What is LIFE to you?

      You ever had those times in your life where you are doing something and suddenly you just have this overwhelming feeling of happiness, contentment, fulfillment...and you just wanna stay there for a little while and take it all in and enjoy it awhile...and you sigh with a contented smile and say, "Now this is LIFE!" What were you doing? What is LIFE to you?

Is it: the view at the top of a snowy mountain...you are hanging out with a group of friends, boarding, the day is going great, the view is breathtaking and you are overwhelmed with how awesome God is, you are having the time of your life and you forget about everything else...you sigh and say,"Now this is Life."

Or is it: eating fresh chocolate chip cookies with a friend...you dip a warm cookie into a cold glass of milk and quickly take a bite, savoring the taste as it melts in your mouth, you look across the table and laugh at something funny your good friend says. Then you both sigh contentedly and say, "Now this is life."

   

Or is it: getting up early to cook breakfast with a bunch of friends, dividing into teams and going different places to serve others because you appreciate everything they do.

   

Or is it: a beautiful spring day, flip flops and short sleeves, birds singing in the warm air, clear blue sky and the sun shining down on your face giving it a rosy red color, walking to the park with your sack lunch in hand, laughing and talking, and you have a good long heart to heart talk with a good friend about life, and you pray about everything and give it to God, and you feel so happy inside and know you can go on and face another day. You just smile happily and sigh, "Now this is life!"

Or is it being crazy with friends and havin fun doing whatever it is you do...plan valentine parties and do random acts of...kindness (love), late night talks, working, or taking lots of goofy pictures...

Maybe its even just a day at home...warm sunshine pouring down with a slight breeze. You are in the cleaning mood, you clean the house and your room, the smell of lemon is in the air from cleaning supplies, you get wash hung on the line and supper in the oven...ah, a sense of accomplishment fills your heart and you smile and say, "I miss doing the 'normal' things in life."

How about a long day on the water, with family and friends, your skin has got a crispy feel to it from being in water and sun all day, your hair is a total wreck from blowing in the wind, you hear kids laughin in the backround and start smelling the charcoal smell from someone grilling supper. Its the last run of the day as the sun is setting and everyone is heading in for the day. As you glide across the water on your jet ski, the wind teasin your hair and your muscles abit tired from al the activity, the cool air on your hot skin, and you smile as you worship God for the wonderful day, for His awesome creation and beautiful sunset, and just for being God...you smile and say, "Now this is life!!"

This morn I had breakfast on Skyline and watched the sun rise...it was beautiful. Just me and God...now that is LIFE!

 

I could go on and on. The thing is that it is still life. Every day is Life...good or bad...making the most of situations and circumstances. Its a battle, its a struggle, but its awesome and wonderful...you have ups and downs. How do you stay positive? What is Life to you? We wouldn't have Life without Jesus Christ. He died so we could have Life...everyday life and eternal life. And because of Him we can enjoy each day, no matter what it brings us. But that is the hard part. Each day has its trials. This is something I'm working on...I feel I keep struggling with being positive and making the best of every day and not let the little things get me down...but I want to do it and with the power of Christ living in me...I can have LIFE abundantly! Sigh...

 

   "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  -Hebrews 4:14-16

     Wow, what comfort, what joy! For all my friends and family out there who had a rough day this was for you!!

Staff kids went boarding...I think I may actually be kind of getting it? I sure enjoyed my day alot more!

Great day at the store...we went out to Denny's for breakfast and we all got balloons from Squeaky the Clown!  Ya'll are a blast to work with! Love ya!

Another day off...we really do work around here! Several of us went to the General Store for lunch! What a gorgeous day...

Thank ya, girl, for the fun times...late night talks, laughing and praying together! Stay focused...

Well, I trust that each of you had a great week and it's my prayer that each of you seek to KNOW Christ more and more every day!

 

A New Year...with friends, with family, new goals, new dreams, refreshed spirit...I wonder what God has in mind for me this year?

1-1-09 -- Sunshine and 60 degrees, day off, a walk to the coffee shop...lots of happy girls! What a wonderful way to start off the new year...

A weekend away...

Mindy got married...aaa I can't believe it. Love ya girl!

I spent the whole weekend with my family...very busy weekend, but a fun one. Laurie and Marie came from IL to visit us and that was tons of fun. Crazy times, late night talks, basketball games, vball, and ping pong. Was fun seeing other friends, too, that I haven't seen for awhile, then also meeting Kens new friends...good times!

My sister, my friend....Laurie it was sooooo good to be together again. I miss living with you!

All together again....love ya guys!

More then all the fun playing and talking, catching up, the weekend was a total God-thing. I feel very blessed and wanna give God ALL the glory. I felt God speaking to me through everything. I went to class with Ken on Fri and Mon. Personal Evangelism class...wow. Would love to take it! The challange of allowing Christ to use us to lead people to Him. How many have I helped? How many do I want to help? So much information I couldn't keep it all in my brain. Sunday we had morning service and Sunday School, in the afternoon went to Living Water to hear Luke Kuepfer, and in the evening Richard Swartzentruber spoke. Luke spoke on Cat and Dog theology. Challanging...wow! I think I was most challanged with my prayer life and how cat-ish my prayers are. Its not that they are incorrect, but just incomplete. Are you a cat or a dog? A cat is about "me" and what I can get. A dog is concerned about his Master and giving Him all the glory. This is a very short and unchallanging version, but I would have to start my sermon and it would be very long. But everything through the whole weekend just kept building, taking me another step, saying "Trust me, have faith and step into the water, I'm in control, be content, be faithful, it's not about "me", do everything FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!" Things I know and have heard before, but they seemed to be coming loud and clear once again. I wanna grab onto this and hold on to it! I just wanna challange each of you to spend time with God, something I need to work on. He does hear our prayers...we need to learn to listen for His voice too and watch Him work. Look for His many blessings in each and every day! Then Praise Him and give Him ALL the glory!

Have a great day with God!      

 

*Snow Days*Hot Chocolate*Girl time*Boarding*Christmas Parties*

*Walkin in a Winter Wonderland*

Aah...the pure white snow peacefully falls to the ground...sparkling...glistening...it makes me smile. It inspires me! It makes me think, is my heart pure, white as snow? Does my life sparkle and glisten and make other people smile because they see Jesus' love in my heart? Do I inspire them like the snow inspires me?

 

 

Don't let the business of things, the parties, the lights, and gifts crowd out the real reason for Christmas!!!

*Merry Christmas*

 

Help me please! To all my dear friends that have my phone number and maybe wonder where in the world I have been....why haven't I called or text, etc etc....well my phone and camera disappeared or rather got stolen. I guess someone else thought they needed it worse then I did. I guess Merry Christmas to them! The thing I miss most is my camera and of course my phone numbers. I obviously do not have them memorized.....what a great excuse to hear from you all??? *grin*