goodbye comfort.

November 2008: I left with more than a dozen people I barely knew (from my home church) for Africa. We were going to help build housing for AIDS orphans in a community called ADZIWA in the country of Malawi. The moment I heard about this two week journey--I knew I would go.

What I didn't know before leaving? 

My heart would never beat the same again. 

I would never look at a child the same way again. 

I would never be able to fully explain how it felt to have a little child put his hand in mine while I was walking. 

My heart would break every day for the rest of my life after what I experienced there. 

Things that made me uncomfortable in Africa:

Fainting in the airplane hallway and then proceeding to vomit in the bathroom.

Waking up under mosquito nets. 

Having awful bugs and lizards find homes in my shoes.

Eating the worst food I've ever tasted.

Being so covered in dirt that even a shower couldn't wash it away.

Cleaning an open gash on a little girl's leg.

It was when I sitting in the dirt covered by a group of children on my lap and with their hands in my hair that I realized: I had never felt more at home in my life.  Paul David Tripp said this: "God isn't working on our comfort--he is working on our character." Ever looked around at our Lexus and latte filled land and wondered--"Is there more to life?" Then you are on the right track. Join me in saying. . .

goodbye comfort. 

{song of the moment.}

love the emotion in this song. beautifully done.

{to dream or not to dream?}

Biltmore Estate in NC. {my future home}

      It's been said that I am a dreamer. And? That statement could not be more true. I have been a dreamer since the moment I laid eyes on my first Disney musical. I have been a dreamer ever since I can remember. It was my dream in kindergarten to be a missionary. It was my dream in 2nd grade to be Sandi Patty. My dream in 6th grade? To meet and marry Justin Timberlake. As you can see...the Justin Timberlake dream did not come true (thankfully). My biggest dream of all is to serve God in whatever capacity He chooses. My biggest dream of all is to serve Him through music. 

       I can't imagine a life without dreams. Some paint dreamers in a negative light. Some would rather live life in a day-to-day world then spend a second on dreaming of what could be. I believe God gave me a heart to dream. I was not created to live life without any hopes or dreams. I was created for a purpose. We are all created for a purpose. Now don't get me wrong...I don't live in a fantasy world where Prince Charming picks me up on a white horse or where a herd of ducks follow me into the grocery store (but...actually that did happen.) I know life isn't fanciful and magical all the time. Life is full of hardships and hurt. Instead of drowning in the reality this world offers us; let's chase after the life that God has always prepared for us. Let's live life to it's fullest.  If God has put a dream in your heart I say GO FOR IT. We were not created to settle. We were created to dream. To hope. To love. TO LIVE.