, we ran into each other's arms and promptly found an IPA, stacked nachos with mango salsa and stools that encouraged our summer-sandal wearing feet to dangle.
As we sipped and stuffed, she asked me my opinion on saying the L-word.
We're girls, so of course boys come into convo all too often. But in my answer, I wasn't so concerned with that part of the definition.

My preacher once told me no one can look at my life and tell I love Christ with 30, 70 or 100 percent of my heart. The only way someone knows the extent of my love for Christ is by the way I love others.
When I heard this, I was just at the age when my head wasn't buried in my mother's lap, while she braided my hair or playing silent games with my dad. I was just old enough to feel the Holy Spirit gently tugging on my heart, and I knew then I'd never forget that statement. (If you ever see me humming when I'm frustrated, it's the muted version of "And they'll know we are Christians by our love," which I'm blaring in between my ears as I try to find my happy place...)
It was then I wanted to live in love with God and consequently his creation for the rest of my life as long as we all shall live.

So my take on the L-word is simple... Duh I say it. And I mean it.
I can't separate the L-word into compartments labeled boyfriend, friends, etc. etc. etc. It's all the same to me because it's all independent of... me.
There is this stigma in the church that we can only love the person we're going to marry.
Sorry. That may be true for some people, but it's not true for me, and I'd bargain to say it's not true for most people if they'd dissect the big picture down to it's smallest thread. I have loved and been loved so deeply it hurts, excites and encourages, but it never disappoints.
I'm one of those ridiculously practical people who sets out her oatmeal, bowl and spoon and pre-sets the coffee every night before I sleep, and I'm similarly practical in every aspect of life except when it comes to love. And i LOVE it.
I love friends, dogs, especially Traveler, running, camp, horses (not ponies), missions, short stories, wedding blogs, every member of my crazy family and mostly my first love, Christ, my groom. I love loving.
The above mentioned mindset in the church infers that God portions (or sanctions) a pre-determined amount of love for each of us to spend on His creation and Him for that matter. It misses the point.
The relationship we share with God isn't one that comes pre-packaged for portion control like a Lean Cuisine on the shelf at Kroger.
Because He sent Jesus to die and called us to die to ourselves, He rules our hearts with never ending love. I love all creation out of a cosmic consequence of a love relationship with my first Love. I call it consequence love: He loves me, and my cup is so overflowing that I can't help but love others.
If we were at Kroger, it'd be like a gift card with no limit or 'use by' date.

Now, I'm not saying go throw your heart and body at some good lookin' fella or gal at the next foam party you get invited to by some bar you rarely if ever attend. Don't twist this advice to fit some cockananny scheme you know is wrong and should run/flee from.
...Because you know all that matters is loving God and loving the people he created...

Disclaimer: when I want to do things my way or solve problems with my resources, they often come up short of even a Kroger pre-packaged dinner. They taste bland, smell questionable and leave me wanting more. I'm prone to this often, but I'm like a fat woman at Jenny Craig- trying.

Sooo you lovers and closet love lovers out there, live in love and love deeply... it's not yours, and it never was.

From hotdog topping to country-singing jerks to On the Wings of Love... The Bachelorette is back

Here's a little piece of juiciness compliments of Hulu.

I have seen people LOST that their fav shows are coming to an end and worried they'll turn into Biggest Losers because they won't know what to do for a whole 24 hours of the day without the motivation of series drama, plot twists and unexpected scripted love.
No need to worry because The Bachelorette is back and from the looks of the first episode, juicy.
As vets of the show and loyal followers, we have a tradition when The Bachelorette or The Bachelor starts. We pick teams.
After Monday's premier 2-hour episode, I made careful examinations of Ali Fedotowsky's interaction with each potential suitor, but honestly my decision was determined by first impression.
If I were in her cute black peep-toe shoes wearing that elegant, but too long black dress, I would be pinning JESSE!
1) He's a general contractor. My father would be proud.
2) He's smokin' hot. My mother would be proud.
Jesse wasn't the only one I was secretly scoping out. I am pulling for funny guy Frank and studly Chris H.
There were quite a few funny stories from the first night: ukelle playing, entertainment wrestling, scrapbook making and back flipping from the top of the limo to name a few.
But I have always been a girl attracted to the mysterious ones, which has gotten me into trouble a few times, but I can't help myself.
I appreciate unassuming fellas. It was attractive that Jesse wanted to tell her about himself because she asked, but he didn't dwell on himself. He genuinely asked if she was OK or overwhelmed. 2 points for being endearing and 3 for charming.

You can read bios, see pics and pick a team for yourself here.


Here's Prince Charming from ABC.com.

There's never a moment you are not loved

The Anthony Clan

That's a quote my mother has told me as long as I can remember: when I didn't make danceteam, when she forced me to go to math tutoring, when I lost her trust, when I left for college, when I came home from college, when I had my first breakup to the next... and next... and next.... you get the point and most importantly, when I didn't deserve it.
She says it regardless if she likes me at the moment because we all know mothers and daughters have to love each other, but they don't have to like each other sometimes. My mother not only my pushes off the cliff into some of the greatest adventures of my life, but she catches me at the bottom if I don't soar quite as gracefully or as far as I thought.
So this Mother's Day, I'd like to remind her,

"Mom, there's never a moment you're not loved."

Despite how much I love her, there might be too many moments my mother is not appreciated... Make sure your mother knows you love her this Mother's Day.

Smith Magazine is partnering with Women ONE2ONE on why moms matter. Go to

Six-word memoir for mother

and leave your six-word thoughts about your mommy:

Because He lives

Because I now know the only reason I sing at all... This is without a doubt the song of my heart.

Praise Him for being truth, and happy Resurrection Sunday.

"She's a Bad Mama Jama"

Friday night, the lovely ladies of Alpha Delta Pi toured, dined and danced at what was the seniors' last formal in River Mill in Columbus, GA.

I have the best friends in the world, as I say often, but I have proof to back it up: Mitch came down after his last class in med school in Bham to take me to my last formal.

Not to mold my gal pals into the typical sororitycollegegirl, but we have done the same routine for the past four years from freshman years swaps to formals to socials to the infamous Mallard Ball to cocktail parties.

(If it ain't broke, don't fix it... Am I right, or am I right?)

We smudge eyeliner, blow dry hair and zip up our fabulous BCBG dresses to songs ranging from "Sugar" by Stevie Wonder to ke$ha's "Tik Tok" to "Queen of my Double Wide Trailer" by Sammy Kershaw.

The last is a Mallard Ball must...

This year was no different except that it was our last.

It was bittersweet, but it didn't stop us from scarfing down our fruit and pasta plates and hitting the dance floor like it was 1999.

Tim Tyler and Nick Snow dueled it out on their pianos while girls and dates shouted requests.

Every girl radiated as her date twirled and dipped her under the canopy of lights.

I think it's safe to say, we left it all on the dance floor. But I did remember to grab my shoes...

So that chapter of my life is over, but hey, if you haven't read my blog, keep scrolling down and save the tears because I have enough weddings in the next little while to keep my hips swinging...

Finished

2.08...

Too tired to write anything else, but I am not too tired to check running my first half-marathon off my bucket list.

My quads hate me for this...

But my butt is thankful for my New Year's Resolution- a half marathon.

In middle and high school I ran track, but I competed in events like the 100 m and 300 m hurdles, the 200 m relay and for one night only the 400 m relay.

At about the 200 m mark, I promised the Lord never to do X, Y, and Z ever again, if He would never punish me with the 400 m ever again...

Honestly, I chose them because I was decent and got our team points.

Upon entering college, I started running for longer distances. I am slightly athletic and slightly competitive, so it was experimental and a new way to keep in shape with my new college friends who are also athletic and competitive.

Besides, I love the way running shoes make my legs specifically my calves look.

I soon grew to love the feeling of my legs burning, face sweating and side cramping. Not only do I enjoy the physical aspect, but I love the mental and spiritual space running affords me.

The Avett Brothers have a line that I think about when I run. It says,

"So when you run make sure you run

to something and not away from

cause lies don't need an aeroplane to chase you anywhere."

I love running to think. I don't run to a specific destination or away from my problems, but I run to "walk it out" as DJ UNK, another respected artist, says in clubs and dance floors across the US of A.

It helps that Auburn stays beautiful, and I can run outside most of the year, if I time it right. Summer-morning and night

Winter-mid-afternoon

So the half-marathon is this weekend. If I survive, which is highly likely considering my running partner, Brittany, and I have already gotten to 10.75, I shall blog all about it.

And yes, if i could, I would share the serious calories we're going to burn with y'all.

If you are inspired by my truly touching story and want to run yourself today, I have found this little site to be pretty helpful when designing a training schedule.

Live in love...

http://www.mapmyrun.com/create_new

Winter Wonderland and Auburn's year of precipitation

For the few who follow and don't personally know me or know where the Heart of Dixie is (you should be ashamed of yourself not to know that one, but i digress)... I don't live in the Northeast or West or anywhere near. The snow above is uniquely Auburn.

So naturally, schools closed at the mere whisper of "icy conditions," the grocery stores ran out of gallon-sized waters and college kids traded Northface backpacks for ski shells.

It was a true winter wonderland, and my friends and I made the most of our snow day here on The Plains.

I love how people from the South have such a picturesque view of snow... It makes me think of hot chocolate, fires, scarves and 1993-the year of the blizzard.

I love even more that I can appreciate this weather one day every 2-3 years, but I get to layout as early as March and as late as October...

To that, let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow!

a convenient Valentine

So after an amazingly inspirational breakfast with passionate, Christ-filled friend, Abby S., the Love station on XM tainted my perfect snow-filled morning. Firefall's "You are the Woman" is still ringing when a commercial comes over the airwaves and unfortunately into my ears.

Excuse my ignorance, if I get this wrong, but I'll take a stab... It was a woman who has recently written (and published) a self-help book telling women how to find men and get them to marry us in a reasonable amount of time.

Seriously? That sounds preposterous. ridiculous. luda...

There are so many things wrong with this picture.

If you charm Mr. Right This Minute so stratigically that he decides you are marriage worthy-however low that standard is- what do you do once you have him?

Does this book have a sequel titled How to Keep Your Husband or How to Make Him Actually Love You, So you Don't Get a Divorce?

Maybe I am being pretentious, but I along with most socially adept women could go to the local bar, bookstore, grocery store or online chat room and find someone desperate enough to marry us. This doesn't mean we should... or he should take us.

That is the culture we live in: obsessed with instant gratification in every aspect of life.

Love is not instant gratification by definition.

Using God's standard to measure love, 1 Corinthians 13 says love is PATIENT among a list of many things love is and is not.

It actually says patient first, before many other attributes.

It's patient not instantly gratifying.

Love is also kind.

It is not envious or boastful (except in the cross, praise Jesus), nor is it arrogant or rude. Unlike me most of the time, it doesn't insist on it's own way. It's never irritable even before coffee or resentful even after an ugly public fight. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices in truth.

My favorite attributes of love from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails.

This personification making love into a perfect human-Christ-convicts and encourages me with every reading. Feel free to raise your hands at this point and give the sister an "Amen."

My Bible study last semester went through Ephesians with Precepts teaching. We looked at 1 Corinthians 13 and inserted our own name for every "it" or "love."

Exercise time: Yourname is patient, kind... etc.

Even Merriam-Webster defines love as: 1. 1) strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties 2) affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest

Obviously, love is a cultivation... It requires time to acquire this admiration or affection by most standards Christian or secular.

So this book baffled me so much, I came home and went straight to iGoogle for some more info... Unfortunately, I couldn't find the exact book I was looking for.

I did find some other humorous titles that preach and teach about the same idea: check-list love. What a constraining though...

If you have read any of these and the message is different from my idea... by all means, enlighten me. I have a strong inclination I am right on this one.

The above pics are all from Amazon.com.

live in love,

grace