Mama

I love my mom. She has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.

Growing up I didn't realize how absolutely amazing she was. I mean, I did. But I didn't fully understand until I got to college. (lack of homemade food can do that to you!)
But boy did I begin to realize it when I was home for a year and became a nanny. Ha!

I'd go to my mom constantly asking advice and she would laugh at my stories and tell me her own from when my brother and I were kids.

My mom is one of the strongest people I know. My dad has been out of work for awhile, and it hasn't been easy. It's no ones fault, and we don't know why we're going through this, but we're making it. It could be worse. And through it all, my mom has been a rock.
I watch her at Spirit West Coast and see her direct and serve and she teaches me what it's like to be a leader.

She has taught me more than she'll ever know. Probably more than I'll even know. She's my best friend, and my role model, and I can only hope that when I get to become a mommy, that I'll be even half as great as my mom.
Love you Mama. <3

And Mom, if you're reading this (which I'm sure you will at some point) I'm sorry for making you cry. Yes, I know you're crying because I got tear-y eyed writing it. I AM my mother's daughter. :)

The Word

I'm going to be honest. I've never read through the whole Bible. I've wanted to, and I've tried, but I've never succeeded. This may surprise some of you because I LOVE reading. But I just found it hard to pick up my bible and read through the genealogies and through things like Ecclesiastes and be excited to read further.
This last summer I asked my pastor's wife to mentor me. It was phenomenal! We studied Proverbs together, and the Wife of Noble Character (ch. 31) in depth and it was such a great experience.
During this study we decided to read a chapter every day (based on what day in the month it was : 17th read chapter 17 and so on) and we'd focus in depth 2 verses per week from the 31st chapter. So I was reading a chapter everyday.
It was hard for the first few weeks. There were weeks when I'd go to Starbucks, order a drink, and read 7 chapters to get caught up. But as the summer progressed I got into a routine and I really enjoyed setting aside time to ignore everything going on in my life and read the bible.
So at the end of the summer I looked at the books of the bible and put in order what books I wanted to read. Then I went into iCal on my laptop and put in everyday which chapter of which book I would read. Seriously. It took me a really long time because I filled it in for 4 months. Hahaha
But since I've come back down to APU I've kept up with it. And the crazy thing is, if I went a day without reading, by the end of the day I could tell. I feel unfocused...if that makes any sense.

Honestly, I don't know how I've kept up with it still. Well, I do. And it's God. Duh. But I remember my first few years at school praying desperately to God asking Him to give me a love for His word and a passion to read it....and it never happened. Little did I know all I had to do was sit down and just DO it, and it would all come naturally.

Ten Ways to Love

1. Listen without interrupting (Proverbs 18)
2. Speak without accusing (James 1.19)
3. Give without sparing (Proverbs 21.26)
4. Pray without ceasing (Colossians 1.9)
5. Answer without arguing (Proverbs 17.1)
6. Share without pretending (Ephesians 4.15)
7. Enjoy without complains (Philippians 2.14)
8. Trust without wavering (Corinthians 13.7)
9. Forgive without punishing (Colossians 3.13)
10. Promise without forgetting (Proverbs 13.12)