weekend

well, this weekend was a blast!  It started off on Friday night with Small Group.  We were over at a friends house and we had fun talking about different things, but then we dove straight into what was going on in our lives, and we took everything to the Lord in prayer.  I am constantly moved and amazed how prayer ties people together and bonds them!  I love my SG!!!

Then Saturday was a "long milage" day in our training.  We ran 5 miles.  It was tough, but i didn't feel like I was going to die during it.  After, I had some weird vision things going on, but quickly my running buddies prayed for me.  After a quick shower, I raced over to NewSong Cool Springs for the start of a wedding day.  I was asked on Friday if I would be willing to assist a photographer, Meishach Moore with a wedding on Saturday.  Of course I said yes!  It is something I have wanted to do for a while because I want to gain the experience that comes from assisting.  It was a great wedding, and a very long day, but at the end of the day, I was so happy to have been able to learn from Meishach, and to have been able to bless Robby and Ferris Owen on their day!  I must have done something right, because Meishach asked me if I would like to assist him again sometime?  again i said YES!  so i am assisting him again this coming saturday.  Hopefully the Warnock/Owen wedding was the first of many to come.  After the wedding, I went to Baja Fresh with some of my friends, and we ended up having a dance party in the parking lot.  so fun!  Sunday was church, naps and dinner... very relaxed, but spent with great people!

Beach.Beach.Beach!!!!

Living in California for 21 years has its advantages.  One of them being that the beach is super close!  Living in San 

Deigo, I was about 10 minutes from the beach and living in Orange County, I was about 5.  

Moving to Tennessee changed my perspective on the beach and how much I absolutely love it!  Being landlocked is a new experience for 

me... I don't know what to do with myself because I can no longer just go to the beach whenever.  The nearest beach to me is 13.5 hours..yes HOURS... away.  So NOT COOL!!!!  Even though it is so far away, I got to go to the beach this past weekend!  A friend and I went to North Carolina for the weekend and camped on the beach.  It was a very very long drive, with lots of laughter, but after driving all night, we finally arrived.  This was my first time ever on the East Coast!  I was really excited about that because I have officially been coast to coast!!!!  East coast beaches are a lot different from West Coast beaches, the waves aren't as big, and there were not as many people (which is fine with me)!  The place we camped is called Hammocks Beach State Park, and it is actually on an island.  We had to take a 15 minute ferry ride to the island and then hike 1/2 a mile to our site.  It was soo worth it though!  Walking up and down the beach, collecting sea shells was such sweet time with the Lord. 

 Although I was with a friend, we didn't feel the need to talk, so we just walked together.  Again, the Lord met me at the beach and spoke some amazing things to me.  

Anyways, after 13.5 hours, I got my beach fix and I might be good for another few months.  You can take the girl out of the beach, but you can't take the beach out of the girl!

Here are some more pictures from my trip out there!

Picture descriptions from left to right, top to bottom:

the coastline, me taking pictures, the waves, a fence on the coast, some seashells, us standing in the Atlantic, Megan (kiwi) and me in the ocean!

Talents

I realized today at just how many talented people I have in my life.  I am so blessed to know these people and to also have them pouring into my life.  The Lord knows what I need and who I need it from and He is bringing me together with those people at critical times.  He has given us all gifts and talents that are to be used to glorify His name.  

I am a photographer. No where as good as I could be, but I am always looking for ways to increase my knowledge and skill in this area.  Since I have started attending NewSong, I have been put in touch with many professional photographers and we are starting to build relationships.  A couple of them have said that I can assist them on some shoots and learn.  One of them is Amy Conner (check out her work here), and another one is Meishach Moore (check his stuff out here).  I am excited to see how the Lord uses them in my life, both personally and professionally.  I know that it is going to be good because the Lord is knitting me together with people that will help me grow.  

Other connections I have made are: Dave Pines, Stoney Noell, Chuck Peters.  The great thing about these connections is that I know I have people I can go to when I have questions, need support, or if I need something done!  The Lord has blessed me with talented people around me for me to grow.

Training

About a month ago, I decided that I was going to train for a half marathon (13.1 miles) with my roommate and some people from church. I've spent the past month in the gym, trying to get ready for the first day of training...which was Saturday...we met at a local park in Franklin...there are about 15 people training for this. We did a 3 mile run...and it suprisingly, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. about 3/4 of the way through it, i started cramping up, but I kept pushing through.
This experience is not only challenging physically, but spiritually too. As I was running, I realized how this was a representation of what happens in our spiritual lives. Every day is a battle between my spirit and my flesh. My flesh wants to do one thing, but my spirit wants to do what the Lord wants. Running these 3 miles, my body wanted to stop so many times, but I had to push through the flesh and keep focused on finishing. I've found that running provides great time to pray and have some time with the Lord.(even if I am just praying for the pain my legs are in! ha!)
The training is not an easy process, but it is a great thing. I am not running the race for time, I'm just running to finish. It is something I have wanted to do for a while now, and when the opportunity came with this group from church, I jumped on it!

So all that to say that training is under way and in 12 short weeks, I will be going to Atlanta to run in this half marathon! I will update weekly to share how the training is going!

Puzzled

I've been working on a puzzle for the past week...it has been frustrating, but I have learned something through it. When I do puzzles, I do them in waves; I have a method. First, I do the border, once that boundary is set, I know the area I have to work with. Then I start seperating colors, shades etc. and choose a certain portion to work on. As I'm working, I know there is a bigger picture, but I don't see it or know what it is from these pieces. (this puzzle didn't come with a picture on the box of what it is going to look like). Anyways, I work on this one section until I get frustrated with it or complete it, and then move onto another section of the puzzle. After doing this for a while, I realized that I have a ton of small section, but they aren't united. The task then becomes trying to fit it all into the border I created earlier. I've realized that this puzzle is kinda like my life. The Lord has the big picture in view, He knows what my life is going to look like and He is putting my life together piece by piece, section by section. Each piece of the puzzle (my life) is experiences, relationships, moments etc. At any given point in time, I only see one section, the pieces immediately around me. I might get frustrated because I may not thing it fits into "what I've been called to do", but then the LORD connects more pieces together and shows me that it really does connect to the big picture. I just don't have the big picture yet!





If I was to see the big picture, before it is completed, I would get frustrated with all the missing holes. I would try to fill in those holes the way I think it is best but the LORD is the one who fills those in, and He wants to! The LORD has every piece of my life in mind, He knows what each piece looks like and how it is going to fit into the big picture...HIS plan. And when the puzzle is complete, it is going to be beautiful!

Student of Life

I was able to see a familiar face from California today. Student. Professor. Friend. Ann-Caryn. She is a student of life, probably the most influential professor I had at Vanguard and now my friend. Not only did she teach me about film, theory and "academic" stuff, but she also taught me a lot about life. We got together to work on my documentary, but because of some missing files, that was not able to happen. Instead, we just sat together, talked some, but mostly enjoyed each other's company.
Even out of the classroom, I am picking up and learning things from her. One thing I've been learning is that you never stop learning. Just because I'm out of school and the "structured learning environment" doesn't by any means mean that I don't learn. I'm learning to become a student of life. Different situations teach me things, as does the Lord teach mean everyday who He is and who I am to be in Him. Ann-Caryn is probably the best person I know who is living this out. I told her about a program that is used at my work and she hadn't heard of it, so immediately she hopped online and found it, downloaded it and started learning it. She is always trying to learn new programs, or learn new things about programs she already knows. Not only does she strive to know more programs and tech stuff, but she is striving to learn how to become a better professor so that her students can learn.
All that to say that she is such an inspiration and encouragement to me. She challenges me to do better, and she challenges/encourages me to never stop learning. Watching her balance work, church, family, filmmaking and still how she finds time to sit down and learn is inspiring. Thank you Ann-Caryn for your inspiration, encouragement, challenges and support through the years. I can't wait to see the next things in life that the Lord teaches you you learn and I can't wait to see what the Lord teaches me and what I learn though life as well!

Prayer Request

I just got an email from a dear friend of mine and it was an update on his dad.  His dad has cancer and they were just told that the doctors don't expect him to live past tomorrow.  Tom has asked me and others to pray so I am extending that request to all of you.  The Lord is more powerful than any cancer and any sickness... any disease!!!!  Jeremiah 33:6 says: "Behold I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth."  That is a promise of our Lord Jesus and those are the promises I am going to stand on.  So I am asking that you will join me in prayer for Tom and his family as they are going through this painful time.  

Quiet down and listen...

One of the main differences I have found between California (Orange County) and Spring Hill (Tennessee) is the pace of life. Everything is slower out here. Do moms still have camps to get their kids to? YES. Do people have to work 9-5 everyday? YES. But the difference is that people don't drive like it is the end of the world. They drive peacefully and respectfully...and slow! (Have to admit, it is driving me a little crazy!) But that just shows how fast I have been living my life...the OC mindset is that if you are driving the speed limit you are driving too slow... So I have had to do a lot of learning and growing in patience when it comes to people on the road.
The other thing that being out here has taught me is to really take the time to just sit and listen to the Lord. To admire His creation even more than I did before. So many times in my quiet times, I sit there and talk and talk and talk to the Lord and then I wonder why I don't hear Him speak back...Well, I have never given Him enough time to! Lets just look at the phrase "quiet time"..operative word there is QUIET!!! that means that I need to SHUT UP and listen to what the Lord has to say! Life is so much sweeter when I take the time every morning to spend time with the Lord and truly hear what HE has to say! That is not how I want my life to be lived because it is just no good when I try to tell the Lord how it should be done...Sit down, shut up and LISTEN!!!!!!

Church...community

Even before I left The Rock, I was praying that the Lord would lead me to an amazing church where He was moving, a place where I would find a community. He has done that. I found a community at NewSong Christian Fellowship. NewSong is a FourSquare church with multiple campuses around the Nashville area. The main campus is in Cool Springs, and there is a campus in Spring Hill (which is by me). There is a young adult group called Frontline and every other week there is life groups. I shouldn't be, but I am blown away at the amazing community I have found within a week. My roommate introduced me to some people before she left for Camp Courtney, and immediately we hit it off. The last time I felt this way was when I started attending The Rock. It is a place of love and pure friendship. I have thanked the Lord everyday for bringing me to NewSong and I can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do here!!! Please keep me in prayer as I grow in the Lord and I grow at this church.

first friend

tonight i walked with a friend. I LORD has blessed me with my first friend this week and tonight we had dinner, then we went for a walk. We ended up walking for quite a while, we got a little lost, but quickly found our way again. We got lost because we were so enthralled with our conversations about our stories, what the Lord is doing in our lives, staring at the amazing stars and fireflies and much more. The Lord has brought Kaycee Mantooth into my life for a specific reason and I am so glad to call her my friend.

i finally arrived!

So I arrived in Thompson's Station yesterday and I was welcomed with open arms. When I arrived at my new home, my roommate welcomed me with a giant hug and we hit it off so great! I started moving in all my stuff, and by the end of the day I had everything situated, and it is starting to feel like home. Dad and I went out to try and find a Walmart or Target, but ended up getting lost and I came to the realization, really quickly, that there is no "quick trip" to target. Almost everything here is about 20-25 minutes away, with the exception of a few places. That is OK though because it will give me time to sit back and enjoy the scenery.
I was able to talk with my roommate a little, and I was shown a little of her heart. Her passion. We were able to talk about different things that the Lord did in her life prior to my coming, and different things the Lord did in my life prior to me coming. There is no doubt in my mind that this whole job and move thing was and is of the LORD, and the LORD is going to continually pour out His abundance on me and my roommate because we both have obeyed Him.
Today dad and I drove around and visited my "office". I say it is and "office" because it is actually a house (Rivet House) that we work out of. I met a lot of the guys I will be working with and they seem really neat. We then drove over the the Orbit house and met a couple of people. We then drove down to the sales office to see that operation. Mainly today was just a day of driving around and figuring out where different things are around town. Tonight my dad and I are going to go to a lifegroup with Jeannie, and I am going to meet some people that I can hopefully have connections with.

sights

so today i saw a couple of things that reminded me of a couple people back home. Throughout the course of one day, I saw 5 yellow jeeps, and a number of places to just sit and talk (benches, chairs and tables). I also took a tram ride at NASA that reminded me of the number of times I rode the tram at D-Land and who I rode it with. I took a lot of time to think about the times I had with those certain people, and you know who you are.

I love you all and miss you all too!

travels

today was the day i left california. it was the end of a really emotional weekend, but the LORD was gracious. as i drove i was able to think back on the past few days, and i realized that even though goodbyes are hard, and i really didn't enjoy them, the LORD kept confirming my move. He is so good to me, and His word never returns void, every single day, in my Bible reading, There was something that spoke directly to me.
as i drove through different states, there is really nothing to see except flatlands and mountains, but I saw more. I saw a beautiful creation of the Lord.
this is not an easy road by any means, but it is a road that is paved by the Lord, and I know that the LORD will also guide me as i drive down this road i call my life.

Body World-Daily Delight

Today i went to an exhibit in Los Angeles and it was an amazing experience. This exhibit was a way to view the human body in a whole new way. They took human cadavers and dissected them and positioned them in unique ways so that us, the viewer, can best see the intricate veins, muscles and nerves within the human body. I have always been intrigued by the human body, but today i saw it in a whole new way. It is a weird way to become close with the Lord, but as i was standing there, i realized the magnitude of my Lord. He is so amazing and He obviously has everything planned out because there is no way that people could "just happen". Looking at the nerves and everything, that is proof that the Lord chose to create us and make us His Daily Delight.
The other thing i realized is that the faces of the cadavers were shown a lot. As i looked at their bodies and their faces, their eyes, i started to think about who that person was. Obvisously they had lives, but i was wondering what their story was. Overall, i went there for the purpose of learning more about the body and looking at the cadavers to do it, but at the end of the day i left there with a deeper appreciation for being created.

changes that are happening

5 days until graduation, and 15 days until I move to Nashville. Moving to Nashville is something that scares the living daylights out of me…in the flesh. There are so many things that are unknown to me out there. I don’t know anybody, I don’t know how to get anywhere, I don’t have a church, I don’t, I don’t, I don’t!!! there are so many I don’t knows in this whole experience, but there is something that I do know! I do know that my God is there with me, I do know that my God has opened this door for me, I Do know that my God is going to make it all alright. This move is for me like the ultimate step of faith in my life right now. Isn’t that what faith is? Stepping out into the unknown, or the scariness of life, but knowing that the Lord has it all in His hands? My Lord has called me to a life of faith. Part of having faith is knowing that the Lord is going to do what He promised. He has promised me only things to prosper my life, not to harm me, so I know that I won’t be harmed in this move as long as I stay in his hands. Another thing that I am having a hard time with is the fact that I am going to need to find a new church out in Nashville. I am a little nervous about this because I love The Rock and I have grown so much in the time I have attended there. The level of belief that the members and pastors of The Rock have is something that surpasses all churches I have seen to date. They are soo deep in their faith and walking in the truth of what God said He will do, He WILL DO. He said that He would heal us, so He will. It might not happen in our timing, but it will happen! That is so hard for some people to believe, but it is true! So when I think about moving to Nashville, my flesh may be scared, but my spirit is not! My spirit knows that what I am about to embark on is something that is so good, and something that the Lord will be a part of! He is going to protect me and He is going to guide me through this! He is my Rock and my Fortress, when I am scared, I can run to Him and know that I am safe!

today...

i was born 21 years ago today... Happy Birthday to me!!!
I celebrated with family and friends, so much fun!
I had to work today, but it was ok because i got to see an amazing sunrise (again at Bolsa Chica)....
this is what it looked like at 6am...
this is what i saw at 6:30 am...and this at 8:30 am...

so it was worth waking up before dawn.
tonight is going to fun!!!!

People..

it blows me away at how some people are so rude and some people are so kind. Working at the beach i come in contact with a lot of different types of people and i get very frustrated, a lot... however every once in a while i meet someone who is so kind and so understanding of situations. I thank God for people who are understanding like that, and i hope that i am one of those people when i go places.

sunrise

this morning i saw the most beautiful picture... It was a sunrise from Bolsa Chica. I was taken away by it and wished that i had my camera with me. it was a little overcast, so the sun shone through various places, i then watched as the colors transformed from a bright orange/pink to a vibrant and beautiful gold. the picture to the right is not one that i took, but those are the colors i saw. Under it was a low fog that crept through multiple oil rigs. SOOOO BEAUTIFUL! my God is so amazing to make something like that. It really took me back this morning.

Lazy

I have had 3 days of being lazy. I got back from France and didn't have to work, so i just lounged around my apartment... it was awesome...now i have to go call the jury duty people and i start work again tomorrow...my life picks up again starting at 7:30 am....

Dreams

What is a dream?

A dream is daring.

DARE to be crazy

DARE to step out

What is a dream?

A dream is ridiculous!

It doesn't make sense to OTHERS, but it makes perfect sense to YOU!

What is a dream?

A dream is ENCHANTING

What is a dream?

A dream is magical

It can take you to unimaginable places

What is a dream?

A dream is something you hold onto from your childhood...

What is a dream?

A dream is something to reach for...to STRIVE for...

HOLD ONTO YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAMS!!!
HOLD ONTO YOUR CURRENT DREAMS!!!
DREAM BIG!!! DREAM HARD!!!!