More fun with the Canon Rebel...

I am having so much fun with this precious pixie of girl! She LOVES to dress up and when I went up to the house to help paint, she was dressed in this little getup! We had some time before pizza and painting and she LOVES to have pictures taken so she ran and danced in the garden. I never once asked her to pose...al the pics are HER doing what she wanted to do...right down to climbing the tree! Had a blast! I also got a LITTLE sidetracked by the little bee you see on the purple flower...LOVE IT!

Memory...

I was just lying here thinking...

Do you ever do that? It is amazing what memories can come back to me in a flash and hit me in my stomach at the thought of how I could have and SHOULD have done something about it......

I was spending the night with a friend in 7th grade. The whole night was kind of weird. I have issues within my family, we all do... but this was different.

Her mom, sister, and I were all cooking dinner and hanging out. When her dad came into the house the whole place changed. The mood was tense and there was laughter but it was guarded. They had a paddle he kept on an old wood burning stove and they were showing it to me, with him in the room. I, not understanding all the power he felt from it and the fear the girls felt from it, picked it up and was jokingly threatening him with it. Looking back, I can see the fear in their eyes, and his glaring eyes, almost daring me to.

That night when we went to bed her and her sister begged me to be quiet, but at sleep overs you were supposed to talk into all hours of the night. When I heard his voice I understood. He was yelling at his wife, in bed, to MOVE OVER and other demands. Again, me not understanding the severity of the situation, I yelled, BE QUIET! The girls tensed up, I am sure because they feared him coming into the room to find out who yelled.

He never came...eventually things loosened up and we fell asleep. At least I did...

The next morning I went to their church. He didn't go. Their mom went forward during the invitation crying and asking for prayer. At that moment I realized all that was going on, and had an understanding of what was happening in that little blue house.

I remember my friend, how we grew apart, not long after that. How she would prank call me and how I was hurt by it.

Now, I see.

I see that she was the one hurting and afraid and I pray that for all those girls out there that are hurting and afraid and don't know where to turn...that they could turn to a friend. I pray that ultimately they could turn to Jesus...

That's all...

Don't get LOST...Get FOUND!

I remember as a child, the one time a week I got popcorn and coke was during Dallas and Falcon Crest! My mom loved those shows and I am almost positive that if I asked her today why that was the night we got to have coke and popcorn, she would say that was how she could keep us tame enough for her to get her shows in.

I see similar patterns in the world today, including myself. We brush so many things aside so that we can watch TV. There are many reasons as to why we might do this. I think the biggest reason is that we feel that we DESERVE to "chillax" or get a bit of peace weaved into our day through Jack Bauer, Ugly Betty, and the HEROES.

Since I have been living without a TV, and I have done this before...I have been spending more time with my Heavenly Father. I can guarantee that there is no better "chillaxin'" going on than when He and I sit and have time together. He is molding me and forming me into the person He wants me to be. Every day, I strive to glorify Him, in whatever it is He brings my way.

So...in 10 - 20 years, I hardly think that I will be thinking much about what happened to Jack Bauer, Ugly Betty, or HEROES...oh yeah, and what about those one guys that got LOST? I don't think my mom sits and thinks a whole lot about who shot J.R. either. So, I am really convicted right now, that the TV, and some other things, definitely need to take a backseat in my life. Who knows where I will be in 10 to 20 years? GOD DOES! And He wants to prepare me now for the obstacles and accomplishments I am working toward.

So...I want to encourage you to turn off the TV, open the Word, which, by the way, will be more relevant than any show on TV. It HAS been relevant for over 2000 years! And memorize God's Word and spend time with something and Someone who will continue to be effective in your life throughout the years!

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

--2 Timothy 3:14-17

LOVE MY REBEL!

Sooo...I have been loving my new Canon rebel! Here are a few of my favorite first shots taken during a fabulous day with fabulous people! They were edited on Aperture on my mac as well... Feedback would be fabulous!

Love ya'll!

Day by Day...literally

I just want to take a chance to praise God...

God is so faithful and so able to care for every need...big or small.

I literally try to walk day by day for Him...obviously I fall off the path sometimes...but last week I heard Him calling...and I am so excited to see what following Him will mean this time!

I was on facebook and a missionary friend of mine announced that he needed someone to go to Honduras for a week in September. I told him I was willing for sure but God would have to provide the time off from work, the ability to renew my passport before then, and the finances. Well...God has provided all three...to my knowledge. I say that because I haven't received my passport yet, but I do have the ability to have it expedited! They were in need of a willing individual and God provided. I was in need of all the above mentioned things...God provided.

So...I will be traveling with a group of folks that I don't know to Honduras! I am super excited to see what this trip has in store...I can only imagine! I know that they want to concentrate on street evangelism, washing feet, etc. Something different from anything I have ever done, so, I am actually filled with a nervous excitement!

I pray that God will be glorified in this and that this example of following Him and making MYSELF available, would show OTHERS that all we have to do is be willing...He takes care of the rest.

"For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love."

--Psalm 33:4-5

Living for today!!!

Natalie Grant has a fabulous song! I was driving home tonight and as many times as I have heard this song, it spoke strongly to me tonight...Things don't always turn out the way we think it will...praise the Lord that when we are close to Him we KNOW it will be ok...all any of us need to do, is live each moment as it comes...

Here are the lyrics:

Sitting in my room staring at the wall,wondering about the meaning of it all. Why is it this thing called life has got me going crazy. So I open up your word and let it speak to me. The purpose and the plan that you've designed is clear to see. And I believe.

I'm gonna live for today, I'm gonna follow in your way. I'm gonna let my little light shine like there's no tomorrow. I won't worry about the past, I know my future is in intact. So I'll choose to live my life one way ,I'm gonna live for today.

You told me not to worry, about what lies ahead. So I am gonna focus on today instead, making every moment count and counting every single blessing. I'm gonna set my mind on the Here and the Now. This is what I want my life to be about, and this is how...

I'm gonna live for today, I'm gonna follow in your way. I'm gonna let my little light shine like there's no tomorrow. I won't worry about the past, I know my future is in intact. So I'll choose to live my life one way ,I'm gonna live for today.

My life's a crazy life...it's got me spinning around and round, hanging upside down...taking one step at a time...holding your hand all the way and it'll be ok...

Living for today, I'm gonna follow in your way...I will follow...YOU...yes I am...I won't turn back now...I AM LIVING FOR TODAY!

As a matter of prayer...there is a possibility that I will be going to Honduras September 19-26th...Please pray God's will for this. There is a group going from Bloomington, IN that I don't know at all...but, they are visiting a place I have been to and the person there put a notice on facebook that the group has 9 and if they don't get 10 they will have to cancel...

Living for today...

Day by day for Jesus....

I guess that is the life we lead as Christ followers!

Love ya'll!

Roots

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And you may have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fulness of life and power that comes from God.”
--Ephesians 3:17-19 (NLT)



Reading this today reminded me how deeply rooted in His love I NEED to be...

I had a tooth pulled last week...and when I went into the office, I didn’t want to see the tooth afterwards, however after it was out, I didn’t care anymore, so I asked the dental assistant to see it and HOLY SMOKES!!! The root on that thing was HUGE! When the dentist was pulling it, he had to really dig and even though I had been numbed there was still a little bit of pain involved...and the deeper the root is, the more pain there is, naturally.

So, when I read this today, I thought...The deeper my roots are in God’s love, the harder satan will have to dig to pull me out...and incidentally, there is more pain involved...

Pain isn’t always bad, besides the fact that it hurts. It means that our roots are intact and ready to hold on for dear life before something else takes control. I am working on establishing my roots as deeply in God’s love as possible, so that when trials come, I am not easily pulled out! I pray the same for you!

GOD BLESS!

Sing With Joy

The Word truly does speak and fill us...

When I moved up here to Ohio...I had lots of expectations for how it would look...what I would be doing, who I would be hanging out with...

The last couple of months has been very different from what I originally thought. The past couple of weeks I have been SO busy that I didn’t take time to be in the Word like I should have...I CHOSE not to...there were times I thought about it and then made the choice to do other things...

I have felt as if I have emptied myself for I don’t know how long...I have felt like I stepped into a time chamber and travelled back to 1999 where we sing “I will dance on the streets that are golden” 500 times...I’ve felt a little self righteous...I have thought about how I gave up SO much to move up here and do what I am doing and I have been giving giving giving and not really getting much in return...which in some ways may be true but...

HOW DARE I?

Besides the fact that I am surrounded by such great folks, God has given me more than I deserve by blessing me with air in my lungs!

I finally cracked open the Word today to find such great reminders of what I am doing...

When I began this journey the verses that spoke to me over and over again were Matthew 16:24-25, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

These words are why I began this journey...How is it that those words were good enough to sell my house, leave my family, and friends, and the life I knew and loved but when I have to sing a song I was burnt out on 10 years ago, I get upset and wonder what I am doing? SERIOUSLY!?!?!

From now on, I will do my best to sing with joy, laugh with others, and to love the life I live, being filled by His Word...I pray the same for ya’ll!

AloHA!

Today Ryan left to go back to Romania...

While much was accomplished, there were so many things that both of us wanted to do during this visit that we didn't even have time to think about let alone do, because we were sooo busy. This past weekend we attended the wedding of his cousin Meghan and had a great time...the photos are my favorites that I took of the rehearsal dinner and wedding...

The good thing is that we are headed in the right direction, have gained focus on how to move forward in raising funds and me eventually moving over there. God is so good in that, while I dreaded today for the past couple of days, HE stepped in, comforted me, and gave me motivation to begin moving forward with the plans we have made for raising funds.

I LOVE GOD and how He knows what we need, even when we don't and how He provides it even when we don't ask, because we are His children and He loves us!

Thank you Father for loving me today and always!


The happy couple, Meghan, Ryan's cousin, and Ryan, her husband!!! ...but not the same Ryan...lol



Alex, Ryan's cousin with Kobe, Ryan's nephew!


Kenzie, Ryan's niece



Rod and Wendy, Ryan's mom and dad.


Justin and Carrie, Ryan's brother in law and sister



That is Ryan n me...lol...AloHA!

Long while

It has been a long while since my last post...truth is I have been super duper busy AND in some pain...

I have been in pain because I had an issue with an abscess tooth, went to the dentist and had to wait for almost a week till they could pull it...it was pulled today and though I am in pain I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Praise the Lord!

Besides work I was also involved in a week of VBS, after work every day a couple of weeks ago...it was one of the highlights of my summer as Ryan and I were the missionaries for the week and got to tell the kids about Romania. We had the goal of raising $3000 so that we can build the girls and boys bathrooms in the children's home in Romania. If we were to raise $1500 there were some adults who would get cupcakes in their faces...$2000 Ray drank a human milkshake (you don't want to know what that is), $2500 Justin, the youth minister/Ryan's brother in law would dress up like a baby, drink out of a bottle and be fed baby food, and at $3000 Rod, the minister of the church/Ryan's dad would get a mohawk and dye it pink (temporarily).

I had a blast with the kids that came to my room each night and I taight them some Romanian words and played some games and sang some songs with them. I taught them that the kids in Romania that we want to help like the same things we like, but they sometimes don't have a mom or dad to love them or take care of them so we are building a house so that we can help take care of them and give them a safe place to grow up.

Here are some pictures from the week...