I first shared this photo on my Instagram several weeks back. I wanted to share it here along with the words I wrote those several weeks back. These are words I need to repeat to myself every day as I strive to let the Holy Spirit guide me.
I've been flooded with memories lately. Some of the bad. All of the good ones. All the memories that are reminders that God has taken care of me over and over again. These memories give me hope and assurance of the promises of the future.
Every road will not be pretty. There will be twists and turns and hills and valleys. There may be a couple stall outs. But, the memories show me that there is a beautiful future. There is a God who goes before me, a Father who loves me, and a Spirit who guides me. And He is guiding me into a future that is full of His light. A future of things I know and of things yet unseen. But, it is a future where He is already there. And one day, the memories of today will be reminders of the past and assurance for the future. Holy Spirit guide me.
What are ways that God has shown to be faithful in your life?
Because, friend, He is so very faithful.
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There's nothing better than being a tourist in your own city. And that is something that I'm looking forward to doing more of this summer. One Thursday, my roommate and I were both off from work, so we decided to play tourist. Mobile is full of museums and I'm also a big fan of museums, so we decided to take advantage and tour both the history and art museums! The History Museum of Mobile is always free admission and the Mobile Museum of Art has free admission and extended hours on Thursdays. There was no better day to go exploring!
I really enjoyed the history museum! It's a beautiful building downtown, full of artifacts and exhibits filling up almost every room of the two story Old City Hall. I could have spent much more time there, so I'm looking forward to going back. Next time I hope to have my Dad with me, as he's a big history fan himself. I enjoyed walking around and reading about the history of Mobile. Some things I knew, others I didn't. Seeing as I still consider myself pretty new to the area, it was a great experience and gave me a deeper appreciation of this city. Enjoy some of these scenes from our quick trip there!
If you were playing a tourist in your own town, where would you go and what would you do?
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Yesterday was special for many reasons. It started with good fellowship and teaching at church. Then, there was the celebrating of Dad. My best friend and her husband celebrated their one year anniversary! And, it was officially the first day of summer! The summer solstice hit us and I was definitely not upset about it still being light outside at 8:00 PM.
It may be lame to say that I'm a fan of all the seasons, but I really am! Each one brings us something different and I'm excited to see what this summer in a new city brings me. I can't wait to keep exploring more of Mobile and bring you guys more snapshots. I love being a tourist in my own town. I can't wait to have some friends come visit me. There's nothing better than getting to play tourist guide, while still being a tourist! I can't wait to get outside more and hopefully find a place to hang my hammock. I'm also hoping to get myself back into a kayak this summer. The Mobile Bay is beautiful you guys and I want to explore it. I can't wait to read more books. See more movies. Watch more sunsets. Drink more Snapple. Because, apparently it and strawberries are my new summer thing. I can't wait to get out and run more. I can't wait to visit my neighbor, the beach, more. I can't wait to watch fireworks fill the sky on one of my most favorite holidays. And I can't wait to bake that good 'ole apple pie that goes so well with the fourth of July.
Summer is officially here, you guys! With it's longer, yet hotter, days. With the summer sun that bleaches my hair and sometimes (often) burns my skin. With the sweet sounds of cicadas filling the night and fireflies lighting up the sky. Summer has finally greeted us and it is waiting for our reply.
Welcome, Summer.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
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Hank Aaron was an exceptional baseball player. He held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years and still holds many records to this day! He is also the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times. He broke Babe Ruth's record for the number of home runs while playing for the Braves in Atlanta. Hank Aaron was also born in Mobile, Alabama and the stadium where the Mobile BayBears play is named in his honor. They say baseball is America's pastime and as much as I love football, I have to agree.
My roommate and I were heading home from the beach one day when she won tickets to go watch the BayBears. So, we continued our day of fun and headed to Hank Aaron Stadium for a little bit of BayBears fun, adding to the list of reasons of why we love Mobile and providing the opportunity for this snapshot!
Every other Friday, I'm going to be sharing snapshots that I have taken in and around Mobile. Not only do I want to share with you guys this place, but it will help me to get out and explore. I love the idea of "snapshots", because sometimes they are quick and can be hurried, but always capture a memory. My photos may not always be perfect or frame-worthy, but I hope you enjoy them. I hope you enjoy seeing little glimpses of Mobile and I hope this encourages you to get out, explore your town, and take advantage of all your place may offer. This is #SnapshotsOfMobile. Enjoy!
Are there any places in your town or city named after someone famous?
Are there any celebrities or notable people from your city or state?
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I recently joined a new small group at church and last night was actually my second time hanging out with everybody. This alone is an answered prayer, but that's a whole other blog post. Last night we all shared our stories or our testimonies. I've shared a little of mine here and there on this space. And I feel like every time I tell my "story" I do a horrible job. I'm so much better with written words than I am with spoken. The introvert in me doesn't want to speak and I stumble constantly over words and repeat the same thing over and over. Maybe, hopefully, it doesn't come out that horrible to those that are listening. The extrovert that craves to come out sometimes wants to be so eloquent that anyone would want to be her friend.
Anyways, back to last night. After I shared my "story" or whatever stumbled out of my mouth, I started thinking about all the things I could have said. I wanted mostly to say that my life has been a series of twists and turns, new roads taken, old roads left behind. I've pushed people away, forgotten others, and held tight to a special few. I've said no to God multiple times only to come back to say, "Yes, Lord." And every time it happens, I wonder why it took me so long to say yes in the first place. He shouldn't have to tell me something multiple times before I finally say yes. An overwhelming yes should be my first answer. Not only because He is God, but because He is everything to me. He is my Savior, my Hope. The One who guides me through all the twist and turns. He is my Friend, my Protector. And He is my Provider.
Whenever I have been in need of something, truly in need. God has provided. Whether it be a long awaited answer to a prayer or a definitive yes or no to this choice in my life, He has provided. There have been times where He has provided without me even realizing. The same goes with His protection over me. Every step I've taken has led me to a place where eventually I have found Him. Waiting, as if to say, "See, told you I would be here." He knows the exact path I'm going to take and He knows how long it's going to take me to get there. He knows I'll be stubborn and probably won't ask for directions at first. He knows I'll look for landmarks along the way, wondering if I turn left to go over the bridge or if I turn right past the old house on the corner. No matter where my trails go, in a straight line or all over the map, eventually they lead to Him. Waiting at the red "x" that marks the spot. The spot where He wanted me to reach all along.
When I look back and remember all the ways that the Lord has provided and protected me, I wonder why now I still don't relinquish control to Him. I wonder why I don't walk the straight path to Him. Why must I still trek all over the map, constantly reaching dead ends and climbing over boulders that are bigger than my car? Why do I look at the fork in the road and choose the harder path instead of running full sprint down the straight, clean path where my Savior is standing, waiting for me?
The things of this world are so shiny and tempting. They are beautiful and calling my name. But, oh how I pray I'll resist them. Instead I pray I'll stand at the fork in the road, fix my eyes on Him and run as hard as I can toward Him. I pray my eyes will be fixated on my Provider and Protector. But, if I do find myself on the hard path, I pray my eyes won't be blind to seeing the whole map. That even in the dead ends I'll see the lighted path that is my way out and my way back to Him. The way back to my Protector and Provider.
Who is God to you?
Which path are you running?
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There are only so many things that I can keep up with for a year or more and I'm so glad that blogging is one of them. Blogging isn't only therapeutic, but fun! Not too mention the great community that comes along with it. I love when you guys stop by and when commenting leads to conversations. And then, when those conversations move toward actual written letters with one another. I love the encouragement that we can give to one another and that even though we may be states or nations apart, we still find ourselves in similar seasons of life. Blogging can definitely be another example of how the Church is more than just a building, it's all of us, together, pointing each other toward our commonality, Christ.
I love that each of us is different, but we all learn something unique from one another. Whether we are twenty-something and single, newly married, moms, DIY-ers, small town gals, city dwellers, travelers, explorers, shop-owners, sport lovers, book lovers, whatever it may be. We learn more about each other, more about ourselves. We discover new places we want to go, new things to do, and more projects to take on. We tweet, we pin, we like, we enter giveaways like crazy, we post pictures and double-tap for hearts. It isn't always joyous. Sometimes we get too caught up in this blogging life. We wish we had the life of another blogger, wish our house looked like theirs. We long for more page-views and more followers. We check for comments constantly and study analytics intently. Sometimes we get burned out and we want to throw in the towel. We dream of living the life of the "big" blogger, instead of remembering why we started blogging in the first place...whatever the reason may be. Even if the day comes where our blog makes it big, where the page-views reach 1,000+ daily, our followers exceed 500+, or we're making money... Let us never stop being real.
I think I say it every time another year passes, but I truly can't believe it's been another year of me writing in this space. Yesterday, Polished Arrow turned two. And I love this space even more. It's been another year of connecting with believers and encouragers around the world. It's been another year of wandering just exactly what I want this space to be. It's been another year of searching and seeing that I'm not alone in my twenty-something struggles. It's been another year of celebrating, rejoicing, and praying with a community I'm so happy to be a part of. It's been another year of me trying to be real in this space. Blogging helps break down walls, helps you connect with others, and helps you to see that you aren't alone whatever stage of life you're in. It's been another year, but this post and these hopes below are just as true to me as they were when I first wrote them last year.
Let us never stop sharing our struggles and our triumphs. The highs and the lows.
Let us never be afraid to be real in a world dominated by "perfect" lives on social media. Let us not ignore the seasons we are in. Let us remember that we are not alone in them. Let us not miss the life that is happening before us. Let us not just look out the window, but step foot outside. Let us remember that while blogging is fun, there is a world waiting for us beyond the computer screen.
Cheers to another year of being real with one another!
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Mobile is a city full of rich history and being located in the deep south makes it a prime candidate for houses like this one above. This is the Oakleigh House, now a museum. It is located in the heart of the Oakleigh Garden District, one of my favorites to drive through. And luckily I get to do that every day as I drive to and from work. My mom and I had the opportunity to visit the house back in March. They have recently completed some changes and are soon to do more. I can't wait to go back once they are finished. One of my favorite things about the house has to be that giant staircase in front. Fun fact I learned while visiting the Oakleigh House, the oak trees that line Government Street were planted by man. However the oak trees on the property of the Oakleigh House are not. They are original, full, and lovely, just like the house itself.
Well, after a little break from blogging and this series, it is finally back! Summertime is here, so I'm hoping that means there will be many snapshots to share with you guys. If this is your first time seeing this series, here's what it is about!
Every other Friday, I'm going to be sharing snapshots that I have taken in and around Mobile. Not only do I want to share with you guys this place, but it will help me to get out and explore. I love the idea of "snapshots", because sometimes they are quick and can be hurried, but always capture a memory. My photos may not always be perfect or frame-worthy, but I hope you enjoy them. I hope you enjoy seeing little glimpses of Mobile and I hope this encourages you to get out, explore your town, and take advantage of all your place may offer. This is #SnapshotsOfMobile. Enjoy!
What is one of your favorite places to visit in your town?
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I'm beginning to notice a trend when it comes to my travel posts. A lot of them involve me being around some form of water. I've always said that wherever I live needs to be near some form of water. Lake, river, ocean. I'll take any or all. I love being near the water and the breeze that hits you when you're standing on the shore. Recently I took my Sunday afternoon to head down to the beach. I'm only an hour away! Seriously, why does this not happen more often? Only an hour from views like this? That's another reason why getting there more often is one of my June goals!
What is one place you want to visit more of this summer?
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What are you currently up to?
Playing | In the sun. Whether I'm outside pushing six kids in a bye-bye buggy, soaking up the rays from the sun on the beach, or getting my run in, I'm outside a lot lately. It always tends to happen when summer hits, but I've been itching to spend more time outside. I've been hindered by quite a bit of rain, but the sun has still made appearances. Now, just to find a place to hang my hammock.
Going | To my summer job at my church's daycare. But, recently, I finally got to head to the beach for the day and I'm hoping that happens again very soon. It's one of my goals for June and really the rest of the summer. Wearing | My Anne Cole bathing suit that I recently got. I never thought I would be excited to have a bathing suit, but I recently invested in a good one and I'm loving this one! Who ever said there weren't any cute one pieces? They were wrong. Sipping | Water. H20. Agua. Reading | Wild by Cheryl Strayed and It Starts with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig
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Complete the Barre3 Anywhere Challenge | Yes, another challenge. I like to set goals and be challenged, what can I say! I've done a few barre style workouts in the past, so when I learned about this challenge I jumped on board. The challenge? Four 60 minute barre workouts a week. One 10 minute outdoor barre workout a week. And one Barre3 recipe a week. What I love about Sadie and the gang is that it seems they want you to make it your own. That way, you can do it how and when you need to. My goals within the Barre3 challenge are: to actually complete it, rotate full body with upper and lower body workouts, and continue my running program in addition to Barre3. I've come a long way in the Couch to 5K program I'm doing and I know I have a ways to go, but I'm excited for the journey. Some days are going to be tough with Barre3 and running, but I don't want to push pause on my runs seeing as I'm actually enjoying them.
Keep running with my Couch to 5K Program | See above for reasons and also because at the end, I actually do want to run a 5K. Words I never thought I would say. Clean eat as much as possible | Mainly because, it's the way to go. Just from the short time that I was doing well with the Whole30, I saw and noticed differences. Those are things that I want to keep happening. And have kept happening although I'm technically not Whole30 compliant all the time. Believe me though when I say that dairy and I are not friends anymore. Nope. Nada. Write letters to friends again | I was doing so well with this when I was living with my parents last year, but since moving and starting new jobs, I've stopped writing letters and my mailbox is getting lonely and sad! I have a fresh batch of stamps and a box full of Target stationery that is dying to be used. So, I'll be reaching out to a couple of you old pen-pals for addresses again and I'll be looking for new ones! If you are interested and love sending/receiving mail, please, please, please let me know below or send me an e-mail. Celebrate Polished Arrow's 2nd birthday! | I can't believe it's time for this space to turn another year older. It's come a long way from my first blog and even from the first post here on Polished Arrow. The community that I've become a part of is one that I hope to never leave. I love how this space has changed and evolved and can't wait to see what happens in her second year! Mostly, Polished Arrow wouldn't be what it is without you guys. Because, you guys are the community. Which means you are the best. :) Go to the beach...and then go again. | Living in Mobile, I see water a lot. And the Bay is beautiful. I love the Bay, don't get me wrong. However, I'm also only an hour away from the beautiful sands of the Gulf Coast. And it's a quick hour drive, let me tell you. Literally a straight shot. I plan on taking full advantage of the beach this summer. I hope there will be many Saturday day trips. I mean, how else am I going to show off this bathing suit?
Did I mention partaking in the Whole30 at anytime on this blog? No? Yes? Can't remember? Neither can I. But, all you need to know is that I did well for a little while (even with having to go out of town the first weekend of my 30 days) and then faltered. I knew going into it was going to be hard and come with it's own challenges and I honestly didn't know how long I would make it. It didn't take long for me to realize that all I had learned before starting Whole30 made sense. And that it was definitely the next step in my fitness journey. All that to say, I didn't succeed with my first Whole30. And that's okay! I'm giving myself grace, because although I completely blew it, I start new every day and I'm happy to say that I do pretty well when it comes to making good and healthy decisions now. I think that may be reflected in some of my goals for this month.
Let's not focus on when the last time I wrote out monthly goals was, but instead focus on the fact that we are in a new month which brings all new starts and beginnings. So, with that, here are my goals for this lovely month of June.
What are you goals for the month of June?
Can you believe we are pretty much halfway through the year?
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