30 Things

Turning thirty is pretty exciting!  I love birthdays, and I've been looking forward to this one!  I've learned many valuable lessons over the last 30 years.  Some from teachers.  Some from friends.  Some because I made mistakes, and had to "fix it".  And several lessons were taught to me by my parents.  I was raised by two incredible people.  They were different from each other, but their differences made them a great team; and being a team kept them united.  They were always consistent in their parenting, and they never wasted a teachable moment with my sister or me.  In honor of my 30th birthday, I'd like to share 30 things that I've learned from my parents.  

1.   Love God.

2.   Love unconditionally.  We must love with no strings attached.

3.  Be consistent.  People should know what to expect in their dealings with you.  My parents were always consistent in their parenting.
4.  Respect others.  Period.
5.  Be true to your word & follow through.
6.  Be fair.  It's important to treat people fairly.  That is, in fact, the way that we'd all like to be treated.  However, sometimes people aren't treated fairly, and it's our responsibility to fight for justice.

 7. Be patient.  I was always taught that if you pray for patience, God will give you opportunities to practice patience.  I've learned that you can't rush things.  And you certainly can't rush people.  Everything happens in God's timing. 
8.  Follow your heart.  Pray about important decision.  Take advice from wise and trustworthy friends.  But don't forget to follow your own heart.
9.  Tell people about Jesus.  Use words if you need to, but strive everyday to SHOW others His love.
10. Be silly.  (My dad was really good at this one.)  There is, of course, always a time to be serious.  But being silly when the time is right sure is fun!
11. Tell the truth.  People deserve it.
12. Sometimes the best thing for you is a nap!  I remember, on several occasions, coming home from a sleepover at a friend's house, where we got little to no sleep.  I remember having a bad attitude toward my sister and/or parents.  Mom and Dad would always make me take a nap before I said or did something that was going to get me into trouble.  That principle still applies even though I'm now an adult.
13.  Encourage others.  Life is hard, and sometimes the road we walk is tough.  Encouraging someone, being their personal cheerleader, can change their world.  It's amazing what someone can accomplish if they know someone has got their back and will speak encouraging words over them!
14.  Help those who are down and out.  We are blessed beyond measure and we are called to help others.  
15.  Be compassionate.  Even if I may feel like someone doesn't deserve it.  I definitely didn't deserve God's compassion, grace, or mercy when He sent His Son for me.   But He sent Him anyway.  
16. Share.  Nothing that I have belongs to me, and I can't take it with me when I die.  So why keep it all for myself?
17 Pray.  Do it everyday.  All day.  It's the easiest way to stay connected to and hear from God. 
18. Pick up after yourself.
19.  Leave things in better condition than when you got it.
20. Look people in the eye.  Otherwise, how will they ever find you trustworthy?
21.  Do the right thing, even if nobody is around to see it.
22.  Don't expect praise for everything you do.
23.  Don't judge a book by it's cover.  Who am I to judge someone?  I'm not better than anybody else. 
24.  Everyone has a past, love them anyway.
25.  Obey your parents.  When you do, you're obeying God, too.
26.  Love your siblings, they really are a gift.  The older I get, the easier that is for me.
27.  Tithe.  Give back to God just a small portion of what He's blessed you with.  This has grown my faith more than anything else.  He never fails me.
28.  Pay your bills (on time) before splurging.
29.  Save money.  You never know when you're going to need it.
30.  Strive everyday to be a godly woman.  Stay in constant communication with God so that I can hear His voice and follow the path He wants me to walk down.

I will learn thousands of lessons before I die.  But I am so very thankful for this small handful that I have already learned.  They have shaped and molded me into who I am.  And that is the best birthday gift!

Lima - Days 1 and 2

Most of our team headed to Lima from DFW Sunday morning. Our plane actually boarded on time (which is rare) and we landed in Atlanta, where we met up with the remainder of our team members from Orange, TX. We had a short layover and we able to eat lunch together and get to know one another - four different churches were represented within our team. Then we boarded our plane to Lima and arrived there - after the 5 1/2 hour flight - around 11:30 p.m. The immigration line was ridiculously long, and by the time we got through it, collected our things from baggage claim, experienced a taxi ride in Lima, and checked into our hotel, it was 2:00 a.m. Needless to say, we were pretty exhausted.

On Monday, we headed out after breakfast to our first village. We divided up into 3 teams, and began to prayer walk and share the gospel in the streets. I have been on several mission trips over the past 10 years, and I have never done anything quite like this. As I mentioned in my last blog, I was quite nervous about doing street evangelism. Unfortunately, in the states we don't go door-to-door often enough to share our faith. So it was difficult for me to know how to begin talking to a complete stranger, who spoke a different language than me, about Jesus. But God had it all under control. Prayer is so powerful, and we were constantly walking and praying. Praying that God would lead us to the people who He wanted us to talk to. And He did. Most of the people we met and shared Jesus with accepted Christ. Some were unsure and said they wanted more time to think about it. But we knew it wasn't our job to "save" them, it's the job of the Holy Spirit to convict them. We are simply called to share the Good News with them. Our group members relied on each other when we would get "stuck" and not know what to say next. It was definitely a group effort!

After lunch that day, we went to the home of a man who accepted Christ in the street earlier that morning, along with two members of the local church we were working with. We began to disciple him and showed him how to read through the Bible. He had so many great questions, and we could tell just how hungry he was for something. He just didn't know it was Jesus! We were able to spend about an hour with him, and I was so encouraged by his open mind and his willingness to share his home with us.

We headed back to our hotel in late afternoon, then we walked to a restaurant for dinner. To finish the day, we had worship together at the hotel, as well as a time to share with each other experiences from the day. It was great to hear all of the wonderful things that God is doing in the that village that our team got to see.

Peru Mission, Numero Dos!

I'll be heading back to Lima, Peru on Sunday morning. I'm not going with Compassion International this time, but instead with Cottonwood Creek's Denison Campus (my sister's and brother-in-law's church), through the Eric Fuller Evangelistic Assocciation, Inc. We will be serving in a much different way than our group did back in September. Below is a schedule and prayer guide for all of my prayer warriors to use.

Sunday, March 11th - Depart DFW and fly to Atlanta and then onto Lima. Pray for us as we travel.

Monday, March 12th - We will begin the day with team orientation. Pray for the hearts of our team members, that God will give us strength and wisdom as we begin the week. After that, we will do door-to-door evangelism and a home Bible Study. Pray now for the homes that we will visit. That God will soften thier hearts and make them receptive to the Word that we will bring, and that He will stir within them and give them a desire to know Him.

Tuesday, March 13th - We will have a worship service at the First Baptist Churh in the Bocanegra area mid-morning. Then, we will spend the afternoon doing street evangelism in a new community. Again, pray for the hearts of everyone who will hear about Jesus. Some, even for the first time.

Wednesday, March 14th - We will begin the day with more street evangelism with the Frist Baptist Church in New Pachacutec. In the afternoon, we will have a home Bible Study. Pray for everyone who attends.

Thursday, March 15th - We will be sharing the Gospel and speaking at two different locations today. In the morning, we will be at New Pachacutec School, and in the afternoon, we will be at Bocanegra School. Pray for the children who will hear the Good News that we bring!

Friday, March 16th - We will leave Lima VERY early (12:25 a.m.). We will fly back to Atlanta, and then onto DFW. We are scheduled to arrive around 11:00 a.m. Pray that our team is able to rest on the flights as we prepare to be back home with our families. Quite often, it can be a hard adjustment coming back home - at least it is for me. Every time I go on a mission trip, I struggle with going back home. I always feel like I'm leaving part of my heart behind.

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm excited about this trip. My answer is always, "YES! I can't wait!" And even though that is the truth, it's hard to put into words how I'm feeling about this trip. Part of me is a little nervous. Not about the flight or leaving the country or anything. Just a little nervous about door-to-door evangelism. I struggle with rejection, so I'm praying hard that God will open the hearts of everyone we talk to. However, a bigger part of me feels like I'm going home! Peru has had a very special place in my heart for years, and I can't wait to be back there!

Thank you, again, to everyone who is praying for my team and me. You are missionaries, too! I love you all!

Peru, Here I Come!

I can't believe it's finally here! I leave for Peru in less than 48 hours!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has provided gifts, supplies, and money to make this trip possible. Words could never say how much I appreciate your generosity! I would like to ask one more thing of you all. Please lift me up. Lift up our team. Lift up the people who we will come into contact with along our journey.

Several people have asked me about specific things to pray for. Below, you will find a daily prayer guide. I know I can speak for our entire team when I say that we greatly covet your prayers!

September 10 - Pray for safe travel to Miami, then onto Lima.

September 11 - Pray for the leadership staff members whom we will meet today. They keep the heartbeat of Compassion going in Peru.

September 12 - Pray for the Compassion Child Survival Program and the child developement centers. We will work with them today. Pray for our team throughout the week as we serve the children in VBS-type services each day. I will be serving on the worship team. (I'm pretty stoked!)

September 13 - Pray for the Leadership Developement Program students of Peru today.

September 14 & 15 - Pray for our team as we serve the local families and Compassion centers. The work we do is for the purpose of being God's hands and feet to His people.

September 16 - Pray for me as I meet Josselyn today! It will be one of the most exciting days of the trip - when we see each other for the first time! Pray also for our team as we share in a Peruvian church service and join together for corporate worship.

September 17 - Pray for our team as we depart Lima early in the morning. I will fly to Miami and then back to DFW.


Thank you, dear friends, for lifting me up during this very special time. I cannot wait to share my memories (and photos) with you!

Much love!

Lemon-Cream Cheese Cupcakes

Yesterday was a rainy and very gloomy May 1st. However, my day got brighter when I got to spend the afternoon with my good friend, Hannah, and her sweet little Tucker. We watched movies, did nails, played with the baby, and mostly importantly, made some ROCKIN' cupcakes! Several friends have asked me about this recipe, so here it is. (Thanks for typing it out for me, Hannah!)...

Lemon-Cream Cheese Cupcakes

1 pkg. (2 layer size) white cake mix

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) Jello lemon flavor instant pudding

1 cup water

4 egg whites

2 Tbsp. Oil

1 pkg. Cream cheese (softened)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter (softened)

2 tbsp. Lemon juice

1 pkg. (16 oz) powdered sugar

Heat oven 350F. Beat the first 5 ingredients in bowl with mixer (batter will be thick). Spoon into 24 muffin cups. Bake 21 to 24 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove and finish cooling. For icing: Beat cream cheese, butter, and juice. Gradually add sugar. Beat on low until smooth. Spread on cupcakes. *Optional: add lemon zest to the icing.

{I found the recipe at http://www.kraftrecipes.com}

Enjoy! We sure did!

{These are our happy faces after tasting the first batch!}

{Here is sweet Tucker. He is getting so big. He is learning to sit up on his own!}

I had such a fun day with Tucker and his mom! :)

Waiting

Waiting in line at the grocery store. Waiting to board a plane. Waiting in line for the bathroom. Waiting to read a blog from a friend who hasn't posted in months (sorry). Waiting to meet the person you're going to spend the rest of your life with. Waiting to hear from the doctor if the cancer has spread. Waiting to see where and how God wants to use you. Is there anyone that you know who actually likes waiting?

I have several friends who feel as if they are in a "waiting period" in their lives right now. Myself included. We are just not sure where God wants to take us next in life or how He wants to use us to bring glory to Himself. Sometimes it's an uneasy feeling. For those of you who know me well, you know that God often speaks to me through music. Well, I found a song - and by "found" I mean that it fell into my lap last week in a cd from a friend. It's call "Waiting Here For You" by Christy Nockels.

{Lyrics}

"If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for you, I’m waiting here for you

You’re the Lord of all creation
And still you know my heart
The Author of Salvation
You’ve loved us from the start

CHORUS
Waiting here for You
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia

You are everything You’ve promised
Your faithfulness is true
And we're desperate for Your presence
All we need is You

CHORUS

Singing Alleluia
Alleluia, singing alleluia, alleluia

CHORUS

Waiting here for you
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
We're singing Alleluia

I'm singing Alleluia
Waiting here for you
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia
Singing Alleluia"

{Follow the link below to listen to the song.}

http://youtu.be/e2B3NB3zA9Y

So here is my declaration: It doesn't matter how long I wait to hear from God. I will worship while I am waiting. I will lift my hands high in praise to Him. I will wait with expectation and anticipation. I will continue to seek after Him. I will love Him more and more everyday. Because He is still the Lord of all Creation and he knows MY heart. He still sits on His throne. And NOTHING takes him by surprise. He has made me who I am and He will continue to guide me with each step I take.

No Plan "B"

Being a commuter (for 11 years now) and typically a very busy girl, I obviously spend lots of time in the car. Most mornings I thoroughly enjoy my commute. Don't get me wrong, I have never been one to hop right out of bed when the alarm goes off and begin whistling a merry tune. I usually hit the snooze button at least two or three times. However, as soon as I actally get up, I enjoy the quietness of the morning. But as soon as I get in the car, it's MUSIC time!!! No matter what it is - the radio, a cd, or my ipod - it's LOUD! Music is a HUGE part of my life. God speaks volumes to me through music (no pun inteded).



I absolutely love to sing in the car! It's a rare thing for me to turn the music off. I only do it occasionally - if I have some big thinking to do. And there have been difficult and painful seasons in my life when I couldn't sing. Times when all I could do was let the music heal me. I've spent my share of mornings in the car shedding tears. Tears of heartache and pain. Tears of brokeness for myself and for others. But luckily, those are only seasons, and God always leads us out of the darkness into His wonderful light!



Recently, I've come across a new song by Manafest called "No Plan 'B'" - from his latest album, "Chase". I still haven't discoverd exactly what it is about this song that I like so much. It's one of those songs that I just can't turn up loud enough! I like the lyrics, the beat, the hook. Everything! I found the "official" video on YouTube; however, I actually like the radio mix better, but was unable to find it. Check it out and let me know what you think...






Not only do I thoroughly enjoy the "sound" of the song, but also the lyrics remind me that God has a purpose for me - a 'Plan A'. It doesn't matter how many times I screw up, I never lose His purposes for my life! I have a destiny, and I've got to stick to the plan! There is no 'Plan B'!

{lyrics}

Verse:

I drop in with my face to the wind
Spin 180 for the win
But I can't find my feet it's like I lost the beat
Mid air and there's no plan B's
Hit the streets,

Look before I leap again,
Skeleton filled with Adrenalin
How can I know that I got what it takes?
When I've come so far, through the rain
Bear the pain

Makes no difference now
Face myself or get taken out
One more time got to live this loud
Back to the wall no turning around)

CHORUS:

It's too late It's my fate
I can't turn around
There's no fear, in the mirror
To hold me down
I'm too far, from the start
Now I'm in too deep

I've got to stick to the plan
Cause there's "no Plan B"

No turning back (No plan B)
There's no other path, (No plan B)

And I know that this road is my destiny
I've got to stick to the plan
Cause there's no plan B


Bridge:
All I know is I can't turn back, all I know is I can't turn back
Got to leave it in the past, got to leave it in the past.
All I know is I can't turn back, all I know is I can't turn back
Got to leave it in the past, got to leave it in the past.

Cause this is the only road I've ever known,
there's no way that I could start again, Again

Chorus Repeats

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

For those who know me well, you know that I typically run 100 mph in 100 different directions. I have decided that it's hereditary, and I get it from my dad. I've recently had several blog ideas floating around in my head and have had ZERO time to even write any of them down, much less actually blog about them. (Sometimes it's tough having no margin in your life.) However, I was not going to skip this one!

Today is my dad's birthday. He would have been 59 years old. (Wow. That's sound weird to me for some reason.) He fought cancer for over six years - he even kicked cancer's tail a few times. However, he lost his battle on Sunday, March 4, 2007, at 1:00 in the morning. He was the most wonderful man that I've ever known. I know that many girls would say that about their daddies, but he was truly amazing! Dad always loved a good party. He was a "more-the-merrier" type of person. I guess that's where I get it from! He never expected big, expensive gifts because he was more than satisfied with a bag of Twizzlers and/or gummy bears. They were his favorite!

As I sit here, staring at his picture next to my computer, I'm thinking about all the things he's missing. He didn't get to walk my sister down the aisle on her wedding day, nor will he get to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day - someday. He'll never get to hold Spencer or any of his future grandkids. And man, he would SO be loving this church planting gig! My friend, LaRissa, once said that he was a church planter before any of us even knew what church planting was! That was just the kind of man that he was - meeting people where they were and taking Jesus to them. He didn't wait for them to walk through the doors of a church building. He taught people how to BE the church.

There are so many people in my life now who never got to meet him, and I know that the older I get, that will be more and more of a reality. After my dad passed away, one of my dearest friends, Liz, reminded me that Jesus accomplished everything on earth that God needed him to in 33 years before dying on the cross. And my dad, although we thought he was too young to die, accomplished everything on earth that God needed him to in 55 years. And even though it makes me sad, I know he's with Jesus. And that's the BEST birthday gift.

Daddy, I miss you and I love you. More than you'll ever know!

Running Away

Have you ever wanted to run away? Maybe you had a bad day or a rough week. Or maybe a terrible month or even a year... Did you just want to escape? Well, I'm going to. For the first time ever, I'm running away. The car is packed and I'm about to head out with a close friend of mine. Several girlfriends wanted to come with me (and I love them so much for it) but they were unable to get away. My life has been crazy for the past several months, and I'm desperately seeking some peace and rest. I desire to be still and quite for long periods of time so that I can listen. I'm listening for what's next. Where does God want to take me? My prayer is that when I hear from Him, I will be willing to follow His calling for my life.

I recently went to an unbelievable Sanctus Real concert with Leeland and The Afters. I absolutely love Sanctus Real's music. Their lyrics of their songs speak to me like few others do. Two of their songs have really been on my heart lately: "I'm Not Alright" and "Whatever You're Doing"...

I would appreciate any prayers you can offer up as I am quiet and still for the next few days, searching for God's will for my life.

Breathe

Several weeks ago, I was asked to lead worship for the HBC ladies conference. I, of course, asked my favorite piano player and close friend, LaRissa, to lead with me. I was told that the theme for the conference was "Generations". Kind of a broad topic. Wasn't really sure which direction to go, but we met together a few times to plan and practice the set. Now you have to realize that when I sit on LaRissa's piano bench with her, time no longer exists. We typically get completely lost not only in worship, but also in conversation, ideas, songwriting, etc. It's not uncommon for us to spend hours - usually into the late hours of the night - together on that piano bench. That night we prayed through some songs and put together a great set:

Mighty to Save

The More I Seek You (Kari Jobe)

Lead Me to the Cross

Blessed Redeemer (Casting Crowns)

Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone

Not a God (Billy & Cindy Foote)

Revelation Song

However, each time we met together, we kept coming back to Open the Eyes of My Heart. LaRissa said that over the past few weeks, each time I would text her a question about the set or getting together to practice, that song would come on the radio or come to her mind. So we camped out on that song for a while late one night on her piano bench. We decided to start the set with that song, but I wanted it to be different. I didn't just want to sing the words. I wanted the lyrics to truly be the desparate cry of our hearts! So when we began the set at the conference this past Saturday morning, I talked a lot about baggage. We've all got it. We're worried about something. Nervous about a our finances. Anxious about the future. Concerned about a broken relationship. I asked them to very literally lay it all down at our Father's feet. We spent a few moments praying for one another - asking our Savior for strength to lay our burdens down and to earnestly seek Him, even if only for a little while as we spent a few hours together. As they were praying over each other, LaRissa began to play as I prayed the lyrics over them:

"Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart.

I want to see You. I want to see You.

To see You high and lifted up,

Shining in the light of Your glory.

Pour out Your power and love

As we sing 'Holy, Holy, Holy'

We want to see You!"

I have sang (and led) this song countless times, but this time something was different. As I read the lyrics over and over again as we sang and prayed through them, I couldn't help but smile. I think that I forget, too often, just how mighty my God is. He is all-powerful. He desires nothing more than to shower me with His love. He constantly has angels surrounding Him singing His praises. They're singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." He has always been mighty, He is full of power, and He will always be in control! I sometimes forget that He is "unchageable, unshakeable, unstoppable" (Not a God) and that no matter what is going on my life or in our world, nothing will ever shake Him. Nothing ever takes Him by surprise.

I chose to lead Kari Jobe's new song The More I Seek You not only because it is one of my new favorites, but because of it's simple message: "The more I seek You, the more I find You. The more I find You, the more I love You." The chorus is what really gets me though:

"I wanna sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand,

Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heart beat.

This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.

I melt in Your peace, it's overwelming."

What absolutely beautiful lyrics - "Lay back against You and breathe". Just saying the words brings me comfort. I am such an incredibly busy girl. I am constantly on the go. I am often frazzled and don't take enough time for myself. Don't get me wrong, my world may seem crazy at times, but I absolutely love my life. It doesn't matter how nuts life seems for the time, those lyrics portray to me a picture of laying back against the chest of my heavenly father, breathing deeply, and just sitting with Him for a while. Forgetting about the madness, the craziness, and the baggage, and just breathing. What a comfort.

We had an incredibly beautiful time together at the women's conference. What a priviledge it was to lead those beautiful ladies to the throne. I know that LaRissa and I both enjoyed sitting at our Savior's feet with them.

Baby Daylie

I recently had a photo shoot with one of my new

favorite girls - sweet baby Daylie! She is such a precious girl! We set up in her nursery and had a great time together. She had just eaten, so she was a happy girl with a very full belly - you can really tell in a few of the photos! She was so much fun to watch as she discovered her hands. She was almost a month old when I took her photos, but she was already pushing up with her arms. We had quite a time getting her to lay on her belly with her feet and legs tucked underneath her. She is one strong little girl! Here are a few of my favorites --->

Sweet Sarah and Baby Spencer

I can't believe it!!! My baby sister is going to have a baby! Of course, I've known for nearly nine months, but I guess it's really starting to sink in! Spencer will be here in just a few days! I am beyond ecstatic and cannot wait to be an aunt!

A few weeks ago, I took Sarah's maternity portraits! We started out at Loy Lake Park and finished up at Austin College. It was a beautiful day, and even though the sun got pretty warm, Sarah was a trooper! We got some great shots! Here are some of my favs!

This was one of my favorite shots because I took one of her brial shots in the exact same location and pose! This time, she was holding her belly instead of her bouquet! --->

Lay It Down

Yesterday, we had an absolutely beautiful service at The Crossroads. Pastor Shawn began a new series on worship. This week, he spoke about the cross. We did things a little differently than normal. We opened with "Made to Worship" and then we left the stage and Shawn talked for a few minutes about the cross and how we all have things we're holding onto - guilt, worries, sins - and he reminded us that God already took care of them all. One of the verses that he shared really stuck with me.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5

It's a verse that I've read and heard for the majority of my life, yet I can't seem to get one line of it out of my head. "...the punishment that brought us peace was upon him..." Punishment and peace. Two words that I typically do not associate together. Peace. It's so hard to find peace these days, and yet so many people are looking for it. I know I have been. God and I have been working through some tough stuff lately, and I find myself ecstatic when I make it through the day and realize that I feel a sense of peace, even if it's just for that day (or even that hour).

After Shawn spoke for a few minutes, he asked us each to take the slip of paper that was in each of our seats and write some of the things down - sins, guilt, worries - that we had been thinking about and invited us to nail them into the cross. Sadly, I had no trouble at all filling up my entire sheet of paper. And quite quickly, too. I walked to the front, and as I knelt down at the cross, I literally felt as if I was kneeling at the feet of my Jesus. The sound of the hammer hitting my nail made it so real for me.

Next, I took communion from the table and knelt down beside a friend who was praying. She turned to me and prayed a Jewish prayer over our bread, then said it in English for me. Next, she prayed Jewish and English prayers over our juice. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever heard. It took me completely by surprise. This unbelieveable feeling came over me and it took me a minute to figure out what it was. It was peace. In that moment, God reminded that I didn't have to search for peace every single day. He already took care of it. He already gave up his Son so that I don't have to carry around my guilt or pain or worries. I can experience His peace instead.

Yesterday, God spoke His love over me. He filled me with His peace. He reminded me that even though I have nothing but filthy rags to offer Him, He accepts them gladly, and restores my soul.

Lay it down...

Camp Kindergarten - Top 5

Wow. It's been over three weeks since my last post. Time flies when you're having fun. Or more appropriately in this case... time flies when school starts and you've got about a bazillion things to do!

Well, we have survived the first few weeks of school. I've got a pretty good class this year. Very sweet kids. A few little turkeys. One that's really going to keep me on my toes. But we're going to make it, and it's going to be a GREAT year! It's hard to believe that I'm already in my sixth year of teaching. One of my favorite things about teaching kindergarten are the simply hilarious things that my kiddos say. I'm so thankful for all the laughter that happens in our classroom (mainly because it keeps the tears at bay!) I'd like to share a few of my favorite things my students have said during these first few weeks of school. Here are my top 5...

5. It's the second day of school and our class is playing outside on our brand-new, beautiful playground. The sun is shining (it's HOT) and there's not a cloud in sight. My sweet little "L" comes up to me and says... "Ummmm... what's your name again?"
Me: "Remember, I'm Ms. James. Don't forget me."
L: "Oh yeah, Ms. James. Hey guess what?..."
Me: "Yes, L?"
L: (While looking up to the sky) "Well, according to my calculations..." (Then makes a "beep-beep-boop-beep" sound on his pretend weather-radar machine) "...it's not gonna rain today! So we can play outside!"
Me: (While thinking, 'Thank you, Captain Obvious') "That's GREAT!!! Thanks, dude!"

4. In the middle of a Language Arts lesson the second week of school, C raises his hand and says "Ms. James, if you ever need me for anything, and I mean EVER, you don't need to worry. I am Superman and I can go and change into my Superman clothes if you need me to 'cuz I've got a special secret room in that gym over there and I can change. So you just let me know." Totally out of the blue and completely random. The only response I had was "Ok, thanks. I'm glad to have you on my side."

3. One day during the first week, one of my little girls wore a dress that looked very much like a fairy princess dress (think Halloween costume). After dancing around on the playground for a few minutes...
Me: "O, your dress is very pretty."
O: "Thank you. I take my style with me wherever I go, ya know?!?"
Me: "Yep. Me, too."

2. While walking back from a restroom break one day, one of my little boys had a terrible cough. After catching his breath, I asked him is he was ok. He said, while patting his chest and shaking his head, "Well, I think I'm coming down with some homesick." LOL!!! I couldn't help but chuckle!

1. During Circle Time one morning, J asked me if I had a certain book that she wanted me to read to the class.
Me: "No. I'm sorry, but I don't think I have that book."
J: "Can you buy it and then read it to us?"
Me: "Well, books cost money, ya know?"
J: "Maybe you should get a job!!!"
Me: "Yep, maybe I should!"


I hope these made you laugh as much as me! I know our year in Camp Kindergarten is going to fly by! I hoping we're still laughing this much by Christmas! :)

A Blessed Summer

It's early. I'm at school. T-minus 20 minutes until it begins - a week of meetings, training, and prep time to get ready for our kiddos to come back to school. It's hard to believe that summer is already over. Last night as I was winding down from the day, I started to feel very sad. Sad that it was over. Sad that I had to go back to school. Sad that I had spent the majority of my last day of freedom alone. But, pity parties are not very much fun. I was heading to take a shower and get ready for bed, but decided to sit out on the patio for a minute. God timed it just right, because I got to see the most amazing sunset! As I sat in my rocking chair, soaking up the last few moments of summer, God reminded me just how blessed I am. I have a wonderful life. I have a family who loves me. I have loving friends who are like family, who support and encourage me. I am so blessed to have an education and a career that I love. I teach at a wonderful school with some amazing teachers. I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, clothes in my closet, gas in my car, and air in my lungs. I am rich. I have no need to be sad. God has been more than fair to me. Needless to say, my pity party didn't last long. My tears turned to tears of joy and thanksgiving! I serve a BIG God who loves to show up in the detail of my life. And I am blessed beyond measure!

Alexa & Baby Daylie

Alexa is a close friend of mine who I get the priviledge of working with at school. I have had both of her older kiddos, John and Rileigh, in kindergarten. I'm so excited that she is pregnant with their third baby! Daylie is scheduled to make her arrival in September! I can't wait to love and spoil her!

Alexa and I chose a local ranch to shoot her maternity portraits. It was early evening, so the colors were amazing! Bright yellow flowers, beautiful blue sky, and the blazing sun. It was HOT! We were both drenched by the time we finished. I had so much fun playing with the colors. I was very pleased with how they turned out.

Here are a few of my favorite shots --->

Rediscovered Passion

Photography has been a passion of mine for quite some time. My "eye" for it comes from my dad. He discovered his passion for photography when he was in college. Before the digital age. You know, back when they used film. He even developed his own photos. His shots are amazing - mostly wildlife. Which, for those who knew him... would you expect anything else?!? He, of course, shot some of my sister and I when we were growing up, too. But life got in the way - like it does for most people - and he put his camera down.

When I was a senior in high school, two close friends and I had our senior portraits taken together by a local photographer. He was phenomenal. I was completely awed by him. I can clearly pinpoint that moment as being the one when my love and passion for photography was born. However, I could not afford a "real" camera until I was in college. I got my first Canon SLR (film camera) for Christmas my freshman year of college. I played around with it for a few months, learning what all the fancy buttons did. I had photo shoots with my favorite model (my baby sister, Sarah) quite often. We would shoot several rolls and then rush off to Wal-Mart. We would find something do to for an hour, all the while dying with anticipation of what they would look like. I always thought they were SO good. Looking back at them now, I was such an ameteur (they are pretty bad!)

During my junior year in college, I asked for a Minolta Diamage A1 for my birthday - my first digital camera! My parents and friends had a surprise party for me and my new camera was the last gift I opened! I was stoked! I had been helping my former yearbook sponsor from high school with sports pictures and couldn't afford to waste film and prints anymore. So I walked into the digital world and fell even more in love. In exchange for helping with yearbook photos, I was given a free ad in the yearbook. The free advertisement, along with some of my own in the local paper, filled my appointment book. I was super excited to learn more and more with each photo shoot.

Fast forward to my 4th and 5th years of college (yes, I squeezed 4 years of college into 5!). I was beginning my education classes for my major. And just like it did for my dad, life got in the way of photography. I graduated and began teaching. Sure, I still had a photo shoot or a wedding every once in a while. I even bought myself (another) new camera - a Canon Digital Rebel - and loved it. But it wasn't like before. Other things took precident over my time - family, teaching, the passing of my dad, the worship band, church planting.

Fast forward again to just a few months ago. I'm not sure what it is, but there is a new stirring in my soul and my passion for photography is creeping back up to the surface! I have had several photo shoots in the past few weeks and I find it hard NOT to sit down with my laptop and edit photos for hours at a time.

I'm still teaching, still in a chuch plant, and still love to spend time with my family and friends. It's not like I've got tons of extra time on my hands, but I'm excited to be taking the steps toward my passion again and I can't wait to see where God takes me!

Here are some shots from a recent shoot ----->

I'll be posting more photos from my other shoots soon!

Goodbye Polka Dots!

For those of you who know me, you know that I could never say goodbye to polka dots forever. Even my kindergarten students know that polka dots make me happy! :) However, it was time for a change. Over the past several weeks, I've been collecting new decor for the bathroom in my apartment. I need to say THANK YOU to my sweet ladies who helped me out. (You know who you are, and I love you so much!) We decided on espresso, gold, and coral. Who knew I'd like them as much as my precious green?!? Here are the before and after shots:

Beautiful are the feet...

During our time in Tula and San Francisco, we had the sweetest group of ladies who cooked and served us three meals each day. In the past, we have always given gifts to the pastors' wives of the mission churches where we serve. However, the time we wanted to do something for all of the ladies. Early on in the week, one of the ladies from San Francisco said that she really liked the bags we were using to transport our craft supplies back and forth each day. She asked if she could buy one of the bags at the end of the week. *Keep in mind that the people in this village have next to nothing.* We soon found out that all of the women had been admiring the bags, but we knew there was absolutely no way we were going to accept any money for these bags. Instead, we filled the bags with goodies -- lotions, soaps, wash cloths, snacks, etc. -- for our new friends. There were 16 ladies who had served us throughout the week, and we had brought 16 bags with us. Imagine that...just enough!!! We had plans to pass the bags out to our new friends on the last day.

We knew they would love the gifts, but it just wasn't enough. We wanted to do more. We decided to serve them by washing their freet. I can't describe just how special this time was to all of us. You see, years agho my youth pastor washed the feet of our youth leadership team. It completely redefined servanthood for me. It was beautiful to see him kneeling down at our feet, loving us and serving us in a way he never had before. I had read the story in the Bible of Jesus washing his disciples' feet, but to see it right in front of me was completely life-changing! So as we spent those frew sweet moments with the beautiful women of San Francisco, reading God's Word, singing, praying, weeping, and loving on each other, I was reminded just how beautiful are the feet of those who bring God News. I will never forget that moment, for it was by far the most amazing thing I have ever done in the mission field.