Tofurkey and Traditions!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I wanted to share a few things I am thankful for.  I don't think I could ever list everything though! (I have a portion of the list in a journal already... typical).  I hadn't really thought about just how blessed I am until I started to make that list.  And yes, it totally changed my perspective on many things in life.  And yes, some of the things are random or weird, but hey, I like cemeteries, okay?

Besides the food, I love spending time with my family on Thanksgiving.  We do all the traditional yummies at our house, turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, roles, mashed potatoes, etc.  I am so thankful for the laughs, tears, and memories that we have made (and will make) around the table during this time.  I'm going to always try to celebrate Thanksgiving, even when I live in another country.

I can't wait to start making traditions with my own family someday.  When I was younger, we would always go to the "rocks" (Belle Isle in RVA) and explore after we stuffed ourselves.  I loved being outside, exploring, and just talking about the things we were thankful for.  I hope to carry this tradition on somehow when I have a family of my own, because I think it's important to take time to really think about what you are thankful, because we have been blessed with much.  It will be fun to see what traditions arise in a family of my own one day.  What are some of your all favorite traditions around Thanksgiving time?

Sweet potatoes will be my main dish since this is my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian.

I've also been looking for health/food blogs lately, so let me know of any that you all enjoy.  Have the best of Thanksgivings, friends! 

Things Thrifted // Hobo Necessities

These treasures are some of my favorite recent thrift finds.  Less then thirty dollars well spent, I'd say.  I've decided if I ever become a hobo by choice, these items (plus knitting needles) are all I will need with me.  Suitcase for the few articles of clothing and pictures I'll have, the ukelele to play on the street to buy dinner, the yarn to knit myself things to keep warm, and the mason jar to drink water and sweet tea out of.  For now, I'll utilize them in my room until I become a traveling, homeless hobo. 

Can't stop, won't stop...

I am obsessed.

I have become a knitting fiend.
It has not interfered with my work... yet.
This is subject to change as I discover new knits and try new designs.
All of my family and friends knows what they're getting for Christmas, but oh well!

Would anybody actually buy scarves, headbands, etc?
I'm thinking about selling them, but I'm not sure if people would actually buy my knits or not.

Tossing Around Some Thoughts

Life is crazy and always changing.  On the contrary, God is good and constant.  It's true.  Your belief in that Truth despite your circumstances shows really just how much you trust God.  No doubt I often fail in fully trusting and relying on the Lord for the present and future, but thankfully he is ALWAYS faithful to me, even when I fail him.

It's been a while, but I wanted to look at some Scripture in 2 Peter that I have been meditating on lately.  God has been blowing my mind with Truth and challenges through this book.  Maybe it will do the same for you.

v. 16 - Peter didn't make up some this story, but saw the Lord's majesty with his own eyes.
v. 17 - He heard God say, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
v. 18 - He was with the Lord on the holy mountain.
v. 19 - He have a sure sign of the Lord's promises... His very Word!
v. 20 - No Scripture comes from a humans own interpretation (thank goodness!)
v. 21 - Men spoke from God as they were carried by the Holy Spirit.

So to sum it up, the Lord speaks to us clearly through his Word.  Wowza.

Those who are searching for God's guidance, look no further then His very Word.  If you aren't, why?

I don't want to, nor can I, give you the answers to all of life's questions, but instead I want to point you straight to the only one who can comfort, heal, and save.  I don't want any person to miss God's clear direction when He made it so easily accessible to many of us.  On the other hand, how dare we take this beautiful gift for granted when many people in other countries don't have the Bible in their language or can't read it?

What is it in our generation that keeps us from sharing the Gospel?  Is it because we have not taken the Word and its message for the beautiful, priceless gift that it really is?

First, we are selfish.  Sharing the Gospel is certainly not an easy task, and when you are glued to your calender and only looking at your to-do list for the day, you will miss out on those chance moments that He provides us with.  We are innately selfish, and if something throws off our plans, we freak out, throw a fit, and sometimes get bitter.

Also, we like to decide who hears this Good News.  We look at others and judge them based on their actions, looks, or status in society and decide if they are good enough for us to share the love and grace that we have received with them.

Getting out of our comfort zone is where I found that the Lord has taught me most.  I believe it's times that we feel inadequate, awkward, and unprepared that God teaches us the most if we are willing to be taught.   When presented with opportunities to minister, we will stick to what we are most comfortable and good and, and how easily pride can creep in if we continue on in this pattern.  If you find yourself in an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation, think about how much the Lord can grow you during that time.  Though it may be painful and unpleasant in the moment, it will be worth it in the long run. 

Must Reads

Back in May, I said I wanted to read 10 books over the summer.  Sadly I never got through the tower of books that occupied the chair by my window all summer, but I did manage to read a total of 9 and a half books.  This was a lot for me during that span of time, seeing as I felt like I was drowning in online homework.  I couldn't stop stopping by the library whenever I had the chance and I cannot wait till our new library here at school is done construction in just a few weeks.  I think when I'm old a grey and/or a crazy cat lady I'll be a librarian and knit and sip tea all day when I'm not stacking, organizing, or reading the books.  These were two of my favorite summer reads.

Love Does by Bob Goff:
This book told various stories from Bob Goff's adventurous, spontaneous life.  Every chapter would start with giving an account of what he thought of a person or thing, and then his changed view after an experience.  I love hearing people's personal accounts of failures and successes in life and how they learned from them how to love people more fully and as Christ loves us.  Bob Goff really showed through this book that love does not have to be some extravagant act that we do for lots of people, but can be simple things that come from a pure heart that can mean the most to others.  I highly recommend this book.  I couldn't put it down and finished it in just a few days!

"When our failures are most obvious, so is God's grace."  

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
I had read this book back in middle school for assigned reading, but decided to pick it up again after seeing the movie at the beginning of the summer.  I'm not one for classics, cause I mean, come on. . . I had to read it for school.  I fell in love with the movie, and the book captured my attention as well.  While the book and the movie are very different, I just love how they both make you feel like you are in the story, back in the 20s.  I don't want to give away too much, but the plot of this book is just amazing.  Crazy highs and lows run throughout this short book and love and justice are constantly battling against each other.

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."  

What books have you all been enjoying lately?
If you have read these, what do you think of them?   

Lynchburg Lyfe

I have been loving and appreciating this city more and more lately.  The beautiful buildings, the mountains, my favorite coffee shop reopening, the biking and running trails, my secret getaways. . . I'm all about finding new adventures and gems in this city of mine.  I've already had such great memories in this city and can't wait to make more until the time comes when I leave it.  Those students who say there is nothing to do in Lynchburg?  They are plain crazy.  Get out into the city, meet new people, and find out about those hole-in-the-wall places, or events that are "underground."  Here are some of my more recent pictures from out and about in one of my favorite cities.  I even like to call it home sometimes.

Hello again, Blog World!

How do I begin to even sum up the past two months of my life?  Let me just start with this simple, but oh so truthful statement.  God is good.  Since being back at school the Lord has blown me away.  I have been continuing to see just how inadequate I really am to do all the tasks and handle all the issues that have needed resolving.  The Lord has provided me with such peace during this stressful and emotional time that I can't even begin to describe.  He has been teaching me full reliance and trust in Him in countless new ways.  He has spoken to my heart and revealed himself to me in ways I never thought were possible.  I am constantly reminded that I don't have to fight the battle anymore, because he has already won the war for my heart.

I've been reading a lot in the Corinthians and a certain verse I read really stuck out to me and definitely convicted me.  As I've established before, I am quite the perfectionist.  Obviously, perfection is something that I will never attain, and God's redeeming power would not have a place in my life.  As I was reading in the final chapter of 2 Corinthians, this passage jumped out of the page at me. 

"For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong.  Your restoration is what we pray for."

I have been constantly talking with several friends about how our weaknesses are a chance for the Lord's strength, might, and power to shine through more evidently.  But to be glad that I am weak?  That is certainly not something that I can say that I do in the least.  I need the Lord's restoration and guiding hand in my life everyday.  I want to rejoice in my weaknesses so that Christ's glory may be displayed through every facet of my life.  

 God will give us the right words to say at the right time.  He will reveal the direction we are to go in HIS time, not our own.  He is sovereign.  He is King.  He is Lord.