His eye is on the sparrow.

"Are not two sparrows sold for just a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth far more than many sparrows."

{Matthew 10:29-31}

Do you know what it would look like to TRULY believe this? How do we actually release the worry that binds us and exhausts us? We all live under the shelter of the wing of God, but it takes our conscious effort to completely live and move and have our being in His presence. Once we understand that worry is the termite of the soul, that it is a form of selfishness, and that it cannot fix anything...we are free to accept the peace that transcends all understanding. When we SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and have confidence in God's ability to brilliantly reveal his plan to us, we can harness peace and joy while walking in FAITH.

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely,
And long for heaven and home?
.....
When Jesus is my portion,
A constant friend is he.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.
.....
I sing because I'm happy!
I sing because I'm free!
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know he watches me.

{His Eye Is On The Sparrow Hymn}

Summer bucket list.

{Backyard blossoms. Germantown, TN. May 2011.}

Hello from la la land! Two weeks ago, I left Tuscaloosa without saying the goodbyes my heart was prepared to say and without hugging so many of the friends that I may not ever see again. Now that I've packed up my life in Tuscaloosa and plopped it here in Germantown for about a month, I'm chillin' in limbo for a spell before I start this new chapter of my life in Houston. While there may still be a stack of junk piled higher than Denny Chimes sitting in the den, I've been a busy bee tying up loose ends from college life and making preparations for my big move to the Lone Star State. Inspired by all of your thrilling summer bucket lists, I've begun to knock some sweet adventures off of mine:

1. Graduate in 4 years with a 4.0. {I actually completed a New Year's Resolution!}
2. Land my dream job. {I'm officially employed!}
3. Meet my sweet new roommate. {Wow, God is so faithful.}
4. Find a ballin' crib. {Did you know rent costs an arm and a leg? Sheesh.}
5. Take a cooking class with my mom. {Recipes coming soon.}
6. Roadtrip to the beach with the besties and take too many pictures.
7. Spend quality time with my hilarious extended family.
8. Host a lingerie shower and fiesta party for Megan.
9. Watch Meg & JD tie the knot and party 'til the sun comes up.
10. Organize every closet, nook, and cranny I lay eyes on.
11. Celebrate my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary.
12. MOVE TO HOUSTON.
13. Decorate the living daylights out of my new apartment.
14. Find a church home.
15. Give the blog a makeover.
16. And above all, soak up every second with my mama, daddy, and brother before I fly from the nest for good. I'm going to miss this, and I'm going to want this back. You better bet your bottom dollar that I'm appreciating every fond memory, every laugh, and every embrace. I'll always remember home as a sweet and special place, and I'll gravitate back here more often than a 20-something professional probably should. Because there's just nothing like home sweet home.

All in 30 days and counting. I know full and well that this next month will be the most bittersweet season of my life to date. I'm so ready to make my grand entrance into the real world and come into my own, but all the while, I'm still clinging on to what is comfortable, hanging on to home. My prayers these days are full of petitions for God to give me the strength to LEAP. More on that tomorrow...

Homemade surprise ball.

This blog will be full of nostalgic, cheesy, reflective stuff for the next little while, so we might as well dive right into it head first! A few weeks ago, my pledge class gathered for a final celebration of our sisterhood as we together crossed the threshold from our college days to alumnae status. Clasping each other's hands tight, we stood in a symbolic circle choking back tears as we reminisced and sang Tri Delta songs that will inevitably remain in our hearts forever. We have been and will always be bound by a perpetual bond of friendship.

At the end of our ceremony {after stuffing my face with Delta petit fours and pimiento cheese finger sandwiches}, we were each surprised with the most special thing a graduating senior could ask for - homemade presents from our parents. Naturally, my mama, being the incredibly insightful and thoughtful woman she is, thought to ship me a handcrafted surprise ball. Together, my parents labored over how to make me feel loved through a little ball of joy. Nothing could have been more perfect than a bundle of TriDelta-color-coordinated crepe paper filled with sweet pea seeds, mama's DDD drop necklace, strips of my favorite Bible verses, symbolic trinkets, and silly stickers.


More big news and sentimentality to come...

Winner winner chicken dinner!

The lucky winners of the Josh Abbott Band Giveaway are Tyler of Rants. Raves. Ridiculous. {Package 1} and Ashley Lauren of Texas Prep {Package 2}. CONGRATULATIONS! I'll email you shortly, and you'll have your JAB gear in no time.

Thank you sincerely to everyone who shared their summer bucket list! I enjoyed getting to know where you are from and what makes your heart flutter about summertime. Be on the lookout for my summer bucket list soon!

Happy weekend sweethearts! What are your plans?

I will praise You in this storm.

There was a double rainbow over Tuscaloosa today. A jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, heart-breaking rainbow over miles and miles of mangled homes and businesses. Like WHOA.

Moments later, this gorgeous sunset framed our city's destruction. Is it a beacon of hope? An illustration of love? For whatever it's worth, I believe it is.

"You are sad and discouraged, tossed around in a storm. But I, the Lord, will rebuild your city."

{Isaiah 54:1}

Don't forget to enter the Josh Abbott Band Giveaway! There's ONE DAY left to comment and enter to win a Josh Abbott Band t-shirt, koozie, and CD. Best wishes sweethearts!