note to self: it's way too hot in the summer to not enjoy the fall.

I can't wait for the fall. I just remember being happier then. It was cooler and John and I did all kinds of stuff together. Now it seems like all we do is work work work, and then stress out about stuff. I don't know why I'm blaming this on the heat outside. It has nothing to do with that and everything to do with me creating unnecessary stress cause I feel like I need to have my life all in order and there is no room for error.

Man I just need to relax and enjoy life because it goes
by so quickly. I also find that the more I relax, the more
I love God and make time for him. I find that when I relax
I love people more and I have more fun.

"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Nothing in life is perfect, except God. So I need to stop
trying to make it be. Now that's not to say I'm going to let
everything fall apart. No Jesus calls us to be good stewards.
but I'm going to loosen my grasp. I need to stop making my
life all about controlling it. Cause only HE has control.
And Jesus says, "Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will preserve it."

I think I need to take a lesson on losing my life, cause right now I have way too tight of a grasp on it.

Note to Self: This is a raging war.

When I see a horizon as beautiful as this, it stops me in my tracks and I stare.

Everything inside me flying around and stressing me out subsides.

All the dust settles

and my soul rests.

Peace.

This peace within me is easy to acquire, but ironically rare.

I am so caught up in my everyday attire, that I don't know what to wear.

It's funny, really, how quickly I lose focus.

All I have to do is focus.

My job, my school, my bills, my vacation is even stressful for goodness sake.

everyday these things suck me in and paste me to the side of some wall and take me for a spin

like one of those rides at a carnival that twists and twirls

And the gravity makes you unable to move.

And when your done, you don't know what's just gone on.

What just happened?

Now you're lost.

What were you even doing here in the first place?

Where do you belong?

Then-

with a awareness that is something like alert and oriented times zero-

you fight.

push your insecurities to the side, cause what's about to happen is a bit more important.

You fight to be back where you belong, back in the arms of your God.

And with your forearms in front of you to fight the debris,

you crawl through raging fire and fleas

Filth and flame consume your being-

but the spirit of the Lord will not falter in you

and your eyes are dead set on the altar

and you will get back to that place.

Home.

With the determination of a Lion

you find the strength to get there.

And when you arrive the trumpets will sound

And you feet will be firmly planted on the soft, cool ground.

And for a moment, you are free.

You and the father are one and you can see

your life with clarity.

and the beauty of this moment is unattainable.

Your joy at this time is unsustainable.

And you soul is at peace.

You smile and sit back.

close your eyes to rest.

Then-

out of the corner of your eye you see...

a fluttering light and you think it might be...

inside you are taken with curiosity...

Then you wind up on that same spinning ride.

The devil had seduced you with his grinning eye.

And though you feel weak and weary,

The Spirit of the Lord in you will not retreat.

Then you see a beautiful sunset in an imperfect world-

and you see the beauty of the Father in that fading light

and you know the Glory of God is worth the fight.

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy;
I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."
-John 10:10

Note to self: people don't throw away your cards when you make them on Shutterfly!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

I made this card for my dad cause his birthday in coming up. I made one for my sister too. Their birthdays are the 18th and 19th of July and my Mom's is the 17th. How crazy is that!

Anyway I know they'll love them! And I'm getting $10 off my next order for posting this! :]