.:celebrate:.

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

 A week full of concerts and celebrating JESUS!  God has refreshed my spirit recently on how much opportunity we have to worship Jesus through this season. I've found myself really thinking about the lyrics of the Christmas songs I've song since a child.  It doesn't have to be a time of dread or busyness or stress - but can rather be a time to reflect the goodness of our Father that He would let His perfect Son come to earth to be in relationship with us!  The lyrics in "Hark the Herald Angel Sings" explain: "Mild He lays His glory by!born that man no more may die!" The celebration of Christ's birth reminds my heart of how much freedom we have through Jesus if we would just but accept it and live in it! Beautiful!  

Enjoyed a date night at Chubby's Tacos and then hearing The Civil Wars band in concert at the Duke Page Auditorium.  They were absolutely AMAZING!  If you haven't heard them, PLEASE look them up! You won't be disappointed!  Wednesday night included a birthday girl treat for Miss Ashley Smith, one of my senior bible study girls who I'm so proud of!  We went to hear Drew and Ellie Holcomb and Jars of Clay.

  It was a really fun time celebrating Jesus and hearing beautiful Christmas music!  Even got to see the new Mr. and Mrs. Kiser there!  Came back from the concert to see my little homemade chalkboard made by Mr. Taylor:

 Prepping and praying ahead of our Dec 30 - Jan 9th trip to India.  Jake and I are still raising support for this trip!  If you feel led to support us, you can donate at www.globalhopeindia.org/donate  This trip will involve: medical ministry camps, pastor conferences, orphan outreach, and spending time at a school of 28 children who've recently been pulled from child slavery.  I think I'm the most excited about the work that God does in my heart and marriage when we are there!  Please pray for us as we prepare to go into some dark places of India that don't know Jesus!

.:instagrams this week:.

Thanksgiving weekend...a little late, I know!

measuring for the *perfect* tree...

Liam's first tree farm trip

we ended up at the TOP of this mountain to find our tree...what a hike! what a hottie!

LOVED getting to prepare Thanksgiving lunch with Mama! sweet family time...

when we got home - J&B decorating tradition: Phil Wickham Christmas music, glass of wine, fireplace on, and hanging ornaments from the places we've been t/g

I love "us"! Thankful for this season in our life!

.:Advent = HOPE:.

Woo! It's Friday! Been MIA a little lately from Thanksgiving and planning our Global Hope India First Annual Christmas In India benefit.  It was last night and was such a huge success! I will be posting pictures later next week once we "collect" them all!

This morning I've had time to just sit and be still.  It's so refreshing when we get to do that, especially amidst a crazy holiday season.  I'm reminded this morning of how this season of Advent is a really about waiting.  Focusing on advent, rather than the whole commercialism of Christmas is something that I'm aiming to do this season.  Advent really upholds the idea of waiting and hoping.  It's amazing to me each time I read of the prophecies of Jesus (in Isaiah especially) just how much detail was planned for Jesus' arrival.  The prophecies in the old testament I'm sure gave so much hope to God's children, as they waited for an earthly King.  Isn't it crazy that they waited for so long for the Messiah, yet some of them never knew Him?  I think we take for granted that we don't necessarily have to wait, but that we already have that hope! Do we know "how good we have it"? That we have a King, the Messiah,...that He IS with us and in us?  Do we hope in HIM who is consistent+faithful+powerful in us, or in fleeting & inconsistent success + our own strength? Are we urgently waiting HIS power in our life?



 

.:Thankful Thursday:. Sweet Ivy

I'm learning a lot about leaning on His strength and comfort in the midst of emotional times this week.  So thankful to serve a God who has it all figured out already and has already won the tough battles we face! 

This week I am thankful for...

 Sweet Ivy Roberts.  This past week I heard the news that Ivy had gone on to be with her Jesus after a 6-year battle with depression.  Ivy was one of my high school bible study girls and friend, and had moved away a couple years ago to NY.  What a fun, creative, servant-hearted, lovely, quirky, and full-of-life girl she was.  My heart has been broken for her family but also for the fact that such a sweet spirit is no longer on this earth with us.  It's so difficult to understand unexpected deaths - it definitely forces me to just trust in the fact that my God is bigger than sickness or pain and knows the big picture and how He will heal the hurt that surrounds such death.  I'm so thankful that Ivy knew Jesus and that I will get to see her again one day - and so glad that she no longer hurts or is depressed but is sitting at the feet of Jesus and dancing with him daily.  

That His way is above mine! "for as the sky soars high above the earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think." (Isaiah 55:9) so glad that He sees the big picture and has my best interest at heart.

I have little words to follow this post...this weekend its on to celebrate my girl Ashley get hitched! Pictures to follow!


What are you thankful for today?

.:Thankful Thursday:.

NOVEMBER is here! This is blowing my mind! Anyone else find it hard to believe it is already November, the month that starts the FUN holidays? I'm so excited about the holidays: good quality family time, a little break here and there, yummy holiday treats, decorating my house, time at home in front of the fire, and homemade pumpkin spice lattes made by JAKE (which in my opinion are better than Starbucks!)

This week I'm thankful for...

Time with my fun high school bible study girls - Monday we toured Meredith since it is on their college list! I feel like these girls are my little sisters - love me some Ashley Smith, Alexa Futrell, & Megan Dionne and am so thankful to get to watch them grow in their faith in the Lord! It is one of my favorite things in life!

 

Ya, I know this pic is super blurry...SO thankful this week for my husband.  He is such a talented, motivated, godly guy.  I just LOVE being his wife!  In this picture he is playing in last weekend's wedding (50 degrees - it was FREEZING!)

 

Taken on my walk today while babysitting.  Isn't it so nice to be able to enjoy such a pretty state as NC? I love living in Raleigh!

Today's coffee date with Jemissa and Jess - LOVE that they have holiday cups out already! 

Liam, my sweet baby nephew, will be here tomorrow! Can't wait to post pics!

What are you thankful for this week? 

.:Thankful Thursday:.

Getting back into my blogging.  Here are a few things I'm so thankful for today...

That I get to be apart of THIS.

. 

Bringing hope to India through village development.  This is a little girl who is benefiting from gifts that many of you have given towards what we are doing in India.  She and her village received clean drinking water for the FIRST TIME THIS WEEK!...take a minute to think about this!  Seeing pictures like this remind me of how awesome it is that I get to be a part of bringing hope to the least of these!

  Celebrating this girl - Ashley Hovis, soon to be KISER! so thankful for my best friend from college and that she has found the man God has prepared for her.  I love Brian and think he is perfect for her! Excited to celebrate them on November 12!

 Time with these little two.  Happy Halloween from Claudia (4) and Bella (10) who I spend time babysitting on a regular basis when I am not at Global Hope India

 

Fall . Loving this weather and the beautiful views! 

(view from Ashley's bachelorette trip to the mountains)

 Oh Katie.  Reading this inspiring book is breaking my heart to the need for orphan care around the world.  Check out her blog. You will be blown away by her obedience and love!

What are you thankful for today?

 

Oh Baby!

I'm getting so so excited because my little newphew Liam will be here in a matter of weeks! I can't WAIT to meet the little guy and just see how God raises him to be a mighty man of God! (that is my prayer for him!) Matt and Katie are going to be the sweetest parents! I'm so excited for them!  Last weekend we threw a shower for them and here are some of the homemades I made:

 

Life Changes!

Oh my...it's been way too long since I last blogged.  My life has currently been full of change and busyness, but I think it's finally slowing down!  This past week, Jake and I went down to Daytona Beach, FL with our high school ministry students and leaders and attended Big Stuf Camp - a week full of late night girl talks, fun afternoons on the beach, hearing guys like Donald Miller and Andy Stanley talk about God and relationships, and awesome worship led by Kristian Stanfill.  It was incredible to get to baptize my students Megan Dionne and Sam Hendrick - I was so blessed to get to lead them into more of their relationship with God through this public stand!  I'm constantly blown away by these students and their desire for more of Jesus!

Last year on the ride home from Big Stuf, my mind was filled with challenges from Francis Chan, one of the speakers at camp, as he challenged us to really give it all up for the gospel.  Little did I know that God would use his words and that bus ride home for a radical change in mine and Jake's life.  As we rode home, our friend Kevin challenged us to pray about going to India in October.  Jake and I had always wanted to go out of the country for missions together, because neither of us had done it before.  I thought to myself, "there is NO way I could 1) get off of school for 10 days during the school year and 2) raise that much money!"  I'm sure God was laughing as He had a huge adventure ahead of us.  As we got home and I got back into school, I went to see my principal who said he could "make it work" and granted me permission to be off for 10 days! Jake and I were blown away at just how fast family members, church friends, and college buddies sent in money to support us financially to go on that trip.  It was on the ride home from India in October that I felt a strong voice telling me that the reason I've been a little restless in my teaching job was because He had created me and called me into full-time ministry!  Wow! I continued to teach of course, but had a calm and peace about my teaching job knowing that since God called me, He would provide a means for that type of full time ministry. 

Spring Break 2011 rolls around, and I'm still unsure about what to do once the school year ended.  I knew I loved my school (Sanderson) that I taught at, but just didn't see myself going back for the next school year.  Leaving Sanderson, however, wasn't the decision that "made sense" in everyone's eyes...it also meant leaving behind a steady pay check and financial and "American Dream" stability.  Our friend Kevin then told Jake and I that he was leaving his job to pursue the ministry called Global Hope India - and asked us if we wanted to be apart of what God was calling him to!  Global Hope India will be helping provide sponsorship of pastors, villages, and orphanages as well as planning trips to India to spread the gospel. I jumped at the opportunity to join in connecting America's resources to India's poverty.  There was a big need for an event planner - someone to coordinate fundraising events and church events and future trips.  After much prayer and debate and bittersweet emotions of leaving my students at Sanderson, Jake and I felt complete peace about me making this transition.  I resigned from Sanderson on the last week of school and was overwhelmed by so many fellow staff members who said things like "wow, we can totally see you doing this!"  Two weeks after school was over, we traveled to India with 21 of our high school students from Hope - God continued to confirm that He is calling me to full time ministry focused on bringing the gospel to ALL of India!  Throughout this whole transition, God provided Jake another job - his dream job as a surgery P.A. in the Raleigh hospitals!  It is crazy to look back and see how through our constant prayers and patience, God has literally dropped these opportunities in our life!

Katie, Me, Allison - my "travel trio"

Two of my favorite students at The Jesus Way International School

Love these girls! Maleshweni and Krishnavini

I'm so stoked by what God is doing in our life recently - and definitely humbled and at peace!  I'm honored to be working for my fellow brothers and sisters in India!  Although stepping out has been full of risk, a tighter budget, and even questions from family members and friends, I know without a doubt that this is the door God has led us to for this season of our life and marriage. 

Be encouraged that God has a HUGE purpose and plan for whatever season of life you are in currently.  Remember that He is building in you the person He has created you to be, through whatever situation you are in.  I'm so glad He always has plans for a HOPE and FUTURE for His children!

New York, New York!

New York was quite a good time! What a neat, fast-paced place!  We drove through the night Wednesday night and arrived in the city around 8 am on Thursday.  We hit the ground running with tours of Radio City Music Hall and NBC Studios. We later completed Thursday with some shopping and seeing the skyline from Top of the Rock.  Top of the Rock was AMAZING - I think I could stay out there all night just looking at the beautiful lights of the city.   

Beautiful Staircase in the extravagant lobby of Radio City Music Hall!

Inside an old phone booth at Radio City Music hall!

We met a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall!  In this picture: myself, Rockette, and some of my Interior Design interns!

view from Top of the Rock!

Friday was another fast paced day with meeting a Hat designer of The Hat Shop in Soho district.  Soho was a really neat side of town - full of boutiques and neat little markets.  The store front reminded me of Charleston!  Next, we went to Lee Jofa interior design firm and spoke with designers about their job then viewed the beautiful, expensive displays of their fabric and wallpaper designs.  We then went to Mood Fabric store for a bit  and perused the wonderful fabric selections they had! Wow! I could spend money there for sure!  We wrapped up the day with a little more shopping and then had a yummy dinner at B.S. Smith's and headed over to Mary Poppins on Broadway!  Mary Poppins performance blew me away! What neat stage mechanics they had and super talented acting!  It was a neat experience!

This week has been catch up week since New York was so fast paced! I don't know that I could ever live there, but I really enjoyed and appreciated seeing all of the interior design and architecture of the city - definitely the place to be to learn anything about fashion and design!

Spring break is finally here! I hope to kick back and relax in Myrtle Beach and then Wrightsville! Thank God for a break, finally!

Back at It!

What an extremely busy winter it has been! Updates:

• Holly Days was a successful event - it was great to meet new clients and network with other "in-home" businesses.
• Next week, I travel with some of my students to NYC where we'll meet with interior & fashion designers, seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway, shopping in Chinatown, and visiting Mood Fabric Store! I'll post pics soon!
• Jake and I are applying for a 10 year India visa this week in hopes to take more missions trips there!  We just have fallen in love with those people who are so full of poverty and hopelessness.  Jake recently got back from Hyderabad where they shared the gospel, met with pastors, and spent time with those sweet orphans! We'll be traveling in June with a group of 20 highschoolers and 10 adult leaders to Hyderabad to do concert outreaches and neighborhood/backyard bible clubs for the kids!  God is doing huge things in our life through visiting India AND huge things in the lives of people there!
• I'm going to be an aunt!  Katie Taylor, my fabulous sister-in-law, is pregnant!  This news received around Christmas was so fun to hear! She's due in early September - I'm dying to know what sex that sweet little baby is!
• Plans are full in force for my sister's wedding!  My bridesmaid dress is great!

All of this to say - it's been a busy winter! I'm ready and able to tackle some new organization projects and decorating gigs - so please pass on the word to family and friends!  A good portion of my proceeds from any organization or decorating gigs will go straight to sending us to India in June!