EVERY single day.

 

[Instagram: theplaidsparrow]

 

 

Every day, we have a choice.

We can let fear of something that really is small compared to the greatness of God cripple us.

OR ...

we can take a risk,

do something to help someone else,

make a person smile,

change someone's world.

 

Life to the fullest exists.

It's available.

All we have to do is decide to get up and embrace it.

 

-Katie Davis, (Kisses from Katie)

Guest Post: Funny Lady.

I'm stoked about this guest post.

I know you are all going to love, Heidi.

She is so funny! Seriously.

& I am pretty sure I tell her that EVERY time I talk to her.

She is probably sick of it, but it's true.

Plus, she and her husband are the cutest. 

Oh, and she gets to travel A LOT, which makes me jealous!

----------

First off I want to say thank you to Colie for having me. I have loved our email/text exchanges over the past few weeks, she is truly a breath of fresh air. And she has fun Instagram pics, you should follow her. Bonus, her birthday is my wedding anniversary! Happy May 29^th to us!

Hey! My name is Heidi and I blog over at Heidi of the Future. What a strange name you might be thinking... yes, yes it is. I started my blog when I moved to China in 2009 to teach English to university students. My family and friends needed to stay up to date with all the weird food I was eating, so my blog was created. At the time I was in the future, aka 14 hours ahead of America, but now that I'm back stateside it sounds like I'm into science or time travel or something...

Life didn't become normal just because I was back home in Oklahoma (love you Oklahoma!). It actually might have gotten crazier, and China is crazy. Ten months after returning from China I was married to my super long distance out-of-the-country boyfriend who stuck with me when I said, "I'm going to China, date me if you want, I'll be back in a year". He is also from Oklahoma (miss you Oklahoma!) but moved to Philadelphia to start optometry school.

So, I found myself married and moving the next day to Philadelphia where he was the only person I knew. China prepared me for this... my independence (I also was living in the city where independence happened… or something like that). I lived there for 8 months before starting out on the next journey of our life... optometry rotations. We move every 3 months to a new state, and there is never a dull moment.

So I write about our day-to-day (or week-to-week, not a lot happens sometimes, that's when I just post youtube videos) crazy adventures. We have no money, no friends or family around us usually (we do right now in Denver!), so it's just us... being gypsies... loving life, trusting God, and seeing the country in a really unique way. I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, okay, maybe getting paid, but that's all. Okay, and having my people to travel along. That would be cool.

So come stop on by, say hi. Who knows, maybe I am moving to a city near you, and I need friends... Like, really, I need friends. Anyone? Also we need a place to live in Miami... anyone?

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So, now go do yourself a favor and pop on over to her blog.

Say hello and stay awhile.

It will make her day! :)

Happy Wednesday, friends.

much love,

xoxo.

Lovelies.

Woozers!

Look how short my hair was back in October.

It is always longer when it is straight, but geez. 

That is super short, yo.

I now realize that my hair has grown a lot in the past 7 months.

But ... a bit faster would be nice.

Anyways, it seems like every post I'm talking about my hair.

Sorry. I just can't help it.

So, yesterday I worked all day and didn't get a chance to post a few links to my favorites this past week.

I figured before getting ready to head to my friends birthday lunch that I'd share some with you.

Enjoy!

Amber is the sweetest ... & oh-so adorable with her hubby!

How can you not just say "AWW.." over this?? :D

I am really loving DottieAdele!!

Sometimes I can relate to this feeling about blogging.


I love it ALL!!

Ladies, when Molly found the "Hey, Christian girl" quotes by some very handsome celebrities, I laughed so hard. They are the best! Srsly. Greatness!


I adore Kendi, her fashion, and this post. :)


Can we please talk about how adorbs Haley's new hair cut is??! I LOVE it!


I am over-the-moon excited that Mandy shared a new app for photos. Yikes! I am about to download it now!!


Christina shared the sweetest photos & story of her grandparents. 
Love is the most beautiful thing.


& I am loving this blog I came across, through luck of Instagram! ;)


This weekend will be spent working. :/ Boo.
I do hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, though!
Soak up the sun, eat lots of yummy food, relax by the water, and be happy with God has given you!
much love.
xoxo

Guest Post: Ms. Lulu ... or Ash. (I'm sure she will answer to both ;)

Oh, sweet friends ... you are in for a treat today! 

One of the loveliest ladies around is doing a guest post for me. 

I am over-the-moon excited about it!!

She is a dear & I am so grateful that God is blessing me with such a wonderful friendship!

Please pop on over to her blog after reading what her current favorites are lately.

You will be oh-so happy that you did!

xoxo

hello!

i'm ash from love.lulu. i am so honored that colie asked me to guest post. she is such a doll & is quickly becoming a dear, dear friend.

a little about my life? i've been married to the man of my dreams for three years. we have one sweet little boy (he'll be two next month), & a pretty awesome cat. oh, & i love god. a lot.

the spring in the air has caused me to have organizing on the brain, as well as wanting to try a bit more overall in my appearance & health (I know my husband appreciates it. haha.). with that, i've come across some pretty great things. here are a few of my current favorites.

my new cosmetic bag. 

i don't know how i've never heard of danica studio until now. it's pretty much perfect. & pretty cheap. which makes me happy.

my new necklace.

this actually just came in the mail a few days ago. from fab.com. i've been in desperate need of new jewelry, & this is so fun!

my new water bottle.

i got my husband the grey&black one for christmas, & have been secretly coveting it since. the other day, he came home with this for me. oh, i love him.

my new bag.

my in-laws got this for me for my birthday. they know me too well. it's my new favorite bag, for sure! & big enough for all my life-with-a-toddler essentials. & well, i think the toddler, too.

well, those are some of my favorites this week. hope you enjoyed.

have a lovely weekend!

love.

Spread the news.

Please check out The Influence Conference.

It brought a smile to my face this morning!!

The hosts of this lovely event are:

http://www.naptimediaries.com/

http://www.thetinytwig.com/

http://www.thewiegands.com/

If finances allow it, then you will definitely be seeing me there in October!!

What about you??

All photos found via The Influence Conference website, listed above.

Thoughts ... & more thoughts.

I've had a lot on my mind lately.
Well, I guess I always have a lot on my mind.
It literally never shuts off except for the few, short hours of sleep I get each night.
They are mostly just thoughts. 
I figured I would share them with you. 

I'm more than grateful for having Nathan in my life. I'm not even sure if he realizes how much. I've dated a lot of men in the past, and please trust me when I tell you all that I am very blessed. 


I am learning more and more that I am way too hard on myself. People I barely know tell me that. :/ That worries me. I try not to vocalize how I feel about myself in a negative way, but I guess it does come out sometimes. Most days I love who God created me to be. I love my personality and the ability I have to become friends with just about anyone. I don't however feel like I'm "worthy" or "good enough" at times for the people in my life. Then there are just the petty things that as women we tend to fret about: hair, clothes, weight, etc. 


I am always broke. Always. I am constantly stressed out with finances and paying back all the debt I owe. More than that, I have been worrying about tithing. There has been quite a lack of that. I know it is mostly because I feel like I have none to give so why should I put myself even farther in the hole?! BUT, God has been stirring my heart in this area. I must trust Him. For a widow who gave the only two coins she had was praised by God over the ones who gave what they felt was "enough".


Commitment. I need to do what I say I will do. This is with friends, family, work, prayer life, events, promises, etc. I have trouble with keeping my word at times. I know we all fall short of this sometimes, but I am striving to be better at it.


Where does all the time go? I'm serious. Time flies by so fast. I'm not even 25 yet and I remember thinking that time was passing so slowly. Pssh. I was wrong, folks. I honestly find myself planning an entire week in my head step-by-step with any available time I may or may not have. It's sad, I know. No judgement, please. ;) I just feel like I never have enough time to fit everything in. Do you ever feel like that?


& finally, this song has been on repeat for the past two days.
I don't know why to be honest.
It's actually pretty sad, but I love it. 



I am so sleepy now. It's off to catch some shut eye.
I hope you all had the best Monday!
much love.


PS.  My brother, sister-in-law, and nephews came in from Texas this afternoon!
They will be home for two weeks. :) I am so happy.

I am pretty sure I literally cried a river ...

So, I just got back home from Nathan's after watching this:

& frankly I think it should have been called:

"The movie where you spend the entire time crying -- the kind of crying where you can't breath -- for you are so overcome by the emotion you feel towards the characters because of God's great love & mercy."

Yes, yes.

I honestly think it should be called that.

I mean, I started crying during the previews of the trailers they had BEFORE the actual movie started!

You can laugh.

It's okay. ;)

 I am probably the last person to see this movie, but if I wasn't then PLEASE go rent/buy it!

It's worth it.

much love, friends.

xoxo

a stirring of my heart.

"To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under Heaven."
-Ecclesiastes 3:1

There are some days that I just feel so overwhelmed.
The journey down this road we call life is not always an easy one to follow.

There are moments - days - when my anxiety gets the best of me.
I find myself constantly worrying.
I worry about how I will ever get caught up on school loans and make all my bills on time.
I worry about how I can be a better friend.
I worry about how I be the best example of Christ to my family. (& if I fail, how I can change that..)
I worry about how I can lift the burdens of those I love so dearly.
I worry that I am too sensitive.
I worry about those I do not know, but who need our love and encouragement.
I worry about if I will have truly done what the Lord has asked of me in this life, when He returns.

I worry, worry, worry.
I have a mind that rarely shuts off for I feel there is always something to be done, someone to help, or ways to be a better person.
I feel things with such a deep passion and love.
This in many ways is a blessing and a burden.
And because of that, I find myself tired.
So. very. tired.

In those moments I ask God when this season will pass.
I wonder if my next chapter is being written or if I have to continue to fight through it to see that shining light around the corner.

There is definitely a season for everything.
We all experience them, good and bad.
However, who I am isn't going to change.
I am still going to worry.
I am still going to love others so deeply and want to lift their burdens from their shoulders.
I am still going to fret about bills.
That is a part of life and a part of me.

The one thing God has been speaking to me is that I shouldn't change, but that I should give those worries to Him.
I've always known this, but I'm a "fixer".
You know, someone who thinks that if they work hard enough, love more, and pray - that it will somehow all fall together how I pictured in my mind.
Yea, God doesn't really work like that.
He has His own plan.
I forget that at times.

This morning God reminded me that He is enough.
He is there for me when life gets messy or difficult.
He says to me, "Daughter, I love you. I will hold you in my arms and keep you safe. There will be no worries for I will take them away. You are my beloved. I cherish you."
His love for me can be overwhelming at times that I find myself on the brink of tears.
Isn't it amazing?
That I am but just a small speck in the universe, yet I matter so much to Him!? :)
He feels the same you!
Never forget that.
Ever.

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." -Matthew 11:28-30

(instagram: sofifiicom)

For you, Kimmie. :)

This evening I went with one of my dear friends to do last minute Christmas shopping at Wal-Mart.
Please remind me NOT to do that next year!
Jordan & I almost pulled our hair out. : /

Anyways, afterwards she & her boys were headed to church with her husband.
I got in my car & headed home.
The whole ride to my house my heart just ached.
I started to whisper the sweet name of "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."
It helped to put my heart at rest.

I miss church.
When I say church I am not just speaking of the growth in my walk with the Lord, (because I strive for that everyday), but I miss having family, a support system.
I  miss community.
I miss having a place to run to when all other doors are closed in my face.
I yearn for that peace in my life again.

I once read where Shane Claiborne said that his liberal friends saw him as conservative and his conservative friends saw him as liberal.
I laugh every time I read that.
I feel quite similar to that at times.
I am a very open-minded person, yet hold the teachings of God close to my heart everyday.

Please let me define open-minded for you:
I am open to my LOVE for ALL people.
Do I agree with every choice or lifestyle they choose?
No. Absolutely not.
Do I still love them?
YES! for that is what Jesus did.
He loved.
Everyone.
Especially those that the world did not.
I will never be close having the heart of Jesus, but I do have Jesus IN my heart.
For that, I can say that my life is far sweeter than I could ever possibly give words to.

I have tattoos, I sometimes say "pissed", I listen to both christian & secular music, I laugh all the time, I try to always be myself - even if that means not everyone will like me, I love encouraging others, I adore hugs, I like getting to know people, sometimes I get frustrated, I go out for a drink once in a blue moon, I cry, I like awkwardness (makes life a little more interesting), and I may be a little different that what the world labels "normal", but guess what?

God loves those things about me.
He knows me.
He knows I am NOT perfect.
I am flawed.
I'm full of mistakes.
& yet I am still on this journey with Him.
I love Jesus!
I am not defined to live life inside a box that the world has created for myself ... or for God.

I know God is leading me to a church that is right for me.
I will continue to pray & be patient.

I long for His presence ... for the Holy Spirit.
Always.

much love,
colie