Don't Chase a Shadow

Aw aren't we super cute? Yes, yes we are. Rachel was in town last week so we went to Fido, a coffee shop in Hillsboro village..and Natalie lives in town. So she took us around the village. Good fun.

Haven't updated in a week. Been a good week I'd say. I can't believe that I've only been here 2 weeks tomorrow. I feel like I've been gone so much longer. Seriously. I've been pretty busy I guess. Working, working out, visiting churches and young adult groups (I think it's so weird that I'm now referred to as a young adult) and guess that's about it. Oh and saw Love Happens with some girls I met at church on Sunday. Gotta admit though. I really miss having 3 of my best friends across the hall

at all times, and having 15 people constantly walking in and out of the door at 710 Deer Lodge. Those were the days. I even kinda miss Frank (for those of you that don't know he's the ceramic rooster that lived in our kitchen and would randomly appear in places like the shower making me scream bloody murder when I stepped in). Haha. Good times, good times.

I visited Fellowship Bible last Sunday, I really liked it. I walk in, sit down and look up and no big deal Jason Ingram and FFH are leading worship. Guess it happens there regularly. Christy Nockels used to lead there, let me tell you if I would have walked in and saw her leading I might have just fainted right there. LOVE her. One of my top favs. The teaching was really good as well as the worship. The campus was beautiful...it was a barn they made into a church with a lake and fountains in the middle. I mean it seriously looked like you were going to church in the Pottery Barn. Ha. I went to their young adults group on Thursday and really liked it. The pastor looked like he walked straight out of Jackson 5. He was awesome, they're doing a series called "Single, Sex, and Sage Advice." He spoke straight from the Word on dating and marriage and what it was supposed to be and I loved it. Totally agreed. I think one of the things he said that stuck with me the most was that so often we imagine marriage being the end goal, once we get married life is complete. Only its not. Our end goal is CHRIST!!! And Him fully. Marriage was created to be a shadow, of the real wedding day. So we must stop chasing marriage and start chasing Him. And when it is His timing we will He will bring someone into our lives that will make us better for Him than we ever will be apart. So for now risk it all. Go for Him. He is our Prize. Well said.

On a side note...I did a new workout the other day and I haven't been able to straighten my arms in 2 days. Ha. Oops. Hopefully they'll start working again soon. :)

I went to a different church today called Cumberland, reminded me a lot of the Journey on Amelia Island, for those of you who have been there. Really liked it a lot too. Then comes the question how do you choose between good churches? Pray. We will see where I end up. Wherever I will get the most of Him.

Sorry to babble on...I will write more later. P.S. here is a shout out to the girls of 710. Love and miss you!

Mad Hatter

So last night was the first Rush of Fools show that I've been too. It was in Clarksville, TN at a an outside festival on the river. This was also the first show I attended as an intern with Patton House....it was a BLAST. I had so much fun, I live for these event things you know. We took a road trip there and I helped with the merch and the show and then we came home. If you are at JBU on Sept 24 or in the area go the Rush of Fools show. I was so so so impressed with them. Not only are they talented but the way they carry themselves on and off stage. They are the real deal, solid guys who are doing this for the Lord's glory and no other reason.  The kind of people I want to work for, definitely not in it for the money or fame. Plus they scored some points when they lead worship at the show and played some Hillsong :). The cool thing was it was a secular crowd and venue and they asked to pray for the community of Clarksville and then through that managed to present the gospel in a very attractive yet non offensive way. Needless to say I was quite blown away.

On a side note...I like how the Eddy's aren't letting me pay for anything and just asked that I take care of my own food...well then every night they have dinner for me and tonight they went and got dinner and got me some and the other morning Linda was like "you would do me a big favor if you could start eating our meat, cheese, fruits, and veggies" Which is basically all I eat. So basically I'm not paying for anything...God is good. Extremely blessed.

I start at New York and Company on Monday afternoon. The lifeguarding thing is out and I'm going to start at New York for now and still keep looking for other jobs. I am talking to the Y about possible personal training...yeah guess I don't have to have a degree in it and I can just get my certification and they hire me. We will see, but it would def be a good paying job and would carry me until I figured out what was next. I also applied to a Mellow Mushroom (it's mainly pizza, they have one in Fayetteville) restaurant today in downtown Franklin. Downtown Franklin is very historic and quaint, nice little area. They are supposed to be calling me soon so we will see about...p.s. the application there was the most random thing I've ever filled out. It had random questions like "what was the best thing you did today so far?" or "if you could pick another era to live in which one would it be?" or "name the first 3 words that come to mind when hearing the words mellow mushroom?" I said, pizza, fun and mad hatter. Ha not sure where that last one came from but oh well. We will see...keep ya updated.

Confession. I slept until almost 1 today. Nuts I know. I never sleep that late but I was so tired. Oh and random-got talking to a trainer at the Y the other day and turns out he's a musician in town (not really that unique...everyone is here) but anyways I told him I did PR in school and he wants me to write a bio for him and do some other press stuff. I told him I would consider it but it would cost him. Haha. So I told him I would do it, if he made me up a new work out for free. He said yes. So guess I'll be training with him a little in exchange for his bio. Seems like a fair trade to me.

Well I just wrote a ton....anyways I'm gonna go get something to eat. I'm starved. Got church in the morning at Fellowship Bible here, I'm going with the Eddy's because we're meeting the guy who does music for Veggie Tales and the voice of Larry for lunch tomorrow.  Haha love my life right? My boss goes to the church too, supposedly very similar to Fellowship in Rogers so that's exciting. Next week I'm trying out Cumberland which is a church plant of Louie Giglio and I'm told the worship is like Hillsong every Sunday so I think I will like that :) Until next time...

Welcome to Music City

Ok so as most of you know I had a blog before...but I only made one entry. This time I vow to do better. Guess before everyone I loved was either living with me or I saw them almost everyday. But now you are all far away so I must write. Tell the stories and my crazy life....so I've been here 48 hours. I love it so far. There's just so much here, especially for people my age. You should all come visit! I started interning yesterday, which has been a blast. Love my bosses. They told me I talked more on the first day than any other intern they've ever had...haha oops. You all know me. I think I am going to learn a ton and get a bunch of contacts so we will see where the Lord takes that. Friday night Rush of Fools plays in Clarksville, TN and we're going to the show and gonna help with it so as you all know I'm pretty stoked. Love concerts. 

I saw Rachel Gerdin (in town with her dad who's here on business) and Natalie Nelson today for coffee. So good to see them...hung out at Fido on 21st. It's seriously like the coffee shop everyone in Nashville goes to, it's like hip young...lots of musicians. Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman were just there a few days ago. Crazy I know. Carrie Underwood lives 10 min from where I work, drove by her neighborhood-it's huge. 

The Eddy's are great. Love them. Probably the most gracious people I've ever known in my life and they love having me. Linda is always making me food and just wants to know how I'm doing. She tells Steven (he's 18) that he has a new sister and he needs to take me in a ride in his new car. And she makes him tell me about his day everyday...haha it's funny seeing as how he doesn't really talk that much. The Lord has totally blessed me and made it very clear that this is where He wants me. I'm trusting Him for the next steps, I'm just along for the ride.

On that note I got offered another job yesterday at a store, New York and Company, in the mall...retail not my fav but hey it's a job. Also the Y is hiring for lifeguards and it's closer to the house plus I get a free Y membership...not really a fan of being a lifeguard again-feel kinda lame at this stage in the game but I'm supposed to talk to the Aquatics Director tomorrow and if it offers the same pay and hours I might take it, just because I love working out and would like to be able to keep up my routine and getting a free membership would be awesome plus it would save on gas and I could probably move up quickly due to all my experience at a Y in Florida. We will see, the Lord's got that too. Not stressed. 

Anyways...all that to say it's been great! I am currently painting my toe nails, on skype, and watching CSI in my room ( Ellen, Jeran, and Julie I know you're not surprised ;)

Oh and check out Bethany Dillon's new album...it's GOOD. There is a song I've been playing over and over because it pretty much sums up my heart right now. It talks about pride-if you haven't noticed from my overload of embarrassing stories the Lord is constantly giving me moments of humility, i.e. braces, bar in my mouth, introducing myself as Peter, usual trips or other clumsy things, not to mention I have a built in one...cankles. I'll post the lyrics when I can find them but it's called "Deliver Me" it's good....she sang it in chapel if you were there. Ok love you all and talk soon!