Blessings...

So I know I'm officially the worst blogger ever. I apologize for the lack of posts, but as I'm sure you all know firsthand, it's been a hectic holiday season.

I've gone through a wide range of emotions the past few weeks, with times where I was laughing uncontrollably with friends or times when I would sit in my room and cry for no apparent reason. It was the strangest thing.

I was feeling pretty down the other day when I drove over to Sunrise Bread Co. at 9:30 a.m. to have breakfast with two of my best friends. We got our coffee and pastries and settled in to a table by the window to chat and exchange Christmas presents (on New Years Eve of course :D ).

Kyla and I had already exchanged presents (and let me just say that she is unbelievable in this area. Really.) but we hadn't seen Elizabeth so this was our exchange day.

Now like I said, I was feeling a little low, but it's amazing how much being around wonderful people can bring you up. I was already feeling much better when Elizabeth handed me a little bag with a big smile. I reached in and pulled out a beautiful coffee mug. (How perfect!?) But that's not the best part. The little piece of paper inside was by far the most special.

I won't put it in here word for word, but the words on that small strip of paper made me feel so whole, so loved, that I had to bite my lip to hold back tears. The essence of the gift was that since our friendship (which has grown to something I'm so thankful for) was founded around a good cup of coffee, she wanted me to have a coffee mug to symbolize not only that, but also something else very special. The mug was handmade in downtown Titusville and since I have no idea where life will be taking me in just a little over a year, Elizabeth wanted to me have a piece of home to take with me wherever I go.

Life has a funny way of making you feel small sometimes. Thinking about moving somewhere right out of college at barely 21 years old to a place where I might not know a soul is scary. But when we're feeling scared or alone, God always finds a way to bring us back and show us that we're going to be fine, that great things await us, and beautiful people are here to help us along the way.

"...You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?

The Lord replied, 'The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.' " - Mary Stevenson

So after four hours of wonderful quality time, I left Sunrise feeling much more, sunny. :o)

Love, hugs, and so much more than a coffee mug...