New Beginnings!

It's no University of Alabama, or Tuscaloosa for that matter, but UCF in Orlando will have to do!  I can't believe I'm already starting my Sophomore year of college!! SO many things have changed in my life and I have met so many new people that are in my life to stay!  I just moved into my new apartment on the 19th and man I never knew something could be so much work! I am enjoying everything so far and hope it stays that way!


I start working tomorrow at Red Lobster, and I'm pretty excited about that! It's nice to know you have a secured job and will have some income of your own coming in. I'm the "grown up" life so it's time to start paying some rent and maybe some other things off as well!


God has been continually blessing me with some amazing things in my life and without Him I don't know what I would be doing right now.  Finances has become an issue and right when I start to stress out he grants me with more money than I would have ever expected! It's SO awesome how He works and how He makes sure that we know that He is always here!


I don't start classes until next Monday (29th), so I'm getting an extra week of summer, unlike all my roommates ;) BUTTT I do have to work/train so I don't know if that counts.  I am REALLY excited about this semester and I have really high goals for myself that I'm hoping I can achieve.  


I will start blogging probably every day again, so stay tuned.
Love you guys!
Roll Tide & GO KNIGHTS! ;)

My Bathroom :P

Desk Area

Dresser

Kitchen - more sunflower stuff to come!

Dining Area

Living Room - MORE safari to come!

**My apartment. I will post pics of my bedding later - it's not in yet! & of course I will have some pics of Pebbles and Bam Bam when they move in next weekend :D

He's Sovereign Still

This week I have been battling many feelings and not really talking about them much, because I feel as though I need to handle them with God.  Like many this week is a hard one to come by because of what we all know it reminds us of - the death of three amazing boys that will never be forgotten and one of their birthdays is today.  Not only that but I have been fighting the reasons of not going to Tallahassee this weekend and going.


I am growing in Christ, and I learn new things each and every day from many amazing and Christian people - there is NO doubt in my mind why I have them in my life.  He knows I have been planning on going to Tally for nearly a month now and it has been riding my mind about what He thinks about it.  All sorts of things came up this week about why I shouldn't go - my ride there suddenly wasn't able to go, Matt's Aunt is in the hospital fighting lung cancer, there is no girls going, etc.  SO many things were telling me that it's not meant for me to go; and then today happened...


When I woke up this morning I knew we weren't going to end up going, but I felt like I wanted to go; and the only reason why is because I would finally get to see my best friend Morgan from Alabama! I haven't seen her since December and I miss her so much, it's not even funny! Well, I'm going and I'm leaving tomorrow.


I feel as though I'm going to prove a point that I want to prove and I'm going to stick with Jesus on this one.  There is no doubt about it that I will be around alcohol and bad language, but I don't have to take part in it and I won't.  I'm going to see someone I love and someone that understands my morals of why I don't do certain things.  I feel as though this is going to be a test, and I'm not going to fail.  I don't give into temptation very easily, and this weekend will be no different.  I am going to have fun, but I'm going to have fun the way I feel I am supposed to be having fun and the way Jesus wants me to have fun.  


It's still weighing on my heart that I shouldn't even be around all this sinful nature, and I know that, but for whatever reason I'm being told to go.  The way to speak and teach lost people is to be around them for a little while.  I will only be there until Sunday, and I can do a lot in that many days.


I'm going to stay strong and "stick to my guns" and I really don't care what people think about it!

2 Years. . .

Two years ago, on this day, I was at Beach Retreat and trying to get my Saturday morning started with some fun in the sun and some JESUS.  That all came to end quite early when I heard that three really amazing people, one being my cousin, died in a car accident down in Keys.  I was in total shock along with all the other people I know with me.  Carson Williams, Devon Venables, & Josh "2" Creasman were all best friends and all died on the same day.  As I look back on it now, I was VERY sad and heartbroken at what had happened, and I started to think of the last thing I said to all three of them.  To be honest, I wasn't as close as many others were to them, but I still loved them and cared about them.


You know how they say good things usually come out of bad things?  Well, this was definitely true here!  With 200+ kids praying for their families in Panama City that weekend, amazing this were to come.  People were saved and people were asking God questions and looking for any type of answer possible!  When people's lives change for our maker, there is nothing greater than that!


These three boys have made the biggest impact on a community that I have ever seen in my life!  SO many people came to support the families of these three, and the families knew they had the support; and the support hasn't ended.


It's been two years and you would think they were still with us sometimes.  Carson, Devon, & 2 are always brought up in conversations and talked about everyday.  We all know that they are looking down on us and making sure we are all going to be safe.  They aren't the only three though.  God has fulfilled a reassurance and a peacefulness within us that allows us to make it through our everyday lives without them here.  He is the reason why we are okay.  He is the reason people have the hope of seeing their faces again.  He is the reason for a reason.  He is GOD.  


I cherish every moment I have with people, because you never know if that will be their last day.  Being young you tend to think you're invincible and that you will live until your 105, but that isn't always the case.  Everyone should know that there is something WAYYY better than this life.  Something you have to work for to receive, but it the ultimate gift.  Something that I will have one day, and that is to meet my Maker and walk through the gates of Heaven to live with Him eternally.


On this day and for the rest of the week and whenever you feel the need to, send up a prayer for the families of the boys.  Prayer does help, and without it we wouldn't be able to make it through these days.


**Boys, I miss you so much and my prayer is that you are comforting your families and letting them know that you may not visibly be here, but your here in spirit watching over us.  You guys are amazing people and I can't wait till the day when I get to see your smiling faces again; I miss those smiles.  I love you <333