Wednesdays

I adore Wednesdays!

When I was younger I thought it was the worst day of the week.

I mean, it is right in the middle of the week, right?

Although now that I think about it, it's not even in the middle!

Well, I mean sorta, but it's just one big loop to me anyway.

I remember when I was probably 10 this teenage boy told me that Wednesdays were bad because they were in the middle of the week.

I guess I just believed it.

Wednesdays are our busy day.

First Kamryn and Nona have their ballet and tap classes, and that's in the morning.

It's on the other side of town so we spend the rest of our morning/afternoon running errands and shopping. Stuff like that.

After that, we come home and take Cason to swim practice.

Then we have tutoring with our church.

I love that!
 I tutor two little boys in... handwriting... has anyone here ever seen my handwriting?? It's ok though because they're 2nd grade, so I think I handle it pretty well. One little boy's name is Peter and the other is CJ, and they are so funny and cute!
It's really just a lot of fun to meet new people, and then help their kids with subjects that aren't their best.

It's kind of funny to me because the kids that come in are smarter than any kids I've ever met.

I think maybe their perents just want them to not only be ahead, but WAY ahead! hehe

Once we leave tutoring Kimmi and I go to ballet.

That's later in the afternoon. It's becoming a little more fun. :)

And on top of all this, I have my sweet grandparents in town! My mom's momma and daddy.

Altogether, Wednesdays are fun because I get to see people I don't get to see everyday. Even if it is the middle of the week! ;D

Here are a few pictures from our day.

Hope everyone is having a good

Wednesday!

Good Bye 2009!

Well, this is my last post for the year 2009!!

 It went by so extremely fast!

 I think almost too fast, but I like that I'm getting older and, hopefully, wiser. ;D

We ended off our amazing 2009 with an oyster roast at our friends family's church.

We first had a church service, and then we went outside for some fun and food.

I really enjoyed talking to, and meeting, new people... country people are so nice!!

It was a lot of fun, and I'm so proud, and blessed, to be a member of a big family with amazing, God fearing parents!

When we went into the sanctuary, for the service, we took up a whole row of seats, and we just, I think, really stood out... alot.

It was so funny because when the church service was over, and everyone was still patiently, and quietly, sitting in their seats, a man stood up and announced the congregation, "Uuuuumm, someone left their light on in their van... it's a big van... a 15 passenger van..."

Now who could that beeee? ;)

We knew it was us right off the bat, so, with out even asking dad if the van was ours, Cole ran out and turned them off.

Love that boy!

It sounds like a war zone outside, and so I think I'm about to go watch some neighbors shoot fireworks. :)

I hope you all have a very blessed 2010!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

For I Am Not Ashamed... Or Am I?

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Although I would never say I'm ashamed of Jesus, sometimes the things I don't say or tell people about myself really show that I am ashamed.

For example, I used to babysit for a family with 4 young children  and these kids could watch movies I can't watch.

When the mom would bring home newly rented movies to her very excited children, it would put me in an awkward position.

Instead of telling the mom of the family that, out of conviction to live a pure life, I didn't want to watch Twlight or Nights in Rodanthe, I would just avoid the subject and play games with the kids.

Now, looking back on it, I wish I would have said something.

 I know they like and respect me, and it's an opportunity I missed to share my faith with them. I feel I probably could have had more influence. For example, I did share my family's beliefs on not dating and how I'm trusting my parents and God in that whole process. They were so very impressed and very interested. I really wish I hadn't held back in other areas.

Really, in a way, it's selfish not to share it all. It's me being more worried about how they might look and think of me, and that's not what I should be worried about.

 Instead of looking for loop holes to escape these conversastions, I should've been more concerned about their salvation and eternal life, and I should have been looking for natural ways to bring it up.

I'm always saying how I love this family, but if I really did love and care for them, I should've taken every opportunity to share the gospel with them even if it was just through being willing to talk about  the movies they watch that I won't watch.

It would definitely be worth it to me to have a five minute uncomfortable talk and maybe reach these people, and honor God in doing so?

In alot of my dad's sermons lately, he's made the point that if you don't feel awkward in this world sometime, at least, you've probably comformed to and really are apart of it.

My prayer for the new year is that I will not be ashamed of the gospel.

Can any of you think of ways you want to be more bold in sharing your faith in Jesus in the coming year?
If so I would love to hear!

God is Not Dead; Nor Doth He Sleep!

Mr. Davis, one of the men in our church, during prayer request time Sunday, decided to read this poem about peace.

It was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  He wrote this during, the Civil War, a war where our country lost many, Longfellow's son being one of them. He was going through much pain because of his loss, and it was Christmas when he wrote this poem. We live in a war filled dark world, but as this poem reminds us "God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,"

 I think the meaning and story behind this poem brings so much hope.

Christmas Bells
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
~ Luke 2:14 ~

Jasmine's Giveaway

One of my fvorite blogs is having a giveaway, and I just though I would let everyone know. The blog that's having the giveaway is Pastor Voddie Baucham's daughter Jasmine. She's an amazing writer with great points.
 Head on over and enter for yourself!

•Whatever you do...•

Well, here it is. My masterpiece! I was assigned the task of designing  shirts for a brand new outreach through the women's minstry at my church.(YES!!!! --they count me as a lady!)

I'm going to be a part of the ministry we will be starting to offer tutoring to elementary aged kids. It's going to be once a week for an hour and we're hoping to really be able to provide help for people and share the gospel with the children and their families.

So, what do you think? Should I put the whole two bible verses with a smaller font or just keep it as it is and let verse 24 be our main theme verse?

The front of the shirt will have our church logo on the pocket area.

I can't wait to see it when it gets here!

Hope everyone is having a blessed day so far!

My Big Younger Brother

Cason, my 14 year-old brother, is at his state swim meet right now. He has been swimming VERY good! So far he has an eighth place in the 400 IM. He has a 8th place in the 200 Breast, and a 3rd place in the Back. He came soooo close to being in 2nd place but he was still excited about 3rd. That's not all the he has done but that's all I can really remember. = D  I'm so proud of him. He practices 5 days a week and swims about 4 miles a day. He works so hard!!! He is such a sweet brother too. We are all so EXTREMELY blessed to have him in our family. I don't know what I would do w/o him! He's my best friend. He will be home in about 8 hours. They are going to start coming home at about 7:00 pm. tonight and should get here at about 3:00 am. Here's a picture of him on the podium. He's the first boy on it and he has a bright orange swim cap on.  :-)

OK, and i do relies this isn't the best picture of us but it's better than others! hehehe 

But I guess that would make it the best picture... Oh well...

Hope evry one is having a Blessed day!