a best friend.

So this blog is going to be dedicated to one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Kelsey Joy Church has been one of my closest friends for a few years now and this is for her :-) Love you Vegasbaybee.

From the moment I first met Kelsey, we were not fans of each other. Of course, being in high school, the new girl is never one to be accepted and I was new into the church. However, over the course of time we have become best friends. In ingroups together is where it all started. We became prayer partners and automatically had so much in common. We prayed together that first night on the swing and it was so beautiful. God always just brings people into your life just at the right times :)

Kelsey and I have been on many adventures together, good and bad, but mostly just very fun. Going in Las Vegas together and many Atlanta trips, movies with good soundtracks and music to just die for ("you have to hear this song, it will change your life forever", talking about boys and moms and realizing we have the same problems with both. Kelsey and I were always able to get right in track with each other's lives even if we didn't talk for weeks. Mis-communication and petty fights were never a problem. 

This girl has never let anyone bring her down or mislead her from her dreams. She is actually going to Kentucky now for a school for photography, which is her love. All the way, far away, all by herself. No one will stop her. That is a brave girl. 

She might not know, but she's always been a role model in my life. A hero of mine. Always standing up for herself, family and friends, and what she believed in. This girl is a true, true person. Realer than most.

So Kelsey, I love you and I hate that you are leaving me here in little ol' Aiken, but so crazy excited for this new adventure for you. Remember that you can do anything and nobody can take you down. 

"look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do, and it was all yellow"

None But Jesus

So Christmas and New Years has come and gone, sadly, but it's definitely been nice to be back to real life.  Everyone is always complaining about having to go back to school and work, but I think it such a blessing to even have a job AND have the privilege to go to college! It's not a right, or guaranteed, like so many people think today. People take so much for granted.

I think God has been teaching me a lot lately, through different people and situations. Ever pray for God to take away everything in your life that keeps you from Him? Well, I did. And He's doing it. Scary, but very exciting at the same time. I know He has huge plans for me, as He does for everyone, but lately I've been too scared to really follow those plans. Too scared of what the future holds and who may be there, or may not be. Seems like everybody got engaged over the Holidays, which is so exciting, congrats guys :), but yet again shows me that I am so close to the "real world" as everybody has been calling it. So close to graduation, and husbands, and kids, and jobs, but seriously so far away still. Am I even ready for that? Am I mature enough for all these things? Am I ready to follow God's will? Seriously, and I mean seriously, just put Him first and foremost? Trust Him with everything and stop putting my life in shelves and only letting him have a few of them? I am ready. I am soooo ready. I want to do whatever He wants, go wherever He calls, share the good news of His son with whomever He leads me to.

Lately, He has been taking people out of my life that were once very close to me. Putting new people in, not to replace, but to cherish differently. Every person in your life was put there for a purpose and I think everything really does happen for a reason. Events always happen in such particular order in my life, which always reminds me that God is in control, of everything, forever.

Just like, as I am writing this, the song "None but Jesus" comes on. Geezzz God, you are too good :-) Thank YOU Lord!

"In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that you are God
In the secret of your presence
I know there I am restored
When you call I won't refuse
Each new day, again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know you're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do your will
When you call I won't delay
This my song through all my days

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

I am yours and you are mine...

All my delight is in you Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in you Lord
Forevermore"

Blessed. Seriously blessed.

So starting in Decemeber, I have really had some amazing blessings in my life. First, and most exciting for my parents and I, I passed this semester! :D Good grades actually, hardwork really does pay off. Now we just gotta kick some butt next semster and then only 2 more years of college!

Another HUGE blessing in my life is that I've had some certain friends re-appear in my life, just at the right time. Friends I weren't as close with for a little while, but that were always just a phone call away. Friends that lift up and are there to laugh and to cry with. Guy friends and girl friends, but seriously just true friends C-: Gotta love that!

I've always had a wonderful job working for my parents and it's definitley been a blessing in this bad economic time, to always have that. And now I'm also working a little on the side catering with Chelsea and her dad, The Deaf Chef, which is sooo much fun! Awesome how God just always provides when you need!

And of course, I met Zaza Pachulia!! #27 for the Atlanta Hawks. Ballaaaaa

So PRAISE THE LORD for all the good and for the bad. It's what makes us and actually realize the wonderful blessings we do have. We are so blessed and it's all because of Him. Hope everybody is having an great Christmas break! <3

update with no words

crazy thankful

So evidently I'm really bad at this whole blogging thing...looks to be a few months that I've skipped...but I want to do a post on what I'm most thankful for, since it was just that great holiday.

1. My Saviour!! Jesus Christ is seriously the most amazing for dying for all my sins! Seth Oprea preached last Sunday and he said something that really made me think..."Even it had been just me on this world, just one person, Jesus would have still come down and did the same thing. Died just for me." How awesome is He?!
2. My family: I truly am blessed to be born in such a Christian and loving family.
3. My friends: They're the bomb.com C:
4. School...yes, I said school. Anybody that gets the opportunity to attend college should be crazy thankful for that. It's not something we should take advantage of.

Some pictures from the break of thanks...