Friday is my FAV!

I don't really know what to do for the FRIDAY FAV this week, so just know that FRIDAY is my FAV day this week!!! I'm excited for the weekend... very excited!

I do wanna share 2 verses that I have been meditating on this week. They are so good and so rich and I love them.

For the LORD your God is LIVING amoung you.
He is a mighty Savior!!! 
He will take DELIGHT in you with gladness.
With His love, He WILL calm your fears.
He will REJOICE over you with joyful songs.
Zephaniah 3:17

The verses speak TRUTH to me. I am DELIGHTED in. HE IS HERE! He knows exactly what is happening around me.  HE WILL CALM ME!! HE is constantly REJOICING over me - even when I am not rejoicing myself!!!! He is a might SAVIOR - He continues to save me, to make me new, to give me freedom. HOORAY!! This verse just makes me want to sigh... and breath in His goodness. He is here. What freedom that gives me. It calls and causes me to WORSHIP, to DELIGHT only in Him, and to be calmed with His love.

In that day He will be your sure FOUNDATION,

Providing a rich store of SALVATION, WISDOM, and KNOWLEDGE.

The fear of the Lord will be your TREASURE.

Isaiah 33:6

I am in desperate need of WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE.  I was not given (or I don't know how to use) the gift of discernment. I can't read people or situations very well.  I just except everyone to be good, truthful, and real... well... they aren't. I guess if I don't have discernment, I NEED wisdom to help me do what I am suppose to do in the bad, lies, and falsehood of people and circumstances.  My heart wants people to be good, for me to know exactly what to do, BUT you can't attain TREASURE that easily.  I must seek, struggle, learn, train, and experience life to truly understand why and how I can TREASURE the glory and honor and goodness and holiness and purity of my LORD!!!

But, for real... people just need to be nice, honest, and good!!! That would solve the world's problems! I know, I'm a genius!

This year, I am choosing to SEEK and not HIDE!!!! I want the TREASURE He has stored up for me. I want it more than anything.  I choose to SEEK!!!

fRiDaY fAv!!!!!

This week's Friday Fav is my Fav!!!

My favorite thing in the WHOLE WORLD is seeing girls fall in love with Jesus.  I love to see change and joy and challenge and love and holy anger and fruit!!! It's so good.  I'm going to share a list of girls who I have SEEN and am SEEING Christ work in their lives. THIS IS NOT AN EXTENSIVE LIST!!! I am just really proud of these ladies!! Ready? OKAY!

First... Haleigh... my co-leader!!! I have seen LOTS and LOADS of Jesus all over her!! It's awesome!! A true, crazy transformation and it is SO GOOD!!

HALEIGH

MAGGIE

I see Jesus working in her LOT S  right now!! He is wanting to use her like CRAZY in her school!! She is a light, a joy, and  a friend to all who know her!! So exciting to see her seeking God in her life!!! Go Mags (Pooter)!

 MALLORY
This girl has spunk and I love it! She loves Jesus - loves to talk about Him, be with Him, and see Him work!!! It pumps me up! She is beautiful inside and out and is using her time to glorify Him!!! Go Mal Pal! 

ANGIE 

Angie has CRAZY JESUS strength!! She is a fighter for justice, hope, and goodness. She hates wrong and strives to make things right.  She has experienced evil, chaos, and hurt. BUT SHE IS REDEEMED and she lives like it!!!!!!! I love me some Angie!!! Go Ang Go! 

CAITLIN
This is my girl who moved away... SHE'S BACK!!  And I'm pumped. She is such a leader and she LOATHES hypocrisy! She wants to see change. She wants to be the change. She is feisty and I LOVE that about her.  Jesus is changing her heart in so many ways (I probably don't even know all of them), and it excited me! 

MEREDITH
Can I just say that I have been praying for this girl for a LONG time!!! I am seeing Christ in her and IT IS AWESOME!!! She is being drawn to Him, she is changing, she is talking about what's happening in her heart, and she is DIFFERENT!!! She is such a leader and has so much influence in her school - if she uses it for Christ... things are gonna get CRAZY!!!!! GO MER GO! 

SARA

O wow, have I seen change!! From a quiet, scared girl to a girl whose confidence is wrapped up in Jesus - it's awesome!! I see boldness, seeking, and purity in her.  She is DEVOTED and wants more of Jesus!   She wants to please Him and I think she is precious!! GO SARA! 

KELSEY
I have never seen such a maturity and a deepening of faith as I have in Kelsey! It is INSANE!!! Her family has been through so much this year - she could turn to a lot of different things, but she chose Christ and it is so apparent!!! She amazes me and I LOVE her crazy, querky, loving heart!!! God is all up in her story and I CANNOT WAIT to see how He is going to use everything!! He turns ashes into beauty, weeping into dancing, and pain into joy!!!!!! She is the picture of this! GO KELS!! 

PEIGHTON
This girl has a heart to serve and I LOVE IT!!! She is always coming up with new ideas to serve and love on people.  She is the little momma of the group - she cleans up, helps out, and makes sure everyone does what they are suppose to do.  I have seen her mature in Christ so much within the past year!!! It's so awesome! She is the reason her sister comes to Bible study and it's just so apparent that she wants to do for Him and be used by Him. 

KAITLYN
She finds joy in Jesus' presence.  She is happiest at church, worshipping, and speaking truth to others.  She said some of the most powerful stuff I have EVER heard at summer camp this year... then she prayed the most passionate prayer I have EVER heard from a teenager!!! I KNOW God wants to and will use this girl!!! CAMP COUNSELOR is written all over her!!!!! GO KAITLYN! WOOT WOOT! 

CHRISTINA

This girls passions are so inspiring.  She lives for justice!  She gave up her birthday last year and told her friends and family that if they wanted to get her something they should give to this ministry to gives pure water to other countries! Amazing - I don't know many teenage girls with that selfless desire to care for others.  I see a rebel in her - a rebel of the world and I LIKE IT! She is also a vegan - again, being different than what others expect. She stands out. She is following the command to be a stranger in the world.  Her faith and life stand out too.  She is passion, justice, and set apart!!! I love this lady!!! 

BECCA
Becca is AWESOME. She is the catalyst to the Bible study.  She is a light in her school. She is the passion in our youth group. She loves deeply and she longs to see change.  I hope it happens!!! i love this girl and her heart!! She amazes me.  She's one of those girls who you ask yourself, "is she for real, or is she faking me out?"... well, this girl is for real!!!! GO BECCA 

Friday Fav!!!!

It's Friday!!!! HOORAY!!!

Tonight we are going to see the movie Courageous with our college group! We are pumped! I will let you know how it is!!!! :)

Tomorrow is the Troy vs. UAB game!!! Pretty exciting! Remember... I was a UABer, 

(Jess on the L is getting MARRIED next Saturday - woot woot!!!)

but now Troy pays my salary so I am definitely a Troy fan too.

Also, I wanted everyone to read the best poem ever written... b/c she wrote it because she loved me!!! READ IT!! :) It's from EMILY!! 

Dear Ann,

I'm a big fan.

You always make me laugh,

And you burp like a man.

You are quite loud,

But stand out in a crowd.

You're absolutely gorgeous,

Though not bosomly endowed.

We shared a bunk,

Til you married a hunk.

When we got back from Africa,

Your feet really stunk.

You moved to Troy,

Where you spread the Joy.

Now, you're a momma to Walter,

A hyped up little boy.

You rap in sign.

And it blows my mind.

You got mad skills,

And I wish they were mine.

You sure got class,

But ain't without sass,

If you don't visit me soon,

I'll kick your... bottom :)

Let's be neighbors one day.

We'd frolick and play.

Our kids would starve,

But we'd laugh the days away.

You're my best friend,

And apparently my twin.

With love from Emily,

I'll love ya to the end!

That's so fun!!! What a good birthday present! 

Now for the Friday FAV!!!!! What is my fav restaurant you may ask... well... there a few.  (To clarify... I have told you my fav food... but not my fav restaurant)

For breakfast it it: 

For a nice sit down dinner with my fam: 

My fav place with my fav tea and my fav chicken salad sandwich and just my fav:

And my new fav with my fav salad in the world (and the only fav I can get in Troy):

The end. Enjoy your Friday!! 

Invitation to crap and the friday fav!!

I know I often talk about the girls' Bible study and the youth group, but something that has really blessed be this school year is our college group - The ROPE.  

(The name -The ROPE - means Reaching Out to People Everywhere.  We know it should be ROT-PE, but life's hard and ROT-PE doesn't really roll off the tongue. We would really like to change it to CONSUMED... but everything in the church that's printed says The ROPE so... there.)

This picture was posed!! Haha!!! I had to capture the moment,
so I made them pretend to pray! :) 

Beautiful feet - ready to go, do and share... 

The ROPE started because our church is literally a block from Troy University and there had NEVER been a college ministry here... so... we did something about it.  It's funny because I graduated from college a year and 10 months ago and Jacob... well... Jacob hasn't graduated yet.  But... when you feel the nudge to do something, you have to do it, no matter how inadequate you feel.

Last year, we had a consistent 10-12 people who came each weekend to the ROPE.  It was a good group. We grew a lot from it, but I felt that there wasn't CLOSENESS, HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY, etc. in the group. I knew that's what our group was to be founded on... so feeling the nudge (once again), that's what we did this year.

The first week, I formally invited them all into my crap! haha! I know I could have said it more eloquently, but that's not me.  I invited them to know my struggles, fears, joys, insecurities, and I wanted to be invited into all their crap.  We changed the chairs from rows to a circle. Jacob was willing to change the format of the night from a full message to discussion.  It is good. 

Wednesday night, there was transparency and a sense of community that we all long for. Struggles and fears were shared. Encouragement was given. Blessings were received.  It was a night of worship.  So good.  It was a feeling of belonging... what a joy for all of us!!!  

 We are studying Philippians. We are being called to boldness, to joy, to surrender.  We can do it... together.  I'm so pumped for this group. This year. This movement.

FRIDAY FAV... SIGN

cHeRiSh

The man doesn't do it how I would... but it's my fav sign!!! I would use 2 hands and have a really passionate face on!!! :)

HaPpY fRiDaY!!! 

Friday Favs... FOOD!!!!

My favorite food is... drum roll...

SALAD 

I love lots of salad.  

love love love salad.

My favorite is Western Salad is from MOMMA GOLDBERG'S.

YUMMM!!!! 

and

BREAD

I love bread. All kinds of bread. french. white. wheat. rye. rolls. raw. Logan's rolls are at the top. dark bread. garlic. cheese. ALLLLLLLL BREADDDD!!!! 

That's the Friday Fav for the day. Thanks for stopping by.

Friday Fav

Today's Friday Fav is COLOR... which is

GOLD (aka YELLOW)

It is the color of the sun

sunFLOWERS

FRENCH FRIES - and I love them

Smiley faces

and GOLDFISH

I LOVE IT!! 

Friday Fav!!

So this week has been CRAZY busy!! At work my boss team leader is leaving (not fun) and we are hiring 2 NEW faculty and school starts next week and I am interpreting all day yesterday and today!!! My brain is CRAZY!!

But... onto to Friday Favs!! Today I would like to tell the world about my favorite song.  I will give you some background first.  You see... I was a dance team member on the University of Alabama at Birmingham's GOLDEN GIRLS!!

This is us at Nationals in Daytona Beach, FL!! I loved my team and the friendships that were made through dance team.  I loved performing at football and basketball games, traveling to compete, and just dancing!!! It was good.  There was one thing involved with dance team I HATED... we all HATED. It was body fat testing!!!! SO DUMB!! Yes, I understand you don't wanna stick a bunch of fatties in mid-drifts on the court jiggling around but really - body fat testing??? And people wonder why girls have body image problems!
So... I really struggled ALOT with this.  I actually "failed" a test once - failing means to have over 17.5% body fat... even thought the average women has 20-23% body fat!!!  CRAZINESS!! I got so tired of people telling me what i should look like, how to dress, who I AM!!! I was fed up.
I went to a Barlowgirl concert and got a HOLY SLAP IN THE FACE with this song - "Mirror" - I think it should be the theme song for Jesus-following girls PERIOD.  My mirror is my relationship with Christ - not a scale, mirror, or someone else's opinions/expectations/body fat tests.  Listen to the words - especially you WOMEN!!! :) HE MAKES US BEAUTIFUL!! I know that sounds corny and cliche, but all of us need daily reminders of where our worth and beauty and joy come from - our NEW reflection.

HaPpY fRiDaY fAvOrItEs!

So... I've been thinking (I know, it's scary).
All the cool blogs have certain days of the week they do something fun... I want to be cool.  So, I am hereby declaring Fridays from now on FrIdAy FaVoRiTeS! This could be favorite people, memories, colors, food, events of the week, smells, pictures... you get it! I like it. I think this will be fun. I hope you enjoy my CORNYness... I do. 


For the first official one will be the FRIDAY FAV FOTO.  I will introduce you to my favorite picture in the entire world.  I probably have posted it on here before but it's just to good... it's in need of special recognition. 

This photograph was taken at the Auburn vs. CREAMING Tennessee game! We (Em, Beck, and me) drove to Auburn for my b'day and the game. We sat on the very last row. We watched as our volunteers got beaten to pulps BUT WE THOUGHT THERE WAS HOPE! I don't remember what exactly happened b/c I'm not a dude who retells football stories millions of times. But I believe we (UT) basically handed auburn the ball and escorted them into the inzone for a touchdown... UNBELIEVABLE! We were so frustrated b/c when we are at sporting events we do a good job of acting/screaming/looking like avid UT fans! Emily was crushed and marched up to the top tier to pout.  Beck and I were unaware of the despair happening behind us.  I thought it was a perfect opportunity for a picture and with the press of a button, I captured the most amazing face I have ever seen on my bff. We laughed for hours... i mean hours. I am laughing as I type this because it's just so priceless... and awkward! I LOVE IT! I think I might blow it up to poster size and hang it in my living room so that when I wake up and walk in the room I can begin my day with a giggle. Sound good? 

Just enjoy it. I love you, Em. Thanks for this! 

Happy Friday Fav!