A New Year, A New Year of Surrender

Happy 2011. I believe that this is going to be a WONDERFUL year. Last year was fabulous. In 2010, I traveled to several different places and was blessed to have married the absolute love of my life. It was a year that will be remembered very vividly for the rest of my life. I was given the humbling gift of becoming Mrs. Jack West. At this point, we have been married for five months and have loved every minute of it. We put in so much work towards our relationship prior to marriage and it has been an investment that served us well. We are excited about what is to come for us in 2011.

My heart is dedicating 2011 as a year of "surrender." I am surrendering my life to the son of God, my Redeemer, my faithful Father. I am surrendering my marriage to God in hopes that he will continue to bless us as we put him first and foremost above ourselves. I am surrendering myself, my heart, my desires, my needs, and my wants to the One whose will is above and beyond more than I can even imagine.

I have decided to start my year off a little differently than other years. I am dedicating myself to a newness that brings me peace, hope, and energy. I am sorting through the thoughts and emotions and finding the REAL ME this year. My prayer is that I will no longer conform to the ways of this world, but will follow the One who created me and therefore find who I am. There have been so many times in my life that I have shifted my thinking to become who others want me to be instead of finding out who I really am and surrendering it to God. I am dedicating more time to reading, crafting, and finding what really energizes me. I want to continue to create a home for Jack and me. This means finding what we love, what works for us, and going with it.

I am starting off this year with a new book. It was a Christmas present from my husband. I know this book truly changed Jack's focus of thinking and I am excited to experience what God wants me to learn through it.


Interestingly and ironically enough, the first chapter is called "The Freedom We Surrender...and the Heritage That Sets Us Free."
Here's to another year, but one that will hopefully be different, one that falls closer to God.

Happy New Year!

JCrew, you've broken my heart.

What in the world happened to the "old" JCrew with styles of southern charm, simplicity, and affordable purchases throughout the store? My heart is broken. My favorite store in the entire world is now too expensive for me to afford. It is outrageous and I just don't understand it. Were they not doing well enough or did they feel that in order to keep up with the times they had to raise their prices so unbelievably high. Agrh. For example, one pair of pants from JCrew now costs anywhere from $89 to $1,200. Are you kidding me?? And... what's up with this new style?





I mean, if I want to go hunting with my husband and want to look cute- I guess this will do.

And this? A $540 orange vest? Seriously? It's cute, but not worth the money. I'll take the money and buy me a new couch.



And this?? How much do you think this is? Oh get ready.... $1,145. I'm cringing as I am writing that wondering how anyone in their right mind could spend that much on a single jacket. Wow.


What happened to preppy belts, amazing khakis, colorful, yet cozy wardrobes? Oh JCrew.... I am about to turn my back on you. And am I sad about this? Yes, truthfully I am. Please come back to me. Please bring my snappy, preppy, simple, southern style back to me. I've missed you and I will continue to.

If you fail...try, try again!

I keep failing at blogging. It always sounds like such a wonderful idea. I am going to try...yet again to blog! I was blogging about advent and will continue to do so, but I wanted to change my blog look to a "softer look." So, here's to yet another attempt! I am going to go finish the night up with watching House Hunters. :)

Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12

A hairy, often smelly, flea-bitten, insect-eating, sharp-tongued wilderness man. Not at all like the well-mannered softies that lived in the king's palace. But they were coming from all around to hear this John. Many would be so shaken by his message that they would be baptized. Some people hear this today and still get shaken up. John the Baptist was human roughage. But Jesus called him a prophet.

John the Baptist was full of the Holy Spirit. That's why his words hit home with so many. But he knew there was a greater power and greater effectiveness than he could ever have. For however much he was inspired by God, he could not send that Spirit into anyone. Could he cause them to put their sins behind them? Yes. Or strive to be holy? Yes. But he could not give them the presence of God; he could only tell them to prepare for the One who could and would give it.

It was John's job to tell of the One to come, the Messiah, the One who would send the Holy Spirit into those he baptized. One whose words and deeds would have even more impact than John's. One who would separate out or winnow the good from the bad, the fruit from the waste materials. One that John knew as friend and family, whom John had already come to respect and highly value, but didn't know as the One. The One was Jesus. Throughout His ministry, and in the early years of the apostles after Jesus' death, Jesus and his followers would keep coming across people who had come to love God through John's work. Some who heeded John's call soon took up their crosses and followed Jesus. But John's call for repentance helps us prepare, too, for John was just trying to get people to do what God wanted, and that's how anyone can be prepared for the presence of God-with-us.

Send Your Spirit, Lord, to fill everything about us. Drown our sinful selves in the waters of repentance. Give us the power and guidance to live as You would have us live. Amen.

Bob Longman

Advent 1

First Sunday in Advent, 28 November 2010

Matthew 24:36-44

To set the scene in Matthew : Jesus has been talking about a time of trouble to come. He warns that many are going to die, and that there will be many false prophets and messiahs. He tells us to look for the buds that bring forth the new leaves of the new world.

Now he tells us something even more ominous : noone knows when it will come, not even Jesus. Everyone will be busy living life in the same way they always have, completely careless about the things that matter most to God. (Sounds familiar? Like today?) Then, "as lightning" (v.27), the Lord returns, bringing with Him the kingdom of God. That's not a problem for those who are busy doing God's work on earth; they're already living out the Kingdom. They have the hope in their hearts; they want what's coming. But what if that's not you? What if you're unprepared? What if you're caught partying when you should be serving? What if you've been foolish with the gifts God has given you, wasting it out of laziness, or worse, hoarding it because you're afraid to use it up?

Don't wait for the Kingdom to come before you start living for it. Part of it is already here, wherever faith in Christ is lived out. The Kingdom life was meant to start here on earth, in this life, in this world, among these people around you. Live it because of your love of God, and you will be ready when he returns -- don't sweat the rest, because it's in good hands.

Father, may your Kingdom come. May your will be done now on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

written by:Bob Longman

Bring on the FUN!!

So it is 11:45 on a Friday night and I am not tired. Thankfully, I can sleep in tomorrow all that I want. :)

I just finished reading over some old blog entries that I had written two years ago. I think blogs are so fun because it is very similar to a journal. You can read over journal entries you wrote months or even years ago and see how far you have come in life and how much God has used and transformed you.

My life has drastically changed over the last few weeks. Yes, I am busy with wedding planning and all of the stuff that comes with being weeks away from being married. But, tonight as I write this blog I am referring to something else.

Two years ago I was offered a supervisor role in my job. It was a great opportunity and I learned a lot. I have no doubt that I made the right decision in accepting this job. I accepted it during a time of my life where I needed to learn some very valuable leadership skills. I also learned a lot about myself. But most importantly, I learned this.... I would rather play with kids and invest in families than supervise adults any day.

I felt convicted to step down from my leadership role and take on a role which I held very close to my heart. I wanted nothing more than to be a Child Life Specialist again. I wanted to come to work and play with kids. I wanted to hold precious kids after traumatic procedures. I wanted to rock babies to sleep when their parents were unable to be there. I wanted to hear the stories of these families and how they are making it day by day.

And I have done just that. I am now working with kids all day. :) I work in Outpatient Radiology and Outpatient Pediatrics. I see a variety of different things. But the thing that I am enjoying the most? Playing. I love to play and I love seeing kids play. It brightens my life. It brings me joy.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness. I pray for these kids and their families. Please heal them. We put our trust and hope in you.

Engaged Life

Hello everyone. I am the biggest blog slacker ever. I often take the time to click on my blog and look around, re-read posts I have previously written, and then I'm done. But tonight- I decided to actually post an update! I know, I know...it's about time! Anyway...life is absolutely crazy these days. I have moved out of my apartment and into a friend's place until Jack and I get married. 95 % of my stuff is currently at Jack's place besides a few clothes, my toiletries, and of course..me! But, I am so thankful that God is providing me with a time of transition. I am getting the amazing opportunity to live with a sweet friend who is absolutely wonderful. It's already been a big blessing on my life!

We are counting down the days until our wedding! We are currently at 63 days! It will be here before we know it. The wedding preparations are going well and we are attempting to enjoy our last moments as single people. There are moments that we get caught up in wanting this time to speed up, but I try to step back and thank God for each moment that leads us to the moment that we become one. Jack and I are both very excited though! Everything is coming together!

I will try to continue keeping up with the blog, but no promises. Once the wedding has come and gone and we've gotten settled into our new lives, I will try to keep up with it much better! :)

Here is a recent picture of us. Enjoy!