a coffee date...

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about how we are A WEEK AND A HALF away from Christmas! My nails are painted red, my Christmas pajamas are out, my playlists are updated... as a self-proclaimed Grinch, my heart is growing and bursting with Christmas joy! (But please note, I will always and forever hate eggnog. And all the people said "AMEN".)

If we were on a coffee date, I would ask you about your marshmallow to hot chocolate ratio. In "The Holiday", Jude Law gives his girls each five marshmallows per cup, and that's just not okay. I am a handful, sometimes two, kind of girl. (PS: I have watched this movie about six times already this season, don't judge me.)

If we were on a coffee date, we would probably talk about healthy boundaries, back pockets, and biblical promises. And I would probably start crying. 

If we were on a coffee date, I would ask you how your soul is doing, really doing.

If we were on a coffee date, I would confess that lately I have been living in a lot of fear and insecurity; prayer, worship playlists, and Scripture have been a soothing balm to my heart over these past few weeks.  

If we were on a coffee date, I would share this devotional reading for A.W. Tozer that I found this week. 

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about 2018 and what we are expectant for in the coming year. For me, I already have a feeling that 2018 is going to be full and stretching. What about you?

on my Christmas card, my Ebenezer...

As I grow older, nothing brings me more joy in the Christmas season than to receive Christmas cards from friends and people whom I consider family. I love reading through the updates, seeing all of the matching outfits, and oo-ing and ah-ing over pretty designs and words. Also, I feel the need to tell you that one of the couples from my church (and very dear friends) has a photo of President Obama holding their sweet baby girl on their Christmas card which means they definitely won Christmas.

Over the past few years, I have wanted to make a Christmas card. But here is the deal... I am single. Is a single woman allowed to make a Christmas card? Is that awkward? What would I even put on it? A photo of just myself? Of me and a dog? (I don't even have a dog!) Christmas cards are for married people, for big families who have lived big years, at least, that's what I have always thought. To me, I felt like if I made a Christmas card, it would highlight the lack I feel in my life... no husband, no children, no family. Just me in a field of Christmas trees. Festive, but lonely. 

This year, I made a Christmas card. It's festive and full of life; they are full of my favorite memories and my favorite people. As I hand them out to my community, their excitement and joy overwhelms me. This card may just be a card to my friends, one that will be set on a mantle or hung on a garland, but to me it serves as an ebenezer, a mark of God's goodness in my life. I look to this card and see fullness rather than lack; my life is FULL of people and friends and adventures and ministry and it's beautiful.

In 1 Samuel 7, we see that Samuel commemorates his victory over the Philistines by raising a stone, an ebenezer. This Hebrew "stone of help" would remind him of God's faithfulness, that He has been his strength, his portion, his literal rock. 
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"Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us..."" - 1 Samuel 7:12

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This Christmas card allows me to see Him and say the same as Samuel, thus far the Lord has helped me. Where I perceive a lack in my life, Jesus has filled it. After all, that is what Christmas is all about, right? Our fulfillment, our Savior, has arrived. 

Thus far the Lord has helped me, what a beautiful truth to remember. 

a coffee date...

If we were on a coffee date, it would be late morning and we would order something festive and delicious because it's a sin not to this time of year.

If we were on a coffee date, I'd give you a Christmas card. This is the very first year that I created a Christmas card (more on that later!) and I am pretty excited about them. It's so fun and I am questioning why I didn't start this sooner.

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about Christmas. It's a season of mixed emotion, a two-sided coin for so many; one side is incredible hope, the other side is unimaginable pain. We would talk about our sides. 

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about how 2016 flew by! I would ask you about your plans for the new year. Did you make resolutions? Did you pray over a word?  I would  also ask you what you have planned for the holidays. I have two weeks off and I plan to spend as much time with as many people and reading as many books and eating at as many fun places as I can! Tell me what you have in the works.

If we were on a coffee date, we would create space for transparency and vulnerability. We need more of that in our lives, don't you think?

If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you about the new book that I just ordered. 

If we were on a coffee date, we would chat about "Gilmore Girls" and "Fuller House" and "This Is Us" because really, how could we not. 

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about Advent. What are your thoughts on this season? Are you reading any books or devotionals as a guide?

If we were on a coffee date, what would you want to chat about?

on treasuring and pondering...

The Son of God just entered the world, in flesh and blood.
The angels appeared.
The shepherds came.

And Mary treasured and pondered...

I love this, this beautiful depiction of wisdom and grace and expectancy; she did not sit in fear, she did not question what was next, she did not anxiously shy away from those who wanted to see Jesus... she treasured and pondered upon those first moments with her Son, The Christ. 
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"But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart..." - Luke 2:19

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I am sure that she was overwhelmed, how could you not be? It was the start of a new season, not just for Mary and Joseph, but for the world as a whole. New seasons bring new fears and insecurities; when you enter foreign territory (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually) there is a quick tendency to question, to build up walls. The Enemy thrives in that place because it makes his job easy, after all, he is the Great Accuser. Now, I cannot say that I am in a season that is remotely close to that of giving birth to the Messiah, but I sat there at church this Sunday, and this spoke so deeply to the places in my heart... Treasuring and pondering, what a beautiful depiction of the Saviors first moments on Earth.

I want to be a woman who treasures "all these things", a woman who ponders upon "all these things". Right now, I am in a season of pondering, but I too readily forget to treasure. I am really good at pondering, dwelling, and over-analyzing. Those things come very easily to my heart. I am not a skeptic, but I naturally question what is right, good, best, godly. It is good to question, to ask for wisdom, to desire understanding, but sometimes that desire blinds me to the treasure; in my pondering, I don't want to miss the treasuring.

Mary could have just pondered. She could have dwelt on her seeming incapability, her insecurity, her irrational fears. But she chose to treasure; she treasured the moments with her new Son, with the shepherds and angels gathered around, with her soon-to-be husband at her side. 

Pondering and treasuring, a holy balance. My prayer during this new, expectant season is that my heart would be softened in ways that it needs to be, that I would not get so wrapped up in thoughts and fears that I would forget to treasure the fun, the newness, the possibility. 

Friends, may we be quick to ponder, but even quicker to treasure. 

a coffee date...

If we were on a coffee date, we would sit by the big windows, letting the sun in, soaking in all the people watching.

If we were on a coffee date, we’d talk about Dressember. Typically, I am against the idea of social media as a platform for real change. BUT, the heart behind this is rooted in truth and advocacy and awareness. I am thankful to participate in something that aids towards acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly.  

If we were on a coffee date, we’d talk about the fear of rejection and my light bulb moment this past month.

If we were on a coffee date, I’d confess to watching too many episodes of 19 Kids & Counting and bawling my eyes out as these girls leave their families and get married. The Duggar Family is such a beautiful, loving, close-knit unit and I love that they display Christ in such a lovely way. Sure, sometimes they seem a little unorthodox and counter cultural, but we can’t say they don’t love each other and the Lord. Well done, Duggars, well done!

If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you all about what I am learning through reading 1 & 2 Peter right now, and that the Lord is doing some serious work in my heart through those pages.  

If we were on a coffee date, I’d ask you what you have planned for Christmas and how you feel about it all.

*These posts are inspired by this lady. She's a new favorite.*

a coffee date...

If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that being overwhelmed and anxious and a little bit scared does NOT mean that you are depressed, clinically anxious, or in need of help. Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in hard things that we forget who we are, and that's kind of normal. Don't let fear or people tell you who you are, stay rooted in truth.

If we were on a coffee date, I would remind you that it’s okay to take a break. Take some time to rest, to love on yourself, to do something silly and seemingly stupid.

If we were on a coffee date, I would be totally transparent with you about the current storm I am navigating. It is teaching me to trust in the manna God gives for TODAY, not for tomorrow, but today. Trust Him for who He is today, not for who you think He will be tomorrow.

If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you all about the silly things that my junior high girls say. For the love, they will be the reason I have wild wrinkles and laugh lines at a young age. Alex from Target? Ebola? Farmers.com? Yes, we talk about all of that business.

If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you about how two nights ago I dreamed that I was getting married, and, the best part? LANCE BASS MADE MY WEDDING CAKE. It was a backyard wedding, complete with twinkle lights and long tables and a cake made by my favorite boy band boy. If that's not one of the best dreams you have ever heard of, I don't know what is. (#nsyncforlife #allaboutthatbass)

If we were on a coffee date, I would ask you if you have already planned out your Christmas wish list, broke out your favorite Christmas Spotify playlist, and made impulse purchases at Target (their Christmas section… WHY?). I would then judge you, because it’s only November 5, for the love!

*These posts are inspired by this lady. She's a new favorite.*