Living out my faith

I spent the last minutes of my Sunday evening before the sunset walking the track at the high school down the street. I couldn't help but think back over the day and my heart was filled to the brim with so many feelings.

In the midst of a busy week I can get lost in the middle of the to do's and the have not's and forget my purpose. The reason why I exist and breathe and walk on this earth. And that reason is to live out my faith. To live it out even when it's hard. To live it out even when I don't want to.

Thankfully I don't have to live it out alone. Today I was reminded of that.

Three of my favorite people drove up to my corner of the world to share a meal, see my apartment, and see my new life. It's hard when for years we did life together more then once a week and our friendship came easy. Now it takes a little more work. It takes planning weeks in advance, it takes car rides, and it takes effort.

If I've learned anything over the course of the last few years it would be that distance and effort only makes that time sweeter. The belly ache from laughing too hard lasts longer. The banter between us is light and fun.

In the midst of all of the fun there was truth and sometimes the truth hurts. But I'm thankful that these friends never shy away from the truth. I've learned over the years that no one in this life survives on their own. We need each other more then we care to admit and in the midst of the darkest and hardest moments of our life we need some to tell us the truth with love. To remind us that whatever decision we have coming around the corner or whatever decision we might have already made that might haunt us- we are still here. Through the belly laughs and the hard conversations, we will always be there to try our best to live authentically. To challenge each other to serve, and love and live this life a little more like Jesus everyday.

Today I'm thankful for these three. A sweet reminder in this crazy life that sometimes God blesses you more then you could ever imagine with the sweetest friends. 

Choices

Tonight as we were getting ready to head to dinner one of my high schoolers asked why my Instagram said that my heart was in California. And I said because it is. And in true "I'm 18 and know more then you" fashion another asked if you could have the same exact job and opportunity in California would you go back? 

Choices. 

I've thought a lot over the years about that choice. And even today I stumbled on that question. If I were truly given that opportunity what would I do? Would I chose to go back to the past and try to create a life in the familar pieces of who I used to be? Or would I stay here. Here in the unknown, un-chartered (but amazing) land that is my life? 

And in the midst of tonight and all that we talked about at camp the speaker presented this thought: 

What's the story you want to tell? In 5 years or 10. 

That you played it safe or you dared to dream that God had a better plan for your life? 

I love that I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I dreamed of a better plan. That I trusted God enough to head for the unknown. My story is different and awesome and it has become such an intergal part of who I am. The story God has created for me is one of a kind.

Never forget to make a life

It's almost 5 a.m. In the morning and we are on the bus headed for camp in Florida. In the quiet moments of this 11 hour bus ride I'm reminded of all the good that is this life. 

This week I am not the Assistant City Manager. This week I am friend, a small group leader, a sister, a confidant and a lover of Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for these titles. They mean more to me then any I could be given in my career because they are the ones that last for eternity. These are the moments I cherish because at the end of the day loving God and loving others are the two most important things I can ever do. My biggest fear in life is to wake up one day and realize I chased the money before I chased the one who chased me first. 

I pray that this week is full of life change for these students- that before the busyness of another school year takes over they are loved and protected by their creator. I pray that they love each other as much as they love themselves. I pray that they come back so on fire with the Holy Spirit that they changes lives. But most of all I pray that we all feel the love of our savior and the reminder that this life isn't about us - it's about Him and all of the people He loves with all of His heart.