Basketball

That's me in 10th grade.

As long as I can remember, basketball has been a part of my life. Up until college, I would have to say basketball more or less was my life.

It's who I was, it's what I was known for, it's what I did. I was one of those people that you could look at and tell I was a baller.

Most of my best memories are on the court or have to do with basketball.

Playing with three of the best (and best looking) boys I know.

Once I got into college and stopped playing, it was really strange for me. I still dressed like a baller, and acted like a baller. It was kind of an identity crisis. It took me a long time to realize that my identity is in Christ and it doesn't matter what people know me as. It was a sweet freedom to realize I can dress and act how I want and not how I think I should because of what I believe my "identity" to be.

beautiful.

Despite that, since being in college and not playing very often, I felt like a part of me was missing. I know that sounds ridiculously cliche, but I really did. It had been such a huge part of my life for so long, that without it, it feels like something is missing.

you wish you were as baller as us.

I say all this to tell you all that I've started reffing for a children's rec league 3 nights a week, and I am loving every minute of it. It's so fun to be around it again, even if it is in a different role than I am used to.

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How long, O Lord?

How long, O Lord?

Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say "I have prevailed over him," lestmy foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13

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Typical.

I feel like it's pretty typical to do a post about being thankful on thanksgiving, but I want yall to know. :)

Because I am overwhelmingly thankful for so many things, I'm limiting myself to five for now...

1. My momma - I am so incredibly thankful for my mom. She works 2 jobs so she can help put us through school. She often does this being sick or in extreme pain. I legitimately don't think I could have a better mom. She loves Jesus so much, and chooses to trust Him even when things aren't going too well. She regularly encourages me in my faith and spurs me on in my relationship with Him.
2. A church home - It is so sweet to finally have a church (actually churches - in Houston and College Station) that I can call my church home. I hadn't had that for such a long time, and it allows me to truly appreciate it now. It is such a blessing to be able to have love, fellowship, and teaching at these places.
3. My sister living in College Station with me. It's just really sweet to have family in town. It is just a different feeling to have someone you can call on no matter if it is for a small or big reason. I like it a lot. :)
4. God's leading in my life. Recently, I am learning a lot about God's leading me. How He opens doors no man can shut and shuts doors no man can open - all that. It's really sweet to watch Him. It's so incredible to have a Voice behind me saying "This is the way. Walk in it." and I have been seeing that more and more lately. For the first time in my life, I truly trust that He will show me which way I am to go. It's beautiful.
5. So many wonderful people in my life.I truly have so many incredible people in my life who are huge blessings to me. Such wonderful truth and encouragement is spoken to me so regularly by them. I am continuously spurred on lovingly whether through encouragement or through rebuke. It's incredible. I couldn't be more thankful for the community God has given me -and I see His provision in it being just what I need for this time in my life.

I am so thankful.
What are you thankful for?
You are loved.

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Woah.

When your words came to me, I ate them; they were my joy

and my heart's delight, for I bear your name,

LORD God Almighty.

Jeremiah 15:16

I'm officially challenged.

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Where I'm At

Hey friends.

I want to give a bit of an update of what's going on in my life, but I feel like there's so much going on that I don't know where to start.
A couple things I'm reminded of when thinking about what's going on in my life and specifically where I'm at:
1. At the beginning of the semester, a theme of mine was that "I want to be about who He is, not where I'm at." I think that is definitely coming back into play now. Specifically when talking about where I'm at physically. My desire is to only be concerned with who He is and not worry about where I'm at. Whether I'm in college station, in houston, overseas, or anywhere in between doesn't really matter. Every where I am, He has chosen me to be there and to use me there, and my desire needs to be to bring Him glory regardless of what part of the world I'm in.
2. "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying 'This is the way, walk in it.'" - Is. 30:21. This has definitely become a theme for my life right now. I see Father's faithfulness in opening and closing doors and guiding me in the path He has for me. It's really beautiful. I stress about making decisions, and then He makes the decisions for me. It's pretty baller.

A few other thoughts:
1. Donna Stuart's new cd = baller/I swear a couple of the songs are my life in song format
2. Loving making international friends here. It's been a fun and meaningful semester because of it.
3. I am more than likely going to complete all my hours this semester! Whoop! (don't judge the fact that that's a big deal...I'm excited)
4. I got a 92ish on my Chinese midterm. It was easy, but I still like to brag.
5. I'm not doing as well as I'd like in getting back in shape, or getting full nights of sleep.

Sorry for the scatteredness of this post.
You are loved.

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Semester Goals

Last semester, I set some pretty intense goals. Doable...but intense. Most of them didn't happen. This semester, with one week down (and about a million more to go), I am trying to set some realistic goals.



1. Stay on top of my classes - care about them - glorify God in them. Don't skip class unless necessary.*

2. Live missionally in all I do.

3. Encourage the body of Christ to lve missionally.

4. Get a job - work hard - glorify Daddy in that.

5. Get in shape.

6. Write Abigail letters regularly.

7. Be in control of my body and not let it be in control of me (exercising, eating right, regular sleep schedule, etc.)

8. At least 8 hours of sleep a night.**



*Do my very best to not skip class unless necessary. It's not realistic to say I won't at all.

** Already failed at this at least one night. Again, it's a "do my very best" type of thing.



Feel free to keep me accountable/ask me about these things.

You are loved. :)

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My God is bigger

Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God, You are higher than any other

Our God is healer, awesome in power

Our God, our God

I want to tell yall about one of the days this summer. Let's just start out with saying... it was a long day.

It started out with us going to the shops near the Big Temple in the city. After visiting for awhile, our doctor friend took us to a new temple with the goddess of mercy statue. This statue is HUGE. It is like over 60 ft tall or something crazy like that. This statue has 1000 hands and some ridiculous amount of eyes. As our friend told us about it and even asked us if we wanted to bow down to it, I became extremely overwhelmed. I just kept thinking "It's so big. It's so big." That's when I was so sweetly reminded by my God (the True God), "I'm bigger." And He gave me this song (Our God is greater). What a sweet truth. He is bigger than some statue. He is greater than false beliefs and the lies our friend is trapped in. He is higher than false religion.

We got back to our side of town at about 2 in the afternoon and proceeded to have a late lunch at our favorite noodle place. During our lunch, one of the girls I went with's bag was stolen. It was a frustrating couple of hours as we tried to deal with the situation. When we went to a coffee shop a few hours later, she and I got to talk for awhile. We talked through some of the frustrations and irritations from the day, and talked about the fact that satan was attacking because of all God was doing. This ended up just being more frustrating because we were letting satan get to us, and it had gotten in the way of intentional meetings with friends. That is when Daddy reminded us again, "I'm bigger." He is so much bigger than threats and plans of the evil one. He is so much bigger than our frustrations. He is so much bigger!

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;

let the many coastlands be glad!

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.

His lightnings light up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD;

before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all the peoples see his glory.

All worshipers of images are put to shame,

who make their boast in worthless idols;

worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and is glad,

and the daughters of Judah rejoice,

because of your judgements, O LORD.

For you, O LORD, are most high above all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

Psalm 97:1-9

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