And thats a wrap!!!

My it has been much too long since I've updated! Where to start! Pretty much my life consists of eating...and school. I did pass my finals this quarter and only have two quarters left, each a length of eleven weeks, and then I graduate in July! So this news has left me with a very relaxed and much needed winter break. 

To kick off said break, I finished this past weekend with last minute Christmas shopping, a little work, and hanging out with some dear friends that I had not had a proper visit with in quite some time. The best thing about good friends, is that nothing ever changes between you. We talked, ate, and laughed just as we always have. 

Is anyone else a little surprised that it's actually Christmas? Where has the time gone!?! And what a wonderful Christmas Eve and day it turned out to be. Last night we just relaxed, visited with some friends, ate (you should all be used to food being apart of my posts by now), opened one gift, and had a very sleepless night. Why, you ask? The reason being that my brother planned revenge on all of us for attacking him with flour the night we made homemade pasta.

Normally, on Christmas morning, we wake up to the silent pelting of my brother's automatic nurf gun...this year we decided to counter attack. That didn't work out so well. I bought a nurf gun to fight back with, only when I woke up this morning my door was wired shut with confetti poppers set to go off as soon as I tried to open my door. Well played brother dear. In the end we all had a nurf gun/silly string fight. A great way to start off Christmas day! 

The rest of today was filled with food, friends, puzzles, and blessings. As I see more and more of the pagan traditions sneak in to America, I'm so thankful for the reminder of my God that sent His only son to die on the cross for me. Let us never forget that. 

Now, I'm on to my next adventure...Winter Youth Retreat. This has snuck up on me much too fast, for I haven't even begun to pack...or think about packing. I am so looking forward to the services and wonderful fellowship of old and hopefully new friends! 

And directly after retreat I'm headed out to Pennsylvania to FINALLY spend some time with a few of my dear McFadden friends. What a busy break this has turned out to be but I'm so happy it is full of such wonderful people and places! 

I suppose that is all for now. Like I said...food and school! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas day! In the words of Tiny Tim..."God bless us every one!"

An Outstanding Example

Today I got news that a great man of God has gone on to that great land of glory. Brother Lonnie Jenkins. I didn't know him very well personally. Just a few visits while I was with his family. He made me a beautiful breakfast one morning. The thing that I, and I'm sure many others, knew him by was his life's testimony. 

What an outstanding example of what a Christian should be. He lived true to God's word, humbly, and never looked down on a single person. He welcomed visitors to their church no matter what their background. Most of all he had profound understanding of the scriptures and the message God brought through Brother Branham. 

Seeing all of the posts from people on Facebook has inspired me to write this post. So many beautiful things being said about Brother Lonnie. One of my favorite being that is now hearing the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Oh how my heart longs to be there where he is! 

Thank you, Lord, for the most beautiful life of Lonnie Jenkins. One that I can look at as an example. I pray that I can live even a fraction of how he lived! 

Keeping my darling Jenkins family in my thoughts and prayers today. We will all be joining him soon enough. 

Isaiah 25:21

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

...a good friend

It's no coincidence, in just passing Thanksgiving, that I'm about to post something I am thankful for. I try to always keep a good mind of such things, but around this time it just seems to grow. 

There is too much for me to name all in one post of what I'm thankful for, God in my life being at the very top of said list. The thing I'm thinking of right now though...is friendship.

I've never thought of myself as a good friend...but I have had and do have many good friends. Some live a few states away and others, thankfully, only minutes. This darling group of people and I share some really great...and some rather odd similarities. Bubble tea and books; food and pet peeves; gardening and music...and more food...but mostly I can say the one thing we all have in common is a love and desire to grow closer to God. That makes a friendship priceless in my book.

I did a quick search for a few quotes on friendship from people who have a little more practice than I in finding the proper words to express what they are feeling. So for that odd but lovely group of friends I have out there...these are dedicated to you.

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever.” 
― Alfred Tennyson

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” 
― Aristotle

“Silence make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying, but the never needing to say that counts.” 
― Margaret Lee Runbeck

“I think if I've learned anything about friendship, it's to hang in, stay connected, fight for them, and let them fight for you. Don't walk away, don't be distracted, don't be too busy or tired, don't take them for granted. Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together. Powerful stuff.” 
― Jon Katz

The Perfect Storm

So let the storms rage high, let dark clouds rise

They won't worry me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God

He walks with me, and not of earth can harm me

For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

These words...I can't explain the peace they bring to me. Friends, the world around us is getting worse every day. There are a lot of bad things out there that I don't even know about. 

One thing I do know is that my rock, Jesus Christ, is standing by my side holding me up with everything around me crumbles. I pray each person makes the choice to know Him, because He is our only safety in this life.

I chose the title "The Perfect Storm" because every storm that comes our way is perfectly fit for us, to make us stronger, to bring us closer to God...but even more than that we have a perfect friend and savior that anchors us in His Word to keep us safe.

Oh it humbles me so, dear friends. I couldn't get through a day in this life without Him. My living God. My prayer is that everyone comes to know Him the way I do. He has changed me in every way and is making me into what He wants me to be. 

Praise God.

Just like the story of Jesus calming the storm on the boat with his disciples. He is here to be the calm in our storm. 

Matthew 8: 23 - 27

The Cross

So thankful for that beautiful cross that Christ died on for my sins. I am nothing without Him.

Sometimes I think it's nice to have a personal communion with Him...just to let Him know that it isn't just in service that we remember what He did for us. He didn't have to...but He did anyway because He loves us.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame,

And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best,

For a world of lost sinners was slain,

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Til my trophies at last I lay down,

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it someday for a crown.

<3

Ah the day of Sweetest

Today is Sweetest Day. The day most couples forget about until the last minute :)

I'm not even sure where this day originated from. I'm not much for the whole Hallmark Holiday thing, but if you do have a sweetie I don't think it's a bad idea to show them you care.

I don't have a sweetie as of now, but I sure do have a sweet daddy <3

He never fails to get his girls a little something on Valentine's Day and Sweetest Day.

What a dear old dad he is!

I hope you all enjoy this Saturday!

Hypocrite vs. Fighter

John 6:67-68

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

As my brother said in the youth meeting tonight..."If I looked back at the past things in my life...I wouldn't want to go back! Where else do you have to go but forward with God?"

Wow. What an amazing meeting tonight. I was filled with such joy yet such shame at the way I hold myself back from speaking my heart when God lays something there. That's hypocrisy. A form of it at least. 

How many times have I had the opportunity to share what God has done in my life, or even felt lead to pray for someone and didn't because I was afraid. 

I pray God gives me boldness and takes away that fear. I got to sit for almost an hour after the youth meeting and talk with a dear friend just about God. I don't get to do that much. Her friendship is greatly cherished for that reason. 

I don't want to be a hypocrite...I want to be a fighter. A warrior for Christ. I know this is kind of random and choppy...but tonight's youth meeting gave me so much to chew on. I'm so thankful God sends us people that yield to His spirit and freely shares with us the very thing on God's heart. How incredible. 

I'm left speechless...so that is all for now. 

God's Bank Account

I had a really great weekend with some dear friends that I have been so blessed with. Although there is distance between us, our friendship seems to grow with every visit. 

We had a special brother come in town to speak for our youth meetings this weekend. Bro. Darrel Ward. He has such a unique testimony. 

He always says, "I don't know much about the Lord, but I like sharing what little I do know."

I'm so glad he was able to come share with us. 

Bro. Darrel explained that God has given us a checkbook to an account that never runs out. He has signed every check in His blood.

What this means is...God loves us and every request we make to Him will be taken care of. His promises never run out nor does His grace ever fall short. We may have to wait a while, just like when you have to wait in line at the bank to cash your check, sometimes you have to wait on Him to answer your prayer.

It gave me hope for the loved ones that aren't serving Him right now. I wrote a check out for their salvation, and I can count on my God to come through.

The sickness you may have been fighting with...just write out a check for your healing and believe it will come. God is obligated to us. Even though we are no where near deserving...He still loves us and His promises still stand. 

When I think about things like this...I become speechless. To think of how much God loves me. I pray that same feeling can reach you. If you give it a chance, it will change your life forever. 

He has changed my life forever. 

The more I seek you, the more I find you,

The more I find you, the more I love you,

I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hands,

Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beat,

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

I melt in His peace, it's overwhelming.

Little Reminders

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7

How easily I forget this. I have been freaking out about my future lately and didn't even realize it. 

God is placing a couple different paths in front of me lately...and I was telling everyone that I was fine and wasn't worried about it.

This was partially true.

I felt at peace that I wanted God's perfect will...but yet I've had all these fears and doubts lately.

I was praying tonight and kind of quietly panicking inside to God when all of a sudden He reminded me...."I've got this all on control."

That's when 2 Timothy popped into my head. Also, what Bro. Branham said about fear being disbelief.  So easily I let satan slip those fears and doubts in without even realizing it! 

Well played devil...but guess who just got the victory tonight. 

This girl.

I love God so much for His daily reminders of His love and care for us. 

Luke 12:7

But even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: yea re of more value than many sparrows.

Amen :)

The Glad Game

Have you ever seen Pollyanna?

If not...put it on your must see list of old movies.

Pollyanna is one of those annoyingly positive people that everyone thinks they get tired of but in the end feel better from being around this little ball of joy.

I've noticed in myself, the past couples weeks, a little more negativity coming out of me. I've always tried to keep a good attitude and stay positive, so this whole negative streak has been of great concern to me. 

School has been the main thing that I have remained negative about, and I was recently put to shame for it.

I'm currently in Anesthesia, and have been very unmotivated, negative, and neglectful with this class. I ran into my professor the other day and he made a comment to another professor that "this young lady always has a good attitude no matter what!"

Ouch. 

That was a smack in the face for me. I haven't had a good attitude about this class at all. And yet it gave me some hope that I wasn't a complete failure at life because he also said I always had a smile on my face.

What I'm trying to get to here is...I've decided to be more Pollyanna-like and start playing the "Glad Game."

Want to know how to play? Well, for every situation you encounter that seems bad, unfavorable, sad, negative, or not exactly how YOU want it to be...find at least one thing to be glad about. 

Let's throw out a few examples, shall we? 

Example #1: Your feet are cold and you stub your big toe on a hard piece of oak furniture.

You can be glad that your toe is not broken and that the pain will only last a few minutes and you will not end up with gangrene infection, be glad that you have a nice hard piece of oak furniture and that stubbing your toe was a good reminder to put some socks on!

Example #2: You are walking through the house with a piping hot plate of food when you slip on your little sister's rollerskate and spill the food down the front of you.

You can be glad that you have food to eat in the first place, be glad that you have a way to heat the food up to the proper degree that your palate is craving at that time, and be glad that your little sister has toys to play with.

Ok so those were poor examples...but you get the idea! 

Anyway...I'm glad that the Lord showed me that I was being negative and needed to turn it around. I'm also glad that I have a savior in my life that loves me, forgives me, keeps His promises to me, and is constantly molding me into His perfect image. 

Stress

This doesn't happen to me very often, but today was one of those days that I felt very down about myself. 

(I know this is starting out depressing but it gets better, I promise :))

I felt a lack of self confidence and frustration with everything around me. 

Confession is good for the soul right?

Everyone had left the house and I was laying in my floor talking to God, sharing my heart with Him.

I don't like letting satan have the upper edge on me, so finally I stopped, asked the Lord to forgive me if I was being selfish and ungrateful.

Then I asked Him to take all that was on my mind into His hands, and take care of it for me. 

I asked Him to send me something today that would make me happy and take care of all I was feeling.

I went downstairs when my family got home, and a few hours later totally forgot what I had said and went on to the youth meeting. 

Brother Burley Williams spoke for us. When we all sat down he said he came with no certain subject in mind, but heard someone say the word stress. "So we are going to talk about stress." He said.

I though, "ok this will be interesting."

Little did I know that absolutely every example he gave of dealing with stress and letting the spirit of stress and oppression run your mind, would be exactly what I had just gone through a few hours before alone in my room. 

God....never ceases to amaze me. 

In a world where we will deal with stress every single day of our lives...I have a God that I can give my stress to. I have a God that will help me put my stress in the right place so I don't blow off the handle at someone without even knowing it. 

What you think of yourself will determine how stress works in you. I was sitting in my room feeling totally worthless and with every thought I had, the spirit of stress was right there to urge me on. 

As soon as the youth meeting was over, those thoughts tried to come back to me. All I had to say was satan my God has a plan for me and I am His child, so get back! And the oppression was gone.

It is so easy to become stressed. As soon as you walk in the door of your home after a long day of work and you feel stressed; if you don't handle it properly it will travel to the other people around you. I pray that God will help me to channel my stress and give it to Him from now on. 

What a great subject to think about. Sobering.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

Thankful

I haven't felt super inspired to blog about anything lately. I guess the inspiration comes and goes. 

But I thought I would share a few things that I'm thankful for. 

1. I'm so thankful for the ministry God has placed me under and the visiting ministers He has been sending to our church this month. I have never had so many services hit the nail right on the head before.

2. I'm thankful for the freedom to serve my God, have a place to serve Him in, and have the Word of the hour literally at my fingertips.

3. I'm thankful for the gospel and the truth it holds. Without my Jesus living in me, I would be empty, lost, and searching everyday for that one thing that would make me complete.
I was yet a sinner and He saved me. He died for the sins of the world and I am blessed and honored to know and serve Him.

4. I'm thankful for what God is doing in my family right now. Lumps and bumps come along the way but He uses them to get our attention, make us stronger, and most importantly bring us closer to Him. 

When everything unsteady is shaken from us, He is the one thing completely unshakeable.

5. I'm thankful for the people in my life. Church family, immediate family, friends.

6. I'm thankful for the woman God is making me into. Even though I fall and make mistakes everyday...God loves me. 

I'm thankful that I can do nothing to earn that love, but that He gives it freely to me. 

7. Finally, I'm thankful for a God that provides, heals, comforts, corrects, and LIVES. 

I'm sure you noticed that everything I'm thankful for has to do with God. Well friend...that's because without God...

I'm nothing.

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord

Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Operation Caning of Tomatoes

Greetings!

As a continuation of my summer garden project...I decided to can the tomatoes I've got in so far. Just today I brought in almost a whole bucket!

My dad was telling me how Grandma Rosie would can crates and crates of tomatoes...I canned three jars. haha! 

I will be canning as they come in though, so by the end of the season I should have quite a bit...still, not crates and crates ;)

Anyway...mom and I got our little aprons on and went to work!

All of my maters (pile on the left wasn't quite ready yet) 

Me and the rents (compliments to Sister Dawn Carter for making me that cute little apron:)

Waiting for the water to boil... 

Roma and Pear tomatoes 

Hannah getting fancy with the pictures 

Boiling jars, lids, and water for the maters 

I love waiting. Really. 

Blanching them... 

Pealing... 

... 

Filling the first jar! 

Adding salt..

 Putting the lid on

 Time for the cherry tomatoes!

Like I said...I only got two jars of the Romas and one jar of the cherries. I would have two jars of the cherries but we had a little...technical difficulty. :)

Until next time friends!

The Marriage of the Lamb

I was listening to this as I was walking this morning...it was both sobering and lovely. 

The Marriage of the Lamb - 62

Bro. William Branham

And there was a certain school. And in this school, this group of young Americans come over. And every one of them, almost, did the same thing. But one certain little girl, she wouldn’t tolerate it at all. She stayed in. At nighttime she read while they was all out drinking. Daytime, she worked steady. But she was the laughingstock of the whole school. And she kept herself like a lady, conducted herself like a lady. Although there were young Roman boys and everything around, trying to get her to go out, she refused it. No, sir. She stayed right with her lessons, learning to draw, and to paint, rather. And she stayed with it.

154         Finally, an old custodian at the place kept watching her. Seeing she was so much different-although he was a Roman Catholic-kept watching her, how she conducted herself. One evening, the young girl in the park where the studio was, why... or the place where they had the school, she walked out upon the campus, and went up towards the top of the hill, and the sun was setting. And she was standing up there, with her pretty, clean face, and her hair hanging down, looking across that way towards the setting of the sun.

155         The old custodian was raking down there in the yard, and kept watching the girl. As he raked, something just kept telling him go talk to her. So he laid his rake down, took off his old slouch hat, walked up to where the young lady was, cleared up his throat. She turned around.

He said, “Pardon me, Miss.”

She said, “Yes, sir. Certainly.”

And he noticed she’d been crying. All the rest was out on a big spree for the night. He said, “Madam, I hope that you understand me in the right way, that I’m going to speak to you.” Said, “You’ve been here most for over two years now. And I’ve noticed the group that you’ve come with, continually they’re out on parties, and coming in all times of the night, drunk, and clothes half off of them, and everything. But I noticed that you don’t attend such parties.”

And said, “I notice that, seemingly, that you’re always looking across the sea. Of a evening, you walk up here to stand here, each evening, and watch the sun go down.” And said, “What causes that?” Said, “I’m an old man. I’m curious of knowing what causes this difference between you and the others.”

She said, “Yes, sir.” She said, “Sir, I’m looking towards home when the sun is setting.” She said, “Across... beyond that sun yonder is my homeland.” And she said, “In that land, there is a certain state. And in that certain state there’s a certain city. And in that certain city is a certain house. And in that house is a certain boy.”

She said, “He, too, is an artist. When I left to come over here, I pledged my love to him. We’re engaged to one another.” And she said, “No matter what any of the rest of them does, that has nothing to do with me.” She said, “I promised to live true and right.” And she said, “I’m longing for the day, that when I feel myself on the top of the wings of that big plane that’ll take me across the sea, and set me down at the airport where he’ll meet me. He’s building a home, and we’ll live together in that land.”

And said, “That’s the reason I act the way I do. I’m true to the promise that I made a boy. And he’s true to the promise that he made to me.” Said, “I hear from him now and then, and I write to him.” And said, “Corresponding with one another, we’re still holding our vows, waiting for the day we meet.”

156         Oh, how that would do for a real Christian, to get away from the things of the world! Someday... you talk about coming into the port on the wings of a dove; He’s coming for a bride-one that don’t fool with the world, or the things of the world. She’s washed in the blood of the Lamb. She’s pledged her love to Him only. The love of the world is gone and dead to her. The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

I pray that I can pledge my love to God in this way.

Gentle Shepherd

Oh my Gentle Shepherd.

This weekend was filled with amazing services spoken by Brother James Rozak. 

I had never heard him before...and I can say I've never met anyone that can connect with the youth like he did. 

He led our youth meeting Saturday afternoon and spoke on "care." I found out in that service that I do not care for people the way I should. It was such a sobering subject. When someone strays away from the Lord...no one runs to them. I always thought that it wasn't my place...but now I know that if the Lord leads me...I can reach out to my brothers and sisters.

The service that hit me the most was the Sunday night Tri-state youth service. I went to church feeling like I just wanted to turn around and go right back home. I didn't feel like going, but I already committed to running the overhead for song service.

After song service it was pretty packed out, so I sat in the back. I prayed something like, "Lord don't let me miss out on this service. Help me to stay focused and get something out of it."

Next thing I know, Brother James has all the youth in the back move up to the front. Not quite what I had in mind, Lord, but ok. 

The subject was justification.....I can't really describe that service. Bro. James doesn't jump around or shout or run the aisles. He simply walked off the platform and stood in fron of us...and talked. He told stories. One in particular about a man that committed adultery against his wife. They were in counseling and the man knew what he did was wrong and said he would do anything...anything to prove his love to her. To prove that he wants to fix it. 

The power was in her. She said he could do nothing, that it was over....

The minister that was counseling them began explaining what Christ did for us. He died on the cross to absorb all of our sins from the past...and from the future...only to never bring them up again, and love us, and give us freedom.

After that, the woman said that this day, she chose to absorb her husband's sin...and never bring it up again. The man crumbled. He had been forgiven and given a second chance.

God has pardoned us. He has justified us. How can we not love Him? That service answered the question I've been wondering for a long time. How do I fall in love with Christ? 

The simple answer?...realize what justification is. Realize that Christ died for my sins, simply because He loves me. How often do I hear that...and forget it again so quickly? 

Lord...help me to fall so in love with you...now that I know. 

If anyone wants to hear that service, it should be up in a week or so at literallife.org

Where's Dewey Lake?

Greetings friends :)

This week my family and I are taking a small vacation to Dewey Lake, near Brooklyn, MI where I used to live. Funny thing is...for as long as we lived in Brooklyn, not one of us have ever heard of Dewey Lake.

Reason being?....it's small. Mmmm...more like quaint. 

The cabin is super cute and very close to the water...but completely without air. On a "normal" summer day, this wouldn't be such a bad thing because there is a strong breeze that comes off of the "pseudo-lake," but with it being almost 100 degrees here...its not the most comfortable feeling haha

Really though, it's been so wonderful being here. I love being on the water and with my family.

The first thing I spotted when we arrived was my devotion spot...the spot in which I will enjoy my devotions...

Aaaaaahh yes. 

God really speaks to me when I have tranquil spots like this.

Ah, P.S. if anyone is ever interested in the sermon "Going Beyond the Camp," I would highly recommend it. I've been listening to it while I'm here, little by little. 

(branham.org)

Well, all for now I suppose. 

Godspeed friends

PUFF!!!

Evening all! ...morning actually...

I started a quilt a whiiiiiiiiile back, and I haven't had the time to work on it much at all...in fact, my mom worked on it more than I did and when I pulled it out tonight we had only seven pieces sewn together...yeah.

Anyway, with me only have class one day a week and an online class the rest of the time...I have precious, precious time on my hands.

So much time that I got to spend as much time as I wanted to in devotions this morning, went to lunch with friends, started cleaning my room from camp (yikes), listened to a service, worked in the garden, watched a Disney movie with Aubrie, took a nice long bike ride, and started my quilt while listening to four episodes of Adventures in Odyssey (YES)!

Once I actually start my anesthesia class this week, I probably won't have quite so much time on my hands, but still...I'll have more than usual :) 

I have to take the time to thank God for this. I needed some relaxing and much more time with Him. 

Ok, now for the quilt. It is a puff quilt. Everyone thinks, "Oh quilting is so hard!" Not this one folks! All you do is sew a bunch of squares together, stuff them with fluff, and sew all those squares together in whatever pattern or fashion you wish! 

See? Easy squeezy lemon peasy!

So, as I said, four Odyssey episodes later and voila!

Nice and puffy! (don't mind my mess in the back there, heh)

I hope I finish this before winter because it will be nice and warm and hopefully keep me from freezing this year! 

Night all :)

Time for an update I suppose!

Greetings and salutations long lost comrades :)

I'm coming to the close of my two week break, and my what a marvelous break it has been thus far.

I got to spend the whole week at BYC camp! I was only supposed to go for a few days, but boy am I glad I got to stay the rest of the time! God blessed me at that camp with more faith than I've ever had, amazing services twice a day, and solidification of old friendships along with some new ones!

God is just so good and I will never forget that camp :)

After that wonderful, hot, week my dear friend and kindred spirit, Amber, spent five days with me. We ran up and down the roads everyday with fun adventures and more fellowship with friends from camp.

Yesterday we had, I'm thinking, some type of a tornado or super severe storm come through town. It hit so fast we didn't even have time to figure out what was going on! My dad and I had just walked through the door from taking Amber to the airport when the storm blew in.

My sister-in-law looked out the window and yelled that a tree had fallen on my dad's rental car (the one we just climbed out of two minutes before the storm hit). We looked out at the neighbor's house and a tree had fallen in their garage and smashed their camper along with a bit of the roof.

With much prayer from Haley and I, our God and Master of the wind protected out home. Almost every house on our street had a tree smash down on them. Praise God for His mighty hand of protection!

Today we have no power and, from word of the city, won't for two to four days. My family is now scattered around town, staying with friends that have power and air.

For this weekend and the remainder of my two week break I get to stay with my good friend Cheyenne. It will be nice for the two of us to have the house to ourselves. I foresee lots of cooking, laughing, and listening to the Word of God :)

A pretty good end to my vacation, wouldn't you say?

P.S. I have three baby watermelons and a baby eggplant growing in my garden! (Which got a little battered in the storm but is still standing strong!)

:D

Oh to be free!

I can't skip past this moment without giving complete credit to my Lord. He did so much for me this quarter. 

He turned my grade around in Clin Path 2 and I ended up with a high B by finals time. He led me to drop my anesthesia class until next quarter to let off some pressure, and blessed me in every one of my finals. 

So in finishing this quarter of college...I thank the Lord for all He gave me and took me through. 

I have no plans other than what He wants for me. 

And He is revealing it to me a little at a time. :)

Treasure hunting!

This weekend was my dad's 50th birthday!!! And may I just say, he looks pretty darn good for 50!

For his birthday/Father's day he wanted all of us to go out for breakfast together and then go garage sailing.

Today was a good day for it, minus the very hot, humid weather...which actually turned out to be a bonus for us because no one else really wanted to be out in such weather.

But the Sinacola's? We went...and we found many treasures!

With Aubriella asking at each one, "Where's the gewl(girl) stuff?"

And everyone racing back to the air conditioned van...it just turned out to be a good day :)

My favorite part of this day?...

this...

I got a whole China set for $20!!!!!!

I love it...it made me so happy...and now my hope chest is filled to the brim :)

*happy sigh* I love family, and garage sailing, and deal breaking treasure finds.

Have a great day everyone. Stay cool!

Edible you say?

This morning I jumped out of bed and ran outside (sleepily) to pick my squash flowers.

(The master gardener said they had to be picked in the morning when they were open)

And to my surprise...there were a ton! Not all of them were open though, so I only got 8.

Here are the beauties all opened up...

I called my dad and he told me to submerge them in cold water all day while I was at school

(I'm assuming this keeps them open)

ta da!

When I got home from school I could hardly wait to do this! Then I found out my dad wasn't going to be home until late...then I realized I had no delicious cheese to stuff the flowers with....then I found out I didn't have enough oil to deep fry them. 

I was just about to give up when I decided to look up some different recipes for squash flowers...which also turned out to be disappointing lol

I finally decided to just lightly bread and throw them in the pan with the little bit of oil I had...

SUCCESS!!!

I couldn't believe how delicious they were just like that!

I will be getting plenty more flowers, so the delicious cheese stuffing will have to wait for another day :)

Until then, here is one happily fed girl signing off!

P.S. I think it's time I get a camera...

Summer Project: Phase 4

It just amazes me how within a day...things go KABLOOEY!

Zucchini!

Cubanelle Peppers!

And tonight with our dinner...we each got to eat one green bean :)

And they would have been delicious if I hadn't...ahem.. charred them a bit.

So, things are growing nice and fat and looking wonderful! 

Stay tuned for Phase 5 when I make a full meal with all of my fully grown veggies :) 

P.S. I'll try to get a picture up of my steak tree soon.

;)

Love Language

I love when God speaks my love language. 

There have been so many times the past few weeks when I have a regular passing though, or read a scripture, or ask for something specific and God hits on it perfectly in service (word for word the way I thought it) 

To me that's God letting me know He loves me and that He hears my thoughts and prayers. 

I just wanted to share that with you all. I know it seems so silly and small to other people, but when you actually have it happen, it's huge. To me at least. 

I posted an Isaac's song on Facebook today. I was praying for my finals when this song popped into my head. I thought I'd like to post the lyrics on Facebook to share them, but when I went to post them I couldn't remember the song for the life of me. 

This happened a few weeks ago too and it drives me crazy when I can't remember songs! lol

I asked God to help me remember, and of course was feeling frustrated because I couldn't remember...then He placed the thought in my heart from yesterdays service..."stand still long enough to let God answer you." 

As soon as I thought that...boom. I remembered the song. And it just so happened to be the first few words of the chorus! 

God is so awesome! He works in the coolest ways!

Here's the song. "Stand Still" by the Isaacs. 

Enjoy and have a great day everyone :)

God bless you

Finaaaaaaals!

Well everyone...it's our favorite time of the quarter! Finals week!

WOO HOOO!

I have one final tomorrow and then four next week so keep me in your prayers!

And now without further adieu...

God bless friends :)

2 Chronicles 16:9

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him..."

(Thanks Roger for always quoting this scripture to me:))

Summer Project: Phase 4...ish

God amazes me. His creations dumbfound me everyday!

My first summer squash flower, which appeared only yesterday out of no where,

looked like this...

That alone excited me...BUT...this morning when I went out...that little flower looked like this...

Wowy, wow, wow! 

God is incredible! I had no idea it would open that fast! My dad told me in the evening it closes and in the morning it opens. How special. At least to me it is. I love watching things grow. :)

As soon as I get the ok from my master gardener (dad) I'm going to pick this beautiful thing, fill it with a delicious cheese mixture, dip it in a light batter, fry it up and eat it! YAY! I will be sure to take pictures and blog about it so you can enjoy this with me :)

Happy Wednesday brothers and sisters! God bless you!

~Girasole~

Coloring

Oh hi there! 

Not much going on here...just coloring like it's no body's business.

She even hung them up on the fridge by herself :)

Successful day two of operation Aunt Bo babysitting for the weekend!

Summer Project: Stage Three

Right now I am laying on my couch...my body is screaming at me...but I have a beautifully weeded garden! 

I know it's been a while, but I've been super busy with school, and at one point I thought for sure I was going to lose my garden. Alas! Everything is coming into full bloom and looking gorgeous!

Today I went out and did some much needed weeding, tore out some pesky vines, loosened up the soil, and doused everything in Miracle Grow! 

Now that it's all done...and I'm laying on the couch dead tired...

here's some pictures :)

 Left to Right: Summer squash, green beans, lettuce, cabbage. All the way in the back is sugar snap peas and carrots!

Left to right: Roma tomatoes, pear tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cherry tomatoes, and way in the corner of the picture is cubanelle peppers and zucchini

Yay for gardening!!!