Roaring Twenties!

Hey readers! As of last Saturday, I am officially two decades old! It is funny to think about life in those terms because when I started the last decade I was in, I was only a fifth grader. Now, I'm a sophomore in college, and time is flying by. I wanted to share with y'all some reasons why I am so excited for my twenties! While I'm going to write about some events I'm excited for in this season of my life, I am also so expectant of the things God is going to do in my life and my heart over the next ten years! 

Five Reasons Why I'm Stoked for My Twenties:

1) I will, Lord-willing, graduate from college at some point in my twenties.
            Graduating from college will be one of the biggest accomplishments of my young adult life, and to say I'm ready for it is an understatement. I have had senioritis since my junior year of high school, and it just transferred over to college. While I am enjoying my time here in college, I am looking forward to being a graduate. It will be the start of a very exciting (and semi-scary) season of my life. It'll be the first time in my life that I won't be in school, which will definitely be a change. It will also be the first time in my life that I have a "real job" (because according to my dad, babysitting is not a real job). I am looking forward to the start of that season because I know it has so much sweetness and excitement to bring.

2) I plan to get married in my twenties.
            Okay, for anyone who knows me, this is no surprise. I have been planning my wedding to Al Rising since the day we started dating (hey, when you know, you know). While I obviously don't know when our engagement and wedding will happen, I know that it will be at some point in the span of the next ten years, and I am more excited than words can express. I am a strong supporter of marrying young - who would have ever thought the phrase "marrying young" would refer to your early twenties? I am especially steadfast in this when it comes to Al and me because we want a big family, and I'm not trying to have babies when I'm forty. Marriage is such a beautiful representation of the way Jesus loves us, and I can't wait to have a marriage that reflects Him.

3) I will be seeking a career that is fulfilling and brings me joy in my twenties.
            The last part of that sentence is the most important to me. I am seeking a career that will truly bring my joy. I am hopeful that God will place me exactly where He wants me. I have learned, this year more than any other, that money is not everything. Yes, it is awesome to have and everyone desires to have enough to be comfortable. However, it is not everything. And while I would love a career that would bring in lots of dough to support my family, I realize that I may not find that career when I first get out of college. I may not find that career for several years after college. I just know who holds me in His hand, and I am going to be fully reliant on Him to provide for me in times of need and in times of plenty. I have no clue what I want to do as a career after I graduate, but I do know that I am looking for a job that will make me happy over a job that will make me bookoos of money, but leave me miserable. I just keep reminding myself of Proverbs 19:21. 

4) I hope to have my first few kids in my twenties.
            As I stated above, Al and I want a big family. Since we began talking about a family, the number of kids we want has continued to grow. We both just have a heart for children, and we can't wait to have some of our own. My twenties are an exciting time because, Lord-willing, I will become a mom. Anyone who knows me knows that my dream in life is to be a mom. As many of my friends continue to tell me, I have a very mothering nature. I pretty much mother everyone around me. I can't wait to apply that characteristic to my own kiddos one day. I am probably most excited about this event in my twenties because it is my dream.

5) I plan to travel A LOT in my twenties.
             I have always heard that the best time to travel is when you're young, and I could not agree more. Before I have any babies, I would love to travel to some of my top-pick places, including Spain, Greece, France, the UK, Ireland, Australia, etc. I would also love to travel to more places in the United States. While I want my kids to be well-versed in traveling, I want them to be old enough to remember what they see. Therefore, I will be seeing as many sights as I can see until my kids are old enough for me to take them to see it all.

Bonus Reason

6) I want to serve people passionately in my twenties.
             This year, I have been learning a lot about what it means to serve people. I have been looking deeply into how Jesus served people and what that looks like today. I want God to instill in me a passionate servant's heart, so that people will come to know Him through what He does in me. I hope in my twenties, with all these changes that are bound to occur, that I will always remember to put others before myself. Even during times of excitement and transition in my life, I pray that God will always allow me to see others' needs as a priority. I'm saying it here on this blog: My word for my twenties is service. I pray my life lives up to that word.
          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These are all plans that I have for my twenties, but I know that God's plan and purpose for my life is so much greater! I can't wait to see what He has in store for me during these next ten years. I am trusting Him to lead me where He wants me. 

Thank you all for reading!

-Morgan

25 Things

So my friend, Leianna, had a post similar to this a couple days ago (here it is). And it inspired me to do one of my own. I'll give you fair warning, I'm not that interesting of a person. You might fall asleep. Without further adieu, I give you 25 things you may or may not know about me:


1. I am in a full-time, committed, overwhelmingly awesome relationship with Jesus. I'm constantly trying to pursue Him the way He pursues me. He's awesome, and I love Him and hope you know and love Him, too!

2.  I'm from Ash, North Carolina. Not Asheville. Not Asheboro. I get those all the time. It's a little coastal town in the middle of nowhere, and I love it.

3. I have a serious obsession with One Tree Hill and Scandal, in that order. They're definitely my guilty pleasures. 

4. I am head over heels in love with my boyfriend of two and a half years, Al Rising. He's a cutie - if you know him, you probably agree. Can't wait to spend an eternity with him!

5. I have a close-knit family of five - well six now since my sister got married (love my new bro, Harris)! We share a lot of laughter, fights, tears, and smiles. I wouldn't trade them for the world. I'll also add that my sisters are my two very best friends!

6. Friends. The thing about me is that if I have ever loved you and cared for you, I always will. So I have a lot of girls (and boys) I consider my best friends. My two closest friends are Lexi and Lilly. But if I love you and consider you a friend, you know it and this includes you!

7. I drive a cute little car named Lola. She's getting old though (226,000 miles old) - too attached to give her up yet.

8. I'd like to think I can sing, even though I know I can't. I belt out some Carrie Underwood songs and Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" in my car from time to time.

9. I have a deep desire and passion for people who are hurting, lost, and in situations out of their control. I don't know what God has planned for this passion yet, but He gave it to me, so I know He has a plan for me to use it.

10. I genuinely love to write. My sister makes me write her boring college papers for her all the time, and I seriously love it. If you ever need something written, give me a call!

11. I love all things Disney. My new favorite is Frozen. If you haven't seen it, go rent it! It was seriously the best!

12. I love, love, LOVE the Spanish language. It's so beautiful. And I love the culture, too. I'm hoping to study abroad the summer of 2015 in Spain, if I get approval (I'm looking at you, Mom!) 

13. I had never flown in an airplane until last year on my 18th birthday - take me back to Mexico! Now, I have the travel bug. I just want to see the world... with my dear friend, Abigail, by my side (she has the travel bug, too).

14. I have a wonderful home church family - Jennies Branch is where it's at, and they're all SO loving! Go check it out if you're in the Ocean Isle Beach area! 

15. Speaking of church, I have made wonderful friendships with nine beautiful ladies who love God. My small group in Wilmington is my life saver. I always look forward to Monday nights. I love them all so much!

16. I love to listen to worship songs when I'm by myself and just praise God for everything He does for me!

17. I'm a mess most of the time - I hate cleaning up, I hate wearing makeup and fixing my hair, I hate wearing real clothes. I do it though, even if I despise it.

18. I have a slight obsession with wedding/engagement videos (howheasked.com), the perfect babies account on Instagram, and pictures of pug puppies.

19. One of my legs is actually significantly longer than the other one because I broke my growth plate when I was in 6th grade. It's a problem.

20. I don't study. Ever. 

21. I have developed a seriously bad habit - Ruzzle. I can't put my phone down because I'm always playing it... Thanks to my little sis, Lauren.

22. I'm a very introverted person. I tend to spend a lot of time thinking deeply about my life, who I am, how I got here, where I'm going, etc. I love to talk about my life and be open with people, though. I'm weird.

23. I love breakfast food. And Mexican. And pizza. Okay, so I just love food. 

24. Even if I'm not cold, I always have a blanket wrapped around me when I'm at home/the apartment. It makes me feel cozy.

25. When I grow up, I want to settle down back in Brunswick County. No matter what anyone says about it, it's beautiful and a piece of my heart will always be there.


Sorry all of those were long and wordy - see number 10. I can't help it! I hope you learned a little about me! Have a fabulous weekend, friends!