...random...

Ya know, I just FREAKIN' love VARSITY! I just do! They are incredible. I love just being in the same room with them. I love just watching them interact. I love listening to them. Not enough people listen to High Schoolers. Well, not enough people listen overall, but especially to the High School age teens. There really is no point to this post except to say that. I love them! Also, guys, get ready...VARSITY is moving onward and upward and we are about to see major changes in the coming months with our group. So, get on board and get involved even more because we want you all to have a hand in it. We need you guys and we want you guys...We'll talk more about it soon, but be prepared!

quote of the day . . .

"...God's supernatural provision for humanity is most recognizable when we find ourselves in a wilderness devoid of self-sufficiency...Our own insufficiencies are only invitations to experience the supernatural sufficiency of a universally powerful, personally responsible God!"
~ Beth Moore

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
~ 2Cor. 12:9 - 10 (NIV)

"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."
~ Phil 4:13 (MSG)

A couple of points from last night's meeting . . .

1. I really have a hankerin' for some strawberry water and some Belgian cream-puffs! Anyone with me?
2. October, Novemember, December, January, and 2 weeks in February. That's only 4 and a half months!
3. Some people missed the memo about the dress code of long shirt underneath short sleeved shirt!
4. Get your REVOLVE tickets and no one is allowed to take smoke breaks.
5. Kristi G. was very comfortable with her friends last night.
6. Jamie did not drop Lily!
7. Eli James wears the COOLEST shirts!
8. Lily-Pearl is the cutest sneezer!
9. Lightning McQueen may ALWAYS interrupt.
10. Hebrews 12:11 - No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
11. Revelation 3:19 - Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
12. 1 Corinthians 11:32 - When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
13. Proverbs 15:32 - He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
14. Psalm 94:12 - Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law...

Caleb is a genius

Caleb had this sweet idea this morning to be a little bit more efficient with his time (as it is obviously necessary with most 5 year olds). Two tooth brushes! Why would you not?! How is it that we haven't thought about this before?! Also, he is sporting his new hair cut. He likes to call it a "mole-hawk." I think it's a WAY better name
than the original, don't you?

I had the pleasure of spending an evening with my precious friend Jenny, from high school. We had coffee at the Starbucks, then met Chad and Josiah for dinner at the Chevy's. I'd never been to Chevy's, it was ok. We tried to get a picture, well, Jen and I tried to stand there and be ready and Chad tried to attempt to take our picture with my new camera. THIS was as good as it gets...as you can see, Jenny is beautiful and even more captivating on the inside. I really can't explain what's going on with my face, but I figure if I put that picture of Katie up, then I better be willing to put one of me that is equally dorkish. I wish that we lived closer to be able to get together more often. I love you Jenny!

THINGS I WANT TO DO...

• Do a 40 day fast
• Be encouraged and challenged by the walk of my own children
• Tour Europe
• Design my own home
• Own land with a creek
• Build a tree house with my kids
• Work in a homeless shelter
• Lead a complete stranger to Christ outside of a Church setting
• Go on a missions trip
• Speak another language fluently
• Bungee jump and sky dive
• Vacation on a boat that I sail
• Lead a woman's prayer group
• Write a book that get's published
• Take pictures that would make Gina Crawford proud and display them in my home
• Watch my children, my mom, my dad, my brother, and my sister be baptized
• Give an alter call
• Run a marathon
• Plant a tree with my family and watch it grow throughout the years
• Have a dog that has puppies
• Milk a cow
• Sing in front of a crowd
• Go to Chicago, New York, San Fransisco, and Alaska
• Wear a "southern belle" dress like Scarlett O'Hara
• Kiss in a corn field
• Get a tattoo
• Display soemthing that I drew or painted in my home
• Sew a dress that I would wear
• Play a musical instrument
• Play in and behind a waterfall
• Take a helicoptor tour
• Ride in a limo
• Pet a lion
• Scuba dive in the ocean
• Grow a garden
• Dance in the rain

What color are your eyes?

Try this out. It was fun. Do you think that God has a standard for our "uniqueness" that He gives us?

Mine said:

• that my eyes should be brown
• My eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom
• A tender heart is hidden behind my eyes

Is that what YOU see?

"Would you rather . . . "

I have this "Would You Rather" book. It's pretty interesting. It's supposed to help you understand each other better as you discuss each person's opinion in a group setting.

One of the most controversial ones was the question "Would you rather spend 3 hours with Jesus or 3 years with the apostle Paul?" It sparked much debate and it was alot of fun.

Anyway, in addition to that question -
would you rather . . . . be married to someone who can't speak or someone who can't see?

19 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Level of Insanity

I got this in an email one time and I thought it was blog worth. There were 20, actually, but I didn't like one, so I took it out and then when I did a copy-paste and numbered them, I discovered that there were only 18, huh...someone else might not have like one too. Enjoy and remember to smile! Life is pretty funny!

1. At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
2. Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
4. Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "in."
5. Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
6. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for smuggling diamonds."
7. Finish all your sentences with "in accordance with the prophecy."
8. dont use any punctuation
9. As often as possible, skip rather than walk
10. Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.
11. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."
12. Sing along at the opera.
13. Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.
14. Put mosquito netting around your work area and play tropical sounds all day.
15. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.
16. Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, “rock bottom.”
17. When the money comes out the atm, scream "i won!, i won!"
18. When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "run for your lives, they're loose!!"

Com'mon...this is a way cute couple!

Here are some fun pics of the Service tonight...

A "Hurry up Jen!" face by Katie Russell!

Dylan Verret catching a little snack before P & W.

Look at these handsome gents, Josh and Josh!

The future of our church...Caleb, Tommy, and Zachary.

Happy Birthday to me!

Okay, this year was definitely the best year ever! I can really say that. It was the best birthday! Let me tell you all about it! It first started with Saturday night. I got home from work and on the kitchen counter was a package. Inside the fabulously decorated package was a card, Kona coffee, and some snazzy pink flip flops, all straight from the paridise of Hawaii from my sweet G! Okay, well, Elise spent the night on Sunday and I woke up to a sweet birthday hug and she prayed over me and let me go back to sleep. That was kinda difficult because SO many people kept calling me to wish me HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Anyway, so I eventually stopped trying to fight everyone's love and got up. Caleb and I went through our normal routine (bible study, exercise, reading, showers, laundry, etc.) Then, Elise came back to my house after her classes and brought me a present! Who doesn't love the Old Navy!? She gave me 2 amazing shirts (which I have already worn both!) AND Subway chocolate chip cookies AND a package of Doubleshot light. I think that these girls love me like the dickens!

So, it continues...people texted me all day too, including Josh Kluge. AND he asked if He could watch Caleb so that Chad and I could go out! How great is that! I love this kid! Well, we didn't go out, but he did still watch Caleb so that I could go to Corporate Prayer.

I really didn't want to go to prayer actually. Elise and I were running late already and I wanted to go DO something. I was just in one of those moods to be active and to do something out of the ordinary. So, I didn't want to go. I also have this thing about being late. I hate it and when I am late, I usually would rather not go than to be late, for instance, if I am not early to see a movie, I won't go. I know that sounds weird, but that's ok, God made me that way. So, we're late, we didn't want to go and somehow felt entitled to that because it was my birthday (which is stupid) and we're pulling into the parking lot. I told Elise, "Leesie, I really don't want to go to prayer right now." She agreed. But, then I grabbed her hand and told her that the days that I don't want to go are the days that it ends up being the best. So, we invited the Holy Spirit to take over our hearts and invited Him into our evening...He delivered, just as He always does.

Prayer was so darn good! Thank you Jesus! Every time that my heart wanted to get distracted or bored, I pressed in and relied even more on God to hear my prayer and answer it. It was a great faith builder and the whole time I kept thinking, "God, I want to give you my everything. Meet me here. I don't want to pray right now, but I'm gonna press in. I want to see your hand move because of these hearts uniting together and coming before your throne." I rejoiced then thinking about how God was going to honor that. I was filled!

After prayer, Chad went will me to pick Caleb up and that was great. I got to steal a few minutes alone with my man. The drive is only like 6 minutes (tops) but I just adored that he would go with me and drive nonetheless! (I hate driving!) So, we picked Caleb up and the Kluges gave me some birthday blueberry muffins and a way sweet card. I love that family!

We drove back to church to meet up with Josiah, Katie, Elise, and Matthew. By the time that we arrived they already had a plan of what we were eating and everything, which, I loved because usually you have to wait like at least 10 minutes before a group can decide anything together. But not on my birthday! They left to go get the goodies and Chad, Caleb, and I played in the church parking lot for about 20 minutes. When they got back, we had Imo's in the Youth House followed by an incredible brownie chocolate ice cream for desert. Awh...it was so good! Jamie came up a little while later and we all got to be together and bawk like chickens and do crazy and silly stuff. It was great fun!

The next day, Tuesday, my mom and I had dinner and shopping plans. We went to the Applebee's and went shopping. Also, she gave me a wonderful present - a camera, so expect new and exciting pics to join the post. After we went shopping we went to go visit my Grandma. She is the cutest ever. She gave me all kinds of cute, old jewelry and told me great stories about when she was my age and how she met my Grandpa and great stuff like that. I could have listened to her all night!

So, that was my birthday! I still have dinner plans with a friend from high school, Jenny Block and with my dad, so it's kinda like a have a birthday week, so to speak! I got other great gifts too! Chad gave me a Bible commentary - I recommend it for everyone! It is enhancing my Bible study in so many ways. I am doing this Beth Moore study and it's recommended time of 45 minutes to devoted to the study is turning into hours as a result of this commentary. It's rich! I love it! Momma Lyn and Grandma Addie gave me a gift certificate to the Old Navy. I love that store! And sly Shelia slipped some money into my hand as she was leaving prayer. How cute is she!? So, it was a phenomenal day! Thanks you all so much for blessing me on this day! I love you all!