8 things

8 things I'm looking forward to this week: 

8. Porch-sittin' in the glorious spring {finally} weather.

7. The Pandora station A. created: Mumford & Sons + Mat Kearney + Phil Wickham = Glory. 

6. Walks to the library to check out as many books as I can carry home. 

5. Fresh coffee in the mornings {ground from the beans by yours truly}.

4. A Friday night wine date with a sweet friend. 

3. Temperatures warm enough to open the windows. 

2. A day in the trees at Rockbridge {it's been a while since I've visited my old friend}.

1. My birthday! Less than 6 days- the countdown is on! {No numbers, people.}

Love, 

B

Jesus Calling

This morning I was spending some time with Jesus and was smacked in the face with the reality that if I just sit down, close my mouth, and open my ears, God will meet me {and fight for me}! 

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

His words are true and his actions are full of love and purpose!
Here is the gift He gave me this morning:

"Make friends with the problems in your life. Though many things feel random and wrong, remember that I am sovereign over everything. I can fit everything into a pattern for good, 

but only to the extent that you trust Me. Every problem can teach you something, 

transforming you little by little into the masterpiece I created you to be. 

The very same problem can become a stumbling block over which you fall, 

if you react with distrust and defiance. The choice is up to you, 

and you will have to choose many times each day whether to trust Me or defy Me." 

-Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

A lot in my life has been feeling random and wrong lately... a lot. But his compassions are new every morning {Lamentations 3:19-26} and God loved me enough to give me a reminder this morning that the trials aren't for nothing and he will work them all out for my good as long as I trust Him to do so. 

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 

'This is the way; walk in it.'" Isaiah 30:21

Thankful {full of thanks}, 

B

technicolor {on a cloudy day}

Yesterday I took a little trek around the neighborhood for a dose of fresh air. I needed to get out of the house, so I took Aaron's camera with me in case I saw something worth documenting. I didn't have high hopes on such a cloudy day. 

I was mistaken. It's amazing how much color there really is even on such a grey afternoon. 

Little pops of color were everywhere! Special surprises waiting to be found if you just took the time to look around. I'm sure the passing cars thought I was crazy-- sitting in the middle of an alley to take a picture of the asphalt, hiding in a bush to capture a colorful pipe. But in the end I think it was worth it. 

So worth it. 

Have a colorful day! 

B

Meredith | Portraits

Photography has definitely been the name of the game around here lately. My Aaron is such a talented guy {it was one of the first things I liked about him} and I have loved supporting and encouraging his dream to start his own photography business. {As a quick note, if you haven't yet, would you please "like" Aaron Mallory Photography on Facebook? Thanks!!} It's been such a blessing {and learning experience} to play the role of "behind-the-scenes support," and unemployment has given me a lot of extra time to help out, but recently I realized that wasn't quite fulfilling enough. So I decided to stop just living vicariously through A. and start learning the ropes for myself. 

My education began today when my sweet friend Meredith and I went on a little adventure. We packed up our cameras and headed to Crozet for coffee at my favorite place {the Mudhouse} and some exploring. Meredith is not only one of the most talented young photographers I know, but she is also so generous with her knowledge. She was a lovely subject for today's little adventure/lesson and I hope I did her beauty justice in my {beginner} photographs.

Isn't she beautiful? We had such a blast! Make sure to take a look at the photographs she took of me at her blog and "like" her Facebook page, too!! Okay, enough marketing for now. 

I hope you have a great day and get a chance to enjoy the beauty around you. Sometimes we have to leave comfort for an adventure, and sometimes we just need to open our eyes and look around. {I just hope you don't nearly lose your fingers and toes to frostbite like us! Stay warm my friends.}

Love,

B 

Unity

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 15:5-6

What's next?

I am not a quitter. But sometimes enjoying life is worth more and means more than just sticking it out. So this month I took a leap of faith. I had been feeling restless at work for some time now and it had begun to affect the rest of my world. I felt like the joy was seeping from my heart. My days were a little bit dimmer because of the heavy burden on my shoulders. Not fun and definitely not the way I wanted to live my life. So I walked away.

My last day at Chick-fil-A was January 11th. I gave a lot of myself and my life to that business over the last two and a half years; and I was able to build relationships with a lot of great people along the way. And while leaving was definitely bittersweet, it was time to go.

So a lot of people have been asking me: What's next? And the real answer is: I don't know... but God does. So I'm trying my hardest to trust. To wait patiently and be still.

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

If you have any ideas or opportunities for me, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks for the support.

Love,
B

Kisses from Katie

I think it is so fun to spread the word about things I love or am currently passionate about via blogging. It blows my mind the way things get passed around and grown through social media!

Just before Christmas my roommate, Lisa {I told you, a lot has changed around here! I'll share that story another day}, headed to Uganda, Africa, to spend the holiday with her boyfriend who is a missionary over there. As she packed and prepared, she shared a little bit of the itinerary for her time in Africa. One thing on her list was to visit a girl named Katie. Katie is my age (24), born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, lives in Uganda, and has adopted 13 Ugandan girls. Yes, you read that correctly- at 24 years old, she is "Mommy" to 13 precious girls born and orphaned in Uganda. Katie has a unique story to say the least so she wrote a book- a New York Times Bestseller titled "Kisses from Katie." After Lisa told me about her book I told Aaron {okay maybe "nagged" is a better word} that all I wanted for Christmas was "Kisses from Katie." And he delivered.

"Sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper. And just when I have about half a cup full of water it rains... I am not here to eliminate poverty, to eradicate disease, to put a stop to people abandoning babies. I'm just here to love." -Katie Davis (pg.13, 16)

I've only begun to break the surface at 6 chapters into the story but words like that are enthralling. Her story gives me goosebumps as I read about the tragedy, the sorrow, the pain, the rejoicing, the love, and the God who knows- and cares about- every hair on their {white or 'coffee bean-colored'} heads. Katie's words are an inspiration and a kick in the rear! Every other page makes me ask, 'what in the world am I doing with my life?' and simultaneously gives the encouragement that the God of the universe wants to bless me. When we ask 'why?' she says, "Because the God who created us loves us. Because He created each one of us for a purpose and he wants us to fulfill that purpose. Because the God who knows every hair on my head desires to lift me out of this dust and into His glory." -Katie Davis (pg. 56)

I get so caught up in my small town and my selfish worries that I forget just how enormous this world really is and how enormous the need is. The need for food, clothing, and shelter, yes, absolutely, but so much more than that- the need for love, redemption, and Jesus. The need for one person to enter the world of another. The need for willing hearts and open hands. I've never felt particularly called to serve overseas, but that's where we get it wrong. The need for love, redemption, and Jesus is just as enormous right here, in our own country, the towns we live in day-to-day, in our own backyards! My life is to be spent fulfilling the purpose God created me for.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him..." 
Philippians 3:7-9a

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Philippians 1:21

Do I live like that? No. Do I want to live like that? With every fiber of my being.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4

Don't give me what I want, Lord. But make the plans you have for me the very desires of my heart. Make your will the cry of my inmost being. Allow my hands and feet to further your kingdom.
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Romans 10:15).
Amen.

So I challenge you {and myself} to put your entertaining novels on hold and turn off the television for just a minute to read about a life surrendered to God. A life that is all about sacrifice and giving God the glory. What am I? A salesman? For right now I am! Buy the book, buy the e-book, check it out from the library, visit Katie's blog at kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com, and let's start 2013 thinking outside ourselves and seeking God's perfect will for our lives. He thinks we're pretty fantastic and has a lot planned for us.

Here to love,
B