Sunday, May 13, 2012

Ten Ways To Love

I recently came across this little tidbit. I wish I could remember where I found it. If I could I would definitely credit the author.

Ten Ways To Love
1. Listen without interrupting. (Proverbs 18)
2. Speak without accusing. (James 1:19)
3. Give without sparing. (Proverbs 21:2)
4. Pray without ceasing. (Colossians 1:0)
5. Answer without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1)
6. Share without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15)
7. Enjoy without complaint. (Philippians 2:14)
8. Trust without waivering. (Corinthians 13:7)
9. Forgive without punishing. (Colossians 3:13)
10. Promise without forgetting. (Proverbs 13:1)

Monday, April 2, 2012

Here am I, Send Me


Well, I can't sleep. This is probably due to the fact that I took a 3 hour nap at 4pm. There are alot of things going on in my life right now. I'm getting ready for my junior prom (4 days!), getting things together for a pageant i'm doing this summer (Distinguished Young Women), preparing myself for spring break (this includes buying swimsuits, wedges, and dresses that I do not need), getting ready for my lifeguarding job that I will start this summer, and trying to raise money and mentally prepare myself for Uganda. Yep, I said Uganda. No, I'm not moving away and restarting my life as a missionary. But I am, however, going on a mission trip.

This opportunity was first brought to my attention by one of my best friends. I looked into it, and decided that it was something I felt called to do. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but God told me that this was something that I should not pass up. There are over 2 million orphans in Uganda ALONE. This is partly due to the fact that children are being abducted from their homes by a man named Joseph Kony, and they are often forced to kill their parents. Joseph Kony leads what he calls the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). I'm not going to go into detail about him, because I'm sure that due to the recent media population he has received that most people know a good deal about him. I will be traveling to Gulu to work with some of these orphans and the families that have taken them in. Not even work, really... just love, help, heal, teach, and try my hardest to impact their lives in a positive, Christ-like way. I will not be traveling alone. I am going through Four Corner's Ministries with about 10 other people. I do not know what to expect. I do not know what I am going to see. But I do know that I am so very blessed with what I have. I take my life and the things that I have for granted. I have parents. I have a home. I have clean water, and these people would do anything for the things that I've got. The world is so much bigger than this small Alabama town that I live in. The hurt is so much deeper than anything that I have ever seen or known. There are people that need love. There are people who do not know the sovereign love of Christ. I am not a perfect Christian by any means. I couldn't even tell you 10 stories in The Bible. But I know that when I go, my life will be forever changed. I hope that I can change some other lives along the way. I am asking you to please pray for me as I try to raise money and prepare myself for what I am going to experience. Pray that I go with a humble heart, meek spirit, and open eyes.

If you would like to donate, please visit www.4cornersministries.org, click donate, and my name will be in a drop down box (as will the names of the other students going). Every dollar and word of prayer is a great blessing.

"I heard the voice of The Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I, Send Me.'" -Isaiah 6:8

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Recently.

Other than life itself, here are a couple of things that I have been loving lately:


The Big Bang Theory. I am almost certain that this may be the funniest show on television. I have a tiny crush on Sheldon. Judge me. Dare you. (TBS.. tune in. Seriously.)



BOOTS! Need I say more? Perfect for fall. Especially with cute little socks poking out of the top.



I'm not a big glitter girl, but I was getting a pedicure a couple weeks ago and picked this color from OPI's Muppet collection. Too cute!


Loving this perfect nude! It looks really cute with a coat of silver glitter over your 2nd to last finger. The name is also pretty adorable. Tickle My France-y.

I just recently figured out how to do this braid. It's a great alternative to a ponytail- fast and easy!


A little pricey, but the best mascara that I have ever come across. And that's alot coming from my mouth.




Inifinity scarves are so cozy! I am becoming obsessed.





Currently reading this book. Such a beautiful story, and so well written. I definitely recommend it.






Olivia Palermo. If I woke up one morning looking just like her, I would not be terribly upset.





Sam Cooke. Such a talented man.





I love all things leopard! I bought these shoes recently, and am always looking for something to wear them with. Love them!

Thats all for now. Til next time, xoxo.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Stephanie is..

I vaguely remember watching Morning Glory last Spring Break in a cabin with my two best friends. I remember laughing at an airplane scene and scoffing at my friend for taking my blanket. I also remember watching Rachel McAdams's character go into a job interview and getting asked, "Who is (insert her character name here)?" That seems like an easy question to answer, doesn't it? You'd say, "Oh, that's an easy one. I'm...." It isn't as easy for me. I would literally sit there in front of the interviewer and be dumbfounded. Because when it all comes down to it, I'm not really quite sure who Stephanie Downing is. I'm not sure what she wants. I'm not sure what she feels half the time, and I sure as hell do not know why she thinks the way that she does. But I do know this:

Stephanie Downing believes in second chances. Sometimes third ones. She just wants to give love and get that same love back. She wants people to understand where she's coming from, although she doesn't even know. She wants something more than this small Alabama town. She loves sunshine, good friends, puppies, shoes, and babies. She drinks out of the carton. She eats too much taco bell. She stays up too late. She grits her teeth too much. And whitens them too much. She sings at the top of her lungs in the car, and is scared of butt dialing people when she does it. She texts at red lights. She wants so badly to trust with her whole heart, but is stopped by something. She wants to believe that no matter how badly someone has hurt you, their intentions were good. She wants to believe that people do change, and that they wouldn't do it to you one more time. She tries to look at people and see more than what she knows. She hurts others sometimes, but never means to. She knows that beauty is inside, and she tries to be as beautiful as she can. She wants to forgive. She wants to be forgiven. She wants to forget. She wants to love, dream, explore, say "I love you", say "I trust you", say "I'm sorry", say "Thank you for making me stronger", and say, "I promise." She wants something real, solid, trustworthy, promising, and honest. She wishes she could go back and fix relationships, because she can't stand when someone she loves is mad at her. She wants to believe it when someone says, "I'm sorry, Stephanie." She wants to never make mistakes that will hurt other people. She knows that all things are part of a bigger picture, and that God is faithful, loving, and sovereign. She loves her nephews, her sisters, her parents, and the friends that keep her together. She loves people. She loves life in spite of the bad days. Stephanie Downing is just a girl. That's all.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Greatest Love Song

No matter how big the struggle, you are never alone. No matter how big the loss, you are loved. No matter how far the fall, you never have to earn grace. He is by your side. All the time.


By Your Side- Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Mountains to Ant Hills

Right now, I want so badly just to blog away all my thoughts. I want to type them all out so that maybe they'll leave my head. I know that probably won't happen.. but I'm definitely going to give it a shot. Lately, I've come to realize that life is a whole lot bigger than I'd like to think it is. Life is more than your problems, your struggles, the things that keep you awake at night. We aren't on this big ole world for no reason. We have a purpose. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this but I do know where I would like for it to end up... so bear with me. No matter what a person looks like on the outside, they've got some sort of battle going on. Whether its trying to break a habit, trying to move on from the past, or simply trying to make it through the day.. we've all got something we're fighting. Sometimes these struggles can seem so big. They can absolutely tear you apart. Recently I've been struggling with letting go of some things. Although I know it's the right thing for me, It is just so unbearably hard to let go of something that I have become so accustomed to. I've been so strong, yet at times I have been so so weak. It has kept me up, it has followed me around, and it almost changed me completely.. until I woke up one day and realized this: when I'm 35 or 5o or whatever age and married with children, this mountain that I am climbing will look alot like an ant hill. I'll definitely look back on it and reflect.. right now I'm not sure how I'll look back on it.. being negative or positive or nostalgic or compassionate.. but I do know that I am going to be okay. This mountain isn't as big as it seems and I am positive that I will still struggle sometimes, but this too shall pass.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Untitled Blog Post.

So, I can usually come up with some witty sentence or comparison or something to start a blog post, but tonight I am just unable. Don't you love how good it feels when you can control something? When you can change it and tweak it and manipulate it to where it's exactly how you want it to be? I don't mean people, of course. Because that would be immoral. I mean situations. And don't you absoultely hate it when you can't? I do. I've always been the type of person who likes things to run smoothly. From beginning to end. No drama, no metaphorical road blocks, no hurt feelings, nothing like that. I love when things are happy and easy and in control. When something goes completely awry, I have no clue what to do with myself. I absolutely hate to admit that there are things that I have no control over. I hate to admit that sometimes things change and there is nothing I can do about it. I overthink things, worry myself to death, and sleep becomes a complete stranger to me. I always think, "Maybe I could have done this. Maybe that would have helped somehow.."

Nobody should live that way. Nobody should have to walk on eggshells and constantly be afraid that things are going to go wrong. Because it weighs you down. This worry is like my 2nd term backpack times 7. So, you know what? I'm dropping it. Things are going to go wrong. People are going to have to leave sometimes. Things don't always go as planned... and it's all a part of life. The challenges make us stronger. The changes make us wise. Nobody ever said that you had to be ready for all the things life will throw at you. You just have to come back from it.. and you're stronger than you think.


"If you wanna fly, you've gotta give up all the stuff that weighs you down." -Toni Morrison