be still and go....

feeding children everywhere

2012-02-09T09:36:00.004-05:00

yesterday, i had the opportunity to volunteer to fill food bags for children in ghana, africa. one of my coworkers asked if i would be interested in going and it took all of 0.2 seconds after reading the email to join in with a resounding YES!

i had never heard of feeding children everywhere before yesterday, but i must say they have their system down to an art. and when we were there during our lunch break to fill bags, they were already at 60,000 bags for the day (and counting!). i took a few pics while we were filling (quite the challenge since i was responsible for pouring the veggies in and handing bags to the people weighing them...and couldn't miss my turn or i'd throw the system off).

anyway, moral of the story is that i love what this organization is doing and i hope you'll make time to volunteer and serve somewhere this week. there are so many needs around us waiting to be met if we'd only open our eyes (but that's another topic for another day). i always walk away encouraged with a renewed perspective, and i trust that my efforts will be a blessing to those receiving the final product.

step 1: secure bag under funnel (thanks for the demo, Libby!)

step 2: salt (and some other stuff that i never figured out)

step 3: veggies (my station)

step 4: lentils

step 5: rice

bags ready to be weighed

bags are sealed and ready to send!!

amy, lisa, libby, and me. aren't the hairnets classy?

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

maybe random isn't so random

2012-02-06T15:12:00.005-05:00

have you ever had one of those moments in life where you just sit back and shake your head in disbelief? not the kind of head shaking that comes from witnessing someone act a fool, but the kind that comes when you KNOW the Lord was gettin’ busy? i’ve had several of those moments in my 25 years of life, but more in the past few years than i can count.

my most recent one came last thursday via facebook. yes, God cares about social media. i'm 100% convinced. a friend of mine that i hadn’t talked to in 5 years posted on my wall. we met the summer of 2006 when we both worked at kanakuk (k2) and kept up briefly afterwards, but since we lived nowhere near each other and she didn't work at kamp again, we fell off the face of each other's earths so to speak. [disclaimer: i didn't purge her during my many facebook "friend" purges because i really liked her and figured it was okay for her to know my business 5 years later].

well, turns out she’s been living in lakeland, fl [read: 30 minutes away from tampa] for the last 2.5 years. i had no idea she was there because, like i said, we haven’t talked in 5 years and i hadn't thoroughly stalked her in a while. the last i knew, she was still in indiana which is nowhere near florida. obvi. that being said, once we knew we were 30 minutes apart, we didn’t waste any time and met up for dinner saturday night since she was free and i was headed back from orlando and lakeland is on the way. thank you facebook for aiding in this communication and planning process.

i just have to say that the Lord knew i needed those 3 hours with her. we haven’t talked in 5 years. God has done some crazy things in both of our lives during those 5 years. heck, He’s doing some crazy things in both of our lives now. we’re both in similar phases of change right now and it’s crazy to see how the Lord moves! he knew we could be irons for each other again, and encourage each other as we walk through the changes in front of us. i mean, as we sat on laura’s couch and talked after dinner, my heart was full, refreshed, challenged, and encouraged. what a blessing to have her back in my life! i have a feeling i will be keeping the pavement between tampa and lakeland hot. and i’m okay with that.

ready for the hoedown party at kamp (laura is to my right, your left)

last night at kamp '06

watching tennis together in '07

so grateful to have Laura back in my life. and here's to the Lord being awesome and once again blowing my mind with His timing. :)

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

grown men, makeup, beads, and booze

2012-02-02T09:58:00.062-05:00

yep, that's how i spent last weekend. with grown men. in makeup (and costumes). catching beads. and drinking a little booze. i know what you're thinking, but i was the driver. duh! me = responsible one. three of my carolina teammates came to town (+1 friend) and we enjoyed a little gasparilla fun in tampa (read: mini mardi gras, florida style).

no one made a complete fool of themselves, lots of beads were caught (without flashing), there was tons of laughter, and we re-lived some fabulous carolina volleyball memories. bring it on. any day of the week. i love my teammates and i've missed having their hilarity in my daily life.

here are some pics to recap the weekend, so enjoy living vicariously. :)

papa taylor treated us to a stone crab dinner the night before...yummy, but too much work for too little food!

country club the night before, yacht club the morning of. i could get used to this!

the pirate ship ready for the invasion.

prime example of grown men, makeup, and costumes.

lisa clearly kept every bead thrown at her. i, however, passed most of mine off to christie (see below).

steph, LT, kate, chris, and me. time with teammates is priceless!

for the rest of the carolina vb family that didn't make it down, you were dearly missed.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

unc > everybody else

2012-01-27T16:25:00.001-05:00

well, i couldn't help myself. after last night's slaughter of nc state's basketball team by our bench, my little tar heel heart is swelling with pride. which of course is only enlargened (is that even a word?) by this lovely little article. yes, nc state, you are not our rival. maybe 30 years ago, but not anymore. nice try. thanks for playing, but you're not the lucky winner.

so, on that note...

GO HEELS. GO AMERICA.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

one up

2012-01-27T10:18:00.006-05:00

when people ask me what my biggest pet peeve is, i never have an answer. seriously. but i always think of plenty after i leave the conversation. naturally. so, the other day when i came across one that definitely peaks in my top 3, i thought i should make it known to the world. don’t say i didn’t warn you.

the classic “one up” comment

you’re going on a trip to Fiji? “oh, i was just there last month and got a private tour of the islands. girl, it was fabulous!”

i dropped 4 pounds this week! “that's awesome. i dropped 6.32!!”

hey, look at my new iPhone 4S. isn’t it awesome? “yeah, i love mine. i’ve already ordered the iPhone 5 too.”

i have had such a productive day. “me too. i finished 38 things on my to-do list already and it’s only noon!”

okay, i think you get my point. humor and all. but it’s annoying. and not only is it annoying, it’s belittling and rude. i honestly think most people “one up” others without realizing it—by thinking they’re adding to the conversation and chiming in, but in reality they’re stealing the spotlight from someone else yet again. rude.

i’m learning more and more to bite my tongue. not everyone needs to know my opinion or experience on every topic. off-hand comments will do more damage than good. is it really that hard to bite my tongue and settle for a comment more like, “wow, i’m so excited for you. that’s awesome! you'll have to let me know how it goes!!” no, it’s not difficult. but too often, i hear myself and others “chiming in” to the conversation only to steal the joy and “one up” everyone else.

no one likes to be "one upped." rude. don’t be that girl. or guy.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i guess i'm just old fashioned...

2012-01-25T10:42:00.008-05:00

i wouldn’t normally call myself old fashioned, but i was reading an article recently that described the changes that have taken place in the short time from my parents’ generation to mine. i’m sure the changes from my generation to that of my children’s will be even more drastic given the crazy drive of technology and all things digital these days. some of the things that look like they might be replaced as technology moves forward are some of my daily staples. that being said, i guess i’m old fashioned. and i’m okay with it because all of these things i love are wonderful, and i will continue to use them and love them as technologically primitive as they may become.

Writing Checks

image

Reading Books

image

Snail Mail and the Post Office (not the self-serve machines)

image

Watching TV Shows on a TV (instead of online or Netflix)

image

Sending Faxes

image

...so here's to being awesome and being old-fashioned as long as possible.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

life gets in the way

2012-01-12T09:48:00.038-05:00

it's inevitable. when you move away, you lose touch with some people. doesn't mean you love them less. doesn't mean you don't miss them and wonder what they're doing. but it happens. life in another city, state, or time zone steals your time and attention.

that being said, Kevan, Paula, and Sarah fall into that category for me. this family was like a second family for me in high school. i would leave school and go eat their food and watch their tv before volleyball. i took trips with them. i love love love this family. so when i packed up and went off to Chapel Hill and then Branson and now Tampa....well, life in another city got in the way.

but the good news is that i was able to sneak in a lunch date with all three of them while i was home for Christmas. the Sis came with since she obviously knows them too, and we had ourselves quite the little reunion laugh session. caught up on all the news i've missed, talked about Sarah's wedding that i also missed, and how Kevan is getting old. ha!

anyway, this family holds a special place in my heart and i'm so grateful that they continue to be a presence in my life as such an encouragement and needed dose of laughter.

Paula, the Sis, and Kevan

Sarah and the Sis

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

better late than never

2012-01-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

so what if it's january 10th and i'm just now posting more of the pics i took while i was home with family. yeah, life's been a little nuts. and i was actually spending time with my family while i was there. not blogging. enjoy the photo post. i'll get caught up eventually. just not today. :)

sis loves her some christmas tree.

so when dad said we had room for a 7 footer, we clearly pictured 8 feet trees in our heads. hence the measuring tape.

someone loves the fluffy kind...

sniff test.

don't be fooled. it was a mom photo op. i did nothing.

i just love her.

really glad this one was here again this year. he came in handy with all our tree issues later on.

safely home and undoing the tree to get it in the house.

the boys doing work.

obviously my role was to document this new tradition in the making. and to make sure the tree was properly centered and vertical from all angles. tough work i tell ya.

...and we lost him.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

from resident to visitor

2011-12-31T08:20:00.002-05:00

a line from the book i just finished reading said...

"I realize with a wave of remorse and panic that Andy and I have suddenly, instantly morphed into visitors--tourists--in a city where we once resided."

this, unfortunately, is the story of my life. both Asheville and Branson have become just that for me. vacation destinations with memories of once being home.

yes, part of me will always consider Asheville "home" (i answered a coworker's question in that mindset just the other day actually), but my days of hopping in the car and running errands in this eclectic mountain town every day are done. i enjoy the moments when i'm home, obviously, and i'm tempted to relocate at times, but that's part of growing up and building my own grown up life. i don't get to stay forever. some stay, some go. i'm a go-er. as hard as it is, i'm a go-er.

and Branson is the same way in a different way. no biological family, but pretty darn close when it comes to how much of my heart is invested in the people there. but now i'm a tourist. i can proudly claim the status of a "has been local" though, and you better believe i will. i had my taney county driver's license that was good for local discounts at one point. so can i get an amen?

all that being said, i hope that someday i can say the same about tampa. i don't plan to live in tampa forever. let's be honest, i'm a mountain girl through and through. the beach will never float my boat. i crave the mountains. i crave crisp, cool air. i crave hikes and camping. sand is my enemy. here's to hoping tampa becomes a place full of rich relationships where my heart is fully invested and i can one day look back and say it truly felt like home for a time.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i come by it honestly

2011-12-30T13:48:00.000-05:00

i know i can be weird, but at least i come by it honestly. christmas with dad's side of the family never fails to give me side stitch from laughter. Brinkleys...

Uncle Robert

Gran

again, at least i come by it honestly. and at least my family knows how to laugh and laugh well. :)

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

pine antics

2011-12-29T13:44:00.000-05:00

well, this year my mom thought it would be fun to do a real tree. yes, i'm 25 and i've never had a real tree. we've had the same perfectly symmetrical fake tree all my life. and i love it. but mom wanted to buck with tradition and start a new one. no one objected. secretly, i think she just wanted help decorating because she does it by herself each year. but by waiting until i got home on the 23, she was guaranteed 4 sets of helping hands (the sis' boyfriend was here too).

so yes, we went down to the nearest lot (mom had scoped them out the day before) and picked out a lovely 7 footer that had minor blemishes in the plump department, but it just adds character in my opinion. we hauled that puppy back and promptly set her up. the pictures can tell the rest...

on the lot...

...and we ran out of lights. so the sis and i set out to buy more...

...mom and the sis adding more lights. notice how much darker it is outside at this point. we literally hunted all over town to find lights. that's what we get for waiting until the 23rd...

...my view of the final product from my perch in the corner of the sectional. this is prior to the sudden fall that i caught with my leg. yeah, we had to re-decorate this puppy because all the ornaments decided to fling themselves onto the floor when she fell...

...and this is the next morning. she safely made it through the night thanks to mom's barricade...

...and dad's whack job helped hold the tree up for the night too. who knew scrap wood blocks could be so useful?...

...new tree stand purchased on christmas eve morning and our tree is good to go. she hasn't made any more efforts to fall, so that's been nice. decorating and re-decorating isn't so much fun when it's christmas eve...

i hope your christmas was slightly less eventful, but that you made some fabulous family memories like we did. happy new year!!

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

Bono and Christ

2011-12-21T09:27:00.002-05:00

i just want to share this little nugget from Bono with you. when it comes to Christ, you have to make one of two decisions. either He is who He says He is, or He's nuts. and here's what Bono has to say.

"Jesus being God isn’t farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets…but actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says, ‘No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet.’ I’m saying: ‘I’m the Messiah. I’m saying: ‘I am God incarnate…'

So what you’re left with is: either Christ was who He said He was or a complete nutcase…I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that’s farfetched…The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled. It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven."

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

Tim Tebow is worth following

2011-12-19T13:45:00.001-05:00

...no, i don't mean on twitter (although, i'll admit that i do...@TimTebow). i mean that his life is worth following. he gets the Gospel. he knows how it affects all he does. his perspective is eternal. his priorities, his speech, his leadership, and his life reflect the Lord. that's why he's worth following. he is an example of what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 11:1 when he said,

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

a coworker found this video (below) and we posted it on our All Pro Dad blog, but i thought it was too good not to share on here, too. so, whether or not you are a fan of Tebow's athletic abilities, i think you should at least give him credit for the example he's setting for each of us in how to live a Gospel-centered life no matter where we are or what we do. he leads in love just as Christ did. he uses his speech to encourage and build up those around him. he truly gets it.

the video is just shy of 10 minutes, but it's worth watching all the way through. my personal faves are when he starts singing. enjoy!

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

every day and every milestone

2011-12-16T09:58:00.000-05:00

i can't take credit for this, but it was too good not to share. in fact, i immediately emailed my coworkers with this little nugget. hope it encourages and convicts you as it did me.

Our prayer for your family is that every day and every milestone would convince you that Jesus is worthy of devotion and discipleship. May your milestones lead you to remember Him and be thankful. Journeys always have delays and difficulties and sometimes can be downright hard and discouraging. May the Lord give you eyes to see His wonders along the way and a heart to believe that the journey is good and the destination will be spectacular.

stay faithful in the journey.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

holy hands

2011-12-15T08:56:00.001-05:00

two weeks ago, my pastor was teaching from 1 Timothy 2:8...

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,

without anger or disputing."

my pastor's point was that men, in general, tend to have more issues with anger. i won't argue that. but it's interesting that Paul links these two ideas together. worship and anger management. but i guess he's on to something. ya can't really worship when you're bitter and ticked off at someone. i mean, you can, but it's not authentic and God is real clear about how we are to worship. and it ain't that fake, forced business.

as i reflected, i couldn't help but think of one man that is an "as close to perfect as a fallen man can be" example. my pops.

my pops is that kind of man. the one that worships in Spirit and Truth. and not just on a Sunday morning. on every morning of every day. in all that he does. he is a man that worships with all of his life. all that he does. all that he says. all that he plans. he walks in the Spirit. he leads in the Spirit. he loves in the Spirit. he lifts up holy hands without anger or disputing. thanks for setting the bar high and leading our family so well, dad. love you!

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

you don't have to ask me twice

2011-12-05T11:15:00.028-05:00

when a coworker recently asked me if i wanted to go to the Bucs-Panthers game with her, i thought for about 0.2 seconds before responding, "Yes. Duh!"....or something to that effect. Football? I'm in. Live? Even better. Sadly, the Bucs were outplayed by the Panthers (38-19), and I was in jeans for an 80 degree game,but the the afternoon was still a blast because of the company and the fabulous people-watching that always occurs when masses of people converge for something of this nature. Yep, totally worth it and I'd do it all over again. Enjoy the pics from my afternoon at Raymond James Stadium yesterday.

view of the ship

view from our seats...thanks Kevin!!

vicki, daniel, and me

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

pure and undefiled religion

2011-12-04T12:11:00.002-05:00

y'all, isn't my friend Joy gorgeous? i tease her all the time about how photogenic she is. i've never seen a bad picture of her. no one has. i've tried. i even creeped back into facebook pics from before i knew her. nothing. it's incredible! but what i find even more gorgeous and incredible is her heart. this girl has a huge heart for the orphans and widows of Africa, particularly Uganda (where she's living right now). she has a heart that serves without ceasing. she has a heart to carry His name to the nations and proclaim the gospel to all people. she has a heart to nurture and love. no matter where i am, my prayer is that i, too, will have a gospel-driven heart like Joy.

"pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:

to visit orphans and widows in their distress,

and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

james 1:27

"hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

proverbs 13:12

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

wrestling with expectations

2011-12-03T09:52:00.006-05:00

credit: pinterest

this seems to be a theme in my life right now. i've said something to this effect both to myself and others numerous times lately. so as nice as it would be, i can't expect the people around me to have a heart to serve just because i do. i want them to have that desire for their own sake and for the sake of making much of Christ by being servants in a self-consumed society. but i can't expect that from them. it's their choice. God has to work in their heart the same way he worked in mine.

i also can't hold other people to my personal standards. if they don't know the Lord, they don't operate under the same set of moral principles as i do. and as much as i want them to, that's the Holy Spirit's job, not mine. i get to serve them through a gospel-minded lifestyle and love them well. and if they do know the Lord and are choosing to set their gaze on temporal things, then i get to show them what it looks like to live a life focused on the eternal instead.

i have a tremendous opportunity to live the gospel every single day. and so do you. live it well.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

cheese graters, ice cream scoops, and can openers

2011-12-02T13:16:00.019-05:00

just a fun visual reminder for you of just how unique we each are. and how much we need each other in the body of Christ. we have different gifts and we're commanded to use them to encourage one another for good.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many." -1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-14

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

it's the little things

2011-12-01T12:42:00.006-05:00

this past thanksgiving weekend was filled with great memories. some of which i've already blogged about so i won't bother repeating. i loved having my fam down in my house this year. way fun to play hostess and give mom a little break this year. not that she wanted one, but it was fun to do it anyway. dad wasn't so lucky. i put him to work on a "honey do" project as my mom would call it. and he added a few of his own as well, so i don't feel so bad. he likes little projects. i think it comes with being a dad.

this trip, he tackled...

installing my ceiling fan...better 6 months late than never!! it has made SUCH a difference already!
tightening my shower head
checking and topping off all the fluids in my car

the sis helped me get my wireless network up and running. FINALLY!!!!! i can use my laptop in my house and get online. like i said, it's the little things. i mean, shoot, i'm sitting here on my couch right now watching football and writing this blog. so great.

and in case you didn't catch it the first 32 times, i love my family. and i loved having them on my new turf. can't wait to be with them again in a few weeks....home in the mountains.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

my mother is going to kill me...

2011-11-29T10:24:00.007-05:00

...but it's worth it. here's the video i mentioned in yesterday's thanksgiving recap post.

see, i told you she danced with our turkey! thanks for the laughs, mom. love you!

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

do as the floridians do

2011-11-28T14:08:00.000-05:00

well, since it was 80 degrees on thanksgiving day, we decided to do as the floridians do. we went to the beach. we didn't swim, but we did walk along the water, hunt for shells, and take some awesome family photos that will make their debut in my parents' christmas card. however, here are a few pics that aren't in the running for the christmas card photos so they're fair game for cyberspace. enjoy!

i'm bekah brinkley, and i think my family is awesome. i'm also sorry you weren't there to hear what my mother and the sis were saying between shots. hilarity.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i pulled on my big girl panties...and put on my apron!

2011-11-28T09:22:00.097-05:00

for the first time ever, i hosted my fam for thanksgiving. they came to me a few times in college since i had volleyball matches the next day, but i never cooked for them. Harris Teeter and Boston Market cooked for us. anyway, with the role of hostess comes the responsibility of safely feeding my fam without poisoning them or burning the food. i can't say it was the absolute best thanksgiving meal i've ever had, but it was definitely yummy and nothing was burned, raw, inedible, or downright icky. success!!

i did everything from making the grocery list to shopping, prepping, cooking, and cleaning. yes, mom and the sis stepped in to help me pull it off, but it was mainly my show and it was a blast!! i've got a few pics below that chronicle this monumental event since those of you who know me will question the validity of my previous statements. i mean, i am the girl that asked how you boil water when i was in high school. yeah, about that...

hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving with your families. mine was absolutely perfect!!

mom did the dirty work and "cleaned" our turkey the night before. what a trooper. and then she danced with him. no, seriously. i have a video.

definitely needed these to clean up raw turkey juices on the counter and in the sink. we don't want no diseases.

the sis helping me tear bread to prep the stuffing the night before.

adding eggs and butter to the stuffing bright and early thanksgiving morning.

shoving my hand up mr. turkey to add the stuffing inside.

faithfully basting every 30 minutes...this was obviously taken early because i'm still in my pajamas rocking the bed head and glasses get up.

woohoooo!!!! perfectly roasted and not charred!!

pops did his usual turkey carving while i dug the stuffing out of our birdie's belly.

deeeeeeeeeelish!!

pecan pie courtesy of Village Inn...pumpkin courtesy of the madre.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally

you know you're not in the south when...

2011-11-26T19:45:00.001-05:00

florida is not the south. some will argue that it is, but i beg to differ. it is located in the south, yes. but the culture is not southern at all. not one bit. in fact, my little experiment on my run tonight proves just that.

i wouldn't consider myself a super friendly person when it comes to strangers, but i'm certainly not a curmudgeon either. i decided that i was going to smile at every single person i passed along my run route tonight. and while it wasn't overly crowded as usual, i probably passed at least 60 people during the course of my run. that being said, i made a point to make eye contact and smile at every single person. let me tell you how many smiled back without breaking eye contact.

two.

one other gentleman smiled, but he looked away and down at his feet while he did so. did i make you nervous? another man whizzed past me on his bike and i wasn't sure if i should count his "smile" as a return gesture because it kinda looked like he had the windblown lip flap face that somewhat resembled a smile. and all the others either looked at me like i was crazy or pretended like they didn't even see me. i mean, i at least thought i'd get a return smile from the man and his wife pushing the double stroller with twin girls. but nope. this isn't the south. people aren't warm and friendly to complete strangers. sad day.

my run was great though and i hope i made a few people's days by giving them a one-way smile. you just never know. i just doing my part to bring a little Jesus and southern manners to Tampa.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

it's why i do what i do

2011-11-23T09:48:00.000-05:00

moments like last night are why i do what i do. coaching never gets old. never. sure, there are frustrating moments, but the life impact you have far outweighs the frustration over missed serves or compound errors. that being said, i love when i get to spend time with my players off the court. i love that we can maintain a relationship after i finish coaching them. i can still be a positive voice in their life. and that's why i coach.

last night, i had the privilege of feeding my mexican belly with Kinzie, one of my SJVC 15 Red kiddos. i love this kid and am so grateful for the continued opportunity to speak Truth into her life. love you Kinz!

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

un-interrupted reading

2011-11-21T13:12:00.001-05:00

in the midst of all this thankfulness, i have to admit there are still a few things that annoy me to no end. misspelled words and poor grammar are two of them.

sometimes i think certain people are out to annoy me by typing "my" instead of "by" or adding semi-colons instead of commas. i mean, i'd just like to read a sentence un-interrupted.

you see, this girl, a.k.a. yours truly, notices every misspelling, missed comma, wrong use of "there" and "your" in every single thing i read. and i can't continue reading until i fix the issue in my mind. curses. part of this is a gift because it makes me a great editor, but sometimes i just want to yell at the world because i'm convinced no one knows how to properly use a comma or spell-check to save their life.

bloggers are some of the worst, honestly. you'd think they would take a little pride in something with their name attached to it, but apparently we live in a day and age were we slop together our thoughts for the world to see and don't take 0.2 seconds to make sure we used the right "your" and "there" in our sentences.

i realize i'm probably one of few people who get this annoyed over reading other people's spelling and grammar errors, but it's a violation of my sanity and i'm going to either (1) lose my mind or (2) stop following certain bloggers. woof.

i am bekah brinkley and i wish everyone would review their spelling and grammar rules before posting or publishing their writing. it would make me a much faster reader.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

a world away

2011-11-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

i looked at the weather today and realized just how far removed i am from a place i call "home"...

old home

new home

Branson, MO....i miss you. i'd love to be wearing a coat today instead of finding myself sweating in jeans because of the humidity. woof.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

sneaky mom

2011-11-12T11:28:00.000-05:00

in case you missed Jimmy Kimmel's Halloween Candy Challenge to parents across the country, i've included a little clip below. parents were asked to tell their children that, while they were sleeping, all their candy was eaten. most kids responded with tears, wailing, sobbing, throwing the candy wrapper remains, or even a little name calling in a few cases. however, the best clip is of the two little boys shown below. hilariously articulate, so grown up, and downright awesome. enjoy!

[mom, try not to wet your pants while laughing...]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i love a good costume

2011-11-11T10:25:00.006-05:00

i realize i'm a little slow in posting pics, but i've had other things to do besides posting pics of myself in costume on the blog. i had a little fun for halloween this year courtesy of miss tanya beardsley's creativity. seriously, i called her and said something to the effect of "i need a funny, witty, not complicated, awesome costume. help?" and withing 0.2 seconds, she suggested this...

glamour shots

yep, she's awesome. so dang creative. and i have the thrift store to thank for the lovely frame and shimmery top complete with shoulder pads.

several of my coworkers also dressed up and we officially made the rest of the office jealous for not having the guts to go for it at work. somehow, i think we'll have more people in costume next year. success.

Uncle Rico (from Napoleon Dynamite), Glamour Shots, Peas & Carrots, Mary Kate & Ashley Olson (in their Full House, Michelle Tanner days)

hope everyone had a fabulous halloween and exercised some creativity in costuming! that's the best part!!!!

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

save yo'self some cash

2011-11-10T14:56:00.003-05:00

well, friends i'm officially proud of myself. i knew my distrusting, "you are sketchy and want my money and probably my firstborn child too" mindset would come in handy one day. that day is today. well, technically it was yesterday, but whatever. the moral of the story is that i done saved myself some major moolah by not trusting the lady in scrubs with the metal mouth pokers and the handsome, but married, man in scrubs and a white jacket.

yep, the dentist told me i have gum disease. (note: i've never been told anything more than "you should floss more" and "you have the kind of teeth that will put me out of business") and he told me my teeth can't be fixed until i pay $300 for them to kill the bacteria eating my gums. skew me whaaaa?!?!?!!

yeah. i promptly said thanks, i'll be in touch.

i lied.

i've ignored their phone calls (i think they eventually gave up on me) and in the meantime, have found another dentist who is far more trustworthy. in fact, homeboy's jaw hit the floor when i showed him the treatment plan and cost from the other dentist. i don't have gum disease. i have plaque buildup and gingivitis like every other american who eats food and doesn't brush 24/7 and floss 3 times a day. does anyone brush and floss 3 times a day? if you said yes, you lied.

back to the story...

dentist #2 is nice. short, but very nice. but turns out he played volleyball. automatic trust points right there. and he saved me $300 for the unnecessary gum disease cleaning plus another $300 for follow up visits. insane. oh, and he gave me toothpaste, floss, and a new toothbrush. the other dentist gave me nothing.

so yes, my skeptical nature led to a second opinion, which led to $600 that will remain in my pocket. or rather, in my savings account.

moral of the story: don't go to coast dental on south dale mabry in tampa, fl. and second opinions are probably a good idea for big expenses. :)

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

re-alignment

2011-11-05T10:04:00.002-04:00

having your perspective shifted back into right alignment is not my favorite activity. it usually involves giving up something i've come to believe is essential to maintaining my current level of functionality or i at least feel like i've "earned" the right to "treat myself" to it. and while there's nothing entirely wrong with a little TLC here and there, the Bible is pretty clear about living with an attitude of entitlement. i am commanded to walk in humility as a response to the grace i have received. i mean, shoot. i'm a dead woman walking in new life. dang.

that being said, today was one of those days. actually, i've had a few of those days in a row. which is probably a good thing. i never want to lose sight of the eternal and the things that will remain at the end: the Word of God and the souls of men.

so, about that car i've been wanting, or that trip to New York, or a new headboard, hammock, dark wash jeans, lace dress, or bread pan....THEY DON'T MATTER!!!! and yes, all of those are things on my "wish list"...i'm all about the honesty on here, people. yes, the Lord can use those things as instruments to teach me more about Himself. He's creative....i am absolutely certain He can teach me about His character through a bread pan. no doubt. but, i believe that the money i'd spend on that bread pan that i really don't need, and the mental and physical time and energy i'd spend finding the one i like could be better invested.

my heart is being poked for more. tugged away from the temporary trappings of this world and towards treasures of an eternal value. i haven't figured out how i'm going to live in this mindset each day. maybe i never will. but i pray i come back to this place of humility and seeing God rightly for the rest of my days here on earth. i do not want to stand before my Master and hear that i was a poor steward of the vast resources entrusted to me. may i be faithful and live in a way that reflects eternity.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

a timely word

2011-11-03T21:03:00.002-04:00

i skipped out on Bible study tonight (gasp, i know). put me on the naughty list if you must, but as i was doing my homework that i failed to do (i skipped bc i didn't do my homework and i wanted some "Jesus time" to get caught up), God smacked me between the eyes with a timely word of Truth for a very dear friend of mine. that's no coincidence. God is in the business of orchestrating moments like this ALL THE TIME. all we have to do is be open to His voice and obedient when we hear it.

don't mis-hear me and think that i'm hyper-spiritualizing my desire to skip on Bible study and have some Jesus time to myself tonight, but DO hear me saying that it's okay to do that and, in my case tonight, the Lord did it for a reason. i needed this time to slip away, undistracted, and hear His Truth not only for my life, but also for my friend's life.

you see, tomorrow is a really big day for her family and i can't be there. my heart is aching. i literally might not sleep tonight. i'm battling my own desire to storm in and take God's role in her life. to fix everything. i keep telling myself that the Lord will fight for her. He will work all things for her good. He's got this. i mean, He's God after all, right? anyway, as i was reading tonight, here's what i came across...

"Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. "They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:6-8, 19)

um, yeah. about that. i promptly picked up my phone and shot a few texts with those verses. God will not let her be overcome. He will rescue her. He will give her the words to speak. He is with her. He is for her. what comfort in the face of such daunting days ahead!! i pray she believes God to hold true to His promises and i pray that He will flood her with His peace and a quiet confidence in His hand at work in her life.

and tomorrow will be a day that i, too, have to rest in His plan for her family. i will fight for her in prayer, but ultimately, the battle is the Lord's. and He will work all things for her good. according to His plan. not hers or mine.

soli deo gloria.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

a glass of water

2011-10-30T14:16:00.001-04:00

my mom's friend Judy passed this along to me via email, and i thought it was such a great reminder that i want to pass it along to y'all too. hope it hits home with some of you, too.

A young lady confidently walked around the room while reading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'..... She fooled them all..., "How heavy is this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

it's time for me to hand over my glass of water to the Lord. let Him carry my burdens and bear the weight of each drop of worry and stress and planning. may i know Him as the one who bears my burdens.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

dwelling on the near and now

2011-10-28T21:08:00.001-04:00

for the faithful few of you that read this, i'm sorry for the super long absence on the blog. but after posting every day in september, i needed a break. and i didn't really have anything i felt was worth writing, much less reading. but, i'm back. and i have a few thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head that i wanna get out.

as i was sitting in bible study (2 peter, precepts style) last week, all the thoughts bouncing around in my head came out in one simple phrase...

dwelling on the near and now

too often i'm guilty of this. i wouldn't say that i'm consumed by material things, but i do think about them a lot and elevate them in my mind over eternal things. i mean, who doesn't love a good sale? it's boot and cardigan season after all, right? and thanks to pinterest, i can find a "need" for all sorts of ruffly tops and crafty items and jewelry pieces i don't have, but obviously need.

well, i've talked before about living with an eternal perspective. and, while i do that on occasion, 2 peter urges us to think like that all the time. to shift my perspective and priorities from the temporal to the eternal. to trade the tinsel of this world for the gold of heaven. because that's all this is, right? tinsel.

tinsel for treasures.

to start, i have to look at my spending log. am i spending my paycheck on clothes and shoes and jewelry and books and crafts? or am i looking for more ways to give? my finances certainly aren't the only way to find out, but they're a pretty accurate one. i mean, how much does it really matter if i have trendy pieces that are "in season" or i've read the latest additions to the NY Times Bestseller list or made a super cute craft that would make Martha jealous? it doesn't. none of that will matter. sure, it matters to us here and now, because that's what we see every day. it's our near and now.

but in the end, it makes no difference. the lives we impacted for eternity, the needs we met as His hands and feet, the glory we brought to His name. that will last. that will matter in eternity. not the near and now. that, that will fade.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #30

2011-09-30T09:20:00.004-04:00

this morning i woke up to a text from Joy Janszen. normally that wouldn't be anything crazy, but her life isn't normal right now. she moved to Uganda. packed her bags and headed to her second home. it was 2:30 in the afternoon when i saw her text (7:30am here). so i rolled over, pried my eyes open, and logged onto skype from my phone. i managed to get myself dressed and ready for work while talking to Joy. how crazy that i can be in Tampa, FL and she can be in Kampala, Uganda and we can chat like she was back in Texas?! CRAZY!!!! but i love it. and it is definitely the highlight of my day.

happy #30

skype phone date with Joy while she's in Uganda.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #29

2011-09-29T21:19:00.019-04:00

tonight was week one of really diving into 2 Peter precepts. i'm excited to see what the Lord will teach me over the next 8 weeks as we dig into the Truth that Peter wrote. my new friend Allison joined me tonight and it was so much fun to sit beside her and study the Word. she's a fantastic woman of God and so wise. i'm anxious to spend more time with her and take the bay area by storm. :)

happy #29

image
digging into the Truths of 2 Peter.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #28

2011-09-28T20:52:00.006-04:00

well, i have lots of things to be happy about today. its my birthday!!!! thanks for all the love today...whether it was a phone call, text, wall post, tweet, or in person.....i felt super loved today. and while many of you could have quite the singing career ahead of you, my highlight has to be spending the day with my momma. she flew down for my birthday and we spent my lunch break at the mall, followed by a homecooked dinner (one of my faves) and a walk along the bay. such a fun day and i'm so glad mom came down to spend it with me. love you!!

happy #28

walking along the bay with mom to finish off a great birthday.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #27

2011-09-27T20:45:00.004-04:00

mom flew in tonight for my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!! we had a delicious dinner at a fish house in madeira beach followed by a little moonlit stroll along the water. a little sand between your toes never hurt, right?

happy #27

sunset dinner with mom by the water.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #26

2011-09-26T18:43:00.026-04:00

i have the awesome privilege of doing life with some fantastic people. one of which is lauren boone. she's a hilarious compilation of personality and passion. and the girl knows her Word. she loves the Lord and is wise beyond her years. i love walking through life with her and cherish the opportunity to study together. lauren boone, you add countless joy to my life.

happy #26

phone dates with lauren boone since we're 18 hours apart now. (you look so young in this pic!!)

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #25

2011-09-25T16:39:00.003-04:00

after a long weekend of early mornings and numerous flights, i can say it is refreshing to come home and do absolutely nothing. cuddling up in my sweats on the couch is probably the greatest feeling ever. and having vb matches to watch on TiVo is even better.

happy #25

image

cozy afternoons in my sweats.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #24

2011-09-24T20:23:00.038-04:00

today was all about the vikings and all pro dad. we had our father & kids experience (FKE) at the vikings practice facility and i managed to sneak in a few pics between moments of chaos. i loved being in a new state. minnesota is home to one of my unc teammates, bri, so i got to sneak in a little visit with her after our event was over. such a blessing to be in the presence of friends who share the same passion for our beloved heels. reminiscing never gets old. being a tar heel is a bond we'll always have and it's hard to put it into words, so it was refreshing to be back with part of my tar heel family. thank you Eskola fam for a fabulous night in Minneapolis!!

happy #24

(Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier)

(Victor the Viking)

(my teammate Bri!!)

being in minnesota with the vikings and a fellow tar heel.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #23

2011-09-23T20:22:00.010-04:00

i ventured into a new state today and have officially crossed it off my footprints list. minnesota is a breath of fresh air (literally) and a great weekend trip if you go in the fall. i'm not so sure january would be the best time to venture up to minneapolis. this weekend, however, my lungs will appreciate the crisp, cool air.

happy #23

image

crossing new states off my hit list.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #22

2011-09-22T20:47:00.010-04:00

we started an 8 week study of 2 Peter tonight at church. precepts style. [insert hallelujahs and squeals of excitement coupled with deep exhalations of joy]. gosh, i'm so excited for this study. i love precepts bible studies for so many reasons. mainly because i get to dig in the Word in ways i would never do on my own and i get to study alongside women of all ages. such wisdom and insight!

happy #22

image

studying the Word inductively with women of all ages. such a blessing.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #21

2011-09-21T20:46:00.008-04:00

i may or may not have whipped a quick u-turn tonight when i saw Jason's Deli. LOVE that place. nobody's salad bar comes close to being as awesome as Jason's. hence the quick u-turn for dinner. yum!!

happy #21

eating Jason's Deli's salad bar for dinner. delish.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #20

2011-09-20T21:38:00.001-04:00

tonight i had the chance to sit back and watch a college volleyball match with one of my coworkers, Kaleigh. she played for the University of Tampa and they had a home match, so of course we went! it wasn't the same as watching my beloved Tar Heels in that beautiful shade of blue, but it was still a blast to watch my favorite sport live. it's such a mix of power, finesse, and precision. love this game. :)

happy #20

image

watching a college volleyball match.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #19

2011-09-19T15:48:00.002-04:00

i snuck out for lunch today with three coworkers. the four of use make up one square in our office cube grid. and we think our foursome is the best. naturally. we heard a rumor that chick-fil-a was giving away free chicken sandwiches if you knew the secret phrase. which of course we did! so naturally, we marched ourselves down to chick-fil-a and enjoyed a healthy dose of laughter and chicken (and maybe an ice dream or two). i'm grateful for fun coworkers to spend my days with and the laughter we share on a consistent basis. it makes my 40 hours a week behind a desk rather enjoyable.

happy #19

image

free chick-fil-a chicken sandwiches and fun coworkers to share the joy.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #18

2011-09-18T13:48:00.002-04:00

i love traveling. i don't so much enjoy the packing, but i love the places i visit and the experiences i have along the way. so i deal with the packing aspect. this weekend was no exception. i hit the road (or in this case air) for indy and enjoyed a fabulous fall weekend with coworkers. coming home was a great feeling too. i love my bed and my little Tampa home.

happy #18

image

flying home via southwest. enough said.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #17

2011-09-17T22:03:00.004-04:00

tonight i had the privilege of doing dinner with one of my unc teammate's parents. it was so great to see them again and have time to catch up. we had a very leisurely dinner on the water (yes, water in indy) and it was FABULOUS. who knew Indy could do dinner on the water so well?! reservoirs are just as nice as the bay in this case. sailboats, sunset, breeze and all.

happy #17

lovely dinner on the water with friends

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #16

2011-09-16T22:13:00.002-04:00

this morning I hit the road for the airport with our FKE team. destination: Indianapolis. from the moment we arrived at the Tampa airport to the moment we went to our rooms at the hotel in Indy, we laughed like it was going out of style. i'm talking side-splitting, can't breathe, make you cry kind of laughter. AWESOME. tomorrow is our event at the Colts Practice facility, so i'm praying for a successful event and lots of fathers who walk away with a renewed desire to step up to the plate in their kids' lives.

happy #16

the gift of laughter and fun coworkers to share it with.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #15

2011-09-15T19:44:00.012-04:00

tonight i treated myself to a long-awaited massage. my poor little muscles were long overdue for some TLC. i walked out of there with wrinkles on my face from the headrest and a haze in my brain. i have absolutely no idea what the receptionist said to me when i was leaving because i was in an absolute trance. it's a wonder i made it home alive. massages will do that to you in the very best of ways. :)

happy #15

enjoying a bottle of water after my lovely massage.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #14

2011-09-14T21:35:00.004-04:00

tonight i had the privilege of doing dinner with a great new friend at one of my favorite restaurants...burrito boarder. awesome conversation, knock your socks off food, and absolutely perfect weather. i think i could get used to this. :)

happy #14

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eating yummy fish tacos with my new friend allison on a warm breezy night.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #13

2011-09-13T21:24:00.001-04:00

tonight i got to help kick off the k-life year with St. Pete K-life. the 6th-8th graders are such a fun, quirky, awkward age. LOVE THEM! definitely the highlight of my day.

happy #13

image
hanging out with a group of quirky middle schoolers for the night.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #12

2011-09-12T15:18:00.009-04:00

it's fall. my favorite season of the year...for numerous reasons which i shall name. the weather, changing leaves, volleyball season, football season, the fashion, the food. ahhh, glorious! but i won't exactly have one here in Tampa. at least not until January, or so i'm told. LAME! i did, however, have a little taste of fall today on my lunch break and it made me smile. bring it on!

happy #12

sipping on an iced non-fat, no whip pumpkin spice latte at starbucks.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #11

2011-09-11T21:39:00.002-04:00

tonight i had the opportunity to attend my second simulcast of the weekend. Anne Graham Lotz and Joel Rosenberg spoke on living in light of Christ's return. Joel brought fascinating facts and statistics to the table and Anne brought the "how then shall we live?" message. convicting and powerful.

happy #11

image

studying the Word and being hopeful for Christ's return

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #10

2011-09-10T20:18:00.000-04:00

today i spent most of my day at a Beth Moore simulcast with my friend Katie. we had no idea what topic Beth was teaching on, but that's how all of her conferences are. no two are ever the same because she lets the Spirit lead when she determines her message. i love that.

we dug into luke and acts today and it was fascinating. i've never studied those two books in conjunction, but it makes sense now that i think about it. i mean, the same man wrote both of them, so why wouldn't you study them side by side?

not to mention, Beth never ceases to speak Truth boldly in all her Texan twang and hilarious one liners. today was a much needed dose of the Word and laughter. so glad Katie got to come with me. :)

happy #10

diving into the Word with Beth Moore.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #9

2011-09-09T20:27:00.000-04:00

i've never had the luxury of spending more than 8 months in the same place as my best friends. as a result, i've become a master at phone dates and quality games of phone tag. and while i wish i could call up my besties and meet for coffee or lunch any time i want, i've come to love the fact that we're all doing different things in different states and time zones (and soon to be countries). it's refreshing and encouraging to hear how the Lord is working in so many ways across the country both in and through my friends. don't be deceived though, i frequently pray that the Lord would graciously rearrange the USA's geographical layout so that all of my faves could be in one 20 mile radius. ;)

happy #9

phone dates with friends in far away places. [tanya and joy tonight]

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #8

2011-09-08T14:05:00.001-04:00

today we had our NFL kickoff party at work. shmorgasboard style. more food than i could inhale at a safe pace. (i, of course, made my homemade guacamole and it was a huge hit.) games. prizes. laughter. the perfect break to a work day.

happy #8

eating two plates worth of yummy food and dessert to top it off.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #7

2011-09-07T13:22:00.000-04:00

happy #7

topping off my lunch with a dark chocolate raspberry popsicle before heading back to work.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #6

2011-09-06T11:23:00.001-04:00

happy #6

image

getting free breakfast from Chick-fil-A to start my day.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #5

2011-09-04T20:00:00.010-04:00

happy#5

playing every type of solitaire known to man on the living room floor with mom.

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #4

2011-09-04T19:59:00.000-04:00

nothing beats time at home with the people you love. today was spent at church and then at the river with the fam for a stuff your face til you're sick to your stomach style picnic. delish. so much food. so much green (leaves and trees that is). so much cool weather i actually had chills. welcome to the mountains. :)

happy #4

Jim & Sara Hart

the little girl cousins

the boy cousins

and the big girls

spending time with people you love and eating yummy food while you're at it

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #3

2011-09-03T11:06:00.010-04:00

i'm headed to NC today and can't wait to see the mountains and my family. i feel sorry for the person next to me on the plane. i might squeal. it's been almost 9 full months since i was home in my beloved Blue Ridge Mountains and that is WAY. TOO. LONG. needless to say, this visit is long overdue and much anticipated.

happy #3

seeing the fam and being home in the mountains again

[credit to Liza for the idea of posting happies each day]

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #2

2011-09-02T09:38:00.004-04:00

[i'm linking up with Liza again today for round two of happies.]

i've decided how i'll spend my half day today. first, i'll tackle the errands that have been piling up and then i'm going to shop. i may not buy, but i'm going to shop. i'm going to hit the mall and just browse. maybe make a purchase or two, but nothing crazy. i just want a little mental break and a little inspiration by looking at the racks and the boxes and the store fronts. today is going to be a great day.

happy #2

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taking an afternoon to browse and probably make a few purchases

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

happy #1

2011-09-01T10:36:00.004-04:00

for the month of september, i'll be linking up with my friend Liza and stealing her idea of posting "happies" each day...you know, the little things that make you smile that day. or the big things. but mostly the small things in life that make your day. i'll post one every day. hopefully it will inspire you to pause and be grateful for the things, people, and moments in your life that make you happy.

happy #1

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being told by the boss that we get a half day tomorrow in addition to getting monday off.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

my little tar heel heart

2011-08-31T09:56:00.021-04:00

like i said before, i was super stoked to watch Carolina play Florida on Saturday. i miss watching the precision, the finesse, and the power of top level college volleyball. it's absolutely inspiring and simultaneously makes my heart melt and beat 1000x faster. i love when the game is played well and executed at a high level. and i really miss that being part of my everyday life.

but, i was even more excited to see an old teammate Heather. she's on staff with Carolina now and was rockin' her UNC polo like a champ. (she hates polos. don't we all??) anyway, so great to see her. i think i hugged her no less than 6 times and held on for a really long time each time. for real. love love love her and miss her so much. she is a huge joy in my life and a great source of laughter. i love her positive take on life. i also love feeling like a normal height around her. :)

it was also super fun to see erica rocking it in her last ever season opening tournament. senior year is chock full of "last time" moments, so i was proud to see her doing well and being such a great source of positive stability for the team. she's a leader. i'm a big fan of her. and i'll definitely miss sitting by her parents about this time next year. they're a blast and i love that i get to see them once a year for a preseason tourney.

all that to say, my little tar heel heart is full and happy. so, until next time........GO HEELS!!

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

party for pops

2011-08-29T10:44:00.017-04:00

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today is a special day. the man in my life was born today. well, not today today, but today a lot of years ago. you with me?

pops has been the man in my corner since the day i was born. he fights for our family. he leads our family. he loves our family. he provides for our family. and i've never met anyone who loves famous amos chocolate chip cookies more than my dad. or tortilla chips with peanut butter mushed between them.

showing his support before a match

my dad is a special man and means the world to me. i'm super excited to see him on saturday when i fly home for the weekend. let the celebrating begin!! love you dad and happy birthday!!!!

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-08-29T08:38:00.001-04:00

"The Law says do. Grace says done.

The Law says try. Grace says trust.

The Law says behave. Grace says believe."

-David Jeremiah

my mom sent me that quote in a recent package and i love it. truth in a little nutshell. when i look at it like this, why in the world would i ever want to live by the Law instead of Grace? don't go all craz-o on me and think i'm going out to break every law established in america. that's not what i'm talking about. i'm talking about the Law that makes me slave to sin and works.

why don't i walk in grace each day? there's freedom in that people! why the heck do i fight it and beat myself up to live by the Law? dumb. really dumb. but i'm a fallen woman and every day i continue to breathe and stand upright on this earth i'll fight that battle.

here's to hoping and prying to walk by grace a little more often...

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

kinda like a sorority, but better

2011-08-27T11:24:00.013-04:00

i can't tell you how flipping excited i am today!!!!! i'm headed north to gainesville with my friend ali who's in town visiting.

why, you ask? oh, because CAROLINA VOLLEYBALL is playing at UF tonight. and those iz my girlz!! never mind the fact that i never technically played with any of them and only know 10% of their names. eh, they're family. i mean, we're kinda like a sorority, but better. i know the seniors because they were recruits my senior season and i've kept up with them the past 4 years. that counts for something.

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and........what's really exciting is that one of my teammates is back from playing in italy and she's an assistant coach. hollaaaaa!! can't wait to see my Heather! i'm PUMPED!!!!

i'll be in my carolina blue beaming with pride tonight. let's go heels!! RAM IT!!

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

don't go there

2011-08-26T10:18:00.002-04:00

i've discovered that there are places in life you should never go. you end up doing things you wish you hadn't done. you say things you wish you hadn't said. and as my coworker vicki would say, they "lead you down the path to unrighteousness."

see where i'm going with this? well, the wal-mart on dale mabry here in south tampa is that place for me. i know better. i've been three times and every single time i walk away annoyed and frustrated. people there iz rude. inconsiderate. uh-blivious. aaaaaand slow.

i should just not go there, but i haven't learned my lesson. i continue to occasionally return to wal-mart naively thinking it will get better. it's not every wal-mart that's like this. just this one. the branson wal-marts were fine. the one on the 76 strip was old school and you were practically guaranteed to see both "he mullets" and "she mullets" while you were there. the newer super wal-mart on branson hills parkway was just that. newer, nicer, classier. which is why i bought my groceries there most of the time. not to mention, it was more convenient.

so why can't the wal-mart here be like that? ugh! oh well, i'll do my best to stay away for as long as i can and take deep breaths before i enter again. patience iago, paaaatience (name the movie, anyone??).

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

concert daze

2011-08-23T10:08:00.000-04:00

well, it's official. i've been to more concerts in the past 3 months than in the past 3 years. last friday my friend katie and i donned our cowboy boots & sundresses and headed out to hear rascal flatts and sara evans. two of my high school country faves? um, awesome!!

we got delayed, but wound up arriving in perfect time to avoid melting our faces off without missing the opening bands. again, awesome!! there's just nothing quite like fresh squeezed lemonade, cowboy boots, and sundresses on a friday night. yes, please!! life in florida is good, really good.

with Katie before we started belting out our lungs

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-08-22T09:04:00.004-04:00

i couldn't agree more with this statement. probably because i sweat like a man and secretly judge women who workout and can immediately let their hair down as if nothing happened. who are you?! i look like i took a shower when i finish a workout. and i'm all red-faced. ain't nothin' dainty or cute about that. go big or go home.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

good for the soul

2011-08-10T08:02:00.021-04:00

with my two friends Abby and Autumn

this past friday, i had the opportunity to worship with thousands of friends at the Hillsong United concert here in tampa. many thanks to Brian for getting such great seats for all of us!

view of the stage from our seats

it was a much needed night of worship and praise. there's just something so powerful about being in the presence of God worshiping alongside thousands of my peers. so refreshing. if you ever get the chance to worship at a Hillsong Concert, it will be worth every penny you spend. promise.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-08-08T19:48:00.002-04:00

"furious rest, you see, is not about doing nothing. it's about doing everything we do with the quiet confidence that our lives, families, businesses, ministries, relationships, and dreams are in His hands."

-Louie Giglio, "I am not but I know I AM" (p.24)

i stumbled across this quote a few years ago and have consciously made an effort to live in the mindset that nothing is out of my God's hands. He is big and He is capable of more than i can ever imagine. it's a lifestyle change. i'm believing God.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

what's on the back side?

2011-08-06T10:58:00.019-04:00

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question: have you ever read the back of the signs people hold at intersections? i'm talking about the ones that say "will work for food" or "just hungry" or "single dad - supporting family - anything helps." if you haven't, you should. you just might get a good chuckle every once in a while.

now, don't go getting all high and mighty on me. i'm not bashing, nor am i judging, those that stand at intersections collecting money and goods from generous passersby. in fact, my heart goes out to them.

that being said, there really are some interesting signs out there. for instance, i recently drove by a man on the corner with a sign that had been written on the back of a Budweiser cardboard case. i wish i knew what the other side said. maybe he's one of the ones who takes an honest approach, "need beer. why lie?"

or take this one for example, "fat chicks rule." i kid you not. there was a man on the corner holding this sign. i really wish i could have read what's on other side. you know it has to be good if that's what's on the back.

needless to say, i've started reading the back of the signs as much as the front. every now and then i stumble upon a real gem. if only i could find a way to read both sides without being rude...

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

the hair is stressed

2011-08-05T08:58:00.007-04:00

ever notice the hair color of our presidents before they swear the oath and after they leave office? yeah, it's lighter. much lighter. and not because they dyed it blonde. though that would be highly entertaining.

no, it's because of the crazy stress and pressure they're under running this crazy awesome country of ours. here's my question though...what if we have a female president? will she "color her gray?" or will she embrace the mark of the presidency just like her male predecessors have? i'm curious.

here are a few glimpses of what the title of el presidente has done to some of our most recent gents.

(Reagan)

(Bush)

(Clinton)

(George W.)

crazy huh?? seriously though, i wonder if a female president would color her gray. thoughts??

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

where my heart is (part two)

2011-08-04T09:22:00.041-04:00

as promised, there will be lots of pictures on today's post. yesterday, i filled you in on my time at kamp. today is all about my day with the Boone girls and two other special friends.

it all started sunday night when i showed up at casa de Boones and surprised LB, the youngest Boone. shrieking, dancing, jumping, screaming, and all out celebrating took place. cue mushy feelings of knowing how loved and missed i am. next up came surprising Linds (middle Boone). cue spider monkey hug that almost resulted in a football tackle. and last but not least, Mal. homegirl got in late from a wedding and i'm pretty sure thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. SURPRISE!!!! loved it. :)

[for the record, they thought the surprise they were getting was a dog. or some type of electronic awesomeness.]

we basically sat around the kitchen table and in the living room all night gabbing it up like old times. i can't tell you how many nights (and mornings) were spent in that kitchen talking life with Jane and the girls. it felt like i never left. great feeling.

hang time with LB and Linds.

i think i'm loved.

with Mal once she got home.

moving on to monday...the girls and i hit up vista tees for some quality branson tank tops and then headed to springfield. i did lunch with my good friend April and then snagged Andy's with Jenny and little Brody. such a treat. i've missed those women so much!!

after lunch with April. love you so much!!

lunch was delish. can we do that every day?

with Jenny at Andy's. where else would we meet?!

(and yes, my hair is warping because of the extreme heat.)

then, naturally, the girls and i filled our window of time with some shopping at the mall. we found some great deals on jewelry, grabbed cookies and pretzels, and then made the dreaded drive to the airport. boo. i thought about stalling and missing my flight (so did they). it's always hard to say goodbye to the Boone girls. they're like sisters. in fact, the last words i heard before walking through the doors to the airport were, "love you sis!" to which i replied, "love you too!"

ugh. i hate leaving them. we laugh instead of breathing whenever we're together. and we talk life. i love being able to be an influence in their lives. and i pray that it continues to be a positive one.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

where my heart is (part one)

2011-08-03T09:36:00.090-04:00

love my Shay Shay.

it's no secret that i love kanakuk and all things in the k-world. i struggle to put into words how huge an impact it has had in my life, especially the past five years. i wouldn't own my faith and convictions the way i do. i wouldn't have such a solid core of men and women surrounding me to challenge and encourage me regularly. i wouldn't have such a strong desire to serve and disciple others. the k-world has changed me forever. and i'm better because of it.

i love surprises. especially when they involve people and unexpected visits.

that being said, i snuck out to missouri this past weekend to visit my kanakuk family at their various kamps. it was almost impossible to contain my excitement building up to this trip. i cracked a few times and posted vague tweets about being so excited i could hardly stand it. so, when friday night hit, i made myself go into social media hiding. no tweets. no facebook. i was so close and i didn't want to let the secret out. i was also afraid someone would somehow be able to see my location and know that i was tweeting/facebooking from MO instead of FL. it's possible, i just don't know how. somewhat creepy, i might add.

my time at kamp this weekend was absolutely perfect in every way. i was able to see every single person i wanted to see and get great quality conversations with each of them. that might not sound like much, but in the kamp world of chaos and too many things going on at once, it's quite the accomplishment. i firmly believe that the Lord was orchestrating each conversation's timing. i'm still not sure how i was able to get all those conversations squeezed in, so thanks Lord for making it seem effortless.

i walked away from my 30 hours at kamp with a full heart. it was refreshing to be able to be myself. here in tampa, i'm still meeting new people and getting to know the one's i've met, so i'm still in that "hello, my name is..." phase of not quite being fully able to let my guard down and be real with folks. i dislike this phase of new relationships, but there's no way to avoid it. thus, it was beyond wonderful to be back with people who truly know me and allow me to be real. my conversations were brutally honest, encouraging, uplifting, sharpening, completely ridiculous, filled with laughter and even a few tears. not by me, though i did feel my heart rip out a few times.

[if we're being really honest, i had a few pep talks with myself about how blessed i am to be in tampa and how i know this is the right place for me now despite my strong desire to still be in missouri.]

tomorrow's post will have lots of pics as i recap my day in branson/springfield with the Boone girls and my springfield buddies. seriously, i am one blessed girl. i miss my missouri fam like it's my job and i'm so grateful for those friendships and the fact that they are strong enough to withstand 1,000 miles of separation and still be just as strong.

stay tuned for recap part two tomorrow...

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-08-01T10:28:00.008-04:00

in honor of the Boone girls since that's who i'm spending my day laughing with today...

image

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

all kinds of awesome

2011-07-29T09:20:00.046-04:00

image

about this time last year, i bought a book called, the book of awesome. i love it. it's a list of things in life that make you say, "awesome." each one is followed by a short description and most of them have me shouting "amen" countless times. pasricha really hit the nail on the head with this one. such a fun read.

i've listed some of my favorites below so that you can get a taste of how fabulous this book really is. i highly suggest buying it and stashing it somewhere like your bathroom for a good light read when you have a few minutes here and there. you'll be glad you did.

things that make you say, "awesome!"...

the other side of the pillow
"the other side of the pillow, folks. because it's flat when you're sagging, fresh when you're stale, and cold when you're hot, baby. AWESOME!" (p.4)

wearing underwear just out of the dryer
"it's like skinny dipping in a hot tub, jumping on a horse that's been in the sun all day, and lying on a warm, sandy beach...combined!" (p.7)

having a whole row to yourself on the plane
"you can almost pretend that you're magnificently rich and paid for the other seats just to buy yourself some breathing room. because let's be honest: flying ain't always a lot of fun and that extra elbow room can make the difference between three hours of misery and three hours of bliss." (p.28)

being the first table to get called up for the dinner buffet at a wedding
"yes, if you're up first you walk back to your table a newly crowned king, sitting down at your chair-facing-the-bathroom-at-Table-57 throne, lord and ruler of your much-too-loaded plate of rolled-up salami, potato salad, and gherkins." (p.32)

hitting a bunch of green lights in a row
"if you've ever blown through a string of green lights in a row, how does it make you feel? i've got just one guess. AWESOME!" (p.46)

sleeping in new bedsheets
"as you close your eyes softly, crickets chirping outside your window, moonlight and tree branches shadowdancing on the walls, you know right then and there: it's going to be a good night." (p.54)

when the thing you were going to buy is already on sale
"your wallet stays fat, your smile stays fresh, and you ride the fast lane straight to Penny-Pinching Heaven." (p.87)

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

my box

2011-07-26T09:32:00.001-04:00

several years ago i began what i call my "scripture memory box". it's a simple & organized way to commit Scripture to memory and keep it there by periodically quizzing yourself. i love it. i've been housing my verse cards in a plastic container for the past few years, but got inspired over the weekend with an idea to re-vamp my box.

i took an old recipe box that i had and mod podged fun scrapbook paper onto it. it took a little while to dry, but i think the end result was completely worth it. i love it.

before

after

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-07-25T09:34:00.007-04:00

"the more you are in the Word of God, the more you will love the God of the Word." -kay arthur

after that little dose of conviction, i'm committing more of my time this week to be in the Word. nothing is more important to me.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

board of directors

2011-07-22T10:12:00.022-04:00

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everyone needs one. call it what you wish. but everyone needs one. one what, you may ask? a group of individuals who are in your world. who know you. who speak Truth into your life. who challenge you. who encourage you. who dream big dreams with and for you.

recently my roomie Becca also posted about this same topic on her blog. she just chose to call it a "tribe," whereas i call it my board of directors (all thanks to Trish Helsel's influence in my life).

i have been incredibly blessed to have a solid core of people around me for the past 5 years in particular. much credit to the Lord for using Kanakuk as a means for our lives to collide and friendships to grow. [side note: if i had $1 for every time i felt a twinge of gratitude for the K-world and everything it entails, i'd never work another day.]

i'd also love to build a city and have each of my BODs live there. we'd all be neighbors. and it would be awesome. i wouldn't be able to walk to the mailbox without being convicted and challenged about some part of my life. who i am today is due in large part to their willingness to offend me and put me in my place from time to time. their unconditional love and support is priceless to me and i'm incredibly blessed to have each one of them in my life.

"as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

-proverbs 27:17

"that is, that you and i may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." -romans 1:12

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

better than free cupcakes

2011-07-20T10:12:00.022-04:00

so far i've been crazy blessed to have four, yes four, of my vb kiddos come visit me in Florida. gosh i love those kids so much it hurts sometimes. they were such a joy to coach. they genuinely loved each other and have continued doing awesome things together after our season has ended (insert jealousy that i'm not there). they were crazy respectful to me and bought into what i was teaching them, which is so refreshing. i'm not sure it gets any better than that. they know i'm crazy about them, but i'll say it again in case they have momentary amnesia. they're better than free gourmet cupcakes.

* * * * * *

sydney started the trend and did a little family vaca in orlando, so i made my way over to downtown disney to hang with them for a night. the thixtons are always an entertaining bunch and up to something. that night was no exception. did i play duck duck goose, wander through lego land, and eat a ginormous cookie? absolutely. i would expect nothing less.

next up was nicole and her fam doing a little sunning in clearwater. naturally, i made my way over to the beach and spent an afternoon in the ocean with her. and then got the privilege of doing lunch with her fam a few days later when they were headed to orlando for their last few days in the sunshine state.

and last but not least, kelsey and maddie flew down and stayed with me for a few days. little maddie that is. not to be confused with big maddie (who, rumor has it, will be down for a visit at the end of august). but, can i just say that i was thrilled that these two wanted to spend some of their summer vaca with their coach? they are quite the pair and are absolutely hysterical. we laughed more than the legal limit i do believe. our only requirement for the weekend was laughter, silliness, and all things awesome. mission accomplished.

all this to say, i miss my kiddos every day and can't wait to get back to missouri to see the rest of them eventually. they will always have a special place in my heart.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

getting hitched

2011-07-19T08:34:00.029-04:00

well folks, the bestie is getting hitched. and i. am. pumped! 2010 was full of fabulous weddings, but 2011 has been a bit of a wedding hiatus. my bank account thanks me, but i really do love weddings. luckily, i'm hitting the ground running again in 2012. obviously i have nothing to do with the timing of it all, but i'm thrilled!!

it looks like i'll be headed to NOLA in the spring. i love that city. i know it gets a bad rap (and rightfully so at times), but there's a lot of great things that happen down in the bayou too. i mean, how can you go wrong with beignets?? and my best friend is from NOLA. her love for that city is just plain contagious.

seriously though, kat has been a huge blessing in my life since the moment we met, which, contrary to popular belief, was not at the Institute. we were actually in the same K2 work week cabin. we just hardly saw each other because she was a photographer that summer and i was a counselor. and we worked separate terms. slight dilemma. but once we discovered we'd both be at the Tute the following fall, we started praying to be roommates. nothing wrong with a few shameless prayers thrown up, right? :)

our friendship was in for a crazy ride once we got to the Tute and we spent the bulk of our days together for 8 months. this girl knows me so well and consistently challenges the heck out of me. she listens to my ridiculous rants and puts me in my place. or she just flat out laughs at me, which also does the trick. i love kat so so much and hope that one day we'll be in the same city again. i'll throw up a few more selfish prayers in the meantime, don't you worry.

all that to say, i'm honored to be part of her life and i can't wait to see what the Lord does through her and Brad. they will take the world by storm. love love love them. congrats on your engagement and one rockin' marriage in the making. love you two!!

Kat & Brad in NOLA before Brad popped the question.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-07-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

"because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well." -1 thessalonians 2:8

i love this verse. it's one that i model my life after. i love life-on-life discipleship and mentoring. and my favorite way to do it is by coaching. easy way to get in kids' worlds and show them Jesus.

two of my kiddos flew down to florida to visit this past weekend and we had a blast. i haven't laughed that hard in a really long time. it was such a blessing having them here. i just love being in their worlds and getting to share life with them. i hope they see more than a coach in me. i hope they see Jesus and the crazy love He has for them. my love is selfish and broken, but His love is perfect. i hope they know it.

i love my kids. love sharing life with them. and i miss them with all my heart.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i am my father's daughter

2011-07-16T10:02:00.002-04:00

for the past 7 years, my dad has given up several weeks of his summer to help mentor teens and mold them into better leaders through Broyhill Leadership Conference's week long camps.

i don't know any man who is better for this task than my pops. he has such a huge heart for teens. he wants to meet them where they are and spur them on toward love and good deeds. quoting a little Hebrews there, did ya catch it?

but as i've said before, my pops is a man of utmost integrity and he is a leader. i have no doubt in my mind that i get my love of discipleship and mentorship from him. like father like daughter, i guess you could say.

i love you dad, and i'm proud to have your genes. ;)

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

carolina pride and national pride

2011-07-15T15:46:00.032-04:00

i'm not much of one for sports that have delayed gratification. or lots of running. soccer is both of those. i played it as a kid, but as soon as the boys started beating me to the ball every single time, i quit. i turned in my soccer cleats and i picked up a volleyball. literally. 5th grade was my last year of soccer and 6th grade was my first year of volleyball. the rest is history.

that being said, i've become a soccer fan over the past 7 years. Carolina is famous for our men's basketball team. everyone knows that.

but we're also famous for our women's soccer team. unfortunately, i didn't get enough opportunities to watch them play because soccer and volleyball are both fall sports and usually played at the same time (i always knew when it was halftime at the soccer match bc our fan base would double for volleyball). Carolina is a school of champions. University of National Champions as we like to say. our women's soccer team sets the standard high not only for other soccer teams across the country, but for every other women's sport at Carolina as well.

so, while i could ramble on about how much i loved my years at Carolina, i won't. i already did that. i will, however, tell you about how much pride i feel swelling in my heart every time i see fellow tar heels step onto "the pitch" in Germany to represent the USA in the Women's World Cup. Heather O'Reilly (#9) and Tobin Heath (#17) are in pursuit of Gold in the finals this Sunday on the world's largest soccer stage.

Sunday :: 2pm EST :: ESPN

photo credit

if you haven't watched the quarterfinal match vs. Brazil, you're really missing out. it's the most dramatic athletic event i've ever witnessed. the American spirit was on full display. i've never felt more patriotic in my life than last Sunday when the women's national team courageously defeated Brazil. epic. ESPY Best Play worthy actually. but seriously, youtube it or something. it's two hours of your life you won't regret.

in the meantime, here's a fun 2 minute video of Tobin from Nike Soccer's campaign "Pressure Makes Us".

Go Heels. Go America.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

things i've learned in florida

2011-07-14T09:36:00.000-04:00

believe it or not, florida is not the hottest place i've ever lived. summers in branson steal the cake on that one. don't get me wrong, florida is hot and humid. it's no cool, crisp, mountain air when you step outside in the morning, that's for sure! but, i will say that the heat and humidity here are different than that of missouri somehow. i still haven't figured it out though. don't worry. i won't lost sleep over the issue.

branson has lakes all around it and it has been hotter than tampa every day so far. but, here are a few of the lessons i've learned during my 2.5 months as a florida resident.

sunglasses get foggy when you step out of your car, especially in the morning. the AC in my car fools them into thinking it's not so hot. then they step outside that cool little bubble and they panic. they get foggy and i'm temporarily blinded. welcome to florida.
always have your keys ready when you get in your car or you'll sweat like a pig in a sausage factory during the 10 second purse dig.
sand is everywhere. you don't have to go to the beach to find little pesky granules hiding in your purse pockets. how they get there is still a mystery to me.
when google maps tells me it will take 15 minutes to get somewhere, double it. traffic always trumps the time estimates. learned that one the hard way a time or two.
buying a sun pass is worth it. i don't regularly take toll roads, but when i do, it will save me time and money. time because i don't have to stop in the slow lane to pay. i just cruise right on through. money because who knew that people who have a sun pass get a discount?!
it doesn't take much to be tan. just a good book and a few hours each weekend. vitamin d is officially my favorite vitamin.

welcome to my florida life. :)

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-07-11T10:32:00.001-04:00

"we are what we repeatedly do. excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -aristotle

i stumbled across this quote and immediately loved it. excellence. something i strive for in all i do for several reasons. one, the Bible commands me to pursue excellence in all things. two, i'm a full-blown firstborn people pleaser. three, i hate failure and in my mind, half-hearted effort is failure.

i love this little nugget. it highlights the idea that excellence is closely linked with discipline. which is something i could use a little more of in my life if i'm being honest. that being said, i'm kicking off this week with a new focus and a good dose of determination. wish me luck. it's going to be a doozie of a week.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i'm jack junior's oldest

2011-07-09T10:22:00.020-04:00

fourth of july equals all things America and family and food. so that's just what i did. i packed up my bags and headed north to Ocala, FL to spend the weekend with extended fam i've never met. it ended up being hilariously entertaining. i spent the weekend introducing myself as...

"hi, i'm jack junior's oldest."

that explains everything apparently. i got lots of understanding nods and extended conversations about how much i look like my dad. interestingly though, i also got the occasional "you have your mother's eyes" comment. i called mom and dad on my drive home to congratulate them on successfully sharing equal amounts of their genes with me. the jury is divided on who i resemble most, but i take that as a good sign.

back to the fourth festivities...i did what any true Brinkley would do at a large family gathering. i grazed. i went out on the lake. i grazed some more. i talked. i napped. i went on the lake again. i ate. i napped. i talked. i went in the lake a third time. i grazed. i watched our fireworks. i talked. and then i went home. perfection.

this was my view for most of the day. glorious!

thanks to the wind, our fireworks were literally right over my head. loved it!

it was a blast and i now have a standing invitation for weekend getaways on the lake or just a weekend in small town Florida any time i want. family is awesome like that. hope y'all had a fabulous 4th of july as well!!

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

in my sight and on my mind

2011-07-06T08:36:00.027-04:00

There’s a war inside of me. Recently I’ve been confronted with the issue of poverty and homelessness. Men and women stand at every intersection in Tampa with their backpack, sign, and reflective vest. Some even have coolers of bottled water to sell in hopes of making a small profit to support their family. This is where the war inside me begins.

I can’t ignore their pleas. I can choose not to respond, but I cannot ignore. I am already aware. My heart breaks. I can choose to respond. I can help. But I hesitate. On one hand, I do not want to enable unhealthy behaviors and feed an addiction. On the other hand, who am I to judge which individual is worthy of my assistance and which is not? Am I not just as helpless and needy in the sight of my God?

After a little digging and research, I’m humbled and challenged. God clearly has a heart for the poor. And I have a responsibility as a disciple of Christ to meet the needs of others. Not to judge. Here’s a peak at some of what I found.

“If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”

–Deuteronomy 15:7, 11

“The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

–Proverbs 14:20-21, 31

“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”

–Proverbs 21:13

“‘He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know Me?’ declares the Lord.” –Jeremiah 22:16

“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.”

–Ezekiel 16:49

As a disciple of Christ, I am commanded to help and be openhanded in meeting the needs of others. And after further digging, it’s clear to me that God blesses those who generously and genuinely care for the poor as an act of service to Him. Now my challenge is to find practical ways to do that (without judging) and not be careless with my resources in the process. I’ll welcome any ideas and input y’all have.

So the world may know,

Bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week - patriotic style

2011-07-04T09:06:00.023-04:00

in celebration of our nation's 235th birthday, here's a patriotic quote of the week. go america!

"i like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. i like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." -abraham lincoln

really, this quote speaks for itself. but i will say that am proud to be an american and i strive to live a life that is honoring to the biblical values this nation was founded upon.

today is a day to remember our nation's history and to celebrate the freedom that out troops fight to protect so diligently. i urge you to keep our troops and their families in your prayers today as you celebrate with your family and friends. happy fourth of july!!

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

morning commute

2011-06-30T09:08:00.001-04:00

for a lot of americans, the morning commute to work can be a dreaded monster. living in a big city like tampa, i could very easily fall into this category. but, i'm incredibly blessed to only be 8 minutes from my office. 8 minutes. it's unbelievable.

i love my morning commute not only because it's so short, but also because it's the perfect amount of time to get my heart ready for the day and belt my favorite song at the top of my lungs. after attending Passion 2011 in atlanta last January, the song "waiting here for you" by christy nockels has become my anthem. it's about 6 minutes and i get chills whenever i hear it. (sometimes i feel sorry for the people next to me at the stoplights on my commute because they must think i'm nuts. if they're lucky, they have their windows down and get to listen and sing along.)

below is the live video of christy leading "waiting here for you" in worship at Passion 2011. it takes 6 minutes to watch. and it's powerful.

may we truly be a generation, a nation, that is waiting for you Lord.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

not a beach bum

2011-06-28T09:00:00.025-04:00

well, since moving to florida at the end of april, i've managed to make it to the beach twice. that may not sound like much for a florida girl, but i can assure you, that's a record for this girl. it's easily more than i've been to the beach since high school. i am not a beach girl. if i had to choose between mountains and beach, i'd pick mountains 10 out of 10 times. no doubt.

so, yes, i realize the ridiculousness of my move to florida. mountains are nowhere to be found. but it turns out you can can enjoy life in florida without going to the beach. who knew?! the key is having a fabulous pool and a great book. as soon as i had all the verification paperwork, i marched myself to the library and got a library card. as a result, you'll find me with my nose in a book every chance i get (stoplights are no exception). besides, what else are you supposed to do at the pool and the beach??

here's to continuing to work on my tan...

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

quote of the week

2011-06-27T10:22:00.000-04:00

"don't ask what the world needs. ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

-howard thurman

alive. i want to be alive. i want to live with passion. i want to make a difference. i want my life to count for something of eternal value.

i'm wrestling with what this looks like in my new Tampa home. i found it in Missouri. i knew. i coached. i mentored. i was alive. and then i moved. my life changed. now i'm fighting to find new ways to be alive and make a difference.

what makes you come alive? what's keeping you from pursuing it?

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

i pledge allegiance to...

2011-06-25T08:42:00.002-04:00

image

allegiant airlines is quickly becoming my best friend. yours truly just scored a flight home for labor day weekend for $120 round trip (taxes included). let me just state for the record that i was paying around $400 to fly home when i was in branson. yet another perk of moving to florida.

i'm scheming fun things to do while i'm home, but let's be honest....i'll probably spend most of my time on the fabulous sectional sofa watching movies & ball games with mom and dad, or reading a book. less than three months until i'm home again in the mountains. do you hear the angels rejoicing? i do.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

straub park

2011-06-24T09:02:00.026-04:00

last night i snuck across the bridge to st. pete for a little solo time in the park. i discovered this park last week when i did dinner and a movie with my friend autumn. i quickly made a mental note to go back asap. so i did.

i packed up my blanket, snacks, water, bible, journal, iPod, book, and camera. this little gem is right on the water and has plenty of shade so you don't end up melting in your own sweat (it's still hot as blazes at 5:00 when i get off work). seriously though, look how perfect this is.

my little night in the park was exactly what i needed and it was extremely refreshing. secretly, i just love a good excuse to drive across the bridge, especially at sunset. ;) i think i'm going to make this a regular occurrence.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

carefree

2011-06-23T09:32:00.005-04:00

somehow, this picture captures the essence of childhood.

carefree. vibrant. alive.

sadly, growing up taints that innocent and carefree view of the world.

i wish i could play in the fountain with these Israeli kids right now.

it looks simply divine.

image

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

someday

2011-06-22T08:52:00.005-04:00

someday i'm going to have a dog again.

i've become a dog person in the past few years and i've decided i want to have a chocolate labradoodle.

i don't care if you laugh at me. that's what i want.

the loyalty of a lab. the brains of a poodle. and no shedding.

yep, you heard me. no shedding. genius.

and i want a slice of it. someday.

i mean, who can resist this little face?!

image

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

home

2011-06-21T09:30:00.008-04:00

well, today i have my first ever guest blogger! my good friend Dayna Huckabee emailed me last week and it hit me square in the face so i suggested she be a guest blogger and share it with y'all too. she is a woman of the Word and she is passionate about everything she commits her life and time to (the Lord and the Arkansas Razorbacks just to name a few). i'm honored to be her friend and i hope you'll read what she has to share.

* * * * * * * *

First let me tell you how blessed I am to have Bekah in my life. She's been a friend that has loved me, prayed for me, and encouraged me the past 3 or so years and I am so thankful to have a solid, Godly woman that I can call my friend.

Almost 5 months ago, I lost my sweet Mom to cancer. She battled the disease for a short 2 and a half months before God called her Home. I'll be honest with you, this has rocked my world. I've never felt so much pain or been so broken in my life before. There have been so many emotions, questions, thoughts, and feelings that I've experienced the past 7 months but one thing has remained constant...GOD!! I'm a broken mess right now, but God holds each and every piece of me in His hands and loves me enough to comfort me in my time of devastation. I wanted to share just one of the many ways God has so graciously spoken to me recently. My prayer is that you can be encouraged by this story and God's faithfulness to always provide what His children need exactly when they need it.

I was with a few friends at the mall after church last Sunday and saw a towel with these words embroidered on it..."Home is where your Mom is." At first glance, like everything else that reminds me of my Mom, I started to feel a void and intense pain creeping through. But after a few seconds I really looked at the words and realized what God was saying to me in that moment...My Momma is HOME...not Texarkana (my hometown)...HEAVEN! She is in my HOME...where I have been created to live for all eternity with Jesus, my sweet Momma, and the rest of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is just one of the many ways God continues to provide me with a little piece of comfort in the midst of my brokenness. I was reminded today that because of Christ's resurrection, we will one day LIVE at HOME as well. I can often get caught up in this world and everything it "has to offer" but I'm so thankful for the reminders that this world and all of the pain and junk that comes with it is only temporary. Jesus has prepared a place for us where we will live with Him forever. I don't know about y'all, but I'm craving eternity more and more as each day passes. BUT, while we are here, we have a purpose...we are God's plan to reach the world, individual by individual. There is no "Plan B."

I sometimes wonder why I have to live on earth and experience so much pain, while there is a pain-free perfect eternity waiting on me. Then, God in His infinite grace reminds me that my life is not my own and He never promised us a pain-free life. Each day is not my own, yet given to me as a gift and with a purpose in hand. The great news is He DID promise to love us and be with us always, no matter how hard life gets. I can't help but think of Ephesians 3:17b-19 and the description of God's love covering ALL circumstances in our lives. I also think about Romans 8:38-39 and how NOTHING in this world, not even the evil one, can separate us from the intense, passionate, infinite love of God. Now, that is AMAZING!

As hard as life gets for us all, it's comforting to know we have a Father in Heaven who holds us in His arms and walks with us through the darkest valleys and the highest heights in our lives. That is worth committing your life to.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.