October 23

Wow guys, it’s been forever and a day since I have written a post (since June 29^th to be exact). Thank everyone who has continued to check in for new posts, I apologize for my supreme laziness! These past few months have been a whirlwind! I’m sure all of you know already that my sister got married at the end of the summer, so my time was filled with wedding planning, celebrating, and general stressing out. Love must be in the air this season, because my best friend/roomie (Payton for anyone who is new to the blog…or if you just forgot since it’s been a thousand years since I’ve written) got engaged as well! She and Stanley Lacey will be married this coming summer, and I could not be more excited for them. Everyone is

falling in love and getting married, and here I am carrying on a relationship with my lab fish and physics books. The struggles of a nerd are real you guys. In other news, I have moved into a new house for the year. My roommates are beyond amazing, and I am so blessed to get to breath the same air as these cool girls. I am so excited to get back to writing, and can’t wait to start hearing from you all again as well! I will just leave you with a few snapshots and videos from the past couple of months. Much love and happy vibes coming to you from the 505!

Daily thanks: Today I am thankful to be surrounded by so many great friends that I cannot possibly deserve.

A wife of noble character is her husband's crown (Proverbs 12:4)

June 29

After two weeks in St. Louis, I am feeling like the luckiest girl in the world! Not only did I get to reunite with two of the most special people I have ever known (Ross and Mireya Johnson), but I also had the pleasure of getting to know several selfless families who are going out into the mission field this year! They say that if the earth were flat, you could see a single candle flickering in the dark from up to 30 miles away. That is a pretty amazing fact, but also very similar to the way in which God is working through these families. God

calls us to shine his light to the world, and the people I met in the last two weeks exemplify what it means to fulfill this task. “"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). I have been so humbled to be able to serve these families for a brief moment on their individual journeys, and although two weeks is a short time, I am sure that my sweet new friends will remain in my heart for a lifetime. I have been refreshed and reminded that it is my duty to serve and shine the light of God even here in Alabama. I have also received an even deeper sense of excitement for my dreams of becoming a missionary myself!

Daily thanks: Today I am so thankful for the opportunities that have been set before me, and for friends who treat me like family.

Guest Post!!! (Ron Parida)

I am so excited to have been able to collaborate with short film director Ron Parida, to share with you all one of his latest projects. Check out his inspirational video that tells the story of Grandma Betty, an 81 year old cancer patient who has an incredibly bright outlook on life! This video is such an uplifting treat and I could not be more excited for you all to see it! Ron is an incredible young man, who produced this video with his own money, in hopes of giving people a more positive outlook on life and to share the story of a woman who is doing this daily! Read on to see what Ron has to say about his work with this remarkable lady!

RON PARIDA
"Meet Grandma Betty! A dancing 81 year old "simple southern girl" as she puts it, fighting lung cancer every day with a smile on her face. Her story is one of HAPPINESS, and POSITIVITY, and understanding that in life happiness is a choice we make daily. When i asked Grandma Betty why she was so happy she replied by saying "I'm  happy because I'm living and I'm taking one breath at a time. I don't take no more. I take one breath and one step at a time" We have worked very hard on this video, so if you enjoy it please give us a thumbs up and share the video with anyone you know!Our goal was to make something that leaves a smile on people's faces, so let's share Grandma Betty's happiness with the world!"

 

May 8

Happy Sunday Everyone! A few days ago I got back from my trip to California, and wanted to share a few of my photos with you all! I had so much fun, and came back completely relaxed (minus a ride home on the world's smallest plane with a faulty smoke detector). The scenery was so beautiful with the mountains and the ocean all in one spot! Each morning I would walk across the street and have breakfast at this restaurant on the water and read for a few hours, then I would lay out at the beach or the pool, walk around down town, go for a run, or try out some of the amazing restaurants in the city! I also had the chance to go to one of the farmers markets that the city has every week. There was tons of produce, honey, street

performers, and artists. It was such a great time! It was incredible how much this community valued time spent in the outdoors, and how much they respected and took care of their outdoor spaces (I mean these people REALLY love riding bikes!) If I learned anything from my time in Santa Barbara It would be to slow down and enjoy the moment more, and also to make more time for enjoying the outdoors. I will certainly be making a point to take more bare foot walks through the grass each day. Although being there was a blast, and I would absolutely love to go back, I am so glad to be home and enjoying my sweet home town on the gulf coast.I hope that everyone has a blessed Sunday, and takes a little time to enjoy the Day the Lord has made. From where I'm sitting it is a beautiful one!

How will you enjoy today? 

April 24

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…All throughout our lives we are forced to make decisions. To dream big, or shrink back for fear of failure; to put ourselves out there and evolve, or remain what we have always been. One of my most recent bible studies dealt with this same topic. It stated that “when God gave us his spirit, he enabled us to live beyond our natural ability and strength, and that this is why it is so wrong of us to measure our energy and ability levels against the challenges ahead of us.” When we do this we are saying that our challenges are our own and that God is not enough. This is certainly not true! All thru history, in our own lives, and especially in the bible, seemingly unequipped people are used to accomplish the most incredible tasks. Moses was a murderer, but was used by God to lead his people. Saul was a persecutor and killer of Christians, but God changed his heart and his life. You are being used in this same way.  It is not a matter of our competence every day, but of our faith is Christ and his will for our life. One of the best illustrations of this comes from my own life. My mom is one of the most amazing people I know. Not only is she an incredible wife and mother (to my sister, my two special needs brothers, and I), but she is also brilliant, hardworking, and above all, humble! In her early

forties, she decided to go back to school to become a BCBA so that she could help my brothers and others with special needs. This is an extremely difficult thing to accomplish. Although she doubted herself along the way, she went on to be one of the few people that pass the test to become a certified BCBA. This is a beautiful demonstration of how God can take someone who thinks they are incapable (she is certainly one of the most capable people I know), and accomplish great things through them. She is now working on her PhD in psychology, and whether or not she finishes it, she is such an example to me and those around her of living a life by faith and not sight. No matter how unsure she may be, she relies on God’s will for her life. This is such a blessing to be able to observe first hand! I hope that each one of you will pray to be sensitive to God’s will for your life, and allow him to accomplish his glorious plan through you despite how inadequate you may feel! It is not about our ability, It is his and it is infinite!

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." (Robert Frost)

Daily thanks: Today I am thankful for my crazy, smart, beautiful, best-friend of a mom!

April 7

We live in a culture that is consumed by social media, rapid information exchange, and screens. We can have hundreds of Facebook “friends” without ever really knowing or caring to know these people on a personal level. If you take a short walk through your workplace, a downtown city area, or your school campus you will probably notice that almost everyone around you is on their phone and almost no one is actually interacting with the real people who are really around them…really. We all know pointless details about the lives of celebrities and those we “stalk” on social media, and are increasingly aware of the drama in the lives of those around us through text messaging and the accessibility of the internet at any given moment in the day. I do not think that these things are all together bad (I certainly take advantage of them), but I do think that the abuse of technology is wreaking havoc on our relationships and our ability to connect and empathize with those around us. It is safe to say that there is a serious problem when you can be in a room full of friends and be completely lonely. Although technology can simulate the illusion of a real intimate and personal friendship, it is no substitute for the real thing! God designed us to be creatures that require love and desire to give love in return. Never underestimate the power and importance of quality time. This means time spent with the sole purpose of really listening to those around you as well as really being listened to. The act of intentionally listening is such an incredible tool for building and strengthening

friendships. It is these small time investments in others that will yield the biggest return in our relationships with friends and family and even in our own happiness and mental well-being. Periodically my roommate and I will sit down at night or in the morning and talk about what has been the peek and pit of our day or week, and what we are looking forward to in the days to come. This simple and sometimes short conversation has proven to be one of the most uplifting and refreshing things, and I am so thankful for it!

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” C.S Lewis

What have been the peeks and pits of your day?

April 1

Happy April Fool’s Day! I hope everyone had a stellar past couple of weeks. I have been crazy busy with studying for exams, lab work, and just spending some much needed time with friends. This past Monday I got back into town after an incredible week in the Florida Keys with some of the greatest girls I know. I had such a good time and got to

experience a bunch of new things. I even swam up close and personal with an 8 foot shark (accidentally). It’s safe to say I would have beat Michael Phelps back to the boat. While on my trip I got to spend a lot of time relaxing and just thinking about things that I normally have to push to the back of my mind. I was reminded how important and valuable small moments of peaceful solitude can be, and what a

treat it is to soak up the beauty that God has placed all around us. I often find myself too “busy” to take a moment to enjoy these blessings. My goal for the last month of school is to find better balance between getting things done and enjoying the pleasure of a lazy day. “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24). I cannot wait to see what this month has in store and to share it will you all! (T-minus 30 Days till my California adventure!).

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for my trip to the Keys where I caught more naps than fish.

P.S- I am still continuing to accept prayer requests via the Humble Bee Facebook page or by e-mail to thehumblebee00@gmail.com ! Just send them as a message if you wish for them to remain private. I am so blessed and humbled by the messages I have already received. Lots of Love to you all!

January 30

Today is the third day in a row that classes have been cancelled. It’s funny how God works sometimes. Just when I am starting to get overwhelmed with studying for my first exams, I get a three day break! It has been so wonderful, and such an awesome opportunity to catch up on everything. Although the down time has been much appreciated, I am ready to get back to my normal busy schedule and continue with my classes! I have had so much free time today that I experimented with a new recipe for lunch. I made quinoa and yellow squash patties, and they were DEElicious (recipe at the bottom of the post) I hope everyone has an incredible Friday and a great weekend!

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for time to reorganize and clear my mind, and for being surrounded by people I don’t deserve.  ““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15)

Quinoa and Squash Patties

You will need:

-1/2 cup quinoa

- ½ TBS Tuscan olive oil

-1/3 cup diced yellow squash

- 1 tsp salt

- pinch of pepper

-1 egg

-1/2 cup shredded cheese

-bread crumbs

-sunflower seed oil

Add quinoa, olive oil, squash, salt and pepper to boiling water (two parts water for ever one part quinoa. These measurements should be on the package). Cook until quinoa is tender and all liquid is absorbed.

In a separate bowl, mix together cooked quinoa, egg, and cheese. Roll mixture into 1 ½ inch rounds, folding in bread crumbs as needed (these should help hold your patties together and make them more manageable for cooking). Sear rounds in hot sunflower seed oil (about 1 TBS should do) until both sides are golden brown. Enjoy! Hope you guys like this recipe as much as I did! Also, these can be stored in the refrigerator/ freezer and reheated in the over at 3:25 for 7 minutes. 

January 28

It is Tuesday and this week is dragging by! (Feels like it should be about Friday) Today at the University of Alabama, classes got cancelled for a snow day! I am so excited to spend tomorrow with my roomies having snow day fun! My incredible friends made dinner tonight to celebrate! We are having chili and cheese biscuits. This time is best spent being around the ladies that matter most to me, so I am not going to do much of a post today. Instead, I am going to include my daily devotion for today.

“I am with you always. These are the last words I spoke before ascending into heaven. I continue to proclaim this promise to all who will listen. People respond to my continual presence in various ways. Most Christians accept this teaching as truth but ignore it in their daily living. Some ill-taught or

wounded believers fear (and may even resent) My awareness of all they do, say, and think. A few people center their lives on this glorious promise and find themselves blessed beyond all expectations. When my presence is the focal point of your consciousness, all the pieces of your life fall into place. The fact that I am with you makes every moment of your life meaningful” (Jesus Calling: Sarah Young.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday evening and an incredible rest of the week! Also don’t forget, I am now accepting prayer requests on the Humble Bee face book page! Just like the page and send your prayer request as a message! Sending you all lots of love from Ttown.

January 24

On my trip to Washington DC this week, I had the incredible experience of being able to go to the National Holocaust Museum. The displays, videos, and photographs spoke volumes to my soul about the suffering and loss that was endured at that time. It so happened that the same day I visited the museum was also Martian Luther King Jr. day. The downtown area was crowded with people celebrating Dr. King and the civil rights movement. These events got me thinking about how our world’s history is peppered with events that parallel these two; Situations in which one group is singled out and oppressed. As a race, human beings are consistently trying to dehumanize another group of our own. The holocaust, slavery, sex trafficking, and the trail of tears are just a few examples. These issues may not seem relevant to you and your life, but consider this quote from a Lutheran Pastor who was living at the time of the Holocaust. “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me” It is imperative that when we stand up for the injustices that are occurring around us, and I think that the largest injustice of our generation and time is the issue of abortion. Once again, we are singling out a group of people and making any excuse we can to strip them of their personhood. We can call it anything we want, but the bottom line is that we are systematically killing our young. Over one third of my generation is not living today, because of this genocide. There are hundreds of arguments made to support people’s right to an abortion, but let me say this: If we are right in our arguments, this will be the one time in our world’s history that was are justified in the

intentional extermination of a group of human beings. Race, gender, religion, or even level of development are beside the point. Back in the time of slavery, slave owners felt justified in owning and mistreating slaves. During the Holocaust, Nazis felt justified in torturing and killing millions of their own people. They achieved this by dehumanizing those they were targeting. Now, years after the fact, we have realized the horror of our actions, but there is no way to take them back. As one former fetus to another I ask you this: what side do you want to be on when our nation finally wakes up and realizes we are killing our children? It is so important that we inform women about the other options and resources available, and take the time to be a friend to and speak of the love and forgiveness of Christ to women who have already been affected by abortion.

Daily Thanks: Today I am so thankful for the chance to go to our nation’s capital and be part of a revolution for life!

January 19

Happy Holy day friends! Today has been one of the BEST Sundays ever! I am in Washington DC this weekend through Wednesday with the Bama Students for Life, on the March for Life! We have only been here one day and it has already been one of the best experiences. I have gotten to spend time with some of the most amazing people, eat some stellar food, and explore this awesome city. Not only do I have the chance to advocate for the unborn by participating in the march, but me and the other BSFL students were fortunate enough to have Marjorie Dannenfelser

come and speak to us at dinner. If you do not know who this woman is, you need to look her up. Marjorie is a political powerhouse, who is passionately leading the pro-Life movement and fighting for the unborn. She was named one of the top 25 most influential Republican women in 2013, and is the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which is a Pro-Life political activism group whose mission is to “Advance, Mobilize, and represent pro-life women.” She is truly an inspiration and an invaluable resource for our group. I cannot wait to share my trip and a bit of what I learn at the pro-life conference and March for Life with you guys! I hope everyone’s week gets off to a great start. I’m sending you all love from DC!

Daily Thanks: today I am thankful for…( so much that I’m going to share it in list-form)

-exploring DC with my besties (some would call it getting lost)

-Early morning espresso

-incredible food

-Riding what I think was the tallest escalator in the world

-dancing in the Metro station

-BSFL

-Learning and being surrounded by those who are not afraid to stand up and make a difference

What are you thankful for this week?

P.S. I seriously encourage everyone to check out the Susan B. Anthony List web site, and follow them on twitter to stay informed on the upcoming Pro-Life legislation (@SBAList). Every bit of support makes a difference.

January 10

Happy Friday loves. Today I want to talk about how I absolutely love the water! I was on my morning run and at the end decided to sit on a park bench and watch the river for a bit (it was cool, I saw turtles). It got me thinking how much I miss living near the water and water in general. I grew up on the Gulf of Mexico, so the beach was never too far away. There is something magical about water, and there is nothing quite like plunging into it and sinking to the bottom for a minute. Totally relaxing! I have noticed that most of us have a fascination with water. People fantasize about tropical destinations, hike miles just to see a waterfall, and even have pools installed right in their back yard. I don’t think this love affair with water is a coincidence. Biologically, water is required for life, but I think the need goes deeper than that. Water is a spiritual sign of salvation and God shows us his promises through it. Jesus turned water into wine (John 2). He used water to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary. Baptism is this same way. Through water and the word we are transformed from miserable sinners into spotless creatures of Christ.

Every time you see water, you can be reminded of this incredible promise! If that doesn’t put a smile on your face today, I don’t know what will. I hope you guys have the best weekend ever!

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for small reminders that I am loved.

What are you thankful for?

January 8

Today is the first day of class here at the University of Alabama, and the semester seems to be off to a stellar start. I am so happy to be back here with my amazing friends and my roomies! A brand new year and a new semester all equal a fresh start, and I am really hoping to do things a little differently this year. I want to see more, learn more, and do more for those around me. My New Year’s resolution this year is to refocus. I don’t want to achieve more, lose weight, or give anything up, I simply want to love those around me more fully as Christ does. This is not anything I can do on my own. I am constantly praying that my eyes can be opened and that I will be humbled, so that

I can be a resource for others. One of my favorite quotes comes from C.S Lewis “True humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; It is thinking of yourself less.” I think this quote is pretty neat, because it captures a common mistake that most of us tend to make. I sometimes feel that if I put myself down or point out my flaws to other people, that I am being humble. This is untrue and it is kind of a lazy-lie I tell myself. If I can give the illusion of humility, then I no longer feel obligated to go out of my way to build others up, take time to help my neighbor, and put others before myself. These are the things that make Christ happy, not that I pointed out to my friends what a bad hair day I am having.  I am so grateful for the support of all of my readers. I hope I can serve as a source of encouragement to you guys as much as you do for me. I am truly blessed.

Daily Thanks: Today I am thankful for an awesome morning run (A little on the chilly side, 16 degrees…burr), cranberry walnut oatmeal, and a fresh start.

What will you do differently this year?

P.S. I am now accepting prayer requests! I always include my readers in my daily prayers, but I would absolutely love the chance to pray for you individually! The best way to submit your prayer request is by sending me a message on The Humble Bee Facebook page (The Humble Bee)or by email (thehumblebee00@gmail.com)