Why community? + Proof #2 & #3

Community: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

(according to google)

Community is SO important.

It’s been such a defining factor in my life. 

I honestly don’t know where I would be and who I would be if I did not have incredible mentors constantly pouring into me throughout the years.

I am so grateful for every youth pastor, small group leader, coach, teacher and more that have invested their time into me.

(THANK YOU!!)

However, there are two wonderful people in particular I owe a big thanks for keeping me afloat the past four years.

Amanda & Sarah.

The real MVPs.

They don’t get nearly enough credit for all they’ve done in my life and every other gal they’ve lead over the years. They listen to all my problems no matter how serious or petty they may be. They give me the best advice, and like my mom, they are never wrong. (Hey bets) 

I met them my junior year of high school when they both became my small group leaders at church. We’ve walked through books of the bible together and I learned how to love the Word. We read Francis Chan books together bc honestly he’s my fav and knows how to tell ya like it is. They have walked with me through dumb boys, high school graduation, the wonderful highs and low lows that come with being a college freshman, homecoming court, friend break ups, sorority recruitment, deaths, first dates, shopping sprees, lots of dunkin donuts, dnows, mission trips, and up through senior year of college (which is now).
Needless to say, they’ve walked with me through it all.

Every text.
Every phone call.
Every insta dm.
Every coffee and donut date.
Every queso date.
Every chicken mini date.
basically, everything.

While they’ve been major keys (lol dj khaled) in my life, I’ve had the pleasure of being apart of their lives. Like when Sarah told us she was pregnant with their first child Bear, Amanda moved to Savannah, GA and when Amanda called to tell me I was going to be an Aunt!! (:

They have an continue to set such an example of what I wish to become in my life…

Strong.
Independent.
Smart.
Hard working.
Stylin.
Graceful.
Funny.
Kind.
a leader.
a mentor.
a best friend.

S/O to Jesus, the real MVP for putting these fab women into my life.

Amanda & Sarah, thank you for everything. seriously. everything.

This is why community is so important to me. It’s made me who I am today and brought the best people into my life. 10/10 recommend getting plugged in somewhere.

Thank you for being proof of His love.


XOXO,
E.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

Here’s a little encouragement for today…



Something I’ve learned recently, we’re all waiting for something.

A job.
A sign.
A husband.
A decision on a major.
A career path.
Clarity.
A friend to find Jesus.
Hope.
Love.
For a boy to notice you and give you the time of day.
To win the lottery (aren’t we all).
Graduation.
Strength.

Whatever it is, we’re waiting for something.
It’s so hard to find contentment.

During our wait it is so easy to run to things for comfort.
Sleep.
Netflix.
A familiar face.

Those things get in our way from keeping our eyes on and hope in Jesus.


These distractions get in the way and prolong our wait.

God has been teaching me that the waiting seasons are seasons meant for growth. It’s Him preparing us for what comes next, what He has planned next. Yes, His plan and ours could look the same, but they could also we different.
They are both good.
& He is still good even when we don’t get what we want when we want it.

He is equipping us for the next step, the next stage in life.

Even when we are in the middle of a wait and we don’t see Him at work, He is there and He is working.

During your time of waiting, rest in Him. Grow. Trust. Hope & Pray.

“Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.”

Love this song & it is SO true. 

Starting your day off being intentional in your walk with Christ is way better than spending thousands elsewhere in places taking your focus from Him.

Be patient.

Rest in Him.

It’s all going to be okay and He will provide for you and bless your situation.

God has a plan far greater than anything we could ever imagine.

Hold on tight to your creator.

It may take months, it may take years, it may take decades.

“God is in the victory business.” -Wendy Pope

& He is working for your victory even when you do not see it.


XOXO,
E.

Breaking Up with…



Well first off, let’s just LOL @ the fact I’m writing a post about why I am tired w/ social media & I am sharing it on social media.


The irony.

oh well.

Social Media.

It’s a blessing and a curse.
It’s super fun and a great way to keep in contact with old pals.
It’s fun to creep on people (bc we all do).
It’s fun to share exciting things happening in out lives.

Trust me, I am a fan of social media. I think it’s great.

But I am also so tired of it & I think we’re taking a break.

“It’s not me, it’s you.”



It’s constantly there.
It’s always changing.
You feel like you always have to scroll through your feed.
You spend 30 minutes every morning just scrolling.

& it’s so annoying.
It’s suffocating.

Obvi, we don’t have to do this, we choose to, well at least I do. &  it really is just a waste of time and can be extremely negative.


I’m tired of thinking that if I like someone’s picture or they like mine that we’re still the bff’s that we once were.

I’m tired of thinking that if I snapchat the same person every day and we have a streak that that is considered a friendship.

bc it’s not.

I am tired of waiting to get that certain “like” or “snap” from someone.

I am tired of relying on social media as a form of communication.

I am tired of thinking people’s lives are perfect bc of how they are portrayed on social media

(I am so guilty of this. I am 100% a perfectionist at heart and want everyone to believe I have it all together. Guess what? I don’t. I am far from perfect).


I am tired of the comparison it brings into my life.
“Wow she gets so many likes”
“wow she has so many pals”
“what’s wrong with me?”
“why am I not cool like that?”

Bc when we stand before God one day we’re not going to tell him how many likes we got on that picture, how many snap streaks we kept and how many days in a row we checked our time hop.



If someone truly wants to be apart of your life, that’ll show when social media isn’t there.

& the people who you don’t talk to when social media isn’t there, are the people that shouldn’t have had as much “bff status” in the first place and really don’t care about you like you thought they did.

& THAT IS OKAY. 
trust me.
It’s okay.


So far I have been without snapchat for almost three weeks.
& I honestly don’t know if I am going to get it back.
It is absolutely freeing not having it and I 10/10 recommend everyone deleting it for at least a day or two to see how wonderful it is.
(Streaks are not eternal)


I have been off and on of Instagram for about three weeks as well, to occasionally post on my story, and see the top 3 or 5 posts on my feed. I haven’t looked farther than that and it’s super nice (the only plus of this new algorithm, only my bffs show up at the top).


It’s genuinely just a refreshing and freeing feeling.

I didn’t say all of this to go on and on about how awful social media is and we should all get rid of it now.
I’m saying this to say it’s okay to break up with social media for a while.
which is what I am going to do, for a little while at least.

If you want a change of pace this summer, if you want to re-devote that time to something else, I am encouraging you to do it.

Since social media and I have parted ways, I have been more intentional in my time with the Lord (praise hands, literally), I’ve blogged more, read more, worked out more, etc.
I’ve done things I truly enjoy doing bc it’s crazy how much time we spend sitting and scrolling.

Disclaimer: Yes, I still have blog social media accounts and I don’t plan on getting rid of those. Those aren’t “social media” to me, those are fun and a hobby for me, just like blogging is.

Find a balance that is right for you.

Ok soapbox done.



I hope you all are enjoying your summer and making the most out of it!
What have you all been up to and what are your summer plans??? Let me know in the comments.



XOXO,
E.


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