Today, August 31st is my brother’s birthday– he would be 23 this year. I’ve been thinking a lot about this day for the past couple of weeks. I have wondered what it is going to be like to not be able to call and harass my brother all in the name of wishing him well. I wonder a lot about what it will be like to go through this day.
But, Richard’s birthday also has me thinking a lot about his life. He was truly someone who chose life in every circumstance. He really lived life to the fullest. I have always admired that about him.
Today, it seems that everything I do reminds me of him. From conversations about politics, to the sweet tea sitting on my counter. But, in all honestly, that’s not much different than any other day. But today, it wouldn’t be weird for me to go purchase an Ice Cream Cake (like the one in the picture above- his last birthday) even if they are 500 calories a slice.
Neither of our birthdays will ever be the same again. But I laugh because I think that’s exactly how he would want it.
To everyone who’s lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
Remember this post about my excitement for Donald Miller’s new book? Well, now you can read part of it right here on my blog. I love how high tech Thomas Nelson Publishers are!
My second year at Belmont University, I had the privilege of serving as an RA for 60 pretty awesome freshman women. I got the chance to walk alongside them and learn so much about my life and who I was created to be from them. All of these women are awesome, and I am grateful to have known them.
With that said you can imagine my pride when I see one of them on the Today show for a book that she authored that is titled “How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World”. I’ve read a snip-it of it and I think she’s right on target!
Clink the link above to watch the Today Show peice or, click here to order her book on Amazon!
I recently signed up for Thomas Nelson Publisher’s Blogger Book Review program. This program allows bloggers to receive copies of Thomas Nelson’s newest books to read and review. It’s a pretty great deal, because I just get to do what I love– read and write, and get free material to do those things! Without further ado, here is my first book review for this!
I was initially drawn to Andy Stanley’s “The Principle of the Path” for the sub-titles on the cover– “How to get from where you are to where you want to be”. As someone who is hoping to move a community from one place to another, I thought this might have some great insight for my work and life.
Stanley’s thesis is pretty clear from the beginning- the choices we make determine our outcome. Making a series of poor choices probably will result in some poor outcomes. While this point is true, and something I hope my students learn during college, that seems to be the meat of the book. Each subsequent chapter outlines more examples of how people were faced with choices and how those choices led them to where they were. I kept hoping the next chapter would provide new information, or more advice on guiding one’s self or organization down the path to where we want to go. But, I felt like Stanley left me hanging.
I will say though, the book was a fairly easy read and his examples are relatable. While I felt like I needed something more and deeper from this book, I do think there are those in the world need to know that making reckless choices now will only harm them in the end. I would recommend this book for those who would like encouragement in the truth that making wise choices now is making a choice for goodness in your life. I wouldn’t rank it at the top of my favorite books list, but it certainly is not at the bottom either.
You can find this book on Amazon here.
You know the Duggars. TLC’s newest mega-family, stars of 18 and counting. They are a family from Arkansas who have 18 children ranging in age from 21 years to 8 months. I got the feeling the other day what it might be like to be the Duggars on a grocery trip.
I just pre-ordered this:
It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things.
Everybody, every person, has to leave, has to change like seasons; they have to or they die. … Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.
No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers, has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath… We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn’t it?
Tags: Donald Miller
Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.
I get to spend my week doing this. And I could not be more excited. With each passing minute my heart gets more and more excited.
Tags: Line Camp
My mom sent me this video via email today. She saw the story on some news channel and thought I might appreciate it. This poor guy had his Taylor guitar destroyed by baggage handlers on his United Flight. After a year of fighting the airline, they have refused to pay him for the damage.
Tags: Northwest Airlines
