amazed.

i can't believe i am five days away from the trip i have been counting down to for what seems like forever! i will be on a plane to swaziland, africa on friday and i am stoked! i have so much to do before i get there, but hopefully everything will fall in to place like it has up until this point! today, after being commissioned at church a man, whom i love dearly, was talking to my mom. after i finished my conversation i walked over and he grabbed me by the shoulders and said "mom says you need $400." after i went into the talk of how i am fine with it because that was God's planning, he said "not any more." i glanced over and his wife was writing me a check for $400 dollars. oh yeah. i went in to the ugly cry. i bawled my eyes out. God is SOOO faithful! well i have lots to do and only five days to do it! i better get going! sorry the posts have been so few and far between! here in a few weeks i will be writing so much you will wish i was gone!:) have a blessed week!

i'm back. kind of.

my apologies first and foremost for disappearing. the summer took me on a whirlwind. i have loved every minute, but i have definitely missed the blogging world. unfortunately, many times this blog doesn't make it on my prioirty list in the grand scheme of things. anyways, i'm back! well, kind of.

for those of you who have read my blog in the past, my trip to africa is coming up! in fact, today i have hit the "teen-mark." only 19 days until i am on a huge plane flying across the atlantic. i am so excited. God has been so faithful in my journey and will continue to as the days grow nearer. i will be journaling my trip while i am over there, so i hope you will come back to enjoy my experience!

my reasoning for randomly deciding "today was the day" is a few things. i have read beth moore's book so long insecurity and it rocked my world (more on that later). also, a huge honor from heart for africa, and i am not reading the book boy meets girl which is absolutely opening my eyes to the "courtship" and dating process in a great, Godly light.

i went to barnes and noble the other day looking for a book and i ran across joshua harris' book boy meets girl. for those who haven't read it, i really encourage it. i feel very enlightened and am excited to view dating and courtship in a different light. in my opinion i feel that dating has became a game. obvious assumption, right? it definitely breaks my heart. sometimes literally. i am still in the "dating game" and it is a frustrating process. as someone who desires a family someday, dating has played a role (and will continue to play a role, unless God tells me otherwise) in my life. this book goes thru the journey of dating aka. courtship and is amazing. i truly feel like the main issue in so many broken hearts and broken relationships lies in the fact that most people don't gaurd the other person's heart anymore. if you think about it, if everyone was interested in the other person's interests and heart, most people and dating situations wouldn't end up the way they do. there is absolutely no cause in this post other than the book. ha. i am not trying to be attacking or rude about dating, because, i think if done right, dating is good.  when people dish out all of their deep information on the first date (or soon after) they are left very vulnerable and their hearts are on the line. i don't believe this is the way God intended dating to be. God wants us to gaurd each other's hearts as brothers and sisters of Christ and if He chooses to lead it down the path of marriage then so be it, if not there is a relationship that can be salvaged as a friendhip.

okay i will "get off" of that subject.

if you haven't read so long insecurity by beth moore, get in your car now and go buy it :) this book is revelational and i believe if every woman opened their hearts to the lessons it teaches, the world would be changed. seriously. she has such a talent and God given lessons everyone can benefit from. i have handed this book out to many people and i plan to start a bible/book study over it in the fall semester. i think women's self-esteem and God-given confidence will start to creep back in after reading this.

as for my huge honor: i have been asked to be a ministry leader for heart for africa. when i started to get involved with this ministry (the ministry i am going to africa with) i was in the "behind the scenes" mindset. i was along for the ride and that was all i needed/wanted. i didn't need to be an instrumental part of anything. i just wanted to lend my hands and feet to God's work. my mom got a call from the president of heart for africa (i have met her once) asking if she thought i would be interested in being a ministry leader. my mom being the great mom she is said "of course." i couldn't believe it! not that i didn't believe it would happen, but the reaction set in when i received the e-mail last night explaining my duties. i ask for you to pray for me as i am seeking God's will in the country of swaziland while i help minister to a church in need. i am not the only person. in fact there will be over 300 people on this trip i ask for you to pray for us all. i was just floored and honored that someone thought i was in a place to lead as well as share the gospel and encouragement to the children of swaziland, africa.

thanks for letting me ramble and "come and go" as i please. ha. i hope you will join me again as i take a venture across the world! be back soon! i promise.

one more, one more, one more.

i have one more final and then i will be home free! i can do anything i want and fill my life with blogging and the beach! i can't wait! it's been a long time since i have been on here! i have been studying and working like crazy! mother's day was insane at work! i hope everyone enjoyed their mother's day weekend! i have a weekend recap coming tonight! can't wait to share. by the way, please pray for me. in a little over two months i will be in africa! although i am beyond excited, i am worrying (i know it's bad) about my fundraising. i still need $2,700! i know this is where God has me this summer and i am just on my face praying. he is in control and he will provide, but my dumb human self is worrying. say a little prayer for me if you please, because i would really appreciate it! hope everyone is great!

oh how he loves us.

disclaimer: this may be deep. bare with me. 

my love for Jesus grew so much when i left for college. i went to school in kentucky my first year and i was one of three people from my graduating class to go to school there. eeek. it didn't terrify me at all until i was literally by myself in a foreign world. i clung to my only hope during that time, Christ's love. not that my mom and friends weren't supportive, but when i was all by myself i had Jesus and his holy promises to hold me over until the next trip home.

throughout that year i grew and studied more than i ever had before. sad, right? well it's true. it's funny when you have nothing you cling to him because you know He is your only hope, but when you are all fine-and-dandy, you don't even think twice! anyways, Jesus became a priority in my life. not just my church on sunday and activities throughout the week.  sometimes i catch myself wondering if it was a good idea i came home. i couldn't wait for my last final at murray because i knew my mom was waiting and we'd be going home, for good. don't get me wrong, i missed some of the greatest people ever, but i knew i could go back and see them.

now that i am at home i am overwhelmed. i love, love, love my church family and being back in my niche, but geeeeze i don't have any time. that is totally my fault. my number one flaw is the inability to say "no." it's like my mouth is afraid to taste those words. ha. anyways, my priorities are out of whack and i am truly missing Jesus. i am involved in every church activity and i love it, but it's not getting me my "jesus fix." (i probably shouldn't speak like it's drugs, but you get me) i am burnt out with all the activities. i want my Jesus back. 


let's just say i am stoked for summer so i can spend time with my savior. i wish more than anything i would have gotten my priorities in a row, before i had to wish for the semester to be over. i shouldn't have this problem. take the time to spend time with the creator of the universe. he loves you. i'll leave with this quote from streams of the desert:

"earnestly desire to get alone with God. if we neglect to do so, we not only rob ourselves of a blessing but rob others as well, since we will have no blessing to pass on to them.it may mean less visible work, but people will see 'no one but Jesus'."

listen to this song. truly listen to it.

oh how he loves us.

i know this isn't exactly what anyone wanted to hear, but i needed to write this down and this was the place i could do it best. thanks for bearing with me. 

just a thought.

- it should be illegal to stay up all  night long studying/homework. dear summer, come quick!
- my luggage came in and it just places me that much closer to my summer of a lifetime! i am pumped!
- i am having mixed emotions about the oil spill. sounds awful, right? the animals and businesses that are suffering break my heart, but i would love to be able to spend a week on the beach in 11 days!
- please check out my new ria's africa video here. it will touch your heart.
- my "pool" is warming up! :)
-starbucks iced white chocolate mocha brightens my day!
-downfall of summer: shaving my legs on a regular basis. ha! don't judge:)
- check out one of my new favorite songs: help me rediscover you.

just thought i would share these small thoughts that were on my mind. i just love the blogging world!

summer is near

anyone else afraid of storms?! i am terrified. do you know how many watches/warnings we have had for tornadoes and storms!? too many to count. do you know how many times i have slept in my mom's bed?! every night. do you know how old i am?! about to turn 20! and no i am not ashamed. i am just a baby and i  don't mind! the LORD knows i need someone in my life that can take care of me in that sense. i am sure. :)

today was sassy shoots! i am sure no one cares, but i do! ah. that is horrible! but it was so fun! i was freaking out prior too, but once i got there everything was taken care of! it was so fun! i can't wait to share my photos! we got professional haircare and makeup! talk about feeling pampered! it was great! i even got to wear false eyelashes! soooo fun! 

i have so much homework to get done. i am dreading every minute of it, but hoping that the end of the semester is going to keep me motivated.  only 11 days! sorry for the continual countdown. it literally keeps me going. i bought the book "so long insecurity" by beth moore! i can't wait to read this and truly study what beth moore and most importantly the bible has to say about being insecure. i think this book is going to be so great!

so i know God has perfect timing, but sometimes it's not so easy to trust that. ha. that is just honesty speaking. i am on this kick of wanting to know the future. is this good/bad? i don't know, i just want to know. i am a girl. i need a plan. i just want to know what it looks like and i know that's not how it works. if i knew all of those answers i wouldn't need my Jesus, and i want my Jesus, but it's tough. i am ready for the future, or so i think. ha.

last week of class this week! i have a mound....mountain, of laundry to put up. ever dread the "nightly" routines of washing your face and all of that jazz. i am feeling that right now. let's see if i get out of bed!

"every promise of God's is built on four pillars.  the first two are His justice and holiness, which will never allow Him to deceive us.  the third is His grace or goodness, which will not allow Him to forget. and the fourth is His truth, which will not allow Him to change, which enables Him to accomplish what He has promised" streams of the desert. 

sweet weekend.

the weekend is here! or should i say it was here yesterday!? it has been soo busy! i am ready for a break! and summer is getting closer. 12 days until i am home free for a while! while i am on the subject of sweet summer, let me ask the blogging world. has anyone been to destin lately? or heard about the news down there? is the oil spill affecting that area. i really hate to sound like this. really, i do, but i will be devastated if i go to florida and i can't enjoy the beach because of the tragic oil spill.  i am currently on a quest to see if God really doesn't want me to go to florida. ha. this will be the seventh trip i have planned to florida in the past two years. if this one fails like all the others, i will know God has spoken. lol. God, please don't speak in that way. thanks, danielle. 

okay, i should stop. 

as cliche as this sounds, my mom is the best mom in the world. hands down. (unless it's your mom. i don't want to offend anyone). she has been so gracious and helpful to me during these tough weeks and i couldn't think her enough! i am glad vacay will be spent with her! love you mom. 

in case you are curious, i want toms! i have wanted toms for sooooo long! i think i am going to splurge and get some. toms aren't exactly expensive, but when you are saving every penny for a trip, a sandwich is expensive. trust me. here are a few i like. does anyone have toms?

i get to get my sassy shoots tomorrow!! whooooohooooo! i can't wait! i can't wait to share them with everyone! hope i can find something to wear!! eeeeek! 

so africa and my birthday are approaching fast!! i can't wait! i asked for luggage for my birthday. i thought that was appropriate! i looked high and low. luggage is expensive. this is not in the budget. anyways, after searching for quite a while, i found some! on overstock.com. check it out! 

don't you love it!? well, i do! ha. i guess that is all that matters! not that i needed this, but the price was great and i didn't own luggage of my own, so vacation and africa....here i come! get this, all 5 pieces shipped for $2.95! it's on it's way here! can't wait! 

i have a girl's night planned with emily tonight! i can't wait! we are doing the normal girl's stuff. watching movies (chick flicks of course), painting nails, stuffing our face. should be great! 

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." acts. 20.24