Monday Funday

I made it to Nashville a couple of weeks ago and literally have not had a break since I've been here! Golf tournament season is at its peak and that leaves little down time. For those who don't know... I'm here working for my brother-in-law who has a company that helps coordinate golf tournaments for people. We print hole signs, banners, etc., and do hole-in-one contests and a little contest called predict your distance. "Predict Your Distance" is usually my duty and usually means me standing in the blazing sun for 4 1/2 (dare we say 5 1/2) hours... needless to say I have a love/hate relationship with it. {Love being that we have an extra guy now to do it sometimes instead of just me ;)} Just kidding... I'm thankful to have a job for the summer!

It is unbelievably cold and dreary today in Nashville... I don't know what is going on with this weather. Thankfully we have a slow week this week and won't have to be out in the chilly wind. I'm hoping to catch up on things this week like writing letters to camp friends, blogging, and reading... plus a little internet tv show time. Looking forward to a restful week.

I am starting to really miss all of my friends. I love being here but wish I could be like five places at once and see everyone! Summer is so great and came at a much needed time for a break, but it's always sad to be so scattered from friends. I am really excited about next year though. I look forward to a houseful of new roommates and a real, comfy house with a deck I'm dreaming of at the moment. Cannot wait. Also can't wait for what a new year will bring. There are always plenty of changes, surprises, and opportunities of growth awaiting each new semester!

New blogging member. Follow her.. you won't be disappointed! http://www.throughdivineeyes.blogspot.com/

Psalm 62: 5-7

I find rest in God;

only he gives me hope.

He is my rock and my salvation.

He is my defender;

I will not be defeated.

My honor and salvation come from God.

He is my mighty rock and my protection.



Prayers still for the victims of tornadoes across the South... what a scary and devastating thing. May there be rest and healing in each of those places. Through Him we can never experience defeat. In the end, we are victorious. And I will leave you with that on this Monday evening... Enjoy your night!

it's a boy!

Confession time : This post has been in the process of being written for way too long now... I've been a bit scatterbrained/busy/sick, etc this week. But I am forcing myself to publish it right now.. enjoy!


So... I found out this past week that I am going to have a nephew in August! I'm so excited about this sweet little guy and look forward to adding a boy to our family that consists mainly of girls. Can't wait for him to get here! Be praying for my sister and her clan as they are preparing for change and additions :)


While in Houston for Spring Break, Lia, AK and I heard a song at a church we visited that we immediately loved. It actually brought tears to our eyes. Before we heard it, we had been talking about how so many Christian songs today are focused on being happy and stirring up emotions in people rather than being true, authentic worship. The life of a Christian is filled with good times, bad times, times of spiritual drought, and feeling alone because of the way we stray from Him so often and so easily, and our worship music should allow us to not only praise him but also to admit our brokenness to him. Often times we need for Him to break our hearts. How badly I need this everyday.

"I Want a Broken Heart" by Derek Webb

I’ve got faith in the bank and money in my heart
I’ve got a calloused place where your ring used to be, my love
I’ve traded naked and unashamed
For a better place to hide
For a righteous mask, a suit of fig leaves and lies

I thought the cattle on a thousand hills
Was not enough to pay my bills
And I fell in love with those who proved me wrong
And now I want a broken heart

Now there’s a great pad lock
On the place where I was free
And I’m feeling bad from swallowing that key
Now I work real hard but I mostly call in sick
Of a broken back from the ground fighting back at me

I cannot look you in the eye
So I check the knots on my disguise
‘Cause I fell in love with fashion in the dark
And now I want a broken heart

I’ve got alibis for every crime
A substitute to do my time
‘Cause Your heart breaks enough on both our parts
So now I want a broken heart
Now I want a broken heart
Now I want a broken heart

Listen here...

Well hopefully I will be visiting here more often than I have been lately, but I'm not promising anything. We have like three weeks left of school and my laziness is setting in. It's not good combined with my procrastinating attitude that is already present at all times. But oh well... college isn't about school, right? That's what I hear anyways... Speaking of college, I am about to be a junior. I've probably talked about this before but being a junior in college just does not sound right. Everything is speeding by and I would love for it to slow its pace.

Take care everyone and have a safe weekend! Thanks for reading my rambling as well :)

HAPPY TUESDAY!

From MINI and MAXIMUS

 

This week has been pretty good so far. Super busy with a couple unexpected curve balls but also several blessings in disguise. It's kind of funny how you ask the Lord for certain things, for clarity about things, for a change in heart and eventually He will provide but often never in the way you would expect. Often you may never even recognize these as blessings. It's always good to be reminded of who you are apart from Him and of why we, as Christ followers are here in the first place. I am so quick to forget those things and to take on this life as if it were totally mine in the first place. But it is not. I am not my own. I am so undeserving of the love poured on me every day from my precious friends, family and Savior. Goodness gracious, it's a bit overwhelming. So thankful.

Blessed is the one
   whose transgressions are forgiven,
  whose sins are covered.
 Blessed is the one
 whose sin the Lord does not count against them
   and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Psalm 32: 1-2

And.... my favorite quote, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted" -Aesop

Take care everyone.. Spring Break is soon to come!

AJ

Sorry for another picture post... I'm slacking lately. But I am afraid I'm beginning to feel the nineteen hours of classes that I'm taking for the first time. Somehow no matter how hard I try to change my ways, procrastination always gets the best of me. It's amazing how appealing other things become when you're trying to avoid doing something else like studying (laundry, cleaning, dishes, etc). Hopefully someday I can figure out how to manage my time more wisely. In the meantime, I'm doing a quick post while I should be doing homework...........   :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(For those who know me, know how I love to laugh)

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday........

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday to you, doc! 

 

 

 

 

Hoping you are all well!

 

-aj

I hope everyone is doing just lovely. The weather is delightfully sunny and the perfect temperature this week, which always seems to instantly cheer everyone up. I love when it seems that every person you pass walking to class is enjoying their day and happy to share a smile. One of my favorite things is kind, friendly strangers.

I'm in a picture mood today so I will share a few things that caught my eye.

J Crew: I want my kids to be this adorable.. and dressed in J Crew.

Oh my.... no words.

New favorite snack. Delicious.

And... a few for a belated Valentine's Day. Everyone needs a little cheesiness ;)

"I don’t pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you." — Author Unknown

 

Also, seeing this awesome couple (Drew and Ellie Holcomb) and Marc Broussard tonight in M-town with sweet friends... So exciting!

 

 

 

 

much love to you all

Song of my Heart

It is way too late considering I have an eight o'clock class in the morning, but I have been dying to blog for forever (lame- sorry!) and haven't found the time. Sooo here I am at 2 in the morn. There is still the slight chance of it being too icy for school tomorrow, and honestly, I wouldn't mind sleeping in alllll day so my fingers are crossed. I love winter when it gives me the excuse to lay in bed and watch movies as long as I so desire but not so much when I have to walk to class with a frozen face. Anyways....

I cannot believe how quickly this semester is going by... it's already February, folks! After this semester, I will be approaching my junior year of college. That. Is. Crazy. But this semester has already been so wonderful and eye opening. I have really experienced the Lord's love, blessings, grace, and wisdom in this past month alone. He has been oh so good to me.

Grace is a word I use very, very often. It's in the title of my blog, it's written a hundred times in my journal, it's underlined all over the place in my Bible... The Lord's grace for me has been very heavy on my heart lately. I have always known that I am saved by grace and that His grace covers my sins but what I am truly beginning to learn is that that overused word in my vocabulary is what sets me free. It is the reason I have a purpose and a plan that I am not yet sure of and it is why I am at peace with that. It is why the best thing I can ever do is as filthy rags and why I can rest in my failures. It is the freedom I am given to replace my shame and guilt with joy. Grace allows me to be who I am and to be seen as righteous in His sight. How beautiful is that.

I was thinking about it the other day and happened to remember that my name means grace. I also remember that I used to think of it in the context of being graceful and not clumsy (which I've always been), but now it holds much more meaning when I see it through a different light, realizing that the simple word is the song of my heart.

Sorry for a bit of a serious post, but I just wanted to share with you all what has been on my heart since I last wrote to you. On the other hand, as you may have noticed I changed up the blog a good bit! I felt that it needed a good sprucing up and tried to match my style a little more. I probably had a little too much fun searching for just the right changes, but that's okay :)

On behalf of Valentine's Day coming shortly and all you single people reading this, I will leave you with a verse that a friend sent me the other day:

"When you're unmarried, you're free to concentrate simply on the Master. The time and energy that married people spend on caring and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God." 

-1 Corinthians 7:32,34 (The Message)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading and putting up with my spastic writing! I am hoping this week is treating you well :)

Much love, Anna

Psalm 86

A prayer of David

Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.

You are my God;

save your servant who trusts in you.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.

Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord,

abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.

In the day of my trouble I will call to you,

for you will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;

no deeds can compare with yours.

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you,

O Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

For you are great and do marvelous deeds;

you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O Lord,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me;

you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

The arrogant are attacking me, O God;

a band of ruthless men seeks my life --

men without regard for you.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy on me;

grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant.

Give me a sign of your goodness,

that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,

for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

May this be the prayer of my heart. My desire for this new year is to seek after God with my whole heart and to not stray from Him. I need to fully trust that He knows what is best for me much more than I do. I am a worrier and a planner and tend to think I can make my own decisions and often desire for my plans to be what may actually happen. I am learning to trust His plan for me more every day while also learning to let go. Learning that I may not truly need things that I want now and that my future may not go as I am mapping it out. But that is okay; for I am His, and He is mine. He is all I need. I pray for the strength to live by what I believe every day.

-Anna