Lynchburg Life | Percival's Island | Part 2

Okay, I know I just posted a blog from this exact place last week.  But this is my new favorite adventure and hammocking spot for sure.  Bradleigh and I needed a catch-up time and we were both craving to be outside since we had worked all week.  We hammocked right beside the river and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.  Pumpkin chai tea, granola, and the excitement that we will soon be working together made this time great.  I cannot wait to start my new job and to be working alongside this encouraging, uplifting friend.  I pretty much jumped up and down and screamed with my roommate for five minutes after I was offered the job.  But anyway, I am amazed at this lady and her complete trust in the Lord in this completely new season in her life.  Married life suites her.  I am immensely thankful for her friendship

Lynchburg Life | Percival's Island

A few of you may know of Destiny from one of my Instagram rants about how amazing she is.

Well I had the joy of spending some much needed time with her this past Friday night.  We ventured through parts of a familiar trail that we had not been on before and finished the night off with apple cider.

I love this lady dearly.  It was so great to have a friend that fully supports, encourages, challenges, and uplifts me in everything I say and do.  

I'm so excited for her and what the Lord is teaching her.

I can't wait to see where she will go next.

Lynchburg Life | Alpine Trail

Who better to go on a photo adventure with then this sweet friend?  I'm so thankful for her and being able to hear about how the Lord is continuing to grow, teach, and bless her.  Her passion and love for life are contagious and shows in everything that she does.  Check out her blog post from the day here!

Senior Pictures | Brother

Can I tell you how great my brother is?  Because he is seriously the greatest.  He likes to go on adventures with me, will sit on my floor and talk for hours, and gives me great fashion advice.  I think he is more of a girl then I am...

So I took some "senior" pictures for him at the beginning of the summer.  It was the first time I had done a real shoot and he was up to do whatever crazy thing I asked him to do to get the shot.  We climbed many things, almost fell into the river, and probably trespassed accidentally somewhere along the way.  Seems like the older I get the more I treasure time spent with him.  Whether we are talking about theology, relationships, or joking I value the conversations I get to have with my brother.  They are edifying.  I thought that I would never have the healthy friendship with my brother that I always desired growing up.  My prayers were answered through the Lord continuing to grow and teach us both more, but mostly from a lot of humbling on my part. 

Friendship

I apologize for the constant reflective posts lately, but lately my days have been filled with more pondering then adventuring.  I've lately become incredibly thankful for some friends of mine that never cease to put a smile on my face, make me feel loved, and aren't afraid to talk about the important, deep issues.  Some I see multiple times a week, others maybe once a month, and still others I've never even met in person.

I've been learning what it means to cultivate friendships and the different kinds of friendships that there are.  Transitioning from living in a dorm to living the "grown-up" life off campus has proved to grow some friendships while hindering others.

The problem?  I have to realize that there is not one.  I had this idea in my head (a super prideful one) that I would move away on my own, have things all together, and be able to encourage and minister to my friends that are still on campus and in school.  Oh, how quickly the Lord dashed my pride on that one.

I talked about this in more details with two of my closest friends and their response was as always encouraging and truthful.  That is what I want my relationships to be filled with.  I want my friendships to be filled with encouragement that flows from the grace and love of Christ and to be honest, truthful, and confrontational.  The friends that have proved to stick by my side through the good and bad have proved to have those attributes.  I am still praying and learning how to be able to reciprocate that to them, as I feel I so often fall incredibly short.

I'm not really sure what the point of this post is, but I guess just to say that I am thankful for the people the Lord has placed around me at this point in my life.

As I get older, I have learned what friendship is supposed to be according to a biblical standard.  I am thankful to say that I believe that those friendship that are being cultivated right now and I don't see waning away anytime soon are built on and around the Lord.  I love to have coffee, icecream, and go on adventures with friends.  But all in all, I don't want to be there just for my own selfish gain to be filled up, but I want to give just a bit of the encouragement and love that has been poured onto me so graciously.  I want these types of friendships to continue throughout my life, no matter where I live or go.  I know that may be hard, traveling, and living in another country one day.  But for now, I'll just enjoy the friendships I've been blessed with. 

September

September has come and gone and the hardest thing has been not to fill my Instagram with the beauty that has been surrounding me.  Not that that would be a bad thing, but I've been trying to savor moments more too.  Oh, this Virginia fall.  This is exactly where I'm supposed to be.  Before I actually moved here after school, I didn't as much feel as if I was a part of the community.  Now I just have so much sense of pride and joy for this special little piece of the world.

So here's some of my happenings from the past month through the eyes of Instagram.  Happy Autumn everyone!

// If I could, I would go photo adventuring everyday. They are the funnest of days.
// Why have I not gone hiking more? I just love hiking and this is one of my very favorite hikes around.  Not to mention the miracle that the sun came out on the way there!
// Sweet potato tacos from Taco Shark - $6.00.  Time spent with my sweet, loving momma, priceless.
// Discovering my passions?  Apparently my dreams, aspirations, and goals give me much more possibilities then I had thought.  I have so many things I want to do and places I want to see and I don't know where and when to start pursuing those things.
// Those little kiddos sweet words and goofy laughs were so incredibly missed.
// I have found my new favorite running trail.
// The Head and the Heart. AMAZING.

Incoherent Ramblings about Life

photo credit to my sweet friend Amanda.  check out her blog here!

This will probably be a mess, but let's just go for it.

I do not believe that our circumstances shape our lives.

This is somewhat of a lie, but bear with me I will get there.  I am slowly seeing that I don't totally see this as truth.  There is a small bit of truth in it, but I am currently struggling and wrestling with coming to somewhat of a conclusion on this.

So here is what I do believe.  I believe in attitudes and intentions.

I have no idea what is going to happen to me in my life.  It's slightly terrifying, yet wonderful and exciting at the same time.  But, I do know who I am.  Well, I'm still discovering it, but I am starting to know more and more.  I'm imperfect and broken.  But I am redeemed.

Just seeming to have only tasted a bit of this life and world, it is easy to fear the unknown.

Our surroundings, our jobs, our friends, are extremely vital to our stories.  They are unique to each of us.  They are though constantly changing, fluctuating, failing, succeeding, and growing, and while they are integral parts of our story, they do not ultimately define us.

I think about the story of Hosea and Gomer.  When I think of this story, and even as I am reading a book on it now, I think of how Hosea sees Gomer, not as a harlot, whore, or prostitute, but as his beloved, his bride.

It is the story of a prostitute, trapped and believing that is all that she will ever be.  She is bound and destined for that life.  But in the midst of her personal hell, this strange man will not stop pursuing her, loving her, and caring for her.  She can not seem to wrap her mind around just why this man is treating her this way, despite who she is and what she's done.  In her filth.  In her dirtiness.  In her impurity.  In her lies.  In her rebellion.  In her hardheartedness.  In her determination to keep her walls up.  In her cunningness.  In her unthankfulness.


In this broken, scandalous story we see redemption.  The thing that gets me the most is that Hosea returned for his wife after she attempted to return to the life she once had.
I learned a long time ago we've control of little in this world... It doesn't belong to us. It's out of our hands... All we can change is the way we think and the way we live.  

What a perfect description of life.  Of your life.  And mine.

I think of it like this.  That is why our past, our sins, who we used to be, are so very important.  Because each hurt, pain, and situation that seemed out of our control inched us closer and closer to that sweet, loving redemption.   Because those things which left so many scars brought us to our new identity.

Identity defines, gives purpose, provides meaning.  Identity is WHO we are and what we are, and it is what we will leave behind and what we will bring with us.

Because maybe, there is so much more to life then then popularity, fame, and praise.  But, yet still our selfish natures crave all of these things.

So often I quickly fall back into this mentality of making my surroundings, belongings, and reputation seem "perfect" or impressive to others.

Why in the world do we seek to please or impress if it all just dies away anyway?

And when this happens, I quickly fall back into the reality of the situation.  My inclination is to bring attention and affection to myself, and I am quickly met by feelings of loneliness and a desire for more.

I am learning to strive for better, bigger dreams, yet learning to be content with where I am, what I have, etc.  To love the lost, broken, and hurting wherever I am should be my goal.  

I am a sojourner on this earth.  Sometimes I feel like I am a child, holding onto my Father's hand, dragging him, yelling at him to hurry up so we can get to the exciting place.  This is where I am now, but I recognize and have been in the place before where He is tugging my hand, telling me clearly to continue and press on, even if I want to stay where I am at.  So full of patience.

And this rant, or whatever it is, is about Him in the end.

About my Father.

It is about learning more and more just how much of a confused mess I am.  It's about how sometimes I sit down to write and feel so discouraged by the not-knowingness.  By knowing He is faithful, good, and trustworthy, but not feeling it.  Not knowing where things will lead, where I am going, or will I ever really figure it all out?

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it." Revelation 2:17

When I become discouraged, I am reminded that I can always have a fresh, clean start.  Every day has new mercies in it.  New beginnings.  He is the perfecter of my faith.  I am on my way to a better understanding of it all, to a relationship with new depths.

Because in the end, all that matters is our inheritance, our new identity.  To live.  To keep loving.

and sometimes to face the unknown with boldness and confidence.