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
