The Challenge.

I hope you all have enjoyed the wonderful weather this week, it has been the greatest blessing to be able to go outside where it is warm and enjoy the outdoors around us. How do you think you are doing lately in the spirituality department? Are you challenging yourself? If you are I hope that you can continue on in your growth and push yourself to try harder each and every day. And if you haven't been challenging yourself, I am here to hopefully encourage you to do so. I'm usually the girl who decides to push myself in small ways. To make sure I keep up on my Bible reading and to pray throughout my day. But I feel like those are small acts and that I'm not pushing myself as much as I could. So I decided to start waking up earlier and devote one early morning of the week to a Bible study. And like all dedications of my time to the Lord I have not regretted it once, nor will I ever regret taking that time to grow spiritually. I'm now reading a book on spiritual growth and leadership, and memorizing verses (which I am notoriously bad at). So what has all this taught me? I have not REALLY pushed myself before. I have not fully dedicated myself to trying something new to make me more Christ-like. I have never memorized verses and not put it off till the last minute or complained about it. But it took a change of heart, and a want for internal change. So I challenge you all to look inside your hearts, and ask the Lord what he wants you to dedicate your free time to? Maybe less time on social media and more prayer time. Maybe try something new like picking up a spiritual growth book and actually finishing it. The most important part of it all, is that we need to have a desire to change. We need to stop the lazy, procrastinator, and self-centered cycle. These ignorant actions don't serve a greater purpose, nor will they benefit us whatsoever. So let's decide to try something new and to make a change. To open up our hearts and give our minds and souls to the Lord. And most importantly give our lives. Because from the outside do we really look like Christ serving servants? I really don't think so, we need to try and try some more. All of these things will make up our Purpose Driven Lives.

On a side side side note: I may have experienced a wonderful blessing today. One that I wish I could shout out to the world. Honestly the Lord delivers, in all sorts of ways. If you know me, then you know I don't really passionately care about too many things. There are things I enjoy but most of the time I try to keep a calm, casual, not too invested vibe. It's not because I do not love the things of this world, I just don't like to get too attached. Because I know I so easily could, and I need to daily remind myself to keep my eyes on something greater. But I can't help but love Taylor Swift. And respect the image she has created for herself. For months now I have been trying to get a hold of her concert tickets. With countless trail and error, I had lost a lot of the hope I held just a few months ago. I tried for the pre-sale tickets and missed out, I tried for regular seats and could get them fast enough, then those who bought the tickets were selling them for ridiculous prices. I just wanted this one thing and I was frustrated. So when I found out I could sign up for Taylor Swift pit tickets as part of her fan club, I was on that like nobodies business. And I waited for the email to come where I was selected to buy the pit tickets. Well today the email came and after an hour of my Internet shutting down and down again. I managed to buy  the tickets. The Lord has blessed me even in the most earthly ways. Because if I had bought any other tickets I wouldn't have the privilege to stand right in the stage area, the closest one can get without actually being Taylor Swift herself. I don't get excited about many things, but this I am more than excited for. So here's to the 4 month wait till I see Taylor Swift, practically face to face. I will most definitely cry. But I can wait patiently because summer hasn't started and I really don't want to think about it ending quite yet.

As excited as I feel, I hope you can find the same excitement, in your daily life and in your spiritual. And I most definitely hope the two coincide. For now I leave you with my personal favorite pump up jam of the moment!

Taylor Swift- 22

Most Recent Favorite Blog Posts from Hello Giggles.

Wish I could go back and say to my college self:
http://hellogiggles.com/things-i-wish-i-could-go-back-and-say-to-my-college-self

Using your mind to mend your broken heart:
http://hellogiggles.com/using-your-head-to-mend-your-broken-heart

How to misread facial expressions:
http://hellogiggles.com/how-to-misread-facial-expressions

Mocha Frappa No! The Pressures of Coffee Culture
http://hellogiggles.com/mocha-frappa-no-the-pressures-of-coffee-culture
(This is hilarious, my goodness, I'm that girl who loves her coffee black and loves everyone to love it, maybe I should just let them be?)

Everything I Need to know I Learned from Happy Gilmore:
http://hellogiggles.com/everything-i-need-to-know-i-learned-from-happy-gilmore

On Taylor Swift, Love, Marriage, and the Great Unknown:
http://hellogiggles.com/on-taylor-swift-love-marriage-and-the-great-unknown

ENJOY!

The Case of the Taylor Swift's.

It's happened again I have the case of the Taylor Swift's. And no that doesn't mean I cannot stop listening to her music. What it really means is that I'm crazy. It means I'm all in my mind over thinking, about boys and silly things. I keep making things more complicated than they need to be. I'm psyching myself out of situations. Over analyzing everything. Do you ever have those moments? Where your mind is wrapped up in everything meaningless and if you would just let it be, things would come together the way they should. Every once in while we need a reality check. We don't need to waste time worrying about the small things, because they all will pass. In a week, a month, or by the end of the year the worries that we focus on will pass. We will make it through like we always do. Even if we fail we don't fail alone, and there's always another route out to safety. We just need to keep this perspective with us as we go about our days, as we encounter conversations, and situations. Are we bringing the positive with us everywhere we go, even on the hard days? If we bring that light to our daily lives we make an impact, and those around us wonder what's different about our lives. It doesn't matter what your boss said, how little sleep we got last night, how bad we did on that test, how hurt we are. Our sufferings are so small compared to those around us. And the sorrows of all are so small to what the one on the cross had to bear for all of our mistakes. So we owe it to the one to be kind, to be joyful, to be that light when there seems to be none. To be a reminder of brighter days and the ever filling love we receive forever and ever. So don't worry about all the things that go wrong, don't let them discourage you. No that it's a grain of sand not a Mount Kilimanjaro, and with the loved one by our side we will make it through the darkest of days. So I hope you all are doing well, making it through, with faith, and bringing the light with you all of your days.

Today I will leave you with someone I just found, and I'm digging the old country sound, with the singer/songwriter voice. And golden lyrics. Lovin' it all! (Disclaimer: I hope the sound functions, you never know with live taping's, but I found him on itunes, so if you really want to take the time you'll find them there).

Judah and the Lion- Sweet Tennessee

Judah and the Lion- Back's Against the Wall

Spring Break Sounds.

Oh happy spring break to all! A much needed break and some great down time. Does anyone else feel like this last term has been a doozy? Yucky weather mixed with busy classes, mixed with the messiness of life and we get... tired, burnt-out, and exhausted. So I hope you have wonderful break plans, even if that just means a few more zz's  than normal. While I'm free I've been looking for a few new tunes and thus far this is what I 've found. Side Note: more country than usual, but that's all I've gotten to so far.

Ashley Monroe- Used

(This song really spoke to me when I was in the worst of worst moods and gave me a reality check)

Kacey Musgraves- Silver Lining

(This is also the best reality check, in love with the sound, and her voice, but the lyrics are the most captivating of them all)

Kacey Musgraves-My House

(This is an absolute crack-up of a song, there is nothing better than singing about a trailer park and all of it's amenities)

Sunday Lane- Get To You

(Give me her voice that's all I ask, it is so unique I want!)

Kip Moore- Hey Pretty Girl

(Well if this isn't the cutest song I've ever heard I don't know what is)

Young Summer- Why Try

(This is a bit of a slower pace, but the piano medley is beautiful alongside her vocals)

Lewis Watson- Into the Wild

(Why have I not heard of him before, he is so One Tree Hill, missing the good days)

Darius Rucker- Wagon Wheel

( I loved him in Hootie and the Blowfish, but to be honest I wasn't all that stoked to see him in concert this summer. But this song really gets me. The good ol' country sound with good ol' lyrics, gets me everytime)

Devine Timing.

The Lords devine timing and planning gives us the greatest joys and pains. And I hope that the Lord brings you more joy than pain in this life. I hope you can experience the joy I've been blessed with. Undeserving to say the least. But I couldn't be more thankful, well I could. But it's a saying, so oh well. Somehow this makes the painful situations all worth it. Without the pain from the bad days I wouldn't be here. I don't think we can be truly joyful without pain in this life. Because pain demonstrates, how much a joyful moment or day would be worth to us. We appreciate the good times more, after experiencing the hard times. And maybe that's the reason life is set up the way it is. So we can appreciate how good we have it, how imperfect we are, how bad our decisions leave us. Sometimes things aren't going in the direction we'd like. Sometimes bad things happen around us. Sometimes we hurt and don't know if we'll get back up again. But in those times of pain the Lord shows us glimpses of joy. Just as I have been able to experience this last weekend. My day had started out with some negatives, I was tired, wishing for other circumstances, I wanted my day to turn out differently. I wasn't content. And I should have been. But the Lord put aside my imperfections and gave me a situation of pure joy to show me that, all things in my life have purpose. If only I could be more patient, accepting, and aware. March 24th, 2013, may not sound like a date for everyone to remember. And maybe I won't remember it a few months down the road. But I won't forget the impact of a simple conversation, smile and laughter. I needed this situation and I was aware of the need. I asked the Lord quietly and timidly for what I thought would be a good conversation for me to have, I believed it would heal some pain. And He delivered, and sure enough it took some of the pain away. I hope we will all be able to see that we need to seek the Lord before we make decisions, we need to ask Him what will be right for us. Not just ask for the things that we think are right. So I hope and pray that your hurts can be healed, and that the Lord will bring you a blessing that reaffirms once again the definition of Love.

The Lonely Wild- Everything You Need

(Still figuring out this band, but I'm in love with the sound of the drums and trumpets)

Husband Hunting.

I wish someone would capture the conversations of girls. Because I swear to you, more often than not we are talking about the latest cute boy we've seen. We may not be looking at them in the most common lustful way, but in another way. We lust for the life we could have with them, to be their wonderful wife and they'll be the perfect husband. We'll have the cutest kids, the coolest house, and do crazy fun activities together. There is something programmed into us girls where we want this lovey dovey wonderful life with the most wonderful husband. In the last few years we've all gone off to college. And one thing I've noticed is that the girls I know in faith want to find the best guy with a solid foundation in faith and get married. I cannot tell you how many girls want to get married in the next few years. Marriage is the main life goal, and I understand it. I'm not necessarily saying there is anything wrong with this view. But I do want to share that music, movies, technology, television have all shown us unreal expectations of love and marriage. So now girls have these unrealistic ideals of love. Not that these ideals don't hurt guys as well, but guys tend to less rash with the marriage and love thoughts until they really find a girl their ready with. Girls want to be protected, cherished, and taken care of. We want these things so badly we can't always tell when a relationship isn't the right one for marriage. All of this confuses girls, and can leave them with unrealistic expectations and a broken heart.    The issues don't just stop there, but girls also have checklists while looking for a husband what he should be like, look like, be interested in. Then there is a lack of patience while waiting for the right time or to meet the one. Our restless hearts and minds are getting us into more trouble than we bargined for. There is no one concerte solution to all of our relationship ideal issues and impatience. But I do believe that the best thing to do is to consult the Lord. Ask for patience and then remind ourselves daily  to be patient. Ask for direction and keep our minds, hearts, and souls open to all young men, not just our favorite cuties. Keep our hearts yearning after men aspiring after the Lord and trying to lead faithful lives. Keep our minds more focused on growing with the Lord preparing ourselves for the marriage to come rather than focusing on who is a candidate to marry. There are many things we need to participate in and work on in our own lives and focusing on guys all of the time isn't what the Lord wants for us. If we aren't going to the alter tomorrow then the Lord is still trying to prep our hearts, minds and souls to be faithful wives. So we just need to sit tight and pay attention to the other matters around us. I pray that we all can grow with the Lord to prepare us for our future marriages. I pray that until that day comes we spend more of our time loving and helping those around us. Wishing you all the best Easter weekend, I am more excited than I can put into words!

And I'll leave you with my latest Johnny obsession...

Johnny Cash- Ain't No Grave

Spring Stlylin'.

I love how simple, yet fresh this is. And the pastels are always my favorite. Who says you can't wear orange?!? I'm in love with this.

Pretty sure it doesn't get any cuter than this. This dress is simple and cute, and the addition of the collar! This is an easy go to outfit when we don't have enough time.

Spring patterns are the best, so easy and casual. Love.

This takes no effort whatsoever, pretty sure she just put it on. But I think this is exactly what spring is all about. Simple and Cute.

A cream dress and a maroon cardigan. Wonderful. Don't you want to be that cute girl??

Florals, florals. So springy, so girly, so classy.

As usual I will post more outfits as I find them, till then enjoy your days!