Here and There

In the past several hours, I have broken two nails. One I broke in my sleep, and the other, well, I'm not sure exactly what happened. Don't ask me how it happened, I just know that they were both broken when I got in the shower.

Updates from Sunday School land: I started a book study with the kids, and they seem to be enjoying that a little more for some reason. The book is "You Were Made to Make a Difference" by Max Lucado. I believe that they are really starting to grasp just how much God loves them and how no matter how young, they can still make a difference in their community.

In life in general, I have been trying to see Jesus in everyone and notice the little things about nature and so on that God really took time to create for us a beautiful land. My eyes have really been opened, and now, I can look at the scrawny neighborhood mut, and see the beauty of God, and feel compassion for it. It is really amazing how seeing God in everything can change your life.

We Are Called

This greeted me Thursday morning. It is remarkable the way God uses nature to remind me how faithful, loving and beautiful He truly is.

Sometimes, I forget just how much he does love me with a passionate, burning love. It is probably a little weird to read a statement like that, but it is so true. God's love isn't like the phrase we use to describe how we feel about a song or book, it is a deep, unfailing love. Believe me, it has taken me some time to really realize this. I never thought about how God loves us. I just knew that he did and that I love him. I also never knew why I loved him. I learn everyday, new reasons why I love God. It would probably be a list as long as the world is around.

If you ever get a chance, there is a book called "His Princess Bride: Love Letters from Your Prince," that I think everyone should read. It's by Sheri Rose Shepherd, and it's basically letters of things that Jesus says and promises in the Bible, only put in letter format. Believe me, it will blow your mind to even think about that kind of love. I wish that every person in the world would know the kind of love that God has for us.

This leads me into what I am teaching in Sunday school tomorrow. I am teaching about how God has called us to serve, love, teach, and what ever else the unfortunates of this country and world. I almost think I am going to take my scrapbook from my trips to Honduras, and maybe some pictures from a mission to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina hit. I know that centers more around service, but we could have a million lessons on service and love and still not cover it all.

I feel that it is important to instill into young minds the love of Christ and help them get ready to serve.

I Look At You in Awe

This is my Winter Wonderland. It has been a while since I have seen this much snow, and I am only 22. I couldn't tell you the last time I remember it snowing twice in one winter, enough to make are town close down for a whole day and then early for the next few says. I mean, it has been bad enough to where I wasn't able to go to work yesterday.

Snow rarely hits the Tennessee Valley hard enough to even last a day, but this winter, for some reason it has snowed and left five or more inches on the ground for days, twice already.

I snapped this picture early this morning, and I thought that it captured part of the essence of God. He is such a master at his work, and it is awe inspiring to look at such a view when you walk out your front door.

It reminds me that God is ever present and never leaves me.

Misbehaving Monkeys

Today, I have made up my mind that in my Sunday school classroom, there will no longer be ANY misbehaving. At all. The past few times in class, we have had too many behavioral problems, with all of the kids, not just one. I, in turn, took away the privilege of getting a silly band at the end of class, we haven't done anything fun in three weeks. Tomorrow, I am taking claim on my room, and there will be no more misbehaving.

Now, I ask myself, "What are you gonna do if someone begins to cause problems?" My answer? I have absolutely no clue, but I will figure it out when the time comes.

I have recently been discouraged about how I cannot keep them under control and how I feel that they aren't learning anything because they are focused on the one who is acting like a wild monkey and has no qualms about what he is doing.

B.F.F.E

Today, I spent the day with my childhood B.F.F.E. and her little sister (might as well be mine too). We shopped literally all afternoon, and the above picture is while we were in a little store, we found some awkward glasses, and decided to photograph the awesomeness of the situation.

Only true best friends can make fools of themselves while in a public place, and that we did. While we were in Bath & Body Works, we saw a tub filled with rubber duckies, and we both went for the same kind of duck. Mine was clear with green glitter and hers was clear with pink glitter.

I say these things because no matter how long you are apart from your bestie (in our case it was five months), you will always act alike, have some of the same interests, and be as goofy as you as were when you were when you were ten.

White Christmas

Yesterday was Christmas day, as you already know, and let me tell, it was a GOOD one.

For a few days, forecasters had been saying we would get some snow, maybe 1-3 inches. I didn't think anything of it because I live in a small, Southeastern Tennessee town that rarely gets snow. I worked all day Christmas eve, then went to my Mamaw's house and had finger foods and opened presents there, then came home. I went to bed, and slept soundly, until I woke up and realized that it was Christmas day...

I went to the door, and lo and behold, SNOW!!! It was just a dusting, but it kept falling. After everyone was awake, but still sleepy-eyed, we passed out presents and opened them, and folks, I got THE BEST GIFT OF THE YEAR. My mom got me a ten piece set of Paula Dean cookware. I was thrilled.

Anyways, back to the snow. It kept falling, and falling, and before long, we had two inches! This was my FIRST ever White Christmas. Over all we ended up with about 7 inches, and today, it is still coming down hard!

I know that it isn't about snow or presents, but I think that God gave all of us southern folk a nice treat, especially those who have never had a White Christmas.

Woo Me

I have decided to return from my short sabbatical from the blog. I wasn't writing, frankly, because I had no words to say, no inspiration. I have recently been learning some things from God, one being that I am His Princess heir.

I bought a book called "His Princess Bride: Love Letters from Your Prince," and began reading it. In the first few pages, I began falling in love with Christ all over again, and realizing that He just wants us to surrender and let Him LOVE us. He wants to be every girl's "knight in shining armor," her first real love, and her eternal husband. The last part really poke to m as I read those words in the book. I realize that I am only 22, but finding that one man to be with for the rest of my life has been important to me for some time now. Reading that Jesus wants to be my eternal husband helped me to forget about trying to "find the one." In His time, that special man will come my way, and we will be happy forever. Until then, I am learning to trust Him and let Christ woo me and love on me as He wants to every girl.