Honest Truth About Blogging #2

I don't know about all of you, but blogging is one of my favorite things to do. I know I have said that many times, but it's true. You know what else is true about blogging?

It's not always fun. Yep, I said it. I have read so many blogs that say things like "don't blog if you don't enjoy it," "it shouldn't feel like work," yada yada yada. I'm going to be brutally honest. I don't always love blogging. It's not always enjoyable. Sometimes I post things that are hard to write. Sometimes I post things that aren't peachy and pretty. Sometimes I sit down to write a post and literally, my mind goes_______________! Completely blank! No joke! Ever been there?

I sat down just yesterday to write a fun post about the lake and the things that the Lord revealed to me while I was there and just the fun stuff I did and when I sat down. Nothing!

Days like that are not fun. Days where I have a billion thoughts going through my head and absolutely everything I type leads me to another thought and I can't type fast enough to get it all out. Not only can I not get it all out, but I can't organize it at that moment, and when I get done typing, I am so worn out that I don't want to go back and read all the jumbled mess that I just wrote out.

I know that a huge part of blogging and keeping your readers engaged continuing to post (most people suggest that you post at least two times a week) however, that is difficult sometimes. I know that life gets crazy, busy, and you don't even care to write sometimes, but you do it anyway just to "keep readers engaged," but I have to be honest. I don't think that keeps them engaged when you just write random nothing and post it to get views, engage people, etc. I think this honestly draws them away from your blog.

I have been guilty of this and I totally bought into the lie that I had to post something not to lose readership, followers, fans, etc., but the truth is, your content is key! Don't just post random junk. I will be the first to admit that I have posted junk. I made an editorial calendar and then, just because next week has three post ideas and deadlines, I would normally try to write them all out and get them done, but I am learning that CONTENT is seriously the key to post success!

What is post success? Well, that depends on your own personal beliefs. For me, I count success in posting as sending something out into the world wide web that is potentially beneficial to someone, keeps with the theme of things on CTB, encourages, builds up, and speaks truth. A successful post is one that doesn't necessarily have 10,000 views the first ten minutes it's posted, but you can be content and happy with the content you put up.

Happy Typing bloggers!

Really? In Light if Eternity? {1}

Some of you may have read my post that was (I don't use this word but it's necessary to make a point) "uber" depressing last week, that I took down, because it just wasn't the right time to put it up, I will though, it will be back up, just in the right time. If you didn't read it, that's okay, just know I was in a bad depressive state of mind for a few days, and I didn't know how to climb out of it.

The past few days my sweet husband who has the patience of, I can't even say Job, because that's too over-used to make my point of how much patience my husband has, and I am so blessed to be the recipient of. Well, he has been out of town, in a time where I wondered why God's timing allowed for that since I was in my "bad depressed state of mind." However, this week, through being literally on my knees before my creator, in a humble adoration and a heart full of need and desperation for God, I truly found Him.

This might be a stretch of an example, but with the college girls I feel like I have this recurring theme song (really it's just a saying, but theme song sounds so much more fun) and it goes like this, "In Light of Eternity…"

In Light of Eternity…does it really matter that you aren't going to see your boyfriend for a week?

In Light of Eternity…does it really matter that you made a "C" on a test instead of a "B"?

In Light of Eternity…does it really matter that your boss is making you work 2 Saturdays in a row?

In Light of Eternity…does it really matter that the guy you were interested in likes someone else?

In Light of Eternity…it absolutely matters that the guy you like doesn't know Jesus!

In Light of Eternity…if we believe what we say we believe, that Jesus is who He says He is, the Son of God, who came to rescue us from the domain of darkness and through His death, burial, and resurrection bring us into His marvelous light. If He redeems broken, sinful, and wretched people, reconciling us to God the Father. The same God that moves mountains, parts seas, walks on water, brings dead men to life, makes blind to see, lame to walk, and says that He works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, so that He might get glory and we can be raised up with Him in life and joy and perfect peace and glory. In Light of Eternity do I desire God's glory above all else and if I do, then In Light of Eternity...

I use this so much that it has become second nature to me and I say it, because I do know the weight of the statement, but I don't think I always believe it for myself at first. What I mean is, for it to be such an overused statement in my own vocabulary, I forget to ask myself that question sometimes and I forget to remind myself of the power of the one true God who brings dead men to life.

So, I found myself asking…

In Light of Eternity…does it matter that all these things are happening that aren't how I thought they should go?

In Light of Eternity…does it matter that my expectations aren't being met the way I thought they should be?

In Light of Eternity…

In Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my assured Hope, and my redeeming Savior,

In Light of the cross, and the resurrection…

In Light of the Holy, Matchless, Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Risen and Conquering King,

In Light of JESUS…where am I placing my trust? Where am I placing my hope? Do my actions or reactions to all the stresses of life, and all the sorrow I have faced bring glory to my Father?

Today I am at a place that, well, I just have to sit at the foot of the cross of my Savior and humbly lay EVERYTHING down.

My expectations.
My needs.
My sadness.
My sorrow.
My unknowing of what's He has next.
My contentment.
My wants.
My emotions.
My feelings.

I am so thankful that "In Light of Eternity" and "In Light of Jesus" I can lay EVERYTHING down at the throne and trust and know that God is in control. He works for my good, and He uses me to bring glory to His name. He is a loving and just God that desires for us to know Him. He is a merciful and gracious Lord, that keeps every promise He's ever made. He is Love, and therefore can love me and love through me with perfect love that is so patient and kind, doesn't envy or boast, isn't arrogant, doesn't keep a record of wrongs, and absolutely never fails.

In Light of Eternity…I am thankful for opportunities to desparately desire and desparately depend of the God of the entire universe to raise me up and heal me when I am broken.

Let's Be Friends #64

I am so excited to be joining in again to the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop! It has not only grown, but it has gotten better than ever! Tiffany over at The Dwelling Tree (you can click on her button over here >>> to the right and go check it out) has now made her blog hop a content share link up instead of just a you follow me, I follow you blog hop (which is what the majority of the ones I have ever participated in have been). But this is such a neat and fresh take on blog hopping. You go read the blogger's best posts from the week and get to know their writing style and passion a lot quicker. You don't just see a blog hop button but you see great content and the blogger at her/his best. I am so excited about this and will continue to join in as much as possible and you should too!


P.S. For all of you bloggers if you missed the start to the Blog Calendar Editorial Guide, here it is.

8 Questions You Should Answer in Order to Create an Effective Editorial Calendar

So here it is! I have been working on this FOR-EV-ER! I am finally sitting down and finishing it and can tell you what not to and what to do in order to make it your own and make it functional.

My Editorial Calendar will start and end in May, NOT January, like I am sure most everyone's does and should, but for my life, May works better I guess.

Before you read the Monthly list of suggestions, Please read through the 8 Questions You Should Answer in Order to Create an Effective Editorial Calendar:

Before you create your Editorial Calendar:

1. Do you want yours to look similar to everyone else's or do you NEED it to be unique to your crazy schedule. With this question remember that you don't have to do a monthly calendar, you could just do a simple idea calendar or a quarterly update calendar, etc. Be Creative!
2. How often do I want to create a new post and schedule it? You DON'T HAVE to post Every single day if you don't want to, it's your blog! Hello!
3. Do I have a niche? What is it? How do my post ideas fit in that niche?
4. What are my "MUST HAVE" Post Ideas?

After you create your Editorial Calendar:

1. Do the ideas I have down help anyone else or are they just for reading pleasure? Should I change this if it isn't helpful?
2. How many hours/week will the ideas I have down take me to sit and write out.
3. Do these posts require anything such as pictures, artwork, a download link, links of any kind, etc. to be added before posting and how long will adding all of that into my post take?
4. Do I feel good and confident in my ideas?

IF you are good with all the answers to all of the questions above, then get busy! 

If you are interested in a free downloadable worksheet please feel free to send a quick email to: info{at}chosentheblog{dot}com with the subject line saying: "Editorial Worksheet Please!" And I will send it right over to you (you don't have to write a message, if you don't want I know what you are looking for, but I'd love to hear from you if you're feeling chatty)

Quick Idea Generating Monthly Cheat Sheet:

May
Flowers
My Husband's Birthday
My Mom's Birthday
National Teacher's Day
Mother's Day
Armed Forces Day
Memorial Day
Blog Goals for the Year
Graduations

June
Summer
Father's Day
Vacation Ideas
Weddings

July
Independence Day
Traveling
Cookin' Out (Chili Cheese Dog Day- A Made Up Holiday I would love to celebrate)
Summer Outing Ideas

August
Mine & My Brother's Birthday, and My Step-mom's Birthday
Back to School Fair
Cleaning our SUMMER JUNK! (How does that stuff accumulate anyway?!?)
Normal Schedule Back in order
National Marshmallow Toasting Day (Yes! We will Celebrate!)

September
Labor Day
Dad' s Birthday
Grandparent's Day
Fall, Fall, Fall!!!
Remembering 9-11

October
More Fall
Hello Lovely Blog Awards/Conference
Trunk or Treat

November
Thanksgiving Day
Black Friday
Veteran's Day
Thankful for My PawPaw

December
Snow
Decorating
Apple Cider
Gift Ideas
Christmas
Jesus' Birthday
Christmas Eve Gift
Missions Conference

January
Wedding Anniversary
Goals
New Year's Ideas
Organization Ideas
Cleaning out Christmas Clutter

February
Valentine's Day
50% off Chocolate Day (day after Valentines day)
Love
Single's Valentine's Day Celebration Ideas
Date Nights

March
First Day of Spring!
Spring Cleaning
Gardening Ideas

April
Rainy Day Ideas
Easter
Earth Day
Going Green Ideas
Passover

I hope this helps! If you have any suggestions, PLEASE add them in a comment below. I would love to hear them!

Well Hello, Again!

I have been M.I.A. for about 2 months now. I'm truly sorry about that, but I didn't want to miss out (who am I kidding I didn't even have time to blog) on any wedding moments or newly-wed times these past few weeks. I can't believe we have been married for almost a month now! That's crazy, but completely awesome! I have so much to share on here. I can't wait to tell you all about all of it! I'm going to do a quick series on the wedding and all of the fun DIY stuff we did at the wedding, share all about the awesome things God has been teaching me just in the past few weeks, start a crock pot series (to which I will tell you the truth about how the recipes actually taste-there have been a few bad ones), and share lots and lots and lots of pictures! I can't wait I just started catching up on blog reading today so I am behind on what is going on with all of ya'll, as well, so I am looking forward to seeing how you've been, and I hope well.

Also, don't forget about the Hello Lovely Blog Conference, I can't wait an I hope to see lots of you there. It is going to be informative, educational, and fun (and there will be tons of chocolate).  I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday afternoon! I can't wait to talk to you!

Pin-Wednesday Holiday Gift Guide { Week 4 }

Recipe Book: Eggillatas

Eggillatas

Ingredients

• 2 cup Shredded Cheese
• 1/4 cup Hot Sauce
• 4 Eggs
• 12 Flour Tortillas
• Salt & Pepper
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• Sour Cream

Instructions

• Start simmering enchilada sauce
• In a frying pan on medium-high, lay out in order tortilla, cheese, hot sauce, tortilla, cheese hot sauce, tortilla and grill (just like you would make a grilled cheese)
• It makes 4, 2 layer quesadillas finish all 4 then wrap individually to keep warm or I placed mine on a baking sheet, coved with foil and left them in the oven on 150 while I finished the rest of the food
• Make 4 eggs over medium
• Take quesadillas out and place egg on top of each one
• Cover with enchilada sauce
• Put a tsp of sour cream on top of each (and maybe a small bit of cheese)
• ENJOY! 

You could also add chicken or ground beef in the middle of the quesadillas to add some protein.

These are my new favorite snack. I love flat enchiladas I can never remember what they're called, but I love them. So, I decided to fix up a recipe of my own. I also like grilled onions in the middle, but that takes longer to make. I might like mexican food too much! It's all so good though!

Liebster! Liebster! Read All About It!

LIEBSTER AWARD NOMINATION

          In case you don't know what a Liebster Award is you can read my first post about it here and see. was nominated by Jasmine who blogs at Ms J Rivers which used to be Weigh 2 Go Mom. But has recently changed as her blog has progressed and changed. Recently she has been discouraged and I have been praying for her. Anyone else know what that's like? Anyone else agree that it's seriously NOT fun? But praise the Lord that we can hope in Him and that joy comes great "joy comes in the morning"! If you know what I am talking about or you have been through that especially in the world of blogging, please take a minute and go give her a word of encouragement and build her up. Thank you Ms J Rivers for nominating me!

Questions from Ms J Rivers

1. What does being a Christian mean to you? 

Everything. It means that Jesus died to set me free and I want to live a life that displays that for everyone else to see and tell them about the great joy that is knowing an eternal, victorious, risen, holy King!

2. When & why did you start blogging? 

I started blogging to share my testimony of how God had rescued me from utter darkness and into His marvelous light, and He can and wants to do the same for YOU!

3. If you somehow inherited $1Mil what would be the first thing                you'd spend your money on?

Probably paying off school and missions

4. Favorite season

I would say Fall, but I love them all honestly. I just wrote a post about that actually. You can read it here.

5. If you had a choice to spend one week under the ocean or in space which would you choose?

In space! When I was little I wanted to be an astronaut! The first book I ever bought was from NASA and was about being an astronaut and space.

6. What skill or hobby have you always wanted to learn?

Piano!

7. What is your best physical feature and why?

I have no clue. I don't hate my body or anything I just don't absolutely love anything about me either. I try and remind myself that God made me and His works are wonderful, and I believe that, but I believe as a whole that who and how and what He made me is wonderful and it's because of His marvelous hand working on me and forming me that I am a wonderful work. But only because of Him!

8. What is the most important thing you could teach a child?

JESUS!and the love He pours out freely to them so that they can live in His freedom and tell others about Him and His marvelous, wonderful, awesome, and true love. So, basically the most important thing is JESUS!

9. What defines a woman?

The relationship she has with God. We find our identity in Him who created us and what a wonderful identity that is!

10. Natural or processed hair?

Natural

And My Nominees Are

Samantha @ Samantha Elizabeth

Tiffany @ The Dwelling Tree

Mandi @ All My Happy Endings

Jasmine @ Ms J Rivers

Christiana @ Sunkissed Tangles

Miranda @ Young and in Progress

Jen @ Life Love and Puppy Paws

Charlene @ From Bisons to Buckeyes & Beyond

11 Facts About Me

I am actually going to skip this part because my About page has facts and who needs to know more facts about me? I would rather get to...                  My Questions

1. Why do you blog?
2. Is your main job blogging or do you have a "real job"?
3. If you could only eat one thing forever it would be____
4. Describe yourself in 6 words.
5. What is your cure for "bloggers block"?
6. What is the best book you have ever read?
7. Weird question: If you were something in nature ( tree, flower, cloud, star) what would you be and why?
8. What is your favorite kind of music and why?
9. What has been your favorite trip to ever take?
10. Do you have a favorite lifetime memory? What is it?
11. If you had one day to do whatever you wanted, money is no object, what would you do? Why?

Thankful Thursday: It Might Be Early, but

It might be a little bit early, but I was looking at a blogging editorial calendar the other day and "Fall" was on there for August and September! So, that just inspired me to post about everything "Fall." A couple weeks ago at choir and praise team rehearsal, and well, all day that day, I wore my boots, jeans, long sleeves and a scarf. Yes, it was obviously still summer, but I woke up and it was cool outside, so I felt like Fall and decided to dress accordingly. Not to mention, the boots and scarf were both birthday presents, so I couldn't wait to wear them!

Then the next week while I was out getting supplies for my newest DIY projects (that I promise will all be up soon!) I saw so many fall decorations already in stores. It gave me so many ideas for Fall decor that I could make or try to make anyway. I will share all of those at a later date, and I just got excited! Usually I say that Fall and Winter are my two favorite seasons, but I love Spring too! It's just so hard to pick. It's seriously so perfect how God orchestrates all of it. Summer is so hot, and I love being hot rather than cold, but I can't stand Summer hardly at all, outside that is. But just as I really get to the point that I can't stand it, Fall comes whipping in just in time for me to be able to look forward to the heat next year. Then Winter gets here and it's time to be all cozy and snuggly, it's all so exciting! Praise the Lord for the wonderful changes in the weather! I am so thankful for them! I love all of it! Blessings to all of you today!

Pin-chilladas, Shane & Shane, Worship Through Song, & A Lot of JESUS

Last night, we had Shane and Shane come to Weatherford to do a concert, and what a blessing they were! 

I started off the day being a little bit more focused on a Blizzard, they are buy 1 get one for 99 cents right now. I called Libby after I had my quiet time and asked her if she wanted to go to DQ.  Then I talked to my wonderful boyfriend who said nothing about the concert, honestly at this moment I don't even remember what we talked about yesterday morning. After we got home I called Caleb to ask who know's what and that's when it hit me, "The concert is tonight!" Which I knew, but had forgotten until that moment and immediately went into "crazy-mode."

I had planned to do fajita's for dinner, but I didn't have time to defrost all the meat and didn't have all the stuff I needed at the ranch, which meant I had to go to the store. So, I decided if I had to get groceries anyways, I was going to make something else because honestly, fajita's get old. Out here they do anyway. I played around on Pinterest for a while and finally found a recipe I liked. I wrote down the ingredients, packed the ice chest, and got ready to go.

We stopped at the church so I could get money from Caleb and then headed to the store. Fellipe decided to go with us. It was his first grocery store experience in America and I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. So, it was probably awful. He was extremely helpful though and I appreciated him going with us! We got all the ingredients that the enchiladas called for (a few that I added to it) and snacks for the "Green Room" and the "Volunteer Lounge."

Libby convinced me that we needed to stop by Starbucks because Fellipe had never had iced coffee before and she thought he needed to try an iced white mocha with no whip. I also tried it. NOT A FAN! I'll stick to asking for surprise drinks.

We got back to the church and I went on a rampage to get everything done. Rebekah helped me, and had she not been willing to do everything with me. It would have been an epic fail! I was so so thankful that she asked to help! We got everything set up just in time. Shane and Shane were a tad bit late and I was so thankful for that too! The Lord just worked it all out, in perfect timing. Seriously though, we brought dinner up right as they were walking in.

During the concert one of the Shane's shared some of what the Lord has laid on his heart recently and it was just some good solid we are sinners but Jesus is so wonderful to love us and pursue us awesome truth! He spoke these verses over us and just shared some testimony about what they meant to him,

"It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal,invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:15-17 

He talked about how he sees daily that the Lord's perfect patience is shown and as well, it should be in all of our lives. They were such a blessing to hear from last night. I know this might sound dumb and some of you may not understand, but for part of the concert I got to sit (and stand) next to Caleb during our worshipping through song (I say through song, because I believe worship should be our lives Romans 12:1-2 are great scriptures to read to remind yourself of that, I know I have to daily). It's different when he leads worship and he's on stage and while we are still worshipping together, it was just different tonight. To be standing with him and freely giving thanks and praise and honor and ALL the glory to God in all of it, with him, because I know without any doubt that he desires and was in that moment desiring to glorify God it was just kind of awesome, and different. I was thankful for that time last night to be able to worship together. The Spirit was heavy and moving last night, I am praying that He continues His wonderful work in all the people who attended the concert last night. 

God is so so so so so good to us. He not only gave His son as a good, pleasing, and perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sins, but He daily works in our lives because He desires to show us His unchangeable purpose in our lives (Hebrews 6). He promises us an abundant life and tells us that He will continue His work, in fact, He will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1). He works all things for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8). I am overwhelmed at the blessings I have received today. God is so good! As Keagan would say, "God is good! All the time, God is good!"

Pin-chilladas

Ingredients

2 cans of enchilada sauce

2 lbs. ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

2 fans green chilies

2 cups shredded cheese 

corn tortillas

Olive oil or butter

Directions

- Preheat the oven to 350˚

- Brown the meat

-Add 1 cup of water and taco seasoning

- Mix in the green chilies

- Let the meat cool for about 5 minutes

-Put the meat mixture in the tortillas and roll

-Line them in a baking pan (glass is the best)

-After all tortillas have been rolled and placed in pan

cover with enchilada sauce and shredded cheese

-bake for 30 mins

-enjoy!

Makes 16 enchiladas

"When Life Feels Like A Taylor Swift Song…"

Crown of Beauty Magazine recently published their first book called, "When Life Feels Like a Taylor Swift Song, A Girl's Guide to Boys." As if their is ever a guide to boys, right? Well, this book is pretty close. It is geared toward pre-teen and teenage girls, however I recommend it to all women.

For me, I spend a lot of time with the college ladies and would love for them to read it too! Whether it's for ourselves as just a refresher course on what it was like to be in that stage of life, or a lesson to be learned now, it is a great read. It is helpful, honest, and speaks truth. It talks about filling our lives with Jesus and not relying on a boy to fill our lives. It gives girls and women alike realistic ways to put in to practice, and learn what a relationship with Christ looks like. Even for women in relationships or married, it's a good reminder for us that aren't in that teen stage anymore that your husband or your boyfriend doesn't and shouldn't ever take the role of Jesus in your life. While we know that, it's always good to refresh that in our minds.

Parents, I recommend that you get this for your daughter. I'm not suggesting that as a parent you buy this book to take the place of your teaching in her life, especially on the subject of boys, but sometimes when things come from a friend, another relative, a book, a magazine, or another place than "our parents" it sinks in a little more, or just reinforces what you are trying to teach them.

The book is encouraging and it leaves you with a desire to spend more time with the Lord and work at your relationship with God before any other. Aside from the book and it's greatness, the price can't be beat. It's only $4.99 and can be found here.

Thankful Thursday: Other Bloggers

Yesterday and today, I have been writing up a storm! However, none of that has been blog related, and for me makes me quite sad. However, in being so busy writing papers for school, I have been so encouraged by other bloggers.

I have been pretty bummed this week that I haven't gotten any articles done for my blog and I have been receiving encouraging emails and messages from quite a few of you!
I just wanted to say thank you to all of you if I haven't already and tell you how much it really has encouraged me this week. I am so thankful for you kind words and sweet emails. You have been a blessing to me this week.

I could name you all out, but then I would be afraid that I'd forget someone and I REALLY DON'T want to do that! You know who you are though. I am so thankful for each of you. I am really thankful that there is an entire community of bloggers that since I have started this journey blogging I have felt so welcomed into, so to all of you I am thankful for that too!

I am praying that you all have such a blessed day and weekend! I can't wait to get home on Monday and read about all of your weekend adventures and catch up with some of you!

Resources for Blogger* Bloggers

I have been trying for months to update my html to get a custom Pin button on my blog photos. After trying to do it myself through using all the code my brain knows. I took it to Pinterest. Instantly felt dumb and stubborn for not doing so before and found this awesome tutorial:

Then there's my signature. I haven't been trying for months to automatically add it to my posts, because I didn't even know you could do that! So while looking at Pinterest for the first tutorial, I found this one: 

I have also been debating for the last few months on whether or not to create a Facebook page. Well, I did it! This tutorial made it extremely easy to customize and, you know, make it cute! 

Plus her blog is awesome!

Finally, this was my own pin, but in case you have bloggers block, ever! Here is my list of go-to's. I created it with a few prompts that could be used throughout the year and more than once. 

Thankful Thursday: Choir, College Studnts, Unity, Jesus!

I'm sure I have done a post about the Word before, so I won't spend too much time talking about it, but seriously, IT'S SO GOOD! I was just thinking last night in choir, people make comments all the time about our choir about the true worship that happens as we stand up on those risers in front of everyone. People comment about how the Lord uses all of us and that we truly lead worship. I began thinking last night during practice about how much different it is to actually spend time with people who love the Lord and spend time in the Word, and that give their whole hearts not just in song, but through song to the Lord. It makes such a difference when I'm spending time in the Word and then I hear the songs we sing. The truth in some of them is like singing a devotional or something. I love and am thankful for our choir. We are so blessed and I hope that I never take that for granted. God has truly put His hand on us. I think about things as a choir we have been through. It's crazy how the Spirit moves and works and makes us all united. I can remember last year there was just a season of pain and hurt for some and just a heaviness that surrounded us, but we praised our wonderful Savior and God together every Wednesday and every Sunday. We have had some awesome times of joy and peace and excitement too! The Spirit moved in all of us and He was faithful in both times. We sing a song, we actually just did it last Sunday and the words that run though my head all the time are, "Even in the valley God is good, even in the valley He is faithful and true. He carries His children through like He said He would, ever in the valley God is good!" We have been in valleys and on mountain tops as a whole as a body unified and drawn together by Jesus, and it is amazing to be a part of. All of it to the glory of God!

Then we have the college group, I never imagined a group like that! College students sold out for the Lord. College students that homework, studying, etc. they make time to come together on Tuesday nights and worship and fellowship and pray and spend time learning and growing and being the body of Christ. Lifting each other up, bearing in each others burdens, and loving each other regardless of a background or a past or in some cases a present. Students who accept each other right where they are at. I have been amazed lately by the girls especially. There is always drama when you get a group of girls together (it's like inevitable, right?) but in the midst of girl junk and drama. They all seek to glorify God and to do what the Lord would call them to do. They are willing to be called out in areas that they aren't doing right in (I admire that in them, I fail at that sometimes, who am I kidding most of the time). Just last night I got a phone call at 12:32 a.m. from one of the girls because of some junk that we are all kind of going through right now. But it wasn't a phone call to gossip, it was a phone call because she was genuinely concerned and wanted to act according to the Word and ask if she had been in the wrong. She just wanted to glorify God through her actions and reactions towards others and ask how to do that in this particular situation. I don't know if any of the rest of you think that's cool, but I'm just saying college girl drama situations that they want to give to God and allow Him to work through and make them more like Him, that is pretty stinking cool!

I just love both of these groups of people and parts of the Body of Christ. I am truly blessed beyond what I could ever imagine, just getting to be a part of them. I am thankful for the unity through the Spirit that we have and I am thankful for the true worship that I am humbled to be a part of that happens when wonderful people who's goal is to bring His name glory and make Him famous come together. It changes things. I think it's why people make comments about the groups so much. When people who truly love the Lord get together to bring praise and honor and glory to Him and love each other and care and bear with one another in our burdens and in our joys, it's noticeable. The coolest part though is not even that, it's that if you were to ask any of those people about it. They would tell you the most honest and genuine answer which is simply that it is all because of Jesus! It isn't us, but it is Him and it is His Holy Spirit moving and working through lots and lots of submissive and open vessels to and for and through Him and His glory.

So, that's what I am thankful for today, two wonderful groups of people, two wonderful parts of the Body of Christ, that spend time with Him and in His Word and then come together with a common goal and purpose to bring glory to His matchless name. Ah! I am humbled and blessed and in awe that I even get to know this joy here on earth. God is so good!

Empty Words

Sometimes my brother and I like to have spontaneous jam sessions. He busts out the guitar and I bust out into a prayer through song. Here is one that we had recorded on our phones just in case any good song lyrics were to come out of the spontaneity. This time, just a prayer that I pray constantly:

Lord, I come to You

Heal my heart and make me new

Lord I want to worship You

With everything I say 

With everything I do 

Don't let these be empty words

Don't let my heart grow weary

but when it does and if I do 

I will remain in the state of praising You

My God I will praise You

Through the hard times and through the pain

through all my tears you bring the rain

and put a smile on this humbled face

thank you Jesus

Don't let these be empty words

I wanna praise You

I wanna praise You

God, You are the maker of all things new

& You are working to make me whole in You

Jesus come be my words*

Jesus come be my actions*

Please don't let anything I say 

Be empty words but use me everyday

in every way in every single thing I say

Jesus use me, make useful to 

the Kingdom of our God and Savior

Kingdom of our Lord 

Thank You Jesus that I'm an heir of yours

One day coming to live with You

In my home where there's no more empty words

Jesus make me whole in You

Clean my heart, clean my mind, clean my soul

Don't let me use any empty words

But only praise You in everything I do

Absolutely everything I do

Use me Jesus

Work through me 

Use me God

to further Your love.

Comforting scripture about His timing:   Acts 1:6-8

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring Israel?"
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs[1] which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

*I changed a few words as I have listened again, and written it out as a daily prayer of mine. Side note, I love rain and we were outside on the porch swing (in the middle of a kind of rough day) I prayed on my way over to the swing that the Lord would just bring something wonderful to that day…and rain! (0: He is so good to provide for our every need and in just the perfect timing. His timing which is fixed by His authority. Isn't that just so wonderful! (0:


[1] epochs:> seasons

Want to listen? Click here.

10 Day Blogging Challenge: Diez

Most Recent Shopping Trip Splurge

(Last Challenge)

This post is going to let you all in on how much of a true "tight wad" I am. Other than supplies for the Peach Festival coming up, I have only been shopping for actually shopping, just for fun purposes, twice in the past two or three weeks. 

The first shopping trip: 

Here's what I got, why, and how much it cost:

I got two pair of shoes, one for me and one for Emily (Leo ate my flats the night before and she didn't have any) 

$5.00 each

Two cell phone cases with wallets in them (she needed a case and I wanted something smaller to carry my phone and moola in) 

$1.00 each

4 finger nail polishes (because I am addicted and they were on sale) 

$0.50 each

3 pair of sunshades/glasses (Also because they were on sale and because I they're fun to get everyone - Libby, Emily, and I) 

$1.00 each

My total was $18 and some change, and I had buyers remorse!

The Second shopping trip:

Here's what I got, why and how much it cost.

A cute little hard back purse sized planner with a ribbon bookmark (because Ragan had one, told me where she got it and we had an entire conversation about it, so I stopped because it was on the way and ended up having the coupon already on my phone, I had to, right?)

Original price: $2.50 (which is already awesome)

What I paid: $1.98 with a coupon, of course (0:

In case no one has told you today, Jesus loves you! He died and rose again for you! He is mindful of you! Isn't that awesome!?!? (0: I love it!

10 Day Blog Challenge: Nueve

Car Pictures!

Well, I am sad to say that yet again, I didn't complete a blog challenge in the time that I am supposed to. I'm going to go with, "I'm a rebel and that's why I didn't do it."

Which is not true, unfortunately.

I just honestly didn't want to do this post, because I didn't have time to clean my car out and I'm not too sure I want to show my car with all the mess in it (it's not horrible, but I would rather you see a clean car than messy). 

Since I am not showing any pics, can we please play the guessing game? It's my favorite!

What do you think I drive?

Could I rock a Minivan, Hummer, or a PT Cruiser, or a VW Beetle, or an Altima or a F150?

A little car, SUV, or a truck?

10 Day Blog Challenge: Ocho

Write a note to your love or loves in 6 words or less.

You
Teach
Me
About
Jesus'
Love.

Six words or less is so incredibly hard to do. But I feel this sums it up, I think God uses people to show us Himself more and more, and relationships to show us His character. His love, mercy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self control. I am so blessed because of the relationship the Lord has so graciously placed me in. He is so good to me!

Jesus'
Love
Shines
Through
Your
Life.

I feel like not just my relationship with Caleb, but other relationships, friendships, etc. teach me about Jesus. They aren't always easy, sometimes they're actually really hard, but I believe that it's those times when we are made more like Jesus. We get to experience His grace and even get to show His grace to others. I know I fail at giving and receiving grace, love, mercy, etc. but never the less, He gives it to us abundantly and is always faithful to, always! I am so thankful of God's grace and for the grace and love of all of my family and friends, because it is a very real and tangible example of God's love and grace.

10 Day Blog Challenge: Siete

Last Song You Sang Aloud:

JC Minton's 

There is Power in the Name

It isn't available yet, but when it is, I suggest you buy it! 

He has a few songs already available on his Facebook. If you click the picture below or his name at the top of this post you can listen.