All My Fountains

Chris Tomlin "All My Fountains"

This dry and desert land

I tell myself, “Keep walking on”

Hear something up ahead

Water falling like a song

An everlasting stream

Your river carries me home

Let it flow, let it flow

A flood for my soul

A well that never will run dry

I’ve rambled on my own

Never believing I would find

An everlasting stream

Your river carries me home

Let it flow, let it flow

Open the heavens

Come Living Water

All my fountains are in You

You’re strong like a river

Your love is running through

All my fountains are in You

Come on and rain down on us

Rain down on us, Lord

Monday Mailbag: August 1, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Tennessee

Population: 6,300,000

Entertainment: hiking, sports, bike riding

Sports: Memphis Grizzlies, Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators

Famous Former Natives: Bill Belichick, Matt Cain, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Aretha Franklin, Morgan Freeman, Megan Fox, Al Gore, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley

Home to: Davy Crockett, the Grand Ole Opry, Beale Street (the birthplace of blues), the Appalachian Trail, Graceland, FedEx

Random Facts: was the last state to leave the Union and join the Confederacy at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, and the first to be readmitted to the Union at the end of the war; Memphis was home to Sun Records where Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash began their recording careers; the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville is the longest continuously running live radio program in the world and has been broadcast every weekend since 1925

These are a Few of My Favorite Things...Read All About It!

When I was young, I loved to read! My favorite stores were book stores. I used to spend hours browsing Barnes & Noble looking for a great adventure. Life got busy and I found myself slowly fading away from my favorite hobby. Though I'm busier than ever, I still try to find time to curl up with a good book. And by "curl up" I mean hunker down in my seat in between two strangers on whatever flight I happen to be on at the time. Call me old fashion, but I would much rather have an actual book in my hands than use a nook or kindle. I know...slightly pathetic! Here are a few of my all-time favorites!

Nicholas Sparks "The Last Song"
Ann Brashares "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"
Mildred D. Taylor "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry"
J. K. Rowling "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
F. Scott Fitzgerald "The Great Gatsby"
Harper Lee "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Mark Twain "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
Sarah Dessen "That Summer"
Judy Blume "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret"
Joseph Heller "Catch 22"
Katherine Paterson "Bridge to Terabithia"
Toni Morrison "Beloved"
Wilson Rawls "Where the Red Fern Grows"
Shel Silverstein "Where the Sidewalk Ends"
Christopher Paul Curtis "The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963"
E. L. Konigsburg "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler"
Louis Sachar "Holes"

Seek Me With All Your Heart

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11. Raise your hand if you've heard this in at least 2 out of every 3 graduation speeches you've listened to...yep, right there with you! In fact, I'm guilty for using it in my own speech at graduation in high school. It sounds overused but in reality, it's a reminder we should be praying through daily. When we're scared of the future, trying to make a big decision, unsure of what job to take or city to move to. It brings this verse back into reality. Choosing to pray through our futures and plans enables us to hand over the decision to the Lord, taking the pressure completely off! All we have to do is yield our decision to Him, knowing He will prosper us, not harm us. He wants to give us a beautiful, prosperous future. That doesn't mean life will be easy and worry free, but we will be walking in His will. Life is much better when we allow Him to direct our path.

We usually stop at verse 11, but I love the following verses: "'Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:12-14a. When we seek Him with everything we are, everything we have, we will find Him. Beautiful passage! I think many times we're wrapped up in ourselves, so much so that our prayers and desires are half-hearted. We "seek" Him at our leisure or convenience, only when we've tried everything else. We think we have all the answers, but in reality we've just prolonged the path to get to Him. We've taken the scenic route, full of potholes, flat tires, wrong turns down dark alleys, and breakdowns. He's provided us the best path, we must choose to accept it. Trust Him to guide and direct your future!

Monday Mailbag: July 25, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: South Carolina

Population: 4,600,000

Entertainment: the beach, whitewater rafting, hiking

Sports: no professional franchises

Famous Former Natives: James Brown, Andrew Jackson, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Melvin Purvis, Ray Allen, Ben Bernanke, Chubby Checker, Stephen Colbert, Joe Frazier, Kevin Garnett, Brett Gardner, Orlando Hudson,

Home to: Sassafras Mountain, Clemson University, Happy Cow Creamery, Sonoco, Fort Sumter

Random Facts: first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation in 1778, first state to declare its secession from the Union in 1860, nation’s leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River, the walls of the American fort on Sullivan Island in Charleston Harbor were made of spongy palmetto logs which helped to protect the fort because the British cannonballs bounced off the logs

Bucket List Life Moment #10: Conquer a Fear

Sitting in my old apartment with two of my favorite people, Amy and Sarah, we fell in love with an amazing idea based on a single question posed by 4 guys on a tv show: "What do you want to do before you die?" The Buried Life became one of our favorite shows. These guys created their bucket lists and went on an adventure to cross off each item while also helping others achieve something on their bucket lists. What a cool idea!

We all decided we should make our bucket lists. I started to make mine almost two years ago and am just now deciding its time for action!

Amy, Sarah, Jen and I decided a girls' weekend was just what we needed. We have all graduated from college and live in different places doing different things. We met up and went to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. The first order of business...I wanted to conquer something on my bucket list. The item in question...#10: Conquer a Fear. When I was younger, my family would spend almost every weekend during the summer in Branson. We loved to camp with family friends, spending days on the lake and nights shopping and go-karting. Steve and his son John decided one night they would take on the Ozark Mountain Sky Coaster, a 100-foot tall super swing. The swing is a combination of skydiving and hang-gliding. Oh, and did I mention you have to pull the ripcord at 100 feet in the air and plummet to the ground below at 70 miles per hour?!?! At the time, I was mortified. I thought they had lost their minds! Ever since then I told myself I could never do something like that…that is until I made my bucket list. I decided I wanted to conquer a fear and the first thing that came to mind was that stupid 100-foot swing! So I decided that to cross off #10 on my list, I must conquer the swing.

The first ride we came to at Worlds of Fun was the Rip Cord, the exact super swing I was so scared of when I was a kid. So Jen, goodness knows I love her to death, said she’d go with me! Bless her soul. So, was I able to cross off #10? Well, check out the video:

We did it! It was one of the most fun, scary, crazy moments of my life! It was amazing and I would definitely do it again. Take that #10! Now, just 35 more to go…

For pictures of our Worlds of Fun (a.k.a. brush with death) adventure, click here.

And Life Flows From God

Charlie Hall "You Are God"



Monday Mailbag: July 18, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: North Carolina


Population: 9,500,000


Entertainment: rock climbing, the beach, hiking, skiing, camping, canoeing, spelunking, bike trails

Sports: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, NASCAR

Famous Former Natives: Michael Jordan, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Ben Folds, Andrew Johnson, Zach Galifianakis, Andy Griffith, Jermaine Dupri, Nicholas Sparks, Ryan Zimmerman

Home to: Lowes, Great Smoky Mountains, Krispy Kreme, Fort Bragg, the Biltmore Estate

Random Facts: the state was the site of the first successful controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air flight by the Wright brothers near Kitty Hawk in 1903; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first public university in the United States in 1795; Pepsi-Cola was first produced in 1898 in New Bern; Asheville was recently named “Beer City USA”; most experts believe the name “Tar Heel” got its roots from the fact that tar, pitch and turpentine created from the vast pine forests were one of North Carolina's most important exports early in the state's history

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...Oh the Places I Like to Go!

Ah...traveling. It's a good thing I enjoy traveling because I do it for a living! I've had the privilege of traveling to many different places, each with a unique history and culture. Most of them are where I've traveled with family and friends, entertaining many great memories and some very funny moments! Car, bus, plane, train, ship, or donkey...any form of transportation will do! Here are a few of my favorite places to visit!

Charleston, SC
Panama City Beach, FL
Philadelphia, PA
Glorieta, NM
Nashville, TN
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
St. Louis, MO
Bolivar, MO
Santorini, Greece
Venice, Italy
Kusadasi, Turkey

Where the Burdened Find Peace

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Matthew 11:28-30 "'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'"

What beautiful, comforting words. I have this scripture embeded in my heart and it even displays on my phone background when my phone is locked. I find myself repeating it over and over, especially when I'm dealing with a lot of stress and heartache. Only Christ can take on our burdens and provide true peace. It amazes me that He loves me enough to take on all the stress, fear, and hurt in my life. The ultimate demonstration of His love came on the cross, but He reminds us everyday that His love is unconditional and never-ending. His blood has already erased all my past, present, and future transgressions, but He also picks me up in the depths of heartache and takes on my burdens. In Christ alone, my hope is found. I can't imagine living a day in this life without Him.

Monday Mailbag: July 11, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Kentucky

Population: 4,300,000

Entertainment: Mammoth Cave National Park, horse racing, bluegrass music, steamboat races

Famous Former Natives: Abraham Lincoln, Steven Curtis Chapman, Nick Lachey,

Home to: Kentucky Derby, National Corvette Museum, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Random Facts: Kentucky ranks 4^th among states in the number of automobiles and trucks assembled, the state is split between Central and Eastern time zones, home to the highest per capita number of deer and turkey in the United States, has the world’s longest cave system, and is the only US state to have a governor who was assassinated while in office (Goebel in 1900)

I've been to Kentucky twice this past year. I have to admit that I didn't do much exploring while here but given the chance I could rock a Kentucky Derby hat at Churchill Downs with the best of them! A visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum would also be much needed. I'll be headed back soon!

Photobooth Fun

I love the bond between a mother and her daughters. More so, I love the bond my sister and I share with my mom and each other. My family spent the Fourth of July weekend at my sister's house. We had a great weekend. Not only did we get some great deals, but we had a lot of laughs. One specifically: my four year old nephew stuck two fries in his nose and started to "hee haw" like a donkey. Hi-larious! I love spending time with such amazing people! Oh, and we even got my mom to go in the photobooth! Check out a few of our awesome pics here! I look forward to many more great memories with my family!

'Cause I Got a Couple Dents In My Fenders..

Francesca Battistelli's "Free To Be Me" is such a great song! I love the message it brings. Our society has taught us from a young age that outward beauty defines us. Wow. How sick is that concept! Who judges our beauty? Honestly, outward beauty is meaningless! "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised!" Proverbs 31: 30. We spend so much time making ourselves outwardly beautiful that we inevitably cover up the ugliness inside us. We waste our days focusing on meaningless activities to make ourselves look good but in reality we are filthy, ugly sinners saved by the grace of God. His love is what makes us beautiful, not makeup or designer jeans. "The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him for He is your Lord." Psalm 45:11. His affirmation is all I need.

"One Nation, Under God"

The 4th of July may be filled with fireworks, watermelon, and patriotic t-shirts, but the day means much more to the beauty of this country. Independence Day represents the freedom we as Americans have because of the men and women who fight to protect it. Mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends sacrifice their lives to protect ours. It's such a profound expression of loyalty and love yet we let it go unnoticed many days throughout the year. May today be a blessed day to all who serve. May we as Americans show our appreciation and respect for those who spend so much time away from their loved ones and put their lives on the line each and every day. John 15:13 " There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

Thank you to those who have served, are serving, and will serve to protect the life I am blessed to live. May God Bless the USA!

Get Me To the ... GREEK!

I love reminiscing about my college days...and some awesome travel opportunities with great friends. I had the privilege of traveling to Greece and Turkey two years ago during Spring Break on another International Business trip. Some creepy Greek men and a few crazy train rides were worth this awesome adventure!

My favorite city was the ancient city of Ephesus. This ancient city had a population of more than 250,000 in the 1^st century BC, the second largest city in the world during the time. The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed 550 BC) but was destroyed in 401 AD. It has been named one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus is one of the seven churches of Asia cited in the book of Revelation and was once home to the apostle Paul. The Basilica of St. John was built in the 6^th century AD over the supposed site of John the Apostle’s tomb. The ancient Greek city later became the second largest city of the Roman Empire during the Roman era. The ruins of this ancient city are absolutely beautiful. To walk the streets of Ephesus was the most incredible moment of the trip. Truly inspiring!

My favorite landmark was the famous Parthenon in Athens. This ancient temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena sits atop the modern-day city of Athens on the Athenian Acropolis. Construction began in 447 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece. The majority of the temple’s destruction occurred from a Venetian mortar fired from the Hill of Philopappus in September 1687 when the Venetians attacked Athens. Structural restoration has been taking place since 1975. The view of the modern-day city of Athens from atop the Acropolis is amazing!

This trip included planes, buses, and boats. The Aegean cruise was one of the best parts of the trip and lasted for 4 days. My favorite island was Santorini. The beautiful Greek island is the remnant of a volcanic caldera and is surrounded by 980 feet-high cliffs on three sides. The island is characterized by whitewashed buildings and blue roofs overlooking the Aegean. We had to take small boats from the ship to get to the edge of the island. There are only two ways up: the tram or the stairs. There are 588 steps, meaning you can walk or ride, and by ride I mean my new best friend Barthole-mule the donkey! It was such a cool experience to ride the donkeys up the steps to the top of the island. It was also extremely scary as the ledge is less than two feet high and the donkeys are very stubborn!

We had some great moments on this trip! I would love to go back someday and take a longer trip to the islands. Definitely worth it!

Other cities we visited include Delphi, Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, and Crete.

Hiding Under the Covers

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you just can seem to catch a break? Who am I kidding...everyone has those moments. Sometimes, those moments turn into days, weeks, or months. Life is difficult enough each day without the added pressure to live joyously through all circumstances. This is one of the hardest concepts for me to live out in my life: to rejoice in my hardships. I don't want to rejoice! I want to curl up under my covers and hide. I want to escape and hope the hardship will disappear. One of my favorite quotes came from an evangelist a few years ago: "Stop telling God how big is your storm; start telling your storm how big is your God!" Wow. The only reason hardships become unbearable is because we lose sight of the only one who can help us through. Storms aren't meant to crush us, but to teach us and grow us. We must face our hardships and find the lesson we are meant to learn. His grace is sufficient! Man, I needed this truth today!

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Casting Crowns "Praise You In This Storm"

Shane & Shane "Your Grace is Sufficient"

Monday Mailbag: June 27, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Georgia (the Peach State)

Population: 9,700,000

Entertainment: Six Flags over Atlanta, Appalachian Trail, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Motor Speedway, The Masters Tournament

Famous Former Natives: Dwight Howard, Evander Holyfield, James Brown, Jason Aldean, Usher, Jimmy Carter, Ray Charles, Paula Dean, J.D. Drew, Jermaine Dupri, Jeff Foxworthy, Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, Brian McCann, Terrell Owens, Tyler Perry, Mac Powell, Buster Posey

Home to: 1996 Summer Olympics, CNN World Headquarters, Turner Entertainment Network, The Weather Channel, Chick-fil-A, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, UPS, Aflac

Random Facts: Atlanta metropolitan area claims over 50 percent of the state population at 5,200,000 residents, Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest passenger airport, General Sherman’s March to the Sea in December 1864 during the Civil War destroyed much of the area between Atlanta and Savannah and served as the historical background for the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind, Ray Charles made “Georgia on My Mind” famous and state legislature voted it as the state song in April 1979

I made two trips to Georgia this year, one in late September and one in April. One word I would use to describe the state of Georgia is...hot! They don't call Atlanta "Hot-Lanta" for nothing! Atlanta is a cool city to visit, especially when you get to see the city from the 25th floor of The Coca-Cola Company's World Headquarters! I love the southern charm of this state and will be headed there again soon.

Ciao Bella!

I can't believe it's been three years since I had the awesome opportunity to travel to Italy with some great friends on an International Business trip for school. This trip was my first outside the United States and definitely worth all of the jet lag and showerless first day!

My favorite city was Venice. It is absolutely unlike anything I could have imagined. First, you have to take a ferry to get there. In case you didn't know, Venice is known as the "City of Water" and "the Floating City". The city is stretched across 117 small islands along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The city is connected by 409 bridges and formed by 177 canals. The island is home to more than 60,000 residents. The Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square, is the public square of Venice. A visit to Venice is not complete without a gondola ride through the Grand Canal!

My favorite attraction was the Colosseum in Rome. It is one of the most breathtaking pieces of architecture. The Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire with construction of the famous landmark starting in 72 AD. The colossal structure seated 50,000 spectators and was used for gladiator contests and public spectacles such as executions and re-enactments of famous battles.

One of the most unique cities we visited was Pompeii. The city, along with Herculaneum, was destroyed and completely buried during a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius that spanned two days in 79 AD. The city was buried under 4 to 6 meters of ash and pumice, and was lost for almost 1700 years befor it was accidently rediscovered in 1749.

One of the weirdest structures I've ever seen was the Leaning Tower

of Pisa. It is the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of the city of Pisa and sits just behind the cathedral. The height of the tower is 183 feet from the ground on the lowest side and 186 feet from the ground on the highest side. Prior to restoration that took place between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at a 5.5 degree angle. Currently, the tower leans at an angle of 3.99 degrees. It took 177 years to build the tower, starting in 1173. The tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the second floor in 1178 due to a thin foundation set in weak, unstable subsoil. Because of continual battles for a century, building was halted. It was announced by engineers in 2008 after the removal of 70 metric tons of earth that the tower was stabilized and had stopped moving for the first time in its history. The tower is expected to remain stable for at least 200 years.

Other cities we visited include Verona, Florence, Assisi, Sorrento, and Capri. It was such an amazing trip!

Wake On Up From Your Slumber, Baby Open Up Your Eyes

I am definitely a creature of repitition. When I find a song that I like, I tend to listen to it over and over and over and over and...well you get the picture. Every morning I bust out the iPod when getting ready. It may not speed up the getting-ready process, but it does put me in a good mood. I love listening to worship songs. It's amazing how a song can exclaim the many words of praise I'm unable to express in my own words. I serve a beautiful, forgiving, and merciful God! This is the best way to start the day!

Needtobreathe is one of my absolute favorite bands. They openly share the love of Christ through their music. They have been featured on many soundtracks and were handpicked to open for Taylor Swift on her "Speak Now" tour. God works in amazing ways. He's opened the door for Needtobreathe to share the love of Christ to new audiences and people who need a Savior. "Slumber" is their new single off their upcoming album to be released in September. Definitely check it out. It's been getting some serious playing time on my iPod lately!

Monday Mailbag: June 20, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Florida (the Sunshine State)

Population: 18,800,000

Entertainment: the beach, sporting events, amusement parks

Sports: Major League Baseball Spring Training (2/3 of teams), Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning, Daytona International Speedway

Famous Former Natives: Wayne Brady, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Wesley Snipes, Ernest Hemingway, Lil’ Wayne, Flo Rida, Jim Morrison, Johnny Damon, Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chipper Jones, Chad Ochocinco, Deion Sanders, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tim Tebow

Home to: the Everglades, Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Daytona International Speedway, Carnival Cruise Lines, Burger King, Bacardi, US Century Bank

Random Facts: discovered by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513, most hurricane-prone state, operates under 2 time zones (Central for the panhandle and Eastern for the peninsula), tourism and the elderly drive the economy, and Miami serves as the headquarters of Latin American operations for more than 1400 multinational corporations

This is definitely a fun state to visit but a tough one to drive! I spent two weeks in Florida, one in September and one in March. Needless to say, I put a lot of miles on my rental car during those weeks, especially when I forgot my credit card in Tampa and was on my way to Orlando! Doubling back was not fun at all. During my trips I was able to visit over 15 states from St. Augustine to Miami. I look forward to returning this fall!

Alright, Who Sings This Song?

Today is a great day...it's Father's Day! My dad is one of my favorite people in the world. One specific memory I have of him that my brother and sister will attest to is his way of passing time while on roadtrips. He would make us listen to oldies music and then quiz us on who sang each song. If we said we didn't know, he would start singing along and tell us to keep guessing. If we gave up, he would keep singing while trying to remember who it was himself! Hahaha!! He always gave us a good laugh.

I adore my dad. He is extremely caring and compassionate. One of my favorite qualities is his persistence. He can see when something is bothering you and won't let you get away with it. He's kind and compassionate. He is incredibly giving and would do anything for his children or grandchildren. My dad is a man of few words, but when he speaks he will make you cry because you're laughing so hard. He's definitely great with one-liners. He always has a way to make you feel safe and comforted. His best quality: he loves his family with everything he has. I'm blessed to have such a great dad. I look forward to many great memories with him...and many more laughs! Love you Dad!

iPod Remix

I love to spend some time browsing iTunes. I don't buy many entire albums but two of my recent full album purchases include Andy Grammer's Debut Album and Parachute "The Way It Was". Here are some of my recent buys...

The Focus of His Love

“Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love…It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone” Ephesians 1: 4, 11-12 (The Message).

It’s so awesome that out of all God created He chose us as the focus of His love! I think sometimes we think we were created because God needed us to do His work. It gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment. The truth His he didn’t need us for anything. He chooses to use us so that we may bring Him honor and glory. That’s it. His work has nothing to do with us. He’s Almighty God! What makes us think He decided: “This is too much to handle. I need to create people so they can take over and give me break! I need them to do my work because I can’t handle it.” To put it in those words sounds foolish and ridiculous, but that’s exactly what we’re saying when we believe we are needed by Him. He uses as to accomplish His work but it is not why we are here on this earth. Feeling needed leads to pride, and as we know pride is what leads to our downfall. Just ask King Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16). May we always know and trust that we are given the privilege and great responsibility to carry out the work of the Lord because He loves us, not because He needs us.

Here’s one of my favorite worship songs by Shane and Shane. Enjoy!

Monday Mailbag: Monday, June 13, 2011

In the middle of our crazy fall travel schedule, we were blessed to attend the 2010 SIFE World Cup in Anaheim, California. The SIFE National Champion Team from 39 countries competed to determine which team had the most impact in their community through their educational outreach projects. What a great competition! The cultural fair allowed all the teams to showcase their unique customs and cultures and get to know their fellow competitors. It was an amazing experience to see all of the students come together to celebrate their achievements in making a difference in the world. I’m truly blessed to have such an amazing job! Belmont University of Nashville, Tennessee represented the United States and placed 3^rd overall. Here’s a highlight video showcasing a great week!

For more information about the SIFE World Cup, visit http://www.sife.org/worldcup/.

The SIFE USA Staff wrapped up the week by going to Disneyland!

Weekend in KC!

Last weekend was a much needed road trip with Rebekah to Kansas City! We went shopping at Zona Rosa and ended the night watching the Royals play the Twins. I am proud to say neither of us bought anything! Needless to say…it was extremely fun and extremely hot! We had a great time talking about life…and baseball. I am one stadium closer to reaching #35 on my Bucket List! Favorite quote of the night: “Your love of baseball is the reason we’re friends. I mean, there are other reasons, but that’s the main one.” Hahaha. Love you too travel buddy!

With Freedom Comes Responsibility

Galatians 5:13-15 “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just to make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.”

Freedom comes with responsibility. Christ gives us the freedom to live in this world but we are called to live in the world but not be of the world. He allows us to make choices but we must reap the consequences of those choices.

Monday Mailbag: Monday, June 6, 2011

I have been blessed with some amazing opportunities while working for SIFE. Several of my colleagues and I traveled to Bentonville, Arkansas for the annual Walmart Shareholders Meeting held at the University of Arkansas in the Bud Walton Arena on Friday, June 4.

I didn’t really know what to expect, but was more than pleasantly surprised! Not only did we get to experience the Walmart culture with numerous store associates and home office employees that included delegates from several different countries, but we also got to hear from many of the company’s leading executives on new initiatives the company is undertaking. We also had some great entertainment! Will Smith was an amazing MC. Alicia Keys and the Black Eyed Peas were incredible live. We had a blast, even if I was completely exhausted from getting up at 3 a.m.!

One More For Jesus!

I got to spend some quality time with my family this weekend in Salem and St. Louis. We had the awesome privilege of celebrating Josiah’s baptism at church on Sunday! What a great reason to celebrate! I’m such a proud aunt! I am truly blessed to have two incredibly handsome, fun, and high-energy nephews who call me Aunt Rachie. (they’re the only people allowed to call me Rachie!) It’s been great having my family closer and getting more time to spend with them.

All You Need Is a Little Trimmin'

I love looking through my old journals. Here’s an entry that had be laughing, but grateful for the lesson it taught me then and reminded me of now.

September 24, 2009

Today has been a great day. I got to get some much needed rest, catch up on Grey’s Anatomy, paint my nails, and get a haircut. As I thought about my haircut today, I dwelled on how much I love the freedom from split ends! Everyone needs a good, refreshing trim from time to time. A good haircut reminded me of John 15 when the Lord discusses the fact that He is the vine and we are the branches. The Lord prunes the branches so that we can continue to be fruitful and bear fruit. “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” Like a good haircut trims away damage, breakage, split ends, and evens up the whole lot, so God trims us that we might bear fruit to bring Him glory. The world batters and bruises us, causing us to be damaged and broken but the Lord strengthens and refreshes us. Who would have thought that a haircut on an ordinary day could teach me so much!

Monday Mailbag: May 30, 2011

What a year it has been! Here are some of my favorite moments from my first travel season:

Weirdest Meeting Place: Brittany and I went to meet with a few students who wanted to restart a team on their campus. Our meeting place: a fraternity house. Bahaha. It was interesting!

Most Frightening Moment: Brittany and I were on our way back to North Carolina after visiting some campuses in South Carolina. It was really late and we were extremely tired. The GPS had us turned around and we ended up making a giant circle around a small town trying to find our hotel. When we arrived, there were four police cars sitting at the entrance and we noticed there were police officers walking around the hotel. We asked what had happened when we got inside. One of the hotel guests’ said there was a man who had a gun that was walking around the hotel but he had since left. We were freaked out! We got to our rooms and immediately locked ourselves in. A few minutes later we found out they caught the guy at the only other hotel in town. One of our neighbors on the hallway said he had heard someone knock on his door and opened it only to find a guy with a gun. He slammed the door shut and called the front desk, prompting the guy to flee the hotel. It was hard to sleep that night and I definitely checked every possible hiding spot in my room to make sure I was safe!

Most Awkward Moment: I was staying at a hotel in South Carolina. I got off the elevator to head to my room when I looked up and saw a man standing in his underwear right outside my door. He looked at me, smiled, and moved to the door across from mine. I had a good laugh!

Most Unique City: I love southern charm, so it’s no surprise that my favorite city to visit this year was Charleston, SC. It’s absolutely beautiful and historic. I loved the southern charm of this city. I look forward to going back and exploring some more!

Most Embarrassing Moment: I was at a campus visit in Georgia. A student asked me what other teams were in Georgia, so I pulled out my list and started to read the names. I mentioned their school and immediately the team started laughing. I asked what they were laughing about and one of the students said, “You just mentioned our team.” Woops! Needless to say I felt like an idiot!

Best “Off the Clock” Moment: Everyone knows I’m a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan. It just so happened I was in Florida for some campus visits at the beginning of Spring Training. I got to watch the Cards take on the Astros. It was an extremely short game but so much fun! I hung out at the practice fields before game time. I’ll definitely be going again!

Pitchers Kyle Lohse & Jamie Garcia

Most Random Adventure: I was staying in Nashville over Halloween and had an evening off.  Nashville is the perfect city for some live music. I just so happened to find that Rascal Flatts was performing at the Grand Ole Opry that night and tickets were still available! I jumped at the chance. The concert was a blast. I even got to sit right in front of the stage! After the show I took a tour of the Opry. It was fun, but completely random as I’m not even a country music fan! At least, not fully.

Best Shopping: Almost all of my states has at least one really good outlet shopping center, most of which are the Premier Outlets. The one in Orlando was huge and had some awesome stores. I found some good deals!

Worst Car Rental: I’ve had my fair share of rental cars, none of which have been as bad as the Nissan Versa. Not only was it a tiny car that looked like an insect, but it was royal blue! I stopped at a gas station. A little old farmer pulled up next to me and said, “I don’t usually like blue cars. That one is…interesting.” Hahaha. I died laughing! Everytime I see a Versa I bust out laughing.

Keep Your Head Up

This is my new favorite song! There are many days where life gets us down, but we can't just curl up in a ball and forget the world. We have to get back in the game and keep moving. So, keep your head up!

You Are All I'm After

"'Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29:12-14.

"You Are All I'm After"
Coffey Anderson

We will shout from all the rooftops
We will sing from the highest hills
Come along and join with heaven
Let the redeemed of the Lord be filled

Unfathom, untamed, unbridled, oh unrestrained
You are the hope that fills my soul
You are all I'm after
You are all I'm after yeah

Your love is deeper than the ocean
Your blood is stronger than my sin
You grace is bigger than my failure
You are all I'm after
You are all I'm after

We are strong by the joy of the Lord
Free to dance from the love within
Taking a hold onto your promise
More than conquerers to Him

Unfathom, untamed, unbridled, unrestrained
You are the hope that fills my soul
You are all I'm after
You are all I'm after

Your love is deeper than the ocean
Your blood is stronger than my sin
You grace is bigger than my failure
You are all I'm after
You are all I'm after

Your love is deeper than the ocean
Your blood is stronger than my sin
You grace is bigger than my failure
You are all I'm after
You are all I'm after