Memories :)

:) So today Dad was going through his old stuff and I joined him. I absolutely LOVE seeing stuff from my parent's past. It totally fascinates me! He ran across this little book called "The Wordless Book." He asked me if I knew what it was, and I didn't, so he showed me.

He opened up to the first page, which was black and said "First, my heart was black." Then he flipped to the next one, which was a deep red. "But then Jesus died on the cross, and his blood allowed me to be saved." The next page was a spotless white. "And my heart became clean and pure." And finally, he showed me the last page which was a beautiful golden color. "And I could spend all eternity in Heaven." Cool, huh?

Anyone Need Their Screen Cleaned?

So I'm upstairs brushing my teeth, when Mom calls me down to show me...

http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

And now I want to show everyone else! :)

Susie + Mall

So, in a couple weeks I'm starting high school. And no, I'm not nervous about it or anything (At least I don't think I am) but I have been, you know, thinking about it. Like, I hope a lot of my friends are in my lunch period, and I don't want to get lost the first day, and I'm praying the math teachers aren't as hard as everyone says.

I just read this article from Susie's blog (Susie is a wonderful, God-fearing woman who has her own magazine! I just recently subscribed. It's partners with Brio, for those of you that read it)...

"It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message
on stage in a theater
in which no one wants to buy a ticket.
We're something
everyone
stands around and stares at
like an accident in the street" (1 Corinthians 4:9).
* * *
How does that hit you?
Know this: When you truly start to live
in radical obedience
to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
you'll be made fun of.
And sometimes you'll even be made fun of
from your Christian friends!
We expect it from the world . . .
but it hurts even more when it comes
from the Body of Christ.
So as you begin preparation to head back to school,
jobs,
whatever . . .
go into it with the knowledge
that you're seen
as an "accident in the street."
Be prepared to be gawked at.
That's how they treated Christ.
By the power of His Spirit within you,
you CAN remain strong!

And now I'm feeling a LOT better! Because no matter what happens (If I sit alone at lunch the first week of school because everyone else has a different lunch... or if I get lost and end up looking stupid the first day... or even if I get the worst math teachers) God is with me every step of the way. And I'm ready! Bring it on. :)

Anyways, Mom and I hit the mall last night... and well, to say the least, acted a little silly. Here's a recap: :)

I love those big sunglasses, don't you? ;)

I know you're not SUPPOSED to relax on those beds... but I mean, COME ON, you set up these nice, comfy looking beds and expect people not to sit on them... at all?

We ran into a men's store and tried on some of their funky hats!

Actually, I kind of liked that one! :)

You should have seen this one! It's almost laughable to think that anyone would actually buy it...

I think Mom makes a fantastic Cinderella. :)

Bella has always been one of my favorite princesses. <3>

I love this picture! Brings back so many memories of watching every episode of Pooh Bear I could get my hands on.

Look! It's like I have a Mickey Mouse hat on! :) :)

Mom, I love you with all my heart. You are so beautiful inside and out!! I am so lucky that God blessed me with a mom as wonderful as you are. You always serve others before yourself, are kind to everyone you meet, and will always be my role model (and princess!). :)

Cardinals: Defeathered >:)

The way to a man's heart is (No, not through food

or flattery) but sports. According to dad, that is.

Of course, he's half joking. And part of me (The part that takes it seriously) does want to love it as much as he does. But there's just something about it that usually doesn't catch my attention. (The nonserious part of me just likes to be teased by my dad) :)

Well, last night he took me to the Astros vs. Cardinals game and I will admit, I got pretty into it. (Although Dad refuses to admit anything other than the fact I liked taking pictures. Boys.) ;)

Mom and I outside the park. :)

Handsome Dad and I. (I stole his hat!) :))

All of us. (Except Mom, she graciously said she'd take the picture) =D Notice Dad isn't smiling. He says I take too many pictures. But hey, the way I see it, I can never take enough! Life goes by WAY too fast.

Go Astros! :D

Boo Cardinals. >)

That awesome train. :)

Rodriguezz
Closer view :)
Blum.

Blum again(:

Cardinals conversing. They were freaking cuz we were winning. :)

That's basically how it ended. I think the Cardinals got one more run (and so did we?) but we obviously ended up winning. Pretty awesome when they got a grand slam and then another run! I can't believe how excited I got. Because when you REALLY think about it, I'm getting excited about men running around in circles.

But you know what? I had a good time. I did. And who knows? Maybe I'll even sit down with Dad sometime and watch a game with him.

Kentucky Mission Trip

Just got back from the mission trip to the App. Mountains in Kentucky! I could sum it all up with one word- WOW! God is sooo good! His sovereignty and grace continues to astound me!

Gorgeous, huh?

This is the church we painted. It's been around for some time. A man we met said it used to be used for hay and horses and stuff! But he also said he wanted to start using it again. The inside is pretty nice! It was so cool that we got the chance to see it.

We had a block party for the local kids. It was a blast! You could tell they were really having fun. Praise God that Cat got to witness to one of the kid's moms! She got saved right then and there.


This is me jumping off a rock. But the scary part wasn't jumping- it was climbing up! Especially with my short legs. ;)

We chipped paint off old windows and doors for two days. My knuckles are STILL recovering! LOL.

Kentucky is too beautiful for words.
This is during the VBS we had for the kids in a neighborhood. They were awesome! The girl on my right, Haley, made the cutest little bracelet. It doesn't fit, but it's still really sweet. I'm missing these kids like crazy!
I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but Tris was definitely my favorite. He was the sweetest little boy you'll ever meet. The first day we met him, going around telling people about our "sports camp", his mom stopped us before we left and said that he had just been diagnosed with leukemia and she was supposed to get results that afternoon. We all stood around and prayed. It was heartbreaking. We ended up calling KSBJ that night so everyone back home could pray too. We came back the next day... talked to his mom... and she said the doctors had no idea how but little Tris was HEALTHY. No leukemia! Only by the grace of God! Most beautiful moment ever.
Taken on the last day at mission trip. This is where the seniors said goodbye, and we had our last worship time together... it started raining, pouring is more like it, so we had to cut it short

:( but it was totally amazing. (And sad!)

You know I got home, and nothing was really the same. My perspective on daily life had been completely changed. Little things don't seem to matter as much anymore, and I'm trying to make an effort to put into practice what I did in Kentucky. (Not repainting the house, but you know...) ;) One things for sure... when you go on a mission trip and let God work through you to help others, He's working IN you at the same time.

God did so many amazing things in Kentucky. Too many things to fit in one blog entry! :) He did some serious work in my life and heart, and I'm praying the upliftment I feel now will stay. And if you're reading this, please pray for all the people in Kentucky we talked to- and all we didn't get to talk to!

Thanks for listening. :)

More Beautiful You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI_YG40uEDk

I'm not entirely sure how to upload videos that are from youtube, not my computer, yet so I'm just going to post a link. It leads to this song called More Beautiful You by Jonny Diaz. (AKA one of the best songs...EVER) ;)

A couple months ago I was going through some hard stuff, and one day I just kind of sat down on my bed and started praying really hard. I asked that God would reassure me of Him, and that He would just show me his love. Moments after I finished praying, a song came on KSBJ I had never heard: More Beautiful You. I knew with my whole heart that this was God's amazing way of responding, and as I listened I was filled up with this incredible joy. All God's doing.

So I'm sharing this story and song with all of you just as a reminder that God really does listen, truly does care, and because, well, I really love this song. :)