Thoughts on being alive.

Lord, help me not to take things for granted.

Help me to always notice the beauty of the world around me because there are those who can't see it.

Help me to appreciate the sounds of birds flapping their wings to take flight, the laughter of other people, and other beautiful sounds because there are those who can't hear them.

Help me to deeply feel the love of those who offer it to me because there are those who wait for it and may never find it.

Help me to never take my life as a whole for granted. Help me to feel every moment, to live every second to its fullest potential, and to not hold back from feeling things to the fullest extent.

Help me to always realize the simple value of things I encounter daily, and usually use or view without second thought.

Help me to never take my parents or brothers for granted because there are those who have lost theirs and would give anything to have what I have.

Help me to love and appreciate my friends and enjoy every second I get to spend with them.

Help me to dream as big as I possibly can dream, and to run after them with faith that You will bring to life all that matches up with Your purposes for me.

Help me to not glide through moments, but instead to live a life of being aware of how very blessed I am.

Help me to live with a passion and neverending will to thrive, and help me to never lose a passion and hunger to see others come to know You, and find a deeper meaning in all of these details of life.

Help me to truly live, and to do this in a way that honors and glorifies You. Allow me to see Your hand and Your heart in these seemingly simply circumstances and events, and to praise You for every bit of it.

Summer so far.

I haven't written a blog in over 2 months. This is a crazy lapse of time for me since I used to update...well, a lot more than that. On some levels I've been really busy. On some levels I haven't been that busy at all, really. But regardless, I haven't been writing - not in here at least.

I am over halfway through summer, and what a lovely summer it has been. I got my first car at the beginning of May, and my family went on a wonderful vacation to Florida in May also. I also have my first summer job this year as a nanny, which I'm really enjoying. I keep a charming and hilarious little girl named Abby who is one of the most delightful six year olds I've encountered. We have lots of fun and read books I haven't read in ages and watch shows I haven't watched in years. We jump on the trampoline and "swim" through the yard back to the house. We color in coloring books and play Candy Land. It's a pretty awesome job.

I went to a concert at the beginning of the summer with my friend Brittany and we saw Matt Wertz and Ben Rector. It was awesome. And in a few weeks we're going to see Taylor Swift. Super excited about that. I also have a few more concerts in the works but I'll talk about them when they're closer. :)

We had VBS at church week before last and 10 kids got saved which was awesome. Especially since our church isn't big. Speaking of church I am missing my church in Greenville! I am super ready to get back to Greenville at the end of the summer and be back with my friends and get back to the new "normal". I am looking forward to meeting my new roommate for this year too!

I've been painting a lot recently - I did three this week! Mostly they're just quotes or bible verses with some sort of picture to go along with it but I am having so much fun with that. I know I will never be a professional artist or anything but it is so much fun to paint just for fun. My dorm room will be nice and colorful like I like it!

I'm going up to Greenville this weekend to see my wonderful best friends and I am so excited about that. It has been far too long! Besides that I'll just be working and trying to keep up with Abby this week!

July will be here soon and I can't wait to see what else the Lord brings my way in my time remaining at home! God is faithful and is blessing me in so many ways lately. I'll write soon to talk about that more.

Hope you're enjoying your summer too, friend! Don't forget to deliberately notice all the blessings God has given us in this beautiful season! He is good, indeed!