Oh the places

i am so done with being on the go. This year has been so stressful. I'm ready to stop being hassled and breathe. I have so much to do that i really can only live moment by moment just to maintain sanity. I know it will all work out, i just need peace. I had an awesome time on the Winter Retreat. God really showed up in that get-away weekend. I was laid flat. I'm struggling with the idea that God forgives me, that God forgets our sins after we confess and repent them. The retreat did awesome things for me but later this week i still found myself douting and messing up once again. I want to let go! I'm ready! Hopfully if i remain peacful the things of this world will become less improtant and God can be in the front of my mind. Soon i shall put up some of the magical memories made on the 07 Winter Retreat.

Teen CBS

Our weekly teen bible study has been such an amazing place. Every week; I grow closer to my core group, we laugh harder at dinner, and learn more about our savior. The time spent at Calvary has been a blessing. Although the past weeks were great this one was remarkable. We heard a really heartfelt testimony, we sang great songs, and the things we talked about in core group were really straight forward.
The testimony really spoke to my heart. The speaker was very honest and on fire for the way God changed him at Summit Lake. I was really moved to hear how someone I thought had always been close to the Lord his whole life, had struggled too. The way God moved him to completely surrender was awesome. After hearing that testimony we worshiped God. I reflected on my own walk and decided to atop waiting to change and do it now. I'm blessed that God speaks to our own hearts through other people.

The Brithday of 18

On a cold blustery day in January 1989 i was born at 2:30 in the morning. Out of all the cool indoor pool parties and sleepovers to celebrate perivious years this years birthday was by far the coolest yet. These are the events in chronological order at which they occured on the big day.

1. I awoke with Ms. Kimba Maley, Meagahan Yoho, and Lady Donna all in and around my bed. And, to my surprise they brought me cookies and a lovly bagle with butter.
2. I went down to my car to leave for school and the windows were decorated with catch phrases like, "we love you" and "happy 18th." My blue vehical was also filled with ballons and a bunch of really funny birhtday cards filled with poems and inside jokes from Lady and Meg.
3. In first period i found a bag on my desk witha snow globe in it. On each side there was a sweet picture of me and lady and me and Meg.
4. My second period teacher made chocolate brownies for be and another classmate who also shares my special day.
5. In my third period a young man gave ma an uncrustable (AKA the best pb and j under the sun). Then for lunch meg and donna (aka gus and gary) packed me a luch very well decoraded and filled with my favorite snack teates.
6. In forth period gus and gary left my teacher a pair of love socks and two very cool poems coposed by the couple themselves.
7. I had pizza at the Mercers and spent the night at my moms eating the left overs from an amazing icecream cake.

This birthday was full of love and special surprises. I later talked to the Birthday "duo". Donna told me how she was reminded of how christ wants to be in each part of our day and bless us every step of the way. Every class had something kind and personal to do with me. Jesus wants to be envolved personally with me like that everyday. He usually is but i usually miss the blessing. God is so all in life sometimes we can't even see him working and using us. Up top is Michael shortly after we found my sweet ride filled with ballons.

Wedding

Well, my very cool cosin Kristen just wed on January 6th. Eileen and i were brides maids and my aunt was the maid of honor. We had such a good time. My aunt Brenda (aka mother of the bride) made all the flower arrangments and decorated the Walkersvill fire department. It looked amazing she worked so hard for her daughter. I hope, if i have a child, i do something like that for them. Aunt Brenda made the somewhat small budget sensable wedding look fantastic. i want to be that kind of prioritizer. MP, Hampton, and the rest of my family got down to the cha-cha slide. It was awesome!!