I WON!!! I WON!!!

So there I sat at home, with mono, at my uncles funeral...whining that I wasn't at Disney World on a free trip to babysit for my favorite family...

When I decided to enter a random contest that happened to pass me by on my Facebook page...

I had known Jessica Magee our freshman year in college.

She is so fun! We have always had similar personalities and interests in laughing loudly. But had lost touch for about 3 or so years... Until we meet again on some trail way as she walks her darling pup and I breathlessly train with my Team in Training team- I still dont know how I was actually race day ready when it was time to run my half marathon (3:00:00!)

SO... This contest was this:

How cool! I emailed Jess and told her all about Brady...how we met, what I have learned from him, what I have learned about myself from him, and what I have learned about the Gospel from his pursuit of me. He has so swept me off me feet in just 4 months and I told her all about how since our first date , he took me antiquing and has had me intrigued ever since.

So finally, last night,  it was time to announce the winner....

And I found out that I won!!

summer lovin'

This is my first summer here in my beloved Shoals Area...

By this time each year, I have always been nestled deep in my bed full of sand at summer beach project, hoping to find pearls in my bed from all the sand and pearls in my heart from all the biblical teaching of the 9 weeks with Campus Outreach...totally exhausted of course by trying to keep up with students or toddlers and the sunshine.

But alas, I am here..living my summer on the Tennessee River, taking my first ever summer class (hey at least its in grad school) and interning alongside my part time job at the university. What a summer!

The Lord has drastically changed my life in the last year, for His good and for my benefit.

He has so helped me to understand His love for me by ripping my idols away (one at a time...until I am sanctified) and showing me what pursuit looks like.

I sure do know how to post my life in an 'I've got it all together' kind of way....yeah right. I feel like I am trying to breathe each day as the summer flies on by...

Summer 2013 has introduced me to several things...like the griping world of chemical addiction through my internship at Bradford as I attempt to put my fresh counseling skills to the test and listent o the struggles of others, as motivated or court mandated as they may be...
I have also many incoming freshmen as I try to con them into becoming involved at UNA... hey it really is the best way to get the best out of your experience here.... What have I got to show for it?  A job at UNA, for one-haha, but more importantly a deep rooted connection to the church that I now serve which introduced me to Brady and here we are starting Pre-Engagement Counseling next month!

Reality is that, I am (willingly) investing my time and my heart into building a relationship that promises to sanctify me before the Lord and His glory - ok - and we all know what a painless joy that will be...

More to come on the real life front. I am thankful for today.