The Shawver's Blog Spot!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-12-03T11:28:00.002-05:00

This Thursday I am thankful for Robert N. Shawver, Jr.!!!! Tomorrow will be his birthday and I couldn't be MORE thankful for one person in my life than I am for him! He is truly amazing! God has blessed my life with him in more ways than I could EVER imagine! I am thankful for his mother and father for falling in love, getting married and starting their family with Robbie! I am thankful for the job at Physiotherapy Associates which led me to meet Rob's mom when she came into our clinic for therapy. I am thankful for the relationship and bond that we made. I am thankful for her unconditional show of grace and mercy and love for someone that she, at the time, barely knew except from coming in for therapy. I am thankful for her gentle push to get me to move and make changes in my life. I am thankful for her helpfulness in getting me out of a horrible situation that I was in during that time of my life when no one else seemed to be able to reach me. I am thankful for her intervening and pushing Robbie and I to meet each other. I was completely against the idea of meeting or dating anyone after what I had just dealt with regarding guys. BUT I knew that if he were anything like her, he must be AWESOME! I am thankful for taking a HUGE leap of faith in going to meet Rob for the first time at his house. I am thankful for the instant spark that there was between us and for all the days that followed. I am thankful for the way we became inseparable! I am thankful for his unconditional love and grace and mercy he showed me. I am thankful that he accepted me as I was with all my baggage and past problems. I am thankful for his patience and understanding with me. I am thankful for him taking me to church and being open-minded to coming to North Point, which I discovered with a co-worker! I am thankful for his willingness to do things to help me grow my faith in ways that I never could have imagined. I am thankful for the days we dated, the days we were engaged and the three years of marriage we already have under our belt. I am thankful for each and everyday that I get to share with him. I am thankful for the ways he makes me laugh! I am thankful for all the ways he takes care of me that amaze me more and more each day. I am thankful for his thoughtfulness and romantic heart! I am thankful for the way he loves me. I am simply just thankful for him beyond words. Hero. Saving grace. Handsome. Sweet. Honest. Thoughtful. Smart. Loving. Caring. Dedicated. Strong. Kind. Devoted. Romantic. Silly. Fun. Exciting. Patient. Forgiving. Amazing. Enthusiastic. Faithful. Giving. Intelligent. Jokester. These are just a few of the ways I would describe him.

Dear Lord- I thank you for creating Robert N. Shawver, Jr. and allowing our paths to cross so divinely in a way that only you could dream up. I am thankful for his life that was born into this world 30 years ago tomorrow. I am thankful for his parents for raising him to be the best man and best husband any wife could imagine, dream of, hope for, or want. Thank you for choosing ME to be so blessed with such a man in my life. I thank you for allowing his heart to be ready to take on all my past issues and for giving him the grace and mercy and forgiveness that you have and show that to me in ways I had never been shown by someone. I thank you for allowing us to be happily married for three years and now working on the fourth. I look forward to all that you have in store for us in the future. I am grateful for all the ways you bless my life with Rob. I am thankful for his life more than my own. I am thankful that you continue to protect and watch over him while he's working at the fire department and you continue to bring him home to me, safe and sound, after each shift. I am thankful for all the ways you have made him strong and kind and loving towards me. I am thankful for such a gift as he is to me and my life. Thank you Lord for blessing me with him. I love you!

-Amen

WEDNESDAY WEBSITE!!!

2009-12-02T11:42:00.002-05:00

In the spirit of Christmas and Santa Clause this week's website is perfect for all the kiddos out there! If you have a child or know someone who does you may want to check out this website and set up a special call to them from Santa, Sammy the Snowman or yes, EVEN NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart!!!

Hope you enjoy it as much as the kiddos do! How fun?! Merry Christmas!

http://www.holidayphonecalls.com

Christmas Cards, Letters or Pictures!!!

2009-12-01T21:02:00.005-05:00

So each year at the Shawver house we enjoy getting all the wonderful Christmas cards, letters and pictures from all our friends and family. We hang them up during Christmas and then save them in a special Christmas box. Over the years I have noticed a trend in getting away from sending traditional cards. The way I remember Christmas cards were the days when ALL cards were strictly that, just cards, and were often elaborate and always had a personal hand written note on the inside to the person the card is being sent to. These I have to say are my favorite kind to this day. It's something that is rare, sweet, a treasure even!

Then I noticed people started sending these "Christmas Letters". Now please if you send these do not be offended by my next statement, because I enjoy some of these as well. This letters seem to be a way that people use in efforts to "catch up" on all the greatness that happened for them and their families throughout the year. Which is great for long distance relatives who rarely see or speak to one another. But it seems to be a little odd to me in a way. Those that are close to me know exactly what happened in my life over the year and anyone else that doesn't should perhaps consider the fact that they should have known without a letter by simply being around.

Now for the most recent trend...the Christmas picture card. Which really isn't a card at all. It's simply a photo with a short "Merry Christmas" message typed in on the crafty framed picture. Now I LOVE these don't get me wrong, in fact we will most likely be sending one this year. But there is just something that is taken away from these in a way. No personal hand-written message, no elabrote Christmas scene on the front, no long detailed recap of the year, just a picture. Which I have to say these pictures often end up on my fridge long after Christmas has come and gone, so I really enjoy these!

Traditional Christmas cards, the way they used to be sent, are the classic and my all time favorite. There's just something about it. With all that being said getting any kind of Christmas card, letter or picture is the BEST this time of year. Let's face it, more times than not the mail is either stuffed with bills or junk. So getting any Christmas card is a joy!

So which kind do you prefer or send each year? Is there a reason, is it a tradition that was passed down?

Christmas Cards

Interesting Facts:

*The first known Christmas card is printed on the front cover with a date of 1843.

*The original was in muted colours, hand painted, printed and sold for 1/- each (5p) - a lot of money in those days.

*Christmas cards were first sold in 1846!
*By the 1860s the idea of sending cards had caught on as they were able to be produced much more cheaply with the invention of less expensive colour printing.

*The first Christmas cards had lace and flowery borders, but then they changed to more familiar designs.
*The robin became very popular as were Victorian snow scenes, religious pictures, holly, Christmas trees etc. Many similar scenes are reproduced in our cards today.

The card reproduced above was printed as a postcard
and sent in 1905 with a ½d stamp.

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-11-19T09:30:00.003-05:00

So I know I missed posting last week for Thankful Thursday and I have to say the past two weeks have been crazy busy for good reasons! It's the holiday season and it's a time for giving back and helping others, which also something that should be on going through the whole year. At our church we have been working on Operation Christmas Child and Rob and I hosted an XTREME OCC Wrap Party for our middle school students from church so we could get as many gifts wrapped! It was so much fun serving with our students and giving back! Teaching them how to wrap presents for the first time for some of them was fun! Watching them pack boxes with so much pure love is something you certainly can't put a price on. Those kids gave up their Friday night to come hang out with us and pack boxes for needy children...I think that is pretty much AWESOME! I am thankful for those times we get to share God's love not only with our students but to those children all over the world that will see the love of Christ in those boxes! I seriously could careless if I even got a gift for Christmas this year as long as someone else that is in need has a great Christmas! I am thankful for the small things about this time of year that make me smile. A hug from an old friend or a chat from a dear friend on my way home, this makes me smile! Or the site of some simple Christmas lights up on a house as you drive home in the dark after a long day. The site of people in the grocery stores hustling around buying items to prepare lots of yummy goodies for the holidays! Just the thought of all the Christmas parties and events at this time of year makes me excited and thankful! Christmas music and singing! The smell of the season is even something I am thankful for. You know, the smell of freshly baked apple pies in the kitchen and the turkey cooking, the cinnamon sticks and Christmas candles burning. The smell of Christmas trees in the air. It's these simple things that I love and take in each day and appreciate because some day when I am old and grey I may not be able to take them in any longer. I am thankful for this time in my life when I take it all in, not get caught up in all the hustle and bustle so much and slow down the pace and experience every precious moment and take it all in.

Dear Lord- Thank you for this beautiful time of year and for all the sweet things that go along with it. Thank you for allowing me to discover new ways to glorify you in these times and thank you for allowing me to not get caught up in the hub bub of it all sometimes. Thank you for the friends that call and are able to share this time of year with me. Thank you for the extra time and money you have blessed us with to be able to serve and give back this year through Operation Christmas Child and Samartians Purse Lord. This organization is truly wonderful and we are honored to be a small part of something so huge. Thank you for the sweet moments that I cherish so much during this time of year from the smallest ones to the greatest ones alike. Thank you for all that you have blessed my life with, it is truly rich in so many ways. Lord I pray for the hurt, the broken, desperate, the ones that need you more than ever Lord. Lord I pray so hard that those people get to experience what I have been blessed with, for I am certainly undeserving of any of it. I pray that those that need to be healed be healed if it is your will and I pray that if it is not that your will that you can shed some more light on those situations Lord so that those hurting can see the light at the end of what may seem like a very dark tunnel. I pray that your light will shine down on those today and everyday. I thank you for all that you continue to bless me with more than words can express. I am thankful for you! -Amen

Wednesday Website!!!

2009-11-18T09:31:00.003-05:00

So have you ever contracted someone to do work at your house and they didn't meet up to your standards...or worse it was a total disaster? Have you ever wanted a good referral for something but just couldn't get one? Have you ever been new in a town and needed a referral for a dentist or doctor and didn't know anyone yet to ask but didn't want to just try out any random doc in the box? Well this website is designed for you to go on there and look at honest reviews from other people who have had first-hand experience with the contractors, dentists, doctors, etc that are listed on the site and see how they measure up. And there are thousands!

http://www.angieslist.com

the following information is taken directly from the website!

"Certified data
Before they're posted, all reviews are checked in order to guard against providers and companies that try to report on themselves or their competitors. This process was reviewed and approved during a 2009 audit by BPA Worldwide.

Angie's List is better than free review sites:

No anonymous reviews.

Certified data collection process prevents companies and providers from reporting on themselves or their competitors.

Our Complaint Resolution Team will intercede if a home repair or health experience goes bad.

Companies and providers respond to reports, so you get the whole story. What you get:

Access to great local reviews on AngiesList.com.
Live support through our call center.
Award-winning Angie’s List magazine.
Access to our Complaint Resolution Team.
Discounts from highly rated service companies."

So check it out and see how much this valuable site could benefit you! It could save you many headaches in the future!

Thought Provoking Raw Emotional Scriptures!!! I LOVE this!!!

2009-11-11T16:08:00.003-05:00

So today in my reading for my Discipleship Journal Reading Plan one of the books I am currently reading in this month is Job. These scriptures were actually meant for reading on November 7th and 8th ironically enough. But I am just now getting to read them today because I got a little behind in my reading. Hey it does happen from time to time.

So after reading these two chapters in Job today I was deeply moved by the raw emotions that pour out of ALL the verses in these two chapters. It's amazing when you read these to think about the feelings of Job that he poured out to God in chapter 7. And then in chapter 8 the rebuttal if you will of Bildad to Job and his feelings towards God. Do you ever feel the feelings that Job has poured out to God in chapter 7? Have you ever expressed them in such a raw way before the Lord? It says in the scriptures that we are to come to the Lord with all our feelings and thoughts and concerns no matter how raw and harsh they may be at times. God is waiting for us and willing to help us sort those all out. We just have to allow Him to be there for us and know that He is there waiting and wanting us to talk to Him. In the following verses in chapter seven it clearly shows how deceitful Satan can exploit our thoughts though, in efforts to get us to forsake God. We must be careful not to sin as a result of our suffering. We must always be aware that while Satan may exploit our thoughts that God is the way the truth and the light and He is there waiting to help us get through the valley with open arms. I hope these verses move your spirit as they have mine. I hope they will open your eyes and hearts and allow God to speak to you through scripture.

Job 7

¹ "Does not man have hard service on earth?
Are not his days like those of a hired man?

² Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,
or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages,

³ so I have been allotted months of futility,
and nights of misery have been assigned to me.

⁴ When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?'
The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.

⁵ My body is clothed with worms and scabs,
my skin is broken and festering.

⁶ "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle,
and they come to an end without hope.

⁷ Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;
my eyes will never see happiness again.

⁸ The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
you will look for me, but I will be no more.

⁹ As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
so he who goes down to the grave does not return.

¹⁰ He will never come to his house again;
his place will know him no more.

¹¹ "Therefore I will not keep silent;
I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

¹² Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,
that you put me under guard?

¹³ When I think my bed will comfort me
and my couch will ease my complaint,

¹⁴ even then you frighten me with dreams
and terrify me with visions,

¹⁵ so that I prefer strangling and death,
rather than this body of mine.

¹⁶ I despise my life; I would not live forever.
Let me alone; my days have no meaning.

¹⁷ "What is man that you make so much of him,
that you give him so much attention,

¹⁸ that you examine him every morning
and test him every moment?

¹⁹ Will you never look away from me,
or let me alone even for an instant?

²⁰ If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
       O watcher of men?
       Why have you made me your target?
       Have I become a burden to you?

²¹ Why do you not pardon my offenses
       and forgive my sins?
       For I will soon lie down in the dust;
       you will search for me, but I will be no more."

Job 8

Bildad

¹ Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

² "How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.

³ Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

⁴ When your children sinned against him,
he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.

⁵ But if you will look to God
and plead with the Almighty,

⁶ if you are pure and upright,
even now he will rouse himself on your behalf
and restore you to your rightful place.

⁷ Your beginnings will seem humble,
so prosperous will your future be.

⁸ "Ask the former generations
and find out what their fathers learned,

⁹ for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,
and our days on earth are but a shadow.

¹⁰ Will they not instruct you and tell you?
Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?

¹¹ Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?
Can reeds thrive without water?

¹² While still growing and uncut,
they wither more quickly than grass.

¹³ Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
so perishes the hope of the godless.

¹⁴ What he trusts in is fragile;
what he relies on is a spider's web.

¹⁵ He leans on his web, but it gives way;
he clings to it, but it does not hold.

¹⁶ He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
spreading its shoots over the garden;

¹⁷ it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
and looks for a place among the stones.

¹⁸ But when it is torn from its spot,
that place disowns it and says, 'I never saw you.'

¹⁹ Surely its life withers away,
and from the soil other plants grow.

²⁰ "Surely God does not reject a blameless man
or strengthen the hands of evildoers.

²¹ He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.

²² Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
and the tents of the wicked will be no more."

Wednesday Website!!!

2009-11-11T16:05:00.002-05:00

This site will be great for the holiday season! Have family and friends that live out of town and you still want to send them a Christmas gift? Of course don't we all have family and friends out of town these days? Why not shop online for gift cards AND in the process earn cash back on all our gift card purchases and get FREE shipping?! Sounds good to me! In fact I love gift cards so much that if anyone ever asks what I want that's what I always say. So these could even make great gifts for in town friends and family too! Just a thought! This way each person can get exactly what they want and not have to wait in the long return lines after Christmas returning/exchanging unwanted or un-needed items. Let me know what you think about this site!!! Hope this helps with those holiday shopping blues. Sometimes it's just not fun fighting all those crowds of rude customers and ill cashiers! Tis the season!

http://www.chaseit.com/

Silly Cartoons!

2009-11-10T21:33:00.002-05:00

Here are some silly cartoons I ran across today. Sometimes they are kind of lame but they still make me laugh. I guess sometimes it really doesn't take much for me some days!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-11-05T15:45:00.002-05:00

Where do I begin with all the things I am continually thankful for!?! I mean seriously?! There are so many things and so little time that I am often overwhelmed. I all too often look at my life and think, "WOW this is really my life! This is REALLY how blessed I am! This is really how far God has brought me! These are really my friends?! This is really my life!" It's exciting to look over your whole life and really deep down think about how far you've come and how far God has brought you through so much. I am thankful today though for one specific thing though...WORK!!!! That's right I am thankful for WORK! I am thankful for the place I work! I am thankful for the people I work with! I am thankful for the attitude that has changed within me about work and about what I do thanks to God and the awesome sermon at church last week. I am thankful to be making money and helping out my family in order to bring in extra so we in turn are able to give that extra back to others in need. I am thankful for the ways that God is continuing to use me through my simple job to help others. My job at hand on a day to day basis may not be life changing BUT it is in a way because it does provide us with the extra money we need to help out our church and other charities throughout the year. It helps us in ways that I never really thought about. It has changed my view of work. I work with all my heart as if this simple job I am doing were directly for the Lord because truthfully it is. I work with all my heart in hopes that people can see the work of God in my life. I want my work ethic to reflect the image of Christ. I want to make Jesus proud of me as I work at my job each day and know that what I am doing and how I am acting is upright. I am thankful for a place where I can work and read my Bible during the same day which a lot of people can't say. I am thankful that I am appreciated at work even though some days it doesn't always feel that way. I am thankful for the appreciative compliments I have received today from the owner of the company I work for and from one of the appraisers I work with. I am thankful for WORK today! And if you have a job...ANY job, even jobs that don't pay anything you should also be thankful for WORK! God created us for work and for that we should be forever grateful!

Dear Lord- I thank you today for work. Not only for the money that it provides my family but for the ways it shapes my character and life. I am thankful for the place where you have brought me to work and the environment in which I work in. Sure it's not perfect all the time but no work ever is. I thank you for allowing me to be able to work day in and day out, to contribute to society. I thank you for the chance that you have given me to utilize my skills and my knowledge that you have blessed me with to the best of my ability. I thank you for the powerful sermon last Sunday that has changed my way of thinking about work and helped me have a better more positive outlook on what I do. I thank you for what lies ahead, the things that you only know and with those unknown things I wholeheartedly trust you with those. You have brought me to this place right now and it's a pretty great place to be in so I know that whatever you have in store for me in the future will be great! I will work for you with all my heart to the best of my ability! -Amen

WEDNESDAY WEBSITE!!!

2009-11-04T08:28:00.004-05:00

This Wednesday's website is VERY special AND could help you unload some of that excess Halloween candy that you don't want or need!!! Check out what local dentists are doing in efforts to help our troops! It's AWESOME!!! Unload your unwanted Halloween candy and make a soldiers day all at the same time! It doesn't get much better than that! Don't waste any more time! DONATE your candy TODAY! Check out all the websites listed below for locations in your area where you can drop off your candy.

http://www.operationgratitude.com

DIRECT LINK TO INFO ON OPERATION GRATITUDE

http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE YOU TUBE VIDEO FOR OPERATION GRATITUDE!!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-10-29T10:47:00.002-04:00

Well here we are...another Thursday among us and another week has gotten away it seems. The time that has been flying by me lately seems to be going fast yet slow if that's possible. I know it sounds weird but it's so true. So this past week has been interesting to say the least. I have been thinking a lot and re-evaluating some things a lot. It never fails that the closer that I get to my Savior and the more devoted I become to my time with Him the more the devil gets mad about that of course and begins attacking me and my spirit. I have really felt it in the past two weeks a lot. I always feel it coming and know when it's around. I am thankful to God that God is near me though and that HIS presence IS strong and HIS POWER is stronger than the enemy and that I can rest easy in that. I am thankful for the people in my life that I can be real and open with. I am thankful for ALL the ladies in my Bible study who are so kind and make it easy for me talk to them about anything. I am thankful for a place that I can go to and just be me and nothing more. I am thankful for the ability that only God has given me to recognize when things arise in and around my life that are no good to me and my soul and when I just need to eliminate certain things. I am thankful for the continuing renewing of my spirit. I am thankful for the patience of God and that without fail HE is ALWAYS sitting waiting for me and loves me with all my weaknesses and all my strengths alike. I am thankful for this time of year. I am thankful for a husband who loves and adores me more than I have ever known anyone to love and adore me ever in my life in a way that is truly so selfless. I am thankful that he loves me for all my weaknesses and strengths alike and that together we are continuing to grow as a couple and as children of God. I am thankful to be called a child of God and to be in HIS family! If I had nothing else in this life and it was ALL taken away from me today I would be fine because I know that my God is enough for me and HE is plenty and ALL that I need and all that I could ever want. HE is all that I need. God is enough! Contentment in Him is the best feeling!

Dear Heavenly Father-

I thank you this day for so much! I thank you for bringing me to this point. For protecting me in all the days of darkness so that I could sit where I am today in your bright beautiful shining glorious light for you! I am thankful for you in ways that words cannot describe. Thank you for having patience with me in my times of weakness. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for your sovereignty. Thank you for the way you allow my eyes to be opened to the things in and around my life that are not good for me and allowing me to be strong through you and in your ways and avoid ways that are not yours. Thank you for your mighty power over the enemy that always seems to attack me EVERY time I get closer to you without fail. Thank you for reminding me through scripture and through people that I love that YOUR power IS stronger than the enemy and that I can reset easy. Thank you for continuing to build my confidence in a way that I could never build. Thank you for being my rock, my constant, my all, my everything, my shelter, my father, my love! I love you! -Amen

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!! FINALLY!

2009-10-22T11:23:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted a thankful Thursday in some time now and am just thankful to BE posting this right now! It's been a whirlwind of time this past month and well let's just face it these past three month's have ALL been really. Between migraines, head pain/pressure, dizziness, being diagnosed with a brain clot, walking the Atlanta 2-Day walk for breast cancer and then celebrating my third wedding anniversary on a cruise for a week, and in between all that continuing to lead my students at church and invest in their lives, watching on of them get baptised, and taking on leading a small group of married couples within our church as well and attending my ladies bible study and also helping lead a ladies bible study for the xtreme leaders at church too it's been crazy! It's been crazy, busy, amazing, a blessing, thought provoking, testing, mind boggling, powerful, beautiful, challenging at times of course, and many other things that I couldn't ever imagine. ALL well worth it though! The last part of this year has been more than I could ever ask for honestly. In all the chaos and craziness I know God is sovereign and I can trust Him with ALL the parts in my life! I am thankful for all the parts that He has brought me to and through these past three months. It's been truly amazing and an honor. I am thankful that I was able to go and do and be a part of all the things that were presented to me. I am thankful that the headaches and the pain and the pressure turned out to ONLY be a blood clot in my brain and nothing more. We just found out today at my office that one of our commercial appraisers is having brain surgery today for a tumor they recently found in his brain. I was in shock. I was in that moment feeling for him and in the next moment thankful that God allowed my situation to be less serious. I was thinking that no matter what though that even if I had gotten an actual tumor that I would have been okay and gotten through that as well because God is my hero, my one and only, the one who carries me through it all, the one I call to in times of weakness. I will be praying for this man and his family during this trying time. I want to praise God in the good and the trying times. I want to remember that God brought me to it and will always bring me through it, in ways that I never could have imagined and will teach me things that I never would have learned otherwise. I am thankful for the bible studies that I am involved in that are growing my faith and spiritual life in huge ways! I have never felt more close to Jesus in my life and I love every second of it! I LOVE being able to feel His sweet presence in my car on the way to work as I sing praises to Him! I am thankful for the friends that hold me accountable and for a husband who supports me in all that I do and is my biggest fan. I am thankful for the place I am in in my life. Completely surrendered to God with complete abandonment. I ready, willing and able to do His will no matter what that may look like or where that may take us. I am content with where I am but prepared for the unknown path that God has already prepared for me. I am thankful for His path for my life and excited to see what He has in store for me each and everyday! I am learning that no matter what or where you are or what you are doing you are in a position to praise God and worship Him and honor Him by your actions, your words, your love towards others around you and how you treat people including those you may not feel like treating nicely 110% of the time. I am thankful for the ways that I continue to learn and grow and I pray that I never become close-minded or callus and I pray that I never lose my excitement for this life and what I can do for God's Kingdom while I am here. I have a purpose and no matter how big or small it may be or seem it's a divine purpose and it's created by the one and only and is important to Him!

Dear Lord-Thank you for this week! Thank you for this beautiful day! Thank you for the place you have me in right now. Thank you for the ways in which you have grown my faith in you. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to live inside me and trusting me with something so important! I will strive to be the best vessel for the Holy Spirit that I can be to make you smile and honor you! I give you my life so that I can re-pay you for all that you have and continue to do for me, a person who is clearly so undeserving. Thank you for the ladies in my bible studies that have accepted me with open arms and for that safe place to express myself and my love and adoration for you. Thank you for sending me a husband who truly is my biggest fan and lifts me up each day! Thank you for a family that is continuing to grow. I pray for them and I pray Lord that you continue to lead me to pray and not give up. I thank you for the things that you are working out and preparing in my life that I have no clue about and I trust you with these things more than words can express. Thank you for ALWAYS watching out for me each and everyday and for taking such care of me. I want you to know that no matter what I am yours, do with me what you will for your will! I want to glorify you in all that I do and all that I am in your honor. Thank you for this day! -Amen!

Just Some Things That Make You Think

2009-10-20T16:16:00.002-04:00

So I haven't had a chance to blog recently because things have been a little hectic and busy in my life and for this I am truly grateful! I am so thankful for all the amazing things God is doing in my life right now that some days I have to pinch myself and ask "Is this really my life?". YES!!! It is!!! So I was reading in Ecclesiastes this past Sunday afternoon and came across many verses that just leaped off the page at me and spoke to my heart. Hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

ECCLESIASTES 7:14 "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."

*Only God knows our paths and our ways and the things that are in His will for our lives. We should be still and listen and take heed to the paths that He has in store for us, both the pleasant ones and the times of difficulty. I feel that in times of difficulty we often blame God or become callus or mad at God. Instead of seeing the good in the bad and seeing what God is trying to teach us out of a bad situation or circumstance. I always like to view the glass half full instead of half empty.

ECCLESIASTES 8:14-15 " There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth; righteous men who get what the wicked deserve and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say is meaningless. So I command the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of our lives God has given him under the sun."

* Good things WILL happen to bad people and bad things WILL happen to good people. ALL we can do in the bad times is try and focus on the good that God HAS brought us or the good that could potentially be brought to us through a situation and enjoy the life he has given us. We aren't promised tomorrow and our lives are a mere blink of an eye to him in the scheme of things. Enjoy it and all the amazing ways God has made it beautiful for our pure enjoyment while we are here.

ECCLESIASTES 8:16-17 "When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man's labor on earth—his eyes not seeing sleep day or night-then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it."

* We could seek out all the wisdom in the world and never know enough and still have questions. We can't fully comprehend all that God has done or will do even. But the bottom line is, someone greater is in control, all we have to do is trust. We shouldn't let what we don't know about the future destroy the joy that God wants to give us today.

ECCLESIASTES 12:4 " Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap."

*Waiting for the perfect conditions=inactivity. If we wait for the perfect church we will never join or go. If we wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading and quiet time we will never begin. If we wait for the perfect ministry we will never serve. Take steps NOW to grow spiritually and don't wait around for the conditions that may never exist. It's OUR choice, it's OUR time! What are we waiting on?! Take the moment, take the time TODAY and make the next step towards a true, real and meaningful relationship with Christ! It's up to US, not someone else, not the church, not our friends or family. It's our choice!

I am in a ladies bible study and we are learning all about worshiping God and becoming closer to Christ and being in the spirit daily! It's been life changing for me I have to say. These particular verses came from the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan that I am still doing where it takes you through the entire Bible in one year (you read four different books of the Bible and several verses from each for each day). These were just some of the verses I read on Sunday and I was touched by the Holy Spirit in a way that I can't even begin to describe but in a way that I can only hope and pray that everyone in this lifetime is able to experience. It's truly an amazing thing that happens when you allow yourself the time to be still and listen to God and worship Him in all that you do throughout the day everyday. Redirect your focus to Him and amazing things happen! I've been truly blessed! I don't even need the blessings though because God is enough for me, I feel so undeserving of the blessings I have been granted and I am so grateful for them ALL of course! There are so many others out there that are way more deserving than I am. I know that without my Savior holding my hand throughout each day, making me strong, making me smart, making me teachable, making me the person I am I would be nothing. I will forever be in debt to Him for this! I will strive each day to give 150% of myself and my entire life in every aspect wholeheartedly to Him.

Dear Lord- I surrender my whole life and my whole self to you. I will ask you if it's your will when making decisions. I will strive each day to make you smile and make you a proud father! I love you and that's all I want is to make you happy and smile. Thank you for the ways that you are continuing to shape my heart and my soul and my spirit. I want to surrender my whole self as the best possible place for the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of me. I want nothing less than the best! I want to honor you with all that I do. I want to do nothing unless it's something that is in your will for my life. If you have it in your will for me to do something that I could not fathom I will do it with a smile on my face knowing that you are there holding my hand every step of the way lifting me up and giving me strength. I want nothing more out of this life while I am here on earth but whatever you want for me to do. Whatever that may look like or where ever that may take Rob and I, I am ready willing and able I am yours! I surrender to you once and for all, all that I am, all that I have, all that I do and all that I may suffer. I love you! -Amen

Random Thoughts on the Way to Work!

2009-09-28T10:32:00.002-04:00

So I think about a lot of things on the way to and from work each day. I commute 45 minutes one way Monday through Friday. So I have a lot of time to think about all kinds of fun stuff! This morning while stopped at a red light I sat in my car watching all the busy cars passing through the turn signal rushing past me. I thought to myself, so many people out here rushing here and there. Going to this place and that place. Heading into work to complete this task and that task today. All for the cause of making this world go round. I know it kind of seems like a really simple concept and something that is totally obvious of course. But I just really find it interesting. I see God's hand in it all! Making all the intricate parts work! Just as detailed and important as the human body. Sometimes we think that our mundane jobs don't mean anything and that we must seek out a deeper purpose in this place in which we live and work. But we each have a purpose of making this world go round. We each have an important duty each day to complete the tasks given to us in order to make things happen. Sure maybe it's not saving the world or saving lives like some people's job but nonetheless it's important. Without someone delivering the mail to my mailbox each day the bills that we have would be delinquent. Without someone building things and processing paper work and claims and without someone fixing computers and running cranes and taking care of children while their parents are out working where would we be? Without people taking care of the sick and hurts ones so they can again become contributing citizens of the community once again where would we be? Without all these jobs that create salaries so each and everyone of us has an opportunity to live and prosper and have fun from time to time in between the hustle and bustle of heading off to work everyday where would we be? Sure before sin entered the world we wouldn't of had to worry about things such as this but now this is where we are. And it's not so bad. God continues to provide in ways that blow my mind. In devastation and tragedy there are people there ready willing and able to roll up their sleeves and help out. There are still people out there that are good and nice and noble. As I see some of the same cars pass me by each and every morning I always often wonder where that other person is going and what job do they do to contribute to this wonderful place we live in. Sure this isn't my final resting place, this isn't my home and I truly am an alien on earth since I know that heaven is my home. But it's not that bad really if we just changed our outlook on this place. If we just looked up for God in all things instead of at the evil in all things. I live in a state that has been devastated by floods and people lost their lives and homes and possessions but the people of my state have come together in a way that I don't think I have ever seen here before. It calms my soul, it makes me smile, it brightens my day. I see God's hand in it all! I see that God's light is shining BRIGHT! Through pain and suffering comes joy and strength in a way we've never seen! God brings us through the other side always!

Just some things that have been on my mind...

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-09-24T15:29:00.002-04:00

Well I have to say I am thankful for this Thursday for so many different reasons! There is so much going on in my life right now and it's awesome to see God's hand in all of it. It's awesome to see how God is working in my life in so many wonderful and beautiful ways! I am so undeserving of any of it and amazed by His glory! I am thankful all the opportunities that He has brought to me and trusted with me. These are things that I haven't personally volunteered for. These are things that have been brought to me. These are opportunities that have arose by no means of myself. These are truly the work of God! These things I am thankful for and am excited to see what God is going to show and teach me through these things. I am thankful for God himself!!! I am thankful that I can be content in the fact that He himself is enough for me. That if I didn't gain anything else in this life that I would have comfort in the fact that I have already gained the greatest thing of all the gift of GOD and His son Jesus Christ! That's enough! Praying for things and for blessings and asking for things to happen to benefit us in life is natural, of course, but it's just a bonus if those things happen and are answered. But I have learned that God is enough for me. If I lost everything tomorrow I would be ok. I would have God to get me through. I am thankful for my ladies Bible study and the book that we are reading. It's really opened my eyes to many things over the past few weeks. I am thankful for a place where I can go and grow and get deeper in my relationship with Christ and be free. I am thankful that I am strong in my faith and that even though sometimes I stand alone or stand out as a follower of Christ I am perfectly okay with that. I am okay with the fact that some people in this life won't get me and won't get or understand the choices I make for the sake of my savior and for sake of those I trying to lead to the cross. I am secure in the things that I learned and continue to learn and the faith that I have. I am thankful for the people that God has brought into my life over the past five years that have helped grow my faith in ways that I never imagined! I am thankful for the confidence that I beginning to regain in myself through Christ that I never had in my past. I am thankful for the process of letting go of the past once and for all. It certainly is a process that's for sure. But there is nothing better than the feeling of cutting off the shackle that has been weighing you down holding you captive from allowing you to prosper in your new life created through Christ! I am thankful for the love that is shown to me by my husband and my new friends that I have met over the past five years. They are some of the most amazing people I could have ever met and they are true treasures God has blessed me with that He most certainly didn't have to, but he DID! And I will be forever thankful and grateful for! ALL these things make each and everyday brighter and better for me each day!

Dear Heavenly Father- I thank you this day for YOU! I thank you for all the wonderful, beautiful ways that you make my days brighter and more interesting and better, and I realize that in fact you really don't have to. Just being alive and forgiven is truly enough!!! Just having you as my Father is enough. Just having a relationship with your Son Jesus Christ is enough! But no you continue to pour out the blessings over my life day in and day out, week in and week out, month after month it seems. It just gets better! I am blown away by your graciousness!!! I am thankful for the prayers that you have answered and realize that they aren't things I should take for granted and I promise I will live everyday striving to never do that. I will strive everyday in complete adoration for you Lord! I will strive each day to live a life that you would look down and smile upon not because it's what I "should" do, or it's what others think is the right thing to do, and not to impress someone else, or to just appear to be a good person, but because it's what I want to do for YOU and for the things that you have so graciously done for me!!! I thank you for moving my heart more and more in your direction in a deeper way! It's exciting to me! I love learning more about you and growing closer to you each and every single week! My soul cannot get enough of it! I love you with all that I have and I want nothing more than to honor you! Thank you for creating such a beautiful life for me! -Amen

Vertical Reality Weekend!!!

2009-09-23T14:58:00.004-04:00

Well for those of you how don't know Vertical Reality is a camp that my church puts on for the 7th and 8th graders at our church! My girls are now in the 8th grade and this will be their last VR camp as middle schoolers. So sad. It was an AMAZING weekend though. We went to Sharp Top Cove again just like last year. It's a BEAUTIFUL camp in the north GA mountains in Jasper. We were there from Friday through Sunday. We had a BLAST! Friday night we are all supposed to dress out in team uniforms and I made each of my girls cow print shirts! The theme was the idea that just like each cow spot was created uniquely and differently just like we are and we are created uniquely beautiful by the hand of God. I even wrote on the back of each shirt "Created by God" each one in a different handwriting style. They LOVED it and the idea. It also tied in with the theme for the weekend of how we each have our own unique and different style of worshipping God and it's okay, that's how we were created. Again, we were created uniquely!

Saturday the weather was absolutely beautiful! They got to enjoy the day with lots of free time going down the slide, jumping on the blog, climbing the quantum leap and the rock wall and going down the zip line and swimming in the pool! Then we had a country hoe down later that evening. It was fun dressing in country wear and seeing everyone else all dressed up too! There was even a cricket spitting contest and we told jokes...clean ones of course! GAW, what were you thinking!? Then we enjoyed some ice cream sundaes too! Fun times! Then we headed back up to the wheelhouse for some more fun times and some AMAZING praise and worship songs. This was also where some of the leaders that were picked (I was one that was chosen) got up on stage and presented their "cardboard" testimonies that we had prepared earlier that night before dinner. During the session that night the leaders that were chosen to go up on stage snuck out of session with the students to go to the back of the stage to line up to come out. This is where I totally fell down the stairs on the side of of the wheelhouse. OOPS! Lost my footing on the stairs in my cowgirl boots and fell down a couple of stairs landing ever so gracefully on my back. SOOOO embarrassing!!! But all was well and I was okay. We all lined up and it was an emotional and amazing time. We got to share a small part of our stories on stage with the students on one side of the cardboard and on the other side we showed how God changed us. It was amazing to see us all up there being honest and open and giving all the praise and glory to God for restoring our lives. I have to say that I was very honored to be apart of something like that. I feel that it really opened the door for my students in my group as well. Afterwards we were dismissed to our small groups where the students also shared their cardboard testimonies (those that wanted to). It was an amazing and deep time for my group. We shared, we cried, we loved on one another and embraced each other's pain and suffering. We shared and received communion together and I prayed over each one of my girls and their lives and their hearts and for God to help them with their journey.

Overall the camp was just an amazing time! I truly realized even more than I already did before why God has called me to be apart of student ministry on this level. I still really want a full-time ministry job, but I have to say there is nothing in this world that I would trade for being a small group leader for middle, and next year high school girls. Nothing, nothing at all!!! It's worth more than any treasure in this world could offer. These students need small group leaders more than we think. We can make a difference in their lives more than you may realize. And your students may not open up to you in a huge way for a long time but that still doesn't mean that you aren't making that impact still and making a difference and planting those all so important and valuable seeds. Not that their parents can't do that as well but it can often be different and in different ways. Shepherding young students I feel is what I was born to do! Helping these young kids navigate an all too often un-fair life at an age where it seems that life should always be fair and they should always be picked first for the teams and always have things go their way and always be fair. We all go through things or don't go through things in our lives for a reason. There is a reason for the path that I took. There's nothing I can do to change it at this point. BUT there is something I can do to embrace it and use it to leverage good for the benefit of others. I canNOT sit on the sidelines of life and watch it go by. I cannot see desperation and not do something about it. I cannot see a hurting heart and not be there in the time of need. I can't turn the other way and say it's not my problem. I am here to help in what ever way I can, how ever that help may look like I am here with open arms, ready, willing and able to give it all I can! It's what I was called to do! The person I was always meant to be is a servant! I can't wait to see what God has in store for each of my students in the months and years to come.

Check out our pictures from the weekend!

CLICK HERE to VIEW PICTURES FROM the WEEKEND!!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-09-17T14:17:00.003-04:00

This week has been dreary and damp and I have been sick and so has Rob. YUCK! I have felt so sick and frustrated from being sick. Sometimes it can be hard to be positive when you are feeling sick AND it's also raining outside everyday. BUT I have been reflecting over this past weekend and all that happened at vertical Reality Camp with my Xtreme students and am just overjoyed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. I am thankful for the things that God has done in my life and for the girls that He has put in my group. I truly feel that there is never anything that is just left to chance or just a fluke. Every one of these girls was placed in my group by God for a purpose and for a reason for me to reach out to them and be able to relate to them on a level that someone else may otherwise not be able to. God certainly knew what He was doing when He placed all of us together that's for sure. I am so thankful for them and for the ability to be there for them. I don't want to tell too much about VR (Vertical Reality) since the North Point campus is going this weekend and I don't want to give any of the fun surprises away for any of those leaders or students...just in case. BUT I am once again thankful for a place I can serve and praise my God for ALL the wonderful things He has done in my life. This is the reason I LOVE serving in ministry so much, because of all the things that God has done for me, I feel it's my little way of showing God just how much I appreciate and love Him and thank Him for what He's done for me. I am thankful and so undeserving! I am blown away by all that happened at VR this past weekend with my students and look forward to what God has in store for the next chapter in the lives of my students and my life as well. I am thankful that through the storms of all of our lives we can rest assure that God will be there for each of us holding His arms out for us, and that when we are unsure about this life we can look to Him and be unsure no more. I am thankful for the ways that my girls lifted me up over the weekend even when I wasn't feeling well. They were so sweet! I had gotten a REALLY bad headache, and intense backache (which was self-inflicted, and we won't go into details about how that happened just yet. You will have to stay tuned for a VR post for that) and after the final session on Saturday night my girls were taking care of me. Getting me water, asking me if I needed the lights off. In fact, their exact words were, "You need the lights to be off don't you? Yeah you need those lights off now." "Girls, Erin needs those lights off her head is hurting BAD!" So I told them to prop the bathroom door open so they could still see. I felt so bad that they turned the lights off and that I was feeling so bad. This is so out of character for me to not stay up and hang out with the girls till the wee hours and they knew that. I am thankful for their sweet, sweet hearts and their willingness to be so understanding and to jump right in and take care of me when it's typically the other way around. They are the sweetest girls ever! I am thankful for them, each and every one of them. They made me smile through my tears of pain that night. They love me for me and I love them for them! They are the best! I am thankful for the Holy Spirit that stirred my spirit and called me to go Xtreme almost three years ago now and step up and volunteer to lead a group of sixth grade girls. I didn't really know what I was getting into at the time. But now I can't imagine NOT leading these girls and NOT being there for them. I am thankful for the crazy silly moments we share and the serious, heart wrenching, deep ones too. I wouldn't trade one for the other. I LOVE student minsitry and being apart of something so much more than myself!

I LOVE this song called More Beautiful-Here are a few lyrics. IT's AWESOME!!! You should really check it out!!!

"There could never be a more beautiful you, you were made to fill a purpose that only you could do...."

By: Johnny Diaz

Dear Lord- I thank you for this day, sickness and all. I thank you for this past weekend and for VR Camp 09'! I thank you for Xtreme and for BBCC, my church! I thank you for a place I can worship you and serve you. I thank you for everything you have brought me through so that I may be in the place where I am today leading girls to you Lord. It's truly amazing! I am thankful for each and every one of them. They are each so beautiful and created in your image God. I pray that each of them sees that you are there for them in their struggles, Lord they have so many at such a young age. Lord I pray that they can lean hard on you and NOT the ways of the world. I thank you for the opportunity to lead them and guide them through this crazy time of life Lord and teach them more and more about you and your truths, it's so awesome! I thank you for the amazing times that we shared during camp this past weekend, both the fun and silly times and the serious times when they really felt comfortable opening up to me with some important things Lord. I cherish those moments and hold those close to my heart Lord. I pray for each of those things Lord, you know what they are. I pray that those are taken care of. I pray for restoration. I thank you for their sweet hearts and for them taking care of me when I was feeling down. It was so sweet. You created them that way and I saw you in them. How awesome! Thank you for all that you do and for your strength. -Amen

WEDNESDAY WEBSITE!!!

2009-09-16T17:54:00.003-04:00

So I found this website last week and thought it was awesome!!! I got a little busy and wasn't able to post it last week though. This is something that I am a firm believer in and I think what this lady is starting is just GREAT! Check out her website and participate in Operation Beautiful! Because EVERYONE is beautiful and deserves to feel that way!

CLICK HERE FOR OPERATION BEAUTIFUL!!!

I hope you particiapate!

"All beautiful you are my darling, there is no flaw in you." Song of Solomon 4:7

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-09-10T11:54:00.002-04:00

So this week was short and yet has still been a challenging one. I had some serious head pain issues over last weekend and on Labor Day and wasn't able to get out and do anything. BUT I was thankful that it happened on Monday when I could be off work rather than on Tuesday when I had no choice but to go to work. My women's Bible study that I am in started back this Tuesday. We take breaks for the holidays and for the summer. So I was SUPER thankful to back with the group. The devil always tries to get in the way of good things though consistently in my life by trying to get me to buy into his lies. I DO NOT listen to them however!!! I pray to God instead and give my anxieties over to Him and know that all will be well. My time with the ladies of this group on Tuesday was amazing and I felt loved and welcomed once again. The group is not a typical Browns Bridge Community Church group though and all the ladies know each other (some are even family), so I am the outsider coming into the group. They have been meeting in this group for a long time. It can be intimidating, I won't lie. I am so thankful to have been invited to come to this group though by a friend of mine last year at this same time of year when I was seeking a ladies small group to join and just couldn't find one. It's truly amazing how God just so divinely places people and things into your life at the right moments! We are doing a study on worship and I couldn't be more excited about it! We are also doing a Bible study group about worship in Xtreme (middle school ministry at my church for those of you who aren't sure what Xtreme means when I say that) with all the women leaders and I am super excited about doing that as well and getting even more connected! I will be helping out with this group by blogging, which I LOVE doing and am soooo excited about! I am thankful to have a brand new married couples small group too! Rob and I are leading this group and couldn't be more excited about this endeavour! We are thrilled to see how much God is going to grow our relationship with Him and in turn help others and grow relationships with other people as well. It's so refreshing to have other people in your life that you can count on at any time that has the same values as you have and you don't have to question where they stand in that part either. I am so thankful that God has placed so many opportunities at my feet right now and trusted me with so much! I am so thankful for the place where God has us right now and where He is taking us!!! I am thankful for ALL the opportunities I have to grow and learn more about Christ through worship and through community with others it just over joys my heart so much. This is what I need! This is where I need to be! I am thankful and want none thing more than to spend each and everyday doing whatever I can to show God how very thankful I am for ALL that he has done AND continues to do for me in my life and the lives of those around me as well. It's amazing!

I am thankful for the new doctor's office that I am going to right now. They are on top of my coumadin dosages and are just a LOT better than my old office in general and I feel MUCH more confident in my care at this new office. My INR reading yesterday was however STILL LOW at 1.7 and down from last week's reading which was 1.9. Which is not good, but they have increased my coumadin dosage in efforts to get that number up next week. I am thankful that I have so many people that continue to pray for me and my pain. I am so grateful and so undeserving. I am so thankful for the many friendships that I have. This is something that I was very scared about in my past. When I was an addict my "friends" were NOT friends at all. They were merely enablers, and users, what ever they could get out of me to get what they wanted was all they were concerned about. Not my health or how I was. And giving up and not hanging out with or having any communication with anyone from that part of my life was a difficult process. Realizing the fact that those people truly never cared about me as a friend was hard to take in a way. I was scared that I wouldn't make friends and people wouldn't like me and that I wouldn't be a good enough friend to another person and that, I , as a person in general just wasn't good enough. But God has really opened my eyes to a new beginning in this area over the last four years and has really answered my prayers!!! These past few months have been difficult and challenging BUT they have really grown my heart and my soul even closer to God than before, having to lean solely on Him for strength on the days my head is filled with so much pain I can barely bare it and when my mind is filled with so many lies from the enemy that it is ridiculous. He gets me through it and builds me up!

I am thankful that I get to be apart of Xtreme and a ministry that I love dearly. I am thankful for the Vertical Reality camp that is coming up this weekend and cannot wait to see how God is going to show up in the lives of my students and all the students that come this weekend and next weekend when North Point goes. I am thankful to be apart of these girl's lives and hope and pray that I will make an impact in their lives some way somehow, so they can be confident and feel worthy, unlike how I always felt at their age. I was enthralled last night in finishing making shirts and listening to the storms and God just revealed to me something I hadn't even thought of about the shirt design that I planned for the girls! It was AWESOME! I can't tell you yet because I don't want to reveal it yet since some of the girls read my blog. BUT it's amazing! It ties right in with the theme for the camp and the idea that we are teaching them all about. I am thankful for the moments like those when we are still and have a clear mind and are just silent and ready to receive what ever God has for us in those moments. I LOVE IT! It totally rocks my world! I am thankful beyond words!

Dear Lord- I am so undeserving of all that you are doing for me and for where you have brought me and I am so thankful for it all! Lord I want to spend every second letting you know how thankful I am by thanking you through worshiping you for all that you've done for me and how much you've brought me through. Thank you for this week for what lies ahead. I thank you for each of the ladies in my Bible study and for you allowing their hearts to be open to me being apart of their group. I thank you for calming my anxious heart about going to the group again and showing me there is nothing to fear and that it's a wonderful group and no one judges me like I think. It's all lies from the enemy and I know that Lord. Thank you for opening my eyes as always! Thank you for Holly and for her inviting me into that group one year ago. I really feel blessed to have been asked and to be there! I really feel like it's such a great place for me to be. I thank you for my new married couples group and for the opportunity to lead this group. I thank you for the friendships that will and have already been made there Lord. I thank you for always knowing our needs and divinely placing every little puzzle piece of my life together the only way anyone can like you can! I am thankful for my students in Xtreme Lord so much! I pray so hard for them this week Lord. I pray Lord that if any one of them have any question or doubt about you Lord that this weekend is the weekend to stir their spirits and grasp their hearts and have them turn to YOU! And I pray for those girls that do know you to grow closer to you through this camp! I pray for all the leaders going to camp that we all are able to have the right words to say through your guidance and strength. I pray that through you we are able to reach out to these students in a way that maybe no one else can. I pray that everything runs smoothly and soundly. I pray for the health of my group and everyone going. I am thankful for all the things that you have entrusted to me Lord. If you would have asked me 6 years ago Lord if I would be here doing all that I am doing right now I would have said NO WAY! But there is nothing that I would rather be doing. There is nothing I would rather be doing than giving you glory and honor in every way that I can. I thank you for pulling me out of the pits of hell and saving myself from myself. I thank you for the strength you have given me this week to get through the pain without medication as seriously difficult as it has been I trust in you to be my healer and I never want to be that person I once was and I trust in the fact that I won't be by having faith in YOU! Thank you for getting me through! Thank you for strength and courage that I could NEVER have on my own. If I tried couping with these things on my own I would crumble and I would fall on my face I would revert back to my old ways for sure. I can do nothing without your strength and guidance Lord. Thank you for the gift, the gift of life and forgiveness and beauty and peace. Thank you! My heart is overwhelmed with thankfulness right now I can barely even type. Lord you know my heart better than anyone and I just love you and want to give back to you in all that I do! -Amen

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-09-03T15:25:00.002-04:00

The sun is out and shining BRIGHT! The weather is GORGEOUS and only in the 70's! What more could we be thankful for this day!? Oh yeah that's right I woke up with NO head pain! YAY! AMAZING!!! I have had had no pains today at all so far! Answered prayers are ALWAYS something to be thankful for! I am thankful for a lot of answered prayers this week! I had a HUGE answered prayer yesterday. I had been praying about some things for a dear friend of mine and she gave me good news and the prayers I had been praying about for her have been answered!!! I am so thankful! I was so overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit yesterday while chatting with her online that I was in tears at my desk at work. They probably thought I was crazy or something. Over here just typing away and crying all the while. Oh well! I am crazy! Crazy about my God and the awesome things He does! He rocks my socks off!!! I mean seriously!!! I am thankful for the emails I get from my middle school girls that light up my life and lift me up. These girls are so sweet and thoughtful! I am thankful for hearing that they love Xtreme and all the things and ways it brings them closer to God. It truly means the world to me as do they! I am thankful for each and every one of them! I am thankful for the peace that God has brought to my heart about the place I am in, in my life. I have, as many of you may or may not have known been praying hard for a change in my life as far as my full-time, 40 hour work week job goes. I have been praying hard for a full-time ministry position and it has recently seems that every time I have tried applying for certain jobs the door has just been shut. And I am fine with that finally. I am thankful for right where God has me for I know it's for a purpose and for His glory no matter what I am doing. I am at peace that no matter how long it may take for me to get the full-time ministry position, I have true faith that God will provide. He has always provided for me in every other way and I have no doubt He will in this way too. I am thankful for our new small group that we will be leading that is starting tonight! I am thankful for each person in that group and am looking forward to what each of us has to offer for the group! I am thankful for our church and for all the opportunities I have there to grow closer to Christ through my church and through the relationships I have found there. It's such a blessing in my life that I can't even thank God enough for.

Dear Heavenly Father- I thank you for this day! This glorious BEAUTIFUL day Lord I thank you for it! I thank you for taking away my pain today Lord! I thank you immensely for allowing me to wake up pain free this morning and for allowing me to be pain free so far all day! I thank you for that, it's truly a gift! I thank you for all the answered prayers that I was so diligently praying to you for regarding my friend Lord! WOW! Is all I can say! It was so amazing to hear her words unfold and to just feel the Holy Spirit fill my body in those moments and right now just thinking about it. Your power is amazing and I am just in aw over it! Thank you for that! Thank you for your healing! Thank you for your patience with people and for always being there. Thank you for my middle school girls at church that I lead Lord. They are so precious! Thank you for their hearts and for moving their spirits! Thank you for their thoughtful emails and text messages! Thank you for allowing me to be apart of their lives and for me to share things with them in hopes that they can get to know you better as I have noticed recently Lord. It makes me so happy to see that. I thank you for that and for allowing me to be there for them. I love being involved in student ministry! I pray for each of them to grow closer to you each day! I pray for the camp coming up Lord and for each girl that will be coming with me and our group. I pray that you will just rock their world's during that time like you've never done before. Open their eyes in way that you've never done before! Thank you for providing everything I need and then some. Thank you for the peace that I feel recently over the place where I currently am at right now. It's an amazing feeling. Letting go of the reins completely feels so freeing! Thank you for this new small group that we are able to become a part of Lord. I pray that this group will be great and that Rob and I will become great leaders of this group. I pray that we will develop more great friendships from this group as we have in the past. I thank you for the friendships that you have brought to me of which I am not sure what I would do without. I love you more each day and want to live each day to it's fullest doing everything I can to get closer to you. I thank you and love you - Amen

UPDATES and SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE!!!

2009-09-02T15:26:00.003-04:00

Well this roller coaster ride of pain and doctors appointments and filling new prescriptions of new dosages of coumadin continues BUT my faith in God to see me through it all hasn't changed one bit. It hasn't been easy but there is NOTHING I can't handle!!! I have had my INR (International Normalized Rate) level checked three times now since leaving the hospital. Once at my PCP (Primary Care Physician), once at my neurologist's lab office and once at my NEW PCP's office where they have a coumadin specialist nurse on staff to help me monitor my levels better than my other PCP.

The first INR level check I went to get at my original PCP on Monday 08/24/2009 and took three days to it get back from their office when it should have been an instant reading so I would know how to adjust my coumadin meds instantly. So I didn't get the results back until Thursday of that week. AND they told me not to get re-checked for two weeks because according to them it was "perfect". YIKES!

The next level reading was done that same week at my neurologists office, on Friday 08/28/2009 and the level was at 1.7 (LOW-NOT "perfect") so I was a bit freaked out. AND the lab tech there didn't know what to do so she just said it was fine and sent me on my way. Thank goodness my husband told me to call the doctor on call and see what I should do. He said that was definitely too low to up my coumadin dose for the weekend and that I should contact my doctor's office first thing Monday morning. So I did that and my neurologist definitely said I needed to see the coumadin specialist since my regular doctor took so long to get my results back and my levels weren't where they needed to be. So my sister's friend, Nichole, who is a coumadin specialist and had been so kind to help answer the MANY questions we had while I was in the hospital helped me find a NEW PCP and I got an appointment yesterday, Tuesday 09/01/2009. I got another INR level reading and my level is up a tiny to 1.9. STILL not great though. She wants it to be between 2-3 before I can drop my weekly checks to monthly checks at the doctor's office. So until then I have to go to the doctor's office every week still to have my INR checked and make sure it's still rising. AND considering they wouldn't let me out of the hospital until I was over 2 it's still a concern of course. I will not have to go back into the hospital though unless it's 1.2 or lower though. So we are praying that it will not drop. BUT the only bad thing is that the head pain is back with a vengeance since my doctor's have advised me to come off the pain meds that I had been taking for three months almost now that my original PCP had prescribed me stating that it was no big deal and it shouldn't cause any problems. But both my new PCP and my neurologist say that it can cause rebound headaches and it can be habit forming of course. So with nothing out there that I can take for the pain dealing with things have been rough as you can imagine. It's hard to explain the pain to people too because most people just think its a headache and it's not at all. Its an intense head pain in the back of my head and then head pressure when ever I stand or sit or lean over. It's all coming back too since coming off the pain meds and I am just praying like crazy for relief and for this coumadin to start working fast to break up this blood clot in this vein. BUT coumadin is NOT a fast working medicine really since they say it will take between 6-9 months for it to fully take effect on the clot. Patience, prayers and more prayers are certainly in order that's for sure!!!

I find hope in the following verses that I have been reading over the past couple of days in my personal Bible study!

PROVERBS 18:14 "A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?"

ISAIAH 2:22 "Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils, of what account is he?"

1 PETER 3:6 "Do not give way to fear."

ISAIAH 30:15 "In repentance and rest is your salvation, quietness and trust is your strength."

There is nothing to fear, there is nothing I cannot face, there is nothing too big for me to handle. This thing that I am dealing with is a blip on the radar of life that will only make me stronger and a better person through it. I feel like I probably shouldn't even be talking about it really compared to the struggles and battles that some face each and everyday. I know that there is a reason for everything that we go through and a reason for the place in which we are in life. We only see things through a TINY pin hole when God can see the entire picture of our lives. And yes it can often be frustrating but we MUST remain faithful in that we are right where God wants us and remain patient that everything will workout in His time.

So until the break through of pain comes I will remain faithful that no matter how bad it gets or how hard a day may seem God is only preparing me for something greater something more! I will remain faithful that this too shall pass and this too is just a season and another stepping stone of life. One day I will not be faced with pain any longer. And I will always remember the lyrics of "ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND, ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND."

STOP TEXTING, EMAILING, FACEBOOKING, OR TWITTERING WHILE DRIVING!

2009-09-02T12:16:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook page and I thought it was worth sharing. I will first off be the first one to admit that I once was the worst habitual texter/facebooker while driving offender in the past. It only took ONE horrific incident to change that terrible habit. I know we all say, I promise I will TRY and do better about that, or I won't do that anymore I promise. But do you really mean it when you say it. What will it take for YOU to stop texting while driving? It took something VERY scary happening right in front of my eyes, and it shouldn't have taken that much to stop me from doing it. As a firefighters wife you can imagine how often I was always told not to text, facebook, email or tweet while driving and yet there I was out on the roads not only endangering my own life BUT more importantly the lives of innocent people out on the roads too. When you get in your car you are taking on a HUGE responsibility out there. The responsibility of the lives of the people on the road around you is the way I see it. Innocent children and babies. And trust me I've heard some horrible and very sad stories from my husband, the firefighter, about wrecks involving innocent children and babies. So if for no other reason for those that can't defensively drive away from you if you were to cross into their lane as your are aimlessly driving because you are carelessly and selfishly deciding to text away on your phone because that's so much more important than the life of others of even your own life right, STOP IT? Think about how saddened your family would be if something happened to you and it could have all been prevented had you just been paying attention like we are all supposed to be doing while we are driving and nothing more. If it's that important to send that message, then pull over and STOP, send it, and then get back on the road. I felt so horrible for my actions of not taking all these things into consideration before and for allowing myself to think I was the best driver that I would never wreck from being distracted while being on the phone. I cried! I prayed! I felt sick to my stomach for a week over it. Never say never. I refuse to allow myself to pick up that phone and text, email, facebook, or twitter ever again now for the sake of my life, for my family, for the lives of the people around me on the road and the lives of the sweet innocent children that could also be traveling in those cars with no control of their own.

BE CAREFUL! The road is already dangerous enough without us adding to the chaos with our silly addictions to the cell phones! I hope this PSA video gets you thinking and really makes you think. I hope you never have to witness a real life horrific accident like I have. I pray that something inside you will be shaken and that something inside you will care and change your habits if you have these bad habits. And I hope you pass the word along in hopes that if we can each hold each other accountable to this then it will save lives out there!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-08-27T12:31:00.002-04:00

So this week has been a little rough at times and great too! So most of you know I was in the hospital last week and this week is my first week back to work. Monday was awful!!! A couple people at my office weren't so nice to me when I came back, saying NOTHING about my absence and asking nothing about how I was, just simply coming into my office and handing me new work to do. And no worries they aren't reading my blogs I know that for certain. And well if they ever do maybe they will realize how their actions effect people. But for the most part the rest of the crew at the office was glad to see me back of course! But coming back right away I won't lie was NOT easy at all. The first day was a disaster in my office, with a stack of files that was HUGE! BUT I got everything caught back up in day! AWESOME right?! I am thankful for that and my skills God has blessed me with in that area!

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions though I won't hold back about that. Excited, exhausted, mad, confused, frustrated, sad, passionate, determined, focused, and patient all in the same week! That's a LOT of things going on!!! WOW! Excited about what God has in store for the next season of our lives. Exhausted from getting back to work after being in the hospital for a week. Mad about some people at my work that were not compassionate at all through my ordeal or when I came back. Confused about what I should do about that and frustrated about it all at the same time of course. Frustrated a bout my job situation in general since I want to work in an area where I am passionate in. Sad about some news I have heard from some friends this week regarding a car accident and a tiny little miracle. Passionate about my dreams in pursuing a job in ministry so much that it just excites my soul to the core! Doing God's work is what I was meant to do and I just feel so passionate about that. Determined to do God's work no matter what that looks like and no matter in what capacity that may be for the time being. Patient that all will work out according to God's divine plan for my life in His beautiful timing even though this piece is often the hardest thing to have to deal with. Patience my child! Timing is EVERYTHING!

So this week I am thankful for all the things that have been going on because I know it's a lot and I feel so honored that God has entrusted me with so much! I am thankful that during the hard times throughout my hospital stay it really allowed me open my eyes even more to God and His greatness even more than I had before! It allowed me to grow closer to Him even more! I am so thankful for that! I feel that you can never grow close enough to God and in our walk with Christ! It should always be a journey and we should always be continuously seeking and watering our seeds! I am thankful that I finally heard back from my doctor today and that I DO NOT have a genetic disorder and that I will NOT have to be on coumadin (blood thinners) for the rest of my life. I will ONLY have to remain on these meds long enough to release this clot from my brain! PRAISE the great Lord above for this as I have been so anxious to find out these results and praying hard for these results!!!! I am thankful for the job that I DO have and that I can feel secure in the fact that they depend on me greatly to make things run smoothly as I found out while in the hospital! I am thankful for the people at my work that DO care about me and I will do everything in my power to never take those certain ones for granted ever again. I am thankful for ALL my loving and caring friends and family that have been right there for me throughout this ordeal to help lift me up when I was feeling down. I am thankful ALL of you who were able to make it out to the hospital to see me, and will cherish those moments forever! I know I was thankful for that last week too, but I just want reiterate how important it was to me and great it was to have you each there! I am thankful everyone who continues to check in with me and ask how I am doing and if there is anything they can do. It's overwhelming the amount of love and support everyone has shown to me! God is so great and so are His followers! I love you ALL! Thank you! I am thankful for a God who is able to open my eyes when dealing with certain issues this week that I thought I would have a really hard time dealing with. I am thankful for the open-mindedness that He has brought upon me this week! I refused to allow the devil to take over my feelings and attack my character and get in my mind what so ever thanks to my God who is always right there by my side holding my hand each step of the way in this beautiful journey of life!

GOD is beautiful and captures my heart each and everyday! I am thankful for everyday that I am given for it is TRULY a gift and a treasure that we should NEVER take for granted! We should cease it, do all the things that we ever wanted to do NOW, not wait around for just the right time! God has given us each so many great gifts and talents to reach others in this life and we need to not be stagnant any longer! I feel so free, so fresh, so wildly on fire for my God that LOVES me more that I can ever begin to imagine and for that I am SO immensely thankful! My heart races fast for Him as I write my feelings and thoughts down, my hands at times even shake for I love Him so! I am elated with joy for all that lies ahead in my journey with Christ!!!! I can't contain it and why on earth would I want to?! It's to awesome to NOT share with others! I want to get undignified for HIS glory!

Dear Lord- I thank you for this moment in time for this time I get to share my raw emotions, and feelings and thoughts with whomever may take the time to read this and with you of course! I am thankful for your love for me! I am thankful for your protective hands that have continued to watch over my life now for so many years and some many times that I could have and/or should have died. I am thankful for ALL the plans that you have waiting for me someday that I know nothing of yet and am so excited in my heart about!!! I am thankful for being able to grow closer with each and everyday, week by week, month by month, year by year! I am thankful for all the blessings you continue to just pour over me, a person so so so undeserving! Lord I want to do whatever I can in my little power while I am on this earth to re-pay you for ALL the many many many things that you have and continue to do for me. I KNOW there is NOTHING good enough that I could ever do to re-pay you for all those things but I just want you to know that I am here to serve and praise you all the days of my life and I cannot wait to see your shining face someday! I LOVE you more than words can express! I am thankful for ALL the ways that you have shaped me and all the ways that you will continue to shape me in our journey together! Thank you for continuing to grow me into the person that I was always meant to be since the day you thought me up! Thank you again for ALL that you continue to do for me, a person who certainly never deserved any of it. I love you Jesus! -Amen!!!!

MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION DINNER!!! THE BEST!!!

2009-08-25T22:43:00.002-04:00

So I was discharged from the hospital just in time for my birthday!!! I was so thankful for even being able to have a birthday this year AND even more thankful to be able to share it and celebrate it over dinner with some of my most treasured people that I LOVE!! I feel so blessed to have such amazing people in my life! We had the BEST time! It was last minute and it was GREAT! This birthday has actually been one of the best one's I have ever had despite all that has happened in the last week. I was feeling well enough to make to church and spend some time with some more of my favs there! They were all so sweet!!! Birthdays have really taken on a new meaning for me! I have always felt it was important to celebrate every one's birthday and recognize people at that time. But I guess when something happens to you that once and for all opens your eyes to the tiny amount of time we each have left on this earth to make a difference and do something good it really makes you stop and think and appreciate each birthday that much more!

THANK YOU ALL for ALL your sweet birthday wishes and for making my special so very special!!!! It wouldn't be the same without the ones I love!

My "Seester" Dana, Nikki (sis-in-law), Kaley, Me, and Kelli

My BEAUTIFUL Mom and ME!!!

MY better half and myself! We are the PERFECT match!

My Dad, ME and Mom!

Click HERE to view ALL the pictures!!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!

2009-08-20T14:11:00.002-04:00

Well this Thursday I have MANY MANY things to be thankful for! As most of you know I have been in the hospital since last Friday. They found a blood clot in a vein in my brain and I was admitted last Friday and have been here ever since. First thing this morning that I was thankful for was that my nurse came in to give me a heads up and let me know that my INR (International Normalized Rate) and PT (Prothrombin Time) lab results came in and were at 2.134 which were way up from yesterday. Those are laboratory test values obtained from measurements of the time it takes for a clot to form. So they have to monitor these levels by taking blood samples every day while I am on the heparin and coumadin medications since these blood thinner medications work to prolong the usual time it takes for a clot to form, resulting in prolonged INR/PT. So needless to say I have been stabbed by a needle a LOT since being in the hospital!

I was so excited this morning when she gave me that news!!! I figured that I would still be in the hospital for another night though since the doctor had stated before that she would like for my INR/PT level to be at 2.5 before leaving the hospital. But she came in a little later today and informed me that she was completely comfortable letting me go home TODAY! And that I am completely at a therapeutic level with my blood thinner medications, which is the ultimate goal! I am so thankful for all this GREAT NEWS! I am also thankful for my sweet husband who has continually been by my side day in and day out helping cheer me up each day and keeping me company and helping me with anything and everything I may need each day while in the hospital. He has really been there for me more than I could ever ask for! I am also so grateful and thankful for ALL my amazing friends and family for coming by to see me while I was stuck at the hospital in this tiny room. It's never the most fun thing to do, to go visit someone in the hospital but you just don't know what it does for that person. It has meant the MOST for me to have so many bright shining faces stop by my room each day to say hello and show me some much needed love and support and share some laughs! I am so thankful for the moments we've gotten to share and the conversations we've had! I am thankful for the people who posted sweet comments of encouragement and prayers on my facebook wall, and/or emailed me messages or text messaged me or called me. Sure you may not have been able to make it out here but the sweet calls and messages mean so much too! Those messages and calls also got me through each day when I felt so alone and down and out and not wanting to be here anymore. You just don't realize how a few sweet words can really cheer up someones day but it really can! I can't even imagine what I would have done without all your love and support while being in here. God has blessed my life with each and everyone of you! I am thankful for all the BEAUTIFUL flowers that made me smile ALL day and night and the wonderful smell that filled my room!!! They were just the perfect touch for this long stay! I am thankful for my beautiful angel and flower figurines that my sweet friend and mom gave me! They were certainly a source of peace and comfort! I am thankful for all the treats and goodies that were brought to us and the meals of course! One person can only handle so many hospital meals! There are so many blessings there are too many to even list when I think about it I feel so overwhelmed! I am thankful for ALL the prayers from so many people all over the place, people I don't even know! I am thankful for the hospital and the nurses and doctors for taking such good care of me and helping me! I am thankful that this was caught when it was and that it ended up being able to be treated with medication and not brain surgery. I am thankful that God allowed me to still be here on this earth and know that He must have a HUGE plan for my life still because this could have been so much worse. I am thankful that this clot didn't decide to come lose at any given point before and cause major problems. I am thankful to be coming HOME today and BEFORE my BIRTHDAY!!! I am thankful for many many things and people on this day!

These verses have inspired me today!

PROVERBS 15:14-15 " The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast."

* It is so important to fill our minds with good knowledge and things that are positive and uplifting. It will directly effect our attitude towards life and challenges with what are facing. If I didn't continue reading the Word while I was in the hospital and aligning my heart and mind with God continually I would be so depressed probably and would be down. We certainly can't control the bad situations we are often dealt but we can control how we react to them. One way we to help how we react to situations and how we react to bad things is by filling our minds with everything that is pure, lovely, true and good! Seek good knowledge and good things will come to you. *

TITUS 2:7 " In everything set them an example by doing what is good."

*Remember that in ALL things that we do in life and ALL things that we go through either good or bad we should be setting a good example as followers of Christ and should be shining His light and His glory in all things we do. *

Dear Lord- I thank you for this amazing day on Thursday, August 20, 2009! I thank you for ALL the sweet people you have placed in my life that have been there for me throughout this ordeal and have just come through for me in ways I could have never imagined! I thank you for their love and support and all their prayers. I thank you for the doctors and the nurses and for their knowledge that you have given to them to be able to take care of patients. I thank you for allowing me to still be on this earth to do your work and continue to shine your light Lord!!! I know that all these things ONLY happened because of you and for your GLORY!!! I hope that others can see that too! I thank you for healing me one day at a time and for allowing me to seek you in my most desperate days and allowing me to grow and have patience. I thank you for my husband who was so willing to sit and be by my side each and everyday and be bored all for me and my sake Lord. I love him dearly! I thank you for my family who came through for me as always and for allowing them margin in their schedules to come see me as often as they did. I thank you for all of my friends as well Lord and for all their visits that were such a blessing and cheered me up tremendously and made me feel so loved! I thank you for all the meals that were provided to us not only at the hospital but by our friends and family who brought us yummy food to the hospital! I thank you for all the goodies that I received that helped pass the time or make the time here a little better! I thank you for blessing my life even in times of what may have seemed like a time of darkness but really wasn't. I thank you for being by my side through it all holding my hand and wrapping your arms around me when I wanted and needed to cry. I thank you for all things in life and give you and you alone all the glory for I make it through nothing in this world without you and your strength. Thank you and I love you more with each passing second. -Amen.