Losing control

For most of those that know me, I enjoy being in control. I like knowing what to expect and I enjoy having a plan. I like thinking through possible hiccups and seeing holes in plans. I like to be prepared. At times this can be a great thing but often times it can lead to frustration. Because what I know to be true is that as much as I would like to be in control, I am NOT. I have never been in control, it is always an illusion. I cant predict the future, I cant always figure out the unknown. As much as I do plan, it seems to change or not go exactly as planned. I am learning lots about control and how God wants me to rest in Him. You see, God is the one who is in control. He is the one who can see the whole picture. He knows how things will pan out and he always does what is best. 


Today things did not go as plan. You see, today we were suppose to pack all our stuff up in a moving van that a friend was going to drive up to Boston for us. It was a huge blessing and massive savings for us. Throughout the day today, it began to look like we were not going to be able to put our stuff on the van and were going to have to figure out something else. We were in limbo for most of the day. I have been trying to rest in the fact that God is in control and I am not. Trying to remember that He knows how this will all will happen. I have to be honest though that I dont do it well. I get frustrated and question why things did not go as planned. It sucks at times and hurts. But luckily I have a wonderful husband that reminds me the truth about God. He reminds me that God cares deeply for us and if things dont work out with the moving van, it is because there is something better for us. 


As of tonight, we dont have anything set in stone as for how we will move our stuff up to Boston. The plan is leave on Wednesday and arrive in Boston on friday. That is what I want to happen! But I resting in the truth that God knows how it will all happen! I am grateful to be in a position where God will show off his power! He has brought me to a point where I am trusting in Him and relying on Him for whatever may happen. I am not in control- HE IS! I have to be continually reminded of that truth! I serve a God who is not only adores me and showers me with His love, but has the ability to do anything!!

"I think I will go to Boston"

The boxes have begun to be filled.

The goodbyes have started.

We are moving in 13 days to Boston...CRAZY!!!

We are actually moving. I always knew that when we got married that we would be moving somewhere. Chris has always wanted to finish his Masters and I love adventure, so Boston it is. I am a florida girl and the thought of moving up to Boston is a little daunting, but I am excited!

We will pack all our stuff up, load it up in uhaul and move up. Chris will start classes in September at Gordon Conwell and I will start working with the Boston SV team. He will be pursuing his Masters in Divinity in hopes of either teaching, planting a church, joining staff with CRU or whatever else God may have planned. The first year we will live on campus in apartments- woohoo :) I am actually a little excited about it. I love the thought of living in community with others that are doing the same thing for a season of life!

Along with all the excitement, I am a sad to be leaving. Atlanta was my first adventure after college. I moved up here with a carload of things and a new job. The last 5 years have changed me and I have learned more than I ever could of imagined. I am grateful for the adventures, life lessons and experiences I have had. I will miss it more than I can put into words...

Top 5 things Atlanta has brought/taught me:

5) I learned that I still love the game of soccer. I have loved getting to coach at the high school and see how God can use soccer for His glory.

4) My first ministry assignment...SV North Fulton. I have had a different team each year I have been here and through each one, I have learned so much and had so much fun. I have seen God move in the hearts of students and change kids lives. As I sit and think, I am amazed at God's faithfulness to pursue his children and show them His love!

3) God is in control and know what is best for me- I am stil learning this now :)

2) The bestest friends that anyone could have! They have brought joy and laughter and encouragement in my life! I have had endless adventures. Oh how I will miss our deep conversations over coffee and getting to pray for each other and try new things!

1) I found my loving husband here :) We are coming up on 9 months of marriage in August and it is AWESOME! I could never have imagined that I would meet my husband in Alpharetta, GA. Once again, God surprised me with Chris as a sweet blessing and gift to me!

The New Life

A week ago, I was just finishing up our weeklong summer conference, Getaway. The week seems to always be a life changing time for students. God has been gracious and shown up and worked in the lives of students. This year, I was in charge of the program. I love getting to create space for students to meet with God. We had lots of high energy crazy stuff, worship, and speakers. But one of the my favorite things was what we did on Wednesday night. We slowed things down a little bit and allowed students to reflect on what God had been saying to them all week. The room was low lighted with tea lights on the stage. We gave them scripture to meditate on and had the band playing old hymns in the background. Each student had an index card and given the freedom to write whatever was on their heart. In the back of the room, we had strings hanging from the ceiling and clothes pins attached to it. Within a few minutes of the night starting, the cards began to fill up the strings. The students poured out their hearts to God and shared with such honesty and vulnerability. I was amazed as I read through what some of them wrote. God was speaking clearly to the students and they were listening to Him. We serve such an awesome God.

The very last night, we had the students respond one more time. The theme for the week was 'New'. We used the verse in 2 Corninthians 5:17- "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life has gone; a new life has begun" We asked the students to think of one word that described their old self and come up and write it on a black card. As we assembled the board, you began to see that 'NEW' was written in large writing with the cards. It was once again a reminder to the students that their old life is gone, and in Christ they are NEW! It is only in Christ that they are able to live the way that he has called them to live! They are no longer slaves to sin, but sons and daughters of the King!

Our lives as of lately

I thought in January when I started this blog, that I would be consistent at posting. Unfortunately, life became extremely busy and things got pushed to the side. But I can say now that things have finally slowed down some. We are officially in summer mode and I LOVE IT!! We are enjoying the slower pace of life and actually getting to hang out with other people :)

This is what has consumed our last couple of months...

FASTBREAK w/ my sweet senior small group! I will miss these girls next year!                                 

Mama Dayle's 60th bday bash! We all flew to Orlando to surprise her and then threw her a massive surprise party :)

     

We attended a couple of weddings for friends! Matt and Nikki got married in Atlanta and then Mandy and Jose got married in Hilton Head, SC.

                      

Over spring break we went to Estonia with SV! The trip was unbelievable! We took 18 students and 6 staff with us. The kids shared their faith and built some great relationship with the other students. 

We spent most of the spring coaching soccer and we loved it! The girls made it to playoffs this year and had a great season! It was one of the most enjoyable seasons that I have gotten to coach so far!

TIFFANY AND RAMSAY GOT MARRIED :) 

The bachelorette party @ OPAs. It consisted of lots of napkin throwing and dancing on tables!

My handsome husband and I

The bridesmaids and the beautiful bride

The wonderful couple exiting for the night! It was a magical night. I have never seen such a happy couple and so excited to get married! It was beautiful!

That has been our lives! Stay tuned for many more updates and more consistent posts :) 

Remembering Haiti

Today is the two year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. I was blessed with the opportunity to go down to Haiti the summer after the quake. It was one of the most life changing trips that I have ever been on. I have gotten to travel quite a bit over my lifetime and usually by the end of the trip, I am ready to come home. With my trip to Haiti, I wanted to stay. When I got back to America, I only wanted to go back. I left a piece of my heart there. I hope one day that I get to go back. I miss the people. They had more joy than I have ever seen and yet they had absolutely nothing. I could say lots about Haiti but I believe that pictures can say more than words....

Precious children in one of the IDP camps (internally displaced people)

The streets were still covered with debris- there is not a lot of equipment available to comeclean it up.

Distributing food at an IDP camp! It was a little intense at times!

College students we got to work with throughout the summer

Morning routine- LOVED IT!!!

LOVE.

Our translator and friends- Denis!

Human Trafficking

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day! I love that this is now something that is more public! About 6 years ago, I started learning about human trafficking and instantly my heart was broken. It floored me that there were people who werebeing sold. I live in a world that I am free to do what I want, free to be me, free to take risks, to try new things and to go where I want. To think that there are people that at this moment who dont have that freedoms that I have is awful. It is hard to think about because the problem is huge. There are mass amounts of people who are enslaved and at times it seems overwhelming. But to stay neutral is actually making a choice. The more people become aware for this, the better we are to fight it. I am confident of this, the only way we will see change is if God shows up! To fight human trafficking without the gospel is to only solve half the problem. People need to know that healing and hope can be found in Christ. He is the one who saves, he is the one who redeems and makes all things new! I need to become more diligent about praying and going before the Lord and asking him to move!!

A New Beginning

With everything changing in my life, I decided to embark on the world of blogging. The whole world of blogs has always scared me a little bit and mostly because my writing skills are quite awful. I had my mother edit my papers through college and if I am honest, I will still send her stuff to look over. But, it is a new year and chance to do new things. The last year has consisted of lots of new things and I have a feeling the next couple of years will only bring more! To catch you up on the new things, here they are....

Newly engaged this year...then

Newly married to this handsome fella (I am one lucky girl)

New Job- well new role- Interim City Director of Student Venture

We get to all work with high school students in wonderful north atlanta. This is our staff team that is on the field working right now, we have 3 more joining us soon!

New Apartment (with new husband of course :)

There is just a few of the new things in my life this past year, there are many more to share! Hope you enjoy!!