I wish I could live under this umbrella... 

Life is getting a little bit less dreamy here.  I am still 100% excited to be living in Orlando and getting to serve the Lord here through ministry and school.  I am having a blast getting to know the students of CFL Wesley and trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. But... those sneaky little desires that have lived like little hobbits stowed away in my heart for years and years are getting antsy.  There's something about being in a place where everything is new and exciting- it's distracting.  Unfortunately, living in a state of constant newness would not be healthy or even fun after a while.  The past couple days have been "hard" ones.  I hate to say they've been hard because I feel like I'm whining, but in my heart I have felt uneasy and restless.  I miss my family, the freshmen staff, River Point, being comfortable.  Reality is setting in, and though I still feel very called to be exactly where I am, I am seeing more and more that this season is not about me ministering to freshmen or about me learning to be a counselor.  This is a season for the Lord to really capture my heart if I'm willing.  He has removed the easy hiding places I have so often run to.  Those nooks don't exist here.  I am feeling very exposed before the Lord these days, and there's a scared peacefulness that bubbles up in my heart.  I trust God to move in me for the good of His kingdom, but that stirring could take me places I never planned to go.  

I'll leave you with a quote from a book I'm re-reading... Better Than My Dreams by Paula Rinehart (great book!)

"I want to suggest that it's just these places in your experiences- where dreams and expectations don't work out- that you are being issued the invitation of your life. Disappointment is, strangely enough, a doorway to the real adventure. It's the point where you start to leave behind most of your notions of how your story should read- and enter your relationship with God as a journey.  A true journey, one that's wild and adventurous and not anywhere close to predictable."

I have always loved Desert Song by Hillsong, but when I saw this video it became one of my favorite songs. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5_ikx9jlM0&feature=related

I think Jill's faith is incredible and encouraging. Her life is a picture of God's faithfulness and His comforting spirit in even our darkest moments. 

Banana Pudding happens to be my most favorite summer desert... It's just the perfect consistency.  Not too sweet, not too rich, cool and refreshing... And it has fruit so it's healthy, right? Okay... maybe not.  Here's a photo journal of my little adventure in being Paula Deen jr. 

I ate about half the box of these yummy mini Nilla wafers... What is it about mini things that make them so cute and appetizing?

I used about half the bananas the recipe called for, and there were already a ton in there... Paula is just crazy!

I could pretty much eat the mixture that you pour on top with a spoon and be completely happy for life... You better believe there was little need for actually washing the bowl when I was done with it. 

The finished product... 

Here's the website where I stole the recipe.  Hopefully it'll taste as good as it looks... 

http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/view2/not_yo_mamas_banana_pudding

Lots and lots to say so I'll just paraphrase my life lately through pictures... they're worth a thousand words, right?

Couldn't have asked for better roommates and best friends in college.

I'm really thankful my mama got to come.  Helped curve the homesickness to spend a weekend with her (as much as I could).

The Brumble Bees

Best (and most beautiful) hall mates a freshie girl could hope for... seriously great friends.  It was good to catch up and laugh about how crazy we were!

The next day... I drove to Orlando, got in the car with Tara, went to the airport, got on a plane, flew to Nassau- where I saw my cousin and his new wife in the airport (small world!), got on a bus with a random mission group and started my first mission trip with CFL Wesley. 

                                 

We worked hard, laughed hard, sweated ALOT and blazed the trail for future teams.

Oh... this is just the beach where we spent our free day.  No big deal.  Just God's finest creation. 

In other news...

Two of my favorites got engaged! Congratulations Stan and Christina! Great story, incredible Godly amazing people with big hearts.

I have to speak at Wesley Tuesday night... don't worry- I just get super nervous speaking to groups of people. You can pray for that. 

Tomorrow I'm attempting to make Paula Deen's Banana Pudding recipe.  We'll see how it goes.  Maybe I'll take pictures if I remember before devouring it. 

I'm super stressed about the Bachelorette this season.  I'm pretty sure my fav- Frank- is going to break Ali's heart and maybe a piece of mine in the process. 

Life is great in Florida... Love seeing what God is doing here and in me. 

I get the privilege of being a part of my college roommate's special wedding day... It's been fabulous so far in the beautiful city of Savannah! We had a precious bridesmaid's luncheon at a little restaurant called Cafe 37.  The food was to die for and the company was priceless.

The rehearsal last night was perfect and the location is just perfect! A beautiful old house and garden.  But more than all that... The couple, Ben and Paige, are perfect for each other and as a friend said so eloquently at the rehearsal dinner- They will be stronger for the Lord together than they are apart.

They have been amazing friends throughout my college years.  I couldn't have asked the Lord for more. 

Congratulations to Ben and Paige! 

In the past two weeks there have been LOTS of "firsts..."

First move out of the state-  kind of a given but sort of a big deal.  It was super sad but exhilarating at the same time.  I felt like a coke bottle that was all shaken up.  I didn't know whether to bawl my eyes out or just smile from ear to ear.  Tuesday morning when the parents left was super hard, but, thankfully, I hit the ground running Tuesday night with... my first CFL Wesley (officially) AND my first trip to Huey Magoo's.  The first Wesley was fabulous.  A former student spoke about his trip to and from God's heart and all the things he learned in between.  He was a great speaker and his message was so simple but heartfelt and powerful.  He pointed out that God's emphasis isn't on where you've been because that can be condemning but rather on who you are.  Loved it! A band called Satellites and Sirens played worship for us, and they did a great job.  The drummer looked exactly like Tom Cruise.  It was actually kind of creepy how much they resembled. The best thing about the whole night was the incredible group of students that make up the body of Wesley here.  What a pleasant but oh so welcome surprise! The students couldn't be more different than UGA Wesley, but I think they have a home in my heart already. They were so welcoming and nurturing and still are! But they talk to me like an old friend and are absolutely themselves around me, and I LOVE that.  Yay for Christians actually acting like Jesus! 

So Huey Magoo's... here's an analogy for some of you to understand the honor this place holds.

Huey Magoo's is to CFL Wesley as El Sombrero is to River Point Staff

I've been there three times already and I've only been here a little under two weeks... Ridiculous! It's basically Zaxby's with less good salads and ice. 

A couple other firsts: 

changed a headlight in my car- harder than you would think (I had to google it!)

cut the grass- also harder than I thought.  I now have some sweet awesome blisters on my hands, and I was probably dirtier than I've ever been in my whole life when I got done. 

painted a pink tile bathroom- from ugly electric blue to crisp clean white... this took a gazillion coats of paint

power outage in Florida- Wednesday afternoon the most horrendous storm came through and of course it knocked out my power.  That's fun in hot, humid Florida- not! And I also had an orientation to go to, and I hadn't yet showered so sorry freshies I met that night!

I promise I'll put up pictures soon for those of you that care to see them, but it's not picture ready yet... (it probably will never be but oh well).  The synopsis of all that is I feel like I'm having to grow up and thought I'm terrified of some of that, I am loving living in the sunshine state (where coincidentally it rains EVERY day).  

So  I've sort of neglected my newborn blog and that's probably a total mistake but sometimes life gets in the way a little...


I am in Orlando finally- after like a year of planning to be here! I have a peach colored bedroom that I am still uncertain about at the present moment and am SLOWLY but surely getting unpacked and settled in this little sauna of a city.  My first week here was an absolute whirlwind, but I was (and still am) blown away at how welcomed I felt.  I don't know much about Central Florida Wesley yet but one thing I do know and already adore is there is a group of students who are so sweetly open and inviting, and I have already been incredibly blessed by them.  The fact that people even remember my name would have been impressive for me but they have gone over and above.  I even came home today from a weekend in Destin to find a little goodie bag sitting on my doorstep.  So sweet! 


Why was I in Destin for the weekend you might ask?  My fabulous college roommate Paige is getting married in two weeks so we whisked her off to Destin for a fun weekend of relaxing and playing for her bachelorette party. 


This is the tiniest little synopsis of my life over the past several weeks, but it is all I have time for (if you could see my house you would totally understand).  Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement! I have definitely felt them and seen them at work already! I have been well aware that Jesus has plans for me here.  My heart is already being stirred in ways I didn't expect. Pictures and more thorough update soon!