Courage.

It's times like these you find out who is really important in your life--
who your real friends are.

To hold onto hope, when all seems lost,
that's courage to me.
I hope I can be courageous.

When you feel alone,
as if you're on some deserted island,
with no one...but yourself,
and Him.

When you don't want revenge,
but rather justice.
Justice in the form of restoration,
in the form of Love.

It's no longer about being victim,
it's all about fighting.
It's all about being courageous.

And, honestly it's all about running towards audacious hope with all that's within you.
And, staring what seems like the inevitable in the eye, and telling it, it's got no place here.

Peace. Love. Joy.

Haze.

Why is is that the moment you need to lay down your life, be the most courageous; the most selfless--
all, you want to do is run, and be selfish?

Where is the line drawn between fighting for those who don't deserve it,
and fighting for your dreams?

Questions. Haze. Is this reality, or can we please wake up now and say it's a dream?

Peace. Love. Joy.

Audacious Hope.

Audacious Hope.
That has always been a statement that has rung true to my heart.
In fact, I plan to start whole institutions and non-profits and for-profits alike around those two words.

It's funny how when everyone thinks you should be distressed and emotional,
God comes swooping in with His grace, and you, in fact feel more joy than ever before.
It truly is a beautiful thing to just let go, and really just let Him be Himself.

I can honestly say I am not one bit worried about the future,
in fact, I really think I am the most optimistic and hopeful about it than ever before.

I am so excited for the days ahead.
For the places I'll go and the people I'll meet.
And, more importantly I am excited to not have control and for God to just show up in ways no man could.

Life is just good. No exceptions.

Peace. Love. Joy.

That feeling....

The feeling of home.
The feeling of being right where you've always belonged.
As if, from the beginning of time, it was destiny.

My heart is in search of that place;
in search of home.

Hopefully, sooner, rather than later, it's found.

Peace. Love. Joy.

Leaves. Death.

"Leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die."
It's a line of a Regina Spektor song, and its been floating around in my head for weeks now.

Maybe, out of the struggle, the times of dying we are refined, and we come out more beautiful than ever.

Maybe, that is what life is about. Series after series of refinement and becoming more and more beautiful.

Just a thought.
Peace. Love. Joy.

Life is brilliant. I mean, despite all that is going on around me, it really is fantastic.

Maybe it's the gorgeous weather, or maybe the fact that I have the whole day to do exactly what I want to do (for once!); but, truly life is brilliant.

I am so happy to be alive. So happy to have dreams. So happy to know brilliant people. Happy to be exactly who I am. And, to have the most amazing Abba in the whole world...who knows me, loves me, and lives through me.

Learning to extract joy, in all things, no matter what is going on in life.
That is truly the lesson of life I am learning currently.

And, honestly...I am just happy.
So happy.

Peace. Love. Joy.

The buzz.

Politics, oh politics.
I find people are either completely scared of it, and thus pay no attention, and even at times despise it.
While others, love it, live for it, and embrace it every moment of their life.

I like politics...call me crazy, but I do.
There is something so fascinating and intriguing to me about it.
It's this epicenter that our great country is run by, but at the same time, it can't save us (the people).
It's a wonderful tension.

Whenever I have free time? I watch the news.
When I am running at night? I watch the news.
It's just my go to.
I love to know what is going on in the world,
and in Washington.

Lately, with the election buzz in full force, there has been much to catch up on, and watch.
I love the candidate debates. It's so interesting to hear questions fired, and peoples' responses. You can quickly figure out what one believes, as well as values. At the same time though, you can't REALLY figure them out.
It's this weird mystery. (I do find it funny though when the candidates become quite cliche in their "political" terms--my opinion? Just be real. I like the ones that are real).

Maybe I like it so much, because I get a chance to psycho analyze the canidates. Who knows.

Alas, it always gets me thinking,what were the founding fathers like to be around?
I imagine they were men of valor, of character, of values.
I would love to go back in time and sit with them.....have a little chat.
I think it would be absolutely life changing.

I often ponder if there are any men like this still alive?
Are there men of valor? of character?
Are there men leading our country who still have great values they live by?

I am optimistic, so I say yes. I just don't know them, I hope to meet some of them soon though.

Peace. Love. Joy.

Seth Godin says....

Seth Godin says to write everyday, so that I am embracing. I write every day in my journal, but I thought I'd take it one step further and try and write in this blog daily; with the surface, crazy, random things that are floating in my head.

I find joy is the greatest weapon ever. To embrace joy, I mean embrace it in the crappiest of times is the smartest thing one can do. I find the littlest things get me laughing these days. It's good--laughter truly is good like a medicine.

So, laugh, laugh, laugh. I guarantee it will make the hardest of seasons bearable.

Peace. Love. Joy.

20 years.

20 years of life. Wow—it’s weird to say that. Even weirder to realize I’ve been alive 2 decades. So much has happened in those years of life, many joys, and many sorrows. Friends have come and gone. Hobbies have come and gone. Life “ambitions” have come and gone.

I can honestly say that this past year, my 19^th year was one of the most explosive & defining years of my life…I continually look back to a year ago & am amazed at how I’ve changed and grown.

I think I’ve realized more than anything how absolutely brilliant my Abba is, and how much I am dependent on His Grace. He is seriously so good.

I have more dreams than ever before. I am so excited for the years to come, and all the people and places I will have the privilege of encountering.

I have learned about process. Mainly, the tension between living life completely alive, but still being in a process. Of knowing where you’re going, but being in the midst of something entirely different, that ultimately is what gets you to your destination.

It’s the difficult times that teach us all we need—that build the character we need to sustain the course of our dreams.

As I enter adulthood, I am reminded of what I want to be remembered for long after I leave this world. I want to leave an inheritance rich of dreams fulfilled, life lived, new and beautiful ambitions realized, and taking every moment captive. I want to be known as a woman who fully lived. Who faced fear and adversity in the eye, and succeeded in all her heart set out to do.

Peace. Love. Joy.