December 28

There is no way to predict the future, and sometimes when we are faced with it, it is about as approachable as an ice cold pool. We can choose to move forward and take the plunge or become stagnant and full of apprehension and doubt. I have come to know two things: There is nothing more horrifying than the unknown and that one of our greatest challenges is overcoming the possibility of failure.

In a world that is constantly putting emphasis on succeeding and achieving it is incredibly simple for us to attach our worth to our actions and accolades. This helps to explain the fear of failure, because what are we really without achievement? The world would probably say “not much”, but if you look to God’s word you will see that he calls us “Fearfully and wonderfully made”. This is an intrinsic worth, and not based on any action of our own but instead the actions of someone who cannot fail. In this we should find unspeakable joy and unshakable confidence.  We all have aspirations and dreams, but they do not come without hard work and persistence.  When you are feeling weighed down or fearful of the future, unable to make your next move, remember God’s promise to each of us. “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Recently I had the opportunity of learning an important lesson from someone who is very special to me. This person demonstrated to me what incredible things God can bring about when you commit and surrender to his plan and give him your full dedication. In moments when you feel like you have nothing left or are unqualified for the task at hand, have the will and the desire to persist. This left a lasting impression with me and I wanted to pass it along to all of my readers.  Take the plunge! Take a risk and go for your dream, and when you are emotionally and physically drained call on God and he will pull you through.

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for the incredible people God has placed in my life to teach me the lessons that matter

Farararara 

Well that’s it folks! Christmas Day is over, and I think it is safe to say we are all exhausted. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  This has been an amazing year, and I have truly been blessed with an incredible family, friends that are better than I deserve, and the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a Medical Missionary. Above all though, we have all been blessed with a loving savior who has come into the world to die for each and every one of us and redeem us from our sins. Now that is something to smile about! I am so excited to see what the coming year has in store, and I can’t wait to experience it unfold with my readers! I am so thankful for all of your support! You guys seriously amaze and humble me!

Daily Thanks: Today I am SO thankful for my sweet sister! SHE IS ENGAGED YOU GUYS!!!!!! (Photos coming soon!)

December 20

Today I want to give a big shout out and huge thank you hug to my best friend in the entire world, Payton Sims! This girl is literally my soul mate, and I do not know where I would be without her. Payton is one of the most talented, creative, beautiful, and God fearing women I have ever encountered and I am so incredibly proud to be able to call her best friend and self-proclaimed sister. We have been through so much together and I am certain that I am a far better person for having known her. Payton has a thirst for religious knowledge that is forever nudging me to open my own bible, and a true servant’s heart. I hope each and every one of my readers is fortunate enough to have just one friend this true in their lifetime. It is one of the greatest blessings. Also she is pretty B.A on the French horn. (She is going to be a famous musician one day so be on the lookout for her name)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

Daily Thanks: Today I am obviously thankful for my incredible friend Payton

December 18

Happy Hump day friends! I hope everyone is having an awesome Wednesday and an even better week so far. Today has been an errand running, NCIS watching, nap taking, gift making kind of day. As Christmas approaches, my mom and I begin our annual scramble to put together gifts for my dad to take to his office workers who help to make his life so much easier throughout the year (He is a high school principal, so any extra help he can get is much appreciated). We have abandoned the typical holiday gifts of cookies, candies, and sweets for something a little different. Salsa has quickly become our go to gift for co-workers and friends! It is fun and easy to make; and we think it is a good break from the never ending parade of sweets we all receive during the holidays! (Although tomatoes are fruit, so technically this may still be a dessert…you decide). Gift giving during the holidays can be one of the most rewarding or most stressful aspects of the season. We have all heard the saying “Keep Christ at the center of Christmas”, but I think it is also important to keep Christ at the center of gift giving. The bible sheds a little light on the subject of being a Christ-like and cheerful giver, and it is something we should all reflect on during this particular time of year! “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). This bible verse is usually used in church exclusively when talking about tithing to church (your offering) or giving to charity, but I think it can be applied to any instance where we are expected to give. This Christmas I encourage you to give cheerfully no matter how big or small your gift may be!

What is the most thoughtful present you have ever given?

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for time spent with my mom, who is all too patient with me; and for my new trainer/friend Will (I can barely walk down the stairs thanks to Monday’s lunge filled workout)

SALSA RECIPE: 

10 lbs tomatoes, chopped

6 medium onions, chopped

3 cups bell peppers (any kind), chopped

12 jalapeno peppers, chopped and seeded

5 chili peppers, chopped and seeded (this will make it spicy or milder, depending on the peppers you choose)

10 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 1/3 cups white vinegar

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp pepper

2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp cumin

2 tbsp lime juice

3 cans tomato paste (the bigger cans, not the tiny ones)

Combine all ingredients except tomato paste in a large stock pot. Simmer approximately 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato paste and mix well. Simmer another 20 minutes or so. At this point, I take out about half of the salsa, blend it smooth in the blender and then return it to the pot, but you can leave it chunky if you prefer. Ladle into hot jars leaving 1/4" headspace. Cap and process 15 minutes in a water bath canner. Remove jars and let cool.

This recipe makes approximately 15 pints.

  

Happy Canning!

December 16

Happy Monday friends! I hope everyone is doing wonderful and enjoying these past days leading up to Christmas. This weekend my family took our annual trip to pick out and cut down our Christmas tree. It is always an eventful experience with my mother, sister and I cracking up and telling jokes about the year before, my father trying to keep track of my two special needs brothers who are always wandering every which way, and of course the infamous train ride Marty always looks forward to. The McRae Christmas tree is always an interesting sight, as it is usually covered with our elementary school art and projects rather than your typical holiday ornaments. It looks a little odd, but honestly it fits our family perfectly.  Picking out our tree and then coming home to cover it in hand made “decorations” got me thinking about why this tradition came about. I thought I would do a little research and fill you guys in! This is what I found…

“By the early Middle Ages, the legend had grown that when Christ was born in the dead of winter, every tree throughout the world miraculously shook off its ice and snow and produced new shoots of green. The evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter. Romans decorated their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year, and ancient inhabitants of northern Europe cut evergreen trees and planted them in boxes inside their houses in wintertime.”

It is easy to get wrapped up in our own family’s holiday traditions, but let us not forget the real “reason for the season”. We have the opportunity to celebrate and gather in thanks during this season for the birth of our lord and savior Jesus Christ! Without him we would all be lost; and while Christmas gifts are wonderful and exciting, the greatest gift of all is a God who loves us and offers us eternal life through his only son. I hope everyone has a blest Monday! Hugs, Hugs, Hugs!

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1:18-24)

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for my wonderful sister Meagan! We celebrated her 23^rd birthday tonight, and I am so blessed to have her in my life!

December 14

The semester is finally over! I am sad to say I got a little behind with my blog when finals started popping up(I made an A in organic chemistry and got a job as a lab assistant working with the genetics professor! Needless to say I was doing a happy dance all the way home), but I am so excited to take advantage of this break and catch up with all of my readers! The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. I can’t wait to spend some time with my best friend Payton, read some books that have been sitting on my shelf for way too long, and enjoy being around my crazy loud loving family. I am so excited to start posting and corresponding with all of you guys again! I hope everyone’s December is off to a fantastic start! Look out for my next post that will be coming out this Monday!

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for finally getting to sleep in!

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November 17

This weekend I had the absolute privilege of attending the Georgia Leadership and Activation Summit seminar with Bama Students for Life, and learning a lot of valuable information about prolife apologetics. The thing that was so interesting and helpful about this conference is that none of the speakers supported their pro-life beliefs with religion. This means that no matter what your beliefs are, there are reasons for you to become informed and stay united in the fight for life. This is not a religious or Christian issue, this is a human issue.

In my history of discussing and debating the ins and outs of abortion ethics, I have found that the conversation often becomes clouded with a number of irrelevant topics and excuses ranging from reproductive rights, to population control, and even economic Burdon. Al first glance these arguments can be confusing because frankly, they sound right. They sound good. They sound fair. You would be hard pressed to find a person who believes that a woman should not have her rights, and that citizens should not be in control of their own lives and financial situation. I even agree with these points, after all I am a woman too (who enjoys her equal rights). But one of the brilliant speakers at the conference made an eye opening point. He stated that the answer to all of these concerns lies in one fact. What are the unborn? Are they or are they not human? If they are, nothing else matters; and if they are not, nothing else matters. If the “thing” we are talking about is in fact a valuable human life like you and I (For anyone who has seen an ultrasound picture or knows anything about DNA, this should be undisputable) then there is no amount of discomfort, inconvenience or any situation that would justify the taking of this life. It is not ours, and therefore not ours to take. I am not saying these things to offend anyone, but simply to raise awareness and shed light on other options.

“A woman does not want an abortion like she wants an ice cream cone, a new dress, or a Porsche; she wants an abortion like an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg to escape. It is not a sign that she is free, but a sign that she is desperate” I encourage everyone to consider the facts. We can all work together to educate women on their numerous options and resources and help them find real love, and support, and make an ACTUAL choice (or lovingly help them deal with a choice that has already been made)instead of being rushed into something that can forever change their life. 

Check out these facts!

  23% had hallucinations related to the abortion

· 35% perceived visitation from the aborted child

· 54% had nightmares related to the abortion

· 69% experienced feelings of "craziness"

· 73% had flashbacks of abortion experience

· 81% had a preoccupation with the aborted child

· 61% increased their use of alcohol

· 65% had thoughts of suicide

· 69% were sexually inhibited

· 73% had flashbacks of the abortion

· 77% experienced an inability to communicate

· 81% experienced frequent crying

Please feel free to email me for any additional resources or questions!
thehumblebee00@gmail.com

November 14

Good morning all! The end of the Academic semester is quickly approaching, and I am feeling extremely overwhelmed! I am so excited to get to go home to Fairhope and spend the holidays with my family and friends, but I am having such a difficult time keeping focused on all the things of the day and getting my to-do list checked off.  This got me thinking that everyone probably feels this way at certain times. I think it is so easy to lose focus on today and everything that goes along with it. I tend to worry about the future, or even excitedly anticipate something about the future, and then I completely blow off today. This, however, is not what God desires for our lives! He wants us to fully live in each day, faithfully trusting him to sort out the details of the future.

“Live Today! Do not allow your spirit to be softened of your happiness to be limited by a day you cannot have back or a day that does not yet exist.” (Steve Maraboli)

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for a moment to slow down and just enjoy the present with a cup of my favorite tea.

How will you enjoy today?

November 11

I hope everyone is having a great Monday! I want to take the opportunity to spread the word about an amazing charity (Amazima) that I have learned about through reading a book. It is a charity founded by a lovely Christian woman who, by the age of eighteen moved to Uganda, and by 22, was the legal mother and caregiver to thirteen beautiful Ugandan girls. I encourage everyone to check out Katie’s website, video, and if you get the chance to read her book! It is so eye opening! I look forward to being able to donate to this more than worthy cause. Here is a little background info on Amazima!

HISTORY:

"Amazima Ministries was founded by Katie Davis in 2008. The organization, based out of Franklin, TN; feeds, educates, and encourages the orphaned, poor, and vulnerable in the country of Uganda. In Luganda, the local language, Amazima (ah-mah-zee-mah) means “truth.” Amazima Ministries desires to reveal the truth of God's unconditional love through Jesus Christ to the people of Uganda.

We show our love for God by obeying His command to care for the least of His people and take His Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Every outreach program of Amazima Ministries, whether education sponsorship, feeding, vocational assistance, or community outreach, is accompanied with Biblical teaching and spiritual encouragement. We know that nourishing the physical needs of these people is not the ultimate goal. We long to see them fed spiritually and restored into the right relationship with God".

http://www.amazima.org/sponsor.html 

Daily Thanks:Today I am thankful for our brave veterans, all the blessings that God daily provides me with, and beautiful people like Katie Davis who are working diligently to make a difference

November 6

Yikes! Its Wednesday already, and this week has flown by! I am so amazed and humbled at God’s grace and provision in my life! Everything has seemed so smooth and carefree lately, that it is easy to forget God in the day to day grind. Just as I am getting comfortable, Christ gives me glimpse at his greatness. An inspirational story, beautiful scenery, or even the kind smile of a stranger is all it takes, and again I am blown away by how small I am and how great He is! No matter what your situation may be, consider how truly and wholly you are blessed to be loved infinitely by the King of kings and Lord of lords. Compared to this love, all other things in my life become trivial, dull, or silly, and I am filled with unimaginable peace and unspeakable joy, even in the midst of tough times. My prayer today is that each and every one of you will be reminded of God’s promises and find hope, joy, and peace in his perfect love! "I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17).

 Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for the best job ever, where I get to play with some of the best kids around! 

November 4

I hope everyone has had a beautiful Monday morning and a great weekend! I had so much fun in St. Louis, but am also happy to be getting back into the swing of things here at school. Today I have received so much encouragement from my morning devotion, and I wanted to pass it along to you. It deals with the topic of God’s calling in your life and being faced with a task that may seem impossible. I am a strong believer that God calls each and every one of us to something special in life. He saved us and redeemed us, and uses us as tools in his plan to further his kingdom. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).  When dealing with God’s calling in my own life I have been faced with three reoccurring problems. These problems include getting wrapped up in my own selfish plans for my life, feeling inadequate for the task set before me, and not trusting God to provide the means to carry out his plan. My devotion this morning gave me such a powerful reminder that went a little something like this: There is no greater and more satisfying station in life than to live for and carry out God’s will, and also that you will never be enough! At first this seems terrifying, but really nothing could be of greater comfort! You will never be enough for the task God has for you, so we continually have to rely on him for strength and sustenance! We do what little we can and have faith in God for the rest! I have been so blessed to have a beautiful example of this in my life. My good friend Emily is a passionate Christian who truly has God’s will at the center of her heart. She is passionate about ending sex trafficking and reaching out to those in Afghanistan, and is not discouraged by the size of this task. She is a wonderful example of true faith in the Lord’s provision! I encourage everyone to check out her song!

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for the opportunity to learn, supportive friends and family, and a God who loves me enough to take care of the details!

What are you thankful for today?

October 31

Happy Halloween and Happy Reformation Thursday! The first day of our trip has been so amazing! St. Louis is such a beautiful city, and I am more than thankful to be exploring it with Payton, Ross and Mireya (Ross used to be our youth pastor, and Mireya is his incredible wife).  We have already done so many super fun things, like had a healthy breakfast at the First Watch, visited the local farmers market, took a trip to the LCMS headquarters, and just enjoyed being reunited! 

As we are going through this day I am reminded of how truly gracious God is to give us the opportunity to have Christian fellowship. 

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalms 133:1)."It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly in this world to share God's Word and Sacrament  Not all Christians receive this blessing. The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered lonely, the proclaimers of the Gospel in heathen lands alone. They know that visible fellowship is a blessing" (Bonhoeffer pg. 18). 

Sometimes I forget that not everyone has the privilege of living openly as a Christian, so my prayer is that I will continually be reminded of what a priceless gift God has given us, and daily rejoice in it. Today has been a blast so far, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of the weekend with some of my favorites! I am so truly blessed to have fellowship with such wonderful and encouraging people,and am so excited to share pictures and details from the rest of our trip with you all! Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for beautiful fall colors on the trees, awesome treats from the Farmers market, and happy times spent with some of the best girls I know!

What people in your life encourage and uplift you?

October 30

Good morning all, and happy Wednesday! Even though it’s only the middle of the week, it feels like Friday to me. The University of Alabama gets out today for fall break, so my very best friend and I are road tripping to St. Louis! I could not be more excited to go on this adventure with her! Even if you still have school, work, or house hold duties to keep up with in the next few days, I hope that you will find some adventure and joy in this week! This is such a magical time of year with Halloween, Thanksgiving, family, friends, and wonderful weather! I cannot wait to see what this holiday season has in store! Fingers crossed for clear skies on our drive. Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for a long weekend, fluffy warm laundry, and road trip snacks!

What is your favorite thing about Halloween?

October 25

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and an amazing Friday! I have been feeling the need to share a message that we discussed a few days ago in church. The sermon focused on how short this life is, and where our attention should be centered.  

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— ¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

These verses are so comforting to me. It is amazing how light the problems of your day become, and how joyous and carefree you can be when you live your life with an eternal perspective. Instead of stressing over our plans for the day, we can relax and live each moment without fear, knowing that God has a plan for each and every one of us. This life is a speck in time compared to the perfection that has been prepared for us in heaven. We are all loved and cared for! Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for the beautiful scenery in Tuscaloosa (Who knew?), Yummy squash from the farmer’s market, and the weekend!

How will you change your perspective to better enjoy life? 

October 23

Good morning all, and happy Wednesday! This is one of my very favorite days of the week, obviously because it is a half-way point to the weekend, but also because it is sprinkled with some of the most enjoyable activities of my week (hopefully yours too)! On Wednesdays I make a point to spend time reading in the coffee shop with a tasty drink in hand, enjoy a refreshing morning bike ride, practice a few of my new favorite yoga poses, and reunite with some of the best people I know for ONE at Church of the Highlands. I think it is so important for each of us to take moments throughout our week to relax, reflect, and enjoy all of the wonderful blessings we continuously receive.

It is so easy to get caught up in the to-do list of the day that we forget to make time for fun! I really encourage everyone to take a few moments today to spend time doing something that brings you joy. It could be anything from listening to some awesome music, treating yourself to your favorite snack, or interpretive dancing with your roomie in the living room! I am wishing you all a wonderful end to this beautiful October week. Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for frozen peppermint patties, comfy sweaters, and the excitement of mastering some new poses at Yoga Bliss!

What are some of your special Wednesday rituals?

October 21

Hello friends! This has been the most wonderful Monday morning! I woke up to some actual fall weather! That’s right folks, it was COLD!!! I almost froze my ears off on my morning bike ride, but this cold front could not be more welcome. Fingers crossed that it is here to stay, because I am ready for hot chocolate, sweater wearing, and snuggling up by a fire with friends.  I am so excited for the change in season that I may just have to beg my roomie to do some serious cookie baking tonight. 

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for hot tea on the balcony, a bike with functional brakes, and a best friend who will road trip with me! Smiles all around, and I hope your Monday is as blessed as mine has been!

What Holiday traditions are you looking forward to this year?

October 18

Today I am reminded of how fragile life is. I cannot describe how important it is to let those around you know how much they mean to you, and to live each day to the full and without fear. This life is precious and so short and none of us know what day will be our last. God has blessed all of us with unimaginable gifts and talents, and it is never too late to start using them. I believe that each and every one of us has been placed on this earth with a purpose, not to be ordinary, but to be extraordinary. Being extraordinary does not mean that you have to be a hero or change the world; it can simply mean that you live each day with purpose and with the good of others in mind. Try new things daily, take pleasure in the small stuff, laugh often, live passionately, and surround yourself with the people that make it all worthwhile.

Daily thanks: Today I am thankful for my beautiful Emily who is patient and gracious enough to teach me guitar, for a best friend who is my guardian angel, and for roomies who make this college town feel like home.

How will you make today extraordinary?

October 16

Happy hump day friends! As I am going through my morning I can't help but notice how easily I become weighed down by the worries and cares of tomorrow. I find myself stressing over details of future plans, and things that may not even happen. I coincidentally found comfort for this exact problem in my devotion for the day. 
" Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" Matt.6:34 NIV
I came to the conclusion that the important matter at hand is allowing ourselves to enjoy the moment. Whether you are worrying about what tomorrow has in store, or even being excited about something in the future, do not forget to live in this day. It is full of blessings that will pass you by if you don't pause and take a moment to enjoy them.
Daily Thanks:Today I am thankful for time spent outside, a good nights sleep, and Slow flow Yoga with Terry at Yoga Bliss (Which is always a wonderful mid-week treat!)
What has been the peak of your day?

October 14

This Monday morning got off to an eventful start. I studied for an exam, did a devotion, and repaired my own bike brakes all before 8 a.m! That is what I call an empowering and productive morning.Who knew those high school engineering classes would ever pay off? Daily thanks:Today I am thankful for beautiful fall weather, reading on the balcony, and a sweet roomie who always remembers to put cinnamon in the coffee. Happy Monday friends. 
What have you been thankful for today?