Day 28. Scares.

A picture of something your afraid of


Heights. This is a picture from the top of the John Hancock building in Chicago. I can not do heights. Airplanes are fine. Helicopters are even okay. But looking outside of the window on a tall building and seeing how far i could fall if someone pushed me.. or if I tripped. YIKES! My knees go weak.

Day 27. Grows.

A picture of you and a family member


Abbie. This is my second cousin. I love her to pieces. She has literally grown up before my eyes. Her and her mom lived with my dad for about a year when I was in college. I can't believe that she is a junior in high school now. Just yesterday she was a little girl sucking her thumb trying to run around with us "big kids". We had some great memories of Thanksgiving at my aunt's house (that would be her grandmother). We always do Thanksgiving at at my Aunt Karen's and Forth of July at the house I grew up in. Then of course- there is always the occasional Chicago Bears game! ;)

Day 26. Means.

A picture of something that means a lot to you


Necklace. I got this necklace (well, not this exact one but one VERY similar) last summer. I had just started teaching all the girls (6th grade - sophomore in college) at my church. One Sunday morning two of my girls came up to me with a present. I didn't know what to expect. I opened the box and there this was! They said they saw it and thought of me. Y'all- I had JUST started teaching there Sunday school class. I was there maybe a month. Yet, they already saw me as someone important in their lives. It really meant a whole lot to me. This is currently hanging on my rear view mirror in my car. It always reminds me to pray not only for those girls but for all my girls.

Day 25. Drives.

A picture of your day


I am heading to the Girls' Ministry Forum in Nashville, TN. I will have the opportunity to network with some of the best and brightest Girls' Ministers in the country. It's a normal conference.. main sessions, breakouts, food, you know the drill BUT to be around so many women with the same passion as myself.. I can hardly contain my excitement! :) Can I be in Nashville now?!

Day 24. Changes.

A picture of something you wish you could change


Homelessness. I think about homelessness in general but mostly, I would want to change peoples' perceptive of homelessness. Most homeless aren't looking for their next score. They are trying to put together the broken pieces of their lives. While some (and I'd say a very small some) are looking for money for their addictions, most are just looking for help.

Day 23. Reads.

A picture of your favorite book


Online blurb: A soul-stirring story of two college friends who reconnect after 20 years. One is living life apart from God in comfortable corporate America, while the other is living for Christ under intense persecution in China. This challenging book will convict the heart of readers to live in the light of eternity.

Day 22. Practices.

A picture of something you wish you were better at


Playing piano. For some reason it just doesn't work out for me. I really love the piano and I love hearing it played but for some reason my fingers just don't work that way. Now, my friend Jeff.. he can play piano. REALLY WELL! And he can "sang"! Check it out:

Day 21. Forgets.

A picture of something you wish you could forget


Lyrics. I learned some crazy stuff when I was in junior high. I had really no idea what I was singing UNTIL I hear these lyrics now that I'm older. WHAT?! Even if they aren't curse words... there are some ideas in lyrics that I wish I didn't know or listen too. My last rant of lyrics has been the line "I'm a little drunk and I need you now." That song is great musically but lyrics like this just irritate me. I had a friend who tweeted "Thank u lady antebellum for making me explain what 'drunk' means to my 5 yr old. and no we don't listen to it at home." I agree and my students are singing it! No, you are underage.. and the only person you need is yo momma to come bail you outta jail now. Go to jail.. do not collect $200.. rawr. Stupid lyrics. ...end rant.

Day 20. Oops!

Oops! On Day 15 I was supposed to post a picture of something that I want to do before I die. I posted about traveling to Israel. I didn't look ahead to see if there was another travel day! So I'm swapping them! Today's will be a picture of something else I want to do before I die SINCE I already posted about my travel wants (You can read my travel post here!)

A picture of somewhere you would love to travel


Skydiving. I am deathly afraid of heights. I really dislike them. BUT I saw a tv show with a couple skydiving and it looked really fun. Maybe before I die I'll get the guts to attempt this. Maybe that's how I'll die. Freak skydiving accident. Great. Now, I'll never do this. Ha!

Day 19. Sleeps.

A picture of you when you were little.


Cuteness. That's me! Asleep on the couch with my kitty, Breezy. I had him from when I was little (maybe around 2) until I was in high school. I loved that cat. Obviously. This picture is too cute! :) Look at that awesome couch too.. you can't deny it.

Day 18. Regrets.

A picture of your biggest insecurity


My past. While I try not to have any regrets about my past, I certainly do. I've done things in my life that I am not particularly proud of. While I know that I have been forgiven by God for those things, I still can't shake certain feelings that those memories invoke. I healed from a lot of those wounds but there are definitely scars that remain.

Day 17. Impacts.

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently


iPhone. Alright, before you start.. let me explain. I love the iPhone. I think it's great. Let's be honest, when I first got mine I was OBSESSED! And to some degree (in the spirit of full disclosure) I still am. I guess it's not the phone that has impacted my life recently but the realization of how constant it is in my life. The first thing I do when I wake up (still in bed, mind you) is check in my phone. I check my calendar, texts, facebook, twitter, and all. I do the same right before I go to bed.. as if much has changed in those 8ish hours. It's become routine and really, it's kind of a waste of time. (I just said THAT!) I mean, there are great things about the phone (like the several Bible apps and music, etc.) it's just the amount of time I spend playing with it. It's kind of gross. It's a phone for crying out loud! I think I need to take a break from my iPhone. "It's not you iPhone... it's me... really!"

Day 16. Inspires.

A picture of someone who inspires you


Brooke Chatham. I borrowed this picture from her facebook page. I wanted to post one of the whole family and this is the only one I could find, including the newest addition Ella.

Brooke is amazing. If you know her, you know what I am talking about. She beams God's love. She has an amazing voice that she uses for ministry. She is always smiling and laughing. AND she is a fantastic mommy to 4 children! I have no idea how she does everything she does.

I remember the first time I thought, wow.. she "inspires me." We were in the midst of a huge crowd that just wouldn't be quiet and pay attention and Brooke was trying to give instructions. They needed to listen so that they would know what's going on. After several attempts to get them to be quiet and listen (not kids mind you..) she turned to me and said jokingly, "I will not lose my testimony, I will NOT lose my testimony." Not only did it make me laugh but I saw the truth in what she was saying. I was already super annoyed that no one was listening but she made it her goal to stay positive and show Christ to those who were STILL NOT LISTENING! (Not that I'm still annoyed or anything.. hah!) In that moment my perspective changed. I went from being annoyed that these people weren't listening to seeing them as Brooke did... as Christ does. I see God's love in her... and that inspires me.

Day 15. Travels.

A picture of something you want to do before you die


I borrowed this picture from my friend Courtney's facebook page. In 2009 she got to take a trip to Israel with her class. The caption of this picture is "Overlooking the Sea of Galilee...Jesus could have been right here!!!!!"

I'd love to be able to travel to Israel sometime before I die. Her pictures were really awesome. I have another friend who was on that same trip and he said it was just, "amazing!". I wanna go..... who's in? ;)

Day 14. Prays.

A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without



Sarah Butler. Even though we have been playing phone tag for about 4 months now she is someone that I cannot imagine my life without. She is one of the most amazing women of God out there. She is definitely one of my prayer warriors! We have so many memories together and I know there are many more to come!

Day 13. Sings.

A picture of your favorite band or artist



Dave Barnes. Heck yes. I absolutely love me some Dave Barnes. Here's a few samples...

Live:


Christmas:


Aaaaaand in honor of Balumtine'th Day:

Day 12. Plays.

A picture of something you love



Playing guitar and/or singing. This picture is actually from a mission trip in Vermont. I first learned to play guitar when I was a senior in high school. I loved helping lead worship in college. I wish I played more nowadays but my schedule is always so busy. I may have a make more of an effort to make time. I'll invite you to my next open mic night! ;)

Day 11. Hates.

A picture of something you hate


Packers. Yeah, yeah. I know they won the Superbowl this year but I DON'T CARE! I am a Bears fan. It is in our DNA to hate the Packers and I DO!

And.. So does this little girl.



That will never get old. :) "I hate the Packers!"

Day 10. Dances.

A picture of a person you would do the craziest things with


Melodye Redding. Oh yeah - This is my girl. We would the craziest things together in college. This picture is actually from the "Goodwill Gala" back in the day. We had to find an "amazing" outfit and wear it. It was a blast. DANCE PARTY! :) We love to dance so for her 25th birthday we actually went to the local gay club with a few girl friends so that we could dance and yet not worry about getting hit on. Not only would we do crazy things together but she was also one of my best friends. She is one of those friends that knows me better than I know my self and I can't get away with anything with her! She can call me on stuff and I know I can trust her judgment. We've done a TON of things together like missions in Guatemala, show choir in college, BCM leadership team, random trips to Birmingham, GREAT MEMORIES and a few I refuse to post! ;)

Day 9. Perseveres.

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most


Becky. What a perfect day for this post too because Becky is coming to Atlanta today to visit. Among the list of activities is a tour of NAMB, tour of my church, dinner on Canton Street, coffee at my Pastor's house, maybe an extra desert at Menchie's, and relaxing at my house! :) I say all that because I am EXTREMELY excited to see her.

If you know me pretty well, you've probably heard me talk about Becky. She started off in my life as just the music minister at my church.. then my show choir director.. then my mentor.. then my mom! :) Her husband Ellis (who could be included in this picture category as well) was my college minister. Their heart for ministry has definitely changed who I am. Becky knows more about me than I know myself. She can call me out when I'm being ridiculous but she also knows when I just need to verbally process things. She has been used by the Lord to help break some pretty big strongholds in my life. I definitely can attribute my heart for women's ministry because of her. She pour her life into mine.. even when it was hard (and trust me.. there were hard times!) Having seen the effect of that.. I desire to do the same. She's just AMAZING!