MONDAY MONDAY MONDAY {PERSONAL}

"Unforgiveness sounds like this: "You owe me! I'm going to make you pay by hating you, by slandering you, by returning in kind, by recruiting other people to my bitterness. I'm holding this over you!" -James McDonald
{I read this, this morning. Being constantly reminded to forgive just as Christ forgave me. When forgiveness is put in the above words...wow...forgiveness is the only choice I have}.
"Don't get stuck looking at your circumstances....focus on CHRIST". -Robert Baltodano
{It's amazing how when I stop looking at that which is bothering me/overtaking my thoughts and mind how when I give it to God and start praying about it - a peace surprasses it all}.
"Religion = man trying to reach God. Christianity = God reaching man". -Chuck Smith
{God reaches for me and for you, oh happy day}!

CHI-TOWN {PERSONAL}

There are some cities that you go once and that's enough. Yeah it was nice but you aren't too keen on going there again and again.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH CHICAGO.
I.LOVE.CHICAGO.
I can spend the whole weekend there and leave and can't wait to return and shop again. Or eat at the Cheesecake Factory. Or eat Gumbo Soup. Or walk around and see such a lively city. Or just enjoy Chicago. The buildings. The sights. The people. Or hear how my sister attempted to go backwards an elevator and fell in front of a guy. We are related.

A Forever 21 that has 3 floors?!?! BEST.STORE.EVER.

I had Cheesecake Factory with my family for Easter dinner Sunday. My first time eating there. WOW.WOW.WOW. I was missing out biiiig time. Their Red Velvet Cheesecake is superb. Their Tiramisu was nothing short of amazing. The food is SO.GOOD. A new discovery in my life! Thank you Pops.

Hello little brother in Under Armour sweatshirt. Are you cold yet? Because I sure was. Hello Father and Mother next to little brother!
Hello random girl in turqoise jacket walking with your mother. You are in a hurry. Must be to eat at the Cheesecake Factory.


I don't think saying I love Chicago sums up how much I love that city.

PROMISES {PERSONAL}

I love how one week or mutliple days in a row God shows me something new about Him. Over and over again until I grasp it. Or semi-grasp it. Because in all honesty, I will never "fully" grasp all that God is. Never.

This week I am learning about God's Promises. They are {TRUE}. They are not {SLACK}. He will do what he has {SAID}. And they are {GOOD}. Oh happy day!

The call still comes to us: "Take up your cross and come with Me. With You, Lord? Yes, with Me. Will you give me strength and show me the way? That was My promise - is it My custom to break promises?"

(Part of a devotional from Elisabeth Elliot).

SPRING SPRING SPRING {PERSONAL}

I'm still here. I'm still alive. And spring spring spring is HERE. I AM SO PUMPED. So very excited. Heavy jackets are being put away, flats are being pulled out as well as sandals and I'm wearing shorts again. Mmmm yeah.
First wedding of the year (thank you to the photographer Nathan Bluedorn for the amazing pictures) and there is my baby brother dressed in his nice suit with that stunning blue shirt. He's such a stud muffin.



I'm SO SO excited to take my brothers high school senior pictures this weekend. I told him we were going out to dinner after and I was treating him, and he said: "oh good, nice". Haha.
________________________

"If you only knew how much God treasured you. I have never thought much of that. I have thought a lot about my treasures in God. But God treasures ME?" -Pastor Chuck Smith

............ {PERSONAL}

Happy Friday. And I'll leave you with this: "God doesn't choose losers". I heard this last night. I'm not a loser. No matter how I feel. No matter what. Because God's children are not losers. Oh happy day!

Hello Life {PERSONAL}

It seems like the past few weeks God has given me such a bigger glimspe of just how good and how much of a gift, LIFE, really is. It doesn't matter if something exciting isn't happening every single second, plain fact: it's exciting to be alive! And there are so many small things in a day that are like little gifts, waiting to be unwrapped. A lot of the times I don't see them because I'm looking for that "one" big thing I think is going to bless me. Plain fact: the small things often bring so much more joy than that "one" big thing.
God gave me life and I want to be someone who loves His gift. I'm learning to enjoy the small things in life.

A LIFE OF PRAYER {PERSONAL}

"The epitome of pride is prayerlessness. If I don't pray, I'm saying, 'I control my destiny myself'. A person who doesn't pray is proud". -Jon Courson
(Oh how I need to pray more!)

I love my friend Steph.

SOME FAVORITE QUOTES {PERSONAL}

"Let not our longings slay the appetite of our livings". -Jim Elliot

I think this is one of my favorite quotes because it reminds me to live in the present. Not in the past. And not in the future. Sometimes the future seems to hold so much and I can't wait to get to it. But I can always hear my Dad saying: "you don't want to look back and have regrets". I sure do not want to live these years in the future, missing out on what God has placed in my hands now.

"Our love for anyone can be measured by how much we pray for that person". -Mike MacIntosh
Yeah. The first time I read this quote it was a slap in the face. I realized that I don't pray near as often as I should for all the people I love. And I don't pray enough for everyone I meet and for all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. It also made me realize that I do love little at times. But I see God giving me new measures of love in my life for everyone, and it's a good thing.

"Has your relationship with God changed the way you live your life?"

I forget where I found this quote but it has been one of my favorites for a while. To me it's a good reminder that my behavior and the way I live my life needs to be a reflection of God and show that He has changed me, from the inside OUT.

"The God who created names and numbers the stars in the heavens also numbers the stars of my head. He pays attention to very big things and to very small ones. What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my Life." -Elisabeth Elliot
It is truly amazing to me that God, the God who created and holds this whole universe in His Hands cares about my life. Not only my life, but He cares about the small tiny weenie things that I care about. I've thought before, nope can't pray about that....it's too small a thing! But I'm learning that I can pray about that small eenie weenie thing! God cares about that small little thing! Wow. That does change my life.

"I know I'm weak; I know I'm unworthy
To call upon Your Name;
But beacuse of Grace; because of your Mercy; I stand here Unashamed". -Unashamed, Starfield

I know this isn't technically a quote but these are some lyrics to a song I LOVE. I'm so unworthy to call upon God but yet because of His Mercy and Grace I come freely! Oh His Grace and Mercy is such a marvelous thing!

We are having some of the best weather here ever in February! It was 66 degrees yesterday and the sun was out. Hello spring.

I am looking forward to enjoying more of that weather this weekend.

I'm so exited for our college group's womens retreat this weekend, I get to get off work early, pack, grab Pancheros with my sister, pick some friends up and head to the camp.

Happyyyy Friddaaayyyy everyone!

Tuesday Thoughts.....{PERSONAL}

"If we prayed more we could stand the tide, we could be strong and insecurity wouldn't be part of our lives. But because we lean on our flesh we don't see the power of prayer and when we are tested we fall apart". -Steve Mays

"I like to begin my day in a commitment of myself and the day to the Lord. I love to do that before I get out of bed. I just lie there for a moment, communing with the Lord, thanking Him for another day to serve Him and presenting myself afresh to Him. 'I'm available Lord, to use as you desire. Guide my steps today, in Your ways". -Chuck Smith

"Living the Christian Life God's way. People, including myself, tend to forget the last two words of that." -J. Vernon McGee

"God works on both ends. He'll work in your heart, and then that work will be confirmed by someone coming and sharing with you." -Chuck Smith

(just some pictures from a recent photo shoot, i love cloudy days for photos).

Happy Valentines Day!

I shall celebrate by going swimming (training for the triathlon) and making heart shaped cookies with my little sister. Happy Valentines Day!!

(photo from google images)

.......

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light." - John Falconer

Thoughts on a Thursday {Personal}

I haven't taken pictures for SO.LONG. I don't know why. But I think one of the reasons I love summer so much is because I take TONS of pictures. We did get all that snow the weather forecaster man was predicting. And boy, it's a LOT! We haven't had this much since when we first moved here back in 1998!! Someone told my brother this happens every 50 years, so we all decided next time it happens, my brother will be 71 and I'll be 69. Hahaha.

My little brother graduates this summer. CRAZY. There are only going to be the two youngest left in school now. My Mom must think that is so different. I remember all those crazy days when there were all 6 of us still in school and we were constantly getting told to "stop talking". Those are such good memories. I'm not saying I'd like to go back to high school tho. :)

My older brother & sister and I are training for a Triathlon in June. I started swimming twice a week at our local pool. The first time we went swimming my brother and I were sick and I couldn't stand up without getting dizzy. Just completely worn OUT. It's a lot better now and I don't feel like my lungs are going to collapse on me! Swimming is good exercise. I think the best thing yet was I did a 30minute workout with Jillian Michaels (30 day shred) right before we were going snowboarding. Yes. BAD IDEA. For the next couple days I couldn't walk properly or sit down well and moving was painful in EVERY way. I'm glad that that is over with and I can do the workout now without feeling those effects. Haha.

I'm learning new things EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I'm a sinner in need of God's grace every DAY. It's mind boggling to think that God would send His perfect and Holy Son down to take my place! It's hard to comprehend that God would work in me, and not give up on me! And that he fights my battles! Because I am not the perfect person. In fact I'm a big sinner. And to think that the God who made the whole universe cares about "my" life is so hard to grasp! But I don't think I need to grasp or understand any of it, I just need to say "Thank You" and be amazed at what an AWESOME GOD we serve!

Life isn't perfect and life isn't always easy. But oh Life is SWEET!

S-N-O-W?!

Yes and TONS of it!

I'm still here, some new posts coming up this week. My baby sister turns 14 Friday, since when did the baby of the family be old enough to drive?!

11 Days Until Christmas....Already?!?!

I haven't even started my shopping yet for my 5 brothers and sisters, my Dad & Mom and friends. This year I procrastinated big time. But nothing like having 11 days to do a TON of shopping....makes it feel more like Christmas to me.
My brothers and sisters and I saw Tangled in 3D with some friends a couple weeks ago....the glasses go a long way at our house. :)

Sisters....sisters... {SNEAK PEEK}

Here is a sneak peek of a recent photo shoot I did. Nothing like having sisters....

OH HOW HE LOVES! {PERSONAL}

We all have those days. Where things don't seem to go our way, everything that could go wrong does and sometimes you sit there and think....what is there to look forward to in life? Why am I even here? I know I have to remind myself: "You are here for GOD's GLORY. You are here for HIS PURPOSES".

What can make me eternally thankful and make me treasure Life is when I think that God LOVES me, me - a sinful being....He LOVES me with infinite and unchanging love. The Creator who holds this world in HIS Hands - who can change things in an instant....HE put his LOVE on me and His love NEVER ceases or waivers towards me. It's always constant. Even when He knows EVERTHING about me. Never am I out of His Mind. I am engraven on His Hands. And what matters to me, matters to HIM.

Oh what a glorious awesome God I serve! And I can call Him MINE!

Do I Trust You? {PERSONAL}

Trust: something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary).

Trust: certainty based on past experience.

I remember reading an article online about trusting God. It was saying that we have no choice but TO trust Him...because of who He is.

They gave the illustration of a young child on the edge of a pool. Not wanting to jump in. His father is in the water coaching the child and saying, "jump, I will catch you....I won't let you go under". The child is still standing on the edge of the pool...afraid. If the child doesn't jump he makes the father look bad. His own fear is bigger than the trust in his father. The article was comparing that to the trust of our Heavenly Father. We have to trust Him. He is worthy of our trust. If we don't trust Him, we are saying we don't believe His promises. We are saying He isn't worthy to be trusted. But He IS. Jesus is worthy of all my trust. No matter how scary it seems.

When life is going smoothly, sure it's easy to trust God. But when things start getting rough it's then that really counts. Because anyone can trust in the easisest circumstances. I've come to realize that how we react to hard circumstances says a lot about us. Says a lot about me. Do I willingly submit to the circumstances or the orchestration God is doing in my life in ALL things? Or do I complain and try to find another way? I'm finding that in submission there is Freedom. I'm learning that insisting on my own way isn't freeing, it's miserable.

My little sister getting ready to climb a artificial rock on a camping trip last fall. They put you in a harnass with ropes attached so in case you fall off the ropes will catch you while the person on the ground holds onto those ropes. At first it's hard to think that those ropes will hold you, but in order to climb you don't have a choice.

So you climb. Trusting that the ropes are going to catch you. It's hard work and it seems like every muscle in your body is on fire. But you keep climbing until you get to the top.

I think trusting God at times stretches us in so many ways spiritually it seems like we are being stretched past our limit. But oh no we aren't. So we continue on and cling to the fact that God knows what He is doing. We climb until we reach to the top. Trusting in God every step of the way.

"It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. It is our glory to trust Him, no matter what." -Joni Eareckson Tada

"While the Lord calls me to be wise and discerning, he reminds me often that his discernment cannot dwell in a cynical distrustful heart. With Him, there is no hidden agenda and no ulterior motive. His gifts are free for the taking but I cannot take these gifts if my hands are already full of my own weapons of self- protection. Therefore, He asks me to lay down the shields that I have forged for protection and to pick up the shield of faith in their place. He asks me to take Him at His Word". -Katherine Walden

His promises never fail. He is worthy of my trust. He will keep me.

Something To Remember...{PERSONAL}

My friend sent me the below quotes this morning....it was a good reminder for me to see and be grateful for how much God blesses me with. Thanks Joss. And yes, that little guy is quite the man. Mr. Jack.

"Life is a Gift"

Today

before you say one unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before

you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's cyring out to God for a companion.

Today

before you complain about life - Think of all you have, who says we are to have as much as we do?

Before

whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when

you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wish they had your job.

And when

depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think : you're alive and still around.

Always foster an attitude of gratification...it will change your life.

Another Day

I was reading the book: "Keep a Quiet Heart" and ran across this quote spoken by God to E. Elliot:
"My precious daughter, I care about every detail of your life".

Are we running hard??

Ahh frisbee. I remember when my brothers, sisters and I first heard of Ultimate Frisbee we were like - "ok, what kind of weirdo's play frisbee?".

Ha, little did we know we would soon be those weirdos who play frisbee. And pretty much can't get enough of it.
Why it has captured us, I don't know. Something about running, running, and catching it. And being able to throw it. And then run some more. And watch as hopefully (your team) scores a point.
For one thing, it gives you a good workout. And I need those.


I was scrolling thru my frisbee pictures in Lightroom and ran across the ones of everyone running. Running hard. To be the one to catch the frisbee.

And I started thinking. I want to be found running like that. Running hard in life. When God calls, I am found answering Him in that way.Especially on the days where it seems like everything couldn't go more wrong. And on the days where it feels like the whole world is trying to pull us down. I still want to be able to run full forward ahead. Without looking back.
Trusting that God knows exactly what is going on. And that this is going to be for our very best.

Oh yeah, it won't be always easy. I actually think most days it will be hard. Because it means putting aside what we want to do.
But in the end, I'm always glad I decided to run after God instead of myself. God sees the bigger picture. I don't. God knows what's best for us and our future. I don't. And there is an amazing peace once you put your life in His Hands and decide to follow.I'd have to say the one thing in life I would desire above all else, would be found running, running hard when He calls. Because once I am in His will and following where He leads, my life falls into place.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31