the FAITHFUL life

"...being a child of God isn’t about the easy life… it’s about the FAITHFUL life."

That's what I found my fingers typing on Natalie's blog this morning in response to what she's been struggling with (read it). I've always known that the life of a Christian wasn't easy. The Bible tells us as much! But every once in a while I find myself expecting things to always go my way or trying to rest in the fact that "my plans" are going to work out.

In talking with Natalie about what she is going to do when her little girl comes I've realized that I have absolutely no clue what my future looks like. In 11th grade I remember standing in the AP Chemistry lab talking to my lab partners/friends about how my life was going to work out. I was going to go to the Naval Academy, get a degree in engineering, apply to NASA and become an astronaut. Simple, right? Sure! NOT how God works. Unfortunately I had to learn that lesson a couple of times the hard way.

Of course I know what I would like to do and what I believe God is calling me to do, but I don't know for sure. All that I do know is that He is faithful beyond my imagination. His plans are to prosper me, NOT to harm me. He is in the process of reminding me of that and I'm thankful. I try to look at life with an attitude of excitement... I mean, it's better than a movie because you have NO IDEA what God is going to do!! Most of the time I'm just laughing at myself because who would have thought Miss "I'm going to be an astronaut and no one can stop me" would end up getting her FRENCH degree from CLEMSON to then go live in Belgium and come home to SPARTANBURG, SC (of all places...) to work with a ministry that I love and adore? If anyone would like to stand up and tell me that God doesn't have a sense of humor after hearing about my life, then forget it, because I'll just tell you to sit back down :)

Since I didn't know where I was going to be or what I was going to be doing 3 years ago when I graduated from Clemson, what makes me think that I know what even the next year holds?? I'm excited about it. I know that God isn't going to drop me and leave me. There are times when I try and do it with Him, but He is always there waiting (patiently, I might add) when I go sprinting back to Him. If only WE had that much faith in HIM. Wow. I wish I could get to that point and really see what God fully has in store for me.

Trunk-or-Treat!

This was part of my small group working on our crayon costumes: Sara, Marsha, Alicia and Nicky.

The finished product! We had an awesome box of crayons!

Emily, Court and Chris McGowan
(Pirates... not sure if they were of the Caribbean or not)

Erin and Mac McArthur
(Glenda the Good Witch and The Wizard of Oz)

Late 20s

This is the view from the second floor balcony at my office. How amazing is that? Not too bad for a birthday morning, huh?

So apparently, some people think that 27 is still your mid-twenties, which I'm completely fine with, but I had convinced myself that it was OK to be hitting my late twenties today and I don't know that I can revert back at the drop of a conversation. Oh well... God has done some amazing things these past 27 years and I am SO thankful for His GREATness. All in all, I don't think it really matters what "age" we are... God doesn't work on our timetable anyway. Besides, to be honest, I've enjoyed getting older... (notice I didn't say "growing up." haha!) I wouldn't be able to appreciate life if I stayed the same age for eternity. This adventure of life is much more exciting when you have age and experiences under your belt.

Thunder and Lightening

If you haven't heard... James Davis and CJ Spiller are Clemson's "Thunder and Lightening" and are my new heros. They were AMAZING at our game against GA Tech with a 31-7 win. I was at Ryan and Sarah's wedding (as you can see below...) but was able to watch the ESPN Game Day crew and the awesome win on tv after the wedding.

I realize I'm a geek for taking pictures of the tv, but I wanted to capture the full evening and all of the joy! haha! Hopefully we can do this again on Thursday against VA Tech... now that would be a WONDERFUL birthday present!!

Congrats Mr & Mrs Wright!

I've known Ryan since we were 8 years old and going to Fernwood Baptist where his dad was the pastor and we were in 3rd grade at Jesse Boyd. And now, he's off to Australia with his bride for 2 whole weeks! CONGRATS Ryan and Sarah!! The wedding was a blast... and like your dad said, "I hope this is the worst day of your marriage."

This was just before they left...

Dottie, me and mom at the reception.

Ryan's oldest sister, Kristi, brother-in-law, Lee and two nephews, Grayson and Landon.

Landon essentially turned out to be my date at the wedding... now if I could only find someone my age that liked me that much, I'd be set! haha!!

Ryan's other sister, Traci and her husband, Alan.

Mother and Father of the groom with the ring bearer, Grayson.

Meredith, Sarah and Traci at the reception.

It's FALL!

Fall is finally here... Clemson games consist of dressing warmly...

(Kristen, Jennifer and Brooke modeling their warm Clemson attire at the Temple game in Charlotte... you know, where we won 63-9).

We carved some pumpkins and ate some taco soup...

(Kelly and John with their mad pumpkin-carving skills...)

And then spent Saturday evening in downtown Greenville at Fall for Greenville!

(This was Lindsay and Kelly after our first round of delicious food from Sassafrass.)

It was an awesome weekend. Food, fun, friends and a Clemson win. You really can't ask for much more than that :)

searching for life

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!" Luke 24:5,6

I read this passage this morning while eating my Cinnamon Toast Crunch and it stuck with me. I've read it numerous times before and heard it more than that. It's part of "growing up in church" and being there every Easter Sunday. But what got me this time is how TRUE it is.

I've heard a lot lately about speaking truth... whether you need to speak it to yourself or to a friend. The thing is, it's not just truth, it's Truth, with a capital T. It's the Word of God. It's the living Christ. It's what gets me through my day and many times is the only reason I get up in the morning. Jesus didn't die on that cross for nothing. He died for you, he died for me, he died for Bill Gates, he died for bin Laden and he died for all the Muslims who are in the middle of Ramadan right now (http://www.30-days.net/).

He had a purpose in what he did and it didn't stop there. HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. His living, breathing Word speaks Truth day in and day out. He isn't physically sitting next to me right now, but he never leaves my side. He isn't audibly speaking to me each day, but I hear him often.

I just wish I could speak this Truth to others around me with more clarity than I think I will ever be capable of doing.

First Birthday Dinner of the Month

So, my bday really isn't until the 26th, but since Arica was here and it was October, we went to dinner with some friends to "celebrate." It was fun!

Lindsey Mart, Robert, Lindsay, Chad, myself and Arica went to PF Changs for dinner. But don't worry... we'll be celebrating again ON my birthday as we watch the Clemson Tigers beat VA Tech!!

My brother

This is my brother, Matt.! He's up in Fort Mill right now about to help open a restaurant called Six Pense Pub and Grill (I think that's the full name). Anyway, he's an awesome chef and I'm not just saying that because he's my brother! He just moved down from Blowing Rock, NC and I'm glad that he's a little closer now so hopefully I'll be able to see him a little more.

If you're interested in going up for some good food, let me know and I'll tag along!

SC Tour for a Texan

My friend Arica was in town this past week from Texas, today is her last day here :( and we took a tour of SC. We went from Greenville to Clinton, to Walterboro, to Isle of Palms, to Charleston, back to G'ville, to Clemson, to Rock Hill, to Fort Mill to Spartanburg and finally back to Greenville. Whew!

Check it out...

Clinton was the first stop to see Adam and Leah (the girls were in school, so sad!).

This is Eric, my former youth minister. He's now pastoring a church in Walterboro called Beadon Baptist. It was my first trip to that part of the state. He showed us around. It took about 10 minutes.

Isle of Palms!!

One of our goofy pictures.

We got this shirt for her only a few hours after she landed in SC!!
I mean, she needed something to wear to the game on Saturday...

Sunday night was Family Night with the Greens... just like old times. Except for the part of us NOT being in Belgium. Rock Hill is a tad bit different than Brussels. But only a by a little...

Our last stop was in Fort Mill to see my brother. But, since you can only upload 6 pictures in one post, I'll have to post that one of him and me later.

But, it was WONDERFUL to have Arica here and I wish God would call her to SC, but I know He's using her tremendously out in Texas. Oh well, at least we're on the same continent for the moment and can call whenever we want!