Nicaragua

In one month I will be returning to Nicaragua with my church family. Ya'll...I am so blessed to get to go on this trip. When we started planning this trip I did not think I was going to be able to go. I had just quit my job and was not able to afford the trip nor did I have enough time to raise money by the time we were going to buy tickets.

I was not the only one in this situation. Two of my very close friends were not going to be able to go, and if I somehow came up with the money to go, only one of my parents were going to be able to go (because, you know, my parents are a little overprotective and they just can't stand the thought of me traveling to a foreign country without one of them tagging along).

One thing led to another and the date for us to purchase tickets got pushed back A WHOLE MONTH! That left me one single month to raise money to go on this mission trip. A dear friend of mine (who was also not able to afford the expenses of the trip due to being a broke as a joke college kid, like me) and I hosted two paint parties at my church, sold sheets, and sold t-shirts, and the outpouring of love we felt from our friends and family was so humbling. 

I also had two people who are very dear to my heart contribute to my mission trip with very generous donations. These people donated this money out of the goodness of their heart solely for me to get my feet on the ground in Nicaragua and spread God's love. All along I had been questioning if God wanted me to go on this trip or not and when I received these donations, I could do nothing but cry because that was a clear sign to me that God wanted me there. 

My trip was paid for in full by people who bought sheets, bought shirts, attended paint parties, and made donations and for that I am forever grateful. There are no amount of words that can describe how blessed I am to have people in my life who support and encourage me the way these people do.

NOT ONLY am I getting to go to Nicaragua, but BOTH of my very good friends are getting to go, as well as BOTH of my parents!! 

GOD IS SO GOOD!

In exactly one month I will have my feet on the ground in this country that has a huge part of my heart. Our current plans are to host a VBS, feed the villages, and have one on one time with families where we distribute necessities and talk to them about God and His love for them. I am so PUMPED to see what God has in store for us this time. 

I pray that I get to see and love on all of my babies that I have grown to love so much over previous trips. I pray that God will use us and that we will lead people to Him. I pray that through the people on this team, the people of Nicaragua will feel an outpouring of Jesus' love. 

Please be in prayer for me and the rest of the team as we prepare for this journey! Our team could still use donations of flip flops, shorts, t-shirts, hygiene items, ramen noodles, and plastic bowls. Most of all...PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!! 

Favorite Things // May Edition

Okay, to be honest...I stole this blog idea from my sister over at Our Alabama Life. But I figured I would also share with you a few of my favorite things right now.

First of all, for the past few months, I have been OBSESSING over lipsticks. Every color, every shade, every brand. I have tried them all. I literally love every color. If black wouldn't completely clash with my pale skin, I would definitely be wearing that color. My favorite lipstick brand that I am loving right now is by Gerard Cosmetics. They are liquid lipsticks that are super soft and long lasting. Like, really long lasting. I can put it on in the morning, and it will still be on my lips by that night. I have been lusting after the purple shades lately, so when I saw that Gerard was offering these lippies for 3 for $35, I had to snatch up my favorites. These are ecstasy, iced mocha, and serenity. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. (I am not a fan of selfies...but I tried just taking a picture of my lips and that was just plain awkward.) 

These Musee bath bombs are awesome. I love a good bubble bath. These bath bombs are all different scents and have different purposes. They are hand pressed with natural ingredients, and contain therapeutic aromas and soothing oils that are refreshing to the body and healing to the skin. They turn your water different colors AND they contain prizes inside of them. How cute are these little egg-shaped bombs I got for Easter? Shop local and pick up a few bath bombs at Elamar Skin Science. 

Another lipstick brand that I am loving is Tarte. I have two shades by this brand and I love them both. One is a more nude color called Namaste. I use this color when I am having a plain-Jane makeup day and just need to add a little color to my lips. The other color I have from Tarte is called Hangry. It is more of a pink-y color. This color was a little bit too bright for me at first, but the more I have played around with it, the more I like it. This brand feels so soft on my lips and it is super long lasting too!

Okay, I promise I am not a beauty expert...BUT I do love makeup and all things beauty and I will try just about anything. My skin is HORRIBLE. Literally, I break out all the time and even when my face is clear, I still have tiny bumps along the surface of my skin. I also have those annoying blackheads around my T-zone. So my life is a never ending cycle of trying new products to get rid of acne. Lately, I have been digging on face masks. My two favorites though, is the YouthMud by GlamGlow and my own personal concoction using charcoal pills and glue! The GlamGlow mask helps with all of the tiny bumps along the surface of my face. I have not bought the full size jar simply because it is $70 and I wanted to make sure I liked it before I invested that much money into it. So, this super nice lady at the makeup counter gave me a small sample tube. I have been able to get 4 masks out of the tiny sample bottle and it has amazed me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. This stuff is GOLD! Now the charcoal and glue mask...I took a few capsules of charcoal, opened them up, and sprinkled them into a bowl. Added some elmers glue, just enough to have a good consistency, and then took an old makeup brush and applied the mask along the T-zone. I would let it dry a little, then apply some more...the thicker the mask, the better. When I finally felt like I had enough on my face, I watched it dry and I could literally see the blackheads backing out of my pores. It was CRAZY! I even got mom and Hannah to try the charcoal mask with me. (Pictures included solely for your entertainment.)

What are some of your favorite things, beauty product or not?

Currently at the Hall House

The entire West clan has moved in with us while they are building a new house. So, the house is overflowing with all the things. People, blankets, shoes, toys, opened drinks, dirty dishes, but the most important thing...LOVE!

Lets break it down...

10...The number of animals we have recently added to the farm. 6 Chicks, 4 Ducks.

9...The number of people living under one roof. Me, Justin, Courtney, Kyndall, Libby, Jase, Hannah, Mom, and Dad!

8...The number of vehicles in the driveway.

7...The number of gallons of milk in the fridge, and this barely last us through the week!

6...The number of pairs of shoes laying at the door.

5...The number of people brushing their teeth in my bathroom. (Jase was included in this, but you can't see him!)

4...The number of dogs running around outside and barking all night long. FYI...it is impossible to get a picture of four dogs at the same time!

3...The number of refrigerators we have at my house. All running. All stocked full. One stocked full of nothing but Mt. Dew because they are that addicted.

2...The number of little girls who are currently asleep in my bed.

1...The sweet, sweet baby who has all the rest of the people in this house wrapped around his little finger.

Ya'll...this house is nothing short of chaotic. But I love every single minute of it. I love getting to spend time with my sweet nieces and nephew every day. I love getting to snuggle up on the couch with the whole family and watch movies. I love sitting down at the table with all of my people every night for supper. I have decided that we just need to build a bigger house so we can all stay together all the time.

I love this life.

Hiking Adventures // Sipsey Wilderness

Let me start this off by saying that I am not a professional hiker. This is not something that I do regularly. And now, since I have hiked Sipsey Wilderness, I understand why so many people get lost in the woods...

Wednesday morning, Trey and I had planned to go hiking with two of our friends. We loaded up our backpack with snacks and a few drinks, guns, knives, and everything that we thought was a necessity. Mine and Treys backpack contained: 1 gator-aide, 1 bottle of water, 1 pack of zebra cakes, 1 bag of Sour Cream and Cheddar chips, 1 pack of beef jerky, 1 pack of cheese and crackers, and 1 pistol. So off we go on our fun little adventure through the woods at 11:30 that morning. Before starting on the first trail, on the Mount Hope side of Sipsey Wilderness, we stopped and looked at the map to plan out our route. We planned for a 3-4 mile hike and to be out of the woods and back home in time for church by 5:30 that night.

NOPE!!! That didn't happen.

We stopped at a few very pretty spots along the way and snapped lots of pictures. The boys loved the picture taking most of all...NOT! But just look at how beautiful the water was!! 

Around the third hour of our hiking adventure we start jokingly discussing what we would do if we got lost and had to stay in the woods overnight. 

On the fourth hour, we were determined that we, in fact, were lost. We had, also, all drank every last drop of the drinks that we had brought. And then low and behold, as we are walking along this trail, we hear a hog grunt. YA'LL...I just knew this was how I was going to die. I thought, "Great! Not only are we lost in the middle of nowhere, but now we are going to get chased by WILD HOGS!" Trey starts getting out his gun, and Dakota is reaching for his knife...all while I am finding the quickest route up the nearest tree. Luckily, the giant hog (and her three babies) just watched us for a minute, then turned and walked the other way.

We keep on trucking until we find a good spot to stop and rest. At this point we had been walking through the woods without seeing a single human for about two hours. It was also getting close to church time and I knew my mother and Treys mother would both be in an all out panic mode if we did not contact them soon. BUT THERE IS NO CELL SERVICE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS. I just knew they were going to get together and create a huge search party and it was going to be all over the news..."FOUR TWENTY YEAR OLDS LOST IN BANKHEAD". How embarrassing would that have been?

Finally, around 6:45, we found a gravel road that led up what seemed like the Bankhead version of Mount Everest. When we reached the top, there was a map there. There were cars there...but not our truck.. The little 'You Are Here" star showed that we were on the COMPLETE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE WOODS. We literally had no idea where we were nor did we know how we were going to get back to our truck. Thankfully, I kept walking down the road and got enough service to call my mom and dad, and send them my location so they could come get us. 

Around 7:45, mom and dad came to our rescue with a cooler full of waters and snacks. Then, it took us about another hour and a half to find Trey's truck! Whew! We were exhausted...and very, very hungry. After a quick Sonic run, we were all home safe and finally in the bed by midnight.

Once we got in the truck, the health app on my phone showed that we had walked 15 miles. And ya'll...I could definitely tell the next morning. I was sore in places that I did not know could ever be sore.

Even though we got lost, we had a great time. We laughed the whole way home about the whole situation. The water and sights along the trails were absolutely beautiful, as was the big waterfall. I plan on going hiking again in the future, but next time we will definitely be more prepared!! :)

Here are a few of the pictures we took along the way.

Goodbye, TDD

Yesterday was my last day at Trinity Drugs. For those of you that don't know, I have been working at the TDD for four years now. I graduated high school with dreams of becoming a pharmacist. I realized very swift like that that was not a job for me...I hate science with a burning passion. Ya'll, I love my job. I love my co-workers. My years at the drug store will forever be cherished and there were definitely tons of unforgettable memories made.

This past summer, I started an etsy shop making graphic t-shirts. I absolutely love it. I get to design my own shirts and create them for people all over the world. I have big hopes and dreams for this shop, so I am going to take this time in my life to work on building up my shop name.

I am also subbing for the remainder of this school year in Lawrence County. (So all you teachers in LC, if you need a sub...I got you!) Since I am almost done with my degree to teach these little elementary school babies, I thought it would be good to get some more experience in the schools as a sub and I have loved every minute of it. These kiddo's will keep you on your toes, that is for sure.

I am so excited to see what God has in store for me during this season of my life. I know it is going to be great!

P.S.: I think I have my dad talked into letting me get goats! AHHH!! :) (stay tuned...) 

Praising Him in the Silence

Why am I here? What is my purpose on this earth? What is God's plan for me?

I find myself asking these questions a lot here lately. I have prayed and prayed for God to take control of my life and lead me in the right direction. I definitely feel like God is preparing me for something big. A big move, a big step, a big change. But, I am not exactly sure what.

I have these quick glimpses of what I think my future may look like. In every glimpse I am surrounded with children. Ya'll...I am so passionate about children. If you know me personally, you know that I have always loved kids, even when I was a kid myself. I know that whatever God's plan is for me, it is to be working with children.

One of the main things that I have been struggling with lately is whether or not I am interpreting God's message correctly. I wonder if I am interpreting His words with an 'earth filled' mind. Am I the only one who wishes God would send down a big, red, flashing sign that says, "HERE IS YOUR PURPOSE!" Because, seriously...that would be nice.

In my devotional, Wholeheartedly, there have been several studies that have spoke to me. Really, this is some good stuff. Here are a few highlights of what I have taken from these lessons.

SILENCE: *God will allow us to have a glimpse of the big plan every once in awhile to strengthen our faith. It has been my prayer that in this silence, in this time of wondering, that God will help me to be still and rejoice because I know that God has a great plan in store. Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage.

FAITHFUL: When I have faith in God and in His plan for my life, I find myself at peace with all the crazy and all the uncertainties. Trusting in God's perfect plan takes away the stress and worry. Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

GUIDE: The Lord will be my guide always, I just have to stay close to Him and His word. *Our job is to listen and obey. The more responsive we are to the Holy Spirit's guiding, the more we will hear what he is saying. Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your spirit lead me on level ground. Isaiah 58:11 The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong.

OBEY: *To obey is to submit to the command of another and coming from God, the command will always be for our own good. No matter how scary God's plan for me may be, I know that it is for my own good and ultimately for His glory. Luke 11:28 Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

HOPE: *We need to acknowledge His almighty power and his ability to use us even through our missteps in life. I have often wondered if somewhere along the way I have messed up and did not do something God wanted me to do, because I know that I have messed up a whole lot in this short life I have lived. Is that why I am kind of stuck in this silence? Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Job 42:2 I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (I had to google that word...it means prevented.) Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Ya'll, that last verse. "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." God will wreck your plans, to fulfill His. No matter how many times you have messed up in this life, God still has a plan for you. You still have a purpose on this earth. Pray, walk closer with God, read His word and that purpose will be revealed to you.

Dependence

My lovely sister gave me a devotional for Christmas called, Wholeheartedly-A Devotional for Singles. I have not completed this devotional yet, but let me tell you...this stuff is GOOD!

Today's study was on dependence. That is not a word that strong-willed, independent girls like myself like to hear. I mean, I have been taught to never have to depend on a man, or anyone for that matter, for anything. My independence, although sometimes pure stubbornness, is something I take pride in.

Ya'll...this devotional titled dependence. This has rocked my world.

When I go through hard times and times of weakness, I typically lock myself in my room and try to come up with solutions for all my problems. When I reach a breaking point in my life and I need to talk to someone, the people I usually turn to are friends and family, co-workers, my notebook, literally anyone who will listen to me rant. The key word in that sentence is 'listen', because I don't need anyone's advice. Hello, I can handle my own problems.

WRONG!

I know that my God is looking at me and shaking His head. 

*Dependence is a beautiful state where the Lord's glory shines. Embrace your need for the Savior and look forward to all that He will do.

I cannot find joy in anything other than my Lord and Savior. I cannot find peace trying to fix all my problems on my own. I cannot find rest in ranting to everyone about my problems. 

I NEED JESUS!!

He is the only one who can fix this crazy, train-wreck that I call my life. I need to fully rely on God and His perfect will for my life. He will totally and completely wreck my plans so that I can fulfill His plans. *When we are faced with uncertainty, we are given the opportunity to experience a dependence on the Father that makes us stronger than our strongest self. Stronger than our strongest self...wow! I don't know about ya'll, but sometimes I feel like I am Rocky and I can take on the world. But when I rely on Jesus for every single thing, I can become even stronger. When I rely on Jesus and lay my problems at His feet, I can feel peace. When I talk to my Father, the single person who will never let me down, I can find rest. God already has a plan for my life that I cannot even begin to comprehend. His great plan is so much better than my measly, little plan for my life. 

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10