Thanksgiving

I am thankful for.....

Paradox

This week my mind has been flooded with the reality of loving a person while not accepting or even understanding their actions. It is one more paradox of life that we find ourselves confronting at times. We were taught by Jesus to love the sinner, but hate the sin. These words are much easier to recite in a Sunday school class than to actually practice in life. To practice such words, we have to learn to live with the paradox of emotions that we feel all at once. It is almost the same mix of emotions we feel when someone dies; only in this situation the person is still alive. The life of the person seems to only complicate things since we are confronted with their existence and their continual life on earth.

My mother is the one that taught me how to live in the paradox of such feelings towards others. She taught me not by her words, but by the way in which she lived her life. When I was in high school we lived in a very small town. It came out one year that a very active older man at church had molested a small child many years earlier. It was an unthinkable act. The man’s actions caused pain and hurt to so many. My mom knew and understood this, but at the same time she saw the pain and hurt in the one that was the cause. He was immediately ostracized in the town and no one would have anything to do with him; that is no one but my mother. She would on occasion go over to his apartment to take him cookies or home-made bread. Her going over there was not her accepting his behavior in any way. Just like everyone else she did not understand it and was saddened by it, but she was able to see the man behind the action. She saw the lonely man that she knew that Jesus still loved. My mother allowed herself to have Christ’s eyes for the untouchable person in our town. By her actions she taught me what it is to live in the paradox of emotions that are present in such a situation. She showed me what it means to actually live out “love the sinner, hate the sin.” My mother was an amazing woman who knew what it was to love those who are the most unlovable.

Fall with Daddy and Peggy

I had a wonderful time this weekend with Daddy and Peggy. It was amazing just spending time with them. I love being at an age where my father is not just a parent but also one of my best friends and my step-mom is someone who I seek encouragement from. I love living in NC but after a weekend like this I realize how much I miss home. I miss being close to my family and having the opportunity to just sit and talk with them more than twice a year.

Here are a few pics from the weekend!!!!












If and when I ever get married, I want the wedding to be here in the fall.

Long Overdue

It has been over a month since I have written... so this is what has been happening in my life.

I went to Orlando for a conference and this is what happened



I spend all of my time at one of these two places:



Regional Cancer Center-internship



Caribou coffee: place to study

A few weeks ago I got to see



Indigo Girls,they are amazing!!!!



and The Weepies, my favorite new group



And this weekend dad and peggy are coming to NC!



Life is good, but busy right now!

Baylor Football Party!

Baylor might not have won, but it was still fun to hang out with friends!

Birthday Party.

Although my actual birthday was not the best since I was in class until 9:30 pm, the week ended with a GREAT party. My friend Elysia had a cookout for me and Carrie (her b-day was Thursday). It was a wonderful way to end the week. Here are a few pics.


The Birthday Girls!!!


Yea for birthday cake


A party isn't a party until you play BS


The food was GREAT!!!


Elysia with her family

One Book...

Lindsay tagged me for this, so here goes…

That changed your life: “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin

That you've read more than once: “Grief Observed” by C.S. Lewis

That you'd want on a desert island: Any book by Helen Fielding.

That made you laugh: "Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner

That made you cry: “Death Be Not Proud” by John J. Gunther

That you wish had been written: "My Life as I See It" by Amanda Bigbee

That you wish was never written: "Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens

That you are currently reading: "Without a Name” by Yvonne Vera

That you want to read: "Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo

Mom

I notice the circle of life each year at this time. One day I am celebrating another year of life that I have been given and the next day is the anniversary of my mother’s death. It is so evident each year at this time of the joy and sorrow that surrounds each of us. Both of these days in their own way remind me of the precious gift that life is and how I am to cherish each moment. I am thankful for my life, but I grieve for my mother. Although it has been eight years, my heart still aches for the amazing woman I called mom. As my dear friend Becky stated regarding the death of one’s mother, “It seems that you never get over it, but you learn to make it part of your life.” I miss her dearly in a way that words will never be able to describe.

Lake Lure Vacation

I went to Lake Lure for a short vacation before school started. I went by myself and had a wonderful time. I took my time driving down there and stopped in Black Mountain for lunch and coffee. My time in Lake Lure was spent laying out, hiking at Chimney Rock (fyi: part of Last of the Mohicans was filmed there), reading, and hanging out with Donovan. I came back feeling like I had been gone a week when I was really only away for two nights. Here are a few pics from the trip.




Gastehaus Salzburg, the wonderful bed and breakfast where I stayed.


Start of the hike at Chimney Rock to go to Hickery Nut Falls.


Top of the waterfall


WOW, it was amazing


This was in the movie... Last of the Mohicans


There were a lot of stairs on the hike



The actual lake at Lake Lure


The drive home

Beach time!!!

I just got back from a weekend at the beach (Wilmington, NC). I went with my good friend Elysia and it was wonderful. It is amazing how a few days at the beach can restore my soul!!!

Elysia driving us to the beach!

More fun times in the car!

Ahhhh the wonderful beach!

This is all we did... read, sleep, and play!

OK we also ate really good food!

but there is no place like home!