exciting news

well, i've got some exciting news to announce: i've been promoted into somewhat of a manager position at banana! praise the Lord! it took almost 2 months for the official move/offer to happen but it really wasn't anything i was expecting or looking into. and to put a cherry on top is that the new position does come w/ a significant pay raise...which definitely makes me feel a lot more content as my grad school loans come out of deferment in a few months. plus, i have 2 consistent days in my work week...i can tell you that in 2 weeks what i'll be working on that week's monday and thursday.

how great the Lord is in the ways He continually provides and surprises me with several of His provisions/timing.

expect the unexpected

my small group currently is working through a john macarthur 1 samuel study and to start one of the more recent chapters, macarthur poses the question: what changes in your life would you never have predicted? let's just say i did struggle with any sort of answer to that question but instead couldn't stop thinking of the numerous changes that have occurred in my life even over the past 5 yrs. here are a few of mine: living in birmingham, having a masters in social work, working for banana republic, living in texas, not wanting to be a professional/have a career as our world defines it, and so on

really, i owe all of these changes to the Lord b/c what i've realized is that as i continue to walk w/ Him and be transformed by the Spirit that all that i expected and even planned before are futile in comparison to being w/ Him and living out what He has planned and waiting to see what He has in store for the remainder of my time here on earth.

let's face it: having learned the lesson several times that my expectations hold no weight and no matter how much i place them on the Lord He will always break them down, i found this question as a tool for reflecting on the goodness, deliverance, and perfect promises He has/had for me.

here's your turn to answer: what changes in your life would you never have predicted?

365 days in the magic city

well, it's been a year (and an extra few days) since the parents and i moved all of my stuff across 4 states in 3 days from austin to birmingham. and in this past year i've definitely learned and experienced some things...i'm not going to share/reflect on them all but i've been reflecting on a few of them the past few weeks and thought i'd take some time to share.

*seeing the national champion tide's 1st and last football games in person...while one of those i didn't have to pay for the ticket, the $$ spent in pasadena to not only experience college football at the rose bowl but to witness #13 was absolutely priceless

*knowing that i'm only a car ride away from my family/friends in memphis & the friends whom i consider family in alabama makes tough days a whole lot easier...2 of my dearest friends have had babies in the past yr and i'm not sure how i would've handled being many more hrs away from them (though i guess i could just ask heather lacroix who was in nigeria for both of those)

*making new friends: around september, i told alana that i didn't want to have to start new friendships but in all honesty that comment came out of frustration rather than trust. every place i've moved, the Lord has graciously provided me w/ friends whom i can live life w/ and find encouragement and so on so why would He fail me now. while yes, it can be difficult to start over in the friend department, it has been comforting to see my Father provide sweet ladies who love the Lord show interest in my life and that they want to be my friend. plus, i've had the added bonus of living w/ one of my best friends from college which definitely made the transition to birmingham a whole lot easier...what a treat it was to struggle and live through some newness of the past year w/ a friend whom i already knew and felt comfortable sharing my junk with! i love alana!!

*learning to stick to a budget financially based on a salary i've never been used to or in all honesty didn't count on making with a masters degree. but the Lord is faithful and is my provider in all things even with some extra funds when i needed them and the conviction that He calls for us as believers to be financially responsible and to live with His Kingdom in mind. it's been a tough year having to realize and work through wanting to buy some clothes or go see a movie or go to panera on my lunch break and so on but i'm thankful for the lessons i've learned and what the Lord has taught me and how He's challenged me to truly take on the responsibilities He expects from me.

*working at banana republic which is probably where i've learned the most and what God's used to break me of a lot of pride and selfish issues along with showing me that a job is a job and at one point in the past few years i shared with Him that my main desire is to invest in others and have the opportunities to work in an environment where i can build relationships and invest in my co-workers which let's be honest is what He's so graciously provided me at banana. and who cares how many degrees i have, i needed to get those 2 degrees to learn a lot so they just fit in the process of it all. i do have social justice, ministry, inner-city work desires that i do believe that the Lord will provide me opportunities to live out but it all just comes with the process.

so, i've learned and experienced a lot in the past year to which i'm forever grateful. eagerly anticipating all that the next 365 days will provide!