The Little Things, Number Ten.

105. Advent and the Christmas season.

106. Peppermint Hot Chocolate. And by this, I mean peppermint tea brewed for about two minutes, and then three (large) spoonfuls of hot chocolate mix stirred in.

107. The first snow of the winter.

108. The squeals and giggles that arose around campus as the first flurries made their appearance.

109. Jars of Clay's Christmas Songs album.

110. Boots + jeans.

111. Laughing with sweet friends.

112. Yoga class.

113. "George Whitefield was cross eyed. That means you'll be a great missionary." Hah. Right.

114. Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's.

115. Good conversations with family.

116. Thanksgiving.

117. Late night drives.

118. Christmas lights.

119. Feeling like I've accomplished something after working for hours on my SIP.

120. Tuesday night "family dinners."

121. Documentaries. Recently, Life in a Day. Watch it.

122. iMessages.

123. Pink fuzzy slippers + leggings + x-large t-shirts.

124. The way the snow lays on the tree branches, outlining the bark.

125. 100 blog posts.

Good friends.

I know that I mention my friends a lot. I talk about how great they are and how they love me well, how we have way too much fun together and speak the Gospel to each other every day. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got it.

Ok, but really.

This past weekend was CPC's missions conference. (You'll hear about that soon.) Part of the weekend was to speak in a Sunday school class about Scotland. I was nervous, felt unprepared, and was just overall uncomfortable with the idea of having to speak for over thirty minutes to a room full of people. So. I brought my friends.

Anna Clare, Caroline, Tyler and Josiah got up earlier than usual on Sunday morning and came to the church service and to hear me speak in Sunday school. (I'm still trying to decide if it was more intimidating or more comforting having some of my best friends AND my family there listening.) It went well, and we spent the afternoon eating lunch and hanging out with my family.

I really can't even begin to explain how much it meant to me for them to be there. I asked them to come, expecting a really nice, "Oh, I'd love to, but I need to go to my church this Sunday..." I should have known better. They love me, and wanted to support me.

These are our photo attempts. I'm posting all of them, because there isn't a single one where we're all making normal faces. (typical.)

Thanks for being the best, guys. I love you.

Fresh food.

Lately, I've been craving healthy food. I've been working on getting in shape (p90x. again.) and have just really wanted good food.

The kind that you don't feel guilty about eating.

The kind that is organic.

The kind that makes your body feel better after you eat it.

The kind that you spend too much money on, but don't eat it alone because that's no fun.

(And roommates are the best to share with.)

So this is what happened:

Yoga. Avocados. Hummus. Multigrain Pita Chips. Water.

Aaaand Roommates.

The Little Things, Number Nine.

88. Learning.

89. Drinking Scottish tea on a foggy day out of my blue mug.

90. The fantastic feeling of accomplishment that only comes from finishing a paper.

91. Grace that I receive every day.

92. Friends who pray for me.

93. The anonymous notes that are being left in my SIP carrel. Whoever you are, thank you.

94. Learning that I am loved.

95. Counseling. Thank you, Cov Col, for offering it for free. (Everyone should take advantage.)

96. New glasses coming in the mail!

97. The leaves that are falling off of the trees, littering the ground and crunching under my feet.

98. This view from my window.

99. Class discussions that make me think.

100. Brainstorming ministry ideas. Coffee shop at Mosaic, anyone?

101. Global Gospel Advancement Week.

102. Knowing that I have written the words, "I have to go." in my journal and on my sermon notes countless times in the last few years with every intention of pursuing the call to go. It's happening.

103. Emails from Scotland.

104. Nights involving 7+ hours of sleep.

CPC Missions Conference.

This weekend is Covenant Presbyterian Church's missions conference. CPC Chattanooga has been my home church for the past two years. My family started attending there when they moved to Ringgold from Lawrenceville, and we became members within a few months. I have been involved with the youth there for about a year and a half now, and I love my middle school girls. The CPC community is solid, and is a blessing to be a part of.

So what's the big deal? Well.

Yours truly, third from the bottom.

This is my first missions conference. I'm so excited, absolutely terrified, and really anxious to see how God is going to use it.

As I was thinking about it the other night, forming what my talk will look like and thinking through what pictures I should use in my presentation, my thoughts drifted to what could happen. My church has over 300 members. I need 180 people giving me $25 a month.

What if all of my support came in.

Seriously. What if all of my support came in? It could happen. God could say do it, and people could jump. I'm not expecting this to happen. My pessimism tends to take over and not even let me think that it's a possibility. (Which it probably isn't. It would be a huge blessing if I get ONE supporter.) But why not ask. Why not pray big? God has done bigger things. He has turned water to wine, healed the sick, and raised the dead to life. He can do big things.

Here's where you come in. Will you pray with me? Will you join me in asking God to bring me to full support in one weekend, from one church? My friends and family are already on it. Prayer makes things happen. Prayer changes things. I know it's a big ask, but why not try?

Every day.

I need this. Every day, I need this.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price... 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Other refuge have I none,
I helpless, hang on Thee;
Leave, oh leave me not alone,
Support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
In the shadow of Thy wing.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul.

November.

It's November.

I LOVE October and the pumpkin spice lattes and beautiful leaves that go with it. However, I also have a great appreciation for beards. So, considering November means No Shave November, it might be in the running for my favorite month.

Just sayin'.