Let's Talk About the Joy

I've been thinking a lot about writing again. I should be thinking about writing my thesis, but I've been thinking about writing on this blog I created so long ago. 

It's been months since my last post. So much has changed, and yet so much is still the same. 

My favorite kid has cancer again. I didn't think I'd ever have to write that. This past week she started chemo and had an emergency surgery to fix her broken donor bone. It's been really hard for me this time around. I want her to be healthy so bad. I want her to grow up and be big and strong. I just love her so much I can barely stand it. She really is the bravest person I know. 

I got up on Saturday morning before the sun came up to run a 5K. It was my first race in over a year. I've been helping with a 5K training group at work, and it's been really amazing to see how running integrated into their lives. Each person is so different, but they came together every Tuesday and Saturday to run together. Now that's fellowship. And I absolutely love our No Boundaries group. 

I've also been working on a coffee table project. 

I've been bring this beat up old trunk back to life. It's going to make a beautiful piece of furniture in my new apartment. Yep, I said it. My new apartment. One bedroom. Hopefully with a perfect Boston Terrier puppy....if I can find one. 

I'm mixing old with new in my new place. So I bought this couch. I'm basically in love with it, and I can't wait to sit on it every day. It's the most comfortable thing ever. 

I'm kind of nervous to live by myself. I've never really wanted to do that. But it's time. Things....They are a-changin'. Which can be a good thing. Like decorating the new place. And getting a puppy dog. 

I have lots of reason to be joyful. So I'm gonna be. 

A Closing Door

Two years ago, I took a job as a graduate assistant for a local non-profit where I began my journey into Public Relations. I learned a lot about PR, marketing, communication and management. I got to write and create brochures, newsletters, Web content and success stories.

My journey with this non-profit is coming to an end today. And it's been an awesome ride. And while I can't say I'll miss all aspects of the job, I can say with gusto that I will miss every single person that works there.

Melody, Stephanie, Kristin, Paula, Stacy, Tiffany, Rhonda, Benson, Brian, Jenny, Susannah, Vakeyia, Debbie, Brian, Shawn and Andrew.

You have all played a part in helping me become the person I am today. Working with you has been an honor. And I can say I love you all to death and would do anything for you. I've had so many good times with each of you. Valuable conversations. Good and bad experiences. Ups and downs. And just plain ole fun.

Who would have thought God would place us on the same team? I am lucky to work with a team of incredibly talented people who care about the greater good of others. Non-profit work makes for a difficult job, and each of you are so driven and work so hard all. the. time.

Thank you for letting me become a part of your work world and real life world. Thank you for letting me stick my nose in your programs to get an assignment done. Thank you for letting me take your pictures even though you hate it. But most of all thank you for becoming my friend and a part of my life. I'm lucky to know such great people.

So please don't look at today as an ending for me. Look at it as a new beginning. I'm going places...and I'm taking parts of each of you with me.

Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand new. It's bursting out. Don't you see it? Isaiah 43: 19 The Message Bible


I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not to abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  Jeremiah 29:11 The Message Bible

Don't worry about me. I'm God's child. He will take care of me.

God: The Great Road Map

One week ago today, my life shifted. I found out Asher was going to be put in the hospital for three day (which turned into 5 days) to start her chemo treatments.

That very same day, I made a decision to choose one of two ways my life could go. Since this blog is a reflection of myself and this exact point in my life, I'm about to get real honest.

I had been contemplating making a decision over a difficult dilemma, but when I found out Asher had cancer, the decision became clear.

I had been praying about what to do about my dilemma for a few weeks. All the signs didn't seem clear until I heard the words Ewing's Sarcoma and chemo treatments.

Life is too short to not be doing what God wants you to do. Period. End of story.

Relationships are hard. Long distance relationships are even harder. While I hate that my decision hurt someone deeply, my love for my family and this little girl runs so much deeper. She is my family. Family is home.

I knew I wanted to help Asher, Justin and Susan, but I had no idea I would take on a role like the one I've taken on. And that just goes to show how great our God is. He has the power to put us in the place we need to be, regardless the "decisions" we make to get there.

I am not perfect. I hate that my life journey hurt someone. But I'm not choosing this path. God is choosing my path. I am just a follower. A follower of Christ. So I am at peace with my decision. I realize other people may not understand it, but they are not on my path. And that's ok. God has a path just for them.

I have no idea where my path will take me, and I love that. So for now, I just move forward.  #letgoandletGod

"It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us." Colossians 1:11-12 The Message Bible

Flowers and Co-Ops

My sweet Valentine sent me beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day.

Can we just talk about the fact I told him tulips were my favorite flower in a random conversation a while ago, and he remembered it. Such a sweet man I have. I recently found a pin on Pinterest that sums up my Valentine.

"If he makes...makes you laugh, kisses your forehead, says he's sorry, makes an effort, holds your hand, works hard and attempts to understand you. Then, believe it or not, he's quite perfect."

And he does/has done all those things for me. I'm a lucky girl.

But enough of the mushy girl talk...Let's talk about how Redneck I am. (Is redneck a proper noun? I think not...But who's gonna stop me? Nobody.)

I may or may not have carried my coffee to work in a Tervis tumbler covered in Saran wrap.

And by that I meant I did do that this morning. And I'm totally not ashamed. To be completely honest with you, this Tervis tumbler kept my coffee warmer than any other coffee carrier I've ever used. Now that's big news. But to keep the Redneckness at bay, I'll need to get a special lid for my cup for next time.

On a completely different note, I've discovered something pretty amazing after writing yesterday's post. I've been seeing a lot of blogs promoting food co-ops for local farmers. After watching those two documentaries Monday night, I browsed one of the movies' Web sites to see what kind of resources it provided for people looking to support local farmers.

Little Rock has a local food co-op, meaning that anyone who signs up for a membership can get locally grown fruits and vegetables, among other things, each week. It's called the Little Rock Local Food Club. And I couldn't be more thrilled about it.

Unlike other food co-ops, Little Rock Local Food Club allows you to pick what goes in your box each week. Most co-ops just give you whatever, and you don't know what you get until you pick up your box each week.

Y'all this is seriously cool. And I feel like nobody knows about it. Now the Web site is not very fancy, but I feel like it's a start for Arkansas' move to sustainable living.


Our mission is to foster the local food economy and sustainable development by connecting Arkansas Farmers and Artisans with our membership. Our core values reflect that mission:
• We believe that small, diverse, family-owned farms contribute to a society’s overall health.
• We believe that Little Rock citizens should have access to local, responsibly-produced foods and artisanal products.
• We believe that it is important that farmers reestablish relationships with their customers and help them reconnect with their food supply.
• We believe that a community that respects its food sources is a community that is more connected to and caring for its environment.
• We believe that local, environmentally-friendly food systems help provide economic and environmental stability by keeping local dollars in the local economy and decreasing dependence on and consumption of non-renewable resources.
• We believe that agricultural practices should work with nature, not against it. Farming practices should rebuild topsoil and preserve fresh water.
• We believe in the humane treatment of livestock. Livestock should have access to fresh air, sunlight, and grass, with adequate space to move and interact with members of the herd/flock.
• We believe that farming practices should be transparent. Customers should know how the food they consume was produced.
• We believe that farmers should be able to earn a “living” wage and that local, responsibly produced food should be reasonably priced.

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I am going to sign up for a membership. I want to help support local farmers. I want the freshest produce I can get. I want to know where my food comes from. So go follow the Arkansas Sustainability Network on Facebook and Twitter. See what they do. And it maybe something you want to get involved in.

What are your thoughts on supporting local farmers by joining a food co-op?