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

friendships

"Friendship is not a big thing, it's a million little things."  

"Friendship is like a precious flower, ready to bloom every hour.  It may stop growing or keep on flowing, but you'll still have it forever."

One can find a million quotes on friendship, and one can go on and on about all the different friendships in his or her life.  I may be biased, but I think my friends are pretty awesome.  I am beyond thankful for the way the Lord has placed people in my life.  It's crazy how He is able to orchestrate our lives and cross our paths right when we need someone the most.  In high school there were a few years when I didn't have many friends, but God placed me in an amazing youth group where I made some of my best friends.  In college I found myself surrounded by fun, supportive, encouraging, and loyal friends, mentors, and professors who constantly poured into my life.  At camp, the Indian Reservation, weddings, and through other travels, people have been placed into my life at just the right time.  As I grow older, I am also learning the importance of friendships in my family, actually becoming friends with my mom and dad and brothers.  I love that though sometimes it's months between catch up conversations, or years between reunions, I constantly finding myself being able to pick up right where we left off.  How awesome it is to know people have my back and love me for who I am.  

The coolest thing about friendship though is the fact it is biblically based.  Our first friend was Jesus.  Our first love was Jesus.  Yes, our friends here on earth are awesome, but we aren't perfect.  Jesus set the bar pretty high when it comes to being a good friend.  Through Him we see unconditional love, compassion, humility, generosity, overwhelming grace and forgiveness, and encouragement.  And the best thing about Jesus being our example in friendship...He will never let us down.  Ever.  As much as I strive to be the best friend around, I know that I will never be perfect.  A friend is someone who listens when we have complaints, frustrations, hurts, or worries.  Someone who goes above and beyond to surprise you with a small gift, note of encouragement, free coffee, or a good morning text.  Someone who rejoices with your accomplishments and mourns with your tough times.  Someone who makes you laugh, puts up with your sarcastic remarks, sits on the couch with you when you feel like being lazy, or offers you a shoulder to cry on when you've had a bad day.  Someone who will take adventures with you, support you in your decisions, challenge you to seek Christ, and prays with you and for you regularly.  

Over the past few months I have been overwhelmed by the Lord's faithfulness in my life.  Jump into my life with me for a minute.  Imagine leaving everything and everyone you know in your life, packing up your car, and driving across the country.  Imagine settling into a city where you know no one, a job where you have no clue where anything is, and a city where you constantly have to use your GPS.  What a humbling experience it is to take up travel nursing, to leap into the unknown.  To know I can't rely on myself to find friends in an unknown place.  I'm forever grateful for family, high school, college, and Birmingham friends who constantly check on me during my travels, who send me snail mail and cookies, Facetime with me, and keep me posted on life back South.  But, I'm also overwhelmingly thankful for the new friends I've met.  For the people who have invited me to hang out, cooked me dinner, planned hang outs with me in mind, let me live with them, introduced me to their friends, gone on walks with me, and accompanied me on explorations.  God is good and faithful, He won't let us down.  He knows we need friends in our life.          

just a glimpse...

Had the pleasure and honor of being a part of the field dedication of Mabson Field in Austin, a brand new Astroturf baseball field in the heart of East Austin.  

My Thursday nights this spring were spent on the kickball field with this crew of hilarious girls. 

The volunteers and staff of RBI Austin welcomed me in with open arms, such a joy it was serving alongside and hanging out with these people.

Loved getting to live with these two goofballs and their amazing mom for a few months.

Despite how much I'm not in Birmingham, the people there still warmly welcome me every time I come home.  These girls are awesome.

Best friends since middle school.  And we still manage to put up with each other.  

My first day back in Bham just so happened to be the last day of Spring games for Northstar, couldn't help but stop by the fields for some quality hang outs and selfies.

What's up now?  Birmingham for the summer and back to work at UAB, with weddings and traveling in between.  As for late July/August, only God knows...

on the job.

Probably one of the most commonly asked questions in people's lives is, "what do you want to do when you grow up?"  I'm not sure of actual statistics, but how many people actually become what they said they would as a child?  As a little girl I could always be found playing with my baby dolls, playing house or school, preparing for life as a mom and/or teacher.  Whenever we had family gatherings I was always begging to hold the babies, and quickly found myself babysitting kiddos in middle school.  In high school, teaching is what I thought I was supposed to do, it just made sense.  But, God took over and pretty soon I was thinking on a new page and started college with a declared major of nursing.  It's crazy to think I made it through nursing school, I don't give blood, shots are the worst, and I'm a horrible patient.  Here I am though, out of nursing school and almost three years into a career I've come to love.  It's pretty incredible that God can take something we have our minds so set on, and turn it in a completely opposite direction.  

I started nursing with a desire to pursue pediatric nursing, particularly pediatric oncology nursing.  After a pretty humbling job searching experience, I landed a job in labor and delivery, not really a place I had pictured myself working.  Now, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Being able to be a part of life each and every day is one of the greatest and most humbling experiences I'll ever be a part of.  Yes, some days are sad, but most are joyous occasions and celebrations.  I'm still in awe over how people can watch a baby being born and not believe there is a God.  I could go on and on about the way God has transformed my passion and heart for women, young teen moms, and pregnancy.  What I want to focus on though, is the career itself, and how that relates to me as a young professional.

I was clueless when I graduated and started working as a RN.  In nursing school we only have one semester of L&D, and on average each student only gets to see about one birth per semester.  Needless to say, I knew very little when starting my nursing career.  With the help of a few mentors, encouraging and patient coworkers, and a willingness to learn, I've come a long way.  I think everyone kinda starts at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to their first career, working crazy hours, learning new stuff constantly, trying to figure out your own routine in doing things.  It was vital for my first years to have coworkers who answered my questions, offered me advice, and encouraged me to do things on my own.  Although I feel comfortable and confident in my workplace at UAB, travel nursing has been a huge learning experience and confidence booster.  I've never been one to do something to advance my career, I'm not a fan of going to grad school, don't really have a desire to work in a hospital forever, and really just prefer to take orders rather than delegate them.  Deciding to do travel nursing was partly due to the confidence and competence I knew it would build in myself, adding more experience to my resume.  And it has.  I've learned so much over the past few months.  I've become more confident in my skills, more bold in my confrontation with physicians, and more willing to ask questions and not be afraid to admit that I may be wrong.  It's been rough, but it's been good.  Getting thrown into the unknown every few months, figuring out your own routine amidst such different environments, learning to work with different types of people and personalities.  I'm so thankful for this chance to grow, to mature, and to see life happen all over the country.  

I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna be a labor and delivery staff nurse forever, but it's where God has me now.  These experiences are meant to prepare me for something grand down the road, until then... "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man...it is the Lord Christ you are serving..."  Colossians 3:23-24   

just a glimpse of the past few weeks...

Quick visit to the Texas state capital building

Thankful my awesome parents got to come visit for a few days.  We spent some time wandering around Austin, hiking Enchanted Rock, and checking out the wildflowers in Fredericksburg (below)

Mini Apple Family reunion in Austin, visits with my brothers, cousins, and dear friends from college, work, and camp

Spring days at the park

Spent my off day with the peacocks

birthdays

it only rolls around once a year.  that one day out of the year when you feel like you can get by with anything.  where you receive texts, phone calls, snail mail, and Facebook posts all day long.  i think of all days out of the year, one probably feels most special on his or her birthday.  i know i sure do.  

last week i got to celebrate my birthday in the great state of texas.  a few friends asked me if i missed being around friends and family for my birthday, and though i do miss my friends and family, God has surrounded me with some pretty awesome people here in texas.  from pancakes and mimosas, trampoline parks and dock sitting, to kickball games and kite flying in the park, concerts and lots of laughter, my twenty-fifth year of life was rung in with lots of joy.  

as my housemates and i sat around the table sharing brunch on my day of birth, one of them asked me, "what are three things you want to accomplish or achieve in year 25?"  time for some reflection.   i've always been quite the goal setter, but this year's goals have been pushed on the back burner.  thank goodness for birthdays and time to reflect over the past year and think about the year ahead.  so along with some pictures from my birthday celebrations, i thought i'd share some of my reflections from year 24 and hopes for year 25.  may each of you be celebrated and feel loved on your birthdays, just like you made me feel, thank you.

year 24-
community and relationships are a vital part of my spiritual walk
God tends to provide in ways i would never imagine, yet life turns out better than i planned for myself 
i learned the importance of resting and slowing down in life
family is fun and needed in life
travel. explore. try new things. meet new people. share my story. share His story.
cut the strings and let God reign

year 25-
continue to cut strings and submit to the supremacy of God
joy. be joy. experience joy. know God as my joy. 
be intentional in conversation with those around me
pray unceasingly
be dedicated and motivated to read, study, and know the Word of God
have childlike faith
take up kayaking and/or biking

just a glimpse...

birthday brunch with the housemates

dock sitting on Lake Austin

letting my inner gymnast come out

All Sons & Daughters

Judah & the Lion

Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors

kite flying in Zilker Park

community-part two

The setting sun is shining through the stained glass windows.  People are walking through open doors, Bibles in hand, greeting one another with hugs, handshakes, and high fives, there is laughing, smiling, and embracing.  Then the sun sets and the lights grow dim, three men walk on stage with guitars and start strumming cords.  People settle into the old pews and a pastor walks on stage for a warm welcome.  As the music starts to pick up, the mood sets in and people become engaged.  As voices fill the air, hands are lifted and walls are broken.  There is a sense of simplicity and peace in this place, I find myself forgetting about those around me and having a conversation of praise and thanksgiving with my Father.   As the music starts to wind down, the pastor comes on stage once again and encourages people to break into groups of two, three, or four.  Some are groups of friends, some are groups of strangers, but there is no awkwardness or self-consciousness in the room.  First Thessalonians 4 is read and the soft whispers of prayer are started to be heard around the room.  Chapter four is prayed through word for word, people are pouring their hearts out to God, asking for sanctification, for brotherly love, for the grace to accept the sacrifice on the cross, for empowerment to be lights in this dark world.  As prayers are voiced, we move to the table, to the place of remembrance of the sacrifice that was shed for us.  We are reminded of First Corinthians 11 and examine ourselves at the foot of the cross.  And then one by one, people start moving towards the table, taking a piece of bread and dipping it into a cup of wine.  "do this is remembrance of me."  With humble hearts and open minds, voices start to be heard again around the room.  Beauty.  Joy.  Humility.  As the evening comes to a close, chatter once again fills the room.  But the mood is different, there is a peace that fills the air, people are leaving encouraged and hopeful, the Holy Spirit comes to those who call, to those who gather in His name.      

This, my friends is community.  People gathering for the common purpose of praising our God, becoming vulnerable, letting walls fall.  This is why I think community is so important, because we can't live this life alone, we need people, we need fellowship, we need accountability, we need God.

the past few days...

My roommates in Austin are advocates for community to occur around the table...dinner parties are a weekly occurrence. 

I took a quick visit to San Antonio last weekend to visit my dear friend Kerra before she heads off to Nepal for a few months.  Kerra is currently working for Mountain Child, a non-profit humanitarian aid organization in Nepal.  Check out this awesome ministry and the lives it is changing in the Himalayas.

http://mountainchild.org/

Dear sweet Natalie came to visit for a quick weekend, it was so awesome to have a friend and familiar face to explore Austin.

Common sitings around the city, word art.  I love it.