who's pumped for some bama hoops?!!

this girl is no doubt!!!

yes, football season is still going on but for me, college basketball gets me way more excited that college football...which is crazy coming from an alum of the univ of alabama but if you spent some time around my family you'd see that college bball's in my blood.

the great thing is that coach grant has the team primed for good things this year...and after watching the freshman play through the first few games of the season especially the puerto rico kick-off i'm looking forward to enjoying many of games from the crimson tide! plus, coach grant's going to steal saban's thunder with the way he has this bball team playing some defense!

plus, i have a season ticket...all thanks to my boo being a tide pride member and former bama ticket office worker...check them out:
(and the cool thing is that my friend jonathan king designed them!)

everyone enjoy the next few months of awesome college hoops!! roll tide my friends

blessing in that trust

well in my last post i discussed trusting God in the uncertainties and unknown...one way i have experienced/was challenged with that in 2011 began in may when a friend from undergrad decided to make his feelings for me clear and then i had to react. initially i wanted to just say no mainly because i didn't have a yes to give but the Lord had a different plan and for a week He continually prompted me with the Holy Spirit that just because i don't have a yes doesn't mean i have to say no.

and that's just what i did & couldn't be more blessed with the Lord's blessing my letting go and trusting in Him. the past 6 months have been a thrill and i couldn't be more grateful for jason walker being a part of my life.

i'll take some time later to share more specifics on how great he is but now i'll just leave you with some pictures

it don't matter if it's black or white

one thing i've been learning a lot throughout what seems the majority of 2011 is that i like the black and white of life and am not a huge fan of the gray areas of life. well, the Lord has a different idea and in line with mr. jackson's song...it doesn't matter if it's black or white because let's face it the black or white doesn't comprise life but the gray areas sure do. and not only must i embrace that fact but i must decide how i will proceed, live, and respond through the gray areas.

response: my usual response in the past when things seem fairly uncertain and there's not a clear cut black or white answer or action is to go with the no or to give up or just dismiss the idea. well, throughout the past 6 months or so the Lord has really done a great job of breaking me on this. at the start of this year i began reading this book about trusting God where in the beginning of the book the author states that for some believers it's easier to obey rather than trust because we obey what is certain & known and trust in what is unclear and uncertain. well i've never been the greatest at trusting the Lord because that means i then have to sit and wait and well you know, trust. what's crazy is that going into 2011 i thought i did a pretty great job of trusting the Lord when times are uncertain but oh was i wrong. i have some absolute struggles and insecurities with trusting and the Lord has done a great job of showing me my insecurities and need for control and also throwing me into situations where i can only trust HIM, not myself one lick but HIM.

what would you give up?

world vision's started a campaign to make the famine in the horn of africa the last famine ever...their challenge: what one thing would you give up? for the sake of those dying of starvation each day!

check out this blog/site: http://blog.worldvision.org/tag/east-africa-food-crisis/

http://blog.worldvision.org/conversations/what-would-you-give-up/?lpos=ctr_txt_readmore_BringingdeathinAfricatolifeinAmerica[LINKUP]#more-7654

join me in giving up one thing and praying for rain in the horn of africa

pics from ttown

here are some pics that we took that afternoon as we drove through a city i love...











(the cardboard on this last one says "God bless everyone helping fix my town")

ttown never down

the last time i blogged i spoke about the tornados that created utter destruction on my current state and one of the cities that has a special place in my heart...tuscaloosa.

the saturday right after i was able to head down for a few hours with some friends to deliver some donations but couldn't stay long because i had to get back for work. the following saturday i was off so alana and i decided to go down and volunteer with samaritan's purse. that morning we set out for ttown unsure of what we'd see or experience but ready to work. we met a few friends from college who drove in from starkville at first baptist and got our assignment: head to a trailer park in holt to separate debris, trash, personal items, siding, appliances, etc from a pile of what looked like several trailers that the tornado had destroyed and rescue crews had pushed together.

we spent the morning getting dirty, sweating and pulling out items we recognized and those we didn't. we found check books, multiple dora items, textbooks, school notes, food, and so on and so on. it was heart breaking to pull from an area of the pile that you knew represented certain parts of their home: kids' room, living room or kitchen. the fridge still contained perishable items. we weren't informed about the homes' residents and their situation post tornado but it was incredible to see trailers several hundred feet away still standing with their residents still present. as we drove up to the trailer park, we looked out over an empty ravine that 10 days earlier was covered with trees. we saw only the foundation of a house and a truck placed in the limbs remaining in that ravine.

after 5 or so hours of work, we broke for the day and headed to lunch with our friends. after eating, alana and i took some time to drive through the areas of tuscaloosa most hit by the tornado. words cannot express all the destruction we took in that afternoon: seeing entire neighborhoods destroyed, realizing how large a lake inside that neighborhood actually is, noticing the amount of houses that existed behind certain businesses and how much the trees actually covered up, realizing businesses that i frequented in college no longer exist, and seeing the fight and hope the folks of tuscaloosa have despite the wreckage of that april afternoon.

i've been to tuscaloosa at least 4-5 times since this day and i admit that each time it's still tough to drive by 15th & mcfarland. the first time i approached that intersection at night and attempted to kill time at the hobby lobby were tough to endure.

one thing i do know: the Lord has done some mighty things through this physical destruction that only He is capable of doing and only He can receive the glory for!!

i'm alive i promise

yes, i'm still alive i promise...not been so alive on the blog world though so i apologize! and absolutely promise some blogs updating you on all that the past few months of my life have been all about

i must say i can't believe it's basically the middle of august...not that i really get summer but geez, where did it go?!!

but i do love me some fall: football, basketball, pumpkins, leaves changing, boot weather, honeycrisp apples, and so on and so on.

i can't wait to share some of the exciting changes in my life since i last blogged

april week 4: one emotional roller coaster

i still have trouble wrapping my mind around all that i experienced all 7 days of last week...let's just say that i endured every emotion out there. i started the week joyfully serving my epic church friends and worshiping the Risen Christ alongside them and over 200 other san franciscans. the middle of the week brought anxiety, nerves, & uncertainty with a day full of severe tornadoes coming right through tuscaloosa & birmingham. the end of the week brought overflowing devastation, heart break, and compassion as i watched and viewed all the videos, pictures, and footage from the wreckage in tuscaloosa, a town that will forever hold a special place in my heart. i was able to take some donations down to ttown with some friends saturday morning before coming back for work...let's just say that words cannot describe what that tornado did but i can say it did not destroy the ability of that place to rebuild, bounce back, and recover.

if you want to help the state of alabama in any way, please visit: http://alabamapossible.org/2011/04/tornado-relief-how-you-can-help/ or http://www.birminghamsalvationarmy.org/

or let me know if you want to come down and help volunteer or send donations.

san fran part deux

this afternoon about 20 of my friends from church are headed out to san francisco to serve our Epic Church friends again. they have us close to 100,000 postcards/granola bars to hand out and are having 2 services on Sunday to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection. since their launch to weekly services in february, they've seen around 100 folks each week. the Lord is definitely up to something great in the city!

i'm absolutely pumped about what the Lord has in store for us as a group and me personally (and selfishly excited for a vacation...we're even celebrating my friend kristen's bday friday night at the braves vs. giants game). i can't wait to share with the blog world all about our trip when i return next tuesday morning.

please be in prayer for our time in san fran: for the folks we meet, those who've been invited already, those debating on whether to attend one of the services or not, the Epic Church staff, and those who attend an Easter service on Sunday, that the Lord will be glorified throughout our entire trip.

necessary reminders

the past few weeks some circumstances and events have reminded me of some truths that i've lately taken for granted:

1) the gravity of sin, its consequences to not only an individual but a community, & how small sins and temptations can grow into something larger & heartbreaking. that a lack of relationship and intimacy with the Lord provides satan and sin the small opening it needs to penetrate our hearts and minds & create that barrier preventing us from truly seeking the Lord

2) the vital need for authentic community...this definitely relates to the first point for sure...if we're not taking advantage of the friends and community the Lord's provided & using them for the accountability we need to reign over our sin then yes, we are going to stumble. also, if i'm not taking advantage of the accountability even in being transparent about my lack of relationship/desire to enjoy time with the Lord then sins and temptations are going to trickle in

3) confession and repentance are a must no matter how much my pride might get in the way

i could go on and on but the theme of it all is the Gospel and our process of sanctification...we're never going to get over our temptations with sin and our pride but praise the Lord for His grace, forgiveness, and redemption on the cross!

oh march, you're such a treat

march is definitely one, if not the one, of my favorite months of the year.

1) march madness: it's not a secret that basketball is my favorite sport so it's obvious that once the calendar rolls in month 3 i get super excited. i can absolutely sit and watch any game even if the tide or tigers aren't playing. yes, i was bummed that the tide got left out of the big dance but my excitement over the program coach grant's building is definitely overshadowing my disappointment. i fill out a bracket(or 2) every year but this year i was very hesitant due to no one team or teams really dominating/standing out. i did cave and filled 2 out & much to my dismay they are both in the bottom of the pool. oh well, i'm still enjoying all the madness.

i found this article/dear abby letter yesterday to which i said to myself that this girl could be my friend. check her out: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/relationships/blog/

2) spring: i'm a fan of experiencing all the seasons but spring a fall provide us great visibility of God's creation & His creating more than just humans the ability to change & transform. the beauty of new life that comes with springtime is such a delight and a gentle reminder of the new life provided in the Easter season that just so happens to occur in spring. (yes, i give the allergies that came w/ the new blooms a pass despite the itchy eyes) daylight savings is rather nice despite having to "lose" an hour of sleep. there's just something refreshing to leaving work at 5pm & still seeing the sun. plus, springtime brings the start of farmer's markets! my last one: warmer temps in spring mean not having to wear 8 layers of clothes when running outside.

3) birthdays: i'm not gonna lie, i totally enjoy celebrating birthdays so the fact that mine & my brothers fall in this month is no mistake. this year, outside of the 2 different nights of celebrating w/ my sweet friends, my parents came down & we enjoyed a beautiful day in birmingham followed by a night in tuscaloosa watching alabama hoops play in the nit. and then to my brother's treat the tide played again on his birthday as well.

4) 31 days: we get 31 days of enjoying madness & beautiful spring time blooming & weather. who wouldn't want that?!!

terrible blogger

i must apologize on my lack of posts especially since the calendar has turned to 2011. i promise i'm not as boring as my lack of boring exhibits...i've just done a fantastic job of neglecting.

braving a northeast winter

well, i survived my little trek to new england during the middle of winter...not only did i survive but i totally enjoyed my experience and time w/ the holloways. i enjoyed seeing beautiful snow covered cities (including the big apple) from 30,000 ft before landing in snowy hartford. not since my one trip to colorado in the winter of '99 have i ever seen so much snow at one time. but the large amount of snow did not prevent us from exploring connecticut as if a gilmore, western mass and boston. i'll let the pictures tell the story of all i saw...

whether in small town connecticut, the town that inspired stars hollow home of the gilmore girls
.


or big city boston, such a beautiful city while covered in snow






or pretending like i'm shopping for an ivy league college, harvard or yale, yale or harvard?!!

unfailing Soveriegnty

the past few months i've been learning and challenged with God's Sovereignty as a whole, not just in the big events and changes in my life or the world but every single activity, event, thought, etc that occurs 24/7 and then my responsibility and need to wholeheartedly trust in Him because of His Sovereignty...i don't have a lot of time to expand on this thought(i'll save it for another post) but i read this devotional this morning that absolutely touches on this subject and wanted to share:

God’s Sovereign Hand

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.
—Isaiah 50:4 niv

God is sovereign, and he has a sovereign design for each of our lives. But knowing, believing, and having faith in God’s sovereign design does not necessarily mean we like the design. We may actually hate the design.

Do we dare tell God we aren’t crazy about his plan? Of course. He already knows our feelings anyway. He knew what we would be feeling long before we had the experience that produced those feelings. He knows the beginning from the end, including our emotions. So go ahead and boldly tell him what he already knows. And don’t worry, he will receive your emotions.

How do I know? The Bible tells me he knows that humans “are as frail as breath” (Isaiah 2:22). It also tells me, “All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7).

A part of experiencing his shelter is trusting the one who provides that shelter. We can settle into the comfort of that sheltering promise. We can trust him and have faith in his character of love that a higher good is in the making and that one day, we will look back and say, “Ah, yes . . . God’s hand was in that.”

—Marilyn Meberg (God at Your Wits’ End)

coming soon: braving a northeast winter

in the morning, i'm heading on a little vacation to visit my friend jennifer & her husband andrew...in western massachusetts. while most folks vacation to warmer places in the middle of winter, i'm being daring and braving the weather to go visit the northeast (plus, southwest suckered me into an incredible deal for this time of year...i guess they know the northeast in the middle of winter isn't everyone's ideal vacation destination)

don't worry, i've got plenty of warm clothes and yes, i'm actually going to remember my camera and to seriously use it so be on the lookout for a post detailing my winter adventures.

roll tide roll

college football season is over and now my ultimate favorite sport gets the spotlight in the college sports world...hello basketball! january to april provide some incredible games especially once march madness kicks in. let's just say tide basketball hasn't been the most stellar in the past few years but thank goodness for coach grant making some strides to get bama bball back where it has been...how bout that victory last night over caltucky?!! wasn't the prettiest especially the 2nd half but hey, we're young, inexperienced and not the most talented team out there but in the end we can all sing some rammer jammer!

i'm excited for the future of bama bball not only as we finish out conference play but as the anthony grant process continues to work.

enjoy the next few months of college hoops because i know i will

new year, new resolutions?!

or just stick w/ the old ones from 2010...

i'm not much of a fan of creating 5-yr/10-yr/2-yr plans or goals mainly because when i have the Lord laughs & reminds me that He's the planner. i do think setting goals can be beneficial so i'm not totally against starting the new year w/ resolutions i've just been reminded repeatedly over the past few years that it's all a matter of where i'm placing my trust: the Sovereign Lord or the plans/expectations/goals i create & expect Him to fulfill.

when i think of any new year's resolutions as the calendar turns into 2011, the main one that sticks out to me is actively pursuing any and all job opportunities/options He places/has already placed in my path. or as i said on new year's eve: "find/get a new job" (Lord willing & planned of course) i was challenged in the month of december with how i approach trusting vs obeying Him and i'm pretty sure that challenge didn't stop once the calendar changed from 2010.

so here's to resolving to continue w/ the challenges & goals of 2010 in a new year

december in a nutshell

as i sit here in my bed on january 2, 2011, it seems like yesterday the calendar was turning from november to december rather than 2010 to 2011. i did get to enjoy some events that occurred during the past month that i'll take a moment to give a brief recap:

*Behold the Lamb of God concert w/ friends in Huntsville. if you're unaware of Behold the Lamb, please do yourself a favor and check it out: www.andrew-peterson.com. our friend erin's brother works for the church that hosted the concert so we attended the post-concert after party w/ church members, friends, the band. such a super fun night and totally worth getting home at 3am

* GAP vs Yak Christmas party: over the summer a group of older(or as they like to be called seasoned w/ age) ladies in the church decided to invest in our sunday school class. throughout the fall, a different lady hosted us and we enjoyed good food and fellowship. the december gathering was no different as we spent time making blankets for various hospitals to give out to low-income mothers & their newborns. it was such a refreshing night for me...every lady i talked to showed they cared a/b my life & provided such encouraging words especially regarding my job search/situation.

*getting to spend a day w/ my dear friend natalie & her sweet daughter eliza

* since my job title has switched from the merchandising side to the customer experience side at work, i've had to work almost every monday night which is when a group of my friends hang out/cook dinner. we wanted to have a Christmas hang out/ornament swap & it basically depended on my work schedule then what worked best for everyone else. luckily the tuesday night before Christmas fit in everyone's schedules and we had a breakfast for dinner potluck. i'm so thankful for these girls & how they've embraced/befriended me since moving to bham...they make me feel special w/ their hatred of my having to miss 90% of monday nights now.

*3 days in memphis w/ the family...nothing better! the days flew by but i'm grateful for the days i got

*can't write up december w/out discussing the crazy thing that is retail during this season. i'm pretty sure work is what made the month go by so fast especially this past week. thankfully, a pay raise & new job title came at the end of what was a busy, busy month at the BR.

thankful for the celebration of the baby in a manger who came to rescue a dead world right in the middle of it all.