Our God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is our miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Lord is good!

I am sure if you are like me you have prayed to God for a miracle to happen in your life.

Maybe it was for something financial

maybe it was for something for your health

maybe it was for a friend....

Whatever that miracle is you are praying for rest assured that our GOD is able!!!!

Ephesisans 3:20 says that "Now to Him who is ABLE to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us"

This verse holds so much meaning!

It is a promise to those that believe in Him that He is able and willing to do great things in your life.

Things we might call miracles!

The last part of that verse is so important. It says that He is able according to the power that is at work within US!

We pray and cry out to our God for Him to do miracles and to show His mighty power; and the best part is that that power we are looking for is inside of us!!! We have the power when we trust Him no matter the circumstances.

Several weeks ago something happened to me that was going to keep me from attending school this semester. At first I was devestated and couldn't understand why things seemed to be so unfair. I cried out to God and asked Him for a miracle!

Days passed and nothing happened.

In that time I shut myself off to the world and pressed in to the Word of God! I sought after Him and I found Him!

I realized in the days that followed that the in the midst of my pain He was using this time to teach me the power of faith!

I read in His word that despite our circumstances we must seek to glorify Him in each moment.

I began to find contentment in my circumstance because I realized that if my life is meant to glorify Him, then no matter where I am at in life I can bring Him glory!

If it was not His will for me to attend school this year then He had plans for me to bring Him glory somewhere else.

The beauty about God is that when we truly trust Him despite what is happening, we can have authentic joy!

It was hard at first to accept that I could not go to school, but I found peace in where He had me.

Four days before classes were supposed to start my boss at my new job walked up to me and asked me to meet with her in her office.

The reason she wanted to talk to me was because she had recently discovered my situation and had felt a deep desire to help me. (I have known this sweet lady for less than a month)

She told me that she wanted to help by paying for my school this semester!!!!

I couldn't believe what I was hearing! My head dropped to her desk and tears poured from my eyes and hers!

I learned in that moment that God was wanting to do immeasurably more with my faith!

He had always intended on me going to school, but He used this situation to teach me true contentment, true faith and authentic joy in His will!

When I asked the Lord for a miracle several weeks ago I was hoping for that He would allow me to go to school.

He did that and more!

He showed me that the real miracle is when we are going through a hard time and we choose to glorify Him instead of our circumstances!

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer"

Wherever you are at in your life just remember that even if He hasn't delivered you from your affliction, doesn't mean that He won't! Use the time of waiting to draw closer to Him for strength and you will find true joy!

The miracle you are seeking might never happen...

Just remember that the real miracle is that He gives us the power inside to find peace no matter the how things turn out!

Oh how He loves you and me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Years with my family

New Years Eve was awesome!
This is a pic of me and my Nash! We were getting ready to make some Mexican food and watch a movie :) He is gonna be a hearbreaker!!!! I got to spend the entire weekend with my beautiful family.(minus Semah and Joshua...stinkin Bulgaria!) They decided to come up to see me in Moore for the weekend and we had a great time!

Two weeks ago my family drove down to Ada to help me move my entire life to Moore, Oklahoma. My daddy has bad knees and severe arthritis in his hands, and my momma's entire body hurts, but they still did everything they could to help me. They gave all they had just like they always have since I was a little girl. All of their children would agree that they would sacrifice just about anything for us...and I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents. My family is a treasure!

(This is a pic of all the boys chillin)

These are my nephews...

Beau, Nash and Cayd. Each time I talk to them and hold them in my arms I am reminded of God's amazing love. He has blessed our family with wonderful little men who are learning to live their lives for Him. They make me smile and can brighten my day in an instant! Ohh how beautiful they are to me!

So excited to see what the Lord is going to do in 2011!

2010 was a tough year, but I learned a lot.

I learned this year that the most important thing in life is to bring glory to the Lord in everything I do. I learned the importance of being meek and quiet, and that truly forgiving someone doesn't make them right, it makes you free!

I've got my faith and my family....bring it on 2011!!!

Days of Promise!

Two days ago the weather was beautiful!

I got home from work early and grabbed my fishing pole, my diet Dr. Pepper(with lime), my radio and headed out to the beautiful pond in my new backyard.

The breeze was blowing softly, creating ripples in the water which allowed it to brush up along the bank and run across my toes. The water was still very cool, but the warmth from the sun on my face was enough to keep me satisfied.

As I cast my pole into the pond(hoping to catch the big bass my neighbor told me about), I started to say a small prayer of thanks for the way the Lord had blessed us with such a beautiful day in the midst of winter.

The cold weather can become such a dreadful thing. Winter can drag on and on and its hard to find reasons to be thankful for its biting temperatures. It has a tendancy to bring on illness, to make things appear dark and gloomy and if it goes on for too long it can create depression in people.

I laid down on the swing and looked up into the sky and realized that God used that day to remind me that even in the midst of a season that is supposed to be cold, He can change it in an instant if He chooses.

If it seems like winter in your life right now
just remember
just because summer isn't here yet, doesn't mean He won't give you days of hope to remind you that He is faithful to bring change!

Oh how He loves you and me!

Safe in His arms...

It's amazing how much we learn from children.

This is my precious new friend Grace.

I met her working at my new job, and its amazing what she has taught me in the short time I have known her.

Grace is very inquisitive and loves to spend most of her time asking me questions about things that worry her. You know like, "when do I have to take a nap", "why do I have a belly button", "why is my hair yellow"?????

Most of these questions cause her so much grief at times, she will fall on the carpet in a dramatic display(to which I turn my head and smile because I can relate) because to her the issues she is facing seem pretty awful for a three year old. However, I quickly scoop her up in my arms to hold her close, and it doesn't take long before a lovely smile appears back on her beautiful face.

This is a common ritual that we experience throughout the day. But, because she is a small child and because I know her fears and worries are real to her, I never get tired of comforting and explaining things.

Yesterday as I placed her down on her mat to take a nap she looked up at me with tear-filled eyes and said, "please hold my hand so I can fall asleep". (if someone can say no to that you might need to ask the wizard for a heart and a brain!)

Anyways, I sat down next to her and gently brushed the hair back from her face and pulled her little pink blanket up over her tiny body. Her eyes looked up at me and I smiled softly to remind her I wouldn't leave. At that moment it was as if her apprehension melted away and she began to loosen her grasp on my hand.

Her eyes began to shut slowly and it was in that moment that tears began to fill my eyes....(gulp)

I caught a glimpse of our Father's love for His children!

We come to Him over and over with worries and fears...

We cry out to Him to help us understand why things are happening, and although He knows the answers, His response to us is always gentle and comforting...

There are times when we just need to know He is there in order to help us find peace, and He never fails to hold our hand and walk us through our darkest moments.

My three year old little flower, miss Grace, has taught me more than I think I will ever be able to teach her.

She has shown me that no matter how old I get I am still His child, and He delights in listening to me, comforting me, and that my questions and fears never get old to Him.

Grace reminded me that in those anxious moments I can look up to Him with tear-filled eyes and ask Him to hold me safe in my His arms until I fall asleep.

Rudolph???????

Tonight I was sitting in a big cozy chair in the corner of Borders reading a really interesting book. I say I was reading, but actually I was doing what I usually do when I go to the bookstore...I was people watching and listening :)

Before you start judging me just know that I don't listen to entire conversations. I just take a quick glance up from my book to see what's going on around me.

Tonight, however, I heard an entire conversation....and I wasn't trying! (seriously)

This is how it happened:

I was sitting in my chair minding my own business and trying to slurp all the whip cream off of my white mocha when I noticed two gentlemen walking towards me. They were probably in their mid-forties and were both wearing Christmas sweaters. I immediately took a liking to them because of their shirts and I couldn't help but smile as I noticed one of them was even wearing a bright, blinking Christmas pin.

The two men happened to sit at a small table right next to my chair, and the man with the blinking light(for this story I will call him Rudolph...blinking light....get it?..never mind) anyways, Rudolph started talking 90 to nothin. He began the conversation by thanking his friend for coming to spend time with him, for being there when nobody else was, and for helping him when he had recently let him down. Rudolph told his friend that he had asked him to talk so that he could get some wisdom and advice for a bad situation. His friend, who I will call JS, softly nodded his head and placed an understanding hand on his friends shoulder to reassure him. With that, Rudolph was off to the races!

He was speaking so loud that everyone in the room couild hear his problems.

As I sat there trying not to listen(this was a first for me) I found myself smiling. I wasn't smiling at Rudolph or making fun of him at all. It was just that in that moment I caught a glimpse of what God must feel like with us at times.

We come to Him and thank Him for always being there for us even when we have let him down. We thank Him for being our divine helper, and we go to Him in the midst of a trying time in our lives, and we beg Him for wisdom and instruction.

...and the beautiful thing about that is that we can do it over and over again!!!

There is nothing wrong with going to God over and over again with our problems. In fact, He delights in the times we seek Him!

However, if we are going to Him for wisdom and instruction then we have to be willing to take a breath, and give Him time to respond to us.

He might not respond with an audible voice, but He will speak to you through His word!

He loves to listen to you, so cry out to Him!

He loves to speak to you, so listen to Him!

As I got up from my chair Rudolph was still talking to JS.

I smiled as I walked past them and found myself saying a little prayer for Rudolph.

I also said a special prayer of thanks for the way that Rudolph's little red light led me to the realization that the Lord is our great friend! He is always there to listen to me no matter how many times I might need Him, and He will give me wisdom if I will stop and take the time to listen to Him.

You are a bestseller!!!

Have you ever thought of your life as a book?

Every season we go through in life represents a chapter in our story. Some chapters are really long and boring. Some are filled with so much excitement that its seems to leap off of the page! Other however are saturated with tears and sweat which leave permanent imprints as a reminder to us of the battles we have faced and fortunately survived. Regardless of how difficult or enjoyable a chapter is, eventually it comes to an end and a new chapter begins.

Today signifies the end of a chapter in my life. The title of this chapter is called "Ada".

Some of my chapter titles have been very dramatic.

Here are some examples:

"The sadness and despair of being a non-traditional college student"

"I think I'm dying...or...I have cancer...or...I don't know what's wrong but I must be dying"

"I'm HOW OLD?! WHAT THE TRASH?"

"Poor, poor, pitiful me"

...and, my personal favorite

"I am NOT a drama queen!"

Although the title of this current chapter in my life is not as dramatic as some my previous ones, the name says it all.

"Ada"

This simple title carries with it some of the richest and dearest memories that I have created throught the course of my novel thus far.

Here are some of the characters and special events that took place :)

Those are just a few of the pictures that represent a portion of my life in Ada.

With the closing of this chapter a new one is getting ready to begin! I will be moving to Moore, Oklahoma in one week and I'd like to preview some of the events that will take place in this upcoming section.

"Help! I'm lost...again"

"Look mom I can swim" (seriously at 28 I am going to learn to swim at the YMCA-no pictures will be provided for this embarrassing adventure)

"new friends, new faces and social gathering disasters"

"AFRICA!!!!!!"

...and of course

"Skydiving! (this section will include the portion on pooping my pants as an adult...j/k, but seriously)

So those are just a few of the new challenges I will face in the upcoming days and months.

How about you? How is your story coming along?

Have your chapters been filled with hardships, pains and despair? Have you had many joy filled chapters? Unfortunately, as we journey through life we can't escape the unavoidable sadness and misfortunes that sometimes plague a chapter, but we can control how we respond to those disasters.

If you find yourself stuck in a season that is boring, make the choice to end it!

The beautiful thing about writing your story is that YOU are the writer!

So get on with it already! Start a new chapter and write it the way you want it to be read!

Hopefully, my new journey of ups and downs will inspire and encourage you to turn your story into a bestseller!

Happy reading, and writing!