A reflection on my twenties…. ****

In FOUR days, my twenties will end and with the entrance of my birthday, I will enter into my thirties. Wow. I have been wanting to be thirty since I was fifteen, so, I can barely believe that it is almost here. On that Thursday, my thirtieth birthday will be celebrated with an 80's themed roller skating party and Old Chicago Pizza deliciousness. So, with my twenties ending and my thirties starting, it got me thinking about my twenties…. so, I dedicate this post to my years 20-29!!!

I did the crazy twenty something stuff------ maybe my crazy was different than a lot of other twenty somethings, but I lovedddddd being crazy with friends….

Job-wise I was a server for the majority of my twenties which afforded me the time to be able to spend with my friends.

I had the joy of spending my twenties with the most amazing and quality group of friends. I met this extraordinary collaboration of guys and girls through the church I attended. We all served as youth leaders and friendships grew as a result. We went to church together, served together, watched movies together, and the besttttt was that this amazing group of friends could have fun in parking lots. What was more fun was that we could all have a blast, be crazy and we didn't need alcohol or any other substances to create fun. We were just fun.

****Cazi, Danny, Brandon, Mindy, Chris, Drew, Jacob, Ericka, Lindsay, Jamie, Sean, Rob, Greta, Doug, Kevin, Stephanie, Seth, Tommy, Shannan, Alaina, Johanna, Meagan, and me. ****

Together, we celebrated birthdays, adventured, took vacations, forked our pastor's yard, went to numerous conferences, create random projects for the church, cried and supported each other through life's chaos. I may not be near them, but these people are closest to my heart.

What was more interesting was that the majority of us did not see college as our current journey of life, so we were able to hang out into the wee hours of the evening---- and thus was created A-B-C-D (Amy-Brandon-Cazi-Danny)…. the ones who did not need sleep and thus we deducted that sleep was overrated…. which paved the way for some pretty fun late night escapades.

These friends made the best twenties a girl could ever hope for.

In my twenties, I had my first love (at twenty-three). I fell in love with my best friend. He made me feel special and cherished. It was not meant to be forever, but I am deeply thankful for our season of being loved by him and to love him. I greatly respect him and cherish the memories that we shared together.

In my twenties, I also got the deep joy to go to Africa. I fell head over heels with the people and discovered my heart for missions and passion to see the world know my Jesus.

Thanks to Jamie Lauren and my Dad, I discovered my love for running!!!!

                   ***I ran my first half marathon with my Dad in Columbus in 2 hours and 45 minutes***

                              *** I ran my first full marathon in Nashville in 5 hours and 33 minutes***

In my twenties, I became an auntie to my amazing nephew-- Asher Nathaniel David!!!

In my twenties, I lived in Ohio, Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Africa, and Tennessee.

In my twenties, I went on a missions trip to Haiti where I met an amazing group of God lovers and we loved on the beautiful and incredible Haitian people!!!

This was my rockstar princess moment--- Chad, Brian, and I went to the Dove Awards 2013 here in Nashville….

In my twenties, I also met the amazing group of people--- most of us are not from Nashville, but our stories have led us here and we met at Kairos and have created memories…

I am so grateful for the moments that happened throughout my twenties--- it may not have played out the way that I expected the story to be written within my twenties, but I am so thankful for a fantastic twenties and I am excited to see what my thirties will look like. Farewell, twenties, thank you for the memories, moments, adventures, quality friendships…. the best is yet to come….

Oceans…..

So, the song "Oceans" by Hillsong United is one of the most popular worship songs currently. There is a line in this song that has been wreckkkkking me--- in such a beautiful and powerful way. It is within the bridge (which is my favorite part of songs)…. and it speaks these powerful words….

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders"

…where my trust is without borders. Where my trust does not contain any if, when, or but's. Where my trust is pure, organic, and genuine trust. It is one thing to say, I trust God. It is a whole different story to walk it out. It is a different story to live it out. In one month, ONE MONTH from today, I will be going to Grenada on a missions trip. This is the BEST birthday present from Jesus. I am excited beyond all words. Between the here and now, there is A LOT of trust….. preparing physically and spiritually. I want to be full on ready--- And I want to give my 100% now and onwards towards this adventure. I have to trust that as I step out, that He will meet me. His timing is not mine, but I've realized that another line in the song Oceans is this truth ----

"so I will call upon your name
and keep my eyes above the waves
when oceans rise
my soul will rest in your embrace"

So many times in life I want to look at the waves and focus on the circumstances and the what I can see parts of life and I lose perspective. Instead of looking at the waves, I need to set my gaze on my God and who He is--- what He can do through me--- that I am the middle man and He is the authority---He is the strength--He is the provider--- I just let go and trust Him. That lyric grabs me- "when oceans rise- my soul will rest in your embrace." I do not need to know, I do not have to have it all figured out, I just need to stay tuned into Him, give my 100% and let Him move…. this where foundational blocks are formed.

"discomfort produces results." -dr. brene brown

So, today, I choose to surf the waves--- to set my eyes on Him--- to trust that He can create a story beyond my wildest dreams--- that He loves me and I will not be crushed by fear--- I will not be discouraged--- but as I set my gaze on Him and allow "my soul to rest in Your embrace" He will move---for Kingdom.

GRENADA!!!!!

Something super crazy exciting is happening this summer as God has opened a door of adventure. As you know, I have an exploding heart towards international missions. I am very proud to be an American, and yet, my heart greatly desires to pour out to the nations as well. On July 6^th through the 20^th, I will be heading to Grenada. While there I will be partnering with the organization: Grenada 24/7 (www.grenada247.org). This organization has dreams and vision for the country of Grenada to fully experience the true presence  and freedom of God.

So, you may be wondering, where is Grenada and why are going there? The where---Grenada is a small island nation that is only twenty miles wide and twelve miles long off of the coast of South America. Only about 100,000 people of mostly African descent call this country home and the official language is English.  On most maps, it is a minuscule point within the Caribbean and despite the exceeding amount of spices that grow on this beautiful island most of the Grenadian’s fight poverty and unemployment. In addition, only about 10% consider themselves Christ followers. Why am I choosing to spend some of my summer there? 

Well..... when I was living in Kentucky, I connected with an extraordinary woman by the name of Erica Zauflick. Our friendship became one that I just knew was going to ripple way beyond Kentucky. Today, Erica, her husband Justin, and their three beautiful children: Anton, Nikolai, and Cassie are on staff with Grenada 24/7 and have laid down their lives to serve the people as missionaries. 

My vision for this trip is Jesus. Cheesy? Maybe.... and yet Jesus’ and my dream and vision that we have created is not for this missions trip to be a “sexy missions trip.” I am going to serve the Zauflick family and Grenada 24/7.  I am traveling from Nashville, Tennessee to Grenada to love on the Grenadian’s as well as those serving on the ground every day. Erica shares about the early morning walks with the women in the village that she takes in the morning, caring for her children as a missionary wife and mother, and what the everyday life looks like for her. I am not going for the touristy experience of Grenada. I am going to serve, love, and be the hands and feet of Jesus and I am expecting the presence of God to take over each day. The everyday may translate into assisting the staff serving the teams that come during my time there, cooking meals, doing a VBS,  or cleaning. This adventure is a blank canvas and I am excited for what God will translate these fourteen days into.

AND I am exciteddddd!!!!!!!