I just finished working on the One Month to Live series at work. There were five sermons in this series: 1. Live Passionately 2. Love Completely 3. Laugh Regularly 4. Lead Intentionally 5. Leave Boldly.

I got this idea from a blog I stumbled across tonight.

Wow! I just realized today that I've been in Louisville for almost four months! Time has flown by. I also realized that I really haven't updated everyone on life. So I want to give everyone a rundown of life in the Ville. 

Today I had a wonderful relaxing day. I just did some stuff around the apartment most of the day. Tonight, I experienced my first dinner on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville. My friend Lauren and I ate at Ray Parella's. I had the baked spaghetti. YUM! And Lauren and I split the tiramisu for dessert. I haven't had a dinner like that in a very long time. It was definitely a treat. 

I'm overwhelmed by God's blessings in my life right now. 

If you have ever moved you know how crazy it can be. The list keeps getting longer and longer. I was thinking tonight about how much easier it was to move to Searcy eight years ago. I was 18 and didn't have anything established. Now I have insurance, a bank, bills, magazine subscriptions, etc., etc., to take care of. I also have to reserve the rental truck, book two plane tickets to two weddings in the next few months, finish up work stuff, finish up freelance stuff, book a final hair appointment, etc., etc.

However, the idea of a new adventure is keeping me going through all of these random tasks. I'm very excited about the journey ahead of me. With each day that has passed since I made the decision to go to Southeast, I have felt more excited about it. I'm most excited about getting my first project. I wonder what it is!

So today... It's Sunday. I woke up late. As always I was running late for early service. My roommate has to wait on me every Sunday. This morning was no exception. I kept doing dumb things this morning. I put my shirt on backwards. I dropped my diffuser about 5 times while I was drying my hair. My bangs did not cooperate. All of my clothes are too big right now so I was wearing pants that were too big and I forgot to wear a belt.

And, of course, we barely made it to church on time. So we ended up sitting in the very back row on the side where you can't read the words to the songs. The whole time I'm complaining in my head about the morning. My emotions are running high right now... I'll explain why in a minute... every little thing has more meaning to me because of that.

However, all of the morning's fumbles melted away as soon as we began to sing. This morning was more of a singing service than anything else. And with every song, tears began to flow. God is so good and so powerful. He has done so many great things in my life. I hope you have realized what He has done in your life.


Big Changes

I'm moving to Louisville, Ky.!!

I accepted a job at Southeast Christian Church this week. I am going to be working with the Communication team as a graphic designer/writer. My last day at Harding is May 15, and I'm loading up the truck with my dad May 16. I'll start at Southeast May 21. A picture of Southeast is below.



This is the first time since college that I have made a big move. I have only lived in two places my entire life: Salem, Ohio, population: 20,000; and Searcy, Ark., population: 20,000. What is crazy is Louisville is obviously a lot bigger than those two places. BUT!! Southeast Christian Church, average attendance: 18,000. That's not a typo. 18,000.

I'm a little overwhelmed thinking about those numbers. But when I think about how God has worked everything out for this move, I feel excitement and comfort. From everything from support from family and friends to financial stability to an amazing apartment deal to a mixup with my Invisalign treatment (long story) to amazing support from my HU family, God has made this move clear. This is the next chapter in my story. There's something so humbling about surrendering your talents to Him and letting Him write those chapters.

I have always had the desire to work for a church. Always. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to follow that calling. Even though I'm excited, I have major mixed emotions. Searcy is home. I LOVE my friends. I LOVE Downtown Church. I LOVE Harding.

OK... I will have many more details to share with you all later about this big transition. God is good! I can't say that enough right now.

Next post to come soon.... Surrender...

Will you trust in Him when you're not sure if you're going to get that promotion? Will you trust in Him when you're not sure where the rent check is going to come from? Will you be a person of conviction? I listened to a podcast tonight from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., that really hit home. The speaker asked all of these questions.

The speaker asked another question, "Will you be the type of person to trust in Him even though you don't know what's going to happen next?"

This hit home tonight because I have one big thing on the table right now. I have no clue what's going to happen. I have no idea if I'm good enough to be used in this capacity. You know how sometimes you feel like you're a fake? You really don't know what you're doing, you're just breezing by? Ever felt that way? I struggle with that a lot. The point is trust regardless of all this. Trust that God has a plan, and He's working to fulfill it.

Tonight I also found out that a little boy, probably 10 or 11 years old, from back home has brain cancer. Yes, even in this, trust Him. God is good. He is almighty. He is all powerful. Pray for Mason and the Bennett family. Trust in God above all else. Even in Mason's battle, God is there. I don't know what His plan is for all this. But I know it is there. We just have to trust.

I also am still involved with the junior high girls Wednesday night class at church. There are some girls in that class really struggling. They are hurting. They are missing parents. They have lost family members. They are crying out for attention from anyone who will listen. They are also lovers of Christ. They are some of the most sincere teenage girls I have ever known. Some of things they are going through.... I will never understand. I will never understand why a 13-year-old girl has to grow up way ahead of her years. I will understand that God is in control and to just trust.



When I fail to trust, I will think of this past Sunday morning. I was visiting a church in Kentucky Sunday morning. There were several baptisms that morning. A man was baptized that morning who turned to Christ from Hinduism. After he was baptized, he turned around and baptized his two sons.

After witnessing that amazing work of God, I thought to myself, "With God, all things are possible!" Now tying all of the pieces of this week together, I realize some things. My big thing is in God's hands. I can be used! God is, again, all powerful. He's so powerful that He can use a wee one like me. I just have to remember that when I fall into self-pity mode.

Also, Mason is in God's hands. No matter what happens, God loves Mason. He loves Mason's parents, Steve and Kathy. He will protect them and wrap His arms around that entire family.

God is over all, including every single girl in our class. He is almighty. Just trust.

Trust in Him.

I'm procrastinating a bit right now. I just took the Five Factor Personality Profile... Here's what it said about me:

Extroversion:

You have medium extroversion.
You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.
Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.
But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time."

Conscientiousness:

You have high conscientiousness.
Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.
Most things in your life are organized and planned well.
But you borderline on being a total perfectionist.

Agreeableness:

You have high agreeableness.
You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.
Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.
You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance.

Neuroticism:

You have low neuroticism.
You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is medium.
You are generally broad minded when it come to new things.
But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it.
You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

Click here to take the test yourself.

The last time I checked, God was a god of love. I'm pretty sure that hasn't changed. While I know we, as Christians, believe in the Bible and God's laws, we are also charged to practice faith, hope and love.

So tonight I can't sleep. I can't sleep because so many people are searching for love from their brothers and sisters in Christ and can't find it. I say this as one of the offenders. At times in my life I have found it so-called easier to walk away from relationships than to love without fail. I have made this decision because other people have done things or made decisions that didn't fall in line with my beliefs and worldview. And maybe I thought that was my way of showing Christ to them. As I've learned, however, that action was doing the opposite of showing Christ.

So, yes, I believe every word of the Bible. However, thankfully, I am not the judge. And I am not the law enforcer here. Where in the Bible was the church called to be the judge? Where were we called to be police officers for God? I am so thankful that my only job is to love without fail... to love like Jesus loved... to show that love to others... the rest is up to God, not me.

I ask for forgiveness for being an offender. I pray for strength to love without fail all the days of my life.

I love The Message's translation of 1 Cor. 13:

"If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut. Doesn't have a swelled head. Doesn't force itself on others. Isn't always 'me first.' Doesn't fly off the handle. Doesn't keep score of the sins of others. Doesn't revel when others grovel. Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth. Puts up with anything. Trusts God always. Always looks for the best. Never looks back. But keeps going to the end........

".........But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."

First of all, let me apologize for my hiatus again. Between friends getting married and the Christmas break there hasn't been much time for blogging. But I'm back!

My friend Amanda and I are teaching the junior high girls class at church on Wednesday nights. This week we're going to talk about self esteem, which I know a little bit about. Looking around at the circle of girls last week, I thought about how truly beautiful each of them is in their own way.

It breaks my heart that some of these girls don't realize that. They don't realize that God created them just as they are with a very specific purpose in mind. How do you convey that to a 14-year-old girl who has just been rejected by a guy at school because she's too tall?

Any ideas for us teachers??

Jeremy Riddle's song "Sweetly Broken" has hit home today. Here are the lyrics:

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

Chorus:
At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

Chorus:

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

Wow. It's powerful, isn't it? Download this song. Close your eyes and listen to it. Those 5 minutes will change you.

I thought today I would post some pictures to update you on my life. haha


These are some of the bridesmaids at one of Lindsey's showers. She's getting married Saturday! Ahh!


This is my bridesmaid's dress for Lindsey's wedding with a bouquet I made for her bridal portrait.

This is from our small group's Halloween party. I'm in the middle. I was an iPod silhouette.

That's all for now.

Will someone please tell me if Hanson is cool again? I guess I'm too old to really know these days. I do like it that they are selling Toms Shoes on their Web site to benefit Africa.


I guess I just don't know. I can't get over "Mmmbop." I am afraid to admit that I am kind of enjoying their new cd "The Walk." So will someone please check it out and please tell me if Hanson is now cool again.

I'm having a difficult time accepting that Hanson is cool again.

But I am 25 years old. I really am on my way out of being cool too.

Thanks to Jim and Sara for making me do this. Here are 100 things you may or may not know about me.

1. I love to listen to the Delilah radio show at night.
2. I really secretly love country music.
3. When Reba McEntire cut her long red hair off I almost cried when I was a kid.
4. I listened to Reba's song "Fancy" on cassette tape over and over again as a little girl. It was my Rocky.
5. I also secretly love Searcy.
6. I don't feel like I'm 25 years old. Most days I'm still 11.
7. I'm a daddy's girl.
8. I like it that people say I look like my dad.
9. I was in love with Manny Ramirez when I was in high school.
10. Now I can't stand him.
11. I made several Cleveland Indians scrapbooks back in their Glory Days.
12. I have never seen the Indians play at the Jake.
13. I've seen them beat up on the Pirates in the Pitt.
14. I've also seen them beat up on the Royals in KC.
15. My favorite spot in KC is the junior manager's suite in the Hyatt.
16. I once drove from Searcy to Boston and back in 6 days.
17. Two days later I got on a plane and flew to NYC.
18. I have to NYC four times.
19. Each time it was on St. Patrick's Day.
20. I'm going to NYC in December.
21. I get to see the Christmas tree!
22. I no longer want to be a magazine editor in NYC.
23. Truthfully, my career is not as important as it once was.
24. I just want to be happy and serve God.
25. At the same time, one of my biggest fears is not being successful.
26. I'm a perfectionist.
27. I'm also a control freak.
28. I'm a homebody.
29. I also fear never falling in love.
30. I have lost almost 35 pounds since college graduation.
31. I have another 25 to go.
32. I dream more of having children than I do of climbing the career ladder these days.
33. My parents were 18 and 19 when they got married.
34. They were 19 and 20 when they had me.
35. I'm 25 and can't imagine having children right now!
36. I'm stubborn.
37. I love my bed.
38. I once opened the door for the Fonz in NYC and didn't know it.
39. I have met Taylor Swift.
40. I ate dinner with Taylor Swift.
41. She still answered her own cell phone at that time.
42. I have interviewed Miss America.
43. I'm a workaholic.
44. I have the best roommate in the world.
45. Lindsey, AL, Lisa and Mer will be my bffs for life.
46. I'm glad I didn't take that job in Dallas last summer.
47. I have credit card debt I'm trying to pay off.
48. If I had the time I would lobby in DC to make it illegal to give credit cards to college students.
49. My high school prom date is running for mayor of my hometown this year.
50. I kind of ditched him for his best friend that night.
51. I know, I'm a terrible person.
52. The first movie I ever saw in the theater was Snow White.
53. I love to cook.
54. I love flowers.
55. I love hosting parties.
56. I'm dabbling in the wedding planning business a little these days.
57. The only famous person that has my birthday, July 15, is Brian Austin Green from 90210.
58. When I was in junior high I rebelled and watched 90210 when I wasn't allowed.
59. I love to decorate Christmas trees with my dad.
60. I love Christmas.
61. People who don't like Christmas make me angry.
62. I have a soft heart for homeless people, especially homeless children.
63. I fear that I don't do enough to make the world a better place.
64. I loved it that my Aunt Renee always had paperdolls for me to play with as a little girl.
65. TGIF was the best TV night when I was a kid... Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step and Perfect Strangers.
66. My sisters and I collected TGIF trading cards.
67. I am a big nerd.
68. I am a drama queen.
69. People say I overreact too much.
70. I don't like staying up late anymore.
71. I like to get up early and work out now.
72. I never thought I would ever say that.
73. It's a lot easier for me to say no now.
74. It's also very easy for me to say no to a brownie now.
75. My kindergarten teacher said I would never be more than average.
76. I'm falling asleep right now.
77. I worked too much in college.
78. Everything I know about my field I learned from Jim Miller, Jack Shock, Kay Gowen, Tim Cox and Stacy Schoen.
79. I think yearbook is cool.
80. I'm a big nerd.
81. I was in marching band.
82. I played the French horn, trumpet and mellophone.
83. I went to a marching band contest in Cabot last month.
84. It was five hours long.
85. I'm a big nerd.
86. I love Macs.
87. I'm sticking to a budget these days.
88. I like cheesy Christian books about love. :)
89. I watch the Today Show every morning.
90. I'm proud to be an Ohio State Buckeye.
91. Jim Tressel went to my parents' church before he moved to Columbus.
92. My parents don't know them personally.
93. I'm proud of my parents.
94. I can't keep my eyes open right now.
95. I once sprayed my hair black in junior high to make a statement.
96. The only foreign country I've been in is Canada.
97. I love the 14-hour drive to my parents the most when I'm alone.
98. I really like alone time.
99. I wish Harding were closer to Ohio.
100. I'm a big nerd.

Well... summer plans of updating more regularly seemed to fall apart. I guess life just got hectic.

So here's what I know....

1. Vote for Barack Obama. Or at least read "The Audacity of Hope." I finally finished reading it this weekend on a plane back from Cleveland. (Go Tribe.) I think what appeals to me the most about Obama is his genuine faith. He comes from humble beginnings as a community organizer. He has a real conversion story. And his plans for education and the homeless are the best I've heard in a long time. Read the book. If you still don't like him after reading it, you will have at least read a very refreshing and much-needed take on politics in America.

2. The Indians are in the postseason. Enough said.

3. Fall weather is upon us. I can't wait to go for a jog in the morning in the crisp, cool air that is starting to settle over Arkansas. Even in Ohio it was 90 degrees this weekend.

4. Christmas is around the corner. And that means the blessing of a Harding staff Christmas break. I can't wait!

So I have been terrible at posting once again this summer.

Here's an update:
1. I went to the zoo. Haha... it's still fun at my age.
2. I turned 25 a couple weeks ago.
3. I turned 25 and received a retainer from my dentist for my birthday that I now wear every day all day. I will only have to wear it for 6 months though hopefully. I'm crossing my fingers.
4. I went to the American Idols tour in Little Rock.

Those are the highlights.

I've been tagged.

First and Last

First Memory: Driving my parents' car at the age of 3 and having my uncle rescue me.

First Real Kiss: Discretion, which means I've never been kissed. Plenty of opportunity. Just not the right guy ever.

First Concert: Sharon, Lois and Bram when I was 5 or 6. Skinnamarinky dink, skinnamarinky do, i love you.

First Love: Still waiting. Isn't that sweet?

First crush: Jason Weingart. I liked him from 5th grade through high school. I was dedicated.

First thing you think in the morning: These days... "What is that bar across my two front teeth?"

First book you remember loving: Any Nancy Drew, Babysitter's Club or Sweet Valley High book.

First pet: Mooches the cat.

First question you'll ask in Heaven: Good question...

First thing you think of when you hear the word vacation: Wednesday. It's coming Wednesday. Hallelujah!

First best friend: First grade. Caryn Conway at Reilly Elementary School in Salem, Ohio

Last time you dressed up: Hmmm... really dressed up? Last July for my sister's wedding.

Last CD you bought: I just bought the Brendan James EP on iTunes yesterday. Actual CD... I think it was the new Lifehouse CD.

Last book you read: I'm currently reading "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama and "In the Grip of Grace" by Max Lucado.

Last time you cried: July 15. It was an emotional day.

Last movie you saw: "No Reservations"

Last time you told someone you loved them: My mom... yesterday on the phone.

Last really funny thing you did: I called my friend Lisa thinking I had called Amanda. I started telling Amanda what Lisa had said about our plans for that night. Lisa said, "Who do you think you're talking to Renee?" I laughed and laughed. So did Lisa.

Last thing you watched on TV: the Today show this morning

Last Halloween costume: Hmmm... I can't remember. I was supposed to go as John Sullivan this year but missed the party.

Last Concert attended: American Idols tour in Little Rock last month.... before that it was Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman in March... Oh so good. The next concert on the agenda is Cartel Aug. 16 then it will be Casting Crowns in October and then it will be Bebo in November. I love concerts.

I won't tag anyone. haha