His Purpose, Not My Plans

Eight years. Eight years and yet it feels like yesterday. Yesterday that I kissed her cheek.  Yesterday that I put on my Easter dress, the last dress she had seen me in, to wear to her funeral. Yesterday that I realized that I had to grow up. By myself. (Naturally, miss independent came out.) Then I reflect on all that has happened since then. I really, truly have grown up. I switched schools. We moved houses. I made amazing memories in high school. I was president of a service club. I became a head teacher at EFM. My Nana passed away. I graduated number ten in my class. I traveled to Europe. I started college and moved to Columbia. I joined a sorority. I found a new church. My Grandma Tyler passed away. I made many wonderful friendships. I decided I was going to move right outside of Atlanta and do an amazing internship after my freshman year. So many things. I just wish, earnestly, more than anything, that my mom would've been here to see it. I know tha...

It is crazy how God works. Almost six years ago, I started volunteering at a ministry in Florence that would forever change my life. This was the very beginning of me at EFM. If you know me, then you know that East Florence Mission holds a very special place in my heart. At EFM, I grew physically (a whole inch!), I grew in my leadership skills, learning how to effectively manage and teach children with a loving and patient spirit, and I grew in my relationship with the Lord. I've learned how to work with children in very different situations than mine, and I've learned how to educate others on how they can help these same children. I've posted tons of pictures, written many many blogs about them, and learned that just when you think you can't do it for one more second because it is so hard.. God gives you the strength to keep going. I learned an incredible amount in six years. And I knew the whole time, knew when I closed the door to my classroom the last n...

"WHAT did you do?" "Does it hurt?" I am eighteen years old, and I've never broken a bone.. never had major surgery other than my tonsils out (I was two) and my wisdom teeth out… never pulled/twisted/sprained anything, never had an x-ray. So I posted my last post. Trusting God. Great things will come. And they are happening, they are coming into fruition. And I was at a point of okay God, fully trusting. I know Your plans are greater than mine, I trust You. And then three days later, I popped my knee out while dancing with friends, just being silly. And it HURT. It was Friday, I thought I'd be fine by Monday. It was just sore, right? Wrong. I went to the doctor on campus Monday morning. Who sent me to one of the campus sports' doctors. He told me that no, it wasn't just sore. I had dislocated my knee and in the process partially torn the ligaments holding my kneecap in place. Ouch. I had an x-ray and was told that there wasn't an...

Do you ever have the problem of knowing that you want to say something, but not knowing how you want to say it? That's been me for the past month. Seriously. Christmas with Jess This will be my 8th, and I'm determined to let it be my final, attempt at writing this post. All my other writings have been good, but they just didn't turn out how I wanted them to. So here I am, back in my little writing nook that is the Panera near Target, starting fresh. I blame business of life first. Life got crazy. Christmas, and then New Years, and then I was sick, and then back to school. One of these is not like the others… still love my Clemson girls.  And then I started my media writing class…… And anything I ever thought I knew of writing was WRONG. Okay, maybe I'm being a little over-dramatic. But in reality, this class is mandatory for me as a PR major.. however it is meant for those wanting to work as journalists. Like for newspapers. We are writing stories ab...

It's only the 21st, and already traffic is crazy, the mall is packed, the grocery store lines are impossible, and I find myself getting annoyed with the business of the season. And just when I'm at my wits end, I remember my kids.  And the absolute joy they were last week (and almost always).  Maybe you're about at your breaking point with the stress of the season. If so, I hope this helps. First of all, this would not have happened without the people who read my blog, shared the need, and donated money.  And those who prayed, they deserve a lot of thanks especially. We really were at a loss of what to do. There wasn't money, and there was a chance that these kids wouldn't get "Christmas" this year. And then you all stepped in, and went above and beyond. Over $1700. THAT'S OVER A THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS. I am still in complete shock over it. God provided. He used each of you as a part of the plan to bring Chris...