He leaves the 99

I am so thankful I was able to visit my grandparents this past week. I had not seen them since December 2014 when our daughter was just 2 months old. My husband was unable to make this trip due to work obligations and plans to make a trip back up there in December this year. It was amazing seeing my Gran & Papa together loving each other. Although my 92 year old Papa can't move too much, he was able minded enough to talk this time. We were able to reconnect and reminisce about all of our wonderful memories. He is a STRONG man and is so exemplary of what I wanted and FOUND in MY husband, Justin. All of my Papa's qualities are found in my husband of 5 years. I can't wait to make it to 57+ years as my grandparent's have. My Gran is so sweet and caring, I see a lot of her qualities in my daughter. I hope to carry on a legacy as amazing as theirs. There are so many people in this world that are hurting and need someone to care for them. My Gran has NEVER met a stranger and has welcomed so many children and adults into her heart. It may be aggravating at times when we are in a hurry somewhere, but that's just what I want to remember. Life is TOO SHORT, to not take opportunities to share LOVE when God puts people in front of us. It doesn't matter WHERE you are, God can use you ANYWHERE. You don't have to have a stage to help someone out with a word from HIM. That is something I am learning in this season of GROWTH. Just to BE. I am studying scriptures, leaning in on HIM and just want to SOAK in HIS presence as much as I possibly can. I know that one day even if that day is not TODAY my life will bring peace and hope to someone. It says in the bible "He leaves the 99 for the 1."

"If a man has 100 sheep, but one of the sheep becomes lost, then the man will leave the other 99 sheep on the hill. He will go to look for the lost sheep. Right? And if the man finds the lost sheep, the man is happier about that one sheep than about the 99 sheep that were never lost. I tell you the truth. In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want any of these little children to be lost."

— Matthew 18:12-14 NLT

I want to help that ONE. The ONE lost soul. A wanderer lost in this world of pain. Searching for someone to help. Crying out for help everyday. I am passionate about Prison Reform and truly looking into the HEART of each person accused of a crime to get to the ROOT of their struggles. If they WANT help, we need to HELP them. I BEGGED the public defender in my case to help me seek treatment for my co-dependency and drug addiction. She told me I did not have a drug problem.. THAT is WRONG. We need to actually HELP people who are asking for HELP. Punishing them by sending them to Prison and incarceration in general is not eradicating the issues. That is why I believe the statistics are SO HIGH in reoffenders. The root of the issues are not being dealt with. We are essentially just sweeping the true issues under the rug and standing atop of them and eventually someone is going to pull that rug up and see the mess that's been left. I posted a link to a story from the Washington Post ; https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/in-prison-reform-a-little-of-something-is-better-than-a-lot-of-nothing/2018/05/28/d3862c6e-605c-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f117695ad94

I really want to go back to school and study psychology. I am unsure of the ultimate end goal for me, because that is GOD'S WILL, and not my own. I am trying to feel out my purpose, and I know for SURE it is HELPING PEOPLE in some way or other. His WILL be done. IT's a NEW HORIZON and I'M SET ON YOU GOD! <3