30x30 - Help Bring Someone to the Lord

Since moving back to Fort Worth, I have been able to connect back with a few friends that I was not able to keep up with in through college. The Lord has really shown Himself faithful through these random encounters and revitalized relationships. It has been really fun to see Him work.

Now this 30 x 30 goal was one that I wondered about... not in a negative respect - "Oh it will never happen" - but more asking God to show Himself and let me come along side Him in a life that He was moving. I just didn't know who that was going to be as most of the people that I have been associating with already have a personal relationship with Jesus.

I have been able to reconnect with my life long friend Courtney. We have known each other since we were basically toddlers. I could post some very embarrassing photos of the two of us when we didn't have a care in the world. We went to the same schools and continued to be friends even though our friends and hobbies took us in different directions. We did church events together, had slumber parties and grew into young women. 

I will admit that I did not do the best job at staying in touch with Courtney once I went off to college... we went our separate ways but still said "Hi" every once in a while. It wasn't until I moved back to Fort Worth that I really tired to grow the friendship again... calling her up, getting dinner together and talking about life. I knew with the history that we had I could be a lot more upfront and forward with my questions and the things we talked about... not that it was easy, I just knew she would receive it better than some. 

Over the course of, lets say, a year and a half I asked and we talked here and there. I could tell that the Holy Spirit was really moving her and starting to shift her values and perspectives on life. I was praying that the Holy Spirit would urge her to come to church or a bible study with me, something for her to see what it is that was missing... and in the fall of 2015 she was finally at a place where it made sense to say "Yes."

I will never forget the Sunday in between services at our church when she pulled me aside and told me the most amazing news... She had asked for God's forgiveness for her sins and for Him to be Lord over her life. I was shocked and thrilled... I didn't know what to say and I cried. I was so happy for her! To finally see her make that decision and realize what she had been missing was amazing and such a great experience to be a part of. 

I am so thankful that the Lord let me be involved in Courtney's life and to help her along the way, but I in no way take the credit for what the Holy Spirit did in her life. He is the one who changes lives, He lets us come along side what He is already doing and play a role. He doesn't need us but He allows us to be a part of the work He is doing and made a difference for His kingdom. That is what I got to do through my relationship with Courtney.

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plans nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Another Chapter Down

Two thousand and fifteen has come and gone! 
Two thousand and sixteen is upon us.

That really blows my mind! I literally blinked and 2015 was over! Why is it that individual days throughout the year can go by so slowly but when you look back at it all and in a larger scope time passes by very quickly. 

God is a big God and I am so blessed to walk through life with His help! It is amazing to look back on different seasons of the year and wonder how I made it through. 2015 would have been a completely different year if not for my relationship with Jesus. 

I never would have thought that 2015 would have brought some of the exciting things that it did. 

Sammi's wedding

Brett Favre HOF Induction

Northstar Training program

Morgan and Taylor starting at OU

Living with with my Parents

Vicky's wedding

These are just some of the adventures that I got to partake in this last year! But 2016 is a new year and I love to reminisce as much as the next women, I know I need to look ahead to what's to come. 

I decided to make my goals this year rather simple and practical. I have made many goals in the past that on the outset sounds like a lot of fun and something I really wanted to make happen but then as life went on that year, I was not able to make it a priority or I set too many goals for the year that some just slipped through the cracks while I worked on others.

1. Pay off the rest of my debt
2. Weekly write in a gratitude journal
3. Visit the Clark family 
4. Read 12 need books
5. Get back into blogging more

I believe these five goals are going to be very practical for me this year and I am excited to start on them and see them come to fruition. 

One other thing... 

I have never done this before but this year I decided to choose a word for the year and make that my focus. I want to make this year the best that it can be and I thought that giving it a theme of sorts would help keep my focus.

This year I am choosing JOY!

I am looking forwarded to the wonderful, joyful moments that I know this year will bring. And even though I know this year could bring more trials I want to be joyful in all seasons. 

Like is says in Romans 5 - I want to rejoice in my trails along with the blessings because I know that both are made to develop something in me that the Lord knows I need. I believe keeping up with my gratitude journal each week is going to allow me to focus on the blessings from the Lord and keep the joy alive!

All the Babies

I have been helping out in the Nursery at my church since I decided I was going to settle in Fort Worth over two years ago! I have been blessed to work with the 1 and 1/2 to 3 year old kids! 

Since I am do not have any kids of my own at this point in life (I have a while to go before that is possible) I have been very grateful to be a part of the lives of my friends children. God really has been very gracious to allow my to live in the same town with wonderful friends and their families. 

I am not sure what the Lord has planned for me and my future family but I am very glad that He has given me little ones to love! I know that even though I am not blood to these little humans I can and want to have an impact in their lives. 

And even though there are little ones that I get to see more than others, the love I have for them is all the same!! I hope that I will be able to continue to shower the kiddos with love throughout the years!! 

It is amazing to me the amount of love you can feel for ones that are not your own. I can't wait to know the feeling of loving my own children! If the Lord allows children into my life someday and I am excited to see what He does through them. It is such a blessing to be a part of the lives of so many families.

Jesus loves children. Some of Jesus' miracles involved healing children. He blessed them. He called them a good thing and wanted them to be taken care of.

Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Humphrey's at OU

It is official! All four Humphrey children (Lord willing) will graduate from the University of Oklahoma!! 

I am so incredibly proud of Morgan and Taylor for taking this step of faith and having the courage to move away from home. 

Last week my dad and I drove up with Caitlin, Morgan and Taylor to drop them off at OU for the new school year. It is hard to believe that my LITTLE brother and sister are starting school at the same school I graduated from almost three years ago! 

Taylor and Morgan will be studying Computer Science in the College of Engineering! I cannot wait to hear about their classes and all the programming things they will have to do... that is way over my head! 

My biggest prayer for them as they start this new journey is that through the people and experiences they have at OU their relationship with Jesus will grow and be nurtured. I pray that they not only gain knowledge in their specific field but that they see the worth and need to have knowledge in the Lord and for that to be a priority for the rest of their lives. 

I know what an amazing impact the people and ministry at the University of Oklahoma had on me in my years there. I also know the Lord has everyone on different paths in life and our training programs in life will never be exactly the same, so it is humbling to know that Morgan and Taylor's journey at OU could look very different from what Caitlin and I experienced. I am praying that the Lord places amazing men and women around them that will call them forward and be great examples to them, just as Paul was to Timothy in the Bible.

Caitlin will be starting her last year at OU! CRAZY... thinking that she was joining me at OU just four years when we lived at the Duffy house! I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for her this year, I know she is going to do great things and learn so much about herself and who God is in her life. 

My siblings are the best!! I am so incredibly proud of each one of them!

Number 4

Brett Larenzo Farve. 

Number 4.

Quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.

Most consecutive starts (289).

I grew up watching this man play football. My dad grew up in Green Bay and my grandparents still live there! I can remember my Aunt mailing my dad VHS tapes of all the Packers games that did not show on TV down in the south. 

So when it was announced last year that Brett Farve was going to have his number retired and be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, I knew I wanted to be there. And I made sure that my parents knew as well.

Well by the grace of God, we were able to get enough tickets for people in our family to go (my mom and youngest sister were not interested in going). My dad, my brother and I decided since we were able to get tickets we were going to fly up to Green Bay for an extended weekend (my other sister was actually living up with my grandparents for the summer to do an internship). I was so stinking excited! It was great to see family and hang out as well but the weekend was all about Brett!!

It was a memory I will never forget. I am so thankful that we were able to be apart of this experience. Brett received a five (plus) minute standing ovation when he walked into the stadium! 

we love to laugh

watching our cousin in a baseball game

three generations (me, my grandma and aunt) 

Brett was inside this building doing a signing... we were so close

on our way to the stadium

 I have now made it into the stadium, just need to make it to a game in the stadium :-)

Lambeau selfie

the whole gang

 

the man of the hour

Not only did he come out on the field and say a few words but we got to watch the ceremony on the big screen! 

We also spent some time out at Aunt Mary and Uncle Jerry's house with both sides of their family! It was a fun time to play crochet and be outside in the wonderful weather. And of course we had to get a few hands of cards in while we were there with Grandma and Grandpa! 

Grandpa and his "garden"

 This was a great experience and I am so thankful that we were able to do it! God really bless us!

30X30 - Donating my Hair

Donating my Hair - CHECK!

I am so excited to say that I did this one! 

It has been a long time coming but I did it! I just need to mail it!

My hair has not been this short in over 6 years! 

I am of the mindset of "it is just hair, it will grow back" 

I am just grateful that I am able to do something like this. It is amazing to get to help women who are going through such a hard thing and be a blessing to them in this way!!

30X30 - Be in a Music Video

Be in a music video - CHECK

So this is the one that I was sure would actually not happen but I was WRONG!!

I had randomly signed up to receive updates about the Eli Young Band because I really want to see them in concert sometime. Well I got this email that they needed people to help with a music video they were shooting in Dallas. I signed up right away not really knowing how that was to work out.

I knew on of my coworkers Lunden was a fan as well so I asked her if she would want to join me (I was allowed to bring one friend). I knew it would be too hard to ask someone to come all the way from Fort Worth right after work so it was a great opportunity to spend some time with Lunden. She has been a good friend to me at work.  

                

I know it will probably be a long time before I get to do something like this again. We were on the stage to the right of the drummer. I doubt we are actually going to be able to be seen in the music video but it is cool to say that we were there. I had a great time. It was a really long night (about 4 hours) but totally worth it!! :-)

And If Not...

As I lay in bed tonight I dwell on these words...

Moving through this year as a well-water women - I strive to cling to the truth that God is good. In all circumstances God is good and when I struggle to believe that I dive into His word to set my perspective right.

No matter my plan for life or schedule for the day, God is in control. Jesus is going to do better than my most amazing "dreams come true."

So much in life is unknown to me in this stage of life. So much is moving from true to real for me and even though the times of learning and growing are exciting, that does not make them any easier to grab hold of!

"and if not He is still good!"

 I am going to cling to this as I struggle to let go of my plan and idea for what my life should look like. 

Gospel of Grace

Webster's Dictionary defines Grace as: (Theol.) The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.

I just completed a study on the book of Ruth called "Gospel of Grace" by Gretchen Saffles. (click the link to check out the author's website and find other goodies by Gretchen)

I happened upon Gretchen's Life Live Beautifully Instagram account about 7 months ago and through that God has really been working in some very radical ways in my life. This study of Ruth was one the first way that I have benefited from Gretchen's outreach.

Through this study I have a whole new outlook on the book of Ruth. I have always read these chapters as a love story between Boaz and Ruth... Gretchen has helped me see them as so much more than that! It is God's love story, with his people... with me! I am so grateful for this season of life and the perspective shifts I am having and the things I am learning about myself and my relationship with God!

Well-water Women

This year I did not make any specific resolutions or goals for 2015... 2015 kind snuck up on me this year. We spent the new year at my grandparents (here you go) and I just got lost in the vacation!

New Years Eve as I am lying in bed I read a Life Lived Beautifully blog post about Isaiah 58:11 - "A call to love God's word more than the world." 

This is exactly want I needed to read that night... as a new year starts and I look towards newness. I realized that I needed it to start in Christ.

In the verses before God lays out for the Israelites the selfless life He wants them to be living that is centered on giving themselves away for His glory (verses 6-10). 

This is what I want to focus on this next year... diving into God's word head first and giving of myself for the glory of God. I am sure what the details of this is going to look like in 2015 but I want to make that my focus!! 

I am excited to more into this new year and see what the Lord brings.

30X30 - Road Trip to Grandparents

Road Trip to Grandparents - CHECK!

The day after Christmas we set off... all six members of the Humphrey family ready to hit the road and travel 19 hours north. We had not been to my grandparents house for Christmas in over 5 years so it was fun to be back in the cold!

Driving 19 hours is a lot different as an adult than it was when we were kids... there is no such thing as a "comfortable position" for sleeping in the car after the age of say ten, so that part was very interesting but we did make it! Thankfully I got a lot of reading done for Antioch while not sleeping... Taylor and I were the designated watchmen while are

I love my family! This trip I had a few goals... Since my grandparents are not getting any younger I wanted to make sure I had heard their story at least one time in my life. So one night after dinner I asked them "How did y'all meet?" and then the stories ensued.

Not only did I learn about my grandparents' history (it was the grace of God that brought my grandpa to my grandma's house while he was in town) but my grandma also told some stories about Dad as well. It was a great time. I really cherish moments like these... when you just get to be together!

I am so grateful for the path that my Grandparents have laid for us. They have faithfully followed the Lord through His training program for them, the ups and downs of life and it is amazing to hear about. They will have a legacy live on through their kids, my siblings and cousins and one day all of our kids. I pray that the Lord allows us to hear more and more stories and to have more time with them.

Now of course, we could not make a trip to Green Bay without going to Lambeau Field. I was so excited because the Packers were actually playing the Lions while we were in town. We were not able to get tickets so Dad and I did the next best thing and went out to the stadium to be apart of the tail gating experience. It was crazy! It was cold! It was amazing! 

My next step is to actually get into the stadium and see what its like as a packed out game! I am determined to do it before I die! 

 

Outside the Pro Shop, they put in a new statue. The Lambeau Leap. Those who wanted to took turns taking out first Lambeau Leap (it is only a couple feet off the ground)! It was funny but very popular.

DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN

We took a day trip up to Door County to walk around and do a little shopping. It is very different in the winter. Not a lot of shops were open and the Bay was frozen over. It was still fun time together!

This was a fun treat for my mom. On our way home we were able to stop in Chicago and meet up with Aunt Nancy. It had been so long since we had seen her. I know that it really loved my mom to get that time with her sister. I am grateful that it worked out. I had a good time talking with her and so I know my mom must have too.


A Review

Two thousand and fifteen is upon us! WOW!

 

As I reflect on the last 12 months I realize that they were filled with many transitions and many firsts within those transitions. I am very grateful for where the Lord has taken me. I never would have guessed that 2014 would have held all that it did.

 

*I transitioned from college life to career life, with my first "big-girl" job.

*I transitioned from living on my own to living back with my parents (TWICE).

*My ministry and growth went through a few transitions - college ministry mentality to church life and Antioch.

*I learned to transition my perspective and grew in my understanding on certain topics.

*I have had to transition through how friendships work in a busy, busy life. I had forgotten what it is like to work at them.

 

Two thousand and fourteen was a great year. I set out to do some very specific things last year. There was a lot of good but not without some difficulty. The Lord was faithful and gracious through it all and I believe I have seen growth in areas I never would have seen had I not been where I was and done what the Lord called me to do. I hope to get back into consistently posting this year, not exactly sure why I let it slip in 2014.

 

I am very excited for what God is going to do in 2015!!

My 30 by 30

Around my 25th birthday (less than a month ago) I made a list.

For some that know me that is not a surprising fact. I love to make lists... of the things I have to accomplish, the things I need to purchase, the people I want to spend time with, books I want to read... you name it I have probably made a list for it. This list is a little more in-depth for me because you see, I wont be completing this list for the next five years.

I made a list of 30 things that I want to accomplish before my 30th birthday. The concept is simple but the task most likely will not be.

1. Go to a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field

2. Go Skydiving

3. Own a gun

4. Visit (at least) two of my libraries

5. Learn to drive a motorcycle

6. Visit Las Vegas

7. Live by myself (no roommates)

8. Graduate Antioch

9. Buy groceries for someone in need

10. Road trip to Grandparents

11. Camping in Colorado

12. Memorable concert or festival

13. Learn more Spanish

14. Dress more professional

15. Attend a midnight movie premiere

16. Get a tattoo

17. Pay off ALL my debt

18. Learn to drive a stick shift

19. Help bring someone to the Lord

20. Road trip with Siblings

21. Engineers without Borders (or something similar)

22. Eat an animal that I have killed 

23. Learn guitar

24. Some of time volunteering

25. Donate my hair to Locks of Love

26. Get my E.I.T license 

27. Lasik eye surgery

28. Read 50 new books (including Antioch)

29. Visit Hogwarts 

30. Be a part of a music video or movie

I want to see the world... I want to try new things... I want to experience new places, people, foods... I want to do things for others... I want people to know Jesus more because of how I live my life... I want to live the time that I am given to the fullest.

I know for a fact that I am going to do way more than this in the next five years. I am not confined to these 30 things. I wanted to set some goals and give myself something to look forward to and plan for (I love to make plans), but that does not mean extra adventures won't pop up or other doors won't swing open. I pray that I will be able to grab up every opportunity the Lord throws my way, no matter how "big" or how "small" I think it is. Because really, I am the one who makes different things "big" and "small" to God it is all the same, he cares how I respond to these "big/small" things not how I categorize them. 

I am really excited to complete these, I put quite a bit of time into coming up with them and I am not sure how some of them are going to come to fruition but I am going to get through as many as I can in the next five years. 
My hope is to share the experience with you as they are completed.



Norman

I am learning to like Fort Worth more and more. I am thankful that Father has directed me to Fort Worth and I still get to visit Norman every once in a while. 

I took a trip back to Norman this past weekend to see my sister and attend my dear friend Sarah's baby shower. It was such a great time!! 

I realized driving up there that it really has been a long time since I had made the drive (over 4 months, which might not seem like a lot but when your use to making the trip once maybe twice every other month it is). Nothing looked familiar to me anymore. At one point I could not even tell where I was anymore and thought I was going the wrong way haha. 

I realized how much I miss Norman and the people that Jesus had placed in my life while I was there. Things are so much simpler there, there is no responsibility there (at least not anymore since I have moved, it really is vacation for me), some of my closest friends are there (who I use to see on a regular basis), it is just fun!  

I got to see so many people this weekend, not just at the baby shower but I jam packed my Saturday to make time for as many people as I could!! Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all spent with different people, in between the shower and dinner I made time with friends and after dinner just keep going. I think I saw and talked to more people this weekend than I have in a few weeks. I was in extrovert heaven. By that evening I could not help by smile and be extremely happy. I told one of my friends that night that my heart was so full. It was just what I needed and I did not even know it. 

Life is very different here in Fort Worth. Of course, I knew that that would be true of wherever I ended up after college. College is a bubble, nothing like the "adult world" and that is okay. This weekend really showed me that I am still not use to it yet. I have a new job that is allowing me to really transition into the "adult life", realizing that before having this job I was living in a very different mind set. Being done with school did not feel real to me, working at BBW felt like an extended summer.

Now that this new stage of life is upon me, I know I still have so much learn. The next few years are going to be so foundational and character building for me and I am excited to see how it happens.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Thank you for coming as a man to live and eventually die for me!