Blogging...I need to get better

I really wish I was a better blogger! I enjoy writing more than anyone would know. I need lots of help with my grammer, but writting brings me so much joy.

Well, life seems to have been crazy lately...I went through a rough patch but things are slowly getting better and better. I have had many friends hurting or going through struggles. This hurts me so much to see people sad. I want to fix everyone's problems and make things better for all my friends. What I am learning as life goes on is that I can't do that. I wish I could, but I can't. Tough realization...yes, maybe. Prayer is my most powerful tool. I need to use it more.

My life, well despite these problems I've been helping friends with, is fun right now! I have enjoyed going out with friends and getting to know new friends! I have got to help lots of people and that is something that brings me lots of joy, too!

So, though there are lots of ups and downs, highs and lows, life is good today, life is good today.

Live, Laugh, Love

Tell someone what the mean to you

Peace!

I just realized I have not blogged in FOREVER! I will try to catch up on the last few months sometime, soon!

Another school year has started...I have a wonderful group of kids! Lots is going on as always! I promise to be back soon!

I have been struggling lately! Prayers are MUCH appreciated!

Love you all!

Spring Recap-Picture Style

Lily came and is gone now! I miss her like crazy. I wasn't sure if I would like having somone living with me, but I loved it! *I am excited to see her on Wednesday for the Lady A concert!

Mother's Day came and went-I have a wonderful mom and appreicate her more daily. She we have had our ups and downs, but she taught me how to love and be myself-because there is noone like me.

This school year has been such a blessing! God put Kristy and I right where we needed to be and we LOVE the people we work with!

Kristy and I survived our first year of 5th grade! I love working with her on a daily basis. She is such a loving and supporting friend! God blessed me when he brought her into my life! She will be a forever friend! I can't wait for MANY more years to come! 

Baby Faith entered into the world. She is beautiful! Congrats to Amber & Josh! I love you guys!

My baby brother got married! I love him so very much! We have always had each other's back and always will!  

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My Family at the Wedding!  

Aunt Shell and I

I love her so much, too. She is supportive of everything I do. She also spoils me a lot more than I ever deserve! 

Sweet Heather, I am so glad we have been friends for a lifetime. I love cousins and the relationship that you have with them!  

Sibling Love

Nakia and I took a short trip to Branson. We had a blast! Silver Dollar City, Yakov show, and Dixie Stampede! Love this girl!  

I didn't want to forget father's day. I have such a loving and giving Dad. He is always there to help me whenever I need it! Also. He tought me to be a giver and help others! I love this man!

One month to Nicaragua! Who's excited?

Guess what Nicaragua is ONE MONTH from today!! I have been a VBS working woman this week..minus one afternoon! Monday afternoon I relaxed by the pool with one of my BFFs and her girls! We had a blast just laying out on the water! But, other than that I had the privilage of leading the imagination station and the VBS at my church. It was a lot of fun! Instead of crafts, we did scince projects. Then, I have used the afternoons to plan for Nicaragua. I am so impressed at all the work I have got done!! Yes my bedroom is a mess and I have laundry to get done, but working for the Lord is such much more fun! I can NOT wait to be in Nicaragua and be working with my loves over there! Please continue to pray for us!

Wow!!! I am so far behind on blogging! I don't know where the time goes....lots and lots of exciting things have happened!
1. School is out for summer!
2. Nicaragua planning is in FULL swing!
3. Cody and Sarah got married!

I am currently on a little vaca with Nakia in our favorite spot...BRANSON! We have been to Silver Dollar City, Yakov Live, and Dixie Stampede! It has been a very relaxing week! I will update more on all this later! Love y'all!

Prayer is Powerful

Wow...this week has flowen by! Just wanted to remind everyone that the kids at school are testing the next two weeks. Keep them in your prayers...Pray that they get good rest, have a great breakfast, focus for the test, and do their best!!

This is my first year to have a whole class testing! I am nervous for them, but at the same time I know they can do it! I have loved this school year!  Keep the teachers and students in your prayers! Thanks!!

Unconditional Love

Sometimes I struggle with this:
At what point in life do you say to your parents, I understand that you do not want me to go to a country that scares you, but God does?

I love my parents, but every time I want to do mission work, this comes up. I say I want to go three weeks or a month, they say how about just one week. Then, somewhere or some how we settle in the middle. I love my parents and know as a single woman, I still need to listen to the and respect their opinions. Then, I wonder am I not hearing God's voice clearly or is this just the Devil causing confusion in my life? Pray for for me. Pray for my parents. Pray of Nicaragua. I love my parents so much and they love me and "get me." I know they are scared for me and do not want anything to happen! Sometimes, I just wish they understood why I love this country so much and why I feel so called to go. Until then, I pray for them to have peace and to continue to love me unconditionally; like they always have! I LOVE you Mom and Dad. Your love for me is so evident!

I KNOW that missions will forever be apart of my life. Just short term for now, but I think it could be long term at some point!

Psalms 82:3-4

Psalms 82:3-4-Do the right thing for the weak and those without a father. Stand up for the rights of those who are suffering and in need. Save the weak and those in need. Set them free from the hand of the sinful.

You should read this post!! Here is the video, too! The heart of this guy is exactly how I feel..except with hungry kids in Nicaragua! http://joiningthejourney.blogspot.com/2012/03/when-saints-promomov.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpF0VD2tMF0&feature=player_embedded

The blog up top is linked to another women. They have started an organization called 147 million orphans. They support Katie Davis and want to get every orphan a home. If you have not read Katie's blog...It is amazing and will change your heart. It has made me really look at God from a different perspective! This is a lot of link but they are GREAT!

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Nicaragua

I mentioned this in my last post, but I am helping God lead a trip to Nicaragua! :) I can not do this alone, only with God. He is leading and I am prayerfully listening to his voice! Isn't that amazing. I feel like I am getting closer to where I need to be with God daily! Back to Nica..

2008-My sweet friend Elizabeth told me a group of our high school class was going on a mission trip to Nicaragua..I immediately said I am going, too. Here's the deal: Missions have always been so close and near and dear to my heart. I want to THANK Jeff Ivey(my youth minster when I was in junior high and high school) for this. He did a great job giving us opportunities to serve God on mission trips. I went to Houston, Gulf Shores, & Chicago! Back to the trip....we met, we had some responsibilities, and my parents slowly were okay with me going! I was in NO way prepared for what I would see! We first worked in a community in Chinadega. The place we went was called the triangle of death, because it is surrounded by a dump, prison, and cemetery. We feed the kids, played with them, & the boys did construction. We got to know the college students in the church we were working with. It was amazing! After I had been there a week...I broke down. We fed the kids three days a week at lunch time...most do not get food other than these times. On Sunday, a 2nd team came down and we showed them where we had been working. It hit me, some kids may have not had food since Friday at lunch. To this point in my life....this was not a reality to me. It hurt to the depths of my sole. We take everything so for granted and throw so much away...That $2.00 I spend at Sonic every other day could feed a family...YES a family, for almost a week. Talk about reality check for a 23 year old. PEOPLE ARE STARVING...everywhere, not just in Nicaragua. People are hurting right around...how are we helping others? Are we helping anyone? I struggle with this all the time!! That trip ended with a 2nd week of VBS in a school and church in La Paz...Since this time Hearts to God(the organization we went with) has decided to center their work in this area. It is great to have a focus!

2009-I felt strongly that God was calling me to go back. So, in June I went to do a week of VBS! God was amazing! My heart was melted, once again....and I was brought back to reality. I helped to lead the crafts. We had decided to limit the number of kids that could come, because we had over 300 the first year I went. This makes crafts very hard! Well, our 100 became about 150. Let me tell you the most amazing thing...I counted the crafts before we left....I know their were only 100, but we were never short on crafts...every kid had one, every day. Isn't God amazing!! I hate when people say God does not perform miracles, because he does!

2012-I am going back! Please join me in prayer, NOW! God is going to do amazing things! If you are interested in going...let me know! I would love for you to join us! If not, please join me in prayer! Our team will leave on July 7th! I am pumped! More to come...as details get more nailed down!

SIDE NOTE: I have many people say to me when I talk about Nicaragua, "Why would you go there when so many people are in need right here around you?" All I can say to this, is I know this is where God wants me right now! It is a God thing, and when I am not there I strive to help people around me, too! God placed me in Nicaragua...right now it has only been short term missions, but I can not say that someday it might be more. This has been something on my heart lately. What if God called me to serve him in a 3rd world country..Would I go? What would my family say? What would you do?

March showers bring April flowers!

I know this title is not right...but I am currently LOVIN this weather! I love the warmer weather and rain! It is my favorite!! I have been so busy the past month, but for the first time in a long time..I feel like it is all things God wants me to be doing. Here's what is new:

1. I have started(as of today) teaching a 10 grade girls Life Group Class! I can not wait to get to know them better and share God's word with them! I am learning just how much people helped me at this stage during my life! To those people, I am forever grateful! I want to do the same for these girls! I really do!
2. I have currently been involved with some women at my church in starting a ministry for single women. I am excited for this group to get started and build relationships with people in my church through this!
3. I am planning/leading a trip to Nicaragua for the summer. I am very nervous about this and haven't done a lot, yet! I need to get on top of this!! Please pray for this trip, and if you have any interst in going let me know!

Today in Life Groups, we talked about the Holy Sprit...I know that I can not do any of these things listed above alone! I have to have the Holy Sprit to empower me! Let the Holy Sprit guide you this week..follow his calling and mission for you! I think you will be amazed at what he can do! Also, if you have time read Acts 2! It's powerful!

What is God doing in your life?

Change is a good thing!

I have heard many people say that as you get older change is hard. I agree. This Christmas...I struggled. Here are a couple new changes that I think have been great for me!
1. I got a part-time roommate. Let me tell you how this happened and about her. When I first started at Greenwood I met a sweet speech intern and we hit it off. We both had recently moved home from college and loved eating Mexican food. We hung out on the weekends and just enjoyed each others company! Well move to three years later and Lily is married to the love of her life! Long story, short he got a job in Conway and she got a job in Greenwood. She stays with me three-four nights a week and then goes home on the weekends! We have really enjoyed watching way to much reality t.v. and we have joined Weight Watchers and are trying to eat healthy together! It is nice to have someone here! I love her company and having someone her to talk to almost daily! What a blessing in disguise!
2. I have prayerfully decided to teach a 10 grade girls Life Group. I am excited and nervous about this. I feel like God lead me to this and he will get me through it. Pray for me that I am a good example to them, that I can relate to them, and that I can share God's love with them.
3. If you have read my blog, you may know about the Life Group I am currently attending and the struggles we have had. Well....starting in March we are going to do a Bible Study at my house. I pray that this will work better and more people will come!! Pray for this, too!

Maybe, Just Maybe, Change is a good thing!

Intentional

This word has came up a lot in my life lately! I need to be more intentional with:

• My Relationship with Christ.
• How I spend my time
• Dating
• Friendships

Plain and simple, I am trying to be more intentional with EVERYTHING!

YES I turned 26 and I am old!

On January 2nd, I turned the big 26. For the first time, I feel old and let me tell you why. I had jokingly all year said I was going stay 25 forever. I loved being 25! Of course, it had its' challenges but really was a good year! But 26...I mean can I even say I am in my mid 20s? I know this sounds ridicolous to some of you! LOL! So when going to get my driver's license renewed the lady said to me, "See you back when you are 30." 30..I mean really should that number even be in my vocabulary?!?! I am excited to see what this year has to bring! So, yes bring on 26!

Here are a few gifts I recived plus some money!

Cotton Bowl

On Thursday, 1/5/12 I went with my Aunt Shell to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. After a long drive and getting turned around a few times we made. Boy, was I relieved! I hate getting lost or going the wrong way. It is one of those things that happen but really just irritates me! It should not I know! We went to our hotel, got all checked in and grabbed some dinner. Then, on Friday we first drove to the stadium to check it all out. It was bigger than I could have ever imagined!! Then we did a little shopping(always fun with Aunt Shell!!). We ate lunch at the best place...Gloria's. If you have not been there you should go! They serve food that reminds me of Nicaragua! I love it! There rice is to die for!! After that we got ready for the game! Woo Pig Sooie! We picked up some friends and went to tailgate! The stadium inside was Amazing! That big screen is BIG! You should go see if you have not! Arkansas played great!! We had a blast! I am going to miss football season and can not wait till next year!!

New Year Resolutions!

1. Stop biting my nails!
2. Get healthier!
3. Get closer to Christ!
4. Read my bible and pray more!
5. Be a better friend, sibling, daughter,teacher, etc.!
6. LOVE more!
7. Go on a date!

These are in no order! Just some short term goals for the year! I will let you know how they are going!

What I did for New Years!

All Dressed Up For The New Year!

This past weekend was a great one and a lot of fun! On Friday night, a group of friends got together and did our Christmas celebration on Friday! We had delisous Mexican food and lots of fun and laughs! Then, on Saturday(New Year's Eve) Mayci and I went shopping for a sparkly dress and some fun jewerly!! I loved my dress and shiny shoes! That night, we all went of to Liz and Randy's new house and partied! It was a great time!! We ate, danced, and fun games! It was the most fun I have had 0n New Years in a long time! Here are some fun pics from the weekend!

One of the gifts!