Guest Post: These Happy Times

I am oh-so happy to not only share my very first guest post, but to introduce you to a lovely lady.

Britt is so sweet.
Srsly.

& she has the cutest, little family to boot!

She is someone I wish lived closer, so that I could sit and chat with her over coffee!
I know you'll feel the same.

& please take some time to check out her blog. :)

xoxo

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.

Life.

My heart is heavy.

So. very. heavy.

The journey we travel has many paths.

I suppose mine keeps taking the ones I never thought it would have taken.

Through the hurt and tears, I can hear the small voice of Jesus calling me. 

He says. "I love you , my precious daughter. Please run to me. Please. I'm waiting."

That love, HIS love, is so overwhelming that quiet tears always fall when I least expect them.

He reminds me that though I am imperfect and flawed, that I am worthy of HIS love and grace.

Little ole me.

Worthy?

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:1-2

I pray that this rocky journey I have been on, this season in my life, will soon pass.

Your sweet prayers would be greatly appreciated, dear friends.

I am wishing you all the happiest Monday.

If I am absent a bit over the weeks to come, please don't worry.

For, "this too shall pass....".

much love.

xoxo

(While writing this post, I listened to KellyAnn's music monday. 

I hope you get the chance to do the same.)

One of my favorites.

I have something special to share with you all! :)

It is the wedding video of Kelly Ann + Charles.

Oh my!

I just watched it.

There was laughter.

There were tears.

There were moments I just wanted to give them both the biggest hugs.

Goodness, they are the cutest couple.

It is so beautiful to not only see a couple who obviously love each other immensely, but who are also in love with their Maker!!

  

 

  

I really adore Kelly Ann.

I randomly found her blog one day and fell in love.

I know you will too!

So please pop on over to her blog & stay awhile!!

much love.

xoxo

the random thoughts of my life.

- Instagram-ed for the first day in a week yesterday. (breaks my heart)

- Got through an extremely stressful week last week

- Praying for direction, patience, and understanding

- Wishing so badly that I could just hop on a plane and travel the world!

- Missing my Dallas friends, oh-so much.

- Watched all the Scream movies. Had nightmares that someone was trying to kill me. Dumb decision. I know.

- Trying desperately NOT to cut my hair. (When it is at the "in between" stages, I just want to chop it off!!)

- The weather has been a bit chilly. It is making me miss the warm weather we were having around here. I suppose I didn't realize how grateful I should have been while we had it!

- Went to the gym the other day! I felt fantastic afterwards. :) I hope I continue doing so.

- Spicy Ranch Dressing is the BEST!!

- Coral & Mint fingernail polish is the cutest colors for spring.

- I remember how I read non-stop growing up. I wish I still did. I don't make the time anymore. :(

- I still LOVE coffee. (**prove below)

- I am getting four days off of work. It has been glorious so far.

- Zooey Deschanel and I should definitely be friends, along with Michelle Williams, Emma Stone, and Jennifer Lawrence. :)

- I want another tattoo. Srsly. Soon. I am thinking for my birthday next month!?

- Loving the fact that there are so many lovely women (and men) out there with encouraging, funny, and inspiring blogs.

- I dream about one day waking up and I being british. :)

- I have never liked my hands. They look old and wrinkled to me. :/

- I am looking forward to a fun roadtrip with friends this coming Saturday. It is much needed.

- I am going on a hike this morning and hoping I don't feel sore tomorrow.
- Bethany is coming home from Haiti in about 2 weeks, and I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET HER!! :D Srsly. I am pretty sure we are going to be great friends.
- I love Jesus. I'm glad he is my best friend.

That's it for now.
Nothing too exciting, but thanks for reading.
much love to you all!!
Happy Friday.

PS. If you haven't entered to win the giveaway for the $25 Forever 21 gift card, then you should.
Right here!
Today is the last day, btw.
Good luck!

The third day.

via

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be. 

-Psalm 139:14-16

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you for loving me.

I wish I showed you the love you are worthy of everyday.

I fail most of the time.

I'm sorry.

Your grace covers my heart and frees me from shame.

If only I could wrap my arms around you.

I'm not sure I would EVER let go.

Your presence can be so overwhelming at times that quite tears begin to fall down my face.

I grateful for them.

It reminds me of how real you are, Jesus.

I pray that I never run too far from you.

I love you.

so. very. much.

If you asked me...

If you asked me ... I'd tell you that this morning was beautiful. That in between all the joys and struggles, the Lord always shows up ... even when I don't think He does. When I whisper the sweet name of "Jesus" softly under my breathe, my heart feels at peace with the world. 

If you asked me ... I would tell you that I can't wait to be married one day. I look forward to having little kiddos running around, but for now ... I'm content with not having any. ;)

If you asked me ... I would tell you that just because I am always nice, doesn't mean I always like everyone. People can be cruel. They can be mean. But, there are also those who fill my life with love and laughter. I am so grateful for them. 

If you asked me ... I would tell you that I worry too much about what people think of me. I tend to seek the approval of what my life is worth through others, instead of from the Lord. I hate that. 

If you asked me ... I would tell you that I love watching sad movies. They remind me that life is short, beautiful, and messy.

If you asked me ... I would tell you that though I do not always talk about it, I worry about my weight.

If you asked me ... I would tell you that I haven't always been the greatest friend. I try. Sometimes I fail. I'm still working on it.

If you asked me  ... I would tell you that sometimes I am selfish. We all are in some ways. I pray that God would help me in that area of my life.

If you asked me ... I would tell you I don't like taking family trips. We all end up arguing or mad at each other. So, I would rather arrive seperate. :/

If you asked me ... I would tell you that I watched 'Dirty Dancing' this afternoon, for the millionth time in my life. And that Patrick Swayze still makes me swoon after all these years. ;)



If you asked me ... I would tell you that I dream of a day when I wake up and don't feel anxious over my worries and fears. {{That will be a beautiful day!!}}

If you asked me ... I would tell you that some of my favorite days are the quiet ones. The days filled with coffee, books, blankets, and a notebook.

"Take delight in Him, and he will give you the desire's of your heart." - Psalm 37:4

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