jewelry time!

more alina

Alina day

I babysat Alina all day today.  We had so much fun coloring, pulling everything off my shelves, napping, taking pictures, shopping, playing w/ dolls, reading, talking, and Taebo.  She is so much fun!  Here are only 4 pictures of the 20 we took.

saturday

My Valentine's Day.

don't be jealous of my christmas tree

A couple days ago I received early Valentine's gifts :)  Lance surprised me with 2 beautiful roses, and Isaac surprised Lance and I w/ our very own card and valentines.  I am one LUCKY girl!!!!

 

to India ~

You are the most amazing mother in the world.  I am blessed to have grown up with a true example of a Godly woman.  You are my mom, my spiritual leader, and my bestfriend!  I LOVE YOU!!!!!  

a new heart with new and right desires

At the beginning of this year I set some goals for myself.  I wanted to be more focused on the right things that God has put in my heart.  I guess you could call it a New Year's resolution .... but I just call it "life."  Well, today I realized that I am actually making these things happen.  The reason this is such a big deal for me .... I'm a huge procrastinator!!!  Well, praise the Lord for his mercy and strength!!  This morning I was praying and noticed this tree outside my window.  Instantly I thought of new beginnings and how I am like this tree .... growing!!!!  I know I have a long way to go (similar to the tree) ... but thanks to Jesus I have started down a path that God has designed for me.

 

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."   Philippians 3:13-14

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do whatever I command."  Ezekiel 35:25-27

pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters

Lance and I have been dating for almost 4 months & have been friends for about 6 months.  I have soooo much fun w/ him.  I am incredibly lucky to have a boyfriend who truly loves the Lord w/ all his heart and challenges me everyday!  He always thinks of really good ideas.  A while ago he decided that we should buy a piggy bank and put ALL of our spare change in it and on our 1 year anniversary we will spend everything that we have saved up.  Well, here is our lovely vase ;)  We both use a debit card .... so it has been hard to save up change .... but as you can see .... we are off to a pretty good start.  

do it to FAIL

After church today Lance and I went to the gym and got our butts kicked by our trainer.  We heard the phrase "do it to FAIL" maybe 100 times. Then we met Keri and Alina at Partridge Creek for some coffee and shopping.  Afterwards, we took Alina for a lil bit while Keri got some grocery shopping done!  We were able to look up some scripture verses before the day ended.  All in all ... a pretty good day ;)

My Winter Blast

Tommy, Keri, Mike, Kristen, Lance and I all went down to Detroit for the Winter Blast.  If you would like to know what we did down there .... go to Keri's blog LOL.  I think I might be getting a little lazy w/ blogging!!!  Here are some pics tho ;)

what does she do w/ all her free time?

My readings & DVD series for the last few months.

what a bunch of goofs

magical moments

Last night Lance and I went out to eat w/ DV and Matt at Mongo (my fav place to eat) and then back to my place.  Danielle and I caught up on our lives while the boys played their video games.  Then we all headed to blockbuster for a movie.  We had a hard time deciding what to rent .... so Lance ended up picking 4 movies out and we voted on one .... Blood Diamond.  It is a very good movie ... but very sad.  I DO love spending time w/ my friends ;)  I'm trying to start to take pictures again ... I have been slacking lately!!!

weakness

my 25 random things

1. I am scared of birds, fish & clowns.

2. I love to sing ... even tho I sound terrible doing it.

3. I broke both bones in my left arm (falling off a bike that was way too big for me to ride) & my collar bone (wrestling w/ my cousin Joel).

4. I flew in a 4 passenger plane the day the pilot got his license to fly .... and almost threw up afterwards because of all the flips and stuff he was doing.

5. I lived in Tulsa for one year and Los Angeles for 6 months.

6. I love Thai food.

7. I swam with dolphins with my family in Florida.

8. I have been to Venezuela, Haiti and Mexico on a missions trip.

9. I was 3rd team All State in high school for Volleyball.  I actually almost quit after my freshman year because I was so bad, but my coach saw my potential.

10. I got saved on my mom's birthday while she was out of the country on a missions trip.  Before I even went to the alter, God told my mom that she would receive the best birthday gift that day.

11. I absolutely love snowboarding but have not been able to go this winter because of my cash flow.

12. While living in Cali I met and took a picture with Marcel.  It was awesome.  (for those of you who don't know ... Marcel is the monkey on FRIENDS)

13. I went Parasailing in Florida with Deena and she passed out at the end of the ride .... it freaked me out.

14. All my christmas decorations are still up in my apt. and I have no intention of taking them down anytime soon.

15. I love starting books but have a hard time finishing them.

16. For some reason if I have someone over to my place I have to have at least one candle lit and a pot of coffee going.

17. I can't whistle.

18. My mom made me do a typing program every time I was grounded ... and I am now so incredibly thankful to her.

19. When I was younger my sister told me I was adopted and really had an older brother and a dog and that when I was 16 he was going to meet me on the roof of my "parents" house.  Almost every night she would tell me more about my brother and dog.

20. My 3rd day of living in Los Angeles I went for a run with one of my friends and we got lost.  We ended up finding our way back home with the help of a few homeless men.

21. It's near impossible for me to go shopping without getting a coffee to walk around with while I'm at the mall.

22. I missed my senior year prom because I was grounded ... and spent the entire day with my sister instead (it was the best prom/homecoming ever).

23. I don't let anyone touch my feet (not even my family or boyfriend).... I don't think any of them mind that much LOL

24. On the ride home from church one wed night my sisters got in a huge fight.  When we got home, my parents spanked all 3 of us even tho I had NOTHING to do with it and was innocent.

25. I love Jesus with all my heart and am truly blessed for the life He has given me.

Sing My Love

Words can never say the way He says my name

He calls me lovely

No one ever sees the way He looks at me

He sees me holy

Words can never hold this love that burns my soul

Heaven holds me

I can't hold my love back from You

I can't hold my love back from You

I gotta sing

I gotta sing

Sing my love to you Jesus

You will not believe the way He touches me

He burns right through me

I could not forget every word He said

He always knew me

The earth could never hold this love that burns my soul

Heaven holds me

I can't hold my praise back from You

I can't hold my praise back from You

I gotta shout

I gotta shout

Shout my praise

Romans

When I read Lori's Blog, it made me think about what God showed me this morning!!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:1-2 

need i say more?

picnik

After we spent some time with John Bevere, Val showed me a really cool website!  She edited a couple of pictures .... and then I tried a few.  Sooooooooooo fun ;)

Happy Birthday Alina

Today one year ago my niece was born .... Princess Alina!!!!

even tho we don't deserve it

"Behold, a virgin shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Isaiah 7:14 (R.V.)

I love snow ....

BRING IT ON!!!!!

The Sir

OK ... next new thing to catch up on .... "the sir" (thank you Keri for the creative nickname)!  I feel a little silly writing a whole post about Lance.  Soooo, I'll just say .... Thank you Jesus for sending me someone who loves the Lord w/ all his heart & is basically 'tailor made' for me ;)

PEACE on earth

HERE IT IS ;)  My lovely apartment!!!!!  I have decided to dedicate my next few posts to updating on everything that has been missed for the last few months.  Todays post .... my living room!  My favorite thing is my red wall that Lance and I just painted a week ago!!!!  I also was able to decorate for christmas .... loving the tree topper? ;)  It's so amazing to have my own place!  I am able to host the thursday night bible study (which we are going thru the series Living for Eternity by John Bevere .... I highly recommend it).  Last night Mikes, Remy and Lance came over and we played cards and did our love language test HAHA .... Mikes idea (surprise surprise).  OK ...  I'm not going to list ALL the reasons I love having my own place .... so I'll just say ..... praise the Lord for being Jehovah Jireh (my provider).  

my long lost love ....

Even tho it may not seem like it ... I PROMISE .... I love to Blog .... ugh, I have missed it so much!!!!!  I should be getting the internet soon in my apt.  I can't believe my last post was in October & was about FALL!!!!!!!  I missed a whole month (November) & now we are into winter ;)  Sooooooo much is happening in my life ..... there is NO way I can play catch up w/ one post .... so I'll just say ....

GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!  I'm in my new apt. & loving it!!!! I just painted my main wall dark red .... just in time for christmas ;) God has brought AMAZING ppl ;) into my life!  & I am learning & growing in Him everyday!!!  I guess I could name a few things I have been up to every week.  I have 2 bible studies a week, The Truth Project (love it), amazing worship every friday night (you should come out), Lance and I coach a basketball team for the Boys & Girls club every sat afternoon, ...... oh and so much more ..... even as I'm typing a few of these things out, I am thinking of more things I have going on .... praise the Lord for a busy schedule ;)

 

"Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." Psalm 33:3-4

I will try to visit again soon!!!!

I LOVE Fall

So I'm a little late on my posting .... BUT I wanted to post a blog on friday!!!  I LOVED FRIDAY!  It started off w/ a call from Keri telling me that we were going shopping ;)  Whenever it's a sister day ..... I'm IN!!  So Keri, Alina, Lori, Isaac, Zoey & me all went to Lakeside!  It was interesting!  We each a stroller (Keri has a picture on her blog).  Then Nikki came over after work to chill .... and anytime you are with Nikki .... it's an adventure LOL.   To end the night, a group of us went out to 26 mile for a bonfire & corn maze ;)  So much fun!  We started off with worship around a fire ..... then off to the longest crazy fun corn maze ever!!!!!  Here are some pics ;)

looking at the map so we can beat the other team

this maze takes like 2 hours to get thru

'no pictures please' LOL

steve and lance trying to catch up ;)

PS ... my Zehnders post will be tomorrow (hopefully ;)