remind yourself

You are more valuable than what they say or don't say.

Carpe diem - here or there.

California will always be my home.You can take the girl out of Cali, but you'll never take Cali out of the girl.

When I first moved to Atlanta, I had an extremely difficult time adapting to the city. Culture shock, to say the least - I had just gotten married, I moved across the world (since I had been living in Korea for nearly a year) and I got to see my friends briefly during my wedding and peaced out to start my life with Joules.

11 months later though, I can confidently say that I've found a home in Atlanta.

"Um, what's there to do in Atlanta?" Um, what's there to do anywhere? You eat great food with awesome people and it's all good in the hood.

Facebook is an enigma. I love it because I get to catch up with my friends by viewing photos of hangouts as if I were there, but the truth is I wasn't there and they had loads of fun without me. </sad>

I also have to remember that I'm in Atlanta now with a bunch of new relationships and sceneries having loads of fun without them. </truth>

It's not that our joys come from being without one another, but we are experiencing the life in front of us that God has presented. We are called to rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. - Philippians 4:4

While living in Atlanta, I've learned more about how much I fall short in so many ways of having a servant heart and how much I lack in loving through grace. Here's to name a few wonderful thangs that have happened to me in the A (tlanta)

• I am married to a kind husband who truly loves the Lord and as a result is able to love me.
• I gained a new family; mother in law, sister in law, brother in law, nephews, etc. etc.
• I am a mother for the first time to a freakishly adorable pup who is as obedient as a 9 month old can be.
• I am a team member of a company that pushes individuals to pursue their visions and dreams.
• I have met and made many new friends with spectacular people that have touched my life, and I pray that I may be affecting their lives positively as well.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:12

It's a dream for me to go back to California one day and be closer to my mom, brother, and friends. I do know, however, that if my heart isn't surrendered and content in God that my heart would still feel half empty and insufficient.

But godliness with contentment is great gain - 1 Timothy 6:6

For those of you who are far away from your loved ones and feel like they're moving on to greater things without you, take heart in knowing that those who are true would rather not be without you. They may be moving onto greater things, but it doesn't mean that you aren't either.

Carpe diem - here or there.

Thank you to my loves that have continued to randomly check up on me, letting me know I'm in your thoughts. Every text, message, or call really brightens my heart.

Barkbox February 2014!

This is a bit overdue but wanted to share with you the February 2014 Barkbox! I was so happy for Toby because this time around he got a chew toy that he definitely enjoyed from the get go. It's been a week and he already tore half of it up, but for those of you who may be interested, supposedly it's machine wash safe. Toby is fierce though so it never lasts that long.

The one thing that I wasn't so cool with was that 3 of the treats were little travel packs. Really though? If you break down the prices they're a quarter or even less of what the original packing is. I guess it's good for Toby to at least try new treats and for me to find out about more goodies.

So far, no repeats of treats since December.

You can subscribe to Barkbox for 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months by clicking here!

All because of him.

A lot of people in my life spoke fondly of him.My parents? Not so much. They'd rather disregard him and told me I couldn't see him anymore; he was no good for me.

In middle school I decided I'd find out for myself how awesome he actually was.

Every weekend there was a bunch of us that would hang out in the same crowd. We were all so different, yet we all loved getting together. We all didn't go to the same school, but on the weekends we'd pick up from where we left off. It was a time full of laughs (I truly believe this is where I learned to laugh), good food (hole in the walls), & video games (speed scrabble). I counted down the days until I could see them again.

Specifically it was the influence he had on others that was contagious - unconditional as humans can get, I was able to reap the benefits from their hearts.

My family was below middle class. I won't say we were poor because we always had a roof over our heads but let's just say hot cheetos & cream cheese was a luxury I could not afford every day at school.

When I met up with them on the weekends, I never went hungry. They shared and they spotted. They spotted so much I was covered.

In middle school there was a time I was bullied and ostracized. When I was 13 I dreaded going to school because I hated the glares from my classmates. The look in their eyes burned me.

When I met up with them on the weekends, I never felt unwanted. They called me to make sure I was coming, and if I didn't show up they'd call me to ask why. I belonged.

To this day I know I would die for any of them.

They lived, existed, touched my life and so I didn't perish, although many times I felt like I was on the verge to - they revitalized my life.

A little over 10 years ago I was able to meet all of them because of him. They were all there because he loved them first. Not only did they believe this, they knew this. It was okay that I didn't understand at that moment who he was to them or even who he was to me. Even when I didn't understand or agree, they still loved me & welcomed me. He loved them first and as a result they were able to love me.

All because of him.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

To serve unrecognized & still feel like I've "won"

We like to hear thank you. We like to hear that others acknowledge the work that we put in whether it be at work, at home, or even on the streets with complete strangers as we hold open the door for them. No one is entitled to anything and we should be thanked for helping.. right? The other side of that is: no one is entitled to anything and we shouldn't expect to be thanked for helping... right?

One of my personal pursuits is to be able to put in good work in all aspects of my life with no expectations of it coming around to help me. I don't want to be envious of others' come ups or rewards, I want to be really genuine with my actions. It isn't to say that I want to be taken advantage of when I assist others continually, but I want to be able to practice unconditional servitude with God's love in mind.  I will fall short but it shouldn't stop be from reaching to higher possibilities. I will speak up when I need to be heard, but I don't have to justify myself or be acknowledged everytime I do something. The value of my work & deeds are not valued upon the amount of reciprocity or gratitude I receive back. This mentality will only make me stronger because I will not be defined by the perspective of others.

I look forward to being in a community where I am able to support those around me while being completely comfortable with myself. I pray that God will challenge me in a beautiful way as I shift gears yet again - upward and onwards :)