Thankful

I have so many things to be thankful for. Here are just a few: 

I'm thankful for the love and grace of God in my life. This means everything to me, and I wouldn't be where I am today without His love. 

I'm thankful for my husband. He is my best friend and I couldn't imagine doing this life without him. 

 

I'm thankful for family. I've learned never to take it for granted and to cherish time with the ones you love.

I'm thankful for my friends. I've never been one to have a ton of friends, but the ones I do have are the kind I can always count on. 

I'm thankful for my dogs! I know that may sound silly, but they really are like family to us, and they bring us so much joy! 

I'm thankful for our home. It's not huge and fancy, sometimes it's messy and cluttered, but it's ours and we love it.

 

I'm thankful for provision- food to eat, clean water to drink, clothes to wear, and a roof over our heads. So many people don't have these basic necessities, and we are so very blessed to have all of these in abundance. I never want to lose sight of that in the constant push we feel for more.

 

I'm thankful for my job. I don't always feel like getting up in the morning to go, but it's a great job, I work with great people, and it helps to pay the bills!

 

I'm thankful for all of you, my readers! It's still kind of crazy to me that there are people who show up to this space to read my words. But I am so thankful for it, and for the amazing community of bloggers I have met.

 

I'm thankful for the legacy my parents left me of their trust in God, their kindness, and their integrity. I am so thankful to have such wonderful examples.

 

There is so much more I could say, but suffice it to say, I am truly blessed.

 

I'm going to take a little break from blogging for the next few days to unplug and really soak in my time with Adam and friends. I will be back on Monday to recap all of the Thanksgiving awesomeness! 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Being much more than me

This is definitely a more serious post than I usually do. Forgive my ramblings, but these thoughts have been on my mind a lot lately. Also, holy word count Batman. I fully understand if you don't want to read all this. But if you do, thank you.

I'm trying to find the balance of who I am and who I want to be. I'm not wholly displeased with who I am, but there are (as I think there always should be) those things that I know I can and should improve on, like being timid and letting fear hold me back from stepping out in faith. Or being jealous of what others have instead of being thankful for what I have. Generally I am very thankful but there are certain things (not just material things, mind you) that I want so badly that to see others enjoying them creates a strange mix of joy for them and a deep ache of longing in me.

I know I'm not all I should be, but then I also know that I will never completely meet even my own expectations (being the perfectionist that I am). So where is the line between being who I am and knowing I am loved regardless, and settling for the status quo simply because it's easy and comfortable? While I am happy in my little life, sometimes I feel it is just that. Little. I've never been the type to be really ambitious or a "go-getter". I don't feel that fire to be famously known or succeed in some spectacular way. Is that wrong? I'm happy with my house and my husband and my pups and my job and my simple life of 8-5 during the week and dinner with friends and time with Adam on the weekends (And obviously run-on sentences).

I guess I'm "basic" as they say. I love everything they say is "basic" like boots and sweater season (however short-lived it may be here in the Sunshine State), pumpkin everything, sugary coffee drinks, reading books, being girly, watching chick-flicks, etc. Heck, I even own a "purse dog". And I'm ok with that in so much as I don't feel the need to be super different or in the spotlight. But the thing I am not ok with is settling into a life that's comfortable, but not making a difference. A life that feels good to me, but isn't looking at the bigger picture of why I'm here on this earth at all. I mean, I'm not just here to be as happy and comfortable as I can possibly be. I'm here to serve God and love people, whatever that means.

But what does that mean for me? I know for some people it means serving in another country or speaking from a pulpit, or being on the national, or even global stage. But I have also known many people in my life who will never be on TV, or in the news, who you would never know their name, but in their quiet way have faithfully served God their entire lives and left an indelible mark on those they know or have known.

My dad was one of those people. He was a simple man with a simple faith who lived his life to serve God and love his family. He was very quiet but when he spoke everyone listened. He may not have done anything extraordinary by the world's standards, but he loved people and he was extravagantly generous, almost to a fault. He would both literally and figuratively give you the shirt off his back. He was one of the most selfless people I've ever known.

So maybe leaving my mark doesn't have to include any certain measure of success or accomplishment. Maybe it's just about being love to those people you can make an impact on, however small that circle is. Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.

I don't even really know where I'm ultimately going with all this, other than to say I'm blissfully happy where I am now, despite what may seem small and inconsequential to most of the world, but I know happiness is not the ultimate goal in my life. True joy and peace comes from knowing you're where you're supposed to be, even in the midst of discomfort and uncertainty. I do have that. And maybe, at least for now, that's enough.

Linking up!

WYWW

 

Things I'm loving lately

* Running into a friend at Target on my lunch break

*Hazelnut iced coffee

*The crisp coolness of the air in the mornings and evenings

*Shopping my closet and falling in love with an old sweater that I had forgotten about all over again

*Watching football with friends

*Binge-watching "Friends" episodes with Adam and laughing just as hard as the first time I watched it

*Being Southern

*Leftover Halloween candy

*Going through piles of stuff (yes, there's even joy to be found in this) and finding old notes, cards, and keepsakes.

*Chili nights

*Puppy cuddles (Ok, when do I not love this??)

*Knowing I'm loved unconditionally by my Savior

*This here bloggity-blog and the beautiful ladies I have met since I started it

*Fall traditions

*Saved by the Bell reruns on TV

*Throwing away piles of stuff we don't need. So liberating!

*Pumpkins. Always pumpkins.

Gotta get down on Friday...

You're welcome for getting that Rebecca Black song stuck in your head.

I'm so glad this week is over! I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to a whole week off of work!

Favorite Song:
I heard this on the radio yesterday and it just really resonated with me. I've heard it before but sometimes songs just hit you in a certain way that they haven't before. I love what it says about how powerful words are, they can tear down or they can build up. They can make someone feel loved and important, or they can make them feel worthless. And how important it is to speak life and truth, to point people towards God and His love for them in everything I say and do. I know I don't always do that, but it truly is my desire.

Favorite Food:
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies! These were so good, I think they might be my new favorite pumpkin cookie. A lot of the pumpkin cookies I have made are more of a cakey texture, which I like pretty well, but sometimes you just want a chewier cookie texture, and these deliver! And the maple glaze just take them to the next level! Recipe here.

Favorite Workout:
Upper Fix- I felt really strong on upper body this week, which is big for me because upper body is probably my weakest area. I still can't do very many real push-ups, but I'm getting there! And my planks feel really strong, as well as my chest presses and hammer curls.

Sun's out, Guns out

Favorite "purchase":
I got it for (practically) free, so I don't know if it counts as a purchase, but I got to try a Julep Maven box this week and I LOVE the colors they sent! More on that in another post, but suffice it to say it was a great little mid-week pick me up to get this in the mail!

Favorite Funnies:

Children of the 80's and 90's will get this:

You know this is totally what this cat was thinking: 

You know you've been there, don't lie:

I totally saw fried chicken: 

Everybody have a fantabulous weekend!! 

Link it up with us! 

 

 

Dear High School Julie,

If I could travel back in time and have a little chat with my high school self it would be kinda weird this is what I would say...

• I know you feel super awkward and unsure of yourself sometimes, but guess what? Everyone else does too! Some are just better at hiding it than others. 

• YOU ARE NOT FAT so stop it already with the negative self-talk. One day you will look at these pictures and think "Why in the heck did I think I was fat??"

• Don't worry about not being part of the "popular" crowd. Just enjoy the amazing friends you have and realize that being "popular" isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

• Being an introvert is not a bad thing, though it may seem like it right now. It's who you are and that's ok because that's how God made you. As such, you are a great listener and extremely sensitive to other's feelings. 

• These are great times, but they're not the best times of your life. It's not all downhill from here. You have many, many more exciting, joyful, and surprising times ahead. 

• Stop investing so much emotional energy into boys who don't reciprocate your feelings. God's going to bring an AMAZING man into your life in just a few years, and you will be so very glad that you didn't waste your time and emotions on anyone who isn't enthralled with you the way he will be. 

• Though I know you already do, appreciate and treasure the time you have with your daddy. He won't be here on this earth for as long as you think he will (though he will be there to walk you down the aisle at your wedding!) 

• Keep being true to yourself and your beliefs. It will be 100% worth it, promise. 

Linking up with Home of Malones and East Coast Chic for Thoughts for Thursday!

About Me

Well, hello there!

Welcome to my little blog. It's nothing special, really. Just a collection of my thoughts, hopes, dreams, and ideas.

Let's see, where to begin...

My name is Julia. I'm married to a pretty awesome guy named Adam.

We have no kids, unless you count these precious little furballs:

Which I do.

Yes, I dress my dogs up in clothes. What? My husband would prefer I didn't, but how can you not appreciate this cuteness?!?

I work a perfectly regular 8-5 day job that pays the bills, and by night Adam and I are cake designer/decorators. It's my creative outlet, and though it does have the tendency to drive me batty, I love it.

                      

I LOVE to read. Like seriously, I am ALWAYS reading something. Sometimes two or three somethings at once. Even if it's a book I've read 5 times already. I mainly read Christian Romance, Historical Fiction, and Chick Lit, with a little Suspense thrown in.

                        

I love music. Who doesn't right? I pretty much can listen to any genre, I love it all. Pop, Country, Alternative, Hip Hop, R&B, (some) Rap, Rock...Except maybe the stuff where they scream the entire time. That's where I draw the line. Basically Pandora is my best friend.  Adam has certainly expanded my musical horizons since I met him. Can you even believe I had never heard of Chris Cornell, Incubus, or Foo Fighters before he introduced me to them?! I was pretty sheltered growing up, but I'm cool with that.

Shopping. Real original, I know. But shopping has to be one of the best things ever. One of my favorite things to do on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon is grab a coffee and head to the nearest store (Target, Old Navy, Ross, etc.) and just immerse myself in aisles of clothes and shoes and pretty things. Shopping and reading are the ways I unwind and relax.

I'm one of those Christians, which to me just means I've been given the greatest gift I could ever know, God's mercy and love. I love Jesus and strive to be more like Him and love people the way He does. I fail, but that's why I'm so grateful for grace. His grace has been with me through every moment of my life, from the "best day ever" kind of times, to the "darkness and despair" times. To me grace has many meanings, including His ability and willingness to turn bad into good, ugly into beautiful, old into new, broken into whole. My mess into His glory.

Anyway, that's the basics of me. I look forward to venturing into this bloggy thing, I'm not sure how good I'll be at it, but I'm willing to give it a shot! Here goes!