Two Different Tags

I saw that Lindsay tagged me and decided to go ahead and post them now. There were two different ones, so I'll do them both. Thank you, Lindsay!

# 1 . . .

Barnes and Noble or Borders? Barnes and Noble

Joann's or Hobby Lobby? JoAnns

Life way, Mardel, or Family Christian? Mardel

Dress Barn or Cato Fashions? Cato

Target or Walmart? Walmart

Academy or Sports Authority? Academy

Bed Bath and Beyond or Linens and Things? Bed Bath and Beyond

Wendy's or McDonald's? Wendy's

K.F.C., Popeye's or Church's? I guess K.F.C.

Starbucks or McCafe'? Well, I don't drink coffee, but I do like Starbucks hot chocolate! :)

Chinese or Mexican food? That's a tough choice, but I'll have to say Mexican.

Chick-fil-a or What-a-burger? Definitely Chick-fil-a!! That's our favorite fast food restaurant!


# 2 . . .

What is your favorite day of summer? The last one, LOL!

What’s your favorite outdoor summer activity? Definitely swimming!

What’s your favorite indoor summer activity? I don't know!

Pool or beach? Beach, I guess.

Have you ever camped during the summer? No, and I hopefully never will!

Popsicle or ice cream? What flavor? Ice cream. Birthday Cake or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!

Do you help with your church's VBS? No, our church doesn't have VBS, but when we did I helped!

Do you get bored during the summer? Nope! We always stay real busy!

Is summer your favorite season? No way! Fall or winter for sure! :)


Alright, that's it! Mine probably wasn't much different than the one Lindsay posted! (I guess we have a lot in common! ;) I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week! God bless!

Some of My Hope Chest Items. . .

This past year my parents thought it would be nice for each of us girls to begin collecting items and things we could later put in a hope chest. We all really liked the idea and couldn't wait to start! Whenever we find something we would like to keep for our own future home someday, we buy it. Some of the things we've put away already belonged to us, though, like the items I'm showing below. So, here are a few things I'm keeping for my own child's nursery. (That is, if God gives me any children of course! :) Most of these things were actually mine when I was a baby...

As you can see, I've decided to go with bunnies. ;)

This stuffed bunny was given to me by my Me-ma and Pa-pa, Easter of 1994; the picture was given to my Mom by some church ladies who hosted her baby shower when she was pregnant with me; and the afghan is one that my Nana crocheted for me. (I talk more about that later on!)

I actually found these little bunnies at the "pasture" sale we had last weekend, and decided to get them... not knowing my Me-ma was the one who brought them to the sale! :) She said they were always her favorite and she really didn't want to let them go. She didn't know I was the one that would end up with them though!


Now, this is one of my favorite items! The funny thing is that I also got it from the pasture sale and it was my Me-ma's as well!

This is just a little dress that was mine as a baby.

This one too!

Okay, now this is "Red River Redi".

Yes, he's a bunny too! My Dad actually got him for me quite a few years ago at a souvenier shop when he visited Red River, New Mexico. Back then I owned TONS of stuffed animals and each of them had three names.

So yeah, this one became Red River Redi. Isn't he cute?! :)

Alright, now this has always been my "blankey". My Nana made it for me before I was born. So it's definitely pretty worn! When I was probably 11 years old I asked her if she would make me another one identical to it because this one was obviously in bad condition. I wanted to have the new one to keep as a keepsake.

So here it is! . . . And now they're both keepsakes!

Anyway, those are just a few things I have for my hope chest that I thought I would share. I hope you enjoyed looking at them! Have a blessed evening everyone!

"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth." Psalm 71:5

"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:22

"In his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21

A Young Maiden's Daybook--Entry # 16

I started this yesterday but didn't get the chance to finish it until this morning! So here it is...

Today...
June 22, 2009
Outside my window...
Nice and sunny!
I am thinking...
I really need to go put butter in the potatoes and turn the burner down before they boil over! (We're making chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, with green beans for dinner! Yum!)

I am thankful for...
A good day today!

I am wearing...
A black shirt and my floral navy blue skirt.

I am reading...
The Bible, Ten P's in a Pod, and I'd like to start reading E.M. Bounds on Prayer. I read the first chapter today, but it sure is a really long book!
I am creating...
Nothing in particular right now.



One of my favorite things...
My new cross necklace my grandparents got me!

For education this week...
Same as usual.



A keeper at home skill I am using/learning...
Same as always: cooking, baking, the budget, household chores, and babysitting.



A spiritual lesson I'm learning...
To pray without ceasing.

A godly character trait I plan to work on...
Praying without ceasing!

Scripture I am memorizing...
Isaiah 53
I am praying for...
Family, friends, and my Dad's opthamologist appt. to go well today. Oh, and by the way... he hasn't had a spasm since 1:00 last Friday!! The most he had ever gone without having one before that was probably every 5-6 hours. So this is great! He does still have double vision and his headaches on the left side of his head are coming back. . . so keep praying!! :)

For the rest of this week...
School, chores, work, and church.

A picture I'd like to share...

This is my new necklace! :)

To find out more about participating in A Young Maiden's Daybook, click HERE.

Fathers Day Blessings

May God supernaturally bless your Fathers Day as you show and share your love for one another!

"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-
what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us." Psalm 78:2, 3

Praise the Lord for fathers!

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH

ISAIAH 53

"1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

That's a pretty intense passage of Scripture! Yet, it's very humbling and reminds me of Philippians chapter 2, particularly verse 8: "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" I just want to say that I am SO thankful to Christ for interceding on my behalf!! We have much reason to rejoice and praise His name! May we all share His attitude and continue striving to follow His perfect example!

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH! . . . :)

A Young Maiden's Daybook--Entry #15

Today...

June 15, 2009

Outside my window...

It's hot and sunny!

I am thinking...

What's for lunch???

I am thankful for...

My family

I am wearing...

A black shirt with a sparkly skirt that's orange, blue, and blackish brown with sparkly elephants around the bottom... it may sound strange but it's actually very cute! :) And yes, I did just wear it to church yesterday. (I'm definitely an outfit-repeater!)

I am reading...

The Bible and Ten P's in a Pod

I am creating...

Nothing in particular right now!

One of my favorite things...

Our black lab, Ty! He's so cute! :)

For education this week...

Same as usual.

A keeper at home skill I am using/learning...

Cooking, baking, the budget, cleaning, and babysitting.

A spiritual lesson I'm learning...

To pray continually.

A godly character trait I plan to work on...

Praying continually!

Scripture I am memorizing...

Isaiah 53

I am praying for...

My family and friends!

For the rest of this week...

Schoolwork, chores, babysitting, church, the "pasture" sale Thur, Fri, Sat, and Father's Day on Sunday!

A picture I'd like to share...

Yes, this is Ty sleeping on the schoolroom couch. Ever since he was a puppy we taught him to sleep with pillows! Usually he just uses the couch pillows though. ...But don't get me wrong, that dog doesn't need a pillow to sleep. He can sleep ANYWHERE! As a matter of fact, he's sleeping on the floor right behind me right now. :)

To find out more about participating in A Young Maiden's Daybook, click HERE.

Change. . .

I had been thinking about changing my blog background and header for awhile now, and I finally did! It's quite a bit different than the one before, but I think it looks nice. I may not keep it for long, though, if I find something different that I like better!

Thinking on this subject of "change" I thought I would share a quick bit of something that hit me a second ago: "Praise God! ...Because He NEVER changes!" :) Actually, in class this morning we even mentioned the verse in the Bible which says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Wow! :)

Anyway, I know this may seem a bit rushed, but I felt it was worth sharing before we leave for church tonight! I pray everyone has a blessed evening!

A Young Maiden's Daybook--Entry #14

Today...
June 8, 2009


Outside my window...
It's very dark!

I am thinking...
That I'm exhausted and should be going to bed!

I am thankful for...
My bed. ... : )

I am wearing...
My pajamas.... again!

I am reading...
The Bible and Ten P's in a Pod

I am creating...
Well, my Mom and I are trying to get together a scrapbook of all the emails we've received since Dad first went to the hospital (along with the updates too)... there are TONS of them and they're all wonderful! We can't wait to finally get that started. (I say "started" because we're still receiving emails and plan to add them as well. :)

One of my favorite things...
Scrapbooking

For education this week...
We're actually taking off because we have too much to get acomplished this week! (Mom and I spent the entire day today cleaning out her bedroom, AND CLOSET! And yes, we did actually get it finished! Wow! ...Praise God! :)

A keeper at home skill I am using/learning...
Cooking, baking, the budget, cleaning, etc.

A spiritual lesson I'm learning...
To pray continually!

A godly character trait I plan to work on...
Spending more quality, study time in the Word.

Scripture I am memorizing...
Isaiah 53:1-12

I am praying for...
Well, I think it's pretty profound that now I look back at last week's Daybook and see that I mentioned praying for Dad's spasms to go away... and now they're not completely gone, but they are not happening very often! Thank you, God! For a few days it had gotten to where he was having them every couple of minutes (which was getting kinda scary, I'll admit) but since yesterday they've been happening only once an hour at the most! Now, I'm praying they will only continue to get better and God will take them away COMPLETELY!! :)

For the rest of this week...
Going w/ Pa-pa for chemo tomorrow, friends also coming to stay the night tomorrow and leaving sometime Wednesday, church, cleaning house and getting Dad's grandmother's old furniture for Mom and Dad's bedroom on Thursday, and a few other "unofficial" things that might happen along the way! We have a busy week ahead of us!

A picture I'd like to share...

This is Lil' Jack (our donkey) in the barn when it was unfinished a couple of years ago. I just think he looks so cute here! He's even got hay in his mouth! :)

If you would like to find out more about participating in A Young Maiden's Daybook, click HERE.

A Beautiful Testimony

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

Last Thursday we went and had a bunch of family pictures taken by a lady from church. They all turned out to be ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! This is just one of the many, and it inspired me to share how blessed us four girls are to have the amazing parents God gave us.

They have been married now for almost 19 years! When they were married neither one of them were Christians, but God was working on each of them separately (without the other knowing.) Without going into all of that... they soon began going to church (the same church I grew up in and attended all my life before we moved here) and were both baptized on October 23, 1991. Therefore, God was gracious enough to have my sisters and I raised in a true Christian home! I praise His name for that! We are all very fortunate, and we know it. His continual provision for our family has never failed, and it never will!

Anyway, all that being said, our Mom and Dad are two of the most special people in our lives, and we appreciate them so much! The two most important things they have taught us are that we must love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, to obey his commandments, and secondly, to love one another.

They are both wonderful testimonies of showing and sharing that love, and I'm so thankful that the Lord has bestowed such a grace upon our family.

Thank you, Mom and Dad! We love you!

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:36-40

God's Glory

Isaiah 42:8

"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another..."

I just thought this was a beautiful sunrise! My Mom took the picture a few mornings ago, and a lot of times when I see a picture like this there's a verse God pops into my head to go along with it. So, this is what came to mind!

I hope everyone has a blessed evening!

A Young Maiden's Daybook--Entry #13

Sorry! This one's a day late! :)
















Today...
June 2, 2009



Outside my window...
It was looking kinda rainy earlier this morning, but now it's bright and sunny!



I am thinking...
About the rest of our day!



I am thankful for...
God's continual provision!



I am wearing...
My pajamas still! :)



I am reading...
The Bible, and that's really it right now, except for school books.



I am creating...
Nothing in particular right now.



One of my favorite things...
Eating brownies and ice cream! :) (We just had some earlier!)



For education this week...
Same as always, but I haven't listed it in awhile, so I will: In-depth US History, Physical science,
Bible, Literature, Poetry, Algebra, Spanish, ASL, etc.



A keeper at home skill I'm using/learning...
And again, same as always! :) Cleaning, baking, cooking, and the budget.



A spiritual lesson I am learning...
To wait patiently on God and trust in His timing



A godly character trait I plan to work on...
Calm cheerfulness, aka "joy"! :) (James 1:2)



Scripture I am memorizing...
Isaiah 53:1-12 and Galatians (but we haven't worked on that one in a awhile.)



I am praying for...
My Dad's healing, God to stop his "spasms" or whatever they are from progressing, God's continual provision for our family, patience in waiting on answers, and God to be glorified in all things!



For the rest of this week...
School, church, and who knows what else! :)



A picture I'd like to share...

Me and my Daddy fishing last Saturday at the lake.... we went with a man from church at 5 in the morning!!! :) (I reeled them in, Dad unhooked 'em!)