two. extra. days.

We were suppose to leave Friday morning to head home.
But when we got down here we went ahead and paid for an extra

day bc no one wanted to leave so early. Then tonight, after spending

the entire day thinking it was my last day on the beach, we decided

to go ahead and stay another extra night!!! That makes me happy! :)

Nothing like getting to stay TWO EXTRA DAYS AT THE BEACH!!!!! ♥

neeeeeded.

when you start moving away from God..you start having to take care of things that God promises to take care of when and only when you walk with God. -Matt Evans

My Life.

"God's promises will come from God's plan."

-Matt Evans

I needed to hear that.. :)

life.

"Sometimes what you think is a blessing..is really just baggage."

There are some ppl that I can think of that need to hear this..

fb comment..

"Remember cancer is just a word,but Jesus Christ is THE WORD and HE is in complete control.HE still moves stones and to HIM cancer is just a little thing."

-A sweet and very encouraging from Mrs. Gayle Farmer, my best friends grandmother!

wanting..

...to live at the beach!!!

seriously could stay another month. :)

I miss my Holt girls (tons!!!!) and I miss

my babies, Elle Belle and the kitty

whose name seems to be Toothpaste

for now..hahaha! But could totally stay

much longer than just a week. I love

seeing the vast ocean and being

reminded just how big our God

really is. Its def a reminder that

we all could use on a daily basis.

Thinking that the God who created

THAT, also cared enough to create ME!!!

I love it.

Maybe someday.... ;)

love this.

Divine Connections:

right friends who will be real friends
that God Himself has chosen for you.

-Joyce Meyer :)

I.Cant.Sleep.

"God uses the toughest of times to make our faith grow in ways we never thought possible"

-Meggan Schwirtz..on an Addison Road blog. ♥

day three.

Its been a great day at the beach! Lots of fun, sun, family and food!! haha

Had Pineapple Willy's for the first time ever..crazy, I know. haha
And their chicken fingers were yummy!!! :)

But..today has also been an overwhelming sort of day. I have a great Aunt

who has been battling cancer and this morning we got news that it was now

in her brain. And they're calling in hospice. Not exactly news you can prepare

yourself for. Then as we were getting ready to head out for dinner we got a

phone call saying that my Aunt's Stepmother had a heart attack and it wasnt

looking good for her at all..80% of her arteries are blocked. Then just as we

were finishing up dinner we get another phone call saying that my great Uncle,

who has also been battling cancer, took a turn and was put into ICU..........

Sometimes life can be overwhelming.

And a lot of the time, confusing.

But if you sit back and remember just WHO has everything in the palm of His

hand..who controls everything and knows everything...it gets a little more easy

to breathe. Sometimes things happen that we cant begin to understand the

reasons behind. But I think its best that we dont try. Instead, we should TRUST.
I know that God can and DOES move mountains. And I also know that God

comforts and heals the broken hearted. Its THESE TRUTHS that we must

lean on and cling to in times like these. Take on His strength when we are

weak. Have His peace, when we are so torn and hurt and confused by the

things of this world. So, if you're reading...say a prayer for my family

please. Both for these individuals and for the family members that are

needing just that very peace and strength in this time.....

100.

Cant believe Im already on my 100th post. haha
I started this blog bc I love to write. I love to share things that

God has shown me, and that Ive learned, with other ppl.

And also, bc I realized I have WAY too much to say

for facebook. hahaha!! A lot of it isnt just MY thoughts

though, its stuff Ive read/seen that I HAVE to let others

see and hear! And this morning as I read my devotion it was

yet ANOTHER amazing insight. One I couldnt have needed

more than on this day, this time in my life. So..here goes. :)

"It was the ceaseless advance and retreat of the ocean,

wave after wave, never stopping, never giving up, that had

turned hard stones into the yielding sand where I sat. I stood

up and started back to the house...to the waiting task...."

"Whatever job confronts me, Father, let the waves remind me

that quitting is the only sure way to fail"

-Elizabeth Sherrill

day two.

I pretty much spent the entire day in this chair. :)

this is the life ♥

where I get to spend my day.

:)

Love the phone calls...BUT the one from yesterday and the text this morning was my favorite!!!!!!! :)

I had a wonderful wake up text this am. And now Im all pumped & headed

out to the beach! Ahh..life is good.

day one.

We finally made it!
To the gorgeous beach.
On the most needed vacation of my life.

Spent the day in the sand and sun. Talked to the best♥friend for a bit..(smiles). Played some bocce ball w/the sis. Then rested a while this evening alone on the deck just watching ppl walk along the beach, looking at the vast beautiful ocean and all the amazing stars in infinite sky, and listening to crashing waves, (and kids screaming 'marco, polo' at the top of their lungs..lol) Then met a nice family from Georgia and had a wonderful, long conversation. God is great. I feel like for the first time in oh..four months..I can actually breathe again.
Life is good.

♥

favorite.

necessities.

Getting this roadtrip started right.
hahahahaha!
The trip here was a blast! :)
I love my sister!!!!!!

light show.

Our very own light show for most of the morning.. :)

God, beautiful are Your creations!!!!

SEE

After the conversation I had tonight..and after the events of this week..this song came to mind. I had to pop it in & listen. Then foudn this video on youtube. Thought I'd share. One day we will SEE!!!

questions

countdown..

Beach bound in just a few more hours!!!!
Aaahhhhhhh!! NEVER have I needed a
vacation so much in my life. Thank You God
for knowing things in advance and letting THIS
be the week we had to go...even though back
in JANUARY I was very unhappy that it had
to be put off for a whole month..haha YOU are
all knowing and yet sometimes..a lot..I still find
it hard to "Trust You with all my heart". Thank
You for still loving me enough to make things
happen in Your way..even when Im not fond of
them..or even when I dont cooperate. ♥

PTL!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe - Hebrews 12:28 - NIV

Wooooo!!!! We are receiving a kingdom that CANNOT be shaken!!!! Praise the Lord!!! Perfect words on a day like today!!!!!!!!! Ya know..not to sound all creepy to anyone, like "I wanna die" kinda weirdness haha BUT I get more and more anxious for THAT DAY (when I see my Maker with my very own eyes) with each passing day!!!!!

You Can Have Me

THE most beautiful song I have heard in a long long while...
Gives me chills...GOD, YOU CAN HAVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its almost time!!!!

I can almost feel that ocean air....mmmm....

ah..

ONE. MORE. DAY!

fb post

"Well, it seems to me that the best relationships - the ones that last - are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is... suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with."

saw this on someone's FB..love!

My morning devotion...HAD to share :)

"He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge...." -Isaiah 33:6

It's county fair time here in the Midwest. Cows, pigs, rabbits, tractor pulls, corn-on-the-cob, funnel cakes--the fair has it all!

Yesterday I took my grandsons for an afternoon of rides and snacks. As we entered the mideay, I spotted my favorite ride: the merry-go-round. Soon I stood between Drake and Brock, both of whom were mounted on impressive painted ponies.

As we gained speed and the music reached its crescendo, the ponies went into their gallop. "Nina," Drake squealed, "it goes up and down!" Again the horse lurched. And again Drake squealed, "It goes up and down!" Over and over, his verbalized delight at the sudden rise and fall of his mount never waned.

Later, as we walked the rest of the midway, I kept thinking about what Drake had said. Carousel horses aren't the only things in life that go up and down. There are my weight, my hopes (sometimes for my weight), my investments (okay, so it's been awhile since I saw those in the 'up' position), my mood, my self-esteem. Even my spiritual life has its ups and downs. One day I feel close to God and the next I become like an Old Testament prophet crying out, "Where are You, Lord?"

The things I love best about merry-go-rounds, in addition to those galloping horses, is that they go 'round and round'. All that whirling reminds me that even the down times, even the doubts, don't last forever. Happiness could be just a half-turn away. All I have to do is hold on, stay on the horse and with God's help, try to enjoy the ride.

You, Lord are the constant in

my whirling circumstances.

I will trust You and hang on tight.

-Mary Lou Carney

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!! I LOVE THIS!!!!! ♥

7.24 FB Bible Verse.

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." - Ecclesiastes 7:14 - NIV

7.23

Baby Kitty is growing!!!!
And is sooo rotten!!
And pretty much a dog instead of a cat...haha

♥

“We must be willing
to let go of the life we

have planned, so as to
have the life that is
waiting for us.”
—E.M. Forester

Hayneslie Blake

I have to brag on HayHay!!!! :) Ive been trying to get this girl to write her name for FOREVER now. And she just will not try lol. She can write an "H" and has been doing that for months. (She signs her name to something putting "H.H" haha She can even spell HAYNESLIE (most grown ups couldnt even do that lol!) But Ive been trying to tell her if she just practices she can write her whole name..but this girl has no interest what-so-ever in learning how haha! She is soo not like Grace in that area :) Its so funny to hear Grace talk about it "She doesnt do good to recongize the letters"...haha! Grace is the smartest little five year old Ive ever met. And Hayneslie is the smartest three year old Ive ever met. But she does things on her own time in her own little way. :) And so yesterday she sat beside me as we were drawing and coloring and she said "April!! Teach me how to spell APRIL WORLD" (hehe) They can say Ward, but if its in a hurry its World. LOL! Anyway, she asked me so I of course wrote down APRIL and said thats my first name..now you try to write it. She says "um..show me how" lol So I wrote each letter over, slowly and individually for her to write each one after I wrote one..and THIS was the outcome!!!!!! FIRST TRY!!! I looove it!!!!! And I love that sweet sweet girl sooo much!!!!

After I congratulated her over and over a million times and texted everyone lol she finally said ok now lets do my name..and look what we got!!! One smart little girl!! Ive known she could do it, it just HAD to be on her own little time :)

Undignified

A song she sang Sunday that I hadnt heard yet...hoping she DOES put it on her next album :)

Time In Between - LIVE 7/18/10

I came across this on youtube..it was at Lake Winnie last Sunday. :)

Questions.

Who are You God

For You are turning out to be

So much different than I imagined

And where are you God

Cuz I am finding life to be

So much harder than I had planned

Know that I am afraid

To ask these questions

But You know they are there

And if you know my heart

The way that I believe you do

You know that I believe in You

Still I have these questions

Like How could you God

How could You be so good and strong

And make a world that can be so painful

And where were you God

I know you had to be right there

I know you never turn your head

You know that I’m confused

By all this mystery

You know I get afraid

But if you know my heart

As completely as I trust you do

Oh you know that I trust in you

Is it true

that for every tear I cry

You cry a thousand more

Cuz you weep for those that weep

And are you, just holding yourself back

From crushing all the pain and evil in this world

For reasons we just cant understand for now

But isn’t there a day of redemption coming

Ohhh

Redemption is coming

Ohhh

Quickly Lord, come quickly

Lord, come quickly

Ohhh

Ohhh

So who am I God

That you would raise me from the dust

To breathe your life and your love in me

You know that I believe

"Questions"

Steven Curtis Chapman

favorite.

I really dont have anything else to say about these songs...they speak for themselves :)

My Help Comes From The Lord!!!!

A new favorite....

Beautiful Beautiful

I cant help but post all these videos. Music is sooo sooo wonderful!! It gets me going!!

free to be me!

Beauty Will Rise

Heaven is the face part 2

This man and his family..inspire me soo much!! Wow. To have faith like theirs..

Heaven is the Face part 1

looking forward... :)

I start to almost say 'I wish I could go back to...' but then I stop myself. Im reminded that if God has brought sooo many great things into my life why would I doubt its all over. Why would I doubt I couldnt be happier than I was then? God is working. For MY good. And if there are that many amazing times in my past..now, with Him so obviously hard at work in my life...how could I doubt for even a second that things wouldnt be even MORE amazing in the future?? Praise the Lord!!!!!!! For He is good!!!! ALWAYS!!!! :)

2 Corinthians 5:7

One of my favorite spots in all the world I do believe. haha And who would have thought AGAIN looking through photos for one specific picture...I would come across soo many that have such amazing encouragement on them. I mean, IM the one who added these verses/quotes on them. FOREVER ago. And now they're speaking to me in ways that are unbelievable. I loooove how God works!!! And I love finally seeing that He IS working, instead of just trusting that He is.

safe.

I took this picture last year and edited it shortly after returning home from our
trip. Looking for a different shot today I came across this one. How does it
happen?? Its like God was preparing me for it waaaay back then. This msg on
this photo spoke to me in volumes today. I ♥ it!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

A Time to Embrace.

I finished my book last night!!!

AMAZING!!!!!!!!

These days (that I thought would be the worst)

I have soo much strength and such peace in my

heart. Its undescribable!! I do know that my

picking up that book in the bookstore that day

wasnt coincidence. :) God, thank you for knowing

EVERYTHING! I mean, you knew I'd (We'd) need

a Savior loooong loooong before we'd come to know

it. And you did the hardest thing possible. Sent Your

Son. Came, lived here in a broken world. Lived a perfect,

sinless life. And died a horrible death..all for us!!!!!! Leaves

me speechless..and God filled. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although those words never seem enough. But the

movement and love and joy in my heart...I know its like

music to Your ears. :) Wow. Now to start the next

part of my book..it is actually two in one. But I prob

wont get to until vaca next week. But I am super pumped about it!

Jonathan Acuff

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/3388/


"In God’s hands, your mistakes are not open cuts, they are healed scars that tell stories of great hope. They are not wounds to lie about, they are words other people need to hear. They are warning signs on roads your friends and family and neighbors are on. They are lighthouses in the midst of stormy weather. They are neon signs he uses to point the way toward repentance" Jonathan Acuff

There is a time for everything...

Wanted to share some of my reading from today in my book "A Time to Dance"

I read it earlier today. And I had planned on posting it this evening. Its written so perfectly. I guess I had never saw it this way before. But after today's events I knew I needed to post. Gracie & Hayneslie's grandmother passed away today. The Holts are my family too and my heart is breaking for them. But I know they have to be thankful that Mrs. Linda isnt hurting anymore. No more suffering. No more pain. She is finally healed and whole!! Praise the Lord!! However, I cant begin to imagine the loss they must be feeling. But I know with the strength and peace that come from our Creator, we can get through anything. And, back to my reading. It moved me so much. Made me see 'death' in a different light.

Let me set it up:

The character, Abby,

her dad has just passed away.

He was an amazing Christian man.

"Now just in case you're thinking that Joe was somehow robbed, that after a lifetime of giving he wasn't given a fair shake by God Almighty, let me tell you this. Some people store up treasures on earth...houses, cars, illicit relationships...and every day they wake, they move one day further from their treasure, one day closer to death." He smiled broadly. "Ah, but then there are people like Joe,people who wake every day one step closer to their treasure. One day closer to leaving this lobby and entering the main ballroom. Closer to finally being home in the place that was created for them. So don't grieve for Joe, people. Believe that, as C.S. Lewis once said, for Joe life here on earth was only the title and cover page. And now he has begun the greatest story of all, one that no one on earth has ever read in which every chapter is better than the last. Believe that, if given the chance, he would have agreed with D.L. Moody, who said in his dying days, 'In a little while you will read in the newspaper that I am dead. Do not believe a word of it, for I will be more alive than ever before.""

-A Time to Dance

-Karen Kingsbury

How awesome is that!!!!!!!!!! I mean, wow. Couldnt have worded it better. And couldnt have came at a better time.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..."

-Ecclesiastes 3:1

You're Not Shaken

July 22

Not sure there has really been a day so much 'draining' potential. There seems to be so much confusion and darkness in my life..and today wasnt up there on my best days list. Its a day I hoped would pass by w/out thought. Bc 'thinking' only makes things worse. I was dreading this day. Not sure how, with how hard things had been lately, I would make it through this day. Not sounding so much like my normal self. Not the April Im use to. But its the truth. Lately all this spirraling into the unknown has had me worried sick. Terrified. And doubting a bit. I have a wonderful Savior who isnt letting go of me, even when I think I cant hold on a second longer. Life can be so soo difficult at times. Its a scary thing. But today, I woke up and said my usual morning prayers (and prayed for strength & guidance), read my devotion, and spent time in the presence of our Lord. I made my mind up before even stepping foot out of my bed, that I WAS going to be ok. I WAS going to make it through this day. I WAS going to stay strong. Bc, and only bc, of my wonderful Maker. The God of the universe. He is my help, my sheild, my fortress, and..my strength when I am weak. I made that declaration of His goodness, in faith. Trusting, KNOWING, He was going to be here for me. And today God has moved in my heart so much more than He has in all the days of the past 3months. I felt this awesome sense of peace since early on this morning. And on my way to work a song played that I almost turned off..it was a Phil Stacey song that I wasnt extremely fond of (yes, Ive heard it but it wasnt a favorite. I was in the process of turning my FRANCESCA cd on:) But felt lead to listen instead to the words of the song playing. I was blown away. Here are the lyrics:

I am sinking in the river that is raging
I am drowning
Will I ever, rise to breathe again
I wanna know why
I just wanna understand
Will I ever know why?
How could this be from Your hand

When every little thing that I have dreamed would be
just slips away like water through my hands
And when it seems the walls of my beliefs
are crashing down like they’re all made of sand
I won’t, let go of You now
because I know, oh, You’re not shaken

I am trembling in the darkness of my own fear
All the questions with no answers
So grip me while I’m here
And I may never know why

Oh I may not understand
But I will lift up my eyes,
and trust this is Your plan

When every little thing that I have dreamed would be
just slips away like water through my hands

And when it seems the walls of my beliefs
are crashing down like they’re all made of sand
I won’t, let go of You now
because I know, oh, You’re not shaken

When I am in the valley of the shadow of death

You're not shaken, You're not shaken

You're right here beside me and You have never left

Oh, You're not shaken, You're not shaken

When every little thing that I dream of being

just slips away like water through my hands

And when it seems the walls from my beliefs

are crashing down like they're all made of sand

I won't, let go of You now

because I know, oh, You're not shaken

I am trembling in the darkness of my own fear

All the questions with no answers

So grip me while I'm here

And I may never know why

Oh I may not understand

But I will lift up my eyes,

and trust this is Your plan

You're unshaken.

Im not sure any lyrics could best describe my life at the moment. This season that God has brought me to. I normally would bawl my eyes out after having a 'God moment' from being touched by a song..but this morning it was different. A peace, the peace, washed all over me. I could feel it all the way to my core. It was undescribable. I just sat in awe. Surrender. This peace is something I havent really had at all in the past couple of months. And have desperately needed. God has continued to show me through the day in the little things..that He IS here. He IS working. In the littlest things. I am so thankful for such a great & loving God!!!

And today's Bible verse on facebook?

MY LIFE VERSE! :)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6 - NIV

The knife that was in my heart earlier..

...has been carefully taken out. :)

Im sooo thankful God hears our cries to Him.

And that I still have my best friend.
Now I can breathe again & get some sleep.

Thanks soooo much for all the prayers!!!

And keep praying please! I still need it!

Proverbs3:3-4

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. - Proverbs 3:3-4 - NIV

Todays verse on Facebook. ♥

Mr. Acuff's quote for the day.. :)

"If everybody understood your dream,
it wouldn't be your dream, it would be theirs.
Expect some confusion from friends."

-Jonathan Acuff

"Life is not about waiting on the storm to pass,
it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"

ugh..

I remember three years ago last month...

A prayer.
A heart felt, sincere prayer.

Total surrender.

I also remember an answer. THE answer

I'd been waiting soo long to hear.
And now this...??
Its sooo confusing. I hate it.

drawings of a five year old...

I love a five year olds view on things.

Gracie drew this for me today. She said

look..its got rain & thunder (pretty sure she

meant lightning:) just for you. I mean look at

this picture. I, as most, can tell you it usually

doesnt come that bad a storm with the sun still

shining. BUT how awesome is it that that REALLY

is how it is....there will be storms with torrential

downpours..lightning..and such loud thunder where
you cant seem to hear anything else...yet The Son still

shines bright! He's still there. Even when we cant

see Him!!! And look at that lovely flower! Still standing

strong!!!!! :) Love this. Love the reminders. And love that

sweet sweet Grace!!!!!! Im pretty sure its going on my wall.

mistakes.

"In God’s hands, your mistakes aren't open cuts, they are healed scars that tell stories of hope other people need to hear"
-Jonathan Acuff

No idea how much I needed to be reminded of this! :)

love love love ♥

A Time to Dance..

Im in love with my new Karen Kingsbury read!!!!

John & Abby...And Nicole & Kade & Sean...all of them!

LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!!! Karen, thank you for using

your amazing God gifted talent to further His kingdom

and teach/talk/tell about HIS LOVE. Its funny, this book

(as well as all her others Ive read at different 'seasons') is

speaking straight to me..like she wrote it for ME, in THIS

season. :) God, I know that would be YOU who allowed me

to find it and buy it that day. So, thank You..and Karen!!!! :)

Favorite (life inspiring) quote so far:

"The enemy doubles his efforts when a
breakthrough is right around the corner"

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥

desire.

Im desperately wanting to flee to Cade's Cove..........

or grassy mountain. I need it. A good looong trip.

07.18.10

My best friend got married a year ago today!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AMBER & CALE!!!!

The wedding festivities were sooo much fun!

I think we should do it again this year..LOL!

So happy for you two. Love you both, lots!

Francesca Battistelli.

"Don't take much for this crazy world
To rob me of my peace
And the enemy of my soul
Says You're holding out on me
So I stand here lifting empty hands
For you to fill me up again

But it's the time in between
That I fall down to my knees
Waiting on what You'll bring
And the things that I can't see
I know my song's incomplete
Still I'll sing in the time in between"

I get to see her tomorrow!!!!

She is my favorite female artist!!!

I am so pumped!! Her lyrics are

sooo wonderful and have touched

my heart and life tremendously.

Karen Kingsbury.

Went to Lifeway today, bought three new books!! :)

This is the first one Im reading..already on chaper 5

and LOVING it. Karen Kingsbury, I love you :) She

is my absolute favorite!!!!! Already had tears before

the end of chapter THREE! haha! She has written

my top three favorite books ever..

*Even Now

*Ever After

*Shades of Blue

And I cant wait to see how this one is, I know its

going to be amazing! I technically bought it for the

beach in a week but may not have much left to

read if I dont slow down haha.

Dear Cafe Mi Aroma..

Oh Cafe Mi Aroma how I miss you...

You were my true love and I use to come

visit you every week. It saddens me that

you are no more...*tears*

So, now others like Longhorn will have to do.

HAHA!! I could cry thinking about how I miss

that place. Not just the cafe..but the smoothies

and the AWESOME times I had there. Wow, that

seems like sooo long ago. Has it really been THIS long.

Ugh. I miss those memories. I dislike change. It

makes me so sad..things have changed SO much

since the CMA days. And Im going to blame CMA

for it. ha! Take that. LOL!! Im sure most of you, ok

I KNOW most of you, wont get this. But there are

a few who will. :) I miss you guys!!!!!!! Bring back the

fun times!!! Bring back the lazy book reading days
(and nights), the random weekly (sometimes daily)
trips to Chatt*town, the AMAZING 'friend' talks,
the great memories, and of course those

DELICIOUS smoothies!!!

beer.

http://70.32.99.203/2008/02/34-subtly-finding-out-if-you-drink-beer-too/

wisdom

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/06/wanting-the-wisdom-without-the-walk/

I LOVE this.
I love how God uses peoples life 'problems/issues' to help others.
It makes those times easier as well, for those enduring them.
To know you could use it to reach/touch someone else..
God,
You. Are. Awesome!!!!! :)

hope.

"Hope without vulnerability isn't hope. If you aren't willing to risk, you're not hoping, you're holding back" -Jonathan Acuff

wow. love this and really needed it today!

SEE.

I can NOT begin to tell you how excited I am about this book!!!! I squealed in excitement when I heard about it on the radio the other day!! LOL! I LOOOVE the Chapman family and their awesome testimonies and how they live out their faith. It is simply amazing. If you havent heard any about them, I recommend learning about them. :) They are sooo inspiring. AND not to mention how awesome Steven Curtis Chapman's music is. It was listening to Steven Curtis speak, at a show once, when I first realized God was calling me to adopt someday. Im telling you, AWESOME!!! Cant wait for this release!!!!! :)

bothered.

So Im sitting here and Im wondering how hard it is to be yourself...

I mean..ppl try to hide their REAL selves all the time. I dont get it. Afraid of rejection? Unapproval? There are probably a million reasons why. But ppl try to be something their not all the time. Ive been there myself. But whats even more astonishing to me is that sometimes ppl try to be someONE else. Idk..Ive seen this a lot recently and it hurts my heart. That person cant be happy. Always trying to impress others. Trying to be some one God never intended them to be...NOT a road that leads to any sort of happiness. Guess I just wanted to say..Be your own person. God created you. He chose every tiny detail of you and molded you together the way He saw fit...for His reasons. And He loves you that way. Remember: He is perfect, makes no mistakes. Dont be envious of others. He created those ppl in the ways He wanted, all the same. Im praying you will embrace the God that created and loves you and learn how it feels to be happy in your OWN skin.

heart this.

Never forget, a rainbow needs rain.

*this was in one of Gracie & Hayneslie's books. it's too cute!

You Can Have Me

You're My Strong Tower.

You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

Fight Another Day

Hear this song on the way to work today for the seven hundreth time. And I had just muttered the words 'I cant do this' through some tears....yes. God, thank you for using J103 Radio to help pick me back up. It amazes me..I honestly could not have needed this song more. I came and looked it up online & found this. Had to share. Thanks for all those who are in prayer for me, it means so much more than I could ever begin to say!! Loves!!

want.

Yes. Im pretty sure I want this :)

Kitty.

My rotten baby!!!

We are almost positive its a girl..haha!

Im never good at telling until cats are like a year old! lol!

BUT, I still havent named her yet..Its still up in the air

with like three names. But isnt she precious?? :)

I love her sooo much!!!!!!!!

btw, she FINALLY started eating food!!
After I had her for over a month!! haha
No more baby bottles!!! Yay!! lol!

No Matter What.

Kerrie Roberts - No Matter What (2010 Video & Lyrics)

LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!!!! :)

07.09.10

I absolutely LOVE these girls!!!

They were sooo funny today riding around in their jeeps!! lol They usually ride together in the bigger one and today this is how they rode...they kept giggling just looking at each other!! They had me cracking up all morning! Just had to have been there....but Im soo thankful I get to do this everyday. Getting to watch them grow and learn and live is simply amazing!! I cant wait to see how they'll be as they grow..they have their 'sisterly fights' now but they are best friends. Its too precious!! I just LOOOVE it!!!

Honesty..

This post was brought on bc of a devotion I read last night...


I have a really really bad habit of wanting to control situations. Wanting to plan. Wanting to know every little tiny detail. And NOT liking change. Ok, HATING change. Somethings I dont mind being spontaneous, but for the most part Im a freak about it. LOL! I have a really hard time just letting things happen. I plan EVERYTHING. Well, I try to. And as we all know, you cant always have/get what you want. Things dont always go the way you 'planned' them to. Over the past couple of months Ive felt God showing me just how BAD I am at trying to do/be something that is impossible. But yet I keep doing it. I write down everything. If I have something to do/get/be (or whatever)..it gets written down. I then proceed to check these things off. Yes, my life is one big check list. lol I can honestly remember doing this in middle school. (if I asked my mom, it was probably earlier! haha!) And I finally admitted to myself last night that this can be a problem. Sometimes its ok to plan. But its def not ok to be a 'planner'...aka: control freak haha (as I am..writting, checking, freaking..lol) And since things dont go as planned always, there comes the CHANGE. Did I mention I HATE CHANGE?? To the point where, at times I'll freak out if things dont go 'as I thought they should/were going to'. BUT God has recently flipped my world upside down. The things I were so sure on a couple of months ago now seem to float somewhere in outter space..way out of my reach/knowledge. But I know, in reality they rest safely in God's hands. In His control. HE knows it all. How wonderful it is that if we follow, trust, and obey...He will make plain our paths. Meaning, He will tell us what is going on!!! lol No need to worry or guess or 'freak out'. HE will give us wisdom!! In this time the things I was sure on have chaged but also the things I wasnt sure on have too. Things like...I CAN fully trust my God. I dont have to just SAY I can. Struggles and trials are meant to test & stretch your faith. Give you a chance to walk the walk & not just talk the talk. AND I also use to think I wasnt a very strong person. I have realized that being 'emotional' and being weak ARENT the same things. I am a very VERY emotional person. BUT I also have became a very strong Christian woman. ((somewhere along the line...haha)) I didnt realize I could be so strong if/when facing certain situations or problems and I must say, (with God on my side of course) Ive been very impressed. haha!! God has helped me stay focued on the things that matter and stay the course. Not giving up. And it feels AMAZING!!!! I also use to be terrified of change and now Im realizing that change is God's plan. He created us to grow as babies and children into adults. He also wants us to change & grow as we become His Children. Growth and change is a continuous process. And change is inevitable. You just have to embrace it and go with it. With God and His wisdom, its not so scary. And sometimes, it turns out to be just what we needed. Something better than we ever 'planned'.

The Bagley's

I got to have a photo session with my best friend and her husband yesterday!!! They will celebrate their one year anniversary July 18th!!! I just love them to pieces!! Im sooo happy for them!!! And I must say, I LOVE this picture! Happy almost Anniversary guys!!!!!! Love you!!!

E.C part2

love these! this cracks me up!!
we will forever love the cowbell ;)

E.C

So, two Sundays ago we went to see Easton Corbin at Lake Winnie. Lucky was planning on going back for the second show later that evening but I was only staying for the first show..bc, well..Im not a stalker. LOL! And bc I didnt want to waste a whooole day seeing the same concert over. Weeell. At the first show the guy who was selling merchandise tells me and my sister if we come back to the second show we could have meet & greet passes. Um, WHAT!? So I test out his word & we came back for the second show and GOT MEET & GREET PASSES!!!! ((Easton is pure hottness too. I didnt know this until Sunday lol!)) Then we sat on the first row (bc we had to be there an hr before the show to go backstage) And during the show he just decides to pull me and my sister up on stage. OK, heres what really happened..haha he said 'who likes to play the cowbell?' and this older lady standing next to us says 'you do! you do!! trust me! you want to play the cowbell!!' LOL! then Lucky yells 'whooo!' ((bahaha!)) and he says.. 'get up here!' then Lucky proceeds to JUMP onto the stage instead of going to the side where there is a man to help her...HAHAHAHA!! then says 'both of you, come on' and yeah. we got to play..dun dun dun..THE COWBELL with Easton Corbin!!! lol It made for a pretty awesome day. :)

*We had the whole band smiling for pictures by the end of this..lol! It was so much fun!!

Shelby, Abi & Jolee

These are three of my favorite girls to photograph!! They are all beautiful and we ALWAYS have a fun time when Im there w/the camera!! AND I had to post this one of Baby Jolee!! I love getting to watch her grow up to be a big girl!! THIS is why I looove my job :)