monday's lesson

i'm sitting on my couch after a long rainy day. the kind of day you would rather curl up in bed, read a book, make soup, and watch a movie.

lately what's been on my heart is being content in the season i'm in and being 100% present in my day to day.
as you can imagine, being in love with your best friend at a distance and wanting to be by his side 24/7 is a bit conflicting to finding contentment in the present.

i feel like my brain has been so busy, always planning on my next step, how to get by, and at the height of that, how to put Jesus and people above me so i can serve.

tonight, elise, alice, and i did nothing but sit around and be VERY silly women. the depth of friendship i have with them is the most beautiful spiritual untouchable thing i can think of. i'm so grateful for the strength, support, love, and fun they bring to my life.

before things got crazy alice read this verse to us, "Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously," 2 Corinthians 9:6

in the business of my days i often forget how much sowing i'm doing. it's not easy, but in time i'll begin to catch the  masterpiece jesus is weaving in my heat. sowing into what seems to be rock hard ground isn't impossible if you will just remain consistent and work out of jesus' strength. it won't be easy, but it's worth the harvest.

three things that don't mix

i'm still cooling off from a blistering evening texas summer run.

three things that don't mix but are super wonderful: three miles + vegetable soup + 103 degrees = one hot sturdy girl.

tonight miss abby and i bonded over our run and vegetable adventure. i'm so thankful for my roommates. abby is one of the most inspirational people i know. her heart for jesus is wonderful, and her determined spirit and wisdom always give me something to look up to. this girl is going to high places fast! (seriously, it was impossible to keep up with her tonight).

the vegetable soup was inspired by my brother john's garden. (and a pretty shallow pocket). we've been stock piled with large zucchini, bright squash, and the sweetest tomatoes you've ever had. since he is in ukraine for the summer, we get to eat his share! (and let's be real, young men eat a lot).

so, if you too are a penny-pinching-summer-soup-eating girl such as my self, here's a recipe that was pretty yummy. :)

grab a pot and some cans of vegetable broth

pick your favorite veggies

chop 'em up

saute an onion and garlic in some olive oil

add the broth and veggies

cover the veggies with water

add black beans and rice

heat and season to taste (salt, pepper, basil, dash of sugar, sriracha, paprika, soy sauce)

and voila!

enjoy and don't be afraid to get out there in the heat, it's good for you!

summer 2013 and the pursuit of purpose

though my blogs may have been slow in coming life has definitely not! i have changed careers, went a month without being able to talk to my sweet heart as he went through officer training, watched a roommate get engaged, had a "little" sister graduate, and spent countless evenings with beautiful family and friends.

Jesus continues  to help me grow as he enables my feet to be like that of a deer, able to tread upon the rockiest and highest mountains. writing a work that will enable holy spirit to move and transform my reader's minds is my dream. i simply want to be a vessel. 

when i was given the wonderful opportunity to work at the children's home on a beautiful central texas ranch i knew that this was going to be the most challenging experience i had yet to have but it would also be the most rewarding. there isn't one admirable person i can think of who didn't take a chance and dare to experience his or her dreams. i want to write about hope, identity, redemption, and purpose... but how can i unless i understand those things first hand?

in my absence the last couple of months i was busy changing my life from the ordinary to extraordinary. ready to set my comfortable routine aside to spend some time with some awesome kids and help them know what it's like to be truly loved. 

this status update on facebook the other day really spoke to me

"Sometimes we make things too complicated when we really need to remember that the kingdom belongs to the children," -Heidi Baker

Heidi Baker isn't changing the world by living the american dream, she's walking in obedience and loving whoever is in front of her. jesus calls us to love. so love i will. don't be afraid to pursue your dreams, chances are that they were placed in your heart for a purpose.