you have filled my heart with greater joy...

good morning to you, my friends.

its friday morning and i'm early to the office. i might've just found a good time to update- no one really gets here at 8am on friday. i'm surrounded by paperwork that i really will start working on in a few minutes, but for now i wanted to send a few thoughts out there.

it's almost been 11 months. (i realize that i update around this time each month, but whenever the 15th rolls around it gets me thinking about where i've been, how i've been doing, and what is going on in my heart.)

today i'm feeling tired. i'm realize that i'm swinging into a down time, where i need to rest and chill for a few days. i'm planning on doing that tonight when i go camping with Christina and Rachel.

i have friends now. :) did you know that? somewhere in the beginning of May God started bringing life into these bones, and filled my days up with phone calls and laughter and quality time and love. and i'm really loving these special people God has brought to me. Audi, Mandi, Christina, Ana, Rachel, Erikah- these women are wonderful and challenging, gracious and strong. they have loved and served me, and i am so blessed by them. God also knew that i was missing my brothers, and filled the gap with Tim, Ben, Josh, Eric-- awesome men who believe in our God, fight for the people in their life, and hold fast to the Truth. And i've been welcomed back into a family- The Schmidt's. i just think of them and my heart feels at rest, knowing that i am loved, enjoyed, appreciated, honored. i love having a 'mom' and 'dad' that can hug me and kiss me good night when my parents can't, that pray for me and counsel me. i love having brothers that really are my brothers- i have long missed the laughter and teasing that we had in texas.

and lately, wonderfully- I have a man in my life that is pursuing my heart. I am... crazy. :) very quickly becoming crazy about him, and so so blessed that God brought us together. He is amazing. He is tender towards me, respects me, couragous and confident about learning all my brokeness, creative, passionate about Christ and his Truth, adventurous, trustworthy, leads me in a way that honors and encourages me, consistent, calming. I've never known a man quite like him. I'm eager for my family (and church family) to meet him.

Thank you, family. for covering me in prayers and guarding me, for keeping my heart and keeping hope when i couldn't. I love you all and cannot wait to be with you, laughing, worshipping, playing, talking.