Lately... The Bullet Points Edition

*Last weekend my WONDERFUL friend Lauren flew in from Dallas.
She needed a break from life to stop and laugh.  I needed a friend to laugh with.
It worked out perfectly.  She is/has been such a blessing in my life.

*We rode Chattanooga's National Landmark Incline up onto Lookout Mountain, taking in the Civil War history and beautiful fall colors.  The Incline was no joke, super steep, and scary. :)

*It was worth the scary ride!

*Then we stopped by my church for our Trunk or Treat event.  Most younger people just thought I was decked out in my favorite color... but older, cooler kids knew I was part of Jem's band, Jem and the Holograms.  Remember that awesome show?!

*Best of all, Lauren and I got to see Needtobreathe here in town!  It was the best concert I've ever been to.  They're so stinkin talented!  It was incredible!  Everyone was so happy, and uh, those boys are lovely!  Break me off a piece of that!

*Ben Rector was their opening act, and he was definitely a solid choice!

*Then THIS weekend, my friends Michael, Allison and I saw David Crowder in Atlanta.

*It's a bit bittersweet because of their upcoming retirement, but it also meant they played all their best songs!  "All I Can Say" has always been my favorite Crowder song, but it's from their first album, one that's not even really sold in stores, and it was the song they closed with.  It was stinkin awesome!  I'd never heard it live.  It made me miss my people back home.... Becca and I sang that song in church a LONG time ago, and I'll never forget being approached by a big tough marine, with tears streaming down his face, saying that song had spoken to his heart.  It's a powerful song for anyone going through a tough time.

*The venue made me want to have black chandeliers all through my house.  It was awesome!
The first pic is a one taken and tweeted by one of the band members.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

Lord, change my dreams into the dreams You have for my life.

I started reading "Kisses From Katie" tonight, and already her written words are being used by God to work in my heart.  Today was a struggle to trust Him.  Today was a struggle to trust that He is present in my present and my future.  Today was just a struggle.... but how gracious, how faithful He is to carry me through the things He's always known I would face.  His love is steadfast, unwavering, constant.  His mercies are new every morning... every five minutes when need be.  I have so much to be grateful for, and I absolutely must remember that those things that are causing such fear in my life, the things that remain unknown, are unknown for a reason.  His timing is perfect, and no day goes by that wasn't intentionally given to me by the grace of God, therefore, I should be living it with intention.

Tomorrow I hope I can see Him in the little things, and know with conviction that those were moments given to me to bring Him glory.