europe.

It's been a while since my last post, but after my most recent epic adventure, a blog post is the best way to share my travels with the world. I'm not sure when I started dreaming of backpacking around Europe, or what really prompted that desire in my heart, but now I can successfully say ... I've backpacked around Europe. Now I'm not talking about camping, staying only in hostels, and all that hard core stuff, but we did pack 18 days worth of clothes in a backpack, traveled through five different countries, walked approximately 180 miles, and had the experience of a lifetime. So, here ya go, here's a glimpse of my most recent adventure...

NYC - Lori and I met in NYC and stayed with our dear friend Lindsay. (thanks good ole Samford U for bringing us together) 

Paris - Linds decided to join us in Paris for a few days. We spent a lot of time walking around the city and seeing all the popular sites, as well as a few local spots recommended by some dear friends. One of my highlights in Paris was attending mass at Notre Dame, such a neat experience in such a beautiful church.

Colmar, France - Lori and I said our goodbyes to Linds and hopped on the train to Colmar. This little town literally looked like the set of a movie, so quaint and quiet, colorful and overflowing with flowers. 

Istewald, Switzerland - Easily one of our favorite places of the trip. We stayed at a hostel on a crystal clear, ice blue lake, surrounded by towering Alps, quaint villages, and beautiful waterfalls. We loved hiking and making friends with so many local cows. 

Luzerne, Switzerland - Lots of walking around the city and exploring the lake. We loved making friends and eating Swiss chocolate.

Salzburg, Austria - I personally think this would have been my favorite town, but it was very rainy and we couldn't see any of the surrounding mountains. We took a day trip to the nearby ice caves, the biggest ice cave in the world. We also enjoyed taking a bike tour of places in the Sound of Music.

Munich, Germany - We immediately fell in love with the fall weather, and all things beer and pretzels. I loved being able to experience Dachau, although a somber afternoon, I'm was grateful to be in a place so rich in history. We also got to experience THE Oktoberfest, like the one that all other Oktoberfest are modeled after, the one that attracts six million visitors a year. Needless to say, it was a little overwhelming, but definitely a bucket list item and worth the visit. We also took a day trip down to Garmish, a little mountain resort town in southern Germany.

Prague, Czech Republic - Lots of walking around the Old Town and along the river. I really enjoyed the architecture and pastries filled with ice cream. 

Obviously, this is just a glimpse, as I have some couple hundred photos from those epic 18 days. My favorite part of the whole trip - not wearing a watch the whole time and never knowing what time it was or what day of the week. I always lead a busy life, and it was so nice to have a break for a bit. As always, I'm always willing to share more details, stories, and photos, don't hesitate to ask! 

gratitude

so basically i've been a horrible blogger.  but what better time to get back into it than a time of the year filled with reflection, gratitude, and people.  four months ago God brought me back to the thriving city of Austin, Texas.  it's been a whirlwind of a few months and i can't believe a new year is about to begin.  moving back to Austin has been a weird transition for me, but gosh, God has been so faithful in His provisions.  let me just name a few for you...

new friends-i have been so warmly welcomed in this city, it's incredible.  i feel like i've been friends with these people for years.  and though my crazy night shift schedule removes me from prime hang out hours, these friends still reach out to me and love me well.  on days when it's rough and lonely, these friends follow through in a heartbeat.

ldp-leadership development program.  what a refreshing challenge this has been.  i've been going through this program with a local church in town.  we are reading through systematic theology, studying the book of Romans hard core, listening to theological lectures weekly, memorizing scripture, and becoming vulnerable with some amazing women of God.  it's been a challenge to juggle this with night shift, but it's been totally worth it.  God is revealing Himself to me in new ways, i'm asking questions and finding biblical answers, and my hope in the Lord is renewed.

family-even though miles separate us, i know i'm deeply loved.  facetime sessions, phone calls, text messages, mail, and prayers.  and it's been the best having extended family two hours away.

lifelong old friends-i can't even begin to explain how loved i feel by friends from college, birmingham, growing up, camp, etc.  i have been graciously blessed with visitors each month since moving here, sometimes even twice a month.  i love sharing my life in Austin with friends who love me and know me so well.  on days when it's rough and lonely, these friends follow through in a heartbeat.

roommates and the prime living location-it was a gift of God to find the place we are living in now.  five minutes walking distance from restaurants and coffee shops on the lake, ten minutes driving to downtown, and right in the middle of all our working locations.  perfect.  and to live with roommates who love opening up our home to anyone and everyone, it's the best.  

ministry-though i'm biased towards Sav-a-Life and Northstar in Birmingham, God has provided opportunities for me to plug into in Austin.  every wednesday i get to hang out with a group of third and fourth graders, attempting to teach them the game of baseball, but overall, just getting to shower them with love.  once a week i also answer phones and assist with clerical work at Austin LifeCare.  i love the environment of women who are seeking to save lives and speak truth into so many women and families.  and i'm also in the beginning stages of helping out with YoungLives, looking forward to the opportunity to love on teen moms.

the job-sometimes its really hard to go to work, but once i'm there, it's kinda amazing.  being a part of the miracle of life never gets old.  i've now been a nurse for over three years, kinda crazy.  i've learned a lot, and have had some pretty awesome examples pour into my life.  i've worked in four different hospitals, worked with such a vast variety of patients, worked alongside some pretty neat coworkers, and yet, every delivery is still so exciting to me.  i love it.

nature. fall. blue skies-fall is by far my favorite season.  the leaves changing color, crisp, non-humid air.

this friendship has been such a blessing, having her in texas has been the best.

to start off my fall I got to spend a long weekend in Atlanta.  it was an honor standing beside Hannah and Caleb as they became one, camp friendships have been such a blessing in my life.  and while in Atlanta, why not make a quick stop at Lake Burton with my two best friends??

grateful to live so close to these fun cousins

this city.  this lake.  this skyline. the running trail.  it's awesome.

this group of girls has been really incredible.

perk of so many visitors, getting to try out so many unique places to eat

these roommates.  priceless.

grateful for time to take a quick trip to Boston with my mom, much needed vacation for the both of us

backpacking adventures with the most fun community

kerra, kate, michael, aj, candice, leandrea.  gosh, i'm so loved.  love getting to share this city with such dear friends.  (above-leandrea, candice, and i)

it took a while for fall to come in texas, but once it did it was beautiful.

our home hosted its first annual "friendsgiving" it was such a beautiful time of fellowship, food, fire, laughter, and community

getting to hang out with these kids and continuing to build these relationships is one of the perks of moving back to austin.  this is part of the kickball team i was a part of in the spring.

well y'all.  here i am.  living the good life in austin.  God is teaching me a lot, and i know He is no where near done.  thankful for the opportunity to grow, to trust in Him, to know Him, to actually understand His word, to converse with, encourage, challenge, and hold accountable such a solid group of community.

my challenge for you...stop.  sit.  dwell.  make a list of things, people, places you are thankful for.  and actually take time to converse with God and show Him the gratitude He so deserves.  i'll leave you with this, one of my favorite verses since studying the book of Romans this year...

"For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen."

Romans 1:21-25 

       

slowing down

Summer.  It’s been a busy one.  One of the perks of being a nurse is the flexibility of the schedule, which has been super helpful this summer.  I have traveled, a lot, caught up with many friends, said many goodbyes, hung out with family, seen friends and family married off, relaxed at the beach, and the lake, packed and unpacked multiple times, and managed to squeeze in some hours of work at UAB.  It’s been busy, but it’s been good. 

Anyone who knows me knows I thrive on business, I love being on the go.  I’m not really sure what it is, but I have a hard time enjoying sitting still.  Thank goodness this summer for time at the beach and the lake, sitting in nature is one of the few times I can sit, think, dwell, and relax.  There is just something about staring at creation, realizing the same God who created the trees and painted the sky, made me.  It leaves me in awe every time.  During my time in Washington, I learned the importance of slowing down, learning to dwell in the presence of the Lord.  Once I got back to the South, my life immediately refilled with a constant business.  Over the past few months back South, though I am still pretty busy, those days in Washington keep coming back to me; keep reminding me that I do need to dwell in the Lord daily, or at least just daily sit.  I’m often reminded of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke…

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!’  ‘Martha,’ the Lord replied, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”  Luke 10:38-42

I am SO bad at doing this, at choosing to just sit at the feet of the Lord.  I want to get better though, I want to learn to daily dwell in the presence of the Lord.  I want to hunger and thirst for the time I get to spend in His Word.  I want to engrave His Words on my heart and keep them on the tip of my tongue.  I want my conversations to be seasoned with salt, uplifting, genuine, and full of truth.  The most humbling part of this season of me desiring to know the Lord more, is that the whole time I’ve been slacking, He has still been there, waiting for me to stop and sit.  I’m reading through Hosea right now, such a beautiful love story of God constantly pursuing us.  I don’t want to forsake my first love; I want to continue falling in love with my Savior every single day.  It’s not going to be easy, but then again, God never said a relationship with Him was easy.  I do know it will be worth it though, totally worth it.

So what’s up now?  I’m currently embarking on a new adventure in Austin, TX.  God opened up doors for me to return to this incredible city, and I’m so excited to see what He has in store.  Yes, my time here will be longer than a normal travel assignment, but I’m looking forward to investing in the lives of those around me, being thrown into a new work environment, pouring into some amazing ministries, and learning to dwell in the Lord.           

Just a glimpse from this summer...

The first wedding of the summer was for my dear friend Ramsey.  Ramsey and I have only been friends for a year and a half, but what a fun time it has been.  Grateful to be able to stand beside her and celebrate her big day!

One of the best things about weddings is all your favorite people being in one place.  This photo pretty well sums up our friendship, lots of laughter, ridiculousness, and sarcasm.  Oh, and beautiful sunsets.

This summer was filled with lots of family time, more than we've had in a while.  Really glad we were all able to be together to celebrate our cousin Lindsey and her new husband Jesse.

Quick trip to Cancun with some of the sweetest friends ever.  Kayaking, sunbathing, zip lining, eating all we want, private pool swimming, dolphin swimming, snorkeling, such a fantastic week.

Family week at the lake.  This place will never get old or lose its ability to leave me awestruck by its beauty.

Another wedding reunion with friends from good ole Tabernacle Baptist.  Loved being able to catch up with some of the people who have been so inspirational in my life.  

I worked really hard this summer to coax Emett (almost 4) and Keziah (almost 1) into allowing me to be their favorite aunt.

Really grateful for all the quality time with these two roommates this summer.  Sad to leave Keaton and Maggie in Birmingham, but am confident God is going to do big things through them in that city.

These girls ROCK.  While I was in Texas, these girls made every Monday night a priority to hang out.  I loved being able to jump into their new tradition and look forward to the many Facetime sessions that await.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever."

Psalm 73:26