weeds.

i took this photo near the end of the summer and i've been using it to be a background on my computer. i have come to realize that, quite frankly, i like this picture. i like the shade of green, i like the contrast of dark vs. light.
i just like it.

this isn't just some cute flower; it's a weed.
i like a photo of a weed. great.
so... i am clearly not botanist.

but the fact is... weed or not: i still like this picture.

there is a part of me that resonates with being this weed. now, don't go crazy. i am not demeaning myself, here. but what i am saying is that at one point or another i have felt like a 'weed.' i have been perceived by others to be worthless, useless, annoying, ugly, or anything else that people associate with weeds.

it would be foolish of me to not admit that there have been times when i felt just like a weed and have felt that i am worthless, useless, annoying, ugly, etc.

however, i am being refinished.
to the outsider, i may appear to be a weed. but when God looks at me he sees beauty. o, sure, i have flaws. i definitely make mistakes. i have bad habits. i am the definition of imperfect. i have gone through struggles. i get stressed out.

but i can rest with the knowledge that God sees my beauty.
he continues to cover me with mercy and grace.
he tends to me.
cares for me when i am broken.
gives me nourishment.


god sees me in a more supernatural way than i see my picture.
he can zoom in and see my heart.
while i can only zoom in and see the beauty of a weed.



"your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry of fine clothes. rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 peter 3:3-4.

dad and DAD.

i attend a weekly small group for young adults at my church.

...a few weeks ago we briefly mentioned this concept of dad and DAD. sounds weird right? well. it definitely got me thinking. it made me realize just how genuinely spoiled and blessed i am. this idea of dad and DAD is the reflection of how we, as humans, view our heavenly father in relation to our earthly father.

so.... here is my dad.

my dad & me on my wedding day!

my dad making me laugh & cry at my wedding

woo! look how cute my parents are!

the older i get, the more i realize that am a mini-version of my mom.
my parents have been marred for 25 years and its obvious to state that my mom married well!
even though i am duplicate of my mom; i love recognizing the lessons i learn from my dad.

i must confess that although i am an adult i have never grown out of the 'my dad can do everything' stage.
when i want to build something; he shows me how.
when i need a bug to be killed; he kills it.
when i am lost; he gives me directions.
when i'm far away; he just visits.

when i break something; he fixes it.
when i perform; he watches me.
when i don't know the answer; he does.
when i need a picture; he draws it.
when i wanted to play a sport; he helped me practice.
when i got hurt because i am not athletic; he picked me up.
when i decided to learn the bass; he let me use his.

this list is infinite. in my world, my dad can do everything. (no pressure or anything!)

so what does this have to do with my small group?
dad and DAD.

as much as i pretend that my dad can do everything... there is this microscopic part of my brain that actually tells me that my dad is just as human as i am. i know, i know, i know... UNBELIEVABLE right? as crazy as it sounds... my dad cannot actually do everything. he has limits.

but the crazier thing is... my heavenly father can. Job 11:7 says... "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" He has no limits. He, quite, literally can do everything.

its just something to think about.

but it leaves me... one spoiled little girl. i am the daughter of the greatest man alive. and he has taught me to serve the only heavenly father i need.

o. and check out his blog!