It's 11:00 on a Saturday night...

and I'm sitting here writing a post. Think I have problems? After all, most college students would just be getting ready to go out with their friends, but tonight, I sit here in my room, with the lights off, the only light coming from my computer screen and from my TV screen. No I am not a loner, I simply, am having some Brittany time tonight. I've been so busy this past week, I just need some time to rest and get everything back together for the upcoming week. I'm loving this alone time too. All my roommates are gone right now, my friends are at work, so my phone hasn't been ringing off the hook. Again, I love it.
I am so excited for tomorrow, because I'm going home to go to church for the first time since I graduated from high school, a year ago. Yes, it has been exactly a year since I have been to my church on a Sunday morning. I am so excited to see my friends, and to see everyone who has prayed for me over the past year. Although it has been a rough year, I would be lying if I said I hadn't felt the power of their prayers. My parents will tell you that I am a favorite in my church family. I served with the old ladies at Wednesday night dinner, and I served on committees with adults when I was asked. I know the people in my church, and believe me when I tell you, I miss them terribly. I spoke with one of the ladies who I have come to respect, and after we got past the "I missed you's" she summed up my absence quite well when she said, "It's so hard to get used to not seeing such a familiar face all the time." I couldn't agree more.

To my First Baptist Albemarle family:

I am so excited to see you all tomorrow. I'm not sure how many of you, if any read this, but know how thankful I am for each and every one of you. I am super excited to see each and every one of you tomorrow, and to hug all of your necks. I have missed all of you, and have missed seeing and talking to you all on such a regular basis. I'll see you all soon :)

Blessings!
B

I am refreshed...

...and I love it! It's been a long year. Some may say, I've been wondering in the wilderness for a year. I can't say that it is completely over, but I can say that I'm on the up and up. I'm on my way back, and the good news is, the arms of my Heavenly Father are opened wide for me to crawl up on His lap. Why this sudden revelation? Well I can honestly say it was not a sudden thing. I've been feeling "convicted" about some things for awhile, but for the last couple of months, I've been telling people how hungry I am for the Lord, and how I desire more of Him, but at the same time, I feel like I have forgotten everything about my relationship with the Lord, and I feel as though I don't know Him at all. For the past couple of months, this constant phrase has been running through my head...

"Come back to me Brittany, get to know me again"

When I feel like I have strayed so far that God wouldn't even want me back, I hear Him say,

"Come back to me..."

When the drama with my friends just follows me, and I feel like the world is caving in. When I feel like I can't keep my head about water, I hear His gentle voice...

"Come back to me..."

I had the opportunity to see what of the most Godly ladies that I have come to love last night. For reasons that I don't really feel like getting in to right now, I had the chance to hang out a bit with Danielle Treece, a lady that I have come to know and respect because of how much of a Godly lady she is. I was only able to be in TN for about 2 hours, but while I was there, the Lord just spoke to me in so many ways. So many ways that I will explain in some later posts, but before I left, I was surrounded by other believers and they were praying over me as I began my trek home. I was feeling so unworthy to be in the circle, but I accept prayers anytime I can get them. As Danielle prayed, the Lord just continued to say to me,

"Come back to me kiddo, get to know me"

Danielle prayed that I would feel the power of the Lord, and that as I have been feeling the weight of the world, and as I have been seeing the devil trying to ruin things that I know the Lord is in, and ordaining, that I would just be still and listen for God. She prayed a simple prayer, that I would know I was spoken for. And I heard the Almighty God say to me,

"Come back to me, there is room at my table."

Drop your shame, guilt, issues, drop them all, and just come and bask in the Lord and all his love and glory. As I stood there sobbing, they kicked me out on to I-26 to start my trip, and I just looked over the mountains and just cried. Not a bad cry, but just a refreshing, Jesus cry. I can't explain it all, but this is where I am tonight. simply getting to know the Lord again. And there is no where else I would rather be tonight. What is He saying to you?

Happy Father's Day

Tomorrow, is Father's Day. I have the best father ever. I dare you to try to tell me differently. My dad and I have a very awesome and close relationship. Anyone you ask will tell you that I am a daddy's girl. My best friends can tell you how spoiled I am by my daddy. My relationship with my daddy is so close is because all my life, my dad was there. I never had to worry why my dad wasn't around, or why he was always working, because he always made time for our family. In fact, when my mom went back to school when I was young, my dad stepped up big time so that Mom could follow her dreams and so that Ash and I wouldn't have to grow up with babysitters all around us. For as long as I can remember, my dad has worked from our house, so even before I went to Kindergarden, I was with my dad all day almost everyday. When I got to where I could behave myself, he even took me on a couple of his sales calls with him. All through school up until I got my license, he always took me and picked me up from school, he would bring us our homework if we left it at home, he would bring us whatever we needed for whatever sport was in season when we forgot our clothes and gear, and all my friends knew that if they in fact needed a ride, he would be there. My dad has been the spiritual leader of our family, and trusts the Lord with everything he does. His faith amazes me, and constantly challenges me to be a better person.

I don't think there are enough words to adaquately describe how much I love my daddy, and how much he means to me. So Dad, when you read this, know how much I love you, and know how much you mean to me. You constantly challenge me to keep my head up, and keep fighting for my dreams, and it means the world to me. You amaze me with all you do, and I don't see how you do it all.

Happy Father's Day Daddy! I'm sorry I couldn't be with you to celebrate!

Noland, Pity Party of One

I'm having a little bit of a pitty party for myself right now. I've been to the Emergency Room more in the last two weeks, then I have in my entire life. Last Saturday I feel victim to a leg that fell asleep while wearing high heels at a wedding. Result: sprained ankle. Currently, I am suffering from a skin infection in my ear. My left ear is so swollen, I can barely hear out of it. Most would say I should just tough it out, but just for the record I want to say how little I usually am sick, and how little I complain about how badly I feel. Last night around 2:30, the pain was so intense in my ear that it actually woke me up bawling. I called my lovely sister, who once she woke up realized I wasn't dying, and took me and bawling self to the Emergency Room at Northeast (nice people by the way). I cried the whole way there (for my daddy none the less) and the pain that was currently attacking me. Take your worst ear pain ever, and then add the feeling of someone sticking a sharp knife in your ear continuesly, and you have what I was experiencing last night. So anyway, I cried the whole time I was on the phone with my sister, the whole drive to the hospital, and the minute they started taking my vital signs at the hospital, I started crying again. Go figure. So anyway, we are on high alert with my ear. It is pretty swollen, and we have to continually check it to make sure it hasn't gotten worse. So, I have checked in to the Noland Hospital with nurses Mom and Dad, and great nurses they are. I will admit though, last weekend I threatned to send my mother to a bad nursing home because she wasn't a good nurse to me when I was on crutches, but this week, she has totally redeemed herself. So I have a couple of prayer requests because of this

--Pray that the swelling goes down in my ear soon, so that I can hear a little better
--Pray that the infection comes to a head soon, because as soon as it does I go back and get to have it drained out and I get rid of it.
--Pray for sweet sleep for me. I can only sleep on the right side of my head, which makes for difficult sleeping arrangements.