Celebrate.

I absolutely love everything about being home for the summer in Texas. Texas summers hold some of my very fondest memories && it always seems to be a time of celebration! Typically, summer means celebrating no school, extra free time, sunshine, longer days, weekends at the lake, vacations, the 4^th of July, and lots of birthdays & weddings!!

• On May 27^th, Holly turned the big 2-1!!!
• May 31^st was Memorial Day honoring United States military men who have died for our freedom.
• On June 1^st I was finally able to celebrate Megan & Melissa’s birthday with them. The past two summers I’ve been in Africa, so it was a joy to celebrate their 21^st together.
• June 4^th marked the day my very best friend, Holly Penn, got engaged to Jon!!! Ekkk J
• On June 12^th, Sarah & Evan got hitched.
• June 20^th was dedicated to celebrating my remarkable, selfless daddy.
• In a few days, on June 26^th, Amanda Collins will no longer be a bachelorette! YAY!

and those are just the major celebrations thus far! I fully believe the rest of the summer has lots of exciting, fabulous adventures in store for us all.

This past month or so I’ve just been caught in a whirlwind of excitement -- about everything! I’ve felt like a little kid in a candy store about returning back to everything that the States have to offer – which has allowed me to celebrate the most simple of things. It’s been refreshing & I’ve experienced a deep joy with my normal/’boring’ life that I hope never fades.

My favorite thing to celebrate while being home has been the friendships I’ve been blessed with. I’ve loved being surrounded by people who passionately seek a relationship with the Lord. People who are authentic, vulnerable & can admit their flaws because they know they are washed clean by the blood of Christ. Matt Chandler always talks about how important it is to be surrounded by a community of believers – but it truly is the best experience ever ! Nothing makes my heart happier than spending time with friends who speak truth into my life & keep me focused on what’s most important. My friends who challenge me, encourage my ambitions, and stay by my side through the ups and downs bless my life immensely. Godly friendships call for a celebration of God’s goodness to His children.

Hope that your days are full of excitement & celebration!!!

“As irons sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17