"I fear nothing, for God will take care of me"

Okay, So kids are on the mind today, and this is a picture of me and my little friend Hope at the host home I stayed at. I LOVED getting to spend time with her... I would wake up in the morning to a "GOOD MORNING!" Followed by getting jumped on, and then cuddled on, and then being laughed at for how tired looking I was. :) Hope and I have something in common, we were both adopted... I can honestly say God has given us both a gift of  family, that I will never be able to repay him for, and I am working on praying for the little ones who don't have that same gift...

Here are a few struggling with this...

http://joshnewton.smugmug.com/Haiti/Child-Hope/11400215_VFcWX#767039150_oZiA8

This picture was taken by a friend of mine, Josh, and it really made me think of how truly good it is to be thankful. For that matter, what it even means to be thankful, to not be wanting all the time, to truly have friends and family be stripped away by disaster. How God can fully restore and be the answer in a very hard time.

This next video of Pastor Vladimir, introduced by Franklin Graham really made me remember that I can't live without Jesus, and really tugged at my heart. It is worth your time.

It was definitely worth mine.

<3

http://www.billygraham.org/specialsections/hopeofchristhaiti/hope-of-christ-haiti.asp?QR=224&BA=2179

"I fear nothing, for God will take care of me."

-Pastor Vladimir

Sign of "I Love You"

Sign of "I love you"

This Dangle Open Picture frame was so easy to make.

Ingrediants:

4 Globs of Hot Glue

2 Slices of Yarn

1 Antique Frame

4 Fun www.picnik.com Pictures

The story behind this frame comes from missing my mom at ACU, and going antique shopping with my cousin Ally in Waco at Laverty's (spelling)? For my mom's birthday, she wanted these four pictures that she could put up in her work-room at home. I took these pictures just to say that i loved her freshman year of college. In memory of when I was little, and my dad and I would get in the freezing car in -10 degree Anchorage Alaska to head to school. My beautiful mom would be standing directly in front of the frosted window, signing "i love you!" as we were backing into to the driveway. I would always sign back, and I will never forget picture of the smile and giggles she would put on my face as we signed each other every morning before school. Well I am glad to say that one, I don't live in the freezing negative 10 degree weather, two Happy Birthday Mom I love you! and Three! As for now No more backing out of the driveway for school!

{The whole "leaving the frame open" is so in right now, and it will look perfect with everything in her room. So for Christmas ya'll this is a nice gift to make a bold statement to anyone on your Christmas list for just under 12$!}

<3

Don't Cry, Goooood Joke!

This picture was taken in August of 2009,  Lindsey and I had the hardest time I think after this picture was shot, just a little over a year ago on move in day. I remember how excited everyone was to get settled and how it was so incredibly hard to leave mom and dad, but nonetheless Erica Save the Day Porter, helped us out, and pumped us up for being at ACU on First East. Probably why she is RA on First East now. =) LOVE YOU! AND if you are on Erica's hall and reading this, I would like to inform you, that you have the best RA ever. DONE! From left to right Callie, Laura, Lindsey, Erica, Me, and Kaily. I am going to miss you girls! Callie Ive been missing you for quite some time. This picture is making me cry as I write this because its so true that there is a time for everything. I have had my time at ACU and won't be coming back next semester. 

As the week goes on memories like this rush to my mind like it was yesterday. I have learned so much, grown so much, and made lifelong friends, and am so thankful God gave me the opportunity to be here.

I have memories that will ALWAYS make me laugh, and always remember why life is just so dang good. =) I am going to miss you girls! 

     
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the        
                                                 heavens:
                                             Ecclesiastes 3:1
                                                     <3

                                       

A Precious Childlike Faith

         I am in love with this little girls heart.

      Check out her video on I am second. 

She is so beautiful.

<3

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12 

<3 

http://iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Bailee_Madison/

Shaky Branches

I have been a little shaky in my walk with God lately, lets be honest... who doesn't get shaky? I was flipping through my pictures and found this picture of a tree branch I took in Hawaii. It reminded me of the Vines and Branches Passage, and this scripture really reminded me of who God is to me. Why he loves me so much? I realize now that its okay to be a shaky branch, because regardless of what I do, God will do whatever he wants!

IntroductionThe objective of pruning is to produce strong, healthy, attractive plants. By understanding how, when and why to prune, and by following a few simple principles, this objective can be achieved.

Reasons For Pruning The main reasons for pruning ornamental and shade trees include safety, health, and aesthetics. In addition, pruning can be used to stimulate fruit production and increase the value of timber. Pruning for safety (Fig. 1A) involves removing branches that could fall and cause injury or property damage, trimming branches that interfere with lines of sight on streets or driveways, and removing branches that grow into utility lines. Safety pruning can be largely avoided by carefully choosing species that will not grow beyond the space available to them, and have strength and form characteristics that are suited to the site. Pruning for health (Fig. 1B) involves removing diseased or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to increase airflow and reduce some pest problems, and removing crossing and rubbing branches. Pruning can best be used to encourage trees to develop a strong structure and reduce the likelihood of damage during severe weather. Removing broken or damaged limbs encourages wound closure. Pruning for aesthetics (Fig. 1C) involves enhancing the natural form and character of trees or stimulating flower production. Pruning for form can be especially important on open-grown trees that do very little self-pruning.

So literally pruning in the natural sense, is for Safety, Health, and bringing out the natural Aspects of the tree. I  love this parallel in John:15

John 15

The Vine and the Branches

 ¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.   ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
   ⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.