It hit me the other day how much the Lord has provided for my every need. Not even just financially, even though that is a huge part of it. Six months ago, I had $100 to my name. TOTAL. No real job, no steady source of income, that was it. Now, I have a great full-time job and $6000 saved up for the trip. But even more than that, Jesus has showed me that no matter how hard I try, I can't do anything by myself. There is no possible way. He has lifted me out of every awful thing and flipped it completely upside down.

Back when He told me I couldn't go on track in 2011, I was completely devastated. I would tell people that I knew He had a plan for my life and that I was okay, which ultimately was true, but there was still a part of me that was angry for not being able to go. But this year has turned out to be pretty great so far. It's crazy to look back and see every thing I wouldn't have been able to experience, people I wouldn't have known, and lives I wouldn't have influenced, had I gone on that trip. And now, even though I'm so excited to go on the trip next year, I know that whatever God has planned is the absolute best.

Also, have you ever stopped to think about how much Jesus loves to bless us? A list for today:
Sunshine (I don't think I've ever appreciated it so much as I have this summer. Seriously.)
Living at my parent's house  (Oh, hello free rent...)
Passion tea lemonade (especially when paired with sunshine)
Cheap gym memberships (thank you, groupon.)
Things work pays for (bus passes, insurance, bagels and cream cheese...)

One more thing -- I'm selling bracelets right now as a fundraiser. It's through an organization called Threads of Hope. They're so pretty and they're only $2! If you buy one, a dollar will go to me and a dollar will go to the women who make them. They live in the Philippines and these bracelets provide a source of income for them so that they don't have to go into prostitution and their kids can go to school. And look how fun they are:


So, just let me know if you want to buy one! I got 500, so the selection is huge!

How is it February already? Time flies. In order to celebrate the month of love, here are a few things I love about today.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
The best thing about today? My sister gets time off school and we get to watch movies and have dance parties to Plus One. Except I'm pretty sure I was the only one dancing. She just sat there. Still.
Other best thing about today? MLK. Seriously. The man was a genius. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from him:

Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies - or else? The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or else we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. 

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend. 

We must rapidly begin the shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society. When machines and computers, profit motives, and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.

Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

Brilliant, yeah?