Lady Friends

Here come's another Monday! Hope your weekend was a great one. Mine definitely was. One of the ones that I walk out of just simply praising the Lord for this beautiful life He's blessed me with. 

I was always a girl who wanted a boyfriend, who didn't feel complete without a second half. Or rather, who didn't feel complete without a second half to fill her mind with reassurance and affirmation. 

I'm so thankful for how things played out in my life. I'm so thankful that I'm 24 years old and still 100% single. I never would have imagined feeling so happy, fulfilled, and complete without a relationship. 

You know why that is, though? I'm about to gush on the seriously amazing lady friends in my life. But as amazing as they are, they aren't the reason that my life is fulfilled. I went through a season of looking to my friends for that, and it wasn't any different than turning to a relationship. Just put a heck of a lot more pressure on my friendships. 

The reason is because that's just who our God is. He truly, truly is all-sufficient. He truly can satisfy every single craving or need in our little human hearts. He really does fulfill our ever desire. Sometimes, we just can't realize that because our hands are busy grasping things we can find down here. Like relationships. Or friendships. 

Having always been a girl who was terrified of being alone, I am so thankful that the Lord radically restored my heart to see that no relationship can fill me like He can. It allows me to truly enjoy singleness, and all of the blessings that come with it. 

Like these seriously amazing lady friends that I was talking about. 

Saturday was filled with time with these incredible women that I am blessed to call friends. A group of us took a morning hike, trekked up to the top of a workout-of-a-mountain, and enjoyed the gorgeous view of Inspiration Point. 

After a good shower and some party prepping, we opened our doors to a dozen+ of our gorgeous lady pals to enjoy a "We Love You Too Much To Only Celebrate Once" Post-Valentine's Party. 

When we were looking for places back in the holiday season, we would simply dream of a perfect house. One of the main dreams we had was to have a place where we could entertain and host others. This has been the third big event we've hosted in less than 2 months of living here, and each time our living room and kitchen are packed to a brim, I can't help but praise the Lord for how perfectly He brought all this together. 

I looked around at all of those women in that house, and felt thankful for each one. Some I've known longer than others, and some I may know more about. Some I may see weekly, and others not as much. But I am thankful for each one. 

I'm walking into this new work week full from a weekend packed with friends, fellowship and fun. I hope your weekend was packed with all sorts of good stuff, too!

Weekend Rundown!

This weekend was just the kind that's needed to be the pb&j between two slices of busy work week. A whoole lot of peanut butter, and enough jelly to have some fruity flavor. And by that, I mean, a whoole lot of good time with friends, and enough relaxation to be refueled for a manic Monday. 

The weekend consisted of: 

~A stop by Lorna Jane to visit my favorite little LJ model employee.~

A selfie photo shoot was most definitely necessary. If you haven't tried their work out clothes, I hiiighly recommend them. Yes, they're a bit pricey, but they are amazing. Incredible quality, gorgeous color, and they make you feel great while you pump that iron. 

And no, they didn't pay me to say that. I just really, really love their clothes. 

~A Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony party.~

Totally rep'ed both Uganda and America. Even though Uganda wasn't participating. {minor detail}

~A trip to the Getty Museum.~

A group of us women from church got together to road trip it down to LA for the day. It was so fun, I'm a big fan of mini-road trips. Really thankful to have such a lovely community of Spirit-filled women!

There aren't words that could capture the power in that painting. Or rather, the power in the Man that's in it. 

Sorry for the picture overload, but totally warranted, right? Such a beautiful place. 

~A pit stop for Yogurtland.~

Best decision ever.

~An afternoon full of fellowship.~

After an amazing message at church, parked myself in coffee shop central for the rest of the day. First, it was Panera with my roommates + one for an afternoon of finishing up our Breaking Free Beth Moore study homework. This is an incredible study. Just one week in, and already feeling that God has some serious freedom to deliver. 

Last stop was at Coffee Bean for a meet up with a group of us going through Tim Keller's The Meaning of Marriage. This one's also incredible, for single and married people alike. If you want to have some serious Biblical truth poured into you about God's design for marriage, pick up a copy stat. 

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Hope your weekend was equally wonderful! Never long enough, are they?

The Prayer Night

Two days before I left, I held a prayer night at our brand spankin' new house. Friends from all different areas of my life piled in, first divided into sub groups of who-knows-who, and eventually settling into one giant circle in our living room. I started setting the tone for prayer, when a dear friend politely interjected. She had heard a word from God as she walked up to our door, a word that led her to suggest that before we pray, the group took the opportunity to fill me up. To fill me up full of love and affirmation, so that I could take it with me to pour out all over Kisoro, Uganda. 

And so it began, each person took some time to share how I have impacted their lives. Some who I have known for years now, and others for just a few months. There were some of the kindest, most meaningful compliments ever given to me said in that circle. And some of the most beautiful, genuine tears shed. 

I can't quite explain the feeling that came over me. Not a single tear fell from this cry baby over here, and I think it was because a significant part of me was quite literally in shock. All I could do was praise God, because I knew that only He was responsible for everything that was taking place. 

I have never felt more full of love than on that night. And my friends, that is what life was made for. We were created to live in fellowship with God, and in fellowship with other people. It even says so in the Bible, "The Lord God said 'It is not good for the man to be alone.'" {Genesis 2:18}. 

We were made to fill each other up, to love each other, to support each other, to push each other closer to Christ. And on that Monday night, surrounded by some very dear friends, that is exactly what happened. They filled me up, they loved me, they supported me, and they pushed me closer to Christ. Oh, did they push me closer to Christ. I went to sleep that night praising Him so, so much. 

I am so grateful for that friend who spoke up and boldly proclaimed that she had word from God. Because of her and every single person in that room, my heart was exploding from love before I even set foot on a plane. 

And it's a good thing too, because boy, did He have work coming for that thing.