Unfolding

Okay here it goes... this is going to be (for me) a very emotional post. As you (if anyone even reads this) may have noticed by blogging has nearly ceased and that is for a myriad of reasons but daily I'm reminded of one particular reason. I have learned more in the past 6 months than EVER in my life. I just sit down and think about it and literally begin to weep. Weep because of how long I fought the will of God for my own selfish reasons, waiting for four years before I finally gave up my own justifications of why beauty school would need to take a back seat and  how making money in a successful mainstream career would be the best for me though now that I've started beauty school I know it's where I'm supposed to be. I've learned that to love isn't convienent and always the first thing I want to do but it's what ultimately brings me the most joy and God the most Glory. I've learned that I can't control everything or really anything and it ends up sucking me dry of any life and personality rather than giving it to God first thing. I've learned that some struggles never go away and will ALWAYS be prevalent and they will drag you down so far that you don't even see what reality is. I learned it's NOT SEXY to be bony even if you feel sexy.  I've learned I'm a woman with curves and not a girl anymore. I've learned it's okay to have some problem areas if you are doing what you love and living PASSIONATELY because at the end of the day when I know I made an impact on someone's life I could care less if I got in the best workout for the day. Some things CAN WAIT.  I've learned that life ain't always easy and some days I would love to relax and have a few moments to myself but this is the life I've been given so to complain about it is making it a whole lot harder. I've learned even the people who have it all from the outside, have just as many battles if not more as everyone else. I've learned that the people with the most money seem to be the most unhappy. I've learned that how a woman was brought up my her father affects her body image, self-worth, trust with a man, ability to accept love and every facet of her life. I've learned that it will ALL WORK OUT for the best and to just accept that. Most importantly I've learned that this life goes REALLY fast and I want to do what MATTERS most not what feels right or seems cool. To cease every second I've been given, LAUGH, cry and not to let fear conquer me but PROPEL me.

I've learned life ain't so bad with a boyfriend like so.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. -Romans 12:1 NLT

small world

It's far too often the times I think "we just don't get it''. As people across our own globe are praising God for living another day, we worry and stress about how we can get the next latest gadget and about the test we have this week. WHO FREAKIN CARES? Like honestly it's going to be fine. Work hard, do what you're supposed to and quit dwelling on it. There are issues for everyone, everywhere. Lets get off our pedestal and focus on the big picture.  Reality check; IT IS NOT ABOUT US. It is about sacrificially living and being willing to do what it takes to LOVE. Yea it hurts and yes you will have haters who can't accept that you go above and beyond what this world requires because you care more about how you appear and how you look to others.

    People will frazzle you and do what they can do de-rail you but the focus will remain the same whether we see it always or not. There will always be one purpose we are made to fulfill and how we get there is not the highlight of our life. We're going to end our lives at the same spot as if we stress about small, petty garbage or if we enjoy the journey and pick out what is important. It is SO UGLY when people lose their personality to their circumstances and I know this because I do it and look at myself asking "who am I? are my circumstances really dictating my life right now?" It'll be fine. There are people who have a lot of horrific things happening to them and they still seem to make it and even some with an outstanding attitude.

  I don't want my world to become so small all I see are things that I will never remember.
I want it to be so BIG even my largest problem is still tiny compared to most of the worlds.
I believe when we let go of our own worries and anxieties we are left with one emotion, JOY!

Like or Love.

Hi! Whoa it's been far longer than anticipated and every single day I hope I have but a minute to spare and blog quick and though tonight/today/multiple days looks better than any other- I had to give in. I've missed this whole shananigans but it has been really great to have a break, think and just do a life but I have definitely been itching to get back at this whole blog thing and read and write what's going on in everyone's lives!

     In the past year I have grown and learned more than I could ever of imagined and can only attribute that to the same God that gets me through every single day. He has molded me into a woman with a lot of work left to do but a woman that he has created do a divine purpose. I've learned to walk away from those things that seem most alluring yet keep me from prospering, I've learned to let go and let God, I've been broken and rebuilt time and time again until all I could was literally cry out to the Lord on my knees, I ran a 1/2 marathon,  I began cosmetology school, I began dating my fabulous boyfriend/ best friend, I've learned it's not okay in any circumstance to condemn or look down upon another person but most of all I've learned in the past month more than ever, to love.

     I always believed love just happens or if it's meant to be it'll all just fall into place and everything will be alright. Family, future husband, friends... whoever, I was a firm believer that "whatever is meant to be, will be" and love would just happen as it was supposed. Well I was wrong and after hearing countless times "Do you love him?" I began pondering and searching for a meaning of this word we hear numerous times daily that is used in the same sentence as the latest OPI nail polish (the rapid dry is great) or I-phone.

    Naturally the greatest act of love ever performed, God giving up and watching his son, Jesus Christ to be slaughtered to death on the cross and tortured for days was my go to. This was an act of pure sacrifice for both the father and son for us sinners who are made clean by this. He loves all of us, no matter how ungrateful we are today, tomorrow or yesterday. I began to realize how unconditional this love is. There are times when I downright walked away from his hand that was feeding me and wanted nothing to do with it but was still lavished in love. Which leads me to the eternity of his love. He doesn't just love me during a season of prosperity or growth but ALL THE TIME, FOREVER.  Overall it has been incredibly freeing and joyful in knowing that the one love we need we will always have and that literally there is nothing more perfect of an example for love than Jesus.

Lately

I've returned from a Christmas here...

Name that city... yep Seattle

with Him...

Poulsbo Island, Washington.

Returned back to my beautiful home...

These sunsets never get old

And continue to do what makes me happy...

Cutting his hair.

"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."

-1 peter 4:8

Focus

    This one is a bit more personal than the past few posts. As I was working today I realized FOCUS is what keeps us moving forward, staying sane and not losing sight of this awesome life we've got ahead of us. The very thing that I struggle with the most is the very thing that makes me the happiest. It is something I work for, it does not come naturally and quite frankly the thought of it freaks me out, FOCUS. 

     It didn't strike me today until I was listening to music that I realized how music has this innate ability to capture my attention and put my head in the exact place it needs to be. It's like all the worries that are not in my control but I still stress over are forgotten and placed in their own basket out of reach while I'm living out the current moment. That mindset where you have no choice but to be content, to be so lost in the here and now that your heart is full and satisfied? Focus is not about the WHAT but the WHY. Why do I attend cosmetology school for 11 hours 3 days a week alongside working?  Because the least I can with my passion is serve others, because I know without a doubt this is what God wants me to do, because in the depths of my soul I know there is nothing else I would rather do.... It is the why that wakes me up every morning and allows me to be GLAD for another beautiful day-because I know that it's all part of a grander purpose that will slowly come together.
     Lord knows, I'll need an extra dose of the aforementioned (hint: focus) coupled with four cups (per hour) of coffee this week as I'm packing, shopping, wrapping and mentally preparing for Seattle to go visit the boyfriend and family on Thursday, which I can not wait for! I hope everyone has an awesome week before Christmas!

Baking Christmas Party with some beautiful 

sista-friends

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

      do not depend on your own understanding.

  Seek his will in all you do,

      and he will show you which path to take.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

Season of Giving

Happy Last Sunday before CHRISTMAS! 

     This December has been especially meaningful to me as my life is in a much better place than last year, full of HOPE and JOY for what is, and what is to come!

Every single day I'm blown away by THIS!

Hiking Here!

Eating THIS x 783

Newest Creation;
Scooped out Cinnamon-Raisin bagel
Cream Cheese
Organic Peanut Butter
Nanners
Cinnamon/sugar 
Pure Maple Syrup
= DELICIOUS

+ some organic Strawberry jam

 A la mode a BIG Christmas tree!

 living with Her!

God is GOOD and in this season of giving I am reminded he has given me MORE THAN ENOUGH.

 "For a child is born to us,
      a son is given to us.
   The government will rest on his shoulders.
      And he will be called:
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

-Isaiah 9:6

The Way I Are

HELLO Darlings! VERY brief post here! 

Just wanted to say I have so life is really good and never sell it short of that.

We get CRAZY busy and our worlds start spinning and hair starts flying but when we look back at our lives in even a year we'll remember the times we had fun, laughed and were straight up RIDICULOUS. 

He & I, in San Francisco, September 2010

Celebrating 10 months of THIS

Tomorrow! 

Hope y'all have AWESOME days, sucking life dry for what it's worth!

 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

      for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

-Matthew 5:3.

    

Duh-sers

Good Tidings! (sounds Christmassy eh?!)

     So I was struck with the realization today that I can NOT do it all. Who would of thunk? It's one of the most refreshing experiences to be had. As I'm rushing from point to point subconsciously thinking that scurrying will help I eventually hit a climax, a peak where I realize I'm human. I'm me. It's then and only then that  I can choose to fully enjoy and ponder this life I'm living or be consumed by the dark fog of the world around me. By focusing on what blessings I've been given I can experience peace and joy in trusting that God will never let me fall. His agenda is a heck of a lot more strategic and intelligent than my most intricate plan. You know sometimes the best thing is really just to be dropped on our faces a few times, real hard until we hit that breaking point and begin to realize that the right plan is that there is no plan and we need to be flexible yet diligent in each and every pursuit.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.   -Romans 15:13

      I used to think I was the only one who struggled with all that encompasses this life. The future, the present, our bodies, school, careers, family, social... And then I realized somewhere between going to school with 99% women and working with majority women that we all face it. There is something empowering about a woman who can be real with herself and others.  It's the women who can be open with her imperfections while embracing them, who walks in a room with a glow, who wears clothes that express who she is not who the media says she is,  a woman who speaks up for what is right, takes care of her body, mind and soul,  a woman who gives confidence to other women instead of breaking them down to build themselves up and a woman who is happy to be herself. YOU are this woman. WE are this woman.  Instead of covering up our vulnerabilities and struggles and going through our days in that foggy state, let's truly display our colors, personalities and experiences and enrich one anothers lives while doing so.
  
    Also if any of y'all need a haircut my school is doing an awesome fundraiser for Phoenix Children's hospital this Thursday, December 16 from 10a-12, $5 haircuts and $5 waxing!

Enjoy this lovely Christmassy Season with your favorite people!