Despicable Me Sisters

Since watching Despicable Me, my sisters and I noticed something oddly familiar about the movie. Someone made us animated!!! We couldn't believe how similar Margo was to me (Jenelle), Edith is to Michelle, and cute little Agnes to Cassandra.

We decided to reenact some of the pictures just to have some fun with it. 

Here we were as younger girls (this was literally a few months before I started wearing glasses). 

Patience.

This year has been challenging in so many ways, but through it all, I have seen God's grace in my life. There were several times I broke down as a result of frustration, but I pushed through in faith.

All I kept getting was to be patient...wait on the Lord...be still. Do you know how hard that is for me??? It was getting to the point that I didn't know if He was even listening to me anymore. What I did find was His peace.

As a result, when I spoke with someone I love and cherish this week that is going through similar frustrations, I was able to encourage her and tell her what God's done for me this year. Not all I was asking the Lord has been answered, but I have peace because I know its coming in His time, not mine.

Life is hard...it's harder when you don't have faith in anything, especially in Jesus. He's my sustinence, the only reason to push forward towards the goal, 1 Corinthians 9:25.

Maybe what you're going through today will not only help encourage someone else in the future, but take you to another level of faith. Maybe...just maybe.

Be blessed!

Friendship that lasts

This weekend I visited one of my best friends from college in Columbus, Ohio. Only for a friend would I drive 5 1/2 hours each way =p. Even though it was only a 2 1/2-day trip, it was enough of a refill on our friendship.

We're not high maintenance friends. We email each other about once a week on the current happenings in each other's life and text when it's something a little more urgent (like prayer for something). Because neither of us are phone people, it works for us. But when we're together, all we have to do is talk and we're enjoying ourselves. No need to find something to do to entertain ourselves, or places to go so we don't get bored with each other. In fact, everywhere we went, we would sit down and just talk for hours.

For me, that's friendship. We are loyal to each other and most importantly, we edify each other and challenge one another to grow spiritually or think beyond what we normally would. This weekend was a spiritual renewal in a way. Both of us are at that point in our lives that we're sick of "playing church". Because we both relate to one another, we feed off of the spiritual growth and knowledge of the other.

I love hearing her point of view and realize how alike we are and how different at the same time. I love to learn from her and see how her life has led her to where she is and how the Lord continues shaping her views and life. It's a beautiful thing to see friendship grow and see how the Lord is working in a friend's life and walk with Him.

It only hit me this weekend that we've been close friends for almost 5 years. During that time, she's been an inspiration to me and helped me in more ways that I can thank her. She's an amazing friend that not only makes me laugh more than anyone else, but helps me grow spiritually and really think outside of my comfort zone.

I thank the Lord for friendship and for friends like her. Wish I could have her closer by, but this is how it is...for now =)Love you Heath!!!

Just some thoughts

I've always been rather weary about blogging about my personal life for all the world to see but writing can be very theraputic so here I go.

My husband and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire on Sunday night. It was a moving film that was amazing, but... not my point. During the previews, we saw one for "I Love you, Man" about a guy getting married who realizes he has no guys friends when trying to pick his Best Man.

Many times in my life, including now, I've felt the same way. Who are my friends? Maybe it's because I have 4 sisters + my cousin who is practically a sister that are my closest friends. I've never really pinned it down, but about this time last year, I analyzed my life and friendships. About every two years or so, I realized my entire friendship circles change, drastically. It doesn't really bother me, until I think about it or see my husband with his friends from elementary school.

Now, I've moved away from my sister's and "comfort zone" of friends to Tennessee where I had to start over. I've realized I don't have as much in common with people here as I did back home. Maybe it's culture, maybe it's not. Again, not sure...but it might just be ME.

My dream has always been to have lifelong friends that are a part of major events in life (eg. baby showers, births, new homes). Sometimes I wonder if that'll ever happen. My college friends were amazing, but none live within a 100 mile radius of me. So to "stop by and visit" is more of a planned vacation.

So, why did I make such solid friends in college, but none live near me...yet, where I am now, all I have are superficial friendships?

I guess I need to make more of an effort at being a good friend. Just thinking out loud.