walking with the wise + free printable

free printable! click image, save to computer, print on 8.5x11! xo!

Recently I've realized something. Your friends will not always value you the same way you value them.

This has only become something I've truly paid attention to lately - simply because I have friends that aren't on the same page as me; or at least their actions don't say so. 

If any of you are reading this blog, sometime down the road, or maybe next week, who knows when I'll finally share it...I want you to know, my love for you hasn't gone anywhere. I promise.

But; that being said, I'm learning that it's okay to let go of friendships sometimes. You can only do so much before the other person has to meet you in the middle, and sometimes, God says "you don't have to keep going. This is on her now; stop beating your head against the wall." 

I know that sounds silly, but it's true. Sometimes God gives us the o.k. to walk away. 

It's a bittersweet feeling...knowing you've done everything you can, yet they don't care...and at the same time this battle you were fighting is no longer something you have to worry about. Of course, it doesn't mean you just ditch the person. But the deep friendship you once had or were at once working towards? That might not ever happen.

I've been down the road of disappointment too many times. Friend, after friend, after friend has left me in the dust for someone else. They've said "see ya, I found someone better."

That's partially why I have this blog - because I wanted to have a place where I could just leave it all, and be myself, and not have to worry about any of them ridiculing me. 

I'm a strong girl. I don't let my emotions run my life - and I rarely react on my emotions quickly. But I will ignore hurt and pain and stinging comments to a point that isn't healthy. And I finally lose it, and discover I don't even know why I'm friends with some people. I get to such a lonely place, though, that I'd rather spend time with them than complain about my feelings. This is half my fault for not finding enough of a friend in my Savior and half the fault of the people who surround me.

That's not how it should be, though; I shouldn't be spending time with people who are constantly tearing me down, or who I don't feel really care. This is not to say some healthy criticism once in a while isn't due...but I have friends whom I spend time with and only ever walk away from our time together feeling dejected...and that's not okay; especially when they're my brothers and sisters in Christ. 

We are to be building each other up, not tearing them down. And unfortunately, that's not always the case. I'm not perfect at it either; but I have been on the receiving end of brutal sarcasm and stinging remarks far too often. 

I'm going somewhere with all this, I promise.

A couple days ago, my bible app's verse of the day was Proverbs 13:20; it read:

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

This is how I feel, oh so very often. I spend time with people who aren't uplifting, and my heart suffers harm.

Maybe I'm taking this out of context, I don't know. But I do know I'm not going to keep that habit up. I'm done having half-hearted friendships with people who say "lets hang out!" but don't mean it. I'm over the boring youth group conversations that leave me thinking "did we really just have a whole conversation about that?" 

I want to talk about Jesus! I want to talk about my struggles and not be judged, because I have a stamp on my forehead that says "Expectaion: perfect". I'm not perfect. I'm a human 17 year old girl. Lets cut each other some slack and love deeply, wholly, truly, like Christ did. Lets go beyond your day and the weather, lets talk. 

My new goal is to be a friend who is wise; to be a friend who is uplifting, and caring. The bible says they will know us by our love - I want to be the kind of friend that is simply love to the other, in hope that they are trying to be the same, and we can come together and glorify Christ in our friendship.

Strive to be the wise friend; strive to walk with the wise friend. Two very different, very daunting tasks.

Blessings, sweet friends.

xoxo,

Ruthanne

happy valentines day, friends!

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

This single lady is going solo this year, but for all of you wonderful couples out there - I hope you have a fantastic time celebrating your love!

And for all of my fellow singles out there....celebrate! This time only happens once in your life - enjoy not being tied to anyone! 

Happy Valentines Day!

currently loving from modcloth;

I had some time to waste an incredible amount of time looking through look at the new stuff that's been coming into ModCloth the past few weeks, and wanted to share my favorites with you!

This lovely dress is so pretty! Pink, simple, cute and sweet....It's so precious!

Now, IF I just so happened to have $110 to blow on a dress, this would be the dress I'd buy...most definitely. And I'd wear it with my jean jacket - the sleeves rolled up/cuffed and my cowboy boots. Want! 

I don't normally like jeans from ModCloth, let alone light wash, but I loooooove these! 

And ladies, is this coat just so me or what? Piiiiiiiink! *wink* 

This pretty dress is sure to make you smile.

The Too Much Fun dress style is basically one of my all time fave's from MC - the picnic purple and Daisies prints are all too presh to pass up! Will definitely be making myself some of these.

And last but not least, this gorgeous dress is so very pretty and so very desired by this girl!

Happy Thursday, friends! 

guest post: chelsea leigh of happy bow lucky

hello, beautiful readers!!

i'm chelsea! :)

and i blog over @ happy bow lucky!

(i'm the one on the right!) ;)

first of all, i just want to thank Ruthanne for asking me to guest post for her!

she is one of the sweetest people i have met in the blog world...

and i love her so!

we are very blessed to have such a beautiful soul to gain wisdom & insight from!

thanks again, lady!

have fun on your trip.

praying for safe travels for you!

XOXOXOXO.

now...to the guest post.

i talk about myself on my blog ALL THE TIME.

so, today, i am going to tell you all about my relationship.

...with my handsome MAN.

his name is Justin.

yes, he really is that gorgeous.

he is my fiance.

he plays the guitar & sings. (SWOOOOON)

and i love him DEARLY.

we started "dating" when i was 13...

and he was *pause* 17!

(i know. i know)

we never could hang out alone, though.

we were always with friends or family.

and we never went on a first official date until i was 17. :)

(daddy's rules)

and it was all so worth it.

(just babies!^^^)

justin & i did not have the perfect relationship right from the get go.

we have never claimed to.

we argued all the time.

we fought.

he was no mr. perfect.

and i was no princess.

we became sexually active. (still remained virgins, by God's grace!)

but we lost a LOT of our childhood & innocence.

we broke up 2 different times...

which totaled 5 months away from each other.

it was the hardest thing we've ever done,

but it was so needed.

we were immature.

we were young.

and all we wanted was each other.

i hate admitting this...

and it hurts me to do so.

i feel very guilty.

but i want to be bare & open before you.

when i was dating Justin, he came before the Lord.

he came before spending time in prayer.

he came before worship.

he came before listening to Christ's voice.

he came before reading the Word.

he came before it all.

he was my world.

and Jesus was in 2nd place. :(

(i know. i'm such an awful person!)

but during those times apart, we sought Jesus so radically.

(even though i had another guy in my life - again, i know)

we dove into the Word.

we spent every morning & night frantically searching the Scriptures.

because we couldn't get enough.

that is when Jesus became more to me.

He meant so much more to me than Justin did.

and i never thought that was possible.

Jesus became my Best Friend.

my Love.

and my #1 favorite in all the world.

justin & i got back together in the fall of 2010.

we dated & things were miraculously different.

he pursued me.

i respected him.

we didn't fight.

it was as close to perfect as you could get.

he FINALLY proposed December 20, 2011.

and now we are getting married June 23, 2012!

it has been such a long journey, but one that i wouldn't change for the world!

justin & i still don't have it all together.

we argue every now & then (although it's NOTHING like it used to be!)

but we know what love means.

we know we are in this for the long haul.

it's not about feelings.

it's about choice.

it's about choosing to love each other every day of our lives.

and to work hard to keep our relationship healthy.

justin & i have been through more things than you can imagine these past (almost) 6 years.

i got shingles....if that tells you anything. :/

but through it all, i find myself so amazed at the Lord's hand in our relationship.

He only wanted to be 1st in both of our lives.

that is all.

and even though we had to take some MAJORLY tough roads to get there,

we are both happy & excited for the next stage in our lives....

MARRIAGE.

praise the Lord. hallelujah.

so... i just want to encourage you guys...

if you are on a tough road right now.

or if you are facing something difficult that there seems to be no way out of...

turn to Jesus.

He alone is the answer.

not your MAN.

not your best friend.

not chocolate.

not anything, but Him alone.

run to Him.

and when you arrive...

seek His face like never before.

your answer will come.

and i promise you it will be so worth it.

thanks again for letting me guest post, love!

i enjoyed it so much!!

and if you guys want to stop by my blog - that would be AWESOME!

be sure to let me know you are visiting from Ruthanne's blog!

thanks for reading! :)

isn't she adorable? if you do not love this girl with all your heart by now, you need to see a doctor. She has become such a dear friend to me in the month or so I've known her - and I can tell you this - she has such an amazing heart. I just love her soooo much! :) head on over to her blog and show her some love! :)

xoxoxoxo!

-Ruthanne

Dear husband; vol. 1

Dear husband;

I don't know you yet, or at least I don't know who you are yet. I've been thinking about you a lot lately; who you are, what you'll look like, the things you'll love. I'm wondering how tall you'll be. The color hair you'll have. If you'll be a full blown country boy, or want to travel the world.

I've been wondering what you'll think of me, when we first meet. Or if I even know you right now, even, what you think of me this month, week, day...

I'm wondering how many kids we'll have, if we're even blessed with such precious gifts.

I want so badly to know who you are. My childhood fantasies are welling up inside of me and I so badly want to see your face and know you're mine. For you to see my face and desire no one else's.

But I hear a still small voice, whispering for me to wait for you. To wait to look for you, wait to receive any man who I think could be you, just to wait and rest in His presence.

You know, my love, last week a newly married 20 something girl, prayed for us. I'd known her all of maybe three hours; and as we stood there, her hands holding mine, she started praying for our purity, strength, and for the desire to honor God to grow in our hearts. And you know what else? I cried. You may not know this yet, but I don't exactly cry.

Maybe right before "that time of the month" or when something quite terrible happens, but I don't cry.

And I did, as this woman I'd known for barely three hours prayed for me, and prayed for you. She prayed for us. Us! Us. That gives me chills and makes me smile.

I'm praying for you too though. That you're learning how to be the kind of man I need. The kind of husband I need. That your character is that of a godly man and not that of a coward. That you are good, honorable and pure. I'm praying that you love the sisters around you like sisters - and that they treat you and respect you like their brother. I'm praying that you are surrounded by only good things; and that if you're not, that you're seeing the good in them.

I love you already, so much. I can't wait for us to meet one day. I want to know you so badly; but my heart is holding out for you and you alone. It is yours forever, my love.

People laugh, but my whole life has been spent preparing myself for you. Preparing myself to be the wife you need. And I'm so not even close yet. I'm only sixteen, now. Can you believe that? Sixteen. Oh dear.

I am going to bed now; but you will be in my dreams. You always are and I can't wait for the day I look you in the eyes and know you're mine until the Lord wants you somewhere else. Oh, what a beautiful day that will be.

With all my love, devotion and adoration,
Ruthanne

a wedding.

Oh, weddings. I love weddings.

Minus the fact that they make me want to get married...

But that's beside the point.

Sunday was the wedding of two of my very dear friends - Courtney and Russ. It was a beautiful, gorgeous, amazing wedding. Filled with God and absolutely darling. I was so excited that I got to go - originally I was going to be out of town, so had to decline the invite, but the weather changed that, and so I last minute called Court and asked if she still had room for me to be there - I was so happy she did! I didn't take any pictures - but I thought I would post the ones from their photographer's Flickr.

 Aren't they a beautiful couple!? I love you Russ and Courtney - and was so blessed to be able to share in the celebrating of your marriage! ♥