i just woke up

wow last night i went to sleep anxiously awaiting my first day as a 1st grader and i woke up today with an MBA staring the real world straight in the face.  at least that's what it seems like.

and now what should i do....?
should i jump into a job just because it's a job
should i blog more (this is an obvious answer)
should i begin writing my book
should i move
should i keep doing what i'm doing

there are so many "what should i's" that come to mind when facing the future but the better question to ask is what WILL i do?  so many times i have gotten caught up in the what should i do scenerio where i really don't take everything into account.  through my long dream that was elementary school all the way until the end of graduate school, the "should i" game has reared its ugly head multiple times.  the thing i am most sure of now is what i will and feel called to in what lies ahead.  i WILL make a difference in lives, i WILL jump on any opportunity that is given to me, i WILL pursuit my desire of athletics, and i WILL rely on my father in heaven for every answer to every question i have.  oh yeah, and i WILL blog more.  sorry been frustrated and on edge recently. 

"but blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  they will be like a tree planted by the water that sends its roots by the stream.  it does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green.  it has no worries of drought and never fails to bear fruit."  Jeremiah 17:7-8 

p.s. prayers are welcomed as i am traveling to ecuador on thursday to do some of the Lord's work.

dear mama

day late but...

yes, i am not afraid to admit it, i am a mama's boy.  i have been since the day i was brought into this earth by her. i can't imagine where i would be without her today or what kind of man i would have turned in to without the guidance and direction that my mother provided. 

at first i didn't want to be considered a "mama's boy."  it just sounded like i was a big wimp and a push over.  for the longest time i would get so irritated that people would tell me i look and act just like my mom.  i didn't want to be like my mom.  i wanted to be the tough, hard-nosed kid that was more like daddy than mom.  as i've grown older, i have accepted the fact that God put my mother her for me and that being compared to her in anyway was a blessing and a very heralded complement.  it's funny to think back in my stubborn days that mom was/and is always right.  without her, i would be a complete mess.  she is my best friend and always wanting what's best for me. 

funny story in regards to my mom actually...we were sitting in church sunday (yes Mother's Day), and before the service i was looking around the sanctuary trying to pick out a girl that was my "type."  as i told my mom what i was doing she just chuckled and said what exactly is your type?"  of course i said i'm not really sure, but little did i know that 45 minutes later i would know.  my pastor, Dr. David Eldridge preached a sermon on the christian woman and mother, and boy was he spot on.  after the service my family was enjoying a wonderful lunch and i looked to my mom and said, i think i have found my "type."  oh really she said and what would that be.  i responded with a quick did you hear that sermon?  david painted the perfect picture of her, and she is just like you (my mom).  what a way for God to show me what type of girl i want to be with than the picture he painted with my mom that i have failed to realize recently. 

kind-hearted, open, emotional, worrisome, beatiful, bold, unique, talented - these are just the few characteristics that describe mom and i can't wait for the day that i can call my wife the same things. 

Psalm 127- the message preached on sunday

and dats her!!!!

i got da best fam

i love my family and i have the best family in the world.  i would not change them for the world.  they bring me joy, love, frustration, laughter, peace, anger(at times), etc.  and when i say i have the best family in the world, i'm talking from mama and daddy to aunt and uncle to cousins.  i love every single one of them.

this past weekend i got to spend time with my whole family.  as you know it was easter weekend so i was able to go back home and celebrate that awesome day that Jesus Christ rolled away the stone with all of my family.

so my mom's side of the family is who i spent the afternoon and evening on sunday with, and let me tell you i could spend 24 hours 7 days a week with them.  simms, sara scott, uncle g, aunt dana, my tanmama they all just are such a joy to be around.  if i want girl advice or any advice at all let me tell you simms and sara scott are right there to tell me what's up.  i think i may laugh the hardest when i'm around them.  not only that but i learn so much from them with there honesty and bluntness.  what a great trait to have when you need someone to shoot you strait.  aunt dana is always there talking about how i can get into the school system and what i need to do to become a future principal or administrator which has become more and more of an option.  and i can always count on uncle g to agree on how bad the ole miss baseball team is playing or how i can't stand the st. louis cardinals.  and my sweet grandmother (tanmama is what i call her) has such a special place in my heart for the push she gives me in my schoolwork and job hunt.  she has such a kind heart and a want to for all of her grandchildren to succeed. i admire her so much.

okay so on to daddy's side.  it's like night and day when it comes to this side of the family.  when we all sat together at church on sunday, i'm sure half of the church was like "oh goodness, what's the stewart clan gonna pull of this time?"  it's different because apart from my sister dorie, it's all guys and we all like to be loud and make people laugh (each other especially).  i don't have the time or the energy right now to break down all of this side of the family since my dad's side is a bit larger than mamas.  nonetheless, everytime we get together it is a treat in itself.  and recently one girl has been added as one cousin just got married, and as of friday night another one is tying the knot.  exciting times in the stewart family.

now for my immediate family, that's a different blog for a different day.  once again i could write a book on how much each family member means to me: mom, dad, adam, and dorie.  wow is all i can say.  i'm so lucky to be able to consider each and every one of them my best friends.  i can share anything with them, and i know they will support, criticize, and help me with anything i'm going through.

i am so blessed to have the family that i do.  sometimes it takes a weekend like this past one to actually realize that.  i didn't even really want to go back home this weekend but am SOO glad i did.  it's these little things in life that are so great and i am so grateful for these people that have been implanted in my life!

i hope each and everyone of you reading has a family that's close like mine and if not.....there is always room for one more in the stewart/haguewood clan!  we all know you'd love us!


who wouldn't want to be a part of this??

deep breath...and exhale

patient is defined as bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger.  having patience is the act of doing the previously described definition and man is this tough sometimes for me.

i like to consider myself a pretty patient person.  i don't mind having to wait to get certain things but more recently i would have to say i'm growing more and more impatient.  so here i am 3 weeks from officially having my master's degree and still have no job lined up.  this has been a growing concern for weeks and months now and i in turn am getting very irritated and impatient.  it seems like every job i apply for, i'm not getting a response and i want answers.  little do i know about my future and i struggle with it every day.  i keep telling myself there is a reason you aren't hearing back from these jobs you have applied for, God has a plan for you.  that plan seems so distant right now. 

sometimes it just feels as though the whole world is against you and the only thing you can do is wait it out.  in undergrad i was under the impression that i was going to graduate, have the girl picked out that i was going to marry, and have a job lined up(being a big time investment banker).  well i've heard it all along that if you want to make God laugh just tell him your plans.  well good grief i'm sure the Lord is rotfl (rolling on the floor laughing) at what i had planned out.  going back to school is not something i had planned out, but it was the best thing that has happened to me.  my job still situation seems bleak but at least i have an idea of what the Lord wants me to do.  it's all about following His plan and this sometimes requires much patience.  this has been the case with me even though it feels like it will never end.  eventually i will land where the Lord wants me and what was meant for me but until then all i can do is ask Him for guidance and patience along the way.

to all, take a deep breath and exhale, the Lord knows and always has so let Him show you.

the "what if" game

yeah it's actually happening, i'm blogging on back to back days and i'm blogging while at work again.  oh well what's the worst that could happen?  i get fired..ha yeah right these people love me.  and while i'm at it i've got justin bieber playing in my ears.  what a wonderful spring day.  and now on to the real point of my blog today which is the "what if" game.

many times in my life i have caught myself thinking or saying to myself, what if _____ would have happened? or what if _____ wouldn't have happened?  i've eventually come to a point where i'm not asking myself that anymore because whatever happens happens and really most of time you can't control it.  back in the day i would sit and ponder what if i was 6 foot 3 and weighed 210 pounds and was a stud athlete.  now i say thank you Lord for making me the little 5 foot 9 150 pounder that i am.  i wouldn't have it any other way. 

instead of asking those difficult "what if" questions, i have rephrased my way of thinking in a way that says this happened because ....  it is very relieving because i'm not constantly beating myself up over what i think should happened or think will happen. 

as the old cliche goes, everything happens for a reason, and you know it is the absolute truth. during my short time that i have been here on earth i am a firm believer of this.  it's so comical to me when people think that everything should be in this certain type of order and things should go as the world wants them to go. 

i've recently been concentrating on following the road that the Lord wants me on and this "what if" scenerio/question is the furthest thing from my mind.  i know and am comforted by the fact that whatever happens is for the best interest of me. 

Jeremiah 29:11 says:  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Pretty comforting huh!

and these are a few of my favorite things

first of all i can't take complete credit for this blog entry.  she doesn't know it but leah hand and her blog motivated me to write something similar to something she did on her blog.  if you haven't read it....start! thanks leah! 

the title pretty much says it all about this entry.  spring is one of, if not my favorite time of year.  spring weather, spring football, baseball(my favorite sport), the nba playoffs, girls at the pool, etc, etc, etc.  i could go on for a while about the reasons i love spring but i'll spare you and begin with the reason of me writing this blog.  take a minute for yourself and think about all of your favorite things.  i bet that list will multiply greater than you may think if you take everything into account.  i will go ahead and start with my list and feel free to stop reading now if you have no care in the world about what i like to do or do with my free time.

My Favorite Things:
Jesus Christ
Church
Worship Songs
Isaiah 30:15
The book of Matthew
My Family (yes all of you!)
My Friends
THE Ole Miss Rebels
UAB athletics (hey they gotta be a favorite if you work for them)
coffee shops
coffee
shopping
watches
antique clocks
vintage art
pandora radio
mumford and sons
hearing a new song come on pandora i like
my bed
wine
beer (don't judge me)
the atlanta braves
sports
running
reading
blogging even though i should do it more
the square
the grove
summer rain
attending any sporting event
dancing my butt off
singing
thinking about the day i will actually have a valentine
shoes
kobe bryant
thinking about what i want to do with my life
knowing God already has a plan for my life <--- THIS
apple products
dessert
laughing
my accountablity partner
random texts
thinking about getting a tattoo but never doing it (don't worry, i'll never have one)
leah hand's blog
glee (yep i'm serious)
making other people smile
friendliness

okay okay i'll stop there! from this list you may or may not think of me a little different but i couldn't care less.

The verse is "...in quietness and confidence lies your strength"  gotten me through a lot!!

and for now my favorite song for the time being:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y

hahahahahahaha

well whats up to my readers whoever you may be. it's been a while and i'll take full responsibility.  duties at work and school have picked up recently so i haven't gotten around to blogging recently...or that's what i'm telling myself anyway.  so i wanted to write this blog about one of my favorite things to do...and that my friends is laugh.  if i could i would sit around and laugh all day long. i tell myself i'm funny and sometimes even laugh at myself.. yeah i know what you're thinking..this guy is freaking weird, but i mean hey i am what i am and maybe funny describes that.

we have heard all the sayings:

"a day without laughter is a day wasted"
"laughter is the best medicine"
"an apple a day keeps the .... wait that isn't about laughter but you get the jist. 

what is my day like without laughter?  pretty lame and dull if you ask me.  laughter relaxes me, refreshes me, and heck even burns calories.  it's probably the coolest thing to do and guess what...it's free.

laughter is even mentioned in my favorite book..the bible. in proverbs 17 verse 22 it says a joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up bones.  in job 8 verse 21 job is directly told the lord will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting.  heck even the lord wants us to laugh and be enjoyable. 

if you need a good laugh hit me up, i'll give you some good jokes or refer you to some good tv shows or youtube videos that will have you rolling. 

until then laugh on my friends and for goodness sake lol (laugh out loud)