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.

What's that...in the air?

This man... Is changing my life. He just delicately, fervently waltzed right in and with his charming boldness, he has swept me off my feet. He is incredible...really the gentleman I have always dreamed of calling mine. With his quick wit, love for antiques, passion for the Gospel Truth, conviction to teach, desire to provide, compassion for others, dedication to his plan, diligence to loving confrontation, dependence on the Lord's sovereignty, concern for me, and his delight in jazz music (well...most music- good music, that is), he has my head following my heels... We mesh really well and confront conflict with immediacy. We seem to compliment each other in personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and tastes. I'm growing I'm thankfulness for him everyday. Glory be To God. 😍

I freaking loooove this photo. 

Blessed

The Lord has really been working around here. I guess He always is though. He has some pretty good ideas.

I have really enjoyed getting to know people this week.  The boldness that He gives some is remarkable...when one chooses manliness.

Ambition, intention, responsibility, transparency, honesty, direction, theology, while praying for clarity is super attractive. Those are just a few of the things Im drawn to about you.

I am so thankful today.

All of Life is Missional

Our God is a God who cares about His people and also what is important to the hearts of His people. Healing.

He cares as much about the theater as He does theology, as much about coffee shops as He does the church, as much about food as He does faith.

He created all these things too!

And He cares as much about healing as He does Heaven.

He loves seeing His children healed. This world is broken and He knows. He has put into place from the beginning (Gen. 3:15) His plan to redeem the world through His Son. He plans to redeem the world through the work of His Son, Jesus.

He is glorified from Healing. To find cures, we research and we pray. To fund research, we invest our time and our money. To pray, we hit our knees.

Join me as we pray and invest our time and money to find a cure for all types of cancer.

Donate now. Pray now.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/al/flypig13/savvismith

exhausted...

I feel weary today. 

I feel overwhelmed by the presence of my sin.

I feel the hope of healing and freedom that my Savior had bought.

I feel the warmth of grace about me. 

I feel the need to say to myself often.

i should be studying...

I have a lot of things on my mind today...especially surrounding identity.

Why am I so prone to identify myself with my accomplishments, how others view me, or how much someone wants me around?

Im sure this has to do with my innate need to be independent of Him, who has created me in His image.

Sometimes I get so caught up in what I think I am supposed to be doing or in my perception of others expectations of me that I lose the freedom that He has bought for me to be... me.

I believe lies that I have no value if I cannot serve others or be for them what they ask or if I feel any unpleasant emotion.

I am frustrated. I dont know how to talk about it because I dont know to whom to talk or what I am even upset about exactly...myself, my actions, my thoughts, or someone else.

In the end, the Truth is that He has given me all of His righteousness as no cost to me. How is that possible? Because in the beginning as soon as sin entered the world, God planned its solution through His magnificent Son who would, at great sacrifice, deliver the death blow to evil and rescue me. Rescue us.

My frustrations are a deal to me, but He has already fought for the solution and is working things out for my good. This is the truth that I must preach to myself each day to believe that I have value, no matter the circumstance or opinion of humans around me.

Its ok if I want to feel frustrated?

Breathe.