F-R-I-E-N-D-S

Lately, I really have been thinking how much my friends really mean to me. As a girl in college, you long to find your best friends. Some you meet in classes and others you meet in the dorms. Though, when you find those close knit friends, your life is simply never the same again. My best friends at TCU have become my family. We are a close group and we find it hard to keep anything from each other... we literally talk about everything under the sun. It's comforting knowing that I have them here with me. They are incredible people, each with a different personality but so genuine that they bring something different to our relationship as friends. They are incredible women with values that cannot be shaken. Without them, I do not know how my life would be. We are there for each other in joys, tears, laughter, and pain. They are incredible women that I know God has placed in my life for a specific reason. I am blessed knowing that these incredible girls will be by my side when I take my next steps of life into marriage. I know that no matter what, all the things we have been through together are bonds cannot be broken. My prayer is that everyone can experience amazing friendships like I have... they are truly a precious gift from God.

"Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget."

FAITH is an incredible thing

You would think that after four years someone would lose hope, give up on a dream, and wither away in self pity. Though, since my time in college at TCU I have learned about a remarkable girl and her family who giving up to them was just not an option. Some people think that when they pray, their prayers should be answered immediately. This family knew that with time, God does address all prayers and that you just have to continue giving Him your life story and allowing Him to paint it for you. As hard as that may be for humans, this family knew that with God nothing is impossible. This journey they have been on has been a very long one...filled with laughter, tears, hurt, pain, smiles, disappointments, and the ultimate goal; a new beginning for their beautiful daughter. It brings joy to my heart knowing that by their immense faith God has finally rewarded their perseverance.

Tonight, as we prayed for her sister and prayed for their family... it was such an amazing feeling that washed over me. God is good all the time. No matter how big or small of a problem we have He will always see us through. I cannot get over the fact that their beautiful daughter and sister received all the organs that she needed and that the new organs responded to her body. Do the doctors realize what they did tonight?? Those doctors answered a prayer, they gave a life back to a girl who has wanted that more than anything in the world.

Sitting in the floor of our living room tonight praying with my family, my 3 beautiful roommates... I felt the peace of God wash over us. At that moment, our hearts were so exposed, and tears flowed from our eyes. We met each other on a different level and at that moment I knew those girls would always and forever be my best friends and be my prayer partners till the end of time.

Tonight, was a night of so many new beginnings... a new life brought through organs, a step toward a new life spoken through prayer, and a new place in all our hearts for the bond we now have that no one can ever take from us.

We are a family of Faith that cannot be broken. We find healing in the power of prayer and know that with Faith and Hope anything is possible when we rely on our Heavenly Father.
Tonight, I learned the true meaning of Faith. I learned that Faith knows no boundaries and that God can work in ways we cannot even wrap our minds around.
Through this story, God's love and grace is magnified. She is now going to be able to leave a remarkable legacy, and by God's grace her story will shine His light to everyone she comes in contact with.

Our lives are not our own, it is a beautiful gift from God... so allow Him to paint your story daily.

"The Lord is my rock, my strength, my fortress..." Psalm 18: 2a

WOW how time flies

The spring semester is under way and the first two weeks of school are complete... I cannot believe how fast time flies! I am loving my child development classes and having a blast learning about everything I could have imagined about kids. My schedule is a little crazy with 18 hours... but I just keep reminding myself... you CAN DO THIS!!! This semester I am going to be working with kids at a day school and that is going to be so much fun seeing all of their different personalities and learning how to better work with kids so that when I become a Child Life Specialist I will be better equipped. I love loving on kids, so this semester is going to be an absolute blessing. All in all, my child development classes are equipping me to be a better mom in the long run.
WOW, how wedding planning has gotten under way and has become crazy!! There are only 4 1/2 months until the wedding! I can't believe this day would ever come. I am getting nervous, excited, and a little stressed. I am excited for all the fun showers and parties to start. :) It is going to be a blast and a time in my life that I will cherish for forever!
This semester I am working towards giving every worry to God. This is way harder than I ever thought it would be. For people who know me, I am definitely a worrier and I like making people happy and when everything is not going right I get all stressed out. So this semester I am really working hard at giving everything to God and letting him use me and my worry in positive ways. I look forward to seeing how God is going to use me with my friends and family.
Life is such an amazing journey and I can not wait to see what He has in store for my life.
I am also trying to become better prepared for how to be a good wife... it makes me nervous... I am going to live with a boy! So weird and very different from living with all girls, but it is going to be a beautiful journey. My prayer has been that I put my worries aside and allow God to be in control of every aspect of my marriage. I am excited to see what I continue to learn from Reagan and his job as a youth pastor and how I can better support him through all the ups and downs of life. I am excited to see how we will learn to even better compliment each other once we are married and work together to achieve goals that we both have passions for. I am so excited to be spending the rest of my life with the man of my dreams. I look forward to what God will give to us through perseverence, faith, and the lessons we will learn together that will make us that much stronger in our relationship and our faith in Him.

"Cherish the people you love and the moments you have in your life, because in the blink of an eye they could all be gone."

Life if a Wonderful Journey

Wow... How time has flown! I am so sorry I have not blogged in forever but it has been a crazy end to 2009. It is now 2010... and many beautiful things are ahead of me! I can't believe I am getting married this year!
2009 was a crazy ride, full of many life lessons, and so many new obstacles that I have had to learn how to best overcome. I am very excited to see what God has in store for me in 2010. He taught me some very beautiful things through tears and happiness this past year, but this year I am very prepared to embrace anything He throws my way. I now know that the things that seemed impossible are possible when you have the strength of God. Each day is such a blessing knowing that I am not ALONE... that I have the love of God's grace embracing me.

So to say the least I am looking very forward to 2010. I am very excited to see how God is going to use me... Not only in my relationship with Him, but with Reagan, friends, and family. I am very excited to see how I am going to be used in my new major and classes. My prayer is that I embrace the blessings He has given me and smile everyday. I am very lucky to be alive and been given the amazing opportunity to go to school and get an education from my parents.

I am very excited to learn all about kids from here on out! I feel that it is not only going to help me interact with kids better but give me a better insight on how to be a better mother many years down the road. It is very exciting knowing that I am going to have the opportunity to work with kids hands on this semester. Children are definitely a gift from God and I am very excited to see all that they will teach me. Kids are so lovable and I am very excited to dive in and do the best that I can do.

This year I am setting 10 Goals for myself. They are not in any particular order... just things I really want to accomplish by the end of this year.

(1) I want to learn to RELAX more and enjoy each day to it's fullest.
(2) Workout every day... whether it just be an hour of cardio or full body I want to be at the gym everyday.
(3) I want to learn to cook more new and exciting meals. I love cooking and it is something that Reagan and I have found that we really love doing together.
(4) I want to take more time to invest in my friends.
(5) I want to spend time with God everyday.
(6) I want to spend time with Reagan everyday reading a chapter in the Bible. I feel that it will bring us even more closer together. Right now we are currently reading Song of Solomon and it has been awesome just spending that time together with him.
(7) Volunteer somewhere and help families and their children.
(8) Find an internship at a hospital or non profit organization
(9) LIVE IN THE MOMENT
(10) Continue to work with Reagan to better communicate together, look forward to our marriage and to plan what is best for us

All in all, I am very excited for the new year and all the amazing things that are going to happen. This year is going to be such an incredible journey and I am ready to embrace it to the fullest.
It is so exciting to know all the new changes that are going to occur, but I am so excited for all the memories that will also be made this year. Life is such an amazing journey and with the blessings I have been given, all I can do is smile everyday.

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."