my sistahs!

[[I LOOOOOVE these girls!!!!!]]

We always have such a great time together!
And have soo many awesome memories. :)

Lucky & Melanie I love you both soooo much!!!!!
We MUST get this summer trip in order...I NEED SOME L.A.M TIME :)

God uses weak people..

"My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness"
-2Corinthians 12:9a (NIV)

Chapter 35 is about 'God's power in your weakness'. It was soo helpful to me. I wanted to share a little bit of my reading.

"Sometimes, however, God turns a strength into a weakness in order to use us even more. Jacob was a manipulator who spent his life scheming and then running from the consequences. One night he wrestled with God and said, "I'm not letting go until you bless me." God said, "All right," but then he grabbed Jacob's thigh and dislocated his hip. What is the significance of that?

God touched Jacob's strength (the thigh muscle is the strongest in the body) and turned it into a weakness. From that day forward, Jacob walked with a limp so he could never run away again. It forced him to lean on God whether he liked it or not. If you want God to bless you and use you greatly, you must be willing to walk with a limp the rest of your life, because God uses weak people!"

*The Purpose Driven Life*

-Rick Warren

(pgs. 277-278)

Ever After..

"Real love lets you figure out the answers by yourself. It says good-bye for a season and prays for your return. Real love understands about love and sacrafice and is willing to live accordingly"
-Ever After
(p.327)

my all time favorite book by my favorite author!

Another Max Quote..I love him!

He went first to the Father w/his fears. He modeled the words of Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.".. Do the same w/yours. Dont avoid life's Gardens of Gethsemane. Enter them. Just dont enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground is permitted. Tears are allowed. And if you sweat blood, you wont be the first. Do what Jesus did; open your heart-Max Lucado

The Path of Righteousness.

"He leads me in the paths of righteousness"- Psalm 23:3

It was, at once, history's most beautiful and most horrible moment. Jesus stood in the tribunal of heaven. Sweeping a hand over all creation, he pleaded, "Punish me for their mistakes. See the murderer? Give me his penalty. The adulteress? I'll take her shame. The bigot, the liar, the thief? Do to me what you would do to them. Treat me as you would a sinner."

And God did. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)....

The path of righteousness is a narrow, winding trail up a steep hill. At the top of the hill is a cross. At the base of the cross are bags. Countless bags full of innumerable sins. Calvary is the compost pile for guilt. Would you like to leave yours there as well?

*Are you carrying bags of guilt around in your life? What does God want you to do with them?

[Max Lucado- Grace for the Moment]

pandora radio...

dear pandora radio,

i just love you!
thank you for playing songs
that lift me up when i need them most.

love always,

aw :)

TS3

Soo....I want to go see this. HAHAHA!
I know, I know..but seriously. Ive been super excited since I first heard it was in the making lol Toy Story was one of my favs when I was younger..mainly bc of sweet little my cousin Andy..but I just love it. Now I just have to make some kiddos go w/me so I can see it! hehe

Behind the scenes..

You may think
I’m just fine
How could anything
Ever be out of line?

I take my time
To set the stage
To make sure everything
Is all in place

Even though I’ve got the lines rehearsed
A picture only paints a thousand words

Things aren’t always what they seem
You’re only seeing part of me
There’s more than you could ever know
Behind the scenes
I’m incomplete and I’m undone
But I suppose like everyone
There’s so much more that’s going on
Behind the scenes

Sometimes I can’t see
Anything
Through the dark
Surrounding me
And at times I’m unsure
About the ground
Beneath my feet
If it’s safe and sound

When it’s hard to find hope in the unseen
I have peace in knowing it will find me

Things aren’t always what they seem
You’re only seeing part of me
There’s more than you could ever know
Behind the scenes


I’m incomplete and I’m undone
But I suppose like everyone
There’s so much more that’s going on
Behind the scenes

You may think I'm just fine

How could anything ever be out of line?

I love this song. And, I love that its from a Christian artist. I think so many times ppl think that if you follow God and youre a Christian then you're exempt from things like hurt, pain & suffering. And that is so not true. Ive found that its when you're doing God's work that Satan tries to attack you the most. (that may sound scary to non Christians, but it just means you're doing what you're suppose to do and the devil doesnt like it!) He wants you to give up and give in. ALSO, I know that God allows certain hurts/situations in your life to test and grow your faith. Not all of those situations are good. (but the end result will be for your good, if you follow and obey Him!) So by saying Im a Chrisitan Im not saying life is peachy all the time..always happiness. I think a lot of the time people get the wrong impression. (Ive even been told before that I give off that impression..) I think in writting this I just wanted to say that that isnt true......Life ISNT always good. Life ISNT always happy. People disappoint you, things dont always (sometimes even rarely) go your way, sometimes when there's something you really want the answer is "no", then there are things like sickness and death that can hit anyone at anytime....life just isnt fair. BUT in the last 7yrs, as a Christian w/Jesus Christ living in my heart, I have learned that HE never changes..even when everything else around us seems to. He will not disappoint, He will not leave, He will ALWAYS love us, and He will ALWAYS lead us in the right direction if we will just listen. And there are seasons of suffering/pain that hit everyone. The difference is, as a Christian, I can see THE goal. Even when life throws things at me and it gets so dark I cant see anything good here on this side of heaven, I CAN see my Savior. The reason why Im here. And the place and THE ONE Im going to be with someday. That makes everything else seem unimportant..no matter how deep the cut. The difference is happiness and joy are not the same thing. Happiness is based on lifes circumstances and our emotions. Joy is constant and lives in the heart. I may not always be happy bc of lifes situations but I always have the joy that comes from knowing my Creator. And nothing can take that joy away. :)

Zzzzzzebra!!!!

I just came across this old picture and HAD to post it!
This was one of the funnest days of my life!! haha!
My heart smiles thinking about that day...
Im not sure Ive ever laughed so hard in my life!
Im so thankful for MEMORIES..especially ones like these. :)

My newest obsession...

I loooove Stride gum. Im pretty much addicted. haha! But a couple of wks ago my bestie introduced me to the greatest of all Stride flavors. LOL! If you havent tried this yet..its a must. I STILL havent figured it out. But I like it :) And today I bought the two new Stride SHIFTs...but havent tried them yet...I'll let you know if they match up to this. haha!

everything's going to work out.

Ok so this happened a week or so ago but I thought of it again tonight and felt lead to share. God's love & presence is just so amazing..well, amazing doesnt seem like 'enough'...I mean, there are no words for it really! It honestly leaves me speechless somedays. But anyway, here's what happened.....

As some know, Ive been going through a really REALLY rough time in my life. Its a season of my life that has broken me. That has brought on pain and heartache. That is extremely difficult for me, possibly the most difficult yet. BUT its also a season that I know I must go through. I know God brought me to this season of my life. And I know He did it for a reason. For my good. For His glory. And maybe for reasons that I havnet even learned of yet.

But one night (a night when everything had caught up w/me) as I was completely broken before Him, literally bawling my eyes out...there were no words..just hurt. I needed Him, His presence, His help. I grabbed my Bible and started reading in Psalm. I opened it to Psalms and flipped through to pick out a chapter...it opened on chapter 20 so I started reading. I got to verse 5 when I stopped, as I wasnt 'getting' it. I wasnt focused on His Word, but still on my pain..my doubt..my confusion. And so I prayed something like this: "God, please still the storm within me..speak to me. Give me wisdom. Clear my mind and heart of EVERYTHING that is in me that isnt of you. Speak to me. I need you" And this...(still gives me chills!)..was the very next verse I read:

"That clinches it-help's coming,

an answer's on the way,

everything's going to work out."

-Psalm 20:6

I mean really?! THAT I think, made me cry harder than I was before!! haha I mean, wow. SPEECHLESS. He listens. He cares. He's there. He's our help. He's our shield. He loves us. And OH HOW HE LOVES US!!!!

When this 'season' started I was mad. I was hurt. I was angry. I was bitter. I hated it. Everything about it. But already, now that Im focusing on HIM and remembering the TRUTH..seeing that He is moving and He really DOES do things to glorify Himself and to grow us and change us. I can honestly say that not only do I not hate this time...I am THANKFUL for this time. God, I love how you work. I love Your mysterious ways. I love how You LOVE!!!!!! :) I just HAD to share this. I hope it blesses some of you as much as it did me!!

Cade's Cove.

I absolutely love this place. I totally wish I lived closer, I'd go every day. Its just so peaceful. So BEAUTIFUL. God really amazes me with all the wonderful, beautiful creations He's made. There was a storm that came through today, that only lasted about 30mins, but even in the storm everything was still SO beautiful. It wasnt the same 'beautiful'.. everything had changed..but it still had God's signature all over it. :) I got this shot right after it stopped raining before the sky cleared up and I absolutely love it. And it completely makes me think one of my favorite songs (Im all about some music, if you couldnt tell;)

"Now there's a joy inside I cant contain

But even perfect days can end in rain

And though its pouring down

I see you through the clouds

Shining on my face"


love love love it :)

..its Grace Im standing on!!!

I have been a wayward child

I have acted out

I have questioned Sovereignty

And had my share of doubt

And though sometimes my prayers feel like

They're bouncing off the sky

The hand I hold won't let me go

And the reason why

I will stumbleI will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved, no, no

Bitterness has plagued my heart

Many times before

My life has been like broken glass

And I have kept the score

Of all my shattered dreams

And though it seemed

That I was too far gone

My brokenness helped me to see

Its Grace Im standing on

I will stumble, I will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved

And the chaos in my life

Has been a badge Ive worn

And though I have been torn

I will not

I will not be moved, no, no

I will not be moved, no

I will not be moved, no

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved, no, no

Not be moved, no, no, no, no, no

Yet again, God uses J103 and amazing lyrics to bring me back to the place He wants me. This song played on my way to work this morning and it moved me to tears. Ive heard this song a billion and five times. And its NEVER spoken to me the way it did today. Isnt that awesome? How you can really HEAR a song, after the hundreth time. I hope these lyrics can reach someone else today. God is good. Always. And it is SO awesome that no matter what comes at us...if we are in Christ and Him in us, we wont be moved. We will still have Him. He will still love us. He will still be there. Nothing can seperate us from His love. This simple song helped me make the decision that I have had to make a lot often..sometimes daily. To stand firm. Going head first in whatever comes my way, with the Armor of Christ. I know things happen that arent all good, but God can and DOES use them for our good. Keep the focus. HE is the goal. HE is the source of life. And HE is my EVERYTHING.