Going to the Chapel!!

This past weekend was, by far, the best weekend of my life to date! Zack asked me to be his wife on Saturday, July 30 at sunset, on the beach! We had an amazing weekend at the beach that ended with a perfect proposal. I think pictures will suffice to explain the joy that both of us feel about our engagement... 

(Right before he proposed)

I am so thankful for such a great 2 years of dating my best friend. I can't wait to be his wife and spend the rest of our lives together. 

 (The most romantic moment!)

(I said YES!)

The next best part of the weekend was the surprise party that Zack put together for us to come home to Sunday. All of our friends and family were there to greet us as we came home! What a wonderful evening with some of favorite people-I am already LOVING this sweet time of engagement!

 

(Fun times celebrating!)

 

I am so thankful for Zack and thank God everyday for the gift of a great relationship. I can't wait to begin planning our wedding and our future together!!

A Look Back...

I write down everything. I don't mean to say this lightly. I literally write down EVERYTHING- from my eating habits, my expenses, my social life, my work calendar, to most importantly, my prayers. I have been writing my prayers daily for about the past 7 or 8 years and it's one thing that I cherish in life.  

Let me explain how this topic came to mind...

I took a notebook/journal in to work to have something to jot down my thoughts on. I found it in the masses of school-related things, and it just so happened that I came across this journal from Encouter 2009 (Junior year). I had written in a few of the front pages, but the majority of the back was left untouched. I took this journal to work and flipped through the first few pages only to find answered prayers, peace of mind, and a grateful heart for what God's given me.

I wrote a prayer on December 28, 2009 about the future. I asked for release over my desires for control over my future career and life. I asked for God's will to be done over mine and to not let my selfish amibitions get in the way. I asked for God to help my make the right decisions in dating, marriage, and my career...

I am in awe as I re-read this prayer from 2009, my Junior year. It's amazing to me that God hears our prayers and answers them in His time. I love that I can look back at my journals and see God working over the years in my life. He has been faithful to me in answering my prayers of giving up control, making wise decisions, and trusting in Him while entering into a career.

With all this said, I now have my little 'Junior year Encounter 2009' journal at work. It sits in my desk not only as a resource to write down random lists and thoughts, but also as assurance that God hears me when I call Him.

It's BIRTHDAY WEEK!

This week marks the births of 3 of my favorite men: my Daddy, Johnathan (brother) and, Dustin (Jamie's hubby) AND one of my dearest friends, Elizabeth Jones (soon to be Turnmire)!

Elizabeth is one of those friends who I don't see all that often, but when we do see each other or talk, it's like we never left each other. We have so much in common and she is a great friend to confide in, to love, and to support during her time of preparing for her upcoming wedding! I admire Elizabeth's love for God and her passion for knowing Him more! I love this girl to pieces! Happy Birthday sweet friend!

(Cornhuskin' 2010)

My daddy is also celebrating his birthday this week as well! He and I have different birthdays by only a few hours! I hope he has a wonderful birthday this year! I'm very thankful for his love and support for so many years!

(Class Day 2011)

My brother (Johnathan) from another mother has a birthday this week too- ironically the same day as my daddy. We have had this running joke that we're meant to be brother and sister because our birthdays are only a day apart, our dads birthdays are the same, and we have a lot in common! I have thoroughly enjoyed spending the last 2 and a half years hanging out with Johnathan and him becoming one of my closest friends. I will truly miss him being in Raleigh but I can hardly wait to see what God's going to through him in the coming months!

(Crusade Halloween Party 2010)



Dustin, Jamie's hubby, also shares a birthday with me! We always joke around about that and Avery has the hardest time understanding how her daddy and me can have the same birthday when we're not the same age. It's adorable the way kids' minds work! Anywho, Happy Birthday to Dustin- I am very thankful for all and he his family have done for me!

(Baccalaureate 2011)

Life Outside of MC...

It's been a while since I've posted on here, but now that life is slowing down and I'm settling into a rountine, I WILL pick blogging back up.

Since graduating from Meredith about 7 weeks ago, I feel like I have been on a roller coaster- experiencing new fun, exciting things, but also really scared of what's coming up next. A few of the things I'm learning post-graduation are:

1) dealing with a lot of change!

2) having even more fun!

3) a new time of growth,  trusting, and faithfulness

(My decorated cap)

1) Many people who know me well know that I DO NOT like change at all. Graduating college, leaving the MC apartments, moving home, and getting a big girl job were all HUGE adjustments for me. Like I've told some of my friends, this is by far the biggest transition/change that I've ever had to experience (college -> big girl life)! I'm out of my Meredith "bubble", out of my comfort zone, and opening an entire new chapter of my life. I think what made the transition from MC to the "real world" so difficult for me was not wanting to leave what I know/familiar/home. I truly call Meredith home and will always hold it close to my heart. I did not want to leave a place that was so good to me, so comfortable to me, and gave me a GREAT 4 years, however, I'm beginning to see that my time at Meredith was so sweet and precious to me, but it was time for me to move on. I've accepted that Meredith is a memory and I've now got the opportunity to spread my wings and fly somewhere else.

(Scotty McCreary at the RBC Center)

2) Despite my thinking that once I left MC my life would be over (yes, I did think that), I have found that I'm having even more fun now that I'm not so busy and committed to so many things! Since graduation, I've had the chance to relax, go the beach, shop a lot, spend a lot of time with friends at home, and have numerous lunch/dinner dates with my Raleigh friends :) I'm really liking having time to do some of the things that I love most in life!

(Daycare Graduation 2011)

3) Leading up to graduation I was a nervous wreck. I didn't like not knowing what was ahead and I didn't think much of not having any control of it. Since graduating, I have seen God work, heard Him answer my prayers, and felt His spirit give me peace, and as a result, I have grown enormously both in Him and as a person. My last semester I had faith that He would work things out, but this was reality when I saw God provide and work things out for the better in multiple situations. I am excited to continue to see God work in both my life and Zack's life, as we are both faithfully trusting Him as we each begin a new chapter of life.



I LOVE Mondays!

I can say for the first time in my life that I actually LOVE Mondays! Here's a rundown of a typical Monday for me: class, meeting, library, meeting/discipleship (x2), my 30 minutes of 'me-time', gym, dinner, time with my wonderful roommate, then Bible Study with the most beautiful and fantastic girls in the world. Yes, it's busy, but this semester I enjoy every minute of my Mondays! It's a great thing to look forward to the week beginning! I often times also try to squeeze in a little 'shopping time' on Mondays too- last week I discovered "Bijuju" (aka the most fabulous jewelry store), and this week (much less exciting), it'll probably be the grocery store. So here's to 2 and a half more months of marvelous Mondays!!

Trying to be like Mary in a ‘Martha World’

Recently in Bible study we studied Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). I had overlooked these two women for so long while studying about Jesus’ time on earth, but now I see how important these two women are for the modern woman today. We live in a ‘Martha world’. By that I mean that we are constantly on the go, busy, rushed, trying to meet certain expectations, and habitually busy with unimportant things. I want to be more like Mary was in this ‘Martha world’; by that I mean that I want to slow down and not be in such a rush that I overlook the beauty of the world around me. I think that’s what Martha struggled with the most- she simply couldn’t slow down to enjoy the presence of our Savior; instead she thought she had to stay busy to please Him. I want to model Mary’s life because she did understand the importance and the necessity of simply enjoying the moment of Jesus’ visit and she dropped everything to just be captivated by His presence.

With this being said, my goal for the present is to be like Mary in this ‘Martha world’. I hope you find this Bible story (that seems so modern and true today!) equally as encouraging as I did :)

"Practicing What I Preach"

As I was reading my lovely “Jesus Calling” book in my quiet time yesterday, I came across this:

“Bring Me your weakness, and receive My peace. Accept yourself and your circumstances just as they are, remembering that I am sovereign over everything. Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning. Instead, let thankfulness and trust be your guides through this day; they will keep you close to Me. As you live in the radiance of My Presence, My Peace shines upon you. You will cease to notice how weak or strong you feel, because you will be focusing on Me. The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me. Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven.”

Not a single word of this devotion doesn’t speak to me. I say it to my Bible Study girls all the time; “Don’t worry so much; or God’s got it; or Be strong!” These words flow out of me so easily to them, but after reading this paragraph, I thought, “do I really do these things too?” It’s really easy to say that I give my stress and sometimes sadness over to God, but do I really do it? It made me think, and really cling to God even more, knowing (yes KNOWING) that He’s in control, has me in His hands, and loves me, despite my many imperfections.