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Roots that Run Deep

           Remember when I said that I would be sharing what I learned from Tiffany's posts about marriage? Well,I am still working on it. It was a lot to digest and I don't want to right up a post that I haven't really thought about. So I thought I would share something things about Tiffany and her family. {I see you rolling your eyes Tiffany...]

      They have been a huge part of my life for the past 6 years. I met Tiffany and her husband Jim atCamp BaYouCa. At the time, Jim was working on the executive staff and I was an errand girl. To be perfectly honest, I was terrified of Jim. Now that I know him, I am not sure what the problem was. I remember Tiffany with her pregnant belly and thinking how adorable she looked. It wasn't until after their daughter, Cadi, was born that I really got to know them.

Some people can remember the exact day that it happened that an ordinary person became their friend for life. I cannot remember that time for this family. I don't remember sitting down and having one talk or one event that really brought us closer together. I think it was just time that sealed our friendship. After Cadi was born, that first summer, I would take her on walks so Tiffany could work in the office and I would visit whenever I could, but it wasn't like I was calling them family...yet.

The summers run together in my mind and it is hard to separate them. There was the one summer that Cadi and I spent every day in the pool together. Little did we know that that would be a frequent habit of ours. I would show her some swimming stuff but mostly we would just play.

I believe it was those hours that Cadi and I spent in the pool that I really fell in love with Tiffany and her family. We would just sit and chat about the most random things but it always made encouraged me. Shorter conversations turned to longer conversations and before you know it we had a connection. Summer after summer, we would all return to camp and each year we would strengthen our friendship.

There are so many memories that I could share with you but it would take forever. I will highlight a few for you. I vividly remember when Cadi finally learned how to swim. She could jump in and swim to the ladder without any help. I remember teaching the hours we all spent at the BYC Cafe trying to figure out how to make the perfect iced coffee. There was the time I was down stairs reading Cadi a book when Tiffany's water broke for Scotty. There was the 15 mile hike Jim took the staff on and Tiffany's sweet, encouraging words about how it "wouldn't be much longer..." {lies..} I remember countless hours making hundreds of cinnamon rolls with the them. I can remember the day that I told Jim that my mom was getting her second divorce and not understanding why Jim hugged me and walked away until a few years later when he explained in a sermon that my story broke his heart. There was that trip to Virginia for Jim's sister's wedding. I remember the day Tiffany called me to tell me that they were going to adopt. {Friday morning at 9AM, I remember the chair I was in} Still very fresh in my mind, is the day they brought Jamesy home. I was 15 minutes early to the airport and just stared at the gate waiting for them to walk through. I remember the emotion that I felt as I saw Jamesy for the first time in their arms. There are countless babysitting and sleep over stories that could be shared but will save for myself.

This family is my family. At some point in time, they went from the Darling's that I knew from camp to the Darling's that I love and cherish. They are my second family. Cadi is my sister. Scotty and Jamesy are my brothers. Even as I write this, I am looking forward to tomorrow when I get to spend the day with them. I look forward to Cadi being my flower girl in my wedding in two weeks. I look forward to hearing Jim's charge to the couple at the wedding. Honestly, I just look forward to a lifetime friendship with them.

This is Cadi and I. I have no idea when this picture was taken or what we were doing. I think she wanted to match me by wearing a headband and wearing pink!

This is Scotty and I. He was so little in this picture but so adorable!

I do not have a picture of Jamesy and I. Maybe that will change tomorrow!

I pray that everyone is able to find that special family that means the world to them. It really is a gift from God!

Enjoy your weekend!



Check it out!

My sweet friend Tiffany has let me pick her brain about some very important marriage topics. She is the best for doing this for me. I asked her three separate questions and she has been answering one every day. She just answered my second question about submission. And let me tell you, she did a great job! Check out her blog here. She would love it if you stopped by to share your thoughts and I would love to have some more Godly input! 

When she finishes answering my questions tomorrow, I plan on doing a follow up post on what I have learned. It has been a blessing reading everyone's comments and thoughts already and I cannot wait to share what I have learned. 

.Renewed.

There is something about waking up to sunshine that makes this girl's heart very happy. I cannot express how I am feeling today. Here are a few words that come to mind...

Blessed
Forgiven
Renewed
Loved
Cherished
Refreshed
Amazed

I wish I could tell you why I was feeling this way but I cannot. I feel as if God just washed my worries away and has refreshed me from head to toe.

Don't you love when you feel like this? You just cannot explain it but you know it is the Holy Spirit working in your life. Mmm, yes that is me this morning.

.Clean from head to toe.

Today is a Monday and if Binghamton University hadn't declared it a "traveling day" I would be stuck in the classroom learning about audit procedures or business level  functions. However, I have been blessed with the day off! Yay!!

So what do you think this girl did on her day off? She cleaned. Not only did was I able to clean my room and my car, I also was able to update many of my devices. My Ipod. Blackberry, GPS, and computer needed some attention and they finally got the attention they deserved.

With all of this free time spent cleaning, I decided to do a spiritual cleanse as well. I have been devouring the book of Galatians. It just fills my heart in ways that I cannot begin to explain. I feel like every time I read, I am seeing something for the very first time. Today I read Galatians 6 and I want to share two different points that stuck out to me.

1- Galatians 6:7 says, " Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that he will also reap." So what's so great about this verse? I have been deceived, I have been thinking to myself that I can hide my sins from Jesus. In my mind, I have secret sins that no one knows about. Normally, it's my rotten attitude buried beneath my fake smiles, but it doesn't matter. God knows. What I am sowing, I am reaping. my bad attitude comes out when I least expect it. God is not mocked. How have I been able to live like this for so long? Who taught me that I would be able to hide things from my all-knowing Savior? Phew! Glad I figured that one out... probably for the umteenth time...

2- Galatians 6:9-10 says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Now the first part of the verse, I have heard a thousand times, it is the second part of the verse that really struck me today. As I have opportunity, I should be doing good. However, as I have the opportunity, I should be doing good to my brothers and sisters in Christ. So when do I not have opportunity? Uh never! There is always something to be done, always someone to encourage. I am the girl who smiles at people when they walk by. However, what about those who are closest to me. How have I encouraged them lately? I haven't and I am sorry for that. God has done a great work in me and I should be happy to pass that onto someone else or at least do good to them.

So that's it folks. Maybe those things hit you like they hit me, maybe not. Either way I think today I have some spring in my step and an awful clean room and heart! {Huge Smile}

.Blogging from California.

Blogging while on vacation? You bet! Blogging is something I rarely get to do when I am at home. I am sure you can tell from my posts which are few and far. But this morning seems like the perfect morning to blog.

It is 12:38PM in New York while it is only 9:38AM here. My brother and sister-in-law are still sleeping soundly after a late night. My body however, is on NY time. I was up around 8 and I felt extremely rested. I haven't slept this good in such a long time. I decided to spend some extra time in bed and finish a book. It felt so great to read a book in under a week. It was for me and not because I had to read it for school.

Today is going to be another relaxing day. We don't have a lot planned but that is okay with me. We may go to a movie or shop a little but sitting around and doing nothing sounds like a perfect vacation. Tomorrow, we are going to an amusement park which will be a blast. I fly home Wednesday and then start my busy life on Thursday.

I am looking forward to seeing Roger and being home. I am not looking forward to leaving these warm and sunny temperatures. I shouldn't complain- Roger and I leave for Cabo, Mexico in about 6 weeks!

Ahh vacation!!

Countdown Continues

It is almost time for so many exciting things in my life. I thought I would share with everyone what will be going on the next couple of months.

On Thursday I leave for California to see my brother, Nathan and his wife, Lorin. I am so excited and am so blessed to be able to go on this vacation. I love my brothers dearly and being able to spend some time with them before I get married is just fabulous.

In 5 weeks, I will be finishing my undergraduate degree in Accounting from Binghamton University. It has been a long time coming and I can finally see the finish line. I am sure that I will go on and get my Master's but I will be taking a much needed break before I start schooling again. I am hoping to find an Accounting job in North Carolina when we move and to start working a normal 9-5 job.

In 6 weeks, I will be getting married to the love of my life. I am so excited to finally start this chapter of our lives together. It also  has been a long time coming. We have been together for 3 and a half years. We know this is the right step for us and we cannot wait to take the journey of life together. There are many details to be finished and last minute projects that will occupy our time, but in the end it will be worth it! Right after our wedding we will honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It has always been a dream of mine to go to Mexico and I can't believe that I will be able to travel with someone so wonderful.

After our honeymoon, we will return to NY for 6 weeks and stay at my Mom's apartment. She has generously offered to stay somewhere else for the 6 weeks and let us have her apartment rent free. Plus it will be completely furnished! We are so blessed by my mom and her boyfriend. I spent many hours worrying about our living situation while we were still in NY but He has taken care of it. Why do I ever worry? :)

So why are we staying for 6 weeks? Well my best friend, Shannon is marrying the love of her life on July 15 and I am in the wedding. I want to be able to help her with whatever she needs so we decided moving to North Carolina could wait. After her and John get married, we will be joining them in Raleigh, North Carolina. We have found an apartment within minutes of John and Shannon and we are eagerly waiting to be hear back from them. From there Roger will be going to school at North Carolina State and I will be {hopefully} finding a job to provide for the family.

We are really looking forward to these next couple of months. They bring a lot of excitement and joy but at the same time nervousness. Roger and I are certain this is what God wants us to do and we cannot be more excited to see how it all plays out.

It's the most wonderful time of year... for us anyways :)