To say "yes" to something is to say "no" to another.

Today was my second time at NP and it was still intimidating. Both times I have gone I can't help but wish that the boy was there next to me. Sometimes it's hard, but I know soon enough he will be here with me and I won't be forced to struggle with this long distance thing. This may seem unrelated to you, but I stopped believing in coincidences around April/May. Today Andy started a new series, Shocking Statements of Jesus. He talked about how Jesus said things that made everyone uncomfortable, like "Love your enemies, pray for your enemies."

The passage he looked at today was John 6:54-68. A brief introduction: Jesus had just fed thousands of people, a feat that was nearly impossible at that time. He had a crowd of people following him, because hey, he had food. Who ever thought of the idea of giving out free food at call-outs for groups/clubs at college must have been a Christian and read this. I mean, if you want people to follow you, feed them. If you keep feeding them, they'll keep following you. But then you say something like "love your enemies" and people will start to think, "Woah. Wait a minute-what's this guy talking about?" and then they start to question if it's beneficial for them to keep following you around and believing what you say. This is what happened to to Jesus right about then. Following him was about to get complicated for the crowd.

Right about when the crowd was deserting Jesus, his 12 disciples started questioning as well. He knew what was on their hearts and so he asked, "You do not want to leave too, do you?" (John 6:67) Peter was the only to respond in verse 68: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, and you are struggling with transition, trial, or temptation, you might want to think if you just stop believing, it will be easier. But if you say no to Jesus, who are you saying yes to? You can't say no without saying yes to something else and the reverse is also true. If you say yes to one thing, you will be saying no to another.

This is where the "coincidences don't exist" idea plays a part for me. I am going through a transition right now: I have just moved to Atlanta, I have a career and my boyfriend is still living in Indiana. I am no longer a college student. I have been struggling with being new in the area and not really knowing anyone. At first I started to turn away from Him, because it was hard. It was hard to accept this change and I was unsure if it was the right choice for me. I could have gone to Jacksonville, FL or Houston, TX. What if those had been better choices? What if I should have gone there instead? What if, what if, what if. Only God knows that answer. Andy left us with this to think about, "Don't focus exclusively on your questions. Consider the options."

So I can't help but rethink my decision to be here in Atlanta, and I have come to this conclusion: I need to be here. I am supposed to be here. If I wasn't supposed to be here, I wouldn't be. I trust God to guide me to where He wants me to be and know that He only gives good gifts. I cannot live my life wondering "what could have been" otherwise I will not be able to move forward with my life and if that means I have to put my trust in God-well. That's not exactly a problem. The same goes for my relationship with the boy. I trust that God has a plan for the two of us and I pray that He will remain in the center of our relationship. The boy is truly amazing, and I see Christ in him. I thank God every day for bringing him into my life and I know that if we had met three years ago, I don't think I would have given him a second thought.

On a completely different note, I have bookshelves from IKEA! I set them up yesterday and I am starting to fill them with books and things. Unfortunately I am going to have to go back tomorrow or Tuesday if I want to buy the couch I have found that I really like... So, I guess I'm going back, haha. And then maybe I'll actually be "living" in my apartment finally. Well, I feel like I live here but it's a little challenging when I have to sit on the floor in my living room because the cats have taken over the two chairs that are in my living room (my teal butterfly chair and a camping chair). I think I'll end up putting the butterfly chair in the 2nd bedroom with my bookshelves and create kind of a reading nook. And maybe I'll start decorating my bedroom as well... There is nothing on the walls right now. Now I just need to figure out what I want on the walls. Any suggestions?

Until next time, dear readers.

As mentioned previously & then some.

I said in my last update that I feel like an outcast at work. And for the first week + a few days, that was true. No, no one really wants to hang out with me after work, but I have come to accept it (for now) and I'm okay with it. I realized that part of this is due to the fact that I am not sitting in my department-there isn't  an empty desk for me at the moment. Which, to be fair, is a good problem to have. So I'm not complaining, especially now that I am being given more responsibility every day at work. On Friday one of my co-workers asked for my help on a project that will be a long-term effort. And one of the interns has started asking me questions! So, work was hard the first week, but look back on it-and from talking to some people who have been in the work place for at least 6 months-every one's first week is a little challenging.

Last week I made the promise to myself, you, and God, that I would go to North Point today. I went. I need to get there about 10:45 though if I'm going to sit closer to the front. I have most definitely found a MEGA-church. But I absolutely loved it. I can't tell you why, because I can't put into words how being surrounded by so many people who have come together to worship makes me feel. I guess I can compare it to the way a really good piece of music gives me goosebumps. For example, whenever I listen to Jupiter (granted, I am biased since I play French horn) or, even a couple times during some Glee Club performances this past semester. When those guys sing... shivers. Anyway. I was a little disappointed they didn't have a NEXT class today, but they will next week and I have every intention of going. (The NEXT class is for people who are new to NP and want to get involved or learn more about NP)

On a completely different note, I started making myself a bag to take my lunch in to work. I like packing my lunch instead of going out every day, so I figured a bag would be a good idea. I found zebra print material at Jo-Ann's! So I'm making myself a lunch bag and it will be awesome. Don't worry, I'll post pictures of it once I am all finished.

So I'm going to go work on that and play with the cats because they won't leave me alone... Pesky cats!

Until next time, dear reader. Matthew 5:14-16.

Amazing how He works.

I have been struggling with the move to ATL and finding a new church. I thought I had found one in North Point Community Church (NP), but I attended Buckhead Church last weekend and was absolutely overwhelmed with the number of people. The boy was there with me, which helped a lot. Although I say I like change (and I do) it's just hard for me to accept it sometimes.

I started my journey towards God at Purdue Christian Campus House (PCCH or CH), a small intimate church on Purdue's campus. I was baptized there, and I consider it my "home church" still. I promised myself this week that I would attend NP. I know that I need to surround myself with people, especially since I feel like an outcast at work (more on that later). I also know that church is a fantastic place to find new friends, after all, before CH I had very few girlfriends. Now I have a couple that I cannot imagine my life without.

So, because it's hard for me to accept change, I typically will wimp out of a scary situation. In this case, it was attending a new church by myself for the first time. I bargained with myself and said, "Well, I still want to go to church, but I a) don't want to use up the gas it would take to drive the 30 minutes there and b) don't know anyone there so I will be all alone." Instead, I attended in my pjs and watched the sermon online. (They live stream the 11AM service and replay it at 6PM. So, if you're interested in watching today's message, you can at 6! http://northpointonline.tv/)

Today was the conclusion of their series "Amazing Stories". Today they visited the story of Naaman, the commander of the Aram army. For those of you who aren't familiar with the story, here's a brief description: Naaman has leprosy. He is told by one of his servants that there is a prophet in Israel who can cure him. He goes to the king and asks to go, the king agrees and sends a letter with him.

The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy." -2 Kings 5:6

The king of Israel sends him to Elisha, the prophet his servant spoke of. Naaman expects Elisha to wave his hand over him and be cured, but instead he sends a servant to greet Naaman and his group. The servant tells him to go and bathe in the Jordan seven times and he will be cured. Naaman is angry with Elisha and refuses. 

Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" -2 Kings 5:13

Naaman goes and bathes in the Jordan. He is cured and returns to Elisha, grateful for what he has done. One of the things Andy Stanley ended with was saying that if God is putting something on your heart that you know you need to do, even if you have convinced everyone else around you, and you are still not convinced, do it. God doesn't owe us an explanation. There are times in everyone's life when He is pushing something into our hearts that we may not understand. It is during those times we need to follow Him. Even though it may seem like such a simple thing, in my case, actually going to NP, He has something much bigger in store for us. If you don't follow, you will regret it, no matter how small a thing it is. And so, I am making the commitment today to attend NP next Sunday. I know there aren't that many of you who are readers, but I need to be held accountable. I do regret not going today, but today's message has made me realize that I need to go. Even if I am uncomfortable, I have to go. I can attend the "next" session after the service and hopefully meet some other new to town people.

Until next time readers. Thank you for being here for me, even though you are few.

hooray!

first, i apologize for my spelling and grammatical errors, because i am posting from my phone due to the lack of interwebz. i also apologize for not capitalizing anything, since apparently i cannot. nor can i use any punctuation besides , or .

anyway. i officially completed my first week of work, exclamation point. it was stressful, the boy can attest to that... i do not really enjoy being the new kid, especially when i cant sit with my own department, due to a lack of space. it is indeed a good problem to have, but it doesnt change the fact that i am not sitting with my department. oh well. I will soon be sitting with them.

Oh man... I just figured out if I "edit HTML" instead of "Compose", my phone capitalizes&spell checks like normal. Well, I guess from here to the end of this post I have no excuse. So I am post from my phone due to a lack of interwebz in my apt, but I am also laying by the pool. :-D whee! So far I am enjoying being in Hotlanta, we will see when winter rolls around and I don't get snow...

This weekend will be full of relaxing and unpacking. I am probably going to go to Home Depot to buy some shelves so I can actually put the stuff haha/organize it, haha. I have also started to read "Jesus Freaks", a book the boy recommended. So far I truly enjoy it, and I will probably share a story or two from it as I continue to read. I will give a brief review if you are interested, but not today. My thumbs hurt from all of this typing! Besides, my stomach is starting to tell me that it is dinner time. Omnomnom.

Until next time readers.

Pray for those you know who are suffering, and pray for those who live in countries where they are persecuted for loving christ.

Nationwide is on my side.

Work starts on Monday, but I had to call in to a meeting this morning about retirement plans (401k and what-not). It's weird that I am already thinking about this kind of thing. This is going to be a short entry, simply because I need to finish packing today. This is my new apartment!! I will be getting the key this afternoon, because I didn't want to make the 18 hr round trip drive just to pick up a key. I am really really excited about moving into my new place, but I am not excited about starting work.

Anyway. I really should get to packing, since I just spent the last hour listening to Hollis discuss my retirement nonsense. Although I know it's not really nonsense, it's just odd because I'm only 23 and already thinking about retirement plans. I know I need to though. I guess it was really weird when they were talking about how I need to have a will. Eep!

Until next time readers... (and next time I will have pictures of my new place!!)

I can't believe it.

It's been 5 months today. I am amazed, to be honest. It has been an absolutely fantastic 5 months. He is currently in Joplin, MO helping clean up damage from the tornado. I am so proud of him. (Sorry if this embarrasses you, boyfriend, but you truly are wonderful.) I really wanted to go with him to help, but I have to pack up my apartment this week so I can get ready for the move to Atlanta in the next two weeks. I sent Aslan with him (Aslan is my travel lion, lol. He's a Webkinz.) for the car ride. I know that God is using him to do amazing things in the world and will continue to do so. The boy has such strong faith and I am so lucky to have him in my life. I am so grateful he is a stronger person than I am and is helping lead me towards Him.

I have been struggling recently with the fact that it seems like all of my friends are engaged or married at this point, but I guess summer seems to be the time of all that. Which is rough on me, since my clock is telling me I should be getting married too. But I know that in time it will happen, and if God wants the boy and I to be together, it will be amazing and perfect. And until then, I can only know that I love my boyfriend and take it one day at a time.

I have exciting news, but I can't tell you because my friend hasn't even announced yet. So, until then I will have to stay hush-hush about it. But I am excited!!! :D I have already started to design a sewing project for my friend, but I'm not gonna post pictures on here until it's all done and sent away because I don't want to ruin the surprise. :)

I should probably get working hardcore on my packing... I admit that I haven't done much today. I have, however, picked out my TV stand. EXPEDIT TV storage unit from IKEA! In black, I think. I can only hope that it fits!! There's an IKEA in ATL, so I will be able to order it from there and get it delivered to my new apt. I would like to pick out a couch from IKEA as well, but I don't know yet. Hopefully the boy will be willing to help me pick out a couch that he can be comfortable on when he visits... since he's so tall, haha.

Until next time, readers.

Skirt & Stuff

So I finished (sort of, haha) my skirt! It needs a lining because the material is sort of see-through, but only when I stand naturally, so a lining is pretty much necessary if I'm going to wear it in public, haha. It actually wasn't too hard to put together, cutting out the pieces took a little over an hour and it was easy enough to put the main pieces together. Attaching the yoke and finishing the skirt was a challenge. It took me a while to figure out what the pattern meant by the "lower edge of the yoke" and the "upper edge of the skirt" (I had to pin them together) but I eventually got it after looking at a few pictures of skirts with yokes and the picture of the pattern again. I finished it in probably about 5ish hours, but it was my first skirt and I stumbled with the yoke. But now that I've got one done, especially with that pattern, I figure it will take me maybe 4-5 hours to make another one. The skirt even has pockets! It's fairly awesome.

Before cutting any pieces

All the pieces are cut out!

The first half of the pockets

My first attempt at pleats turned out fairly well.

Finished skirt!

I love the pockets.

Eventually I want to purchase some heavier material and make this skirt for work. I'm thinking grey linen, but I'm not really sure. I think if I make it out of a heavier material it will hang differently at the bottom, so it might be better for work. (I also don't think the polka dots would be work appropriate, haha).

Speaking of work, I'm going to Indy this weekend for the 500! My last band event as a member of the AAMB... I am going to go through withdrawal come the fall, and I know it. The boy is starting to go through his own withdrawals. We have joked about finding grief counselors for each other. Ridiculous, I know. We'll be okay. I have already told him that if he stops singing I'll smack him. He then proceeded to ask me if I had found anything for band in ATL yet. I haven't, but I need to. I know I will miss playing. I pulled out my old trumpet today to show it to him, the valves still move! (After not touching it for a few years, I was very impressed) But if I do find a play to play, I'll bring my French horn over my trumpet, simply because it's been so long since I have played my trumpet.

The boy came with me to my parent's house from Tuesday-this afternoon. We detoured to the Navy Pier,  because my mom's flight back from CA was cancelled. So she got in to O'Hare at 11pm. We picked her up and went the rest of the way home. It was fun walking around Navy Pier with the boy, he hadn't ever been there before. It was chilly!! We were both in shorts because it had been summer in Indiana but became fall in Chicago. Brr. It rained while we were at home, but we went to the Jelly Belly factory and the Cheese Castle. He was excited when I told him we were going to go there. We bought lots of jelly beans and took the tour of the Jelly Belly warehouse/factory with my mom. She was happy we were finally able to visit her. We were both been so busy this semester there wasn't time for us to make the drive up to see her.

It's bedtime for me. I'm glad to be back in my apartment in IN, especially with my cats. (They were at home for the weekend, but I was able to bring them back with me this time. It was so lonely here without them!)

Until next time, readers.

Fortune cookie says: Be patient! The Great Wall didn't got build in one day.