There's a Right Time for Everything

The last five weeks have been a whirlwind to me; however, I praise God for letting me overcome so much in a short time!  God has tremendously taught me how to let it go and live in harmony with Him only.  Within the last month, I have cried a lot, laughed until my stomach hurt, expressed regret for my mistakes, danced with Mom, mourned with my best friends and parents, embraced a new hobby, parted from my past, been silent, spoken up, held on God and some people, let go of someone, hated someone's evil actions and what I have done, loved others and myself, given up my fears/worries, and passionately searched for the right place.  At this moment, I am discovering, accepting, and appreciating God's perfect timing for EVERYTHING.  

"There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death, 

A right time to plant and another to reap, 

A right time to kill and another to heal, 

A right time to destroy and another to construct, 

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain, 

A right time to embrace and another to part,

A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,

A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

A right time to love and another to hate, 

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.  

But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do - busywork, mostly.  True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time - but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going.  I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life.  That's it - eat, drink, and make the most of your job.  It's God's gift.  I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always.  No addition, no subtraction.  God's done it and that's it.  That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear."  - Ecclesiastes 3

happy birthday, juju or jew!

My baby sis is turning 17 today.  I remember clearly the first time I met her.  I waited impatiently, waited impatiently, and waited impatiently at the window where we can see the nursery room at a hospital where she was born at.  Around 7 PM, she finally entered the room - she as a tiny newborn baby was wrapped in a pink blanket in Dad's arms. 

Fast forward to today, she is the one that I love to talk with, laugh with, cry with, fart with (hey, it's a sibling thing), shop with, drive around with, watch any cheesy movie with, bake cinnamon rolls with (she beats me!), wrestle with, and so on.  Today is in honor of Julianne's birthday...I LOVE HER!!!!

so long, no hear!

Wow...it has been a while since the last time I posted my thoughts on my blogspot!  

My summer quickly departed, and my teaching year already started...it's hard to believe how fast time goes by!  

This summer has been unexpectedly filled with precious, lifelong memories - unlike other typical summers.  

- going to the beach with my family and my "second" family for the week

- attending Youth for Christ's Summer Institute in Indiana with AMAZING friends for 2 weeks

- visiting my childhood best friends including Holly's new baby in my hometown

- getting my first motorcycle burn after the most adventurous ride on the Harley

- starting to jog every other day and losing 30 pounds

- making wonderful, yet crazy memories with some friends

- moving out of my old apt in the busiest section of a city

- moving into a neat warehouse in the middle of a quiet, small town near the beach

- staying at the beach again with my "second" family for the week

- trying to keep up with my part-time job as a parent advisor

- chilling out with teenagers and leaders at Camp Shocco in Talladega for one week

- having fun with teens at Eagle Rock Camp in Tennessee for one week

- going on a mission trip in Montana with my teenage girl - "what a rough life up there!" 

- trying to decorate my new place and putting a gigantic rug in my new living room

- educating myself how to be more assertive and find more time for myself....

- buying my new MacBook and learning how to become a tech geek (haha!)

- riding on the Harley again and not getting another motorcycle burn 

- going to my good friend's wedding in Elizabethtown, Kentucky

- learning A LOT about how relationships should work... 

  

I'm really thankful for all of these summer memories.  Without them, I'd not be able to learn more about who I am and how I stay connected to God despite changing circumstances.  Also, I learned that if you don't want to take any risk, then you wouldn't be able to experience the real meaning of life on the earth.  Life is always risky.  : )   

My best friend, Mary Beth, sent me some quotes today....

"...the life of a Christian is never about sameness. It's always about change.  That's why we must learn to survive and once again thrive when change involves heartbreaking loss." - Beth Moore

"Throughout life, we will lose to death or changing circumstances people who really loved us.  As dear and as rich their love was, it was not unfailing.  It moved, it died, it changed.  It left wonderful memories...but it left a hole.  Only God's love never fails." - Beth Moore

"Life involves change.  Change involves loss.  Loss involves death of one kind or another." -Beth Moore

"Lord, we love to obey your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. " -Isaiah 26:8

"I'm wiser now...but still stupid." -Suzanne Mattox (one of Mary Beth's favorite quotes!)