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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A Big New Beginning!

One year ago today I had just gotten home from a wonderful week at the beach with my family and Grant. All was right with the world and we had had a wonderful week together. Grant went back to Alabama and we had planned our next time to see each other, which was in August. At the beach we had discussed our future plans and were excited for the next chapter in our lives. I would do my student teaching that fall, he would propose in December, and we would be married now, and I would be living in Alabama.
Crazy how much changes in a year! I will start my first teaching job in the Fall, Christmas will come in December, and I have no clue what's in store after that. Fast forward one year and the Lord has taken me on the craziest ride I have ever been on. Today, instead of thinking about a wonderful week at the beach, I am sitting at home, thinking about the next chapter in my life. All those promises made a year ago are just words now and after eight months of sadness, loneliness, and feelings of betrayal and hurt, I can honestly say, all is right with my world today. In a month I will be moving home with my family, where I will embark on a "New Beginning". I am Ms. Vaughan now to 28 third graders and I couldn't be more excited. I still cry when I think about moving, but I know this is what is best for me. For so long I have made my decisions for other people and it is time to make a decision for myself. While staying in Lynchburg with all my friends would be ideal, this opportunity is going to offer so much for my life. For 5 years Lynchburg has been my home and I have made memories here that will last a lifetime. My friends live here and it is hard to imagine my life without my best friend across the hall. However, for the first time in 8 months I can truly say I am happy. Am I where I thought I would be? NO. Do I wish some things in my life were different? YES. However, the Lord has a wonderful and good plan for my life and I'm excited to see what it is. He is going to provide me the man of my dreams and the desires of my heart. He is going to give me children to love on and teach and he is going to provide peace that only comes from him. I'm excited! Here's to another year!
“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:18-19 

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Father's Day

Today my blog is back on track with my 100 people and my goal is to catch up! I am REALLY going to do at least one person a day from now on!
 Today was Father's Day. I have already bragged a lot about my dad and I could continue. He is an amazing father and I am so thankful to be his daughter. I was lucky enough to go home this weekend and I was able to be at church this morning, with him. His sermon was wonderful. The text was from Luke 15:11- 32, which is the story of the Prodigal Son. We looked at it from the side of the father, which represents God the father. Obviously, Christ has made a significant influence in my life and I am eternally grateful. His impact on my life has been the single most life changing impact over anyone else. By his grace I have been forgiven and saved. Today I am thankful that my earthly father models daily the love and grace my heavenly father demonstrates. My dad is not perfect, and neither am I, but he strives everyday to be the best father and role model possible. He made three points today in his message. 
A father should be:
1. Approachable
2. Spiritual
3. Compassionate
These three qualities in a father are directly from God and how he relates to us. There have been many times I have fallen short but I know that God is approachable and ready to listen when I talk and ready to speak when I am willing to listen. God is spiritual. He is the pure essence of being spiritual. He is compassionate and loves me unconditionally, no matter how many times I fail him. Without Christ, my life would be pointless. He has changed who I am and what I stand for. This Father's Day I am thankful for an earthly father who loves the Lord and his family and strives daily to put him first and our family second. I am also thankful for my Heavenly father, for his perfect love and grace and for saving me from myself.

Click the link below to listen to my dad's message from today. It is a wonderful message on how to be a father and what it takes to be a father in today's society. Every man should listen!!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Randomness

I'm getting side tracked from the 100 people challenge thing. I'm sorry about that, but my brain is running overload and I need to clear it out. I always say, "I would hate to be in my brain". It's true, half the time I don't know what's going on up there and I feel like my head is going to explode with questions, worries, answers, and who knows what else. LIFE IS HARD AND NOT FAIR! I'm sure if you haven't figured that out by now, you will soon. I am a 26, half decent looking, single, unemployed adult. That sounds pathetic! I know I know, 26 isn't that old and I know I'm so good looking (HAHA JUST KIDDING), and I know being single isn't a bad thing, and I know that I will find the perfect job at the perfect time. However, right now, I do not feel that way. Now, about being single... I am TOTALLY fine with that. I can honestly say I am content being by myself at the moment and figuring out my life without having to consider someone else in the decisions.  I've done that before and look where that got me, seven years of wasted time on someone who could've cared less. Oh well.... water under the bridge. Can anyone tell what stage of grief I am in??? You guessed it, anger :) Am I sad about that? NOPE! I'm actually thrilled, because it's nice to feel something other than total disappointment and sadness. Anyway, back to being single. Yes, I would love to meet that special person and live happily ever after, but I am in no hurry to do so. I do miss having "a person" like Meridith and Yang, on Grey's Anatomy... except different. HAHA. I know the Lord is going to bring an amazing man into my life one day, who loves me, cherishes me, and wants the world for me. After having someone who didn't do those or want those things... I think I can wait for that amazing man. Now, onto the job front... SO FRUSTRATING!!!! I have had two interviews for teaching positions. For one of those positions I am one our of 89 applicants. GREAT! I'm sure my chances are wonderful! NOT! Oh well, maybe the principal saw something special in me. The other job is in Fayetteville, NC. I am will to move whereever I have too, but it's a little scary. My aunt and uncle live in Fayetteville, so that would be nice, but I would literally have to start my life all the way over. That's probably not a bad thing at all. In fact, it would probably be good for me to branch out and get of this little bubble called "lynchburg". I love living in Lynchburg but this city has a warped sense of how life is supposed to be and I think it's getting to me too. Oh well. I know the Lord will direct me where He knows I should be, and I know that I will be happy eventually with whatever path He choses. Lets see, anything else?? Oh, yes, friendships... I have the best friends in the world and they mean so much to me. I like to think that I am a good friend back and I like to think that I am that friend that sticks by you and will make every effort to let you know how important you are in my life. However, sometimes I don't get that vibe. HAHA. Oh well... what can you do? Not a thing. Okay, I'm done with this pointless post. I feel a little better, but not really. The next post I do will be a little more exciting and a lot more upbeat. Have a wonderful evening!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Whenever I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee." Psalm 56:3

This post has nothing to do with the 100 people challenge. I just have a lot on my mind at the moment, so I figured I'd share it with you. I am blessed to have all my grandparents still living and healthy. I have never had to experience a close death before and I am grateful for that. I know it will happen, but I don't like thinking about it. A year ago my popple had open heart surgery and things were bad for a while. He did not do well with the surgery and the recovery time was hard and strenuous. We thought we had lost him a couple of times, but God had other plans! He is doing better now, but not a day goes by that I do not thank the Lord for keeping my popple alive. A year later, my family is being faced with another scare. Last Friday, my granny was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. The doctors are confident that they have caught it early and that they can remove the cancer with one surgery. They are also confident that she will not have to go through Chemo or radiation. When I hear the words "breast cancer" it scares me. My best friend, Rebecca's mom, is a breast cancer survivor and I saw what the disease did to her and those of us around her. Today Mrs. Beverley is healthy and doing great, but at the time it was one of the scariest things her family had been through. I know the Lord is in control and is going to take care of my granny. I believe he is going to heal her and make her faith and our family's faith even stronger through this journey. Please keep her and my family in your prayers and keep the doctor's in your prayers as they do what is best for her. She is my light and one of the strongest women I know. "Whenever I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee." (Psalm 56:3)
Four of the most important women in my life. Only one missing is my Grandma Sonnie.

We ARE Anne of Green Gables

Sorry it's been a few days with the blog postings. I'm so bad at it! Today my goal is two posts, recognizing two different people. Number 9 in my list of 100 (wow, I have a lot to get done) is none other than my best friend, roommate, and partner in crime, Heather Truax! (She just got back from being in Europe  for 14 days and it was the longest 14 days of my life!)
 Heather and I met 7 years ago when we were both on Living Proof/Primary Focus. We hit it off quickly and became good friends. When I came to Lynchburg, she stayed with the ministry one more year, but we talked often. My first year at Liberty was a little rocky, but Heather was just a phone call away and we talked all the time. We both were having a crappy time, so we needed each other. That Christmas she even had Christmas with my family because her flight back to Colorado was Canceled. It was a wonderful time! Anyway, in 2007 Heather came to Liberty and we were roommates and the rest is history. Heather and I are so different yet so much alike, as impossible as that sounds. We are Anne Shirley and Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables, kindred spirits. She's the crazy, out of the box, dare devil friend and I am the oh my gosh are we going to get in trouble, freak out friend! HA. We compliment each other well! Heather is my other half and I can't even begin to tell you how much she means to me. 
 If you know Heather at all, and you are trying to describe her to someone else, this is usually how the conversation goes:
You: "She's the one with the blond hair, high voice, talks a lot, and is super nice."
Other person: " oh yeah!!! I know Heather!! She is so sweet!!"
Yep, that about sums it up. However, I know the "behind closed door Heather" and sweet is not a word I would use to describe us sometimes. :) Just kidding. Heather really is the most genuine, real, and honest person I know. She is that friend who has my back no matter what and would honestly go to battle for me. She is loyal and dependable and my rock. We rarely argue, and when we do, we yell at each other, slam doors, and then are fine the next day. We don't hold back from each other and we know everything there is to know about one another. We've been through some CRAZY stuff over the past 7 years and it has only made our friendship stronger. We've seen each other at our worst and at our best. We've helped each other through some of the darkest days in both of our lives. She's the first person I call when I have something to say and she is usually the last person I talk to before I go to bed. (We sound like an old married couple. HA!) This year brought a big change for us! We got our own rooms for the first time in 5 years. It was such a horrible day! HAHA! The conversations we have late at night are random and crazy. We have fun together, we cry together, we laugh together, we yell together, and we share the most important parts of our lives with one another. Heather makes me want to be a better person and she inspires me to do my best at everything and she supports me no matter what. Our friendship has been tested over the past 7 months, because of "the breakup". Out of everyone, Heather has been the one to see EVERYTHING. She has been so amazing and honest with me. I know she truly loves me and cares about me because she wants the best for me and she's willing to tell me the brutal truth, even when it kills me. She has no reservations about telling me when I am being stupid and she hurts when I hurt. That's a true friend. The Lord knew what I needed when He brought Heather into my life. She is my best friend and I know we will be best friends forever. And look at us, we are beautiful and can't be stopped! :) I love you Heather and I am so incredibly thankful for you best!





Friday, June 1, 2012

Friends till the end

Do you have people in your life that you tell everything to and who know some of your deepest darkest secrets? Are there people who you can go a while without talking to and then talk and pick right back up where you left off? Are there people who have seen you at your best and also at your worst and loved you through both? I have a handful of those people and one of them is number 8 on my 100 people challenge. Today's blog is dedicated to Rebecca Skeen Wilson.
Rebecca and I talk often and when we do, we talk about everything and our conversations go to the most random spots and they cover every emotion. Last night we talked for an hour and when I got off the phone I just thanked God for her and her friendship. She knows everything there is to know about me, the good and the bad and she loves and supports me through it all. 
When my family moved to Knoxville in 2000, I knew no one. Rebecca's dad was the children's pastor at my dad's church and Rebecca was one of the first people I met. We hit off instantly. We quickly became best friends and did everything together. My brother and her brother, Zach are best friends and our parents are best friends. We are all just one big happy family. Two people could not be any more alike than the two of us. We are both blunt, sarcastic, loud, and truly think we are amazing :) Back in the day I was at Rebecca's or she was at my house every weekend. We sat out of my bedroom window and watched random people make out in their car and we listened to the sound of the Wippoorwill. The first time I ever went to a "club" was with Rebecca and it was an experience I will never forget :) We got in trouble together, we laughed together, we cried together and we are the reason side hugs at Arlington Baptist Church exist. :) After 12 years, with a lot of good times, sad times, bad times, and crazy times, we are still best friends. Rebecca was there for me through my first love and I was there for her through her first love. We shared EVERYTHING with each other and still do. I experienced a lot of firsts with Rebecca. Coming from Hertford, NC to Knoxville, TN was total culture shock for me! I knew nothing about anything! haha. So, Rebecca and I learned a lot together. Things have not always been roses and sunshine in our lives. In fact, there have been multiple times when life flat out stunk for both of us, but we still seemed to have each other and pulled through it all. Rebecca has impacted my life in more ways than she will ever know. I learned how to be a true friend, by our friendship. I have seen the Lord work in and through Rebecca's life. She is such an inspiration to me and I truly look up to her. Life has thrown Rebecca some curve balls and she, like me, struggled to find meaning and purpose in life. During this time I have never prayed so much for a person, as I did Rebecca. I saw my prayers answered and I praise God he worked in both of our lives and made us stronger and better women. 
Today Rebecca is married to a wonderful man who loves her and cherishes her for who she is. They have two of the most adorable kids in the world, Addyson and Corbin. Rebecca is a wonderful mother and I pray I can one day be half the mother she is to those kids. I have watched her mature so much over the past few years. Her family is her world and she is raising them to love the Lord and love people. Matt is one lucky man to have such an amazing wife! 
Rebecca is one of those friends that will be there till the end. We may not ever live in the same place again, but we will talk all the time and we will always be actively involved in each others lives and for that I am truly thankful and grateful.
I love you Rebecca!