My new obsession...

If you haven't been introduced to "Pinterest" yet, you should be! It is so much fun, and everything I love is put together on one website. A virtual pinboard? Yes! Here's the link to my boards: http://re.pn/b/mT5C Have fun, Bloggers!

A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now!

I am quite excited right now. I live in Dallas, Texas, and for the past 15 days, it has been over 100 degrees. We haven't had rain since the first day of summer, and the heat has been absolutely unbearable. Of course, we've been downing water, lathering on sunscreen, wearing hats, etc. We know how to handle the heat, but that doesn't make it enjoyable. BUT........... God is soooooo good!!! A few minutes ago, the clouds split and rain starting pouring down.The sound was almost unrecognizable. I'm serious. I opened the back door and was overwhelmed by the beautiful smell of grass, asphalt, and rain all mixed together. (That is my favorite smell of all time, by the way!) I am so ecstatic to hear, see, feel, and smell the rain. I know it won't last for a long time, but I am so thankful for this little fall of rain.

Fair weather and a just God...

"Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."-C.S. Lewis

This quote by C.S. Lewis is so very true. Many people think that they have the power to live daily by themselves. Humans simply do not have the strength to survive alone. Without my powerful God, I would fall apart. I know exactly where I would be without grace. I would be struggling to find a way to heaven by myself and would end up failing. I am so glad that I serve an Almighty God! Job 37:22-23 says, "Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict." I am so blessed to know that, regardless of the storm, fair weather will always come from the north. God promised this, and He cannot go back on His promises! He is excellent and just. I love Him so much!

"Give Me Jesus" by Fanny Crosby

♪♫Take the world, but give me Jesus;
All its Joys are but a name,
But His love abideth ever,
Through eternal years the same.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus,
Sweetest comfort of my soul;
With my Savior watching o'er me,
I can sing, though billows roll.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus;
Let me view His constant smile;
Then throughout my pilgrim journey
Light will cheer me all the while.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.

Take the world, but give me Jesus;
In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision
Face to face my Lord I see.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above.♪♫

Because I knew you....

♪♫I've heard it said that people come into our lives

For a reason, bringing something we must learn,

And we are led to those who help us most to grow

If we let them and we help them in return.

Now, I don't know if I believe that's true,

But I know I'm who I am today because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun,

Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood,

Who can say if I've been changed for the better,

But because I knew you,
I have been changed for good."♪♫

("For Good" from the play "Wicked"; written by Steven Schwartz)

I love my friends and my family. I miss my "family" from Crown. My closest friends there are my "family". They're not related to me through human blood, but we are tied together through the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they mean so much to me. That's all I wanted to say.

Land of the Free because of the Brave!

I am so thankful that I live in a country where I am free to worship God in the way that my conscience chooses. Many times, we forget how blessed we are as Americans, and we should be ashamed of that. When the Pilgrims first left the west coast of England and set sail for this land, they inscribed the words "In God We Trust" on the sails of the Mayflower. Every time they hit a wave or felt sick, they could look upon those true words and remember that God was with them, regardless of how hopeless their mission may have seemed to their friends and family. I have had the privilege to be born and raised in the United States, and I believe that it is the best nation on this planet. I love this nation, and I will stand for it. God gave me this land, and I will use the freedom it has for His glory. I will not sit idle while those around me do nothing. I will praise His name while I still have- freedom to do so! If you are an American, this Independence Day, remember how a great God has blessed you to live in this land. I love America!

My "African-American" Family



Alex, Sydney, Tony, Caitlyn, and Wani

I miss my little Liberian family! This is Wani and her three boys, Paul, Tony, and Alex. They're my adopted family that lives in Knoxville. They came to America about seven years ago from Liberia (West Africa) during a military overthrow. When Wani and her husband became Christians, they moved into a commune with a missionary and his family. Just weeks later, guerrilla warfare soldiers attacked and killed Wani's husband and eight of her fourteen children right in front of her. She ran with her surviving children (Kadi, Tony, Paul, two older boys, and Alex, still in her womb). She gave birth to Alex in the jungle with her daughter Kadi helping her deliver. She finally was met at the nation's border by U.N. workers, and after several months of waiting, Wani, Paul, Kadi, Tony, and Alex came to America. (The older two boys now live in Côte d'Ivoire.) She is such a strong woman, and I love her so very much. I miss hearing her sing songs in her native language of Bassa and just giving praise to the Lord! This family means the world to me, and I am so grateful to call them my family. I love my sister and my baby brothers! I can't wait to see them again in August. Tony says that we're an "African-American" family, and I don't believe that a stronger truth could be spoken!



"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sydney, Alex, Caitlyn, and Tony







VBS Visitation

Our church is preparing for our Vacation Bible School coming up later this month. It will be from July 18-22, and the theme is "Soldiers For Christ". The kids will be separated into four basic groups (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines) and will learn everything from Bible verses to having a clear presentation of the Gospel. This morning, we went out once again on visitation, giving people fliers and telling them about the VBS, and a lot of kids seemed extremely interested in coming. Please pray that parents will let their children come and that children will truly come to know Christ this week. All are welcome, and if you or anyone you know lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, feel free to come see us!

Bethel Baptist Church

1224 Hilltop Drive

Grapevine, Texas 76051

bethelbaptistchurch.org 

"Hello, Gorgeous!"

While I'm on the subject of my favorite actresses of all time, why not mention the great Barbra Streisand? No woman in movie history has a more recognizable voice, face, or name than Miss Streisand. Famous for her rolls such as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" and Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly!", Barbra changed the idea of beauty in Hollywood. Before Barbra emerged on the scene, only pint-sized blondes were considered attractive. When she emerged in "Funny Girl" with her distinct Jewish features, most people believed that she would not last as an actress. Many people suggested she get a nose job, change her hair, and speak in a different way, but Barbra refused to change herself for anyone. She has become a roll model for countless young actresses that aren't exactly beautiful according to the American media. The opening scene of "Funny Girl" involves Barbra as Fanny Brice looking into a full-length mirror and saying, "Hello, gorgeous!" in that classic voice of hers. Thank you, Miss Streisand, for always being yourself and refusing to back down to the demands of people who were simply jealous of your overwhelming talent. We love you, Funny Girl!

Little Miss Shirley

Since I was a very young child, I have had a deep love and appreciation for Miss Shirley Jane Temple Black. She is definitely one of my favorite actresses of all time. Her grace and style has always been so breathtaking! I can't imagine anyone, much less a small child, speaking, singing, or especially dancing with such grace! I know for a fact that my little girls will one day watch her movies, even though they are considered "old-fashioned" and "outdated". My favorite movies by little Miss Shirley are "Little Miss Broadway" and "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (The photo on the right is from the latter of the two films.) No matter how old she grows, she has always been such a beautiful lady. Below is a video of Shirley and two of The Three Brian Sisters. I adore this songs. It's called "Be Optimistic" and is from the 1938 film "Little Miss Broadway". Who is your favorite classic star?

Guatemala: Where all the moose live

I am often amazed at what young children say! It is hilarious how they pick up bits and pieces of what you teach them and mash them all together. Children have a wonderful way of saying the most ridiculous things and making it actually make some sort of sense! One of the sweet five-year-old little girls at my church and I had one fo these moments Wednesday night at church. I told her about a friend of mine from Guatemala, and she wanted to know more and more about the country. Next, when she pointed at a flag on our bullitan board and asked, "Where is that flag from?" I told her that it was from Canada, a country just north of the United States. She asked if any cool animals lived there, so I told her that moose live there. Later, while she was playing 'teacher', she decided that we would learn about different countries. She said, "This (squiggled something unrecognizable on the dry-erase board) is Guatemala. That's where all the moose live!" I thought it was the most adorable thing! I love the kids that God has blessed me with as a teacher.

The Wisdom of a Stuffed Bear

One of my favorite storybooks as a child was "Winnie the Pooh". I loved reading of Christopher Robin's dear friends in the 100 Acre Woods. Why? Because they were so genuine. Nothing touched my heart more than the true bond they all shared. They were not just friends; they were a close-knit family and they truly loved one another. I have been told that if you have one good friend in a lifetime, you're lucky; if you have a handful of good friends, you are truly blessed. I have some of the best friends in the world.

Some are here in Dallas. For example, my friends Taylor, Hannah, and all my friends from Berkner High. Taylor is definatly one of my best friends. I love her to death! We love spending time together and, of course, eating at Cassie's FroYo in Grapevine, Texas. I can't imagine life without my friends here in Texas. They have been there for years and help me so much.

The rest of my best friends are at Crown. Right now, we're spread out around the country (some out of country) and I miss them more than I ever imagined possible. My friends there are my family. When you're so far away from family, you bond with your friends more than normal. None of us live close to the college, so we are all far away from our families. I believe that God brought us together to help each other grow. I miss them so much. I love you, Sydney, Thomas, Justin, Manuel, Brittany, Rachael, Chelsea, Jessica, TJ, Juston, Kyle, Kaylee, Melody... actually if I listed them all, Blogger wouldn't let this post. It would be far too long.I am so grateful fo the friends that the Lord has given me, especially during my first year of college.

Christopher Robin once told Winnie the Pooh, "If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you."