A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
(ecclesiastes 3:1-8)


Here I am again, sitting in my favorite spot in the world..my screened in porch...on a gorgeous rainy spring day. I have my puppy at my side, a glass of red wine in hand, and nothing but the sounds of the birds in the trees to distract as I sit here. This verse has really been on my heart lately as my life is changing daily and I am reminded to put my own selfish plans aside and just go with the flow, enjoy what I have been given and just listen and wait for God to reveal his plans for me.
I had a wonderful few days back home with family and both new and old friends, it was awesome to get away for a bit and just let loose. I ate way too much frozen yogurt, went out on the town with the girls, kicked back at an apartment with good people, spent time relaxing with my wonderful family...not one complaint at all, it was a perfect trip!
I am very ready for these next few months to fly by...10 weeks of recovery then SUMMER! sounds as if some of my good friends will come visit which I am very excited for, cant wait to introduce my friends from both sides of the US to eachother and take them all out to experience charlotte, lake norman, my cooking... ;) Eeek sooo excited!! I really do have the best friends in the world, THANK YOU all so much for being there for me thru thick and thin, it means the world!!
Again, this is a less than eloquently written blog...I think I am a little rusty lately as I have been slackin with this bloggin thing. Sorry sorry! Hope all is well with you, blogworld...enjoy this weekend wherever you may spend it!!
xoxo

Dear 2010...

...You kinda suck so far.

Been a really difficult past few weeks...I have the health problems of an elderly woman, some backstabbing "friends", not enough money to pay my bills and not enough hours in the day to work enough to make more money. *sigh*.
However! With the bad there is good and light at the end of the tunnel (or so I'd like to think). I mean, it could always be worse, and I do have a great group of friends and family that are such a supportive blessing to me. And maybe this upcoming 10 weeks of being bedridden are Gods way of telling me to slow down and re-evaluate. Whatever the case may be, I am trying my hardest to put a smile on and push thru with a positive attitude. Although I don't like surgery and I am pretty nervous about it truth be told...
On a very different and happy note, I am going home in 6 days!!!!!!! I cannot wait to see everyone!!!! And eat fro-yo and lollicup and in n out!!!! Oh man. Beach, bests, burgers. Does it even get better than that!?!? I really don't think so! Having a get together at the Yard House which I am pretty excited about, Lindsi got the weekend off so I get to spend a good amount of time with her, got a truck to use which is a huuugeee blessing, and fingers crossed for some good beach weather! Pretty excited to say the least!
Random tidbit...my awesome sister has now gotten accepted to all of the schools she applied for and has to face the lifechanging choice of which one to go to! Prayers for her sanity would be fabulous as she is a little..ok a lot, overwhelmed. Shes such a good kid though so I know she will do great wherever she chooses to go.
Hope you all are doing well...

PS, KALEB GETS TO GO HOME TOdAY! Happy for you guys, Kristi!!!!! LOVE YOU!

End of another year...

Can you even believe it?!? This has been one of the most eventful, exciting, and crazy fun years of my life. I have literally traveled the world, adjusted to my new home, developed some new incredible friendships, maintained friendships with my california amigos, spent another year working for starbucks, bought my first brand new car, and created some memories that will never be forgotton. My Grammy and Poppy moved out here, Gramma and Grampa surprised us all for Dads 50th bday, had a fun girls night out at the irvine spectrum with my favorite cousins, bonded with my sisters more thru dance parties, game nights, cooking, shopping trips, fights that turn into tears and laughter, and now playing Wii games together, almost all of my favorite friends have come to visit me... wow. I am so thankful for each and every moment, good and bad and the ups and downs I have been blessed with. it has been quite a year, trying at times to say the least, but the good times outweigh the bad by far and as this year comes to a close I am excited beyond belief for what this new year holds. I have new friends to create new memories with, a few trips to look forward to, a second job to be thankful for, 20lbs of europe weight to lose, my friend Mike back on american soil...lots to accomplish and lots to look forward to!

Thank you to all of you for being such a big part of my life. Love you all!!!

Happy Monday!

Good Monday Morning blogworld!

What an absolutely FABULOUS and beautiful fall carolina day!!!! Its been a really good past few days...Working a lot, spending time with good people, reading some good books...
Yesterday I spent some quiet time in my new favorite place, Blythe Park...took a book and sat in the sun for a couple of hours by myself just enjoying the scenery and all God has given me. Then went to lunch at a nice italian place with Blake, caught up with Lauren at Starbucks and had a wonderful pasta/wine/baked brie dinner with Mayya, Jo ellen, and Veronica. I love my friends!

It has been a great week...bought my very own BRAND NEW 2010 toyota corolla!!!! Finally a big girl car!! Got the big girl bills to go along with it but hey, gotta grow up sometime right? Getting my financial ducks in order, working hard to pay the bills, and being oh so thankful for all I have been given. My soul feels refreshed these days, something in me has changed for the better and I love it :)

My friend Christina is heading to Africa in a few days on a mission trip...her generosity and giving spirit has really got me thinking that I would love to go to Africa someday. Hopefully someday soon! The heartwarming stories I have heard about the sweet people that live there would really be humbling and good for me I think. Prayers for her safety would be wonderful!

If you havent already, read Kristi's latest posting... (Kristibowers.blogspot.com) GOD IS SO GOOD! Get chills and teary eyed every time I think about what He has done in her life. Continued prayers for the health of her family is so appreciated, the power of prayer is more incredible than any of us know, and our family has gotten a firsthand glimpse of Gods power this week. Breathtaking!!!

Well I am going to lounge around for awhile with my pup before heading into work, I hope that all of you enjoy this pretty day, whether in carolina, california or elsewhere...Love you all so much!

My Everything.

Find me here, speak to me

I want to feel you, I need to hear you

You are the light that's leading me to the place

Where I find peace again

You are the strength that keeps me walking

You are the hope that keeps me trusting

You are the life to my soul

You are my purpose

You're everything

And how can I stand here with you

And not be moved by you

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

You calm the storms and you give me rest

You hold me in your hands

You won't let me fall

You still my heart and you take my breath away

Would you take me in, take me deeper now

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

Cause you're all I want, you're all I need

You're everything, everything

You're all I want You're all I need

You're everything, everything

(Everything by Lifehouse)

My God is so good. I cannot emphasize that enough. So amazing how at a time when I have every reason to be so down, He gives me peace, healing, comfort and a reason to wake up smiling in the morning. Really not anything that can be verbalized, just a peaceful feeling. A feeling that I am so incredibly thankful for and a feeling I want to share with everyone. Definitely needed to go thru everything I have to bring me back to my knees both literally and figuratively, to remember that when all else fails and there are worldly inconsistancies that One will be consistantly there.

Praying for my sweet cousin Kristi tonight, for a peace and relaxed state of mind as she has surgery soon. And, for her family to find healing from all the yucky sicknesses that are going around. Love you Kris!
Also for Mikey as he finishes up his tour, and all my friends who are struggling to get through school and find good jobs. I am missing home and all of you so very much, but really do think and pray for you by name daily.

For the first time in a long time, I have no idea what is next for me. I hope for a new career, more travel opportunities, to meet "Mr Right" etc etc...but I am doing my best to have patience and faith that everything will fall into place as it should. As it always does.

Opening in the morning, on that note, i am getting to bed early. Love you all so very much.

Times like these

So its been a crazy past week. Emotional ups and downs, lots of tears and hard work, but times like these really force you to take a look at yourself and dig deep, ya know? In the midst of dissapointment and stress I am proud to say I have spend a good amount of time with God and taking time to be selfish and work on myself. I am so very far from perfect as hard as I may try, and it is just thrown in your face hard sometimes that everyone messes up. I am very thankful for my great support system of family and good friends who love me unconditionally even when (especially when) I make mistakes and bad choices. Not to say anything lately has been a bad choice, I am very happy for my relationship, all I learned and the friendship(s) that was/were developed.

On another note, heard from Mikey! He gets home the first week of next month and I am so excited to catch up with him. So glad he has made it thru this crazy time safely and sanely as possible. His plans now are to go to law school and he says he wants to run for senate...if anyone can do it he can...gotta love the political man that is Mike Cicerone! haha.

Workin on planning my next trip, VEGAS and CALIFORNIA end of february with Lauren! ALL MY CALIFORNIA GIRLS...get your lil butts out to vegas and then help me show lauren a good time! Gunna do all the touristy stuff..Laguna, Hollywood, San Diego...etcetc. WOOWOO!

anyways, time for wine and cheese with my friend Jo Ellen...will try to keep up on this blogging stuff:)

love you all!!