One of my favorite hymns...

As the deer panted for the water, so my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship thee
You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship thee

I love this song because it truly gives all the glory to Him.  The longing to only worship His great splendor and majesty, the DESIRE. Not just a want, but a passionate desire...

It's so pretty too :) 

Back in the saddle again...

So! Here I am! I'm back and ready to write! Feels like a long time since I was last on...
For those of you I have not been able to talk to I will give a quick update on my life, it's been a whirlwind to say the least...
A few weeks ago I was enjoying a hot summer afternoon when I got an unexpected call from Cody Clark, he had a random question for me he said, "Would you be able to go to Haiti with me and a few kids from the youth group in ten days?" WHAT?? I was shocked.  After much contemplation and prayer I told him "no" one day and "yes" the next.  It was something that seemed so complicated, yet was so simple at the same time.  I had a strong feeling God wanted me in Haiti, how could I deny his beckoning call? As a result, ten days laster I was traveling on a school bus through the crazy streets of Port au Prince and absolutely feeling right at home.  If you don't know already, I had been to Haiti two years ago almost to the date (before the earthquake).  While I was there my first time I fell completely in love with the Haitian people.  Although some may think this experience to be depressing and some might feel guilty for all they have, I found it to be the most joyous.  The Haitians live in a relaxed culture, and those who believe in the Lord have no choice but to wholly depend on Him.  To be honest I get jealous at times, thinking of how freely they worship, how frequently they have fellowship, and how utterly honest they are even when its uncomfortable.  I learned this time I went that we should never be apologetic about God's word.  His word is true, there are not any fine print or reading between the lines. It means what it says and I rejoice in Him for that!  Sincerely I could write about all of my experiences good and bad for hours on end, but that would probably end up being a boring blog! Ask anyone who knows me well, get me started on the topic and I will never stop!  Praise the Lord!
Immediately following my trip to Haiti, less than 24 hours later I was with my family in Michigan at Fireside Inn.  A Hurley Family Pastime, so relaxing and beautiful.  The perfect way to collect oneself after a crazy journey across the world! Pictures of both trips to follow!

Thanks for reading!  Praise God for all He has blessed you with, thank Him for your life today, it is a precious gift we forget isn't really ours...

Compatibility

     I have missed blogging these past few weeks, which brings me joy in knowing that I am dedicated to this! So happy...

     There are many things I find myself compatible with in life, things that I adapt to and grow from, the epitome of compatibility if you ask me. One major thing comes to mind when I think of what I grow from most is summer.  I do not exactly know what it is, but something about summer awakens my spirit and sets me free from doom and gloom during the winter. Lately I have received and enormous amount of Vitamin D and plan to obtain much more as the sun continues to shine! Every summer I learn so much about myself, I am finally calm enough to sit by myself (actually I'm not alone ever... with Him around... pleasant sigh) and reflect.  Time that I am so thankful for.

Trees are my favorite thing to look at during the summer

Seth and I at Lakeside :)

     Another thing I find myself very compatible with is my Seth.  Last night we went on a late run in the cool breeze.  I hadn't ran in a while so I was a little nervous about the journey and certainly did not want to seem like a whimp in front of my hardworking man, but it ended up being the most pleasing and relaxing thing we have done together in a while.  We talked and jogged and sweat and it was a blast.  We plan to do it more often from now on.  He is my best friend and I absolutely adore what we have, because we are the only ones who get to experience our relationship as a whole.  Including someone else who has, somehow, seen us through many hard times in the past and continues to allow us to still be together.  Thank you Lord!

     So, there you have it. Two S's I am compatible with, two of many.  What a beautiful day... I love the heat! Bring it on, as long as I have my water I am good!

Becoming an adult...

Everyone always says that when you turn 18 you are officially an adult, but I don't buy it.  Looking back I see a major difference between my 18 year old self and my (almost) 20 year old self.  I know being able to vote and sign your own papers without a parental signature is all big stuff.  But is that what makes you an adult?  Isn't the word "teen" at the end of 18 and 19?

That being said, as I am about turn 20, I have decided to look back at all the memories of my teenage years with a warm smile.  Although these may have been hard times, they have been a long six year term of growth.  Things change, you obtain more responsibility each year,  you learn who loves you the most, dances, late night movies, walks, laying out with your friend, shopping, sleepovers, getting ready, school games, deciding where to go to college, graduating, going to college, dates, staying up WAY too late, dreaming of what is to come...

I know age is just a number, but age is a result of time, precious time.  And even though I would dream about being 20 when I was young, now I want to take my time, and soak each moment up, because my time here is short compared to what is to come!

So, thank you Lord, for a sweet 20 years of life here on earth, and thank you for the time that I still have left!

Weeding and other things

Today I decided to embark on my summer project, the garden.  I am not an experienced gardener so I wasn't sure where to start, but once I walked outside it was obvious where to begin. WEEDS! Not just weeds, tree weeds! If that is even a real technical term.  Anyway, after an hour of taking out leaves, fallen branches and twigs from our many storms, I began to weed it out!  Not my favorite thing to do, but I was happy to do it for my future flowers, vegetables, fruit, and whatever else I decide to plant this summer! So, it may not be pretty now, but at least it is weed-less!

Let me know if you have any wonderful gardening tips for me! I am eager to learn more!

It may not be our favorite... but look at what comes with it!

     The rain, as Ohioans we are long acquaintances with this particular portion of the water cycle.  Although I love the sun more,  I can't help be recognize all of the green rain produces.  So as for you May, the month of my birth,  as long as you bring pretty flowers after your showers it is okay if you take on a part of April's job!

The wait...

    I found this picture of a girl sitting and waiting behind a curtain she can see through a little bit, but she can't make out everything... It intrigues me in many ways and I will tell you why.
I am sitting waiting behind a sheer curtain myself, most girls around my age are.  We are all sitting, finding only glimpses of what is to come, what God's plan really is for us.

   But then again, are we really sitting as calmly and peacefully as this girl in the photo?

   Are we being patient, trusting, and hopeful?

   I don't know about you, but if we are being honest, I sincerely have not been sitting. I have not even been standing. I have been running around in circles without looking anywhere around me, focusing only on myself.  And truthfully instead of rejoicing in the fact that my Maker already has it figured out, I have been scrutinizing, devising, and speculating ways that I can trick Him into letting me see the future.  I heard a quote once and it struck me...
    
    "If you want to make God laugh... tell Him your plans."
And let me be the first to say, God has been cracking up at me for years!!
  
    Recently I borrowed the book "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers (even though I just started I will tell you it is a MUST READ! And if you didn't know already, because I didn't when I got it, it is a devotional) and yesterday's devotion struck me even more.  The title of it is "The Passion of Patience"... the PASSION of patience, not the technique, not a "how-to", not the discovery of, but the PASSION of... patience.  Chambers discusses the passion revealing itself through the glory, or knowing, of God.
  "Though it may linger, wait for it." Habakkuk 2:3

   My faith has been a waiting game, a game full of demand and expectancy of knowledge that I may never come to have.  So, if you are in the same boat with me, let's stop running in circles, let's stop our tunnel vision, let's stop standing once and for all...
   Let's sit, and rejoice in the vision of God, He is the only future I want, what else matters after Him?