Have you ever just stopped to think about nature and all its beauty? God created everything just as it should be. Think about how tall the majestic mountains are and how the valleys provide cooling shade amongst the canopy of trees? The intriguing and mysterious depth of all the oceans. The warmth of the sun, it’s strategically placed to maintain enough warmth to keep us from freezing and far away to keep us from burning. The detail and function of every plant and animal in the kingdom, every living organism. God created science and the building blocks of life. Lifegiver. Creator. Sustained. Provider. Father. His plan unfolded in a miraculous way.
Jesus came and showed God’s power in human form. Divinity in the flesh. He came to earth just like me and you, a baby from his nurturing mother’s womb. From the beginning conception was even miraculous, a young virgin. His birth was just like any other child, except in a barn because the inns were crowded. As a child, his wisdom grew as he learned and taught in the synagogues. Wise beyond his years. A normal kid and teenager with his parents and younger siblings. A hardworking carpenter’s son like his dad Joseph who loved to fish. He grew up into a young adult, and started his ministry at age 30.
His first miracle was at a wedding of some family friends, Mary his mother was with him. They had run out of wine, and all they had were pictures and jars of water. Jesus, provided the wine. Wine was symbolic of joy. Jesus brought wherever he went. He calmed the storm by saying peace, be still. He walked out of the water and called one of his beloved disciples to join him in by doing it too. He fed thousands with just a little snack of a lunch meant for one little boy. He can multiply even the smallest of things in our lives if we have faith to just let Him work! He healed the blind, and opened their eyes to wonders they had never seen before literally and spiritually! He opened deaf ears and the first thing they heard was the voice of truth, the Son of God! He healed the mute, their first words were praises to Him! He healed the sick and hurting from all ailments and afflicting diseases. He helped the lame to stand and walk in truth and life! He spoke the truth and changed lives for the better. He brought a dead man, who had been in the grave for four whole days, back to life! Can you imagine?! Everything he did struck up wonder and amazement!
What are some examples in your life or in the lives of others around that you’ve seen His power and glory displayed? Are you in need of a MIRACLE? Ask Him! Seek Him!
Here are two song links and MEMORY VERSES for you to study and ponder on your heart:
“Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”
Luke 5:26 (ESV)”And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
“Not all who wander are lost…“. A common phrase many post of their wall or have it tattooed. But few actually go wandering off the beaten path…and as Frost would say take the road less traveled. Adventure is out there, go find it. Life is too short to be bored or be boring!
Travel, conquer fears, try new things, do things you never dreamed you could do or would do AND do the things you have always dreamed of doing…then do it again just because you loved it. If any of you know me well personally or spend just a short time around me you know I have a pretty extensive bucket list (and always adding to it!). I started making it and writing it down probably since 2012 when I was 22, and it has ever evolved into many drafts on handwritten notebook paper with purple ink that now faded to pink graffiti, or the notebook I have that I journal about my life and story that I’ve kept since about 2014, or the list making and note taking app I have on my phone that I use for just about everything, but my absolute personal sentimental favorite is the “Our Bucket List” journal that my then boyfriend now husband got me for Valentine’s back in 2018, with tickets to Biltmore Estates and the date marked for the day after my birthday March 10, 2018 THE DAY HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM! As you can see that’s my favorite bucket list because it’s our adventures and dreams together. So, there’s more to the proposal you see, one of our favorite Disney/Pixar movies when we were dating was the movie UP. Carl and Ellie and their grand adventures and adorable romance. The book was part of Wes’ proposal “Our Adventure Book” filled with pictures and ticket stubs and mementos from our few years of dating and even our just friends years in college. The page said “Life is a grand adventure, I could not think of anyone better to be on this journey with! Will you continue our adventures as my wife?” What a perfect proposal in my opinion! Five years together, two years married and the adventure continues!
A few weeks ago my husband Wes and I just completed the Ultimate Outsider Challenge for South Carolina State Parks. This challenge means you have visited and explored all 47 state parks in our beautiful Palmetto state. We have 46 lovely counties full of small town charm and lots of historic sites. We started in 2017 when we were just dating and leisurely completed the challenge on January 13, 2021. We have camped and stayed at several and even visited a few of the closest ones more than once. Long ago before we ever dated and were just friends in college, our senior trip for an actual course credit was a mission trip to Costa Rica back in January 2014. Our honeymoon was a cruise to the Bahamas back in January 2019. Every year on our anniversary so far we like to take some trip and explore! I have only flown in a plane once and cruised on a ship once, but once you do it- you’ll want to go somewhere over and over again. On to the next adventure!
You can break down your goals, dreams, journeys and adventures however you want: by decades, by year, by career, by travel, by stuff you do as a couple, as a family or gal pals. It doesn’t matter where you go, or what you do it’s what you want to do in heart that sparks joy or something big that you know God has called you to do. It can be short and sweet or long and ever evolving. Life isn’t always about the destination but the journey! Who you’re makes it even more fun and memorable! Together is a great place to be, or somethings are more a solo trek! Whatever speaks to your heart!
Here below is a copy of my bucket list: and I’m always adding things to it!
[ ] 1. Be a better wife, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, niece, friend, leader, teacher. Be a better me, a better Christian, a better witness, a better heart attitude. [ ] 2. Lead more people to Jesus Christ, make an impact. [ ] 3. Become a godly wife and mother. [✔] 4. Get married to the love of my life one day. God sent my Prince. (January 5, 2019 Wesley Alexander Carnley) [✔] 5. Get married in the church I grew up in. (January 5, 2019) [✔] 6. Be kissed in the rain/dance in the rain [✔] 7. Watch the sunrise, wake up to see a new day begin. Watch the sunset. [✔] 8. Go on a mission trip (January 9-20, 2014 with CIU youth min) first but definitely won’t be my last! [✔] 9. Fly on a plane (January 9, 2014) [✔] 10. Visit Costa Rica (January 9-20, 2014 CIU mission trip) [ ] 11. Visit Puerto Rico [ ] 12. Visit Africa, safari [ ] 13. See Victoria Falls in Africa [ ] 14. Visit Europe, everywhere. France, England, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, etc. Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Arch de Triumph, Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge, Ireland, castles old churches. All of it. [✔] 15. Walk on the beach early enough to watch the sun come up over the ocean. (in Jaco Beach Costa Rica January 2014) [✔] 16. Ziplining in the mountains and rainforest (January 19, 2014-Costa Rica) [ ] 17. Visit Rupp Arena & Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, KY. GO CATS! [ ] 18. Visit Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Home of the Kentucky Derby. Visit Louisville Slugger Museum [ ] 19. Visit Nashville and soak in all of Music City. Visit the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, sing on that stage once in my life. [✔] 20. Go to a Clemson game at Memorial Stadium in Death Valley, SC (September 15, 2012) [✔] 21. Go whitewater rafting (June 26-27, 2013 with youth group) [ ] 22. Go ziplining in the Smoky Mtns AND at the Riverbanks Zoo (“Zip across the Zoo”) [V] 23. Go iceskating (every year at Accelerant from 05) take Wes iceskating [ ] 24. Go skiing (attempt) [ ] 25. Swim in all 4 oceans: ✔Atlantic, ✔Pacific, Artic, Indian. [ ] 26. Visit the Holy Land. Jerusalem, Israel. Bethlehem and all the biblical places where Jesus was. Tel Aviv. Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Gethsemane, Jerusalem, etc. [ ] 27. Swim/float in the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. [✔] 28. Read the bible more than once cover to cover. [ ] 29. Travel, go on a cross country road trip. [ ] 30. Write and publish a book or a few. (Working on it started in March 2020) [ ] 31. Pay off my student loans [✔] 32. Get my driver’s license (November 22, 2014) [✔] 33. Graduate High School (May 29, 2008) [✔] 34. Graduate College, obtain at least 2 degrees. (Bible Certificate, Youth Ministry & Family Culture BS) (May 17, 2014) [ ] 35. Earn my Master’s degree, attend grad school. Pursue higher education [✔] 36. Own my own truck. (bought and paid for, title and all) June 29, 2015 [✔] 37. Become first aid/CPR certified. April 15, 2016 and Sept 16, 2016 [ ] 38. Get my CWP, own a handgun and a rifle. [ ] 39. Learn to ride a bike. [ ] 40. Go to the Carolina/Clemson football game (Palmetto Bowl) [ ] 41. Ropes course at Riverbanks Zoo [ ] 42. Indoor Rockclimbing…may be real Rockclimbing too. [ ] 43. Read all of C.S. Lewis books [ ] 44. Get my hunting license-DNR course [✔] 45. Get my official fishing license (March 2015) [ ] 46. Take photography classes and become a licensed photographer [ ] 47. Visit Memphis, visit Graceland [ ] 48. Visit Atlanta-Go to a Braves game. [ ] 49. Visit Charlotte and all the fun things to do there [✔] 50. Visit Billy Graham Museum and Library in NC (May 2009) [ ] 51. Visit Chick-fil-a corporate home office in ATL. Also visit the original Dwarf Grill [✔] 52. Visit the original KFC, Sanders Cafe in Corbin, KY (Labor Day Sept 7, 2015) [✔] 53. Visit Cumberland Falls, (National Park in KY) September 7, 2015 [ ] 54. See the Moonbow at Cumberland Falls. [✔] 55. Go on a cruise, Bahamas (HONEYMOON January 6-12, 2019) [ ] 56. Visit Hawaii [ ] 57. Go to Disney World, visit Cinderella’s castle [ ] 58. Go to a NASCAR race [✔] 59. Go deep sea fishing (Freeport Bahamas, honeymoon Jan 8, 2019 caught Mahi Mahi and had it for lunch) [ ] 60. Horseback riding on the beach at sunset. [✔] 61. Own my own small business (Mary Kay income to grow H4HH) [ ] 62. Helicopter ride [✔] 63. Own my own home one day [ ] 64. Visit NYC, see the Statue of Liberty at Ellis Island, visit Rockefeller Plaza especially during Christmas/NYE, iceskate at Rockefeller Plaza…would be super cool [ ] 65. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC [ ] 66. Visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History, National Archives, Monuments at Washington DC [ ] 67. Visit Grand Canyon, Arizona [✔] 68. Visit Savannah (Tybee Island) July 31-August 2, 2015 [ ] 69. Visit New Orleans [ ] 70. Visit Niagra Falls [ ] 71. Visit Italy -all the cities, art, culture, food, architecture. Throw a penny in the Trevi Fountain, see the colesium. house of Montague and Capulet of Romeo and Juliet in Verona. Tuscany. Milan. [ ] 72. USMC mud run [ ] 73. Run a 5K (at least one) [✔] 74. Learn to play guitar (started in 2005…sophomore at AC Flora) [✔] 75. Learn to play piano (started when I was 11…quit and then fell in love again with it at 16) [ ] 76. Learn to play banjo, fiddle and drums too [ ] 77. Richard Petty Driving Experience at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte [ ] 78. Eat at Lady and Sons restaurant in Savannah (Paula Deens) Meet Paula Deen [ ] 78. Hot air balloon ride [ ] 79. Carolina Adventure World, mudding [ ] 80. Read more often, especially literary classics [✔] 81. Get second hole pierced in my ears [✔] 82. Eat at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co restaurant (twice in Gatlinburg once in Charleston) [ ] 83. Learn sign language (ASL) [ ] 84. Go to a pro game (NFL, MLB, NBA) [ ] 85. Go to an NCAA Championship game. [ ] 86. Learn to speak a foreign language fluently (Spanish first, Italian or French maybe after that) [ ] 87. Go to a concert Meet Dolly Parton [✔] 88. Go to DollyWood (Pigeon Forge TN) (family summer vacation in July of 02,03,04) [✔] 89. Meet Billy Graham ( not applicable. He passed away in Feb 2018) [✔] 90. Go to a Hillsong United Concert (July 18, 2016 @ Colonial Life Arena with Lauren Daigle) [✔] 91. Go to a Chris Tomlin concert (November 2012 Florence Civic Center) [✔] 92. Take self defense classes (for women) April 27, 2019 [ ] 93. Learn to be a better swimmer [ ] 94. Go to real Broadway show [ ] 95. Hike the Appachalian Trail [ ] 96. Hike the Palmetto Trail [ ] 96. Conquer my fear of rollercoasters [ ] 97. Ride a mechanical bull [ ] 98. Go to a rodeo [ ] 99. Take horseback riding lessons [ ] 100. Start a nonprofit organization/ministry [✔] 101. Start a blog ministry (Hope For Her Heart: June 22, 2015) [✔] 102. Set up a 401K or some type of retirement fund or IRA (the week of my 30th Birthday) [ ] 103. Visit the American Girl Store (finally one day get a doll!) [ ] 104. Go to a Reba concert [ ] 105. Learn to line dance [✔] 106. Buy a nice pair of cowboy boots, a leather belt with my name on it. [ ] 107. Go to drive in movie [ ] 108. Learn to translate Hebrew and Greek [ ] 109. Be able to afford to take my parents on a real vacation one day. [ ] 110. Be able to thank and repay my parents for all they’ve done in my life [ ] 111. Own my own family farm one day. [ ] 112. Own a few horses [✔] 113. Visit all state parks and historical sites in SC, especially Columbia, Charleston, Camden. [ ] 114. Read all Nicholas Sparks books and see all the movies [ ] 115. Volunteer more time at various local charities, ministries and non-profit organizations [ ] 116. Be a “big sister” through Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization [ ] 117. Become a licensed counselor [✔] 118. Become a teacher (hired at Adlerian Child Care Center in Irmo January 27, 2016 preschool…Creative Beginnings Christian Child Development Center December 28, 2017- Assistant Director both centers) [✔] 119. Become a children’s pastor, youth pastor (Children’s Director April 2, 2017) [ ] 120. Sponsor a child through world vision or compassion international [ ] 121. Go on a mission trip to one of the orphanages through world vision or compassion international [ ] 122. Volunteer with Operation Blessing with CBN The 700 Club [ ] 123. Sleep on a blanket under the stars one summer night [ ] 124. Grow my hair long enough to chop it short and donate [ ] 125. Collect a family recipe cookbook, research our family tree ancestry and create scrapbook [ ] 126. One day become either a foster parent or adopt a child, give hope of a better life [ ] 127. Raise our future children to follow Jesus [✔] 128. Be someone’s crazy awesome aunt (my real nephews are older than me more like brothers…first great nephew in 2004-added 3 more sweeties when I got married…we have 10 nephews, 5 neices) [✔] 129. Be a bridesmaid (Bridgett and Justin’s Wedding 12.31.15, Cam and Kate’s Wedding 11.17.17, Bobby and Colleen’s wedding 12.8.18) [✔] 130. Create intentional random of acts of kindness [ ] 131. Be a nanny [✔] 132. Catch lightning bugs in a mason jar [ ] 133. Go to a shooting range (an indoor and outdoor) [ ] 136. Meet Tim Tebow [ ] 134. Go hunting [ ] 135. Go sailing on a beautiful sailboat [ ] 137. Meet Luke Kuechly [ ] 138. Volunteer for at least a week or two with St. Jude Children’s Hospital [ ] 139. Meet Wendy Griffith of The 700 Club [ ] 140. Meet Mandy Hale, blogger and author The Single Woman [ ] 141. Travel and Train Compel Writing Workshop with Proverbs 31 Ministries. Meet Lysa TerKeurst and Renee Swope [ ] 142. She Speaks Conference through Proverbs 31 Ministries [ ] 143. Volunteer or be on staff for She Reads Truth [ ] 144. Meet and sit down with our lovely former Governor Nikki Haley and shake her hand, thank her for her diligence and hard work. [ ] 145. Pursue more higher education: maybe an additional bachelor’s degree, quite possibly an associate’s, definitely some certifications [ ] 146. Go on the tour of historic homes (Robert Mills District) in downtown Columbia [✔] 147. Hold baby wild animals…like a tiger cub, joey(baby kangaroo), a wolf pup, a kinkaju, and lemurs! (Zootastic Park in NC March 19, 2016) [✔] 148. Get over my fear(more so “nerves”) of public speaking [ ] 149. Write a letter to myself and open it in 10 years and repeat. [✔] 150. Visit The Biltmore Estate in Asheville and other fun things to do there. {March 10, 2018…the day I said YES to Wes, the best man I’ve ever known!💍} The day after my 28th birthday [ ] 151. Visit Greece. Greece-all the cities, art, culture, food, architecture. Athens. Sparta. Santorini. Thessalonica. Crete. Corinth. [ ] 152. Visit “Pretty Place” the chapel on the mountain at YMCA Camp Greenville in Cleveland SC [✔] 153. See Kari Jobe in concert (Accelerant Conference 2014, Gatlinburg TN) [✔] 154. See Lauren Daigle in concert (July 18, 2016 @ Colonial Life Arena opened for Hillsong United) [✔] 155. Earn more certifications and credentials (college courses) [✔] 156. Go kayaking, and canoeing. (June 3, 2017 Broad River with Wes) [✔] 157. Enter my art/photography in the state fair or any contest. (October 2019) [✔] 158. Go Hiking [✔] 159. Ultimate Outsider Challenge all 47 SC State Parks with the Park Passport Plus (June 17, 2017 & COMPLETED January 13, 2021) [✔] 160. Go to a Carolina football game at Williams Brice (September 16, 2017 vs Kentucky with Wes) [ ] 161. Swim with dolphins [✔] 163. Tropical Kayaking Adventure {Half Moon Cay Bahamas Carnival Island…January 9, 2019 honeymoon…Bonefish Lagoon saw starfish, conch, sea cucumbers, and jellyfish} [✔] 164. Put a love lock on Lake Murray Dam with Wes (July 20, 2018) [ ] 165. Slow dance in the headlights on some back country road [✔] 166. Go snorkeling {Half Moon Cay Bahamas Carnival private Island January 9, 2019} [✔] 167. Watch all Star Wars movies in order. Fill in missing pieces of story line. [✔] 168. Take Dad to see Air Force museum in Savannah [ ] 169. Watch all Marvel movies in order. Fill in missing story line pieces. [✔] 170. Be an entrepreneur (started Mary Kay June 2019) [✔] 171. Adopt a puppy (Sept 26, 2019 we brought home our Beagle/Labrador Ginger) [✔] 172. Mount Airy (Mayberry) NC home town of Andy Griffith -birthday surprise trip March 9, 2020 [ ] 173. Dahlonega, Georgia at Christmas time [✔] 174. Buy a lottery ticket [✔] 175. Diamond Hill Mine in Abbeville SC [ ] 176. Visit Brazil. See the Amazon. Experience Rio de Janiero [✔] 177. Go to a tea room with my mom, my sister’s, my aunts and my closest girlfriends (definitely will be going again) [✔] 178. Take pictures in a sunflower field and pick some 6/28/20 [ ] 179. Meet Ree Drummond and go to the ranch and Mercantile in Oklahoma [ ] 180. Meet Joanna Gaines (and Chip) and visit the Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, Texas [ ] 181. Be on Wheel of Fortune [✔] 182. God’s Acre Healing Springs, Blackville SC [✔] 183. Eudora Farms drive thru safari [ ] 184. See the Great Sequoias and Redwoods National Forest [ ] 185. Visit all the National Parks [ ] 186. Biltmore at Christmastime [ ] 187. Stay in a cute little bed and breakfast [ ] 188. Guardian ad Litem (GAL) [✔] 189. Cake baking, decorating side business (November 2020) [✔] 190. Watch all The Chronicles of Narnia movies [✔] 191. Brookgreen Gardens at Murrells Inlet
So I say this with a big heart full of hope and wonder, get out there! Find things you are passionate about and do them! Find curiosity and wonder and go explore! Got questions, go find answers! Want to learn something new? Go try it out! There is no harm done in trying something different! Life is way too short to be boring or full of what ifs and the “shoulda-coulda-wouldas”. If anything 2020 taught us all, things can change faster than you think. But I leave you with this heartfelt YES, the very best decision you could make and greatest adventure you’ll ever take is to follow Jesus. Let Him be your compass to whatever roads you take. Life is not always about the destination but the journey, bumpy roads often lead to beautiful places and the most beautiful destination awaits with Jesus: Heaven. Let life here on earth show no fear of the unknown. “Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures”
Hope For Her Heart 