my real life toy story

i love the movie toy story. 

i love it because it is a simple picture of an incredible truth.  those toys know exactly who their owner is, they are marked by him, ANDY.  buzz, woody, bo peep, etc. they are all valued by their owner.  they are proud of their owner's mark.  even for the toys that did not have the owners mark wanted it because others had it.  the new toys, jesse and bulls-eye were adopted into the family because of woody's love and pride for ANDY. the toys are marked by their owner, but not always safe from SID or the evil robot. not only did the toys love being marked by their owner, but their owner noticed when one small toy went missing and he was sad until they were found.

this truth grabbed my heart as i realized that i am marked by my owner, the God over everything.  i am loved by Him, known by Him, valued by Him. just like the toys my heart wanders towards sin and my marking gets warn off. but my God is always faithfully persuing me and my heart; he will re"sharpie" it.  i want my life to be so visibly marked by my owners love and story. 

Lord,
thank you for your mark on me.
thanks for placing your name on my "shoe." 
help me love like you love and boast only in your story.
i am quieted by your constant pursuit of my heart.
and in awe of your forgiveness for me and open arms. 
i love you.

2 Timothy 2:19
..."the Lord knows those who are his," and "All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil."
John 10:14
After he has gathered is own flock, he walks ahead of them and they follow him because they know his voice.

my hearts dream

when i was little i dreamed about being a bride. i would dress up and imagine every little detail.  into my older years i was obsessed with watching Say Yes to the Dress or Who's Wedding is it Anyways?  i imagined that someday it would be my turn to wear the beautiful dress.  have a huge party all for me.  it would be my turn to be valued and adored, known and loved, treasured and beautiful.

it's crazy to think that right now i am planning that day.  however, that day looks much different in real life than it does in my little girl fairytale.  dont get me wrong it will be a fairytale day for me, but it will not be because i am wearing a white dress or having a huge party that is all about me.  it is because i get to stand up next to my best friend.  the man that my parents have been praying for, the man i had dreamed of meeting.  i get to stand next to him and say "I DO."  not just "I DO" to taking care of K, respecting him, loving him, serving him (these are all important, dont get me wrong!)... but i get to say "I DO" to partnering with him for the rest of my life in sharing the Gospel.  the one thing that has guided our relationship and will continue to guide our marriage.  i can't put into words how much excitement and joy it brings me to think about where the Lord will lead us together for Him in the future!

i love to think about how the Lord has placed this dream of a wedding on my heart.  he has drawn me into him and shown me more of how he loves me through my engagement and relationship with K.  my Lord knows me intimately, he knew that he would be able to reach me through my little girl dream.  show me that HE is enough.  that HE adores me, values me, celebrates me, treasures me, knows me, and loves me.

...on that note, only 98 more days until i get to stand next to my best friend and say
  I DO. We'll GO. Lord send US, together for your KINGDOM.

a picture is worth a thousand words

no words can describe my love for 834.

my amazing best friends.

 oh, and i am excited to be this man's WIFE!

blog barf

blog barf- extremely random unedited thoughts from my head thrown into a blog post
    
i am back. no guarantees that i will be back for long, but for a little while i am back.
my life has consisted of school, wedding plans, work, friends, and cleaning (living on your own is hard work).  this semester has been so different than any other semester.  i dont have any of by best friends down the hall (for the first time in 2 years).  i dont even have them close.  i am learning that as you get older friendships take more and more effort.  its not a bad thing, just that we have less time to see each other and a greater longing to spend time together leaving us with two options: 1) find time and be intentional with each other (never had to schedule my friends before) OR 2) just stop seeing each other all together... that is NOT an option.  
things are different, that means change. i have never been a fan of change. i am learning that the Lord uses change in our lives to grow us into people who reflect His character more and more each changing day and as much as i dislike change, i want to know His character more.  i want Him to teach and lead and grow me. i think that is going to be a theme of my year as i continue to experience big HUGE life changes in the next 5 months.  so here i am ready and so excited to embrace CHANGE.  
i wont leave you with more scattered thoughts, although i know there are some in my head... dont worry they will come on the next blog barf day.

hello 2-0.

goodbye teens. i am the big 2-0.
but dont worry i am stilll as silly as can be!
this is how i feel about being 20.

excited for what this year will bring. :)

pretty white dresses.

this weekend = bliss. 

sisters (BOTH). family. fiance. friends. in-laws to be. home cooked food. wedding stuff. dance. the nelson. chocolate fondue. and more.

PLUS shopping for WEDDING DRESSES. i have been waiting my whole life for this day. :) 

now, if this snow storm junk could just clear off the map i would be good to go!

Enagement

A fun little Animoto project that we had to do for Technology class.

oMA word.

this was my weekend:

sat by my bed with the widow open and the sun shining in...

 water colored a picture (exercised my creativity)...

drank about 10 to many cups of tea...

sat around and laughed with this awesome girl...

i guess i could call this a somewhat uneventful but great weekend.

i love my life.

also this coming weekend...
1. i get to go home WITH kv (this is a big deal)
2. A will be home from TX
3. i get to go wedding dress shopping
two good weekends in a row.

"fake" shape & friendship

DISCLAIMER: not every blog will be this long!

today was beautiful outside.  seriously, sunny and 65.  so J, my sweet roommate being the athletic and motivated woman that she is asked me to join her for a run.   i tried to decline her offer multiple times, but she insisted and said she was out of shape to it was no big deal.  you see i am what they call "fake" shape.  definition- looking in shape but not being in shape.  all that being said, i proceeded at J's request to put on shorts (only to show off my ghostly legs) and a tshirt.  i grabbed my iPod and we were off.  the beginning was not too hard, i mean i am capable of running BUT slowly as she persevered i could not run any longer. she continued, because i am convinced her definition of "out of shape" and mine are totally different. i walked. she insisted on walking with me.  so the cycle continues.  she pushed me, harder than anyone ever has, and we walked/ran for awhile.  when it was time to turn around i had no option but to walk, my legs wouldn't have it anymore.  i told her that she needed to run running for her is the same amount of exercise as walking for me.  she ran ahead, quite gracefully.  i walked behind. 

all this to say, it was humbling.  i was pushed, struggled, humbled, encouraged and i know through it all she still loves me.  i am not sure she knew what she was getting into when she asked me to join, but i know that it was the perfect depiction of J and my friendship.  (more generally what any friendship should be like.)  this is what Christ wants our relationship(friendship) with him to look like, it is also the model of friendship He has set for us here on this earth.  i needed that reminder. i have been blessed with amazing friends and lately i have forgotten about how much i need those friends to PUSH me, STRUGGLE with me, HUMBLE me, ENCOURAGE me, and LOVE me.  my prayer is that i will continually learn to be a friend like that.

hello, college snow day.

so, i recently started a blog for my technology education class.  i really liked the idea of writing, sharing, and processing.  i did not really enjoy doing it for school, but i have been pondering it for awhile, so why not.  here i am entering the blog world.  this year has been so much of a challenge already.  so many BIG changes that will happen within 2011.  things that i am so excited, nervous, and giddy for. 

for starters a recap of this year month:
    
i finished 2 books (i am not a reader but would like to love reading, so i am actually reading)

started the professional program for the College of Education, ekkk.

reading through Esther, the Lord really put a longing in my heart to know the old testament stories (more than just the veggie tales version).

i started a new journal. i love starting new journals.

i am currently experiencing my first college "snow" day.

.... here is the highlight.

my best friend got down on one knee and asked that one little BIG question...

i said that one little word, YES, and now we get to serve the Lord, together, FOREVER.