Don't tell anyone...

but I'm a closet fat kid. Okay, maybe not so closet now that it's on my blog for all of my readers to see, but I'll still pretend like it's a secret.

Mistake #1: I went grocery shopping when I was hungry.
Mistake #2: I went grocery shopping when I was hungry AND craving King Cake.
Mistake #3: I haven't had to spend money on groceries in nearly a month (very proud of myself thank-you-very-much!) so I rationalized my splurging on a sweet treat by reminding myself how much money I've been saving lately...
Three wrongs do not make a right.
But they do make for a very tasty before dinner treat.
I'm putting this danish away and hiding it from myself so I don't eat it all in one sitting...after I have this last bite.
Or two....

Rest and Exhaustion

I spent my weekend at this beautiful place:

I really enjoy working retreats. They're restful and exhausting at the same time. Restful because Vesper Point is one of the most restful and peaceful places in the world to me. I love the peace that I feel when I'm there. That place is my home at heart and I always enjoy my time up there. Exhausting because we have to set up and clean up after every meal. Friday night dinner through Sunday at lunch. And then cleaning up afterwards which definitely takes a while!! Those of us that worked have to vacuum the "Bob" and the dining hall, clean the bathrooms, mop the kitchen (after we've washed 130+ plates, cups, silverware, scrub pots and pans, put up leftovers, and swept after every meal). And then we have to clean cabins--and this group used ALL of the girl cabins (9-17), plus the old lodge, one side of the duplex and the boy's leadership cabin. Whew! But thankfully we didn't have to clean them as much as we usually do because some boys on the retreat set off a TON of fireworks on Saturday night as an attempted prank. Bad for them, great for us!

With all of that said, there isn't much to blog about after this weekend. I wouldn't bore you with you the little details of working a retreat other than what I've already bored you with.

Although, yet again, I didn't take pictures this weekend....I wish more than anything that I had some amazing and ridiculously nice camera on Saturday night. Erin Kennedy and I decided to walk (yes, walk in freezing weather) up to the gatehouse to hang out with other guys working the retreat. We stopped at the top of the hill by the old lodge to gaze in awe of the crystal clear view of thousands of stars. It was more beautiful that words can do justice. God is so great and I tried my best to burn the image of those stars in my memory---indescribable.

Clinging on vs. Letting Go

I'm really dumb and couldn't make this wonderful youtube video able to view with just the click of a mouse....but really, go to this link!!!

I love listening to Francis Chan talk about Jesus. He is so passionate, so real, and most importantly so in love with The Savior. In this clip from a sermon he gave in 2006, he talks about how our instinct when things in this world get a little bumpy is to play it safe. But what about when we stand in front of God? Do you think He will say "Well done, good and faithful servant" to those of us who made sure that we just barely got by with little or no trust in Him? For those of us that didn't ever leave our comfort zone and step out in faith? NO!! Paul certainly didn't play it safe!! He risked his life and ended up in jail.

God tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us". (Read Hebrews 12--so encouraging) The word persistence means "steady persistence in a course of action or a purpose especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement." I am so grateful that I am in love with a King that encourages me to step up and grab life by the horns, instead of stepping back and letting life happen to me. Being a Christian is not about a meek, well-behaved, hymn singing weakling--God calls for his children "to serve him without fear" (Luke 1:74b) and to be bold before our enemies.

"Don't think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." - Matthew 10:34

Lunch dates with some workin' girls

Check out Sarah Lawhorn's blog about our lunch yesterday! Thanks to blogging for bringing us together finally! :) I definitely see more of these happening in the near future!

Please ignore the fact that I am a hunchback. I should know how to sit up straight by now...

Confession

I admit it. My car is a mess. Usually try my best to keep it tidy between major cleanings, but I've let myself go lately when it comes to cleanliness in my little Honda. So in hopes to hold myself accountable, I'm making it public. I took pictures so I can show a "before" and "after"...wishful thinking, I know. So here it all is; The good. The bad. And even the ugly.

Cup holders: Really, not too bad...except for the fact that I put an old yogurt container inside of the big cup. Gross. We're going for honesty here, right?

"Trash" container: There really isn't a good place in most cars to collect trash, so my little place happens to be an open slot in the driver's side door. I used to be pretty good at emptying this out...apparently that's not the case as of late.

The back seat: This is the messiest part of the whole car. Between weekends at camp and trips to see friends, I end up unpacking things here and there that don't quite make it back into my oh-so-wonderful Vera Bradley large duffel (that apparently isn't large enough...) like sheets, towels, a sweatshirt or an extra blanket; add to that my two rainjackets and two peacoats and you've got the perfect equation for this mess in my backseat.

In my defense, I wouldn't say that my car is dirty, so much as messy. And surprisingly, the trunk isn't all to cluttered. You would think I would want to put my mess where people can't see it in plain view, but problem with my trunk is, well, it leaks. A lot. And with this hit or miss Tennessee weather, my clothes staying dry and un-mildewed is more important than my pride.

Why I'm here

This past week, I really feel like God has affirmed why I moved to Chattanooga after graduating. Not that I was even doubting why I moved here or was seeking affirmation, but I have felt particularly blessed for so many reasons.

I've gotten to:

-enjoy dinner and the Bachelor with Al Wood and Deb Jones

-have dinner with my dad at Cracker Barrel as a halfway point for him as he drives to and from Oak Ridge, TN on a weekly basis.

-serve at First Pres with the Children's ministries on Sunday and Wednesday nights--AND worship there on Sunday morning (after 2 weeks of being away! So good to be back!)

-help a friend through an unexpected break up

-spend time at the Harwood's with wonderful food and even better friends
(Seriously, I'm always one of the last to leave because I stay and talk to these two wonderful people! I love being in their home and apart of their family!)
-visit one of my best friends in Birmingham because it's so close to the 'noog.
-spend the afternoon with Rachel Carleton after I unexpectedly ran into her after have lunch with Clay and Ellen Huffaker
-Actually babysit for the Holts since the snow canceled their last date night.
-And now I'll be spending the week with Greyson while her parents are out of town!

God is so wonderful to bless us with the wonderful gift of friendship. I'm so glad that we are able to love others and be loved by others differently through each relationship we have! I have never doubted living in Chattanooga, but this past week in particular, I have been praising God for leading me to this city with such wonderful friends where I can love and be loved by them!! What a rare chance for someone who recently graduated?! Most of my friends I graduated with only have a handful of friends and I am so glad that, through camp, I have so many friends in one place!

And there are so many more that I don't think I've actually spent time with since I've lived here--Emily Geyer and Sarah Lawhorn come to mind! :)

And yes, I admit it...I didn't take a single one of these pictures in this last week!! Thank you facebook for "Photos of you and ________" ha! I just love having posts with pictures and have been a failure at taking pictures lately!

Bangs

Last night, I trimmed by bangs. I really like them. They're shorter...and harder to style in the mornings. Apparently, I have a cowlick (isn't that what they're called?)...either way, right next to where I part my bangs, I have this one little section that wants to go the other.

And it's driving. me. crazy.

As silly as this post might seem, those of you who have annoying hair days will understand!! Ugh!!! Any suggestions??