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It's 2019! How crazy is that? Like, wasn't it 2000 just a few years ago? No? Almost two decades now? Time flies.

Unfortunately my 2019 has been eventful already and not in a good way. I've been to the ER twice, had my first and second (and hopefully last) IVs, been diagnosed with strep throat, had an allergic reaction to the medication that made my face swell (I've refused to look in a mirror for three days), got more medication and a shot in the butt, and now I hope I'm FINALLY on the mend. Oh, this is also taking place after having a cold for three weeks.

Needless to say, I'm ready to be better so I can really get my 2019 started! I've spent the last 2.5 weeks on the couch trying to let my body heal, but I guess it was enjoying streaming Netflix a lot and decided to make me sick a few more days. So in the meantime, our house is a mess and we still have stuff in suitcases from our trip to Singapore/Malaysia. I keep having to remind myself that life goes on, even with a dirty house and the Christmas decor still out, and I'll get everything back in order "one day".

Casey has been the greatest blessing during these last few weeks, attending to my every need, holding my hand in the ER as I freaked out about the needles and IVs, making me food so I don't have to get up, attempting to handle the laundry (ya'll know that's a JOB), staying up with me all night as I fight fevers and sleeplessness, taking care of (and spoiling) Oxford. The list goes on and on.

The last few weeks haven't been fun, but it has forced me to work on focusing on my blessings instead of my temporary problems. That's a tough one for me to do sometimes. Most people don't believe it because I try to be positive, but I'm naturally pretty melancholy, a glass-half-empty type of person. This can be mentally unhealthy, so focusing on the good helps me turn my mindset around! Over the last few years I've learned that I am the one who chooses my attitude, and gratitude helps me get my attitude in check!

So here are some things I'm thankful for.

• That I have a husband who treats me like a queen, even when I'm a royal pain in the butt.
• That I didn't get strep (or have an allergic reaction) while in Asia. 
• That I get to enjoy our beautiful home and our lovely green velvet vintage couch and comfy papasan all day every day.
• That, even though it's not Christmas anymore, I still get to enjoy our Christmas decor (which is great since we were gone for two weeks of December).
• That I have a lot of friends all over the world who have been covering me in prayer the last few weeks.

See? So much to be thankful for! And today, the sun is streaming through the windows, which puts an extra smile on my (still swollen) face.

When I sat down to write this post I had no idea where I was going, but as words poured out of my brain, I'm realizing that a good word for this year for me would be gratitude or thankfulness. To be intentional about finding the good every single day, even on the bad days and the sick days and the rainy days. There is always good to be found.

Sometimes the good is obvious, like on a day when you're hanging out with your friends in Singapore enjoying milk tea at Selfie Coffee, bubble tea at Gong Cha, Kaya Toast and a Milo Dinosaur at Toast Box (I promise we do things besides eat, but food is one of my favorite things), walking around Chinatown searching for souvenirs, participating in Vacation Bible School with a talented team of young adults and teenagers who've become your second family over the years. Ah yes, those days are good.

Sometimes the good is less noticeable, but it's there. The happy squirrel you spot playing outside the window while you wash dishes. Having a cup of tea in your favorite tea cup. Cuddling with your puppy. Your cute reusable grocery bag. Sunshine streaming through the window. A walk downtown to your favorite coffee shop. All small, simple things, but these small things have great power to remind me of beauty, love, and hope.

So now that this post has gone down a road I never expected it to go down (I guess that's what happens when I don't have a plan), let's end it with some scriptures about thankfulness!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Here's to having an attitude of gratitude in 2019!

Shameless Persistence

*I'm taking a break this week from the study of 1 Samuel, but I'll be back soon with more David!*

I’m involved in an amazing program called the Student Action Leadership Team (SALT) and it is truly my heartbeat. Over the years I’ve taken on more and more responsibility, and now I’m one of the coordinators. Part of my job is handling online registration. Which is pretty easy to manage. IF people actually fill out the application.

See, what happens is that people forget to fill it out. (I can’t blame them. I’m a total procrastinator, too.) Then I have to contact the veterans, the people who SHOULD know what they’re doing because they’ve been doing SALT for YEARS, and tell them that they MUST fill out the form. (Trying not to rant here, ha!) I’ve finally learned that telling them once usually doesn’t work. I have to bug them repeatedly, text them every week, nag them at the planning meetings, for them to fill out the form.

I hate doing it. I hate nagging. I hate having to remind them. I’m not a confrontational type of person, so I just don’t like it. But I’ve learned that there are times when being persistent is necessary.

One of those times is prayer.

Sometimes I struggle with praying for the same thing over and over again. Like, God already heard me. Surely He’s getting annoyed that I keep talking to Him about the same thing over and over again. But that isn’t true.

In Luke 11:5-8, Jesus tells a parable that explains how prayer should work: be persistent until your prayer is answered.

Jesus said to them, “If one of you has a friend and goes to him in the night and says, ‘Friend, give me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine is on a trip and has stopped at my house. I have no food to give him.’ The man inside the house will say, ‘Do not trouble me. The door is shut. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you bread.’ I say to you, he may not get up and give him bread because he is a friend. Yet, if he keeps on asking, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Luke 11:5-8

In my Bible next to this parable I wrote: shameless persistence.

See, the man in the house doesn’t get up because he’s friends with you. He gets up because you bug him enough that he gives in. Shameless persistence.

The verses after explain that as we persist in prayer, we should progress in intensity.

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:9-10

Ask: Verbalize your requests to God
Seek: Continue approaching God, as if you’re looking for something you’ve lost.
Knock: Persist until the door is open. Keep praying. Pray more intensely and aggressively.

Wow. This parable totally debunks the myth that we only need to pray once for something! Yes, God knows the need, but He wants us to continue approaching Him for it. He WANTS to give us things, but He also wants us to ASK him for it.

So I’m doing it. I have things I’ve been praying for years and I haven’t seen any results, so I kind of backed off on those prayers. Not anymore. I’m bringing them before God again, and I’m not feeling guilty that I keep praying the same thing again and again. I want to be shamelessly persistent, even if it doesn’t feel like it’s doing any good, so I can see those prayers answered!

Balloon Fest

A few weeks ago, Casey told me about a balloon fest outside of New Orleans and asked if I wanted to go. Of course I said yes! I went to one in Shreveport a few years ago with my second family and it was so fun!

You can see the photos from that balloon fest here. For some reason they are some of my most favorite photos I've ever taken. Probably because they are colorful and also because those memories are so special!

Speaking of colorful...

The best thing about festivals is the food! We got some kettle corn and corn dogs!

The sunset was beautiful, so of course we had to take some pics at golden hour.

Most people didn't realize that you could cross the bridge and go to the other side of the little creek to get up close to the balloons. But we did! So we went over there and spent a few hours talking to the balloon pilots while we waited for the balloons to fly.

Unfortunately, it ended up being too windy to inflate the balloons, so they decided to just light the fires in the baskets. It was nice and toasty standing next to them while they made the balloons twinkle!

After the festival, we headed back home, about an hour and a half drive away. At some point I realized we weren't going the right place, and Casey told me we were going to one of my favorite bakeries in NOLA—Angelo Brocato's! We found it a few months ago when we had dinner with friends in New Orleans and wanted dessert after. Casey is truly the best at finding amazing restaurants, and Angelo Brocato's is no exception!

I absolutely love their cream horn, their hot chocolate, and their cafe au lait. Casey loves the cannolis. It was a wonderful way to end the evening!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you're having a happy Thanksgiving!

We are spending some time with Casey's family and having a wonderful time. The last few days have been relaxing and fun. Yesterday my best friend Julianne (who is dating Casey's brother) and I made some yummy goodies—pumpkin dip, firecrackers, and apple pie! Baking is one of my most favorite things, so being in a cozy cottage by the lake surrounded by family and baking with my bestie is definitely my happy place!

We had a huge lunch with all the good stuff. Afterwards some of the family went on the lake while Casey and I took afternoon naps. Once it got dark, we made a bonfire and ate smore's! Now everyone is watching the Saints game (except me, obviously, since I've been editing photos and decided to blog). I finished off the last of the mac and cheese a while ago and better go get a piece of pie before it completely disappears.

I have so many things to be grateful for that it would take forever to list them all, but some of my top things are:

• Knowing and having a relationship with my Savior
• Being married to an amazing guy who is everything I could have ever dreamed of and more
• My adorable little fluffball, Oxford
• A beautiful house that we have made into our home
• An incredible church and church family
• Being able to work alongside my husband in ministry

And one I'm super excited for...

• WE'RE GOING BACK TO SINGAPORE!!!!!

Needless to say, I'm beyond blessed. 

Florida Trip Part 2

A month and a half later and, well, here's part two. (And here's part one!) Maybe I'll get part three up in 2019.

On our second day in Florida, we went to our friends' wedding! (Which was the reason we were in Florida in the first place.) And... I have not ONE photo. Of the wedding, of my outfit, nada. But it was a beautiful wedding!

After the wedding, we changed and Casey and I went to play mini golf. I think I've said it before, but Casey LOVES mini golf. We played five games of mini golf over the course of our three-day trip. Not even kidding. And we LOVED IT! We played at one place that let us feed alligators on the course!

After mini golf, we met up with our friends for an evening at the beach and some delicious Cuban food. So enjoy our beach pics with friends!

Florida Trip Part 1

Casey and I went to Florida last month for a wedding and I wanted to share photos from our trip! I brought the DSLR and made a purpose of pulling it out and using it as much as I could. As much as I love the convenience of my iPhone, there is nothing like beautiful, high quality photos! (Though I'm sharing a mix of both here.) Plus I enjoy taking them. The editing, however, I don't enjoy as much, which is why I'm the worst at sharing photos when I DO take them!

I have lots of photos so I'll share them over a few posts.

We woke up really early on Friday morning and left Louisiana with the goal of making it to the beach so we could watch the sun set. It was totally, absolutely worth it. And there was also a rainbow!

Once it got dark, we made our way to a restaurant on the beach where I had the best coconut shrimp of my life. Seriously. All coconut shrimp from now on won't be able to compare, I'm afraid.

After dinner, we of course had to get dessert. We saw a super cute ice cream shop called The Mint Fox when we were walking to dinner, and I told Casey we had to go back. We got yummy ice cream made in-house and also a big cookie!

After dessert, we went to our AirBNB, which we shared with some of our friends. Paige (check out her blog!) bought the stuff to make key lime pie, and then we learned that our definition of "completely stocked kitchen" is not the same as other people's version. I mean, WE would like to think that a fully stocked kitchen came with a KitchenAid mixer (alas, we knew not to hope for such), but we thought there would at least be measuring cups and a whisk. No such luck.

We had to get super creative. Like, REALLY creative. See that gorgeous meringue? We made that WITH A FORK. Let me say that again in case you didn't get it the first time.

WITH.

A.

FORK.

It took us about an hour taking turns whisking furiously. 

It was so worth it.

The Father's Correction

*I'm currently doing a study of David and want to share with you what I learn along the way! Today we're in 1 Samuel 18. See the first post here!*

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

1 Samuel 18: 6-9

Whew, I’d hate to be David right now. He doesn’t know what’s about to happen, but it is NOT a pretty sight. David has gained the favor of the people, but now? The King of Israel has his eye on him. King Saul is just looking for a reason to strike.

How did King Saul get here? He was once an humble guy. How did he go from humble to green with envy, wanting to kill someone?

The answer comes from 1 Samuel 16:14, right after David is anointed to be king and the Spirit comes upon him. “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.”

Jealousy. We’ve all faced it. Especially in this day and age. Instagram and Facebook can certainly spark it!

I’ve faced jealousy through my life. Even to this day! Even yesterday to be specific! But I know I’m not supposed to be jealous, so what do I do?

When I feel jealous, I then feel the Spirit correct me. Remind me that I shouldn’t be jealous, but happy for that person. It doesn’t completely take my jealousy away, but I have a tool to help me overcome it. I just have to allow the Lord to help me.

For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:12

The Lord was no longer with King Saul. It’s not that God didn’t love Saul anymore, but Saul was tuned out. He wasn’t connected with God and therefore couldn’t/wouldn’t listen to His correction.

When we aren’t connected with God and don’t allow him to correct our wrongdoings through His marvelous love and grace, we find ourselves in a downward spiral that we can’t get out of without His help.

Jealousy is human nature. If I were the king and all my people were singing songs about how this random kid David was better than me, I’d be jealous too! But the way we fight our human nature—the flesh—is with the Spirit. 

Saul could have conquered his jealousy if he had allowed the Lord to correct him. Instead, his jealousy grew and grew. Just TWO verses after “Saul eyed David,” he tries to kill David!! Twice! And then he tries to kill David more times! The green monster grew until he could no longer control it.

The Bible says that “whoever hates correction is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1) I definitely feel like stupid is an appropriate word to describe King Saul.

When you fall and fail, allow God to help you. He’s not here to chastise you. He wants to help you up and correct you like a loving father. He has a plan for you and wants to help you accomplish it. So let him. Don’t be like Saul. Don’t be stupid.