I'm excited that I'm excited to spend some time with Jesus tonight.
Because... Some days I do it because I know I should.
Some days I do it because I'm desperate.
Some days I just don't do it.
Some days I do it because I need to feel assured of His love.
But tonight. I do it because I feel I need to assure Him of mine.
Refocus. Deep breaths. Hand over the controls.
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine.
–As the Psalmist implies in Psalm 139 –
“Thou art the God of the early mornings, the God of the late at nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea; but my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature. Thou Who are the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot trace, dreams I cannot get at–My God, search me out.”
by Oswald Chambers. (emphasize mine)
hI've been given several blog awards in the last few days and I thought it would be fun to go ahead and acknowledge them here. I've been awarded a few over my blogging years (years?? I've been blogging for years?? Oh my.) but haven't always taken the time to post them and do the associated tag or assignment.
Blog awards don't necessarily represent prestige or rank in blogdom. They are more like just a fun ways to share your favorite blogs and, depict by the award you give them, why that blog is one of your favorites. Or thats the way it seems to me. But I for one, always feel a little special after receiving one. Between comments and blog awards, its fun to know people actually read what I write.
Abbie and Anna awarded me the 'You're going places, Baby' award. I'm with Anna, this has got to be the most unique I've ever had. Made me smile. The rules to this award are: Share where you see yourself in ten years and then award this to ten other bloggers.In ten years I'll be 30. And that right there, is sorta hard to wrap my mind around. The last 5 years especially have been so unpredictable its hard to actually put in writing what I imagine myself doing/being in 10. But here goes! I would love to be married and have some kids by then. If not, I'd like to be on the mission field somewhere. To be oober specific, I would like to be found, in ten years, surrounded by bunches of little black babies who need me at least as much as I need them.
I award this to (because I see all of these people going places, leading purposeful lives):
Sarah H gave me this award:
- Post about the tag.-Choose 5 bloggers who deserve this award.
-Leave a comment on the blogs of the people you tagged, letting them know they were awarded.
-Answer the questions along with your post. (Omit questions you don’t want to answer)
1. Which do you prefer–Apples, Oranges, or Bananas?
Oranges. Is this supposed to say something about my personality?
2. How many siblings do you have?
2. How many siblings do you have?
Three. a brother and two sisters
3. Where do you live–a prairie, Woodland, city, or other?
Hmmm. I guess that would be prairie. Cuz its definitely not the other two.
4. What is something you enjoy doing with your family?
Playing banana-grams and watching movies. Spending time in the Word and prayer.
5. Is your room clean?
we're working on that. :)
3. Where do you live–a prairie, Woodland, city, or other?
Hmmm. I guess that would be prairie. Cuz its definitely not the other two.
4. What is something you enjoy doing with your family?
Playing banana-grams and watching movies. Spending time in the Word and prayer.
5. Is your room clean?
we're working on that. :)
6. Which would you prefer to vist–Italy, Greece, France, Spain, or England?
Mmmm. maybe Spain. I'm not picky.
7. What is a scripture that encourages you?
Mmmm. maybe Spain. I'm not picky.
7. What is a scripture that encourages you?
Just one? Ok. Psalm 138:8 "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands."
8. Gum, chocolate, or jelly beans?
Gum. I know, I'm weird for not saying chocolate, but I'm being honest!
9. What are your favorite types of books?
8. Gum, chocolate, or jelly beans?
Gum. I know, I'm weird for not saying chocolate, but I'm being honest!
9. What are your favorite types of books?
Missionary biographies. by far my favorite.
10. Which is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Vanilla.
11. If you had to eat one type of food for two weeks, what would that food be?
10. Which is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Vanilla.
11. If you had to eat one type of food for two weeks, what would that food be?
Potatoes. Potatoes. Potatoes.
12. Are you an outside or an inside person?
Depends.
13. Describe yourself in three words.
pretty. much. impossible.
12. Are you an outside or an inside person?
Depends.
13. Describe yourself in three words.
pretty. much. impossible.
14. What chore do you like to do the most?
this is by far the hardest question for this here lazy bum. I'm going to have to say cleaning toilets. Its not as degrading as it sounds. :)
This award goes to:
- Melinda @ Abounding in Hope
- Jen @ Its a Jen's Life
- Katie @ Reflections from Katie
- Abigail and Lauren @ Pearls and Diamonds
Sarah also gave me the following awards.
-State 5 random facts about yourself.
-Award 5 of your stylish blogging friends.
-Award 5 of your stylish blogging friends.
1. I like cars.
2. I love to fish.
3. I'm not a huge fan of shopping unless its shoe shopping.
4. I pretty much flunked Algebra 2 in highschool.
5. I have a mild form of computer geekiness but when it comes to a cable TV remote I'm totally lost.
There. Was that random enough? :)I give to ye 5 bloggers:
Anna, Alexis, Abbie, Eden, Lauren
And now for one more fun thing. Ashleigh over at Heart and Home is having a giveaway week and today she's giving away some Thrive Coffee and a traveler's mug. Pretty cool giveaway-- go check it out!
...in exactly one week.
I haven't done a picture post in quite awhile, and I took a bazillion or so photos on my trip last week, so I'd thought I'd post a few. The scenery on the way to Oregon, was scrumptious. The wedding was beautiful. And the company was, well... the company made the whole trip worth every cent and more. I'd take a week off work again in a heartbeat to be able to travel with my grandparents, attend my cousin's wedding, and fellowship with my dear friends in Bend, Oregon (where I took the Discipleship Training Program last year). Hope you can experience a tinge of my excitement and memories through these pictures.
Many thanks to my parents for loaning me the family vehicle for my trip. A tad bit of humor comes to play when you see its a minivan sporting a bumper sticker that says 'I love horses!' I happen to be the only one in my family whom that sticker does not speak for! But take note, a mini-van is the safest way for a young single gal to travel by herself. it seemed to scream 'married with kids'. Almost as good as having a man right next to you to protect you. Hehe.
These are my grandparents. They were so generous to let me ride along. (I drove a day by myself, to get to their house in Colorado and rode the rest of the way with them). It was so fun to hear family stories and share the memories of Ashley's wedding and meeting up with old friends. I was reminded of the godly heritage I've been blessed with. Their hearts for God are tried and true.
Meet Julie. She was assigned to me as my 'accountability partner' during the training program. I don't think either one of us knew to expect such a precious and long lasting friendship out of the deal. I'm so thankful for her wise counsel and the fun times we've had.I was thrilled to stay a night with her and her family and do a little catching up.
This is Ashley: in two photos she's pictured with her new hubby Jose, and the other one she's pictured with her dad, my Uncle Greg. She was a stunning bride and it was such a happy day.
I simply love to travel. Anyone want to take a trip? I promise it will be fun and interesting, and only occasionally embarrassing to travel with me. One night on our way back, we stopped in Ogden, Utah for the night. We went looking all over the place for a WalMart and much to my delight found a Super Target instead. It was almost closing time for them so it was kind of quiet for a big store. Oh and have I mentioned how much I love Super Target? Ehem, anyways. I buzzed through all the departments I love, out to prove I could do it in the same amount of time Grandma took to pick out her groceries. I finished and then tried to track her down. A nice young man with a red target apron asked me if he could help me find something. I was headed the opposite direction he was, but I slowly turned around as he made the offer and looked him in the eye. With many a mischievous thought running through my head, I said in a pitiful voice "Do you know where my grandma is?" He looked at me. Shook his head. and quietly said no. I purposefully laughed, hoping he would know I was teasing him. To this day, I'm not sure what was going through his head and it seems better left up to the imagination... So yeah, anyways... who's game? I'm ready to take another trip! :)
Oh and more pictures are here if you're interested.
Well hello lovely people! I've returned from the short little silent spell with good news and happy things to share.
(1) I took a trip to Oregon for (2) my cousin's wedding and on the way there and back (3) I got completely caught up on my Bible reading! Then (4) while I was gone a shipment of graduation invitations came for one of my senior photography clients, and she was very happy with her pictures and cards. And I would have to say that (5) is just that the weather is simply divine right now. I'm so thankful winter is over.
There are tons of details and pictures I'd love to share right here and now about my trip up north, but it will have to wait. Thank you all for your patience with me, and my blog!
Something I was reminded of while going through Kings and Chronicles is that heaven is so not the point. King after king is named and their deeds recorded. Good kings, bad kings. A few lukewarm kings. But at the end of their lives all that mattered was whether or not they served God in the time they'd been given. The kings either "did what was right in the sight of the Lord." or "did evil in the sight of the Lord." We're never told whether or not their deeds or decisions to follow God landed them in heaven or not.
I feel like I could preach a sermon [gasp!] about how I believe the Gospel is being taught from the wrong perspective these days. It seems like we make whats important to us the emphasis, as though it were what is important to God.
Living forever. Seeing loved ones again. Streets of Gold.
We talk about being saved from Hell. We take about being separated from God forever. Both are true. But I've been thinking lately how its more important to realize, that Christ died and rose again to save me from myself. 'Myself' being that sin infested creature that can only be truly changed with a transformation starting from the inside, moving outward. My heart sometimes even deceives my mind. Without the Lord it is "desperately wicked", void of discerning truth and loving sincerely. Heaven is a mere stage in that transformation that must take place, but the transformation must begin now. I think the kings of the old testament are good reminders of that.
Chapters read since I last posted: 44
This old song sure puts everything going on in my life,
into the right perspective. Thankful this morning that I
can trust instead of trying and failing miserably.
I can rest instead of running and losing the race.
I can pray instead of endlessly worrying about the future.
27 Chapters. The books of history have some looooong chapters. Just sayin'. ;-) God's Word is amazing and reading it in these amounts makes it easier to see patterns and notice more about the way God works for and through His people.
[because paying my taxes is something I just really enjoy, and this day is so special to me *cough*]
I thought I'd take you to the archives. Two years ago, I gave you the play by play of my tax day. I go back and read it occasionally and laugh pretty hard remembering the details of that crazy day.
Don't go fishin' on tax return day.
This is my day,chronicled that all may learn from my mistakes. 9 AM Leave to fish with Grandpa and Bro.
9:15 AM Drive up to the lake and think”wow, I haven’t taken off on a weekday morning just for fun, in so long…and I really don’t have time for it, but hey I deserve the break.” (go ahead. roll your eyes.)
10 AM Catch a whopper of a 4.5″ Bass
12 PM come home to finish filling out taxes
3 PM leave to go to former employer to request replacement for lost w-2 form. grin and bear the ribbing from past co-workers about filing late.
4 PM finally have w-2. Attempt to finish up paper work as Dad and I pull into post office parking lot.
4:05 PM Meet up with someone in P.O. parking lot. Hadn’t seen these people in a while. we talked.
4:15 PM finds me tapping my dad on the shoulder and asking “hey, did you ask the postmistress if they’re stamping late today?”
4:16 PM Dad says no and I run inside to ask. ” NO. 4:30!” she says.
4:18 PM “Hmmm. Should I take the time to counsel this postmistress who seems to be overwhelmed by this question she’s undoubtedly been asked millions of times today?” (j/k this was the last thing on my mind.)
4:20 PM sitting in car trying to read and figure out the japanese directions on an american 1040 form.
4:22 PM dad’s back to help wrap this thing up. I write the check while I’m nodding my head in misunderstandment of what he’s explaining about what I did wrong.
4:25 PM cell phone rings {might i add, that cell phone service was down until that very moment this afternoon?} there’s a semi-plumberical emergency back at home. (something about a broken faucet, flooding bathroom)
4:26 PM Kaylene runs inside of post office so at least she’ll be inside of the locked door at 4:30.
4:28 PM borrow scissors, stapler and tape from the postmistress (wouldn’t ya know the envelope wouldn’t seal.)
4:29 PM post mistress counsels me. “You’ll be fine.”
4:30 PM My taxes are mailed.
Moral of the story: don’t go fishin’ on April 15th, or better yet and more commonly stated…don’t wait till the last minute to file your taxes.
This year I beat my record, but still got them in the mail on the very last day. I'm learning, slow but sure.
Photo caption: my photo, my pole, and my feet :)
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