Saturdays are good.

I really don't know what to say.
Truth is, I haven't written a post in some time because I've been dreading it.
There are just too many pictures I have to edit, resize, and post for having poor internet connection. I don't know how bloggers do it (ahem... Kelle Hampton, Ms. I-Post-A-New-Blog-Post-Every-3-Days.)

So where to start?
Colorado was grand, as I'm sure you already knew I was going to say.
I missed the people, the smells, the sights, the feeling of home - there really is not anything greater than those things. But with hellos come goodbyes, and that truly was hard for me to do.

I know that Colorado doesn't define who I am, but for the last 19 years of my life I conquered life there - the good times and bad. It seems impossible to seperate myself from that. I don't think I should have to, either, but there is a part of me that has to move on and detatch myself and realize that I live in Florida now and this is my new reality. Even if I don't always like it, I have to make the best of it. I want to do everything with a grateful heart and I hate making David feel bad for moving me here. All of the emotions I've dealt with in the past year have really been taking a toll on me but making me stronger at the same time.
I can see the good in this. But truthfully, not always.
And I don't ever want to start being fake, to put up a mask over my face and act like I'm okay when I'm not. I force myself to be honest with what I'm going through, because if I didn't... well, I would more than likely be a very sad person, built up with anger and maybe even bitterness.

Fact: This past year was the hardest year of my life.
Even bigger fact: God isn't going anywhere.

I've been registering for college.
I can't describe how happy I am to learn more, meet new people, and go back to school. I've been longing for that ever since I left high school! This will be good for me. The current FAQ is what I'm going for. I have a few Majors I'm thinking of but I refuse to write them on a public website incase I change my mind, which I more than likely will because I literally have passion for EVERY subject... except Math. :)


Alright, rambling time over. Cue pictures.

My parent's 21st Anniversary Dinner
I dragged my siblings to help but to my surprise they were willing to cook for hours! Kiley served the adults asking frequently, "Can I get you anything else?" That immediately sent Jeremy and me into giggles every time.











Party Time
A group of my closest friends and family members came over for a day. The spread was pretty nice, too, I gotta admit. My best friend Holly (and her boyfriend Ian) make some mean enchiladas.





(Yep, I'm always the shortest)

Kiley and Practicing for Baskeball Tryouts
I love the passion in my sister and I love how my brother mentors. He's making an impact in her life right now; I don't think either of them realize how much.





A walk on a gorgeous fall day
Fall is breathtaking in Colorado. It's the time of year when the air becomes less dry, more crisp. When you can smell firewood, aspen trees, and pine cones.
I soaked up this week.















Palmer Park Overlook
The go-to place for a view of the entire city of Colorado Springs.
At night, this is locally known as the place teenagers drive to for their um, "intimate" moments, if you know what I mean. But how beautiful is this view?



everyone have a safe halloween! I will be working so there won't be too much going on over here. :)

PST...if you comment on this blog, you may win a fragrance from Bath & Body Works. :) Winner will be announced November 30!

full.

I am full.
Full of encouragement, of love, and of hope for the future.

Encouragement: We met with Jeff Kozyra today. When David and I were in the School of Worship at New Life Church two years ago, Jeff was our Christian Growth & Development teacher. He would talk with such transparency, encouragement, and wisdom. I was drawn in.
The week David and I started dating we asked Jeff to be our pre-marital counselor (we already knew we were going to be married before we started dating (but that's a long story, so I'll save it for another blog post). He happily agreed despite his busy schedule, and we started a day later.
Those few months seeing him weekly was such an overwhelming blessing for us. He taught us so much about leadership, marriage, Christianity, parenting, etc - he was our biggest mentor.
When David and I got married we knew, without a doubt, we wanted Jeff to marry us. It was his first wedding so it was special for all of us. He made our wedding so personal and non-traditional.
Once we moved, I emailed him once or twice, but with him being the Small Groups Pastor of New Life, PLUS a teacher at School of Worship, PLUS in Seminary, we weren't able to fully engage.

But today we saw him and talked with him. A lot has changed with David and me since the last time we spoke and we are honestly at a different place - a place where we are faced with much uncertainty, with a calling we believe God is placing on our lives but we are praying about it seperately and also together before we announce it to anybody; a hard calling that will affect our lives forever.
I'm so thankful for Jeff and the mentorship he has given us. He's an amazing Pastor, and the one of the most impacting people to my Spiritual walk today. He is a blessing to those who know him, and truly a shining light to this world and a true example of a man of God.


Love: My family. I don't need to say much more than that. Though they can't give me the love my Creator gives me, they are the closest in line (after David). Their love is certainly unconditional. They had patience, believed in me, spoke words of life over me growing up, treated me with respect and importance, disciplined me when I needed it, and embraced me when I was broken.
They are love for me.
And in the crazy hustle and bustle that has been happening this week with my family, grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles and cousins I realize that this is one of the greatest joys I could ever have. There are children in this world who don't have a home to go to, that don't have love - how blessed am I?
It's hard living 1,500 miles away. I understand that my children may never be able to see their grandparents often like I did growing up, I can grasp that Skype may be what has to hold us together for the years to come, but one thing is for certain: No matter where I am or who I'm with, I will never forget the feeling of family, and what it was like to grow up in a loving household. That is tucked in my heart.


Hope: There were 2 times this week where I was at New Life and a pastor said, "Someone in here is (you fill in the blank)" and that person ended up being me. God has divinely placed us here in Colorado at this very time to hear these messages of hope. I believe this with all my heart... and the verse that keeps replaying in my head is Jeremiah 29:11. It says this-

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Wow. Do you understand? God is FOR us. That is so powerful to me and leaves me stunned in amazement. You mean to tell me after all the my mistakes and blemishes, God wants to protect me and not harm me? I'm not worthy, but Lord, thank you.



Here's some pictures I took this weekend of my 12 year old sister, Kiley:








I promise that next post I will have pictures of Pikes Peak and more of the beauty of Colorado. It's been so nice here!

Comment this post and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a free product from Bath & Body Works! Winner announced December 1st!

there's no place like home.

I'm home.
But it's hard to explain.
I know I don't belong here right now, that there is a reason God directed us to our salty palm-treed Florida, but I just want to come back. There is a peace and a wholeness I feel here that I don't feel there.
David and I still struggle somedays with trying to figure out why we moved in the first place, why we decided to pick up and move across the country to a place where we don't feel what we feel in Colorado. But then we have a peace over us. It's the soft touch of God saying, "My children, do you think I'm a God who makes mistakes? Do you think I don't know what I'm doing?"

I know He knows what He's doing, and I'm working on trusting and praising in the good times where life is uplifting and full of love, and in the hard times when I feel alone even though I'm living in a bigger city than I've ever lived in before.

Not going to lie, it's been a tough year.
For both of us, but especially me.
These past two days have been so fulfilling, though... I can't even describe!

DENVER
16th Street Mall, the smell of coffee shops, the free mall tram, the changing of leaves...









(Represent!)




OLD CHICAGO



(Italian nachos, our weakness)

REUNITING WITH FAMILY



(So, here's the deal with this picture: My grandma made this painting of David and I from our honeymoon. I loved it, but right after this picture my grandma said to look underneath it. When I did, it was a framed, more detailed version of the picture. It's beautiful! I will show you when we hang it in our room)

NEW LIFE WORSHIP
It was life fuel for our soul.







GRACE AND MATTHEW
Two of my mom's daycare kids. They are too adorable!







More things are happening here. Exciting things. Stay tuned. ;-)