We're done with 2014?

You know those days, months, and years that you can't wait to be over? The times that seem like nothing is going right, everything has been crazy, and you just want a dose of relief? As I look back on twenty-fourteen, I am truly in awe of how much life has happened in JUST one year. My sister and I recently chatted about some major events that have taken place over this year, the good stuff, the hard stuff, and the amazing miracles that have taken place.

Then we agreed that if 2015 is less hectic, we wouldn't be mad! 

I want to share some amazing things that have happened over this past year.
Not to show a highlight reel, but to hopefully show you how good God has been to my family & I. 

My lovely sister, after years of dreaming of being a momma, became a stunning and super amazing mother to the cutest nephew an aunt could ask for! Although she was sick pretty much her entire pregnancy, Luke and her managed to produce quite a charming young man! It's been an awesome experience to watch my sister navigate motherhood. Her transparency, and openness about the good days and the hard days, shows me how much she desires to love her little man! So blessed to have an ever growing family.

Kasey and I got engaged! In June! In Portland! It was wonderful! We were so excited to get engaged and to be surrounded by loving friends and family. 5 months later, we got married. I might be a bit bias, but it was the most amazing wedding, EVER! I married a man that God plopped into my life as one of my best friends, never realizing that he would one day be my husband! I couldn't have picked a better human being to walk through life with. To fight for God's best for our lives, and to navigate through the madness of life. He's irreplaceable & incomparable! I'm officially MRS. WEST!

After Kasey and I got engaged, he started experiencing some pretty serious health issues. So the time that is usually spent celebrating our engagement, was actually spent figuring out how to operate with each other. It was a very good, and hard test of our relationship. After spending a week in the hospital, Kasey being out of work for two months, getting blood transfusions and having tons of tests done, he is healthier now. The scare of almost losing your soon-to-be husband, is enough to stress a girl out. But in those dark times, we saw God moving, working, healing, renewing, and drawing us closer to Him. Kasey and I figured out, before our wedding, that we truly meant, "in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor."

Last year in October, my sweet little niece was born! The next day, we found out that she was born with heart complications and she had to receive open heart surgeries. It was a scary time. Wondering, hoping, and praying that this little warrior would make it. But she's proven to us all, that she's a fighting, a very determined fighter! This year, in October, we got to celebrate this beauties first birthday. A miracle celebration that was lathered with the reminder of God's grace, His goodness, and His healing power. She's a walking testament to her parents love and prayers, and God's sweet reminder to live fully, love passionately, and waste no time on tomorrows but to live in each moment, today!  

Now, this picture may not look like much, but to me, it screams that God is faithful. It's a moment that I truly cherish. I have gotten to share my heart a few times at the women's event at my church, and each time I'm asked to hold a mic, I'm humbled. I had to make some really hard decisions in life to hold onto what I felt like God was calling me to. This is just a little glimpse of how God has shown me that He will bless me in my faithfulness, even if no one notices my efforts or acknowledges my desires to remain steadfast. He shows me daily, that He is watching over my life.

On top of all that, I've enjoyed countless cups of coffee with people who trust me enough to share their lives, their hurts, and their struggles with me. I've celebrated birthdays. Moved into a new place. Attended weddings. Wrote new spoken words and sketched new drawings. Seen God move and change lives in the youth students I do ministry with. Learned more about myself. My God. & My husband.

And although so much was packed into one year, I don't want to rush into 2015 to escape the madness of 2014. I actually feel quite lucky to look back over this past year and remember and embrace every life event. I'm thankful for each moment that exposed, even more, how thoughtful, loving, detail oriented, and personal my God is.

As I finish out 2014, I have so many things that I am looking forward to. All the new visions, dreams, ideas, plans, goals, and adventures that have yet to come to life. I am so expectant for the new things that will unfold in twenty-fifteen. I am anxious, in the best way possible, to see the amazing ways God will show Himself to me and to my family.

I'm ready to kick some major butt in 2015. Let's do this!

Cheers to 2015!  

 I give everything to You Lord

Filled Up From Friendships

It has been a rough couple of weeks, emotionally, finding out about some devastating situations that have happen to people I love and cherish. I have cried, been angry, been confused and it's something that I can't get off my mind. God is good - I know this to be true - but this world is hopeless and extremely broken. In the past few weeks I was, unfortunately, reminded how much devastation plagues our world. This is not intended to be a downer post - this is actually a post to thank my friends and boyfriend and to share how fulfilled and blessed my life is.  

This morning, in the midst of knowing some of the situations that people are facing around me, I scrolled through the photos on my phone. {I do that a lot!} While I was scrolling through the pictures, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have such wonderful friends. Kasey and I attended a wedding this past weekend {Congrats Scott & Alyssa}, and a situation arose that made me look at him and express how thankful I was to have such great friends. There have been several decisions I have had to make along my journey that could have easily caused me to become isolated. But now, because of how my life has played out and the decisions I've made, I barely have a free weekend without spending time with friends or family - and dating Kasey continually keeps my life adventurous. As an introvert, I crave quiet rooms, sketch books, silence, and stillness. Kasey is very aware of my need for time by myself, and he knows when I need to curl up in a ball and not talk. But, thankfully, his vibrant spirit also helps me refrain from becoming a little recluse! I am so glad that I have girlfriends that are powerful, strong, open-minded and encouraging. I adore them and appreciate them - especially because I know how it feels to lack a solid group of girlfriends. & I am also so grateful for Kasey and the life he and I continue to create for ourselves. He helps me so much. On the way to the wedding he helped me clean deodorant off my dress, whipped lipstick off my teeth, got me a protein bar and banana cause I was "starving," & he even fixes all my stray hairs that fly in the wind. After all of that, I looked at him and said, "You must wonder how I manage to get ready in the morning, huh?!"

But more then just being aware of those small but important things, Kase brings me joy, laughter, excitement and love. He is an unbelievable combination of passion, kindness and understanding.

Today I am thankful. Thankful for friends, and my relationship with Kasey. My heart is so full.

My life is blessed. 

My Feet Will Wonder Towards Adventure

Right now, I am able to look at my life and the things God is doing... and actually appreciate it! You know how some times we can miss what God is really doing in our lives? And the only way we really see the hand of God working in and through our lives is when we look back to past experiences and say, "Wow, I couldn't even see what God was doing." I know that I can't see all of His greatness working in my life, but I can see and even feel a lot of what He is doing. It is truly inspiring. To have a personal relationship with my Savior.

I was recently blessed with the chance to get out of town for a long weekend trip to Utah. I was mainly visiting my sister and my brother-in-law but had the chance to visit the church they are helping start. I have lots of amazing friends out in Salt Lake City who are serving Jesus, so it was incredible to spend time with them as well! I knew the trip would be a nice chance for me to get away, I just didn't realize how much it would impact me. But I was in for a wonderful surprise!

Since my sister was working a few nights when I was there, I had a chance to go to coffee shops and relax. I actually took that free time I had to read this book called, "The Next Generation Leader" (Which I sincerely love!) and I also spent that time, dreaming, praying, editing photos, updating my new phone, and driving around a new town. I am a sucker for adventure. I enjoyed my time in Utah so much. I love driving places and not completely knowing where I am going. I love the new views, smells, people, and atmospheres I got to experience. This trip did wonders. While I was spending time just talking with God, I could feel Him start to pour dreams and goals in my life that I have kind of left on the wayside. I have found this new appreciation for traveling. Like this undeniable, gonna die if I don't do it, kind of traveling. I feel like I have finally come full circle with some of the tough situations I have gone through these past 6  months. And I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it is a beautiful site to see! I would not be where I am if it wasn't for the unconditional love of my family and close friends and my ever growing relationship with Jesus. It is humbling.

So as I start to learn how God will have these crazy dreams pan-out, I will be prayerfully expectant for the new and exciting, while remembering the importance of my "now." Remembering that my current life is just as crucial to the big picture as anything else that will happen in my future!

Oh goodness. I am so excited to be alive and living out my dreams.

I give everything over to You Lord

Sushi Making Party

So a few weekends ago a group of friends and myself got together to have a Sushi making party! Hence the title! I am just now getting around to blogging about it though. This was a combination of a lot of things mixed into one afternoon of fun! Someone got to cross off making sushi from their list of things they wanted to do. A group of us church goers spent time together even though we were still on break at church. & lastly, my sister, brother-in-law and I got to go to the Chinese Market and get Boba! One of our favorite things to do all together. Overall, it was a nice time to play games, make sushi and eat sushi! Thank you to everyone who came and brought food to share, as well as Liz offering her house and kitchen for us to use as our playground!

I give everything over to You Lord