NEW YORK CITY

if there's one major thing that sonny and i have in common, it's that we are terrible at keeping secrets. the worst i know actually. next to my little sister and i who for every year we lived together, spilled the beans about what we were getting for christmas.
the best was the year she knew she was getting a cell phone but "santa" left it in the at&t bag...priceless. also a story for another time.

about a month ago i started thinking about how incredible my husband is and how much he does for our {little} family. he works really hard. i also got to thinking that the only really out-of-state vacation we've ever taken was to hawaii on our honeymoon. and holy moly that was four years ago.

new york at christmas time has been a dream of mine since i was little. the closets i ever get is the macy's thanksgiving day parade. and i cry when i see the rocketts, the macy's sign and yes. the big man in red.

so i got to thinking.
yolo.
we're going to new york this christmas.

a week from today actually.
so naturally. we needed a list of things to do.

A TO-DO LIST FOR NEW YORK CITY

-rockefeller plaza. the big, beautiful tree. it's going to be the most amazing sight.
-bryant park. ice skating maybe?
-times square. because hello. it's new york.
-the MET. "it's the mets, and they suck. we lie the yankees". if you don't know that quote, i'm not sure we can be friends.
-empire state building. the view.
-ground zero. i think it's going to be one of those moments i'll remember for the rest of my life.
-radio city music hall. if nothing else, a picture of the sign.
-macy's. because i have waited 25 years to see it in person and not just on tv during the parade.
-the blue coffee. in movies, all i see is people in new york with a cup of blue coffee. 27 dresses. seen it? the coffee. where it comes from, i have no idea. but i'll let you know.
-central park. and take a carriage ride. which may have been sonnys idea. i know, he's literally the best.
-5th ave. here i'll perfect my window shopping.
-little italy. p a s t a. in my belly.
-grand central station. maybe they'll be a dance breakout.


is there more? you bet. any suggestions are so welcome!

new york, i can't wait to see you.

christmas playlist

it's the most wonderful time of the year.

stockings, trees, lights, candles burn bright.

everything about this time of year makes me feel like a kid again.

decorating is one of my favorite parts of this season. my mother, is the mrs clause of the south. because i think in a battle with the two of them, it would be a tie on who has the best decorated house. seriously. it's like, martha who.
so when i got married i couldn't wait to start making my house look a fraction as good has hers.
but. no decorating day is complete without christmas music.

which is why i created my favorite christmas songs on a spotify play list to enjoy while you deck those halls.

merry christmas, friends! 

intentionally, creatively, perfectly

"everyone who is called by My name,

whom I created for My glory,

whom I formed and made" 

isaiah 43:7

can we all just take a huge sigh of relief on this one together.
ready?
breathe in
and out.

because listen, if you didn't catch the magnitude of that verse. go read it again.

we're called. created for HIS glory, and formed by the same Creator who made the solar system.
hello. that's amazing.

as i was reading, the "created for My glory" really caught my attention. because i got to thinking, about a life where i was focused on just myself. a life, without Jesus. how much time would i spend pumping myself up?

i don't know about you.
but i don't really walk around telling myself how awesome i am. and no, that isn't because i don't think i'm awesome and have self esteem issues. it's because i walk around telling myself i was created by THE most awesome God. i tell myself that yea, "i am woman, hear me roar" because I have God who's "roaring like a lion" in me (ok truth time. i hate that song but it's what came to mind).

God didn't create humans with the intention that we'd end up...well, kind of like how we are now. selfish, completely self absorbed, so worried about what the rest of the world thinks we're doing (or not doing), and always giving ourselves the high five instead of Him.

we were created for His glory. to live lives that point to Him, and not ourselves. to wake up every morning with the intention of doing His will, and not our own.

but somewhere along the lines. things got a bit lost and fuzzy.

and don't get me wrong here. i'm all for girl power and all that jazz. but i just think it's Who we first sing those praises about that's the point.

i was reading a she reads truth plan from a while ago the other day and came upon this:

so good, right?

i think the most important thing, is to live out how we were created.
intentionally.
creatively.
perfectly.

and no. i'm not talking about the perfect 1950's house wife. or the straight a's kid.

i'm talking about living out the perfect love that we were created with, and that lives in us.
living with such intention that every day counts. every day we've spoke the name of Jesus over someone, every day we've taken the time to pray for friends and family. we've looked for opportunities to really be Jesus to others.
creatively. and i'm not just talking about painting a picture or taking a picture. i'm talking about living a life full of color. because grey isn't that flattering of a color anyways.

so what if, we threw out the "me, me me" mentality?
what if we really focused on His glory and not our own?

i think things might be a little different.

november goals

#1. read three books

i found out our library will deliver books to the house. a game changer

#2. book a wedding

always on my goal list

#3. "thankful for" every day

it's thanksgiving month. this one was a no brainer

#4. learn 5 new things about photography

because you can't ever think you know it all

#5. yoga every day

truthfully, it's already nov 2 and no yoga yet. maybe tomorrow

missing something

"but you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." acts 1:8

i grew up methodist which meant you were baptized as a baby and that was it.
there's wasn't a lot of talk about being "born again".
so you can assume my thoughts when i met sonny and he started asking if i had been water baptized.
of course i had. the nice man when i was a baby poured water on my head and that was that.

wrong. 

there was so much more.

after sonny and i had started dating my family and i started going to a nondenominational church. you know, the crazies with their hands in the air during worship. the "amen"ers during a sermon. the head nodders. the clappers. it was like someone had picked us up and dropped us off on another planet.
but then things started to click.
we got that there was so much more.

i got water baptized in april of 2010.

"whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" mark 16:16

this was also the day sonny asked my parents to marry me. big day in the steiner house. 

i finally understood that Jesus said i was to believe and then be baptized. 

there was an order there, and for a reason. we don't understand grace and the love Jesus poured out for us as babies. heck, we can't even eat on our own.

but as an adult, or a child, you can understand that grace and love. 

it was a huge decision for me. one i had to make all on my own, one that i spent a lot of time in prayer about. God called and i answered. 

so things were great. amazing in fact. 

i was slowly moving away from the church i had grown up in that seemed full of rules, to understanding that God loves me. and that it is that simple. 

my relationship with God grew and grew. 

but i wanted and needed more. 

i sat listening to people preach, as well as my own husband talk about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. i'd sit and nod my head (a wife thing). acting like i understood. 

but i didn't. 

last week sonny and i talked about it. and i finally told him that i had never been baptized in the Holy Spirit. we talked for a while about it. and he just said, "if you pray for it, God will give it to you".

so i did. 

then.

this past weekend i went with my mom to tampa to see joyce meyers. 

and don't you know that a preacher man came out and started talking about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

have you ever had one of those moments where you just have to laugh with God. because He's that good?

the preacher man explained that when we're born again, and baptized by water God has more for us. that until we were baptized in the Holy Spirit, we weren't living in the fullness of His power. 

sometimes when people talked about the power of God in me, i'd get all weird. it was strange to think that the God of the universe's power could be in me. 

"for john baptized with water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit" acts 1:5 

but then. 

i got it. 

the preacher man prayed with us and baptized us in the Holy Spirit. 

and HOLY COW. can i just tell you how awesome life is. 

there really, really, reallllly is more. 

"...suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting...and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit..." acts 2:2,4

i gatta tell ya that life is good. 

"God never meant for us to live weak, powerless lives-always running on fumes, and barely getting by. His will for us is to be "more than conquerors" (romans 8:37). He wants to provide us with the strength and ability we need to succeed in life and be powerful witnesses for Him." - joyce meyer

it's little things like all the stress i had about certain things before is gone. i've really given it up to God. and then it's big things like really feeling His presence in my prayer time. it's soaking up the Word like i've never read it before. 

there is power, friends. in the name of Jesus. 

i haven't spoken in tongues yet (i get asked that a lot). to be honest that used to be one of those things that weirded me out. but now i know it's real. i'm praying for it, and know that God will make it happen when He plans on it. 

i didn't think my faith in God could get any better but it is. 

if you've been water baptized and haven't been baptized by the Holy Spirit, i'm praying for you! and go talk to your pastor! 

"as we stay filled with the Spirit, we will live above our circumstances and have His joy, peace, hope and resurrection life. we will live our daily lives with a new energy and become powerful witnesses for Jesus Christ." - joyce meyer

life lately.

hi friends!
ok so yes. i've done a terrible job at the #write31. at first i was all worked up about it. because honestly, i wasn't into it. i thought the whole football thing would be awesome. but every time i sat down to write after the first day it felt like a chore.
so i stopped.

and now i'm giving my self some grace and saying it's ok.
because it really is.

life has been a roller coaster lately.
turns out, i pulled a huge muscle in my back and have to get physical therapy for it. so i've been moving around like a 90 year old woman lately. i have been thanking Jesus for giving me the husband He did because i have no idea what i would be doing without him. thanks hubby.
i've had some serious stuff go down with my business lately that has wrecked me. i've felt the enemy knocking on my door with a hammer lately. getting louder and louder every day.

but God.

but God has so much planned for me.
but God has me in His arms.
but God has heard my prayers.
but God is bigger and greater than any of my circumstances.

this past weekend, despite this back pain, i hopped in the car and drove to tampa to join my mom for a joyce meyers conference. who, if you've never seen i highly recommend. she's awesome. and so funny.

anyways. it filled me up. God met me right where i was. met me and even took me further. He met me and wrapped me up in His arms and told me over and over again that everything is going to be ok. because it really is going to be.

God is good, ya'll.
really, really good.

i'm not sure if you've been having a rough couple of weeks like i have. but rest in the fact that God is working. really hard in our lives. for our good.

even when we can't feel it or see it.
God is working.

"[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while [a]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure andsatisfaction and [b]delight."

Philippians 2:13 AMP

day nine: three penalties to know

ok. so penalties.
there are a lot of them in football.
i mean, a lot a lot. here's a list of them all.

every thursday we'll be going over five penalties to know. and no, we won't cover them all. not even half.

we'll start with the most basic/ the one's you see most often.

#1. offsides

when someone on the defense tries to cross the line of scrimmage before the offense has snapped the ball

(the blue line is the line of scrimmage) 

#2. false start

when a player on the offensive side moves before the ball is snapped

#3. safety

when the offensive carrier of the ball is tackled behind their own goal line

and i couldn't find a great video for this one. 

also. you're welcome for duke. 

day seven: three rules to know

#1. each team has three sets of players

-offense (those on the field when they score)

-defense (those on the field when the other team has the ball)

-special teams (those that come on when the ball is kicked)

#2. a touchdown is worth 6 points

-they kick the ball for an extra point

-you can also try and score again for 2 points

#3. a field goal is worth 3 points

-i don't feel like that needs any more explanation

day six: bad lip reading

because no football fan should be without these two videos.

day five: what game to watch

ok. so yes. we're about to play catch up here friends so hold on tight.

let's pretend it's sunday. i know, i know. but we're adapting here. because i pulled a muscle in my back and things happen and i couldn't do anything but lay on my bed and watch netflix.

so we're pretending.

instead of doing the "what game to watch", we'll do, what game you should have watched.

and i'm picking an easy one this week. because hello. i'm a homer.

cleveland @ tennessee 

at one point the titans were leading the game 28-3.
nearing the half way point, the browns scored a touch down to make it 28-10 going into half.

the browns then scored 26 unanswered points.
and then this touch down to win the game.

watch the touchdown here. 

the biggest comeback in franchise history.
boom, shaka laka.

day four: the draft

known to many as the biggest day of your teams year.
the day when you've got the chance to "rebuild" your team.
the day hopeful men gather to see which team will pick them.

the draft.

every spring each team gets to pick new players for their team.
the draft.

the best of the best from college (some seniors, some not) gather to see which team wants their talent.

the worst teams pick first.
makes sense really. why build up the teams that already stop everyone.

the draft.
where the good guys go first.

and some are just waiting, and waiting, and waiting. to be picked.
by the cleveland browns.

day three: fantasy football

if you're paying attention, you'll notice that i've skipped two days. it happens. the weekends are hard.

my favorite part of football season.
fantasy football.

i'm even afraid to type this out right now because it might jinx me. but i have a really good fantasy team this year.

for those of you rolling your eyes over these two words, promise me you'll read this whole post. because i promise you. if you gave fantasy football a chance. you'd love it.

i get that it comes off like that annoying thing someone you know does. maybe they spend way too much time during the week "setting their line up". or come sunday morning, have a panic attack because their "starting running back is officially not playing". it also might be the reason why they're attached to the tv sunday from 1pm to almost midnight. and let us not forget about thursday night and monday night.

for those of us with teams that may or may not want to make us enter a psych ward after each week (but really, GO BROWNS), fantasy football may be our way of cooping with a not so good team.

because here's the whole point to fantasy football:
you get to pick your team.

and here's how it works.

every year ten (or so) friends get together and decided to make a league. there's a commissioner, just like in the nfl. except, the commissioner of the fantasy league isn't a butt head like this guy.
everyone gets their own team, and needs to come up with a catchy name. because no one. and i repeat, no one. likes a boring fantasy football name.
and here's a suggestion. make it something everyone gets. inside jokes with yourself don't translate well.

there's a draft. in which, just like the nfl. you get to pick players to be on your team.
not every fantasy team is set up the same. some play with two quarter backs, some play with just one. some only have you play with an offense (running backs, wide receivers) some, have you play with an offense and a defense.

generally speaking, here's what a fantasy team looks like:

(that third WR position is a flex position. meaning, you can have either a WR or RB or TE)

also. no this is not my fantasy team.

here are five tips for fantasy football:

#1. pay attention to bye weeks (the week they don't play). if you've got a qb and wr on the same team, you're in trouble for their bye week

#2. get on the waver wire's monday (the waver wire is where all the players who didn't get drafted hang out for you to pick up during the season)

#3. give people a chance. don't drop someone after one bad week. check their stats. see what's up next for them. 

#4. SET YOUR LINE UP. nothing gives away a newbie or someone who isn't into the league more than a line up not set.

#5. do some research before the draft to know who to pick. or. maybe just pick them based on looks because i kid you not, i know someone who did it, and is actually doing well in their league. 

and by now, who's on my fantasy football team. 

take note. i don't play in a "normal" fantasy league. on top of an offense, we play with a defense. a kicker, the whole defense. and also. two quarter backs. it's intense. but it's awesome. 

h. smith Min-S                6.10                10.50

the numbers in blue to the right are the actual points they scored me.

this was my week this week in fantasy.

if you've never joined a league. get on it next season. it's fun. and also. 

most importantly about a fantasy football league. 

bragging rights. 

the ability, for the entire off season to tout off about how awesome your team was. the ability to remind everyone that you kicked their butt. 

the ability to be the champion. 

here's to fantasy football. 

day two: two players to know

every friday, we'll be going over two players to know. some will be current players in the nfl, some will be college players, some will be the best of the best that are obviously retired. 

i could talk about tom brady, or peyton manning, or drew brees. but i think every one knows about them already. yea? 

good. 

if you're lost. their quarter backs. google it. 

so today, i picked two players (which may or may not be the leading scorers on my fantasy football team) that i think are playing pretty well this season. 

and may or may not be totally terrible to look at. 

say hello to jordy nelson. 

his name is jordy and he's adorable. 

team: green bay packers

position: wide receiver 

college: kansas state

number: 87

ok enough with being a total girl.

why i'm loving him: 

he's got three touchdowns so far and almost 500 yards 

thirty plus catches on the season, one of which was for 80 yards

he's putting up some hefty numbers on my fantasy team 

next. 

alfred morris.

(this is his touchdown swing)

team: washington redskins

position: running back 

college: florida atlantic

number: 46

why i'm loving him:

he's had over seventy rushes for 300 yards

he is quick

when he scores a touchdown he swings his arms like it's a bat

tomorrow we're talking about fantasy football. my fav, your fav. everyone's fav. or maybe you have no idea what it's about and you're annoyed that it's all your guys friends can talk about. well come back tomorrow friend, and we'll get through it together. 

day one: three rules to know

i feel like before we go any further. i should start with the basics of the game.

there are two teams. 

there are eleven men on the field for each team (eleven positions).

there's a coin toss to see who gets the ball first. 

the loser of the coin toss kicks the ball to the other team. 

that team gets to try and work their way down the field and score.

once they score, or turn the ball over (fumble, interception) it's the other teams turn. 

are we all on the same page?

so today, and every thursday for the rest of the month, we'll be going over three rules to football.

#1. there are four 15 minute quarters in a game

-there is a half time in between the second and third quarter

#2. there are 100 yards on a football field

-the white lines on the field indicate every 10 yards

#3. each team tries to move the ball down the field gaining downs

-a down is reached every 10 yards

-there are four chances to get a 1st down 

-3rd and 1 means third down, and 1 yard to go to the first down 

for those of you new to the game, i get that this can be a bit tricky. but google it. watch a game. you'll get the hang of it.
and fellow football players. stick with me here. we'll get into the game more soon.

31 days of football

since i started this blog i've done a terrible job of blogging. once, maybe twice a week. and so i figured. to get back on this horse i've been chasing, i'll start with the 31 days of blogging with the nester.

if you've never done this before. it's quite simple. and really fun. 

you pick a topic, and blog about it for 31 days (the whole month of october). 

you can pick any topic. 

really. 

ok maybe not any topic. but one that's appropriate to talk about for 31 days. 

i've done it before, and it's a really great way to get writing every day. 

because hello. i was an english major. let's not forget that. 

i knew i wanted to join in this year but just couldn't find a topic that yelled, "pick me! pick me!"

and so, as i sat watching football this sunday. it was like a lightbulb went off. 

welcome to, 31 days of football. 

i'm pretty pumped about this. 

here's somethings you should know going into this.

#1. i am from cleveland, ohio. so all my references may or may not have to do with either a) the cleveland browns or b) the ohio state buckeyes

#2. meaning, i don't ever combine the colors yellow and black or blue and yellow (if you don't get this reference you will later on)

#3. i'm no expert on football, but my daddy has taught me a lot

during the next 31 days, we'll go over everything from rules, to coaches, to players, to the draft, to how i really feel about cheerleaders in the nfl.

if you're a football lover like me, you'll appreciate the days when i talk about players, and stats, and fantasy football. 

if you've never watched the game and only think football is that barbaric game when men hit each other, you'll appreciate the rules day. and hopefully by the end of these 31 days will be the newest browns and buckeye fan. 

or your team of choice, but a girl can dream.

so! here's to 31 days of football. 

yes, that's duke. in a buckeye jersey.

say a little prayer for me

i don't think i'm great at prayer.

it's one of those things growing up that wasn't really talked about.
you knew the Lord's prayer. and the bed time prayer.
and that was it.

prayer, was just that nice thing you told people you'd do for them. it might have been the thing you did when you reaaaally needed something from God.

it certainly wasn't a daily activity.
it wasn't a conversation with God.
it wasn't a time to believe in HIS name that things would happen.

i don't think i'm great at prayer because i'm just figuring out what it really is.

it's all those things i thought it wasn't.
it's quiet time.
seriously quiet time, with zero distractions.
it's coming to God with everything. the big things. the little things.
it's talking to God. it's expecting from God. it's listening to God.

i've had some serious prayers answered lately. big ones. and even little ones. but answered. in a mighty way.
and i'm always blown away.
which is how i always want to be.

i also don't ever want to pray and just know that God will do it.
i expect God to answer my prayers, but i also know that sometimes He'll do it when, and how He wants to do it. which may not be when or how i had asked for.

sometimes i get intimidated by women when i hear or read about their serious encounters with the Lord during prayer time. because i immediately think i'm doing it wrong.

which is the thought process that has to stop.

because here's what Jesus says about prayer:

"and when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.

truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. but when you pray, 

go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. 

then your Father who sees what is done in secret, 

will reward you. 

and when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need

before you ask Him." matthew 6: 5-8

quiet. alone. just me and God.
check, and check.

i started about a year ago getting up and reading the Word in the morning and praying. some days i miss it. mostly the weekends. but i'm a work in progress. some days, it's an hour. other days, it's ten minutes.
the biggest thing, is that we have to stop thinking there's a right and a wrong way to do this.

your head and your heart have to open to the Lord.
that's how this all works.

i'm refusing to keep thinking that there's a right way and a wrong way. as long as i stick to His words. i'm good. there may be some tried and true formulas people have. but those might not work for me.

God works for me.
mornings work for me.
being honest works for me.

whatever your time of day is.
whatever your method might be (mines writing btw. if i don't write my prayers out, my brain goes from asking God for healing, to who i think will with the amazing race in 5 seconds).
whatever works for you.
do it.

via.

mean girls

here's the thing.

no one likes a mean girl. 

(unless we're talking about the movie which has, in my opinion, some of the best one liners. is butter a carb?)

but in real life?

no one likes a mean girl.

the older i get, the more i realize that no matter what age you are. there will always be the mean girl. and i hate it.

i hate it so much because there's this better alternative.
being nice.

i think the internet has a big role to play here.
we're a generation used to typing away our thoughts (good or bad) and hitting send.
whether it's a keyboard, or a cell phone, we tend to hide behind that screen.

and i just can't help but wonder why?

i've encountered one of these mean girls, and just recently. and everything said and done just reminded me of high school. all. over. again.

and it hurt.

the words said hurt my feelings. they weren't necessary. and they didn't have any weight, other than to tear me down.

so let's try something new. let's be kind humans. instead of expressing our opinion in an "i'm better than you" attitude, let's just be nice.

because when you're nice. people remember you.
but when you're mean. people really, really, really remember you.

proverbs 16:24

hello september

is it just me or is it crazy pants to anyone else that it's SEPTEMBER?

one of the greatest months of the year because football starts.

go browns. 

and with a new month, comes new goals. 

because i love goals. even when i don't stick to them. 

#1. book a wedding

i have some seriously wonderful brides inquiring with me. 

#2. find a church

we haven't found a church in orlando yet. such a big decision to make. 

#3. loose 5 pounds

remember when i wrote about loving all the food and not caring about what i look like. i lied. 

#4. read through Jeremiah

for some reason this book has been on my brain lately.

a short list. but a list of goals. i'm excited for september because there's so much newness going on. summer is on the way out, ok well not totally in florida. but fall is here. and that makes me happy. 

here's to a great september. 

don't give up

dear almost quitter,

stop for a second and remember why you're doing what you're doing.

remember what made you decide to do this.

remember the feeling you had when you first accomplished that really big goal.

no one promised this would be easy. no one said that taking a giant leap of faith was smooth sailing.
if you're like me, there are times when you wonder if your parachute is malfunctioning.

it's not.

it's going to catch us on the way down.
ok really, HE is going to catch us on the way down.

we're going to make it.
why?

because in a crappy world, we've got to keep our chins up.
because those haters. girl. they are going to hate.
and those doubts and insecurities are going to sneak back into our heads.

but this.
this career. joy. life. choice we made.
we're doing it.

we're really, really doing it.

so on those days that you want to quit. don't. that won't get us anywhere. that's what the world wants. to weigh us down. to make us think this isn't what God created us to do.
but it is.

keep.going.

sincerely,
the girl who wants to quit all the time.
but won't.

engraving grace

if you don't read the she reads truth plans, you need to. in fact. stop reading this and head on over to start a plan right now.

if you're still here, awesome.

the current plan is through hebrews. which, if we're being honest. gets a bit heavy. not like heavy spiritually, but heavy like "i'm reading this but i have no idea what's going on". chapter seven starts getting into priests and then there's melchizedek the priest. a name i have no idea how to pronounce. when i first read it, i sang that hawaiian christmas song from christmas vacation.

you're welcome.

anyways. there's a lot being talked about. specifically...covenants.

"the former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God."
hebrews 7:18

i have to think every once in a while about what it would be like to live in the OT days. everything had a law. there were sacrifices to be burned. prayers to be prayed. things you could, and could clearly not do. is anyone else as exhausted as i am thinking about all of this?

but here's the good news.

Jesus.

"but this is the new covenant i will make with the people of Israel after those days," says the Lord, "i will put my instructions deep within them, and i will write them on their hearts. i will be their God, and they will be my people."
jeremiah 31:33

this new covenant is grace.

at the end of todays post, this question was asked:
how is God engraving grace on your heart today?

and to be totally honest. i sat for a minute and didn't have an answer.

my first one was, "um, giving me life?"

i felt silly. and like i was a baby christian again, not fully understanding what God's love and grace meant. that i obviously didn't understand what this new covenant meant.

but that's just not true.

my answer is good. maybe it isn't top of the class good, but it's good for me.
i realized that the grace for me, today. is life. is the breath i get to take. the life He has given me.
my grace from Him today, is His giving.

i became overwhelmed with gratitude thinking about all the giving He does.
i get cranky when i feel like i keep giving to someone and they don't give anything back. you've heard someone say it before, "i just feel like i give, and give, and give".

God gives. and just asks that we place our hope and trust in Him.

God never complains.
because, oh my gosh could you imagine if He did.

"i give and give to megan. a life that's eternal. a husband. the worlds cutest dog. her dream job. and yet there are a lot of days when she doesn't even say thank you."

if there was a cave to crawl in right now. i would.
i'm beyond words when it comes to thankfulness to God and all that He gives me.

i'm thankful that instead of having to follow a bunch of rules, or thinking i have to go to a priest to get to God, i have a direct line right to Him.

my answer may have been the obvious one. and maybe wasn't as mature as other answers. but it's mine. and i'm thankful God doesn't mind my answer.

via