i have been blessed

i have been blessed

I thank God for I've been given at the end of everyday!

This song is really what describes my life. I have been blessed with so much more than i deserve in my life. I have been given an awesome family, wonderful friends, an amazing boyfriend,a wonderful job, and a great support system while at school!!!! I can not imagine my life without any of these things and I truly do not think God enough for each of them. I think that is mostly human nature though- we take for granted all the things that we grow accustomed to. My goal for tomorrow is to be thankful for everything, even the things that I see daily- because I HAVE BEEN BLESSED!


Love,
Mindy

learning to enjoy the snow days

Today ASU was blessed with a Snow day, I however was not. I have class at 10 am and then 12. Classes were canceled after 1 pm. Though I was not given a snow day I was given a reason to go back to my apartment and get into my pj's at 1:15 in the afternoon (and that never happens for me). Today as I enjoyed my afternoon off I watched the Bachelor. My sister always tells me that I am crazy for watching that show, but this season there is one girl whose story has touched my heart.
Emily, from Charlotte NC has captured my heart as the one I think Brad should pick. She is beautiful, southern, a mom, and does not sit and cause drama toward any of the other girls. She is truly a genuine individual. Everyone on the show says "Emily is so nice you cant hate her" and that is something that I want people remember me by.

I hope that I flood everyone that i come in contact with nice words and spirit. I read last night during my devotion a passage in Proverbs. "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." -Proverbs 16:24
As I think about this verse I try to imagine what my life would be like if I never complain, never fuss, and never try to not do something. I know people will take notice. I know that I will not even not complain-but its worth a shot. It is worth a shot to bring out pleasant words that are healing to the bones of your friends, family, classmates, coworkers, and even roommates. Thinking pleasantly sure does put you in a better mood as well.
So this week, I am going to be "so nice that they cant hate me" I hope you will try it too.

Love,
Mindy

kenya

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

a trip worth remembering

Today on my post I want to share with yall a journey that impacted my life in such a wonderful way. In 2009 when most high school seniors are thinking about Senior week at the beach with their friends I was anxiously awaiting my up coming mission trip to Kenya, Africa. This trip little did I know would still affect me two years later, and I would still be able to picture the roads of the town, smell the air of the village, and hear the laughter of the children as we walked through the streets. This trip was truly something that I know God planned especially for me to experience-and I am so very grateful.
While in Kenya, my team worked at a orphanage. I fell in LOVE! not only did I fall in love with the children, but I fell in love with working with children, and using my gifts and talents that God designed me to have. I tell many people daily that I can relate to a child more than someone my own age. I am really a big kid that never grew up-and I think that because I am called to work with children, that is the way God wants me to be. As we painted a bedroom for these children and I got to teach Kenyans my age how to paint and share laughter and dreams and fears with each other.
I am so glad that I got to experience this trip. My church is getting another trip together and I so hate that I am unable to go again this year. This trip truly changed my life and I will reunite with Kenya and the other part of my heart that I left there one day soon. I know that God will allow me to go back. He has given me such a passion for this country.

What passion has God given you?
"To have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life. And there are three components to that purpose, one is to find out who you really are, to discover God, the second is to serve other human beings, because we are here to do that and the third is to express your unique talents and when you are expressing your unique talents you lose track of time" Deepak Chopra

enjoy a few of my favorite pictures of my trip.

things i cant wait for!

Here lately I have been thinking of things that I can not wait to experience in this Decade of my life. Let me share a few of them with you!

1. I can not wait to Graduate from Appalachian State University with a BS in Child Development: B-K Education.

2. I can not wait to get married and create a cute little house that me and my husband can call our own.

3. I absolutely cannot wait to become a MOM! after all I have been raised by one of the best- I cant wait to be one of the best.

4. I can not wait to see what all the many things God has planned for my life that I dont even know about yet!

Though I am enjoying everyday of my life these are just some of the things that I am excited for in the coming years of my life. Though some are closer than others I am just as excited for each one. I know God has designed me with a purpose, a specific person to be with, and is planning all of these things now as I grow more toward him each day. This is my life, and with his help it'll be all that I've ever imagined it to be.

Love,
Mindy

Two Decades Old

Today marks the day.
The day that I turn 20 years old!

I have been told that once you hit 20 your life speeds by, but I already feel like my life is speeding by. I feel like yesterday I was walking the halls of North Iredell High School as a little Freshman, in my jean skirt (yes i do still remember what I wore on my first day of high school). And now I am making my way across campus, class, work, and meetings at Appalachian each day. I feel as if my days are feel with going rather than remembering.
This year marks my year of trying to slow down and "smell the roses." I will enjoy the 800 ft of snow that we get each week in Boone ( i know im being very sarcastic) because one day I'll be gone from Boone, and work will be canceled due to snow. I will slow down to remember the times I spend with my friends, sorority sister, and enjoy the moments with my family even more. I will savor each moment like it is my last.

This year God has blessed me! He introduced me to a great group of girls that I can not picture my life without now. He has shown me his unfailing love through all 64 of them! I can honestly say that I have grown so much in my faith and will continue to grow so much within the next years. I am challenging myself each day to live out my faith! I want to shine my light to everyone I come into contact with. Yes I know that I may have a bad day and not feel like shinning that light but with Gods help he will use me in how my attitude is to that day.
"I am convinced that attitude is the key to success or failure in almost any of life's endeavors. Your attitude-your perspective, your outlook, how you feel about yourself, how you feel about other people-determines your priorities, your actions, your values. Your attitude determines how you interact with other people and how you interact with yourself." Carolyn Warner
I am now setting out to have the best attitude that I can despite circumstances.

Love,
Mindy