YOU ARE THE JOY FOR ME

If you take anything away from this post I hope it's this: 

God does answer our prayers.

They don't return void. He hears each prayer, whether mumbled, written or said over a delicious meal. He hears. He cares. And He loves us enough to answer them. Not because we are good or worthy, but because HE is good. 

You may recognize Torrey from previous posts. We've been friends for a couple years (and known one another for over ten years.) The extent of our friendship was usually a couple cat memes and grabbing coffee every few months or so. Other than that, our paths didn't cross too much.

But the Lord had a different plan, because (seemingly) out of nowhere our friendship grew in leaps and bounds, just when I needed it most. One day we were friends who saw one another a couple times a year, the next day she's at my house every Monday night like it had been that way since the dawn of time.

There are a million things to love about Torrey. She's incredibly real, down to earth and not pretentious in the least. She listens, encourages and didn't complain when I described the life cycle of a cell in great detail...multiple times. We sat on my couch and shared our hearts, what the Lord is doing in us and through us. His presence was there and I have Him to thank for bringing me such a sweet, faithful friend. 

Torrey is heading off to camp for the summer, as she always does. This year though, it's especially bittersweet (tbh mostly bitter for me lol) because she's getting back less than 2 weeks before I leave for college. Gone are the monday nights, the random diet coke dates and the tanning times.

I know it doesn't count for much in life but Torrey, I love you a lot. Thank you for being open to where the Lord is leading and for allowing Him to bless me through you. You're a gift, a gem and I'll always be your man.

(don't worry mom, it's just a song lyric!)

PS: Some of our favorite things?

Opera's bread video

Large Diet Cokes from McDonalds (at any time of day) (and only $1.07)

Stress in foot form

LANY

and Rachels forehead. 

CLASS OF 2017

I walked into the 2017 graduation feeling oddly like, I was graduating. I wasn't wearing a cap and gown. Instead of my whole family, it was just my mom and I. And I had just completed my first year of college...but still, I felt like a senior all over again?

This year was super weird, I'm sure you've figured it out. And I feel like I've graduated from a million things and people in hundreds of ways over this year. So it was a graduation for me of sorts. Except this year I didn't have to deal with any of the high school drama! That was by far the best part.

11:34pm

Sometimes its 11:34pm and as you're getting ready for bed, you're hit with a wave of gratitude. 

Life is messy and hard, full of broken relationships and severed dreams. But in certain moments, those thoughts subside and instead the little but beautiful things- a free bouquet of flowers, a promise a good read, and soft pink light -are all I can see.

The power of Pink

The idea of couples leaving love notes strewn about the house, hidden in cupboards and under pillows, has always been extremely idyllic to me. You thought you were just pouring cereal...till a handwritten love note landed on top of the Lucky Charms as well.

(maybe I'm just buying the wrong brand of cereal?)

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there are little love notes for me strewn all over my house and my town and in every detail of life. In sunsets, in flowers, in Vespas and clothing, God's little love letter to me is everywhere.

One day I was in Atlanta and it was just, one of those days. I don't even have to go into detail, You know how it is. As Hannah Montana once put it, "Everybody has those days." I needed encouragement, a hug (and some chocolate), and to know that everything would be okay.

(And then a little more chocolate, for good measure.)

My mom and I happened to be driving through the city on the way to visit family. It had been a stressful trip but we stopped at a trendy place in ATL to have lunch and feel like our lives were slightly put together (it sort of worked!) We ordered a burger to split and an latte to share, and by share I mean I shared one sip, and then went and sat down.

And then the burger came out. And when I saw it, I started crying.

Now, don't deny the fact that you too get teary eyed over a beautiful burger but this one was extra special. Instead of the classic American fixings, this burger was topped with an undeniably pink homemade beet thousand island sauce. In retrospect it kind of looked like a Krabby Patty but at the time, all I could see was the fuchsia hued sauce....
and the goodness of God.

Maybe you see God's glory in goodness in an beloved animal, or in the face of a person you adore or a beautiful sunset. Whatever it is, I know I'm not the only one. God speaks to us all in a million ways. And one way He continues to encourage me is through my favorite color, pink.

I love pink. I always have and I'm equally convinced that I always will. Over the years,  my love of pink has certainly grown just as I have. And while it sounds cheesy to say, I know its more than that. When I see pink, I see God's goodness. I see His love, His creativity, His generosity in sharing glimpses of His unlimited creativity with us - I feel all of that when I lay eyes on a vivid fuchsia or soft shade of salmon.

God didn't have to give me that pink burger to show me he loved me. He could have just given me a plain burger or an undercooked one or the restaurant could have been closed- and His love for me would have been the same.

But He did. Because He Loves us. And furthermore, He loves to bless us. In little, unique, individual ways. He doesn't have to do anything for us really, but He loves us. He loves enough that He sent His only son to die and take the punishment for our sins. He loves us enough to forgive us daily. He loves us enough to prepare a place in Heaven for us.

And He even loves us enough to give us a pink burger on a bad day. Just to show that He cares, about everything.

No matter what it is that makes you stop, smile and remember God's goodness, I hope that whenever you see it, whether it be a vibrant sunset or the quadruple chins of a baby, I hope you're reminded of how fiercely God loves you, and how much He loves to bless you.

And I hope that one day you get to try the infamous pink burger. Who knows, maybe you'll burst into tears too?

jenncmayes

It's been raining every day, all day, for nearly 3 weeks. To say I'm a bit depressed about it would be a serious understatement.

Since the sun seems to refuse to shine here in the Sunshine State, old photos from a beautiful summer sunset will have to suffice.

AS GOOD AS GOLD

(image)

Yellow and I have had an interesting history. My room was butter yellow for most of my childhood, and despite the fact that butter is one of the most amazing things on earth, I wasn't too crazy about it on my walls (I'd rather have it on popcorn anyhow.) Then we moved to Montana and EVERY room in house was yellow, and not even the same shade either.

The detox took a couple years but this spring I had a small change of heart! Sunshine and french fries both happen to be yellow, so it can't be that bad right? My appreciation for yellow was continuing to increase and I was super excited when a blogger I follow posted about small collection of lemon yellow Spring arrivals. Until I clicked the link and the dresses were LITERALLY $995.

I mean, who needs to make car payments when you could just by a dress??

After I picked my jaw off the floor while simultaneously congratulating myself for not being the most extra person on earth, I decided to make my own round up of spring yellow arrivals.

So now you can have the best of both worlds: a dandelion yellow dress and keep up with your car payments!

(or buy more french fries, one of the two.)

keychain // cutout dress // midi dress // mules // leather skirt // lemon sweater // mini dress // loafers // raincoat //