n.a.s.h.v.i.l.l.e.

We took a trip to Nashville this weekend. It was splendid. I love Nashville... because lots of my besties live there... kinda makes me wanna move there... but God hasn't said anything about that... so we will stay where we are.

We got to take this trip because we wanted to go celebrate the union of these 2 lovebirds! Ami and Canaan Chapman! ...and celebrate we did!

We made a stop to see the Whatleys... new residents of Nash-vegas!!! The Whatleys are our friends from UAB/Birmingham days! Katy and I were besties on UAB dance team - through my addiction to Monster energy drinks, smiling/jumping/dancing like crazy women at all UAB events, and lots of Katy/Anna time!  Jacob and I had a delightful time with them. Old Spaghetti Factory.  Walking around downtown. Cute Apartment living. Catching up. Cultural Festival. The Parthenon. Sunny day.  I love the Katy.

Saturday was wedding day and more bestie time. I got to be reunited with Lindsey Jo, Emily, and Ami and the wedding! Here's a pic of us - 5 years ago... and today!! Such an amazing friendship... our God knew exactly what we would need and He provided us with amazing sisters to run through life with!! And... we have a pretty good time together! (Sad Beck wasn't there... she's our other part).

Now... if you didn't catch it before... Ami is now a CHAPMAN!! Yes... that's right... related to Christian royalty... STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN. Needless to say, I am now best friends with uncle steve - just kickin' it with him on the dance floor right her!! haha! I know... stalker. Don't lie... you'd do it too! 

Fun lanterns.

My heart is always so full after time with the besties.  It's just good. Snuggle time. Laughing. And just knowing you are understood and loved... without having to pretend. That's a good feeling. I love them. 

And... Jacob and I LOVE our lil' nephew Isaac Henry!!!! He is ready for his cousin, Eric, to get here too!!! :) Isn't he a doll????? 

Great weekend. Great friends. 

just another fabulous friday in february

Hello there.  - I don't know why, but I always feel like I need to greet the world before I start vomiting away. So... hello. 


This week has been good. I felt felt very overwhelmed and satisfied (at the same time) by Jesus this week. I have not been afraid of things I have feared even last week. He has assured me. He is just really good. 


Jacob and I are going on a marriage retreat this weekend. I'm pumped... I think Jacob is too. It's not anywhere special... just Montgomery. But I am so looking forward to us time... JANNA time. Janna (Jacob+Anna=Janna) is what our high school friends called us even when we weren't dating (we swore we didn't like each other for like 4 years... but obviously... something was a brewin'). I don't know what marriage retreats look like so it should be entertaining, enlightening, and enjoyable! :) I feel like a baptist preacher when I do that with words.  "The 3 E's of a marriage conference".  Ha! Anywho... I will let you know how that goes... all the awkward moments, the great moments... don't worry I will leave out the Victoria Secret rated moments.  ha! 


Sunday, we are heading up to the Ham to be apart of Jared's ordination service. I am excited about that and so honored to be there for it. I've told this keyboard before (because I don't know who I am actually telling) that Jared has been a brother to me since I was in the 7th grade. I have seen God grab hold of him and never let go. He has impacted mine and Jacob's lives in so many ways!! Excited to share this day with him, Ashley, and JoJo. By the way... here's a pic of me a JoJo... ain't she presh? 

Another thing I am excited about is a video I am making for Bible Study!!! it's FABULOUS!!! It's Valentine's ya know... love is in the air... so we need to have the annual sex talk in Bible study.  I decided to recruit some help this year! From whom you might ask... well, I chose these love experts:

Please note the puffiness of my checks... I had just had my wisdom teeth taken out, had to be driven to school by my mom, thrown up lots, and was determined to dance the night away at BARN PARTY with the BESTIES! :) All worth it.

We are all in different stages in our life and it's just beautimous!!! We have the old married one (even though she's younger than me), ENGAGED one, single one, married one (me), and dating one!!! :) I asked them about making a video of their thoughts, what Jesus was teaching them, and what the importance of purity is to each of them! They were pumped to make the videos, and can I tell ya... they are hilarious! :) I can't wait to show them to the girls on Monday! I am editing them, putting them to music, and adding some sass to it!! I love it! :) I am so thankful for friends that are willing to make crazy videos, talking about Jesus and encouraging girls they barely know! That's true friendship... it really is. I hope you all have a Lindsey Jo (to make you laugh and keep you grounded), a Ami (to pray for you, laugh with, and show you true strength), a Beck (to keep you thinking, determined, and in line), and a Em (for all the in betweens and so much more). It's just good... God knew what I needed when I moved to the UT! 

Something interesting you may not know about me... I LOVE ZUMBA! :) It's so stinking fun. We have a fabulous ZUMBA teacher here in Troy! :) great right? But I just love going, making new friends, looking crazy, and dancing the night away.  Zumba can make a girl feel pretty sexy (minus all the sweat and body odor). I think all women should feel sexy and worth it! It's important. When you feel good about yourself, you feel good about your husband, friends, plans, life, and everything else. So... you should all go to Zumba! If you are ever in Troy... let me know and we will definitely go because Zumba-Master Sherri can make ya feel like a million bucks and ready for the Victoria Secret Fashion Show - okay, maybe not that sexy but... o well. 

I am excited about life right now. I see God moving in VERY tangible ways. I see my prayers being answered... clearly. I see things happening and changing. I see Him making a way. I don't want to miss out. I want to be right in the middle of His movement. I want to hear all about it. I want to be obedient. I want to fight for joy and fight for freedom for myself and for my friends. 

Rare Beauty

So we have had these flowers pictured growing in our backyard.  Jacob said there were some RARE japanese flower.  I don't know what they are called... that's a question for my mom or Lindsey Jo.  I just know I liked them, and the word RARE got me thinking.  Got me thinking about RARE BEAUTY!!! We are all attracted to BEAUTY. We want to be beauty. We want our lives to be BEAUTIFUL and RARE!! We long to be special and noticed.

I long to have RARE BEAUTY.  Beauty that speaks of Christ - of purity, of honesty, of transparency,  of treasuring... of so much more.

There are special times in my life where I have experienced true, RARE BEAUTY!

One RARE BEAUTY that is a constant in my life is my mommy.  She has always been my constant. She is my role model.  I have seen so many things in and through her - strength, compassion, giving, truth, love, caring, commitment, encouragement, righteousness, fear of the Lord.  She has been my biggest fan in everything, at every season, in every place. She has loved me when it wasn't easy and when my hormones chased away everyone else.  She is RARE BEAUTY.

These ladies (minus Beck) are RARE BEAUTY. I have never had friendships so pure, so genuine, so good.  These ladies... are wonderful.  Ami - she is my Beautiful Strength.  I had seen her trust in the Lord and grow in the Lord as she watched her daddy battle cancer. I have seen her study and fight to understand Scripture and live it out in all areas of her life! She's fiesty and I love it!!  Lindsey Jo - she's my Brave Humor! This woman is BRAVE!! Married at 18. Buys at house at ago 20. Having a kid at age 22!!! Some say nuts, I say BRAVE!! Her best friend and brother was killed in a car accident last March. I have seen and heard and know her heart has been challenged and comforted and revived by my Lord.  And on top of all that ladies and gentleman... SHE'S HILARIOUS!  Emily - She's my  Crazy Compassionate Joy!!!! She's my best friend. She is wonderful. She is the essence of compassion and joy... and craziness!! She was my roommate. We spent every waking hour together - no, seriously we did- we lived together, worked together, went to church together, ate together, EVERYTHING... and I loved it.  I have never seen the Gospel of Christ and the Love of Christ in action like I do in Emily.  AND... her middle name is Joy... so she's that much cooler!  I love her heart, her joy, her friendship... it's good.  Becky (not pictured- haha... kind of like a yearbook picture) - She is my Determined Nurse.  She is the most determined woman I have EVER meet!! She knows what God calls her to do and what's required of her and BY GOLLY... she does it!! She is a nurse... she was made to heal, to love, to show Christ to others.  And she is doing it!!!!!!!!! She is fabulous! 

RARE BEAUTY = following Christ's calling NO MATTER WHAT!!!! I was part of RARE BEAUTY - my and 3 of my great friends went to Africa... 4 college girls... trying to follow God, love on orphans, and be obedient TO GO!!!! It was FABULOUS! 

This crazy cool woman, Heather, is also a burst of RARE BEAUTY!!! We worked together at a deaf camp in Illinois.  It was tough. It was long. It was starved of Jesus. I knew it would be.  When I flew up there... I was TERRIFIED to get off the plane. I don't get that way much, but I just wanted to stay on that plane more than anything... I knew the summer would be tough, lonely, and dry.  BUT... when I arrived in Dixon, IL... I MET HEATHER!!!! She was a God-send. We poured into each other. We poured into others. We did Bible study each morning together. We loved on each other. We laughed alot. We, like crazy people, went to Chicago with no plans... just 14 Bibles to give out with a goal to enjoy the city and love on the homeless.  The last week of camp, we FINALLY got to be co-counselors!!! We broke all the rules, we played hide-and-go-seek in the corn fields with our girls, we talked a lot about Jesus (even though we weren't suppose to), we signed a Spice Girl's song together for the talent show, and it was so good.  This girl loves Jesus, she loves to enjoy life, she loves to interpret, she's just CRAZY AWESOME!  

RARE BEAUTY also takes place when the people of God do exactly what they are called to do and love to do!!! This group, UNASHAMED, is the sign team from the University of Tennessee that God set up!!!! The group, the girls, the time together, and the love there is hard to express because it was so perfect. We loved each other, we love Jesus, and we loved signing together. Makes me smile just thinking about it! 

Where do you see RARE BEAUTY??

Look for it...