Well, I'm not doing so great as far as blogging goes in 2012, but I thought I would blog about things I would like to see happen this year.
1) Let my hair grow out. This may seem so little and silly, but I want to make it happen. I always say I'm going to let my hair grow out and as soon as it gets past my shoulders I cut it off to my chin again. We will see how long I can get my hair in 2012! :)
2) Be a better Navy Girlfriend. I will be facing my first deployment this year[in about a month actually] and I want to be as strong as possible for Paxston. I want to be super duper supportive and think of cute ways to keep our relationship super duper strong while he is gone for six[ish] months. I need to constantly remind myself that it is ten times more difficult for him then it is for me.
3) Find more ways to serve in my community. Last year, I volunteered at the Carolina Pregnancy Center and started serving at Caroline Inn & Suites. This year I want to do MUCH more for the cause of the Cross and to help those around me who are hurting. My prayer is that God will open up so many doors that I will not know what to do with myself. We will see what happens.
4) Get in shape. One of my younger sisters very kindly told me a few weeks ago that I am "skinny fat." I may walk around here in my size two jeans, but I am MUCH more out of shape then most people. I have already started eating things that are better for me and I plan to start running daily. I don't want to be "skinny fat" anymore and get out of breath from walking up the stairs.\
Well, those are four things that I hope to accomplish in 2012. Stay tuned for four more.[Hopefully tomorrow!]
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Part 2[Even though I'm a Little Late].
I had every intention of doing Part 2 of my "Reflecting 2011" post actually in the year 2011, but oh well. Better late forever! Anyways here it goes!
Like I said in Part 1- serving at the hotel church is not the only way God answered my prayer of "breaking my heart for what breaks His." I started working at a dry cleaners when I was 16. It was a great job and they were nothing but wonderful to me! Although I was happy with my job there, I started feeling like it was time for a change. This led me to interview for an afterschool counselor job at Boiling Springs Intermediate School. I started working my new job at BSIS in August of 2011. I really had no idea what to expect. Going into it, I knew that other than doing my expected duties(helping with homework, playing outside with them, watching them), I also wanted to make a greater impact. I wanted to be willing to listen to these fourth and fifth graders. Just be there for them and let them know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I learned real quickly that it wasn't just the kids at the hotel church that were hurting, these kids were too. Some have families being torn apart. Some are being made fun of and feel worthless. Some have a little bit more trouble learning than others. Some feel like they are just a burden to their parents. Some are scared because they don't know which boyfriend their Mamma may bring home tonight. Kids are hurting and they are just crying inside for someone to listen to what they have to say and to take the time to do something as simple as helping them with their homework. One little girl was almost in tears a few weeks ago because she actually got to play basketball on a team and made her first basket EVER. It's little things like this that I am so grateful for. I am so thankful that God provided me with a job where I can maybe, just maybe, have some sort of impact on some fourth & fifth graders. More than anything, they are having an impact on my life.
Let's see.... 2011.... I had some more ups and downs that I would rather not get in to. God is always faithful and His plan always works out, even when I'm not sure what in the world He is doing. I am so blessed with a wonderful family, friends, two great church families, and an amazing boyfriend. Just like 2010, me and Paxston were away from each other for most of 2011, but I was blessed to spend Christmas with him[that will have to be a blog in itself]. & now in 2012 I will be surviving my first deployment. I am so proud of him and what he does!
Well, those were just a few reflections of 2011..... I am excited to see what 2012 brings and one of my resolutions is to blog more! We will see how that goes... :)
Like I said in Part 1- serving at the hotel church is not the only way God answered my prayer of "breaking my heart for what breaks His." I started working at a dry cleaners when I was 16. It was a great job and they were nothing but wonderful to me! Although I was happy with my job there, I started feeling like it was time for a change. This led me to interview for an afterschool counselor job at Boiling Springs Intermediate School. I started working my new job at BSIS in August of 2011. I really had no idea what to expect. Going into it, I knew that other than doing my expected duties(helping with homework, playing outside with them, watching them), I also wanted to make a greater impact. I wanted to be willing to listen to these fourth and fifth graders. Just be there for them and let them know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I learned real quickly that it wasn't just the kids at the hotel church that were hurting, these kids were too. Some have families being torn apart. Some are being made fun of and feel worthless. Some have a little bit more trouble learning than others. Some feel like they are just a burden to their parents. Some are scared because they don't know which boyfriend their Mamma may bring home tonight. Kids are hurting and they are just crying inside for someone to listen to what they have to say and to take the time to do something as simple as helping them with their homework. One little girl was almost in tears a few weeks ago because she actually got to play basketball on a team and made her first basket EVER. It's little things like this that I am so grateful for. I am so thankful that God provided me with a job where I can maybe, just maybe, have some sort of impact on some fourth & fifth graders. More than anything, they are having an impact on my life.
Let's see.... 2011.... I had some more ups and downs that I would rather not get in to. God is always faithful and His plan always works out, even when I'm not sure what in the world He is doing. I am so blessed with a wonderful family, friends, two great church families, and an amazing boyfriend. Just like 2010, me and Paxston were away from each other for most of 2011, but I was blessed to spend Christmas with him[that will have to be a blog in itself]. & now in 2012 I will be surviving my first deployment. I am so proud of him and what he does!
Well, those were just a few reflections of 2011..... I am excited to see what 2012 brings and one of my resolutions is to blog more! We will see how that goes... :)
Friday, December 30, 2011
Reflecting on 2011-Part One.
With 2011 coming to an end, I thought it would be nice to reflect on the year that passed by so quickly. So many crazy things happened in 2011. Some good, some bad. I have no regrets. I firmly believe that everything that happens in my life, happens so that God can mold me into the person that HE wants me to be. This will be a two-part blog so here goes part one!
There are several things that stick out to about 2011. I left the job I have had since I was sixteen and was blessed with an even more incredible one. God taught me the importance of not just sitting on a church pew and led me to Caroline Inn & Suites. There were were reunions and goodbyes with my Sailor. I made my first C in college. [Just to name a few]....
When I think about 2011 as a whole, one key thing sticks out. Several years ago, I started praying that God would start to break my heart for what breaks His. I feel like this past year, He answered that prayer in more ways then I ever imagined.
In May of 2011, He led me to Caroline Inn & Suites. It is a motel where most people live longterm. You can find families of four, six, and even eight, living in tiny hotel rooms for months at a time. Some of these children have seen and experienced things that even adults shouldn't experience in a lifetime. Every single day some of them are surrounded by: alcohol, drugs, prostitution, and violence. I will never forget my first visit to the hotel. I immediately fell in love with the children there. They were starving for attention. God let me know real quick that He wanted me there for longer than just the day. Now I am blessed to help out with a church service that is held there every Sunday morning. I am reminded every week how good I've always had it. Even my lowest of lows doesn't compare to what some of these children go through. Their joy and compassion, even through hard times is an inspiration to me. I love "my children" there and I feel blessed to serve with such an amazing group of people. I learned this year that if you ask God to take you out of your comfort zone, He will turn your world upside down so that You can tell others about Him. I don't think God calls us to sit on a church pew week by week. Sometimes we have to get out into the World and share His Name. People are hurting. People are dying everyday and spending an eternity separated from Him. And believe it or not, this is happening in our backyards. Its happening all around us. Children are hungry. Children need clothing. Children need someone to hug them and support them. Children need Jesus. I feel so blessed to have met such amazing people!
Hotel church isn't the only way God answered my prayers to 'break my heart for what breaks His' in 2011.Tune in tomorrow for Part two!
There are several things that stick out to about 2011. I left the job I have had since I was sixteen and was blessed with an even more incredible one. God taught me the importance of not just sitting on a church pew and led me to Caroline Inn & Suites. There were were reunions and goodbyes with my Sailor. I made my first C in college. [Just to name a few]....
When I think about 2011 as a whole, one key thing sticks out. Several years ago, I started praying that God would start to break my heart for what breaks His. I feel like this past year, He answered that prayer in more ways then I ever imagined.
In May of 2011, He led me to Caroline Inn & Suites. It is a motel where most people live longterm. You can find families of four, six, and even eight, living in tiny hotel rooms for months at a time. Some of these children have seen and experienced things that even adults shouldn't experience in a lifetime. Every single day some of them are surrounded by: alcohol, drugs, prostitution, and violence. I will never forget my first visit to the hotel. I immediately fell in love with the children there. They were starving for attention. God let me know real quick that He wanted me there for longer than just the day. Now I am blessed to help out with a church service that is held there every Sunday morning. I am reminded every week how good I've always had it. Even my lowest of lows doesn't compare to what some of these children go through. Their joy and compassion, even through hard times is an inspiration to me. I love "my children" there and I feel blessed to serve with such an amazing group of people. I learned this year that if you ask God to take you out of your comfort zone, He will turn your world upside down so that You can tell others about Him. I don't think God calls us to sit on a church pew week by week. Sometimes we have to get out into the World and share His Name. People are hurting. People are dying everyday and spending an eternity separated from Him. And believe it or not, this is happening in our backyards. Its happening all around us. Children are hungry. Children need clothing. Children need someone to hug them and support them. Children need Jesus. I feel so blessed to have met such amazing people!
Hotel church isn't the only way God answered my prayers to 'break my heart for what breaks His' in 2011.Tune in tomorrow for Part two!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)