family

This is my momma and I, she's the best.

Searching for God Knows What

I'm normally not a 'read two books at once' type of girl, but since Purpose Driven Life is one small chapter a day I needed a book to read on my morning commute I've added a second book to the mix.  I love Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years so I am excited to get into this book!  

Here's a little excerpt from the first chapter that I read this morning.  Miller was explaining how a relationship with God is not about taking certain steps, or checking things off a list.  God is not a genie in that you can clap your hands 3 times turn around rub a jar and He grants you a wish, he's much more than that...

"The truth is there are a million steps, and we don’t even know what the steps are, and worse, at any given moment we may not be willing or even able to take them; and worse, they are different for you and me and they are always changing,  I have come to believe the sooner we find this truth beautiful, the sooner we will fall in love with the God who keeps shaking things up, keeps changing the path, keeps rocking the boat to test our faith in Him, teaching us to not rely on easy answers, bullet points, magic mantras, or genies in lamps, but rather in His guidance, His existence, His mercy, and His love." - Donald Miller

I'm finding how true and beautiful these words are.

Purpose Driven Life

My sister and I started reading Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren yesterday.  It's a 40 day challenge that promises to change you're life and I'm up for something life changing.  I have several friends who have read it and love it.  One day in and I'm excited for what the next 39 days will have in store.  It looks like everyday there is a 40-60 minute sermon to listen to and then a chapter to read, at the end of it there is sort of a 'thought of the day' a bible verse to memorize and a question to wrestle with.  Hopefully I'll be able to share some A-Ha moments in the days to come!

Favorite Verses

Prayer Experience

Today Jenna and I went to check out the Prayer Experience at the City Link Center in Cincinnati. The Prayer Experience is put together by Crossroads as a part of the Kingdom Come Journey. Usually it’s at Crossroads Oakley but this year they had it in a central location since there are over 65 churches joining us in this year’s journey. I also think it’s a great idea because City Link’s purpose is to bring people out of poverty and into wholeness, and this prayer experience is such a great thing for the clients of this center to go through.


I wasn’t sure what to expect because I had never been to one, but I had heard nothing but great things about them. I arrived a little bit earlier than Jenna so I had some time to look around, in the waiting area they had several kingdom stories that had been shared throughout the journey, but one I hadn’t remembered hearing stuck out the most to me, here is part of it:

I can relate because I had a moment like this. It’s weird because a year ago I would have thought this was not fully real or over dramatized. It’s still a little crazy to know how real it is. To feel the power of God so fully and so intensely that the only thing you can do is fall to your knees.

Anyway, the prayer experience, so you start it and they give you this headset and connected is a device that looks a little like a phone with numbers on it. You press 1 and play and go into room one. There are 8 rooms and 8 different tracks to listen to for each room. Sometimes you just sat and listened to the track and other times there were things you were to do in each room. I really loved this experience. We had the chance to write our burdens on the wall, pray for someone specific, for our families and or cities. I highly recommend this to anyone in the area

For more information click here.

Thankful in November Day 6

Red cups are back!

Thankful in November Day 5

Today I am thankful for this little handsome man!  He is getting bigger and bigger everytime I see him!  What a blessing he is to our family!  Love love love little sweet Wesson!

Thankful in November Day 4

Today I am thankful to have had such a loving and resilient father.  In a lot of ways where his journey ended mine began.  I’m thankful to God, that he is able to turn a shattered heart and a million years into a true testimony.

Thankful in November Day 3

Today I'm thankful for the men who participate in No-Shave November.  One, because I love a man with a beard.  Two, because it's done in support of a good cause.

"The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.  Donate the money you usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle."

Thankful in November Day 2

 Today I went out to celebrate my friend Kimberly's birthday.  We went out to eat at Keystone Bar & Grill in Clifton and it was the first time that I had been to that area since they completely redid it.  I used to be in Clifton every Friday and Saturday night with my best friend.  Vertigo was our spot and we actually shed tears the day that it closed down.  It was a little bit of a traumatic moment when I drove by and saw that it was completely gutted.  So many great memories there.

Anyway the area seems to be really nice now.  It's still kind of in the middle of the ghetto but it's a cute little college town. lol.  Either way today I'm thankful for great times with such good friends.  I hadn't seen Lisa in a long time and it was great to catch up with her.  She's such a sweet friend and has been through so much and it's wonderful to see her smile and laugh. I love any excuse to see the people who have been by my side for so many years.  Happy Birthday Kimberly!

Of course Lisa is the only one that didn't have a drink, but still the goofiest!

Don't judge me and my selfie.  I never get dressed up to go out anymore :)

Thankful in November Day 1

Today I’m thankful that I got to run around on the Bengals field like a little kid and make snow angels on the B!!

Who knew that Nuge was so dreamy *drool