21! :)

My 21st birthday was definitely under the definition of adventure.
I woke up on my birthday to go to class at 9.  When I opened my eyes, I noticed my left eye was throbbing in pain and I looked in the mirror to find that it was extremely bloodshot.  I got really worried, and thought, "Of course this happens on my birthday."  If you know me, and have for awhile, it is a tradition that something bad literally happens every year.  I'm sort of used to it now.
Well, I called my mom after going to the health center and getting my eye probed and prodded and flushed and dyed.  I was really upset and worried that something was wrong.  I was thinking worse case scenario.  (of course!)  :)
So the health center refers me to the Muncie Eye Center.  I would recommend it to ANYONE.  They are amazing.  I was so scared I would have to wear those stupid sunglasses to my 21st birthday party if I got my eyes dilated, so my mom came and met me there.  (thanks, Mom!)  While in the waiting room I got to overhear the sweetest conversation between the oldest couple I have ever seen.  They were talking about how marriage is viewed by 1 in 2 people as obsolete.  :(  The old lady was so saddened by this.  It reminded me of what I want to be like with my future spouse.  I want to be able to be that old couple in the eye doctor talking about how we made it 70 years of marriage, and disprove that stupid statistic.  :)
On my way into the examination room, the nurse named Kelly was cracking me up.  She kept talking about how I am the youngest patient she's seen in a while.  I was one of the only patient's that could keep up with her walking pace.  :)  She also thought it was hilarious I was there on my 21st birthday when a few ladies ahead of me that was being checked was celebrating her 91st birthday.  :) It's crazy to think that's 70 years in my future.
They checked my eyesight and asked me a bunch of questions, then examined my eye.  The doctor, Dr. Singh (she's amazing) told me that I had an ULCER in my eyeball.  How does that happen??????!!!!!  Well apparently putting in completely new contacts can cause you to get an infection in your eye if you aren't careful...just a warning for those of you who wear contacts...be EXTREMELY careful and wash your hands thoroughly before putting them in your eyes.
She prescribed me some eye drops that sting like heck and give me the worst taste in my mouth (feels like I sprayed Chloraseptic in my throat).  It's the weirdest reaction I've ever gotten from an eye drop, that's for sure!  Well, I had to put them in every hour that I was awake, and had to wake up every 2 hours throughout the night to apply the eye drops as well.  BUT...a very positive thing came out of this...I got to miss classed the day after my 21st birthday!  :)  Plus, it hurts to focus on something, so it wouldn't have done me any good to go to class in the first place.
After my appointment, my mom and I ran some errands and tried to get a parking pass but realized all the way through the process that I wasn't able to get one for her...she had to get it herself.  POINTLESS.
So with that aside, and the fact that I had to wear my "teacher" glasses to my party, I had a wonderful time anyway.  Kelley Wiley and the Warner's surprised me by coming up to Muncie to celebrate with me and little Miss Abby Warner made my night when she gave me a tiara and necklace that matched hers!  :)  I love her to death!
Adding to the adventure of that day was my birthday cake.  My mom wanted to order a Glee cake but Walmart didn't have one, so she ordered a Barbie cake.  What came out of that order was some off-brand fairy princess cake!  :)  It was funny and cute.  Abby loved it and got to keep the princess figurine.
Then came the drinks and food!
I drank one strawberry margarita, one raspberry margarita, and a few sips of a disgustingly strong pina colada.  We went to Puerta Vallarta Mexican restaurant in Muncie (my favorite!).  I barely ate anything, so you can guess what the entertainment was after dinner...me.  Everyone on the ride back to the dorm thought it was so hilarious!  :)  It was so fun!
There are plenty of other little things that happened, but it definitely will be a birthday I never forget!  Thank you everyone for all of the birthday wishes, and thank you to those who came to my party!  It was an amazingly adventurous day!  :)  I love you all!

Stolen

Some may think of the world "stolen" as something negative.  Well, the meaning of that word completely changed in my life when I heard the song, "Stolen" by Brandon Heath.  Yes, I am on a Brandon Heath binge right now.  His new album is incredibly powerful and brings my heart so much joy when I can relate to the songs he sings.  It's like he perfectly describes my every feeling.  :)  This song, "Stolen" truly spoke words of my struggles, and how God helped me overcome them.

I am going to break down the lyrics to further describe how they relate to my life, and hopefully they can relate to you as well:

I'm a fugitive 
Running from the life that I was meant to live 
Looking for somewhere that I can lay my head 
I'm lucky if I make it through the night 
But I can't sleep 
Knowing that You're one more step ahead of me 
I'm a fool for ever thinking You'd just let me go 
That's not the way it's ever gone before 
I'm Yours 


Jesus really became one of the last things/people I thought about a few months ago.  He was my Savior, but I ignored Him and tried to live my life without conviction of my constant sin.  I did things I always promised I wouldn't.  I put people about my Savior.  I was living my life in the dark and knew it, but refused to change it.  I felt if I had changed it my boyfriend would leave me, my friends wouldn't like me, and I would feel left out of the loop of the world.  How stupid.  :(  God wasn't going to let me live the rest of my life like that.  He interceded when I least expected it...when I wasn't paying any attention.


You catch me like a thief in the night 
You hold me when I put up a fight 
You chase me when I run from Your light 
Because You love, You won't give up 
'Til my heart is stolen 


How true this chorus is.  He caught me like a thief in the night (when I least expected it).  He held me when I put up a fight (living in sin and refusing to change).  He chased me when I ran from His light (showed me I couldn't lose Him and needed to turn around and go the other way).  His love never gave up on me...but someone else's did.  My boyfriend's love faded and he left me.  He (and I) knew it wouldn't work if we were on separate paths.  Jesus stole my heart.  :)  He knew it was the only way I would listen...to take away someone I put all of of my faith and love in, instead of Him.  I see it now, like I never had before.


I'm trying to understand that life comes after dying 
To embrace that I'm a slave until I'm captured 
But You would never use a lock or a key 
'Cause I am free 


I had to accept what happened and the death I felt inside my heart.  I had to accept that things would be better.  God has a glorious plan for my life, way more than I had for myself.  I can never imagine or plan out a life for me that could compare to His plan for me.  He never used a lock or a key on me.  He gave me the choice to accept it.  I am free when I have Jesus in my heart.  I feel so open to love and life, now. I have escaped the power and hold Satan and sin had on me.  :)  God captured me and never let go.

I could change my name, cover all my tracks 
But I'm wrong to think I could lose the past 
'Cause You found me here and You took me back 
Once a criminal, now a prodigal



I am truly changed.  I was a criminal and now I am a prodigal.  :)  Praise God for his love and faith in me, and the changes I have made!  It took me a really long time to realize how wonderfully powerful a life lived for God could be.  Now I am experiencing joy I have never felt before, and my heart is on fire! I love my true Savior, Jesus Christ.  :)  He stole my heart, and no one will ever steal it back...


Psalm 147:3 
He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your cares upon him; for he cares for you.

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 

Proverbs 3:5,6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to those that have a broken heart, and he saves those who have a contrite spirit.


Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

I could go on forever, but I will leave it up to you to trust that God has a plan, and He will show you the joy like you have never felt before.  I hope this encourages you to take a step back and reflect on your life...are you living the way God intended, or are you living it for others and for yourself?  Let Him steal your heart away from all those distractions and your heart will be filled with His love!  :)  It's incredible and hard to describe, but you won't ever want to go back...

The Light in Me

I have a confession...

I.  am.  happy.  :)

Wanna know why????
Well it's because of this awesome man named Jesus.
I want to tell you a little about him, because he's the love of my life.

He died for me.
He hung on a cross to save me from my sins.
How amazing is that?
A man whom I have never met face-to-face, died for me!
It's because he loves me!

Wanna know something even cooler???
He died for YOU, too!
He hung on a cross to save you from your sins.
He loves YOU!

God knows every hair on your head...every freckle that was placed on your body...every tear that you have shed...and more importantly...he knows you better than you know yourself, because he created you!

He has changed my life.  It is a complete 180 degree turn from where I was in 2010.  This new year has become a new life for me.  I fell in love with Jesus in November of 2010 and was baptized a week later. I wanted to have nothing less than a personal relationship with the man who changed my life.  How could I not live for him?  He died for me.

I have so much to say about him and how he has changed my life, but it would take the rest of my life to be able to explain the joy I feel inside.  Actually, that is what I am going to do for the rest of my life...tell people of the Great News.  I want everyone to know this feeling I have in my soul.  I am on fire for God!

Since this will be a brief blog to just start my story, I thought I would include a song that has been changing my life as well.  It's also perfect timing since this song will be included on a c.d. being released this week!  (Make sure you get it!)  Here's the song that perfectly describes how my life has been transformed from a dark and twisted world into a brilliant light that is shining in my soul.

The Light In Me
(Brandon Heath, Dan Muckala)

My life before You
I was a flame burning down
I was burning out
But You knew me better
For You there was never a doubt
Not since You gave me life

Something was different
I knew it the instant
You put the light in me

The spark
The shot to the heart
You are the hope that leads me
Out of the dark
You let Your love shine down
So that the world can see
You put the light in me
The light, You put the light in me
The light, You put the light in me
The light, You put the light in me
The light, You put the light in me

You are the Maker
You tell the sun when to rise
I'm just a house on a hill
But You make me brighter
Than all the stars in the sky
Keep me from growing dim

‘Cause in Your perfection
I'm just a reflection
So pull me closer to You
I'll catch like a fire
And I'll hold You higher
‘Cause You put the light in me

I'll raise it high, I'll let it show
From the roof tops down to the streets below
In day and night, You will be known
And all will see
You put the light in me

© 2011 Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing / Big Skwawka Music (ASCAP) All rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing and Big Skwawka Music admin. by Sony/ATV. / Wintergone Music (ASCAP) (admin. worldwide by Kobalt Music Publishing, LTD.)