Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to you!

I'm sorry but today

I can't think of just one thing I am thankful for.

Sounds totally cliche,

 but God's blessings have been abundant.

Last week I got to be a part of something very special.

My friend Christina who I met 4 years ago on a summer missions trip,

married a great man.
And I got to stand up right beside her as it happend.

Their wedding was wonderful,

{despite Christina being sick}

she was absolutely stunning and radiant.

She literally took my breath away....

every single time I looked at her.

It is so clear the Lord was AND is at work

 in Christina and Bryant's

 {the new hus}

 relationship.

When I arrived in Utah,

 it was the first time I've seen Christina in 3 years.

 I've never had the opportunity to get to know Bryant.

But throughout the week,

I learned the bits an pieces of how the Lord brought them together.

And through that,

 all the ways the Lord used both of them together and separately

to impact the people around them

{including myself}.

It was a great reminder of the Lord's faithfulness,

His power,

His perfect timing,

His great plans, 

and His desire to know, love and

  be in relationship with His most precious creation.

Us. 

Now, I've been in my fair share of weddings

{well on my way to 27 dresses}

so I went into this past week thinking

I was heading off on a little vacation,

to hang out with a good friend,

to be in another wedding.

Little did I know God had other plans.

{as He usually does}

Never was I expecting what He had in store...

I was challenged in my relationship with the Lord,

in stepping out in faith and letting the Lord lead.

I met really awesome people,

made great connections and have begun fun relationships.

Even my prayer life was rocked, a lot.

My life was impacted.

Things are still making their way out of it all,

and I've been back home since Monday.

Now that's a wedding folks!

Lord, Thank you 

for the ways in which You used this past week to work in my life.

Thank you for the testimony of Bryant and Christina's relationship.

Thank you that 4 years ago Stina and I met

and 4 years later we are still growing together 

with a relationship that is centered around You.

.

Top: London and Israel, summer 2008
Bottom: Utah, summer 2012

What are you thankful for today?....

Waiting for a Plane...

What a whirlwind of a week.

I'm currently killing time in the Salt Lake City Airport,

trying to get work done.

But clearly, I'm not entirely focused.

For good reasons though...

I honestly just had one of the greatest weeks of my life.

Spending quality time with an 

extremely dear friend that I haven't seen in 3 years,

connecting with old friends,

making new friends

and celebrating a truly awesome marriage.

I think it's safe to say,

sparks were flying all over the place this week!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to You!

Today,

I am thankful to be here...

In beautiful Utah,

among groves of gorgeous aspen.

All to celebrate this beautiful woman

{Christina}

as she walks down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams.

I can't wait for Sunday!

Honestly, 

this place is breathtaking.

I am thankful for the beautiful outdoors,

wonderful friends,

and wedding celebrations!

What are you thankful for today?..

Thankful Thursday {Friday}

Today,

I am thankful for new running shoes.

A birthday gift from my three, wonderful and thoughtful roommates

who I think the world of.

My feet {and knees}

haven't been this happy in a while.

What are you thankful for today?...

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Today,

I am thankful for time spent at home.

I have spent no time at home this past year.

And I was getting super antsy down in the OC.

I needed to get away,

I needed some closure from this past year.

I threw my stuff in my car,

and headed home to the valley.

Since I've been home...

I'm thankful for 

all the snuggles I've had with my pup.

I'm thankful for 

the time I'm getting to spend with my brother.

Catching up on the past year and just hanging out.

I made it home in time to watch him off to prom,

he has grown into such a handsome young man.

Next week he is graduating! 

I'm a proud sister.

I'm so thankful 

that I have a place to go when I need to escape and get away.

God has been so gracious.

He has provided a real

"home sweet home".

And a family that welcomes me home happily.

Lord thank You for my home,

a place where I can be restored and rejuvenated.

Thank You for the time I get to spend here,

and for the people (and pups) that fill this home.

What are you thankful for on this beautiful Thursday?...

I Love...

...California.

I don't want to brag,

but it's pretty wonderful!

I love

that one day I can go running on the beach

with waves crashing next to me.

Taking in the sights, sounds and smells

of the California coast.

And then the next day be able to

 run alongside a creek in the mountains.

I Love 

being surrounded by beautiful, bright wild flowers

and taking in the fresh mountain air,

sweet with scents of pine and maple.

I love 

all that I get to see while going on my runs.

and I love

how awesome and beautiful my home state is!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to you!

Today I am thankful for 

spontaneous outings.

 Involving delicious food....

Views of the LA skyline....

 Hanging with these two goofs...

  The Dodgers....

Laughing tons with this lady...

Eating a ridiculous amount of peanuts...

 and taking in the sights and sounds of the ball park.

Thank you Lord 

for little adventures 

that can turn my day and week right around.

For delicious food,

great company

and of course my boys in blue!

What are you thankful for today?

We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark

Tuesday night my dreams came true.

I got to watch Coldplay put on an awesome show

at the Hollywood Bowl.

The first time that I saw Coldplay perform

was six years ago.

I can't believe it's been that long,

that makes me feel slightly old.

This concert was a blast.

Beginning with a lovely picnic dinner,

hanging with a wonderful group of friends, 

of course there was awesome music

and we even got to be a part of the show!

We all got some pretty sweet wristbands

that lit up during certain points in the concert.

No doubt,

 sitting in the second to last row gave us the best view.

It was pretty spectacular.

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday to you!

Today,

I am thankful for this beautiful place.

Aldrich Park.

This little piece of heaven can be found at the center of UC Irvine's campus

and most likely where you can find me and my students

on a sunny day.

I'm so very thankful for the discipleship times

that I get to have here

 with these three beauties...

Jenna, Rachel & Kimmie

{my 4th year disciples}

Goodness, 

these women absolutely light up my life.

They are a delight,

and their love for the Lord radiates.

God had been using each of them to teach me

 and challenge me in very specific ways.

And I'm so thankful for the time we have had together this year.

It 's hard think these three ladies will be graduating,

and leaving UCI behind in just a matter of weeks.

But I know God has big plans for them,

they are off to do great things and it has been such a blessing to 

see the Lord working so evidently in their lives.

God thank you for beautiful parks,

and wonderful women who I am blessed to disciple.

What are you thankful for today?..

Terrarium Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!

I've definitely  been overdue for a new terrarium and

lately I've been itching to add some horticulture in my life.

As luck may have it,

I have had some Coleus plants just hanging out on my front porch 

the past few weeks that have been pleading with me to do something with them.

Sounds like the perfect recipe. 

Six pack of Coleus plants {Walmart $1.97}

Glass Jar {Walmart $7-a total steal!}

If you've never made a terrarium before.

You definitely should.

It's pretty sweet.

They're fun to make, pretty to look at, and just darn cute!

Homebody

I haven't had a weekend at home

 in well over a month.

This past week it definitely began to take its toll on me,

physically, mentally, spiritually...

I've been completely out of sorts,

having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other.

My life has been pretty much falling apart.

{ok maybe that's a slight exaggeration} 

but it sure has felt that way.

This past weekend,

I nested.

I cleaned, organized, crafted, "gardened" and added 

some new burlap decor to my bedroom.

It was beautiful

and much needed.

Tonight I go to sleep with a 

 sweet reminder of how wonderful the Lord is!

"The Lord your God is with you, 

   the Mighty Warrior who saves. 

He will take great delight in you; 

   in his love he will no longer rebuke you, 

   but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17