Focus.

i have had the hardest time focusing lately. no, i do not have ADD. it seems that whether i'm trying to focus on work, my Jesus time, cleaning, or just thinking.... my brain is all over the map. i have been praying for two things for quite a while now: wisdom and focus. i have been trying to focus and trying to focus on how to focus and trying to figure out why i can't focus. yes, i know. insane. God is so faithful. he answers my prayers even when they seem silly to me. i think part of my struggle is adjusting to a new routine. i'm home a lot more these days, have a lot more flexibility, and a huge lack of routine. routine can be good and routine can be bad. i personally am more motivated and productive when i have a busy schedule and some form of routine. we had a staff meeting today and i got all fired up again. i've been asking Jesus to put the umph back in me and he did. today. side note: you know you have a great job when you look forward to staff meetings! God is helping me focus and hopefully he will pour out wisdom on me today and for the rest of my life. tune into the world news this weekend because God is up to something at elevate in san diego, california and you all should be jealous that you can't be here to witness it. Join us at Elevate this weekend for the first week of our relationship series!

shout out to my friend hannah who is walking down the aisle this weekend to say forever to my friend blake! wish i could be there to see the most beautiful bride on her big day!

and one more shout out to my sister's blog. such a great post and video!

love God. love people.

Twist.

a twist on growing up.

i have probably blogged several times about growing up and how i hate it. i rather have the high school days where i hung out with my friends, made A's without studying, worked enough to put gas in the car and chick fil a in the belly. i still feel that way HOWEVER....

when i think about growing up here lately i think about it in a whole new light. i moved to san diego when i was 20 years old. just a baby really. i just turned 23 and i'm still quite the baby... but i have grown up so much. it's hard to put how i've grown up into words but i know that i have.

i look at life differently, i look at the world differently.

i have learned that there are appropriate times to share your opinion and other times where silence and a hug is much more beneficial. i am no where near mastering the art of taming the tongue. i am a girl you know. i plan to constantly work on it though. the tongue has the power of life and death (pro.18:21).

i have learned so much from holly ross. she has become one of my dearest friends. at one time i only saw her as the woman i worked for. now, i love her more than words can say. i have learned a lot from her. she is a very accomplished woman who has worked very hard for the life she has. her and her husband are still very much in love. i want to always be in love with my husband and i'm very willing to put in the work to make it happen.

i have become even more independent. i realize this isn't always good but in a lot of ways it is great. being alone doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to. in high school i always wanted to be surrounded by friends or family. i still love a full house and i still love people and being surrounded by them. at the same time, i am not afraid to go do what i want to do. alone. if no one else wants to go do something fun, i'll just go by myself. treating myself and "taking myself on dates" can really bring happiness. i'm not too completely independent... i still call my mom every. single. day. and talk to brittany every other day :)

i love the thought that not only did Jesus die for me. rescue me. redeem me. but he didn't stop there. he loved me enough to save me AND he loves me enough to discipline me. and grow me. it's not always fun and delightful but i THANK GOD i am not the same person i was when i was 16. i was a great 16 year old but if you don't learn and grow what do you have to show for the years between 16 and 23? i want to constantly be growing and changing and bettering myself. i want to honor HIM with and in everything.

here's to 23. 2011. growth and change :) {something you'd never hear me say in the past ;)}

I was not dreaming...

I got my white Christmas. I boarded a plane in San Diego on Christmas Eve. I dressed warmly because I knew it'd be cold in the south so I broke a sweat loading my suitcases in the car. I ride on that plane for what seems like YEARS and then finally land in glorious Birmingham. Will Ginn picked me up with sweet white flowers in the passenger seat and we had quite the reunion.... at Waffle House :) That is my kind of Christmas Eve right there! I woke up on Christmas morning and it was SNOWING and I loved it! What a beautiful Christmas.... seeing Will Ginn after a long two months, snow, family, and presents. Heyo!

Janie's first snow

Time with my HaileyWynn at Janney Furnace

Celebrating my best friend's 23rd birthday.

I spent a lot of time just watching Will. Whether he was coaching, driving us somewhere, watching football, or feeding the cows.... and every time I looked over I would just think, 'man, i hit the jackpot.' Too much mushy gushy? Sorry...

I had a wonderful time at home.

I didn't set an alarm at all while I was in the south.

I saw Will coach

Brittany gave me a haircut (thank goodness)

Will and I got to have dinner with Hannah J and Blake

I saw my dearest Holly and her man

I made the grandparents some hot tea to soothe their bronchitis

I shopped with my Maw-Maw and mom

I got to see Row Row and Rhett Hanes

I ate a lot of good food

Rang in 2011 with Will, his brother, and sis-in-law

Did Trivia night with Elmer and Stevo

Lots of good times. More good people. Thankful.

2011 is off to a good start. Today we celebrated Elevate's 2 year anniversary... or birthday... whichever. I heard the service was great. I was teaching the elementary kids about determination and Hebrews 12:1. "Let us keep on running the race marked out for us." After church we had a delicious meal at Ki's in Cardiff by the sea. Local, organic food with an ocean view. Just what I needed to cure me of my home sickness. Or south sickness. Back to Elevate.... I am so honored to be a part of something as huge as Elevate. Kevin has set the standard so high that I'm afraid I will never be able to go to church anywhere else and be satisfied. God has gifted Kevin with amazing leadership abilities and incredible vision. Great things have happened in the last 2 years but this is only the beginning and there is so much more to come. Thank you Jesus and thank you Kevin. I love being challenged and encouraged on a constant basis. Leading people to become passionate followers of Christ. Ya heard?

Little Miss by Sugarland lyrics + download link HQ/HD

You should listen to this song. I kinda like it.

Christmas Lights

Yet another San Diego Christmas tradition of mine. Luke coordinates this fun every year. These neigborhoods resembled Vegas. So bright! It was kinda rainy that night but in the pictures it looks like snow. Perfect!

Jeremy and the ladies

me, renee, amy, laura, luke, steig, sim