It has been a while since I posted anything.

Christmas was really good. My sister and her husband came down and spent the day with us: we also had a few friends over.

We played games, sang carols, opened gifts, and ate ALOT of junk food lol.

On the twenthieth my brother and I had the priviledge to visit some very good friends of ours, the Sellers family. We always enjoy being with them. Patrick and John are close friends, they love to play their guitars and shoot their guns together. The girls and I are also good friends, I love spending time with them. It's good to see that there are still other people close to my age that want to serve Christ.

We went to their church Sunday - I always love being there- got to sing and play with them (as you can see above): they are all so talented and it was just a blessing to be a part of.

We also got to hear Bro. Sellers preach, which is always a blessing, as he is one of my favorite preachers.

I just love the family. Never have we returned from a visit with them without being encouraged. It's so good to have borthers and sisters in Christ!

Celebrating Jesus -

It's strange... every year before we open gifts, or do anything really, we always read the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2.

But, for some reason, it became incredibly real to me that this wonderful day is truly all about Jesus.

It sounds so silly and simple I know! But the Lord seemed to really magnify His day to me more than ever.

He left wonderful heaven, became just like me, and lived perfectly sinless so that I could go to wonderful heaven. I always rejoice and praise Him for this, especially during Christmas, but how easy it is to worship out of routine.

I just praise God for making this all the more real in my heart this Christmas season!

Yes, He became human, lived sinlessly, died, and was buried. But He rose again, and is still on the throne today!

Recently a friend of mine told me that God, the Spirit, faith, and... pretty much everything I beleive: it's all in my head.

O, to be honest, sometimes... it would be so easy to believe this.

But I'm happy to say that I serve a God who is real! He is never changing! He is not made up in my mind, He made my mind. I'm not holding Him, but He is holding me! He is not in my imagination, but I am made in His image! He is GOD!

How wonderful it is to be reminded this on Christmas. I just praise God for being God.

I'm not going to lie, I have been at a point of giving up, but I'm so happy that when He came as a baby and lived in this sinful world, He did not give up!

And He never gives up on me.

"He is the potter, I am the clay. Molded in His image He wants me to stay, but when I stumble and I fall and my vessel brakes- He just picks up the peices, He doesn't throw the clay away.

Over and over He molds me and makes me. Into His likeness He fashions the clay....."

I just want to encourage you. You have brothers and sisters in Christ. There are still people all around serving the Lord. And He is still God!

Brigitta, Jasmine, and me



We returned home from Chattanooga yesterday. Thanksgiving was so great; it was good to see all the famiy again. It was even better to see God's hand work in the family. Hearts were mended and some problems worked out. There are still a few small issues, but we are confident that the Lord will take care of it all, as He is always so faithful to do.
Thanks to all who have been praying!

As you can see above, I got to spend alot of time with my sisters. The three of us have always been pretty close, and it was so much fun to be with them again. We cried together, laughed together, and talked out our "men issues" lol (if you have close sisters, I'm sure you know how that goes). Nobody knows me like my sisters, that is for sure. :)

Brigitta and I carried out what has become a family tradition of "pulling the marriage bone," which is where the adults pick the two oldest, available grandkids and the kids pull the turkey's wish bone to see which one will get married fist.

This year happened to be us two sisters and I won....against my wishes lol.

So...Looks like I'm gona get hitched soon! The turkey said so! :)

On a more serious note: It is a silly tradition just for fun, and though it has actually been proven in previous years (you would be surprised), I am so thankful that my future does not rest in a wish made on a turkey bone. :)
It is sad to think that so many people do put their trust in such "fate" and wishes.
If only they knew the sweetness of resting in the Lord.
That is exactly what is is too.... sweet.

Those who have experienced the saving grace of God can truly rest. I personally tend to overanalyze, think, ponder, and worry about so many things; but God does not only know my future, He has already determined it, and whatever happens, happens because He wants it too.
Not that we don't have to make decisions, or chose between what is right and wrong; but just knowing that God has already painted the "big picture" gives so much peace.

The Holiday season can get so stressful, but I encourage you to take time with the Lord and truly rest in Him. Know that He has everything taken care of and He has determined the outcome of things. If we rest in Him, it is so much easier to keep our thoughts and intentions on giving Him praise in everything.

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their inhabitations.
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though He be not far from every one of us. For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of our own poets have said, For we are his offspring." - Acts 17: 24-28