ASAP

Something very unusual happened to me last week that I must share. I was at the store buying supplies for puppet practice, and I was at the check- out line when I saw this man standing there. He was right beside the door, almost like a greeter. As I paid for the markers and posterboard, I put the change in my purse and headed outside. The man stopped me and handed me a card. He was wearing a black shirt that had white letters on it and said ASAP. I was curious. So I looked at the card, and it had a question that all church-goers have heard in their life: "If you were to die today, would you go to Heaven or Hell?" The man asked me if I had a relationship with Jesus, and I responded to him that I did. Then we started talking about Jesus and what He had done in this man's life. He proceeded to talk about how, as Christians, we need to share our faith with everyone we come in contact with, and how this was his way of speaking to people.

The man then said that he had to leave. As he walked away, I read the back of his shirt. "Always Say A Prayer". That's when it hit me. I can be the one who could change everything in someone's life. As I continue to live my life, I think about this man every day, and what we talked about. Jesus put him in my life to speak a word to me that I needed to hear. I didn't understand it at first, because he didn't talk to the people in line before me. He waited to talk to me- to make sure I heard what he had to say to me.

You see, it's the little things like this man did, that can change the world. As Christians, we are called to spread the Gospel to all nations, starting with our own. If I ever see this man again, I want to let him know how much he has changed me. I'm a shy person, so talking to people in general is a challenge for me. But because of this man, I have been able to be bold about my faith and share it, as we all should!

So, I ask, are you going to be the one who changes everything?

New Year, New Me

Hey guys! It's been a long while since I've written. To be honest, I totally forgot I even had a blog! So anyways, I guess the first thing that is in order is to give an update on my life. Well, I just finished my first semester of college, and boy was it challenging!! My classes were: The Story of Jesus, General Chemistry I, Music Appreciation, College Algebra, Band, General Chemistry Lab, and my english class. I think my favorite class was a tie between band and my Bible class. It was the two classes that I gave my full attention in and really enjoyed the class and got a lot out of it. It was great. I'm not looking forward to this upcoming semester of college. My classes are a lot harder because I'm not only taking my general education classes, but I'm starting to take classes for my major, which I changed from Biology-premed, to Nursing, and I am still pursuing my music minor in the process. Also, I plan on attending TSOM (Tennessee School of Ministry) next year, so that will be a real load of work! But I think I am fully capable of doing it if I put my mind to it!!

So now that you know all about my college life, I'll give you a peek inside of my personal life. I am still trying to come to the fact that my mom is gone-forever. It's really hard when I think about it and know that nothing I do here on earth will bring her back. I really miss her- more than anyone knows.

I am currently single- and loving it. I love not being attached to anyone, and just sort of doing my own thing. It's great. I don't plan on dating for a while.

The only good thing that has come out of my mom passing is the fact that I am a lot closer to my cousin Robbie. When my mom was alive, I never really had the opportunity to get to know her. I'm really glad that we are as close as we are. She is like my big sister and I love it! She took me shopping for my prom dress last year and when she comes and visits on the holidays, we always have fun. I even got to visit her in Texas, and that was definitely an adventure!!! =) Gotta love her!!

So anyways, I promise, I had a purpose for writing this blog. I wanted to make my New Year's Goals. I make them every year and never keep them. But as the start of a new decade, I really think I will stick with these this year:

1. Get healthy- This includes eating right, exercising, and all that jazz.

2. Read my Bible everyday- no matter what.

3. Pray everyday- no matter what.

4. Limit my facebook time to 2 hours a day.

5. Visit with my grandparents more often and talk to them about what's going on in my life.

6. Forgive and ask forgiveness everyone that has hurt me in the past.

7. Make school one of my top priorities.

8. Get a job.

9. Pay off my debt.

10. Make my mom proud of me, no matter what it takes.

I know this looks like one big, impossible list, but I figured that if I worked on one or two things at a time, then everything will work out!! I really hope so. I really just want to be genuinely happy. I haven't been that kind of happy in so long. For so long I've had to put this pretend laugh and this pretend smile for everyone, and I am tired of it. I was to be happy. Really happy. And that is my ultimate goal for this year!

Well, I guess that's enough rambling for today. Hopefully I can write back soon and tell you how this has been going. See ya!

A New Beginning...

Well high school has come to an end...and so has summer, which means that it's time to start college. Wow! I can't even believe it myself!!! Haha but anyways, I am attending Lipscomb University in just a few short days to study PreMedical Studies. Yep, that's right, I'm gonna be a doctor!!! I have come over a plethora of emotions these past few weeks, just because I am realizing that I am about to leave my comfort zone of Hendersonville and Portland, and venture off into a whole new world. I know I won't be too for from home, but I won't be about to see my family and friends everday like I have for the past 4 years or so. I have actually gotten to the point to where I am excited about the whole dorm room thing and meeting new people, but not so much about the classes I am taking! They are so hard!!!!! But I know with God on my side, everything will work out!!!! Well that's pretty much it for today!!!!

The end of a storm...

Ya know how there is always a rainbow after the rain? Well that's been on my mind lately. Like, sometimes I will look outside and it will be raining like the sky is falling out, and 10 minutes later, it'll look like nothing even happened. The sun will be shining, and the birds will be out to play. In my opinion, it's just plain wierd.

But as I think about the rain, and the rainbow, I think about my life-and that's how it works. Like things will go really bad and all I can think about is how bad my life is and "why me". But before I know it, God blesses me with something amazing that I could never even fathom, and I think to myself, "was what I went through really so bad?" Of course not. Now I know, and really understand, that there really is a gift waiting for you after every trial and tribulation you go through. And for me, that gift was college. I know that may not sound like a gift at all, but for me it is. I have been waiting 13 years to go to college, and I know my mom wouldn't want it any other way. I've always loved learning, and college is just another step in my life that I can learn about the things that I want to do when I am older. I want to be a medical missionary to Ecuador, with a focus in women. I want to help the Ecuadorian women in any way I can- from delivering their babies to giving them the emotional support they might need. All in all, I just want to help.

This subject has been on my mind a lot, especially in the last couple of months. So that's my thought for the day!

Randomness

Hey guys!! So I have realized...again...that I am really bad about this whole blogging thing. I just do it when I am feeling really stressed out, or if I'm in a really good mood! Well, tonight, I am in a really good mood!
Me and Tyler are back together...again...yay! And I absolutely adore him! He is so wonderful! He was there for me when I thought I had no one to turn to! But yeah, he's amazing! I am so lucky to have such a great guy: in my life.
Mother's Day was on Sunday, and I have to admit, it was really hard, but somehow I managed to get through it. We also had the Baccalureate service at First Baptist that same day. That was also interesting. It was awesome to see Mr.Shelton again for the first time in a good while. His speech was pretty awesome!
So that's all that has happened to me since the last time I wrote! I'll write more another day!