High Five for Friday!

Coming back from a fantastic, refreshing, worshipful weekend...I can't believe it's already Friday!

Hopefully these next few weeks will fly by...Bradley and two of my best friends, Bailey and Leah, along with other college students and leaders from our church are headed to Serbia, Kenya, and Taiwan to proclaim the victory and grace of Jesus Christ. 

I am thrilled for them and pleading with the Father that He would be glorified in, through, and before them.

Today I'm linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday!

ONE.

Last Friday I went in to work at 7 am (this is not normal, PTL) and didn't have time to spend time with the Lord before I got there. This was my view when I walked in:

And no child arrived for THIRTY MINUTES.  I got to dwell in scripture and pray over the kids in the classroom.  It was such a sweet time.

TWO.

Saturday morning Bradley and I went to a coffee shop...for 3 hours :)

We're both talkers.

The coffee was black and the conversation was rich.

My favorite coffee date.

THREE.

Spending time with this little man Sunday morning before church while his awesome parents were doing ministry.

Happiest morning person I know.

And Bradley picked me up an hour later when G's dad came home.

We had an accidental few minutes in their home alone with G. 

Reading with a clean diaper :)

FOUR.

My family and I headed downtown on Wednesday to celebrate the 4th by watching a fireworks show over the battleship and Cape Fear River.

FIVE.

Magran brought Fudgscicles into our home on Wednesday.

This is how many are left:

Good things are happening.

Happy Friday!

High Five for Friday!

Happy Friday!

This week, I'm linking up with a sweet girl who was in my small group this past year, Lauren!

Each week she hosts a High Five for Friday link-up!

Here are some life-happenings that are definitely high-five worthy:

ONE.
On Monday, Bradley's mom and I helped him move in to this house in Durham:

I for realz want this house.  Pinterest and I would do some serious home decor damage here :)
...aaaand maybe add a stove, oven, and refrigerator.

He will be living here (along with five other college men) for the next week,
spending a week in New York,
returning to Durham for 3 1/2 weeks,
going to Serbia for 2 1/2 weeks,
and spending his last week of City Project here :)
Whew.

I participated in City Project last summer, although our summers will be completely different.
I am thrilled at how God is already working and equipping him in his first three days in Durham!

...he will also be blogging about the entire summer :)

TWO.
Tuesday morning I said goodbye to two of my best friends, Bailey and Leah, who will also be participating in City Project!

Leah and I had a coffee date at Starbucks, and immediately after she left, I could not wait to put my nose in the Word.  Love that girl.

...aaand after Starbucks I went to B & N and got a new journal :)

I swear, I cannot spend less than thirty minutes in that place.  

It's a black hole of beautiful, beautiful books, the smell of coffee, and people with glasses.  Mmm.

THREE.

unedited.

Saturday morning Bradley and I woke up early (like, FIVE AM early), He picked me up at 5:30, and we headed to the rocks at Carolina Beach to watch the sunrise and spend time in prayer.

& he brought me coffee :)

I am so thankful to live in Wilmington.

FOUR.
I am becoming more equipped for motherhood...one cooking experience at a time.

FIVE.
This sweetness.

My mom's parents.
Papa Earl has Alzeheimer's and Nana takes care of him and virtually everyone else in that nursing home.

Wonderful Wednesday!

This Wednesday will likely not be as wonderful as next Wednesday. 

Thank you, final exams.

As an education major, I know that the results of a cumulative test usually has little do show for what I have actually gleaned from a semester-long class.  It's a blessing and a curse.

If you are a student, I feel your pain.

My sweet friend, Leah, encouraged me a few weeks ago to pray for motivation and focus--I have seen that He is faithful to give it! (Why have I never done this prior to this semester?)

I've seen this week so many of my limitations...which has been super humbling.  My mind is limited, my attention-span is limited, my time is limited, my self-control is limited, my love is limited.  I fall short constantly.

Here are a couple of the ways that the Lord has offered me grace despite my limitations:

Wonderful Scripture:
Galatians 3:11-14

In reading through Romans, my ESV notes led me to this passage.
I will always fall short of His perfect law, and the promise of Jesus' sufficient work.
Praise the Lord.

Wonderful Outing:

Bradley and I went hiking at Umpstead Park on Friday afternoon!

He attempted to cross the large body of rushing water...

While he was being uber adventurous, I sent this picture to Laura...and soon after this was sent, we saw a water moccasin in the water.  Lord, sometimes I loathe Your creation.

Wonderful Friends:

Saturday night the girls went to a thai restaurant--I was nervous, but it was delicious!

Wonderful Food:

Free donuts in the Bragaw Activity Room.
(It's called the BAR, but I thought that would prove eyebrow-raising if stated without explanation.)

I didn't eat just this one either...good thing I ran...this week.

This is just something wonderful for which I do not have photographic evidence:

My mommie and sister, Ashley, came to Raleigh Sunday afternoon to take my futon and most of my clothes. Aaaand they came to Summit's Night of Worship/CD release!
...which leads me to:

Wonderful Music:

The CD, "Jesus in My Place" is currently number THREE on the most popular Christian & Gospel albums on iTunes!!!

You can preview the album here!

Wonderful Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!
This week is dead week--because I'll be dead by Friday.
Then next week I die again because final exams commence...gulp.

So I am happy classes are nearly over, but not ready to lock myself in the library for hours at a time.
No thank you.


 But tonight is small group and Bradley was extra sweet today...so let's focus on the good, shall we?

Wonderful Scripture:
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 12, particularly verses 14-21 were so impactful on my heart and life last week, so I've decided to read through Romans.

Wonderful Friend:

H and I so kindly sharing some dead week delirium...

Wonderful Picture:

Thanks Prof Knight...a baby with a mouth full of sand is super inspiring.

Wonderful Food:
Black coffee. My energy/life source. Poor life decisions.

Wonderful Outing:
Bradley and I went to dinner on Saturday night with two other couples that we met through the church (not Summit) softball team that he plays for.

Wonderful Pin:

It happens.

I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday and are much more optimistic than I!

Wonderful Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! 
My second year of college has been BY FAR the best--Jesus has become bigger, there has been greater challenge, deeper relationships, and more fun.  I want to savor this time in my life and use the resources and relationships I have to become more sanctified and sacrificial.

I am continually amazed at the people Jesus had given me with whom to share this life.

Wonderful Song:

I drove home and back alone this weekend, which was great (although I always prefer company) for my prayer life.  Highways, country music, and long prayers are wonderfully cohesive. I don't listen to country music any other time, but I heard this song multiple times and think it's super cute.

Wonderful Scripture:

Romans 12:19-21
On Monday, Bradley was telling me about this scripture--I have never studied this passage extensively, but I've heard and been confused by the phrase "...for by doing so you will heap burning coals on their head." He explained that by returning kindness for sin, people will be awakened to Jesus in you (because responding to hurt with grace is antithetical to the human nature).  Your Christlike character will "heaping burning coals on their head" and will provoke others to realize their need for the Gospel. 

Don't you love that?  The Spirit's power in me to give the forgiveness to others that God has given me, will make others awakened to the reality and Lordship of Jesus.

Wonderful Friend:

I got some one-on-one time with this chubster and his beautiful mom late last week :)

Wonderful Picture:

On Monday, I went to Bradley's softball game (he plays on one of his friend's church's softball team--it's a big deal in Smithfield, NC!). I met two sweet girls whose boyfriends play on the team, I connected with them, and the three couples are going to hang out Saturday night!

Wonderful Food:

NOODLES! I made them for the first time in my life this weekend!

Wonderful Outing:

Last night Bradley and I went to Summit's monthly EQUIP Leadership Forum! This one was a little different in that the men and women were separated. I was given a wealth of wisdom to glean from women in our church. The two sessions I attended were "The Whole Bible for the Whole Woman" by Lauren Ashford and "Women Discipling Women: Digging Deeper Wells."

Not Pictured:
Lots of time with my parents and my brother.  I took a video of Trey (who is 16 years old) singing and dancing with some scuba gear and my boots on his hands...but there's a little too much booty shaking. The vision is sufficient to disturb.

What is a small way that has God shown You love this week?

Thankful Thursday.

I am prideful.  And because I struggle with pride, I am highly susceptible to self-pity.  Class work, readings, projects, emails, leadership positions, babysitting, struggling to be an attentive and emotionally engaged daughter, sister, friend, small group leader, and girlfriend...

Momentarily, I think my life is hard. Certainly I never verbalize it nor does the explicit thought run through my mind, but my heart is satiated with self-pity.

So focusing on some of the bajillion ways God loves me is a discipline in which I need to invest.  

Things I am thankful for this week:

1.  Farm time last Friday.

2.  I realized am verbalizing the fact that I want to control not only my life, but other people's lives.  AKA I distrust God and want to sit on the throne.  So incredibly dangerous.

3.  Beautiful NC weather!

4.  Worshipful, sanctifying lunch dates with some of my favorite girls :)

5.  Starbucks date with Laura & Morgan on Sunday afternoon.

6.  Powerful runs this week--such a release.

7.  Late night texts from Daddy :)

8.  Small group on Tuesday night since we all went home Wednesday!  We met at Royal Bean Coffee instead of my dorm room for a change of pace :)

9.  Dwelling on God's glory / Being sobered every time I read the Word.

10.  Trey & Ashley (my younger siblings) are on their spring break this week--which means hanging out with them during the day, not just when they get home from school/practice.  Words cannot express how happy I am about this and how God has already used this extra time just by being at home less than a day. 

Wonderful Wednesday!

I GET TO GO HOME TODAY!!!!!

After my last class today that dismisses at 2:45, Bradley and I are headed home for Easter!  I miss my family so much.  It feels like we're going on a vacation every time we pack up the car and head down I-40 East.

More on the wonderful-ness of this week, posted on Wednesday!

Wonderful Song:

Ben Rector, "Loving You is Easy"

Such a cute song, and then someone from the audience gave him the subject of "cats" on which to improv for the third verse.  Just watch.

Wonderful Scripture: 
Revelation 21:1-8

Wonderful Friend: 

I have a new roommate, Rebekah! We are both very thankful she is now living with me :) I found this sweet note on my desk on Tuesday, the afternoon of the day she moved in:

Wonderful Picture:

I found honeysuckles on campus last Thursday and enjoyed a snack:

Wonderful Pin:

but for real...I would not stop talking.

Wonderful Food:
Monday afternoon I walked to Cup-a-Jo to work and enjoyed black coffee, hummus on a wheat bagel (why hasn't this been a part of my life until now?), and silly conversation with the stranger that sat at the table with me.