Thanksgiving Day..

I know I probably won't take time to blog tomorrow, so I decided to do it tonight! I just want to sum up all the big stuff or little stuff that I'm sure I couldn't live without..
Let me start with the most obvious and, hopefully, evident blessing in my entire life, JESUS! I know that I could go on and on forever literally about all the things He has blessed me with and done for me, but it, not surprisingly to you I'm sure, always comes back to grace. I'm so thankful that he forgives me and makes me new every minute of every hour of every day. His grace and forgiveness consume my life and are the only thing that give it purpose. I sat in on my friend Rachel's Dgroup the other day and He opened my eyes during their devotional. Rachel said "Faith and doubt can't live in the same body." I literally couldn't stop thinking about it! Even now, a few weeks later, it has changed everything so much, my prayer life particularly. Naturally, like Jesus always works in weird ways, the next day, the first thing I saw in my Bible was in James 1 where it says, "But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways." I don't know if I've ever been so guilty of something.. I have SO little faith, so I'm thankful that Jesus always provides and that He looks over my selfishness that doubts Him. I'm so thankful that He never gives up on me. He is so good to me! I'm thankful that he overlooks the fact that I've messed up 17,365,794 times a day since the day I was born and that I don't always have a pretty heart, but loves me just the same. I could never say how thankful I am for His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection that set me free from sin and condemnation. I really could go on forever and forever, and if it wasn't bedtime I would, but I think you get the picture. I serve a Jesus who has blessed me far more than I could ever deserve!
On to the little stuff, I guess.. I know this is going to come out as one huge run-on sentence, so I'm sorry ahead of time. I'm so thankful for all the little stuff that Jesus shows His love through, the stuff that He knows is so special to me. Here it goes.. I'm thankful for sunshine, for my favorite TV shows, for sunsets, for FALL and everything that comes with it, for good movies, for real love, for compassion, for laughing, for babies, for good books, for magazines, for Africa and missions, for Dr. Pepper and Peach Nehi, for Sonic Happy Hour, for naps, for pillow talks, for good roommates, for French fries, for guidance, for His perfect will, for dgroup, for frogs, for heart to hearts, for beautiful friendships, for the strangers who always smile on the sidewalk, for home, for football, for late nights and late mornings, for sleeping in, for music of all kinds, for praise and worship time, for Tim Mcgraw and Beyonce, for car rides, for phone dates, for sweet texts, for blogs, for socks, for nail polish, for old people and old couples particularly, for love languages, for sausage balls, for picture texts, for twitter, for old friends and new friends, for Pandora, and for all the other little stuff that gets me through. I'm so thankful!
Happy Thanksgiving!! Don't forget to thank Jesus for Him and for all the little stuff that gets you through. Love Love Love.

Family..

My parents stopped in Russellville to have dinner with me tonight, while they were on their way back from a weekend in Mississippi. I was so happy to see them! I know they probably don't believe it, but I really do miss them so much when I'm at school, even though I don't go home as much as they'd like. I always know its time to go home for a visit when Jami and Brandi start calling to shoot the junk. My parents are everything I could ask for! My dad is the single most hard working person I have EVER met, and almost just like me in every way but that. He's a talker and so am I. I remember always staying awake on trips and talking the entire time, while my mom and sisters slept. We constantly hear that we look and act just alike and even though I deny it always, thats one of the biggest compliments I could ever get. He is such a good man, so selfless and always faithful to lead us just like the Lord leads him. People always just go on and on about how sweet my mom is, and I couldn't agree more. When I moved to school, I realized just how picky I am, because she is such a good cook! I love more than just about anything when we get to shop or talk forever. She has such a beautiful heart and spirit, and has always worked so hard to make our house a home. She always reminds me that home is wherever they are, not the house I lived in, and I'm beginning to understand how true that is. When we were growing up, my sisters and I fought so much, probably because they were just pure evil and I could get pretty mean and dramatic myself, but since Brandi's had kids and I moved to school, I'm so thankful for them. Obviously, Brandi's kids are my favorite people in the entire world, but I've found out in the last few years that she is pretty cool too. I secretly love when she calls just because she needs adult conversation and Heath is out of town and she has been with the kids every day, all week. Jami and I are so close in age that it was pretty easy for us to always find something we needed to fight about. Driving. Friends. Boys. School. Our parents. The TV. The front seat. You name it, we probably fought about it. But I'm beginning to understand that she is the only person in the ENTIRE world who understands exactly what it was like to grow up in our house at the same time as me. She is definitely feisty and just about as sarcastic as I am, but instead of hating it and always being so annoyed with it like I used to be, I love it. She's not afraid to tell anybody whats up, and as opposite as that is from me, I'm so glad she is, because somebody has to be, right? I'm so thankful for my sweet and perfect-for-me family, and so excited to finally be home with them for more than a couple of days this week. Thank Jesus for yours today and for His beautiful grace. Love Love Love.

Perfect Grandparents..

Last night, Katiebug and I went to her nanee and papa's house in Atkins and spent the night with them, her sister, Claire, and her 4 year-old cousin, Lily.. I had so much fun! Nanee was decorating for Christmas and all I could think about was going to spend the night at my Grandma and Grandpa Jones' house when I was little. It was always a big deal because they lived pretty far away until I was 12. My grandpa snored so loud that they slept in separate rooms, but I always loved to curl up in my grandma's huge bed and watch the Fox and the Hound or Snow White until we fell asleep. One of my very favorite memories is of my cousin Hannah, Jami, and I making a pallet in the floor of their living room and sleeping there with both my grandma and my grandpa, or at least until we made him go to sleep because he was so loud! I remember Christmases and my first fishing trip with him, and then I remember when he passed away when I was 7. It has been 12 years this week and that just seems crazy. That I'm old enough for it to have been that long, and that I still remember so much more about him than even I thought.

My sweet Gram & Grandpa Jones
My dad's parents always lived pretty close to us when we were in Jonesboro, but we didn't see them a lot. I remember dancing with my granny when we went to visit once, and then laughing till we cried, because she called my dad a goober and I was sure it was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. We didn't ever get to spend a lot of time with them when she was still around, but I remember her having the sweetest spirit and always working so hard to do whatever Grandpa Wehunt needed done. When I was a senior, Grandpa moved in and I got to really be around him for the first time. He only lived with us for three months, but I loved coming home to him watching the news or whatever. He would always ask me how I was and if I said "Good!", he would remind me of the verse that says no one is good. He really was as close to perfect as anyone I've ever met, probably because he loved the Lord with his entire life. I'm so thankful for the grandparents I was so blessed to have for even a short time, and the Gram and Bill I still do. They made everything so much more fun growing up. My grandma is still one of my favorite people in the world. Thank Jesus for the sweet grandparents you have or have had in your life, yours or someone else's, and, of course, for grace. Love Love Love. 

Deven..

This is kind of a weird post for me, but this is something that has definitely had a big impact on who I am. I mentioned my friend Deven from 7th grade once before, but I'm gonna tell you a little more about him. When he was 13, Deven was killed in a car accident. I know that seems like so long ago, and it was, but his short life challenged me more than very many people in my whole life have. I don't necessarily think about him every day like I used to, but I definitely haven't forgotten him. I know that before when I mentioned something about him, I was talking about his passion for Christ at such a young age. He literally didn't meet a stranger and told EVERY one about Jesus and everything He had done for him. A few days before he passed away, he, and our friend Corey, had been going table to table in our lunch room to ask people if they knew Jesus. I don't know about you, but I don't even have that kind of courage or confidence now, let alone then! I heard a song that they played at his funeral this week, and I've been thinking about everything his life stood for since.

 I know that he was a nerdy, 13 year old kid, with a curly, blonde afro, but his life and death changed my life for good. I couldn't ever thank him enough for the inspiration and friend he was to me then, and even now. I don't why certain things happen, but I am more than certain that Deven's life and death happened to bring glory to his King, and thats all he would have wanted. I'm so thankful for the short time I did get to spend with him and even more thankful that he showed the love of Jesus until the day he died. I know this is kind of a weird thing to be thankful for now, almost 7 years later, but He impacted my eternal relationship with my Savior, so that is obviously a HUGE deal. Thank Jesus today for all the people that have impacted you and your walk, and, as always, look for grace in your life, both given and received. Love Love Love.

His Gracious People..

I know I always go on and on about how appreciative I am for God's grace, but I often forget about how thankful I am for people who emulate Jesus and show His kind of grace and forgiveness. As I have been trying to be extra aware of all the things that God continually blesses me with, of course God would bring me back to the beatitudes where He blesses people with certain attributes that reflect Him. Matthew 5:7-8 says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." He says that if we are merciful, we will be shown mercy. I know that I am reluctant to let people get away with almost anything, but WHY?! He lets me get away with EVERYTHING. Its easy to see God's grace, because we don't deserve anything but death for everything we've done against Him, but it is much easier to miss the times that our friends and family are so gracious to forgive us. I know that I say something ridiculous to one of my best friends sometimes or think I need my parents to hear my opinion and, instead of them correcting me, or being mad like they very well could be, they instantly forgive me and allow me to move on like nothing happened. I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes need to be set straight, because I can get feisty fast, so that anyone could let me slide and act like it didn't happen, that is a miracle in and of itself. I am so thankful that I am surrounded by gracious, Jesus-loving people. I am going to make it a personal goal that I am extra aware of other people's grace and that I try to imitate and show it in my own life. Hold me to that! Today, thank Jesus for the grace of Him and His people. Love Love Love.

Fall & Sunsets..

I'm typing this from the Lake Dardanelle Visitor's Center deck.. It is absolutely beautiful outside! Since I've moved to Tech, I've really enjoyed all the scenic little places around campus. They are something that isn't common everywhere and that I just didn't take advantage of in Alma. Today, I'm here with some of my best friends, Katie, Rachel, Laura, and Taylor, doing homework, but I come here a lot for whatever reason. Sometimes to have my quiet time. Sometimes to just talk and hang out. Besides my allergies going crazy right now, it is absolutely perfect here! I'm so thankful for all of the little ways God shows himself. To say I'm obsessed with fall and perfect sunsets is an understatement, so this time of year, just a little later in the evening, it is perfect out here.. Especially with a Sonic drink in hand like today!

Here's a picture from the deck that I stole from their website.. Beautiful, right?! Look for God's grace in all the little things today and thank Him for His beautiful creations. Especially fall and sunsets! Love Love Love. 

Home Sweet Home

I missed yesterday, but thats okay, because I have an extra lot to be thankful for today. First of all, HOME. I haven't been home this year as much as last year, not half as much actually, but I think it has actually made me much more thankful for my family and friends that are still in Alma. There is just something about being in my house and knowing that I'm in Alma that helps me feel better after a bad week. That sounds so cliche I know, but it is so true. Last night, I finally got to spend some much needed time with my friends Chelsi, Scott, and Jessica. Today, until tomorrow afternoon, I've been babysitting Kyli, Lathan, and Landon. If you've talked to me for five minutes, you've heard entirely too much about them I'm sure, but they really are my favorite people in the entire world. We played hard all day and then they went to bed a little earlier than normal. That was fine by me, because Chelsi, Jessica, and Michael came over to visit for a little while. Sometimes, I need to be reminded how sweet the relationships I have here are. They really are more and more important to me, so I'm extremely thankful that I finally got to see almost everybody I love from home. 

Go ahead & love all over this sweet picture of the kids from Halloween. Lathan was Iron Man, Kyli was the Frog Princess, and Landon was her frog. So sweet! I hope you don't ever take for granted your home, family, and friends who have influenced you so much, because I definitely do. Look for those things in your life in the next few days and thank Jesus for beautiful beginnings and, of course, grace. Love Love Love.

Roomie Love!

Today, I am SO thankful for my sweet, new roommate Judi! She just moved in last weekend and has already been such an encouragement and blessing in my room and in my life! We haven't know each other very long, but I already feel like we are becoming very good friends. She has such a pretty heart for Jesus and loves to tell everyone she meets about her redemption story. My favorite thing she says is when someone asks her about Jesus and she says, "My life has been changed by the unconditional love of Jesus Christ." How beautiful! I'm so thankful for her sweet spirit and crazy behavior! She is one of the funniest people I've ever met and one of the few that loves naps and pillow talk as much as me.. She's the best!

Enjoy God's beautiful Grace today and always thank Him for friendships centered on Him. Love Love Love.

His Grace is Enough

I just wanted you to hear this song today & know how very thankful I am that Jesus' grace is enough to cover over any multitude of sins and mistakes I make. His love is beautiful! Heres a video with lyrics & all.. Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin. It has become one of my very favorite songs and the biggest comfort, so pay close attention & live it out! Love Love Love.

So Blessed!

Kristina, Jordan, Amanda, Taylor, & Katiebug on our way to Mt. Nebo!

Obviously, I suck at remembering to blog! I can't believe its been an entire month, but then again, I don't think I've sat down in the last month so I guess that explains it! Lately, God has really been emphasizing to me how blessed I am. It's so easy to stress about money or school or friends and then forget how good I have it. I feel like I've always been a pretty reasonable,  although obnoxiously dramatic, person, but lately God's pointed out to me how much I take for granted and just how blessed I really am. I've got it easy compared to so  many people. Katiebug decided she was going to blog about what shes thankful for every day during November,  and while I know I won't ever keep up with that, I just want to start posting a picture or a quote or a verse or just something little every day that lets you know how blessed I am and how very thankful I am for EVERYTHING in my life. So here goes.. day 1 of a billion to come.

These girls- Rachel, Katiebug, Jilliann, & Kiwi- have become some of my best friends. We all live in the same dorm, and I am literally with them almost constantly. They've taught me so much about being a good friend and truly shown me what it looks like to be a beautiful example of Christ's unconditional love. A weird thing about being at school that I don't think I would have expected is how fast you get close to people. I hated my life for the longest time when I first came to Tech and I couldn't wait to go home every weekend. At the end of last semester, I started hanging out with these girls and they have been the biggest blessings in my life. I'm so thankful for sweet, Christian friendships. Here are a few more pictures of friendships I couldn't live without.

Chelsi, Jessica, & Betsy- So old, but we never take pictures at home! 

Janey, Jordan, Hannah, Amanda, & Jilliann at the lake- I'm looking rough, but they're the best!

Love Love Love.