on a ladder from there to here

A new year is here. It is so hard to believe that in 2011 my baby sister will be graduating high school! I am really excited about the year to come. I feel like there is so much in store for this next year and I cannot wait to see what new adventures and joys the Lord has in store!
My new year's resolutions are as follows-

-work on my bucket list

-lose weight (I know, I know.. typical ny's resolution)

-stick to my new Mediterranean diet so I can lower my cholesterol

-run a 5K

I am currently working on raising money for a mission trip that I will *hopefully* be going on in May to Middlesboro, England. We will be working with the organization Youth for Christ. Basically we will get to just love on, play with and minister to kids in the area. How great is that? I really feel like this is something the Lord is calling me to and I know that if he truly wants me to do this then I will get all the money raised in time. But because I am human AND I am Hayley, I'm stressing out big time about it. I know the Lord is testing me and that I will grow in him because of this. He wants to show me that he is bigger than any amount of money or deadline. I just have to remember that he is in control, He will work everything out.

Happy New Year to everyone, it is going to be a good one :)

♥ Hayley

You Make Beautiful Things

This weekend was the 2011 Miss Mary Hardin-Baylor pageant, the theme was Beautiful.

"The King is enthralled with your beauty. Honor Him for He is your Lord." Psalm 45:11

Being a part of this production was such a blessing because, as cheesy as this sounds, each one of the 23 girls reminded me what true beauty was. That it is not defined by your physical appearance but by what is in your heart. As said by the new 2011 Miss MHB, "Jesus doesn't make ugly things. He makes beautiful things."

I was reminded that he is and will always be Lord. No matter what we do he will always be there to love us. He loves us just the way we are, ugly, dirty and sinful; we are his children regardless.

Pageant was a blast and I am so proud of every single one of these girls! You all are beautiful, thank you for showing us your talents and how God has laid on your hearts to share his love and beauty!

♥ Hayley

Mark 13:31

My roomie Kat has a flip calendar in our bathroom with daily scripture on it. As part of our routine through out the day when we are both in there she will say "want to know what Jesus says today?" or some variation of that. How cute are we?? haha

But one day this past week the verse was Mark 13:31 and when Kat read it to me it really hit home with me. We both mentioned how awesome it was but I have really meditated on it this week.

"Heaven and Earth will disappear, but my words will remain."

Simple but so powerful. It is so easy to forget how powerful our Father is. This life that we dwell on and put so much into is only temporary. But His words and His love is everlasting. We do not deserve it and yet he pours it on us daily. I am so thankful that he is so merciful.

Life is crazy and we can't sweat the small things, take joy in what He has given us :)

♥ Hayley

the truth hurts, a lie's worse

new blog!

I decided to "ceremoniously" delete my old blog and create a new one in honor of this new chapter in my life... I'm a little dramatic, I know!

So much has happened over this past summer and this semester so far. I had to a reassess a lot of things in my life and though it was painful and hard, there were changes that I had to make. The title of this post "the truth hurts, a lie's worse" has never been so true in my life. The truth can be so hurtful but in the long run a lie is worse than the painful truth. The semester thus far has been tough but so wonderful at the same time. I have had my ups and downs but I am constantly reminded that the Lord makes ALL things new and he can fix anything that seems broken and unwanted to us. I don't know what I would do without the love and support of my roomies, they are such a blessing to me. I have been missing my family a lot over this whole long process but even though they are miles away, I know that they are supporting me and constantly praying for me.

♥ Hayley