Proverbs 31... in Training!

Still Here!

2011-03-07T23:53:00.002-06:00

My goodness. I can't believe it's already been three weeks since my last post! I'm so sorry for leaving you all without notice like that. As you probably guessed, blogging just hasn't been on my list of priorities these past couple of months... :-)

First off, I thought I would let you all know that my dad is doing much better this year than he was this time last year. Praise the Lord! He's now had a total of four Tysabri treatments (once every four weeks) and each time he seems to do a little better. He hasn't had an exacerbation since the beginning of last November, which is a HUGE blessing from the Lord. His main trouble right now would probably be with his memory/his ability to remember things when he needs to. As far as motor skills go, he is doing extremely well. Sometimes I forget just how far he's come in the last few months. To think about how differently things were last summer-fall honestly gives me the chills. I could never thank God enough for faithfully sustaining my Daddy and my family during that time. :)

Psalm 145

"I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another;

they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works—

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love.

The LORD is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made.

All your works praise you, LORD;

your faithful people extol you.

They tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might, so that all

people may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through

all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises

and faithful in all he does.

The LORD upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and faithful in all he does.

The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever."

Laughing w/ Dad and being silly on my 18th birthday. :)

Oh-so-very-thankful.

Valentine's Day ♥ with a Purpose

2011-02-14T21:13:00.003-06:00

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

1 John 4:7-12

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

Concerning Courtship...

2011-01-24T22:48:00.001-06:00

COURTSHIP 101

Prerequisites

1. Parents raise daughters to be maidens of virtue and sons to be Godly spiritual leaders in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

2. Daughters and sons vow to remain pure in spirit, mind and body all their lives.

3. Daughters and sons trust the Lord to bring their future mate into their lives at just the right moment. Therefore, they have no need to look for their mate before they are in the season of life when they are prepared to be married, but instead pray throughout their childhood and single years for their future mate.

Courtship

1. Young man feels led by the Holy Spirit to ask the father of a young maiden of virtue who has "caught his eye" if he can have permission to court her after first having asked his own father's permission (to be certain that he is in the season of life when he is prepared to be married).

2. If the girl's father feels that the young lady is in the season of life where she is prepared to be married, and if he feels that the young man might be worthy of his daughter's hand in marriage, he tells the young man that he will need to answer a lot of questions first. (If one of these two aren't true, then the father lets the potential suitor know and the courtship ends before it ever begins.)

3. Young man says, "Yes sir! Whatever you say, sir!" and then answers the questions prayerfully and honestly. We feel it is best to provide the questions in writing so that the young man has the opportunity to pray and really think about the answers.

4. Once the father is satisfied that the young man is suitable and daughter is ready, he asks daughter if she is willing to be courted by this young man. If she isn't, then the father communicates this to the potential suitor for her. (Remember, he is her protector.)

5. If daughter says yes, then the father gives permission to the young man. It is completely appropriate if the daughter has more questions to be answered before committing to the courtship. The courtship itself is quite serious because you only go into it with marriage in mind.

6. The father, mother and daughter agree on courtship guidelines and asks if the young man is willing to go by those guidelines -- such as what is and is not acceptable like holding hands or not, being alone or not, etc. (In our case we chose to do niether.)

7. The daughter and the young man spend time together in the presence of their families and also with their families in order for everyone to get to know each other completely.

8. The young man leads the daughter in Bible study and prayer throughout courtship so that they may begin to grow into one spiritually. (A word of caution: if the young man is not spiritually mature enough to lead in Bible study, then he should not even be considered as a potential suitor. However, if the girl's father sees enough potential in him, he could invest time in discipling and training this young man before turning him away completely. Even if he doesn't see him as a potential suitor for his daughter, he could still disciple and train him for the Lord.)

9. The young man and daughter continually pray for wisdom and guidance as they hopefully become close friends but do their best to not become emotionally attached until everyone involved is sure that this relationship is the Lord's will for their lives. This will be different for each couple. The fathers and mothers need to pay close attention and help guide the sons and daughters. The fathers are still in charge at this point and have the final say-so on everything.

10. Once the young man feels led to ask for the daughter's hand in marriage, he first asks permission from his own father because his father should know more about whether he is ready for marriage. Once given permission, he then asks the father of the daughter for permission to ask her. Once given permission to ask, he asks the daughter to marry him. Engagement or betrothal follows. Times of courtship and engagement are different for everyone. It's more about God's will and direction and the couple's preparedness than a particular time frame...

During courtship they focus on spiritual matters but abstain from being physical and do their best to abstain from a deep emotional attachment. During engagement they can begin focusing on a deep emotional attachment as well as other important plans for their future life together. After marriage is obviously when the physical attachment enters into the relationship.

Of course courtship and engagement are different for everyone. Sometimes parents won't participate and it's just the young couple's decision to court on their own. Also, each father and each couple set different guidelines according to their desires, beliefs and situations. These guidelines are based more on what we have felt led to do.

The season of courtship is a time for deepening the courting couple's friendship and for focusing on becoming one spiritually. A few ways to do so might be to read and study God's word together, pray together, share testimonies with each other of what God has done/is doing in your life, ask each other questions in order to learn more about the other person (such as their life growing up, their thoughts and beliefs, their favorite activities, interests, etc.), spend lots of time with each other's families... Okay, I think you get the idea!

Also, one of the most important things to realize is that every courtship is different. There are no "rights" and no "wrongs". It's less about do's and don'ts and much more about honoring our Father in heaven. As long as the young man and young lady and both of their families make Jesus Christ the number one priority in all these things, that is what truly matters. The bottom line is: Who are you striving to please and to serve? Yourself? Your peers? Or is the purpose of your relationship to please the Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of heaven and earth? The answer to this question is what truly makes a pivotal difference!

"Choose this day whom you will serve.

... But as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD!"

Joshua 24:15

Have a very blessed week, everyone! :)

Choosing Courtship

2011-01-17T11:17:00.003-06:00

My family was introduced to the idea of courtship quite a few years ago through the stories and testimonies of other Christian couples. During that time we all agreed it was definitely the route to go and through the years found several good resources concerning the topic. Some of my favorite books include I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris along with his other book Boy Meets Girl (Say Hello to Courtship) and Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally. On my 13th birthday I made the committment to remain physically, emotionally, and spiritually pure not only for my future husband, but for my parents and most importantly for my Lord Jesus Christ. As a teenager I always knew I would never have a "boyfriend". Rather, I would wait until the season of life when I was ready to be married before any kind of relationship would ever begin. On my 16th birthday I decided to have dinner with my parents in order to spend that time further discussing what all we believed exactly in regards to courtship. It was at that time that I made the committment to steadfastly pray for my future husband, with the realization that God intends for a prospective wife of noble character to bring her husband good, not harm, all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:12) Since then I have remained content in fulfilling the callings God has placed on my life by serving my family at home. I've always known and trusted that if it was the Lord's will for me to someday marry, then He alone would be responsible for writing my love story. This was something I determined to leave in His hands in order to avoid involving my own self at all. I even prayed for Him to make me completely "oblivious" and "unaware" of the young man who would someday become my husband until just the appropriate time. I didn't want to deal with the struggles of fantasizing over 'every Godly guy' that came my way prior to that, and it was important to me that my love not be awakened until it so desired. (Song of Solomon 2:7, 3:5, 8:4) In other words, it's been my prayer that the Lord would keep my heart guarded and that He would prevent me from ever prematurely romanticizing in any kind of way. ...And that prayer still stands today! ;-)

"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:

do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

Song of Solomon 8:4

Eighteen Candles... and a Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T21:58:00.001-06:00

Yes, today is my eighteenth birthday!

And it really is hard to believe. Where did all the time go?

This morning my mom and I drove to our local DPS office so that I could take my driving test with the prospect of finally obtaining my drivers license. I have to admit I was a tad nervous; mostly because I'm not a consistent parallel parker. *nervous chuckle* I was so afraid I would fail that part of the test. SoOo... I prayed a lot! And guess what?

*** I passed!!! ***

I have to give all the credit to the Lord for supplying me with the wisdom and guidance that I needed. He is so faithful and I am just jumping for joy inside. Left to myself, there's no way I would've walked out of that office today with a license in hand. But -- praise God -- I'm now a licensed driver! Eep!

This is just an added blessing to the many I've experienced this past year. I can't thank God enough for walking with my family through these last 365 days.

People, let me just tell you,

HE IS A FAITHFUL KING AND LORD OVER ALL.

Without His hand of providence leading and guiding, protecting and sustaining, nurturing and holding us up this past year... I don't know where my family would be. I am truly in awe of his awesomeness right now. And that's what I love about this time of year: the opportunity it gives me to really reflect on all God has done in my life.

Elisabeth Elliot speaking of Amy Carmichael

"The preoccupations of

seventeen-year-old girls

-- their looks, their clothes, their social life -- do

not change much from generation to generation. But in

every generation

there seem to be a few who make other choices.

Amy was one of the few."

...And I pray I was too.

Now, as an eighteen-year-old, I look forward to continuing to live out my life to the glory of my precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! He is certainly worthy. :)

I pray you all have a supernaturally blessed new year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T10:47:00.000-06:00

"For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

{Isaiah 9:6}

I pray you all have a very blessed day as you

celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH

This Christmas Eve...

2010-12-24T15:15:00.000-06:00

My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.

Luke 1:46:55

I find myself feeling the same way I imagine Mary felt when she first spoke these words. In many ways this passage says exactly what I'd like to say as the year comes to an end and we celebrate the birth of our Savior! God has been so good to my family, and I'm so thankful for his constant protection and provision. Only He knows exactly what each year will bring, and this one has had its fill of surprises for sure. ;-) Needless to say, He is faithful and has sustained us through it all.

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Blessed be the Lord, God of heaven and earth, who has done great things for me!

Holy is his name.

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Happy Birthday to My Littlest Sis . . .

2010-12-19T03:00:00.001-06:00

Who isn't so little anymore!

Dear Samantha, It's hard to believe we're celebrating your 12th birthday! It's at times like these when I'm reminded of all the memories we've made together, and just how precious of a gift you are. My life has been so richly blessed because of you. And I mean that with all of my heart. I love you. And I pray God's best for you each day! Remember to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness...

Happy birthday, little Sis!

Love Always,

your forever...

Tay-bay

♥

It's the Greatest and Busiest Time of Year...

2010-12-08T22:56:00.000-06:00

Which explains the lack of posts around here!

So, what things have I been up to?

Well, here are a few...

(Did I seriously just make all that rhyme?

That was totally un NOT intentional! lol)

Watching Christmas movies.

This was the most recent:

↑

You gotta love these 'wise guys'!

#2

Drinking hot chocolate.

But I have such a hard time choosing which brand of instant cocoa is better!

I just can't decide!

Reading the TRUE Christmas story

. . . and singing Christmas songs!

Luke 2 and Matthew 1 are read and re-read quite often during this time of year. :)

And some of my favorite Christmas songs include:

What Child is This?
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Silent Night
O Holy Night
Away in a Manger

And many more! ;-)

Last-minute prep for our church's outdoor drama performance!
.

For the past three years our family has participated in our church's annual Christmas drama on the life of Jesus Christ. However, this year we didn't sign up because we knew we wouldn't be able to fully commit with Dad's health issues. That is, until we found out last Saturday that there were still a few roles that needed to be filled! So... Shelly, Eliza, and I have joined in pretty much at the last minute. Yesterday was our very first practice--and the program is this weekend! Needless to say, we have a LOT to figure out between now and Saturday evening. :)

A scene from last year's drama -- 2009.
I'm Mary, Shelly is the middle angel on the left,
and Eliza is the middle angel on the right.
(Sorry... Had to blur our faces! :)

Oh! And I bet you'll NEVER guess what roles we're playing this year.

We're 'disguising' as three of the twelve disciples!!

...Shh! It's a secret. ;-D

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Well, I hope you enjoyed seeing some of what I've

been up to lately. Have a blessed Thursday, everyone!

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'Tis the Season for Miracles

2010-12-01T21:07:00.001-06:00

Yesterday my dad finally got his very first Tysabri infusion! After three months of trying to get things worked out and approved, God finally made it possible for an appointment to be set up. Daddy was soooo happy! It's been about a year and a half since his sickness began and it's steadily progressed since then. Each time he has more lesions grow, more symptoms come on, and more hospital stays, he says, "I don't want to do it again." It's heartbreaking, but we find peace in knowing the Lord is watching over him and that He's in complete control. Needless to say, it's been a loooong year and a half. So we really are thrilled to finally have some treatment going!

While we're excited, we're also aware of the risks involved. Basically, this drug will either kill you or 'heal' you. There's actually no known cure for multiple sclerosis, but this drug has put many people into remission or at least lessened the severity of their exacerbations. Honestly, either one would be great. And guess what? We're already seeing a bit of improvement! Dad's walking is a little better and he's thinking more clearly too! Praise Jesus!

Please pray with us that this drug will not cause any harm or damage to his body, and that it will keep him from having any more lesions grow! We know Dad's healing will ultimately come from the Lord, but we also know God can use this treatment to cure him. ...And it will be nothing short of a miracle when it does! ;)

"Then Jesus said to them,

'With man this is impossible, but with God

all things are possible.'"

Matthew 26:19
..

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Well, I hope you all are enjoying the first days of December!
It's hard to believe this year is almost over. Christmas will be
here before we know it!! Until then... let's enjoy what God has
in store for us each day as we celebrate the season of the birth
of Jesus Christ. :)

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...This MIRACLE season! :)

"I will bring health and healing...

I will heal my people and will let them

enjoy abundant peace and security."

Jeremiah 33:6

My Thank-You to Jesus

2010-11-25T21:26:00.000-06:00

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FROM: Taylor

Daughter and servant of the Most High God

TO: Jesus Christ

My Savior and Redeemer

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Dear Lord,

King of kings, Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Shepherd, Great High Priest, Jehovah-Jireh, Lord of lords, Almighty God, Prince of peace, the Author & Perfecter, Beginning & End, Alpha & Omega, Lamb of God, Yeshua Ha Mashiech,

Thank you...

For all that you are, and all that you do.

I love you!

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Last week I went through a somewhat scary situation that caused my adrenaline to rush like never before, and had me literally crying out to Jesus for help. Never before had I needed to call on His name like that--but never before had I experienced the sweetness of His swift answer either. As I prayed, I verbally pleaded, "JESUS! In the name of JESUS!" And immediately He was there. The next words I spoke flowed so naturally from my mouth... "Thank you." I had never said those two words before and meant them as sincerely as I did in that moment.

Looking back now, I wouldn't trade the experience for the world--no matter how scary--because it taught me the meaning of true thankfulness. I now understand (on some scale!) the overwhelming feeling of desperation and the even more overwhelming comfort of God's supernatural intervention. And I'm so thankful to Him for that! Praise the Lord!

I hope you all have been enjoying a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving! Remember to thank God in EVERYTHING, and for EVERYTHING... He is certainly worthy. :)

"Give thanks in all circumstances

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Lessons from a Fly?

2010-11-14T16:14:00.021-06:00

Right now a little fly is buzzing around on my computer screen.

I was sitting here wondering what to write for my next post, but the little guy kept winning my attention. It's like he was saying, "Me! Me! Me! Post about me!" I thought,

Well...

Why not?

*embarassed chuckle*

I mean, have you ever wondered why God made flies? Considering the fact that they were included in His creation of the world, I can only assume they're meant to serve some kind of purpose. (However ~~big~~ or small a purpose that may be!) Still, I can't help but wonder why God created such pesky little creatures. It's true that He involved them in some accounts told throughout the Bible. The biggest and most obvious example being the ten plagues in Exodus:

"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the river and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them. “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’” And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials; throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies." Exodus 8:20-24

Here's another passage I found that refers to 'flies' as well:

"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor."

Ecclesiastes 10:1
.

So... not only does God use these insects to fulfill His purposes, but to demonstrate important truths as well! I never realized He used them as a way to compare things good and wholesome to things which are negative and hindersome--when it comes to living out our faith! Who'd a thunk it? :)

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Well,

I can honestly say that I never would've thought I

could (or rather, should) write a post about flies!

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But the truth is, this post isn't meant to be about flies. It's about the Creator of the flies, who chooses to use seemingly small things (such as flies) to serve an even greater purpose (such as the deliverance of God's people from Egypt!)

It's about a God whose salvation lasts forever, and whose righteousness...

will never fail. :)

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

look at the earth beneath;

the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment

and its inhabitants die like flies.

{mental picture -- tee hee!}
.

But my salvation will last forever,

my righteousness will never fail."

Isaiah 51:6

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH. :)

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Seven

2010-11-10T19:23:00.001-06:00

I can't believe it's already the final day of the FF challenge!

.... Where did all the time go? :)

Before I show you what I wore today, I thought it would be fun to rewind and share a small glimpse of all my outfits from this past week. ;-)
..

Here's a quick recap!

Day One: Day Two: Day Three: Day Four:

Day Five: Day Six:

And finally...

My outfit for day seven:

*Ta-da!*

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This has been such a fun experience!

Thank you all so much for your
thoughtful comments on my outfits each day.
I really do appreciate every single one.

I also want to say thank you to Eden for
hosting this wonderful & inspirational challenge.

I'm so glad I was able to participate!

Oh, and another big thanks to Shelly for
taking my pictures each day! I love you, sis! :)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I pray you all have a very blessed evening!

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Six

2010-11-09T18:52:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe it's already the sixth day of the FF challenge!

Here's my outfit for day six:

I'm wearing my plaid button-up shirt along with a flowy denim skirt. For my hair, I simply clipped it up in a bun. :)

I can't believe how quickly this last week has flown by.

Only one more day to go!

Until tomorrow...

*wink*

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Five

2010-11-08T20:03:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the fifth day of the FF challenge! ;)

Here's my outfit for day five:

I'm wearing my buttoned maroon dress with the sleeves rolled up, and my hair pulled into a ponytail--straight. ;-D

Note: This picture was taken outside at 6:00pm, in the dark!

Until tomorrow...

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Four

2010-11-07T20:18:00.000-06:00

Today marks the fourth day of the FF challenge! Since we met with our church this morning I chose to 'dress up' a bit more than usual. ;-)

Here's my outfit for day four:

I'm wearing my white short sleeve jacket over a black turtleneck, along with my long, black, fuzzy, ribbon-ed skirt! As you can see, I decided to straighten my hair and just leave it down. :)

I hope you all enjoyed a very blessed Sunday!

Until tomorrow...

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Three

2010-11-06T20:30:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe it's already the third day of the FF challenge! I've really enjoyed visiting all the other participant's blogs and seeing their entries each day. It's been lots of fun. ;-)

Here's my outfit for day three:

I'm wearing my "Texas" shirt with a beige cotton skirt. (And yes, I'm barefoot! lol) I didn't get a decent picture of my hair today, but it was pulled into a bun and held in place with a white 'chopstick'.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far! I know I am. :)

Until tomorrow...

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Two

2010-11-05T20:18:00.000-05:00

Today has been very busy. I woke up this morning at 6:30 to stay with Dad while Mom caught up on some much-needed sleep. Then I went with my parents to a doctors appointment and we didn't get home until 4 o' clock!

Needless to say, I'm a bit later in getting this post up. ;)

Here's my outfit for day two:

As you can see, I simply put my hair into a ponytail--curly.

Yesterday I just wore it down with a beaded headband.

We'll see what I come up with for tomorrow! ;-)

Until then...

Home, Sweet Home

2010-11-05T19:53:00.001-05:00

As for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15

Our parents are back from the hospital! Yay!

Dad is doing well now. He was able to get his final plasma exchange yesterday morning, and they removed his port sometime soon after. He was discharged only a few hours later, and got home sometime last night. As far as his symptoms go, they appear to be mostly resolved--praise the Lord!

Thank you all so much for praying. I'd like to ask that you please keep Emily in your prayers too. She's recently been moved to ICU because of liver failure, and I know her family would covet your prayers as well.

May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Feelin' Feminine :: Day One

2010-11-04T16:01:00.001-05:00

Today starts the beginning of this month's 7-day challenge... and I'm ready! ;)

Here's my outfit for day one:

I decided to wear my hair curly today,

but you'll probably be seeing it straight soon! ;-)

Until tomorrow...

Q and A

2010-11-02T18:56:00.001-05:00

Moriah at Uniquely Fashioned for His Glory

tagged me a few days ago with the five questions below.

Thank you, Moriah!

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1) Why did you start a blog, and how long have you been blogging? I started blogging because I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to share my life and study of God's word, while being a witness to others for Christ! I've been at it for a year and nine months now.

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2) Who is your favorite singer or song? I think my answer to this question is probably different everytime! I have soo many favorites... but this time I'm going to choose Rebecca St. James. She was my absolute favorite artist for many years. And I even got the chance to meet her at a Girls of Grace conference 5 years ago!

*big cheesy grin*

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3) How many siblings do you have? I have three sisters:

Shelly (16), Eliza (13), and Samantha (11)

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4) What do you want to accomplish most in life? That would be

the Lord's will. ☺

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5) How tall are you?. I am 5' 1.

Ironically, when I was born my parents were told I would be tall!

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Well, that's it!

Thanks again for tagging me Moriah! Now I'm just going to

pass this along to anyone that sees it and wants to give it a try. ;-)

Have a blessed evening, everybody!

Read All About It!

2010-11-01T23:45:00.006-05:00

In this post you will find a conglomeration of random topics including:

My feelings on the first of November.
A hospital update.
Mustard.
Femininity.
Laughter.
And Scripture.

...All rolled into one...

...tee hee!

It's officially November.

Yay!

Update on Dad.
When I talked to my mom this evening she said my dad was feeling pretty good, which is a praise! He is scheduled to have his last plasma exchange on Thursday, so we're hoping he'll get to come home sometime this weekend. :)

Also, everything is finally approved for Dad to begin his MS treatments. Once he's out of the hospital he will be able to start monthly infusions for a drug called Tysabri. We're praying that it helps to relieve him of all his exacerbations, but most of all that the Lord be glorified through it!

#3
Did You Know?
Mustard works nicely as a quick pain reliever for most burns.

Emphasis on the word "most" in that last sentence. In a bit more severe case (such as the one pictured below) I've learned it really is quite pointless. lol!
.

(The above incident happened a few months ago.

As I lifted a lid off a pan of boiling soup, the steam shot right out and burned my wrist!)

Feelin' Feminine?

Eden is hosting this month's Feelin' Feminine Challenge, starting November 4th!

{Just click the button to find out more!}

I've loved getting to see past participant's outfits each day during the challenge, but I've never participated myself. SoOo, I've decided I'm going to join in this Thursday! Since I already wear skirts and dresses most of the time, this should be an easy challenge... But it will be a fun excuse to show a glimpse inside my wardrobe! ;-)

Laughing Out Loud.

"Our mouths were filled with laughter..." Psalm 126:2

Since Mom and Dad have been in the hospital, my sisters and I have slept in their bedroom together for the last few nights. Well, before we went to sleep yesterday we all took turns praying, and then turned out the lights and lay down. After a few minutes of complete darkness and silence... Shelly busted out laughing! I looked over at her and said, "What are you laughing about?!" She responded by mimicking a funny noise I had made earlier that day. You see, Eliza and Samantha were watching a movie while Shelly and I tried to take a nap that afternoon. As the two of us were lying in the bed, I had noticed something on my blanket that looked like a spider. I sat up quickly and realized it was only some black string. The room was completely quiet as I dropped back down on my pillow with an accidentally strange, high-pitched sigh of relief.

Needless to say, that's what got her rolling with laughter at 10:00 last night. And once she started laughing, I started laughing. We ended up sharing the story with Eliza and Samantha. Then all four of us were laughing and mimicking the same "funny noise" over and over.

Okay, I guess you had to be there. ;-)

#6
Random Bible Verse to Close

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Psalm 126

...........................................
Praise the Lord all the earth!
...........................................

Confidence in the Name of the Lord

2010-10-27T19:41:00.000-05:00

"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." Pr 3:25-26

Well, my dad is in the hospital again. But this time it's under much better circumstances when compared to his last stay in June/July. ...Let's consider the blessings, shall we? :)

Mom got to drive him there herself,

instead of having to call 9-1-1.

He's fully responsive,

instead of being totally unresponsive.

Well... I can't think of anything that fits here.

It just seems like there's always a "number three!" ;-D

Last week (and the week before) Dad started to slowly go downhill again. We noticed his balance and coordination were off and that he was having more trouble cognitively. Each day his symptoms seemed to gradually worsen. Mom ended up calling his MS doctor last Thursday and the doctor said he wanted to do an MRI. On Monday they got that done, and then yesterday they called and said he needed to be admitted in the hospital! (Even with all the surprises we've had thrown our way, we honestly weren't expecting to hear this one!) We found out he has a new, large 'enhancing' lesion on his corpus collosum. He also has a smaller lesion on his medulla, which controls the swallowing. Thankfully that lesion isn't considered to be enhancing. They were able to get Dad started on IV steroids last night, which they'll administer every 24 hours through next Sunday. They are also going to get him started on plasmapheresis treatments, hopefully sometime tomorrow. That being said, he will probably be in the hospital for a minimum of 10 days.

I can honestly say I'm feeling quite confident right now. And while the doctors, nurses, and entire medical staff are awesome at this particular hospital, our confidence does not lie in any one man's ability alone--but solely in God's healing power and provision! "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh..." Philippians 2:3b

Like always, God is in complete control of everything and we trust that He will work all things out according to his perfect will. In the mean time, we will continue to pray, trust, hope, and believe. :)

The fruit of righteousness will be peace;

the effect of righteousness will be quietness

and confidence forever.

Isaiah 32:17

This is the confidence we have

in approaching God: that if we ask anything

according to his will, he hears us.

1 John 5:14

Time for Another Miscellany Monday!

2010-10-25T18:10:00.000-05:00

{Click to join the fun!}

Clouds.

Shelly took pictures of some beautiful clouds that were in the sky last night, but there's just no way these photos could do them justice!

Isn't God's handiwork amazing?!

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the works of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge."

Psalm 19:1-2

I Love Doodling.

Yes, it's true.

I love doodling on sheets of paper. That being said, it's not unusual for someone to find something lying around the house with "Taylor" written all over it!

Dad's New Toy.

*wink* My dad now has his very own scooter! (Really a motorized wheelchair.) It belonged to my mom's aunt, but since she doesn't use it she gave it to our family. We need to buy a new battery before it will work, but it was so funny to see dad sitting in the seat moving the joystick around and making "vrooooom" noises! Haha! He can't wait to get that thing working. :D

"Punch it Margaret!"

Ever since I was a little girl my parents have often used this phrase when driving. Of course, my sisters and I never really understood what it meant. We just knew it was supposedly from a really old commercial.

Well...
Mom and Dad,
I found the commercial!

↓

...Tooo funny! :D

En el principio creo deos los cielos y la tierra.

TRANSLATION:

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

I learned to say this yeeears ago. (And it's still pretty much the only sentence I can successfully speak in Spanish!)

Skirts + Too Much Wind = Prepare for Lift Off!

Today has been TERRIBLY windy.

On days like this I've learned through trial and error that you want to wear longer, heavier skirts when you go out. ...Preferably something denim. ;) Otherwise, you just might fly away!

#7

Random Bible Verse

Alrighty, time for a random Bible verse to finish...

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20

I pray you all have a very blessed week as you give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! ;-)

Random Questions Tag: 8 + 8 = 16

2010-10-22T22:00:00.003-05:00

Since I was tagged twice with the same "8 Random Questions" tag, I decided to combine both of them together in one post... Therefore making a grand total of 16 questions! ;)

The first set is from

Buttercup at Soaring on Wings Like Eagles

and the second one is from

Polka Dot at Life's Too Short Not to Wear Red Shoes.

Thank you for thinking of me girls! :)

Here are the rules:

Answer the eight random questions. Then come up with your own eight questions and tag eight people to answer them!

***************

Tag #1
***************

1) Are you a "talk on the phone" person or an email/texting kind of person?

That's a good question. You see, I don't care much for talking OR texting... but if I had to choose I guess I'd go with talking! Although, texting would actually be more comfortable for me just because I inherited the dreaded "I hate talking on the phone disease" from my Daddy. ;) Nonetheless, talking is more personable and I appreciate that more!

2) Post the lyrics to your favorite song.

Well, I have several favorites... but this is one of them:

HEALER

by Kari Jobe

You hold my every moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

And heal all my disease

I trust in You, I trust in You

CHORUS

I believe You're my healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe You're my portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

BRIDGE

Nothing is impossible for you

Nothing is impossible

Nothing is impossible for you

You hold my world in your hands

And here's a video with the song if you'd like to listen... :)

3) If you could re-live any day in your entire life, what would it be?

I don't think I would choose to do that because I can honestly say I'm content with everything that's happened in my life! Each mistake has been a chance to learn and grow and (to be honest) if I got the chance to re-live something I just might make it worse!

4) If you were the ruler of a desert island what would you do to get people to come live there?

Well, I would only want people living there who were 100% sold out to and in love with Jesus Christ. That being

said, I would do my best to promote the Truth and leave the results up to God!

5) What is your favorite book of the Bible?

I think I'm gonna have to go with the book of Hebrews. I just love how it contains so much Old Testament history and applies it to the New Covenant. It's amazing how everything points towards Christ.

God is THE BEST author, for sure. ;)
.

6) Where is your favorite place to be in the entire world?

Yepper. :)
.

7) If you could do anything you wanted for one whole day, what would it be?

Serve God, help make a difference in someone's life ...and maybe even celebrate with a Sonic Java Chiller. ;-) tee hee

8) What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

I'm a thinker. So I love the opportunity to sit in peace and quiet with nothing to do but think, read, pray or meditate on God's word!

.
.

***************

Tag #2

***************

1. What character from a fictional book/movie do you most identify with?

This is such a tough question for me to answer! I know it's not a fictional story, but the first thing that always comes to mind is Mary Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie.

↑And you gotta love Pa Ingalls too! =)

2. Do you have any new obsessions? (a movie you can't stop watching, a CD you keep listening to, etc.)

Hmmm.... nothing comes to mind!

3. What is a clothing accessory that you couldn't live without?

This is gonna sound silly, but that would be my black undershirt. I seriously have to wear it with 80% of all my blouses! ...You should see me in my 'panic mode' when I can't find it. lol! I only have the one, so when it's missing I have to search high and low until it's safe and sound again. ;)

4. What is your favorite color combination (for clothing)?

I know I am sooooooo boring, but I have to say I love black and white together. Someday I'm gonna be really sick and tired of those two colors! lol Someday...

5. Do you own red shoes? ;-)

Yes! I have a pair of slip-on tennis shoes that are red with white laces. ;)

6. Do you have a signature scent, or a scent you generally like to wear?

I don't typically wear perfumes, but when I do I use Juicy Couture. Love that smell... :)

7. What is one thing that you want to do before you die?

Witness the impossible made possible through Jesus Christ.

8. Is there something you wish more than anything that you could do but know that isn't possible during your life on earth? ;-)

I'm sure there's something I could think of... but nothing comes to mind at the moment. Besides, with God *all* things are possible, right? :)

*****************

Alrighty. I'm going to cheat a little bit and skip out on tagging eight others. How 'bout this: If either of these tags look like fun to you... then they're all yours. Go for it! ;)

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

Top 5 Reasons Why I Love This Time of Year

2010-10-19T22:17:00.000-05:00

First off, I have to say that the ultimate reason I'm in love with Fall is because of the beautiful weather! Without the cool, crisp air that actually makes a Texan appreciate the feeling of warm sunshine... this season just wouldn't be the same. :)

Now that we've got that covered... *wink*

The colors...

I love earth tones. From the chocolate browns, to the dark greens, to the golden yellows and deep reds -- I love 'em all!

The books...

For some reason, this weather puts me in the mood to sit and read a good book outside... and our back porch is the perfect place to do it! ;)

The jackets...

I'm cold-natured and love a good excuse to wear cute jackets, sweaters, blazers, etc.

Denim, suade, courdoroy, fleece -- you name it, I'll probably be wearing it. :)

The coke floats?

Okay, our family doesn't typically get the chance to indulge in drinking a good coke float (or in my particular case, a Dr. Pepper float. ;) But when we were talking the other day and realized Eliza and Samantha had NEVER drank one before, we just *had* to splurge a little bit. :)

Hey, that was the first time we had gotten sodas in at least 4 months!

And let me tell you... it was reeaallly gooood.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Okay,

by now you're probably wondering about my "reason number five".

SoOo, here it is...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This month (October 23, to be exact!) marks 10 years since the day I was baptized!

(It's really weird to think that I'm old enough to say that now. lol! 10 years ago???

I can remember the night like it was yesterday... :)

*Praise the Lord all the earth!*

What's in a Name? ;-)

2010-10-15T16:53:00.000-05:00

For the purpose of remaining (somewhat) anonymous on my blog, I've always been careful to share little personal information about my family--including the real names of my three sisters. In the past I've referred to each of them by number (Sis #1, Sis #2, Sis #3... you get the idea!) Needless to say, I figured it was time I come up with something a little better than that. So, while the new Blogger names I'm giving them are not their true identities, they will have to do. ;)

***********************

Introducing

Without further ado

Shelly

currently 16 years old

{previously known as Sister #1}

Eliza

currently 13 years old

{previously known as Sister #2}

Samantha

currently 11 years old

{previously known as Sister #3}

********************************

Photo Credits

Yours truly - taken by Eliza

Shelly - taken by Mom

Eliza - taken by Yours Truly

Samantha - taken by Yours Truly

*********************************

There.

It's officially official. ;-)

Have a wonderful Friday, everyone!

♥

For Emily ...

2010-10-12T14:47:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take the time to direct you all over to sweet Emily's blog, as she is undergoing current treatment and preparations for a stem cell transplant in hopes of curing her cancer. She has such a sweet personality and her faith in the Lord is a true inspiration. I'm sure she would love to hear from you and know that more people are praying!

*Also*

As I've been following Emily's story for awhile now, I recently heard about a fast that is being held in her honor called OPERATION: COMBAT. The idea is to have people fasting and praying for Emily's healing during the duration of her treatment and one-month hospital stay in isolation. It is scheduled to begin on October 15 and last ideally through November 15. You can click the COMBAT button for more details. :)

To quote the Blogger heading up this challenge:

"We're praying and fasting to the One True God, who sent His Son to die on a cross for us (Jesus, who was raised up to life after He died). We believe that Jesus can heal Emily and wipe all traces of cancer from her body. We are praying in faith that He will heal her."

If you feel led, please join us as we fast and pray for Emily! :)

"So we fasted and petitioned our God about this,

and he answered our prayer."

{Ezra 10:23}

My First Miscellany Monday

2010-10-11T18:47:00.001-05:00

I decided today I would join in on some "Miscellany Monday" fun...

So, here goes!

-----------ll-----------ll-------------ll-------------ll-----------ll----------

# 1.

"Therefore love joy and peace."

Confused? Well, I was at first.

Quite a few weeks ago, I came across this Bible verse in Romans and could not make sense of it! For some reason the wires in my brain must have short-circuited because this sentence just wasn't clicking. I thought, "Where is the verb here? This is an incomplete sentence!"

After re-reading it ~~a couple~~ several times and applying some second grade grammar, I finally found it. :)

Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration... but it sure was fun! ;)

# 2.

100+ lb. Mama's boy.

...Enough said. :)

# 3.

Picture of an Orange Car.

A friend of ours owns this really neat Porsche:

I took a picture of it awhile back, and figured now would be a good time to share! ;)

# 4.

Coke vs. Dr. Pepper

While my family doesn't drink sodas anymore, I still find myself missing the days when I 'd have a yummy Dr. Pepper (along with a king size package of Reeses)... Mmm. The rest of my family typically preferred drinking a good ole' Coca-Cola.

Do you drink sodas? If so,

which do you prefer?

# 5.

I love roller coasters.

From the twisty-twirlies to the loop-the-loops,

the calm, relaxing to the giant thrillers... I love them all!

Okay, maybe there are a few exceptions. :)

(Personal footage below *wink*)

# 6.

I dislike snakes with a passion.

But they're tolerable when they look like this. :)

# 7.

Random Bible verse...

I just prayed for a verse to share with you all and randomly opened my Bible to Isaiah chapter 12. Since it's fairly short, I'll just type the entire passage!

In that day you will say:

"I will praise you, O LORD.

Although you were angry with me,

your anger has turned away

and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation."

In that day you will say:

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done,

and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,

for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

----------ll-----------ll----------ll----------ll------------ll----------

Well, that's a wrap!

I pray you all have a very blessed week. :)

You Were Bought at a Price

2010-10-08T20:55:00.000-05:00

The other day I remembered something my Dad preached about, years ago at our old church during the Lord's supper. He spoke on the topic that our salvation wasn't free--we were bought at a price. I thought this would serve as a great reminder to us all. :)

It's amazing to think that our salvation didn't come cheaply. At any moment God could have chosen to "lower the price" instead of sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins...

(Marking us down to 50% off, or buy 1 get 2 free, etc........ ;)

But He didn't! Each and every individual Christian was bought at the same price. And a very expensive price that was!

That price was the blood of Jesus Christ.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter 1:18-20

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How differently things would have turned out had the Lord decided that the blood of his Son was too high a price to pay... Nothing would be the same.

You are not your own;

you were bought at a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Praise the Lord all the earth! :)

Jumping for Joy -- Aspire Photo Challenge

2010-10-02T14:28:00.000-05:00

When I saw that this week's theme for

Hannah's photo challenge was

*Joy*

I couldn't resist entering this picture!

To me, this photo describes Sister #1 perfectly.

Fun,

Energetic,

Outgoing . . .

And always

jumping

for

joy!

Be joyful always...

1 Thessalonians 5:16

and have a blessed weekend, everyone! :)

I'm 6,484 Days Old (Yes, You Read That Right!)

2010-10-01T21:15:00.000-05:00

I was thinking the other day about what I should post next on my blog. I always want to write thought-provoking, encouraging, spiritual things that will benefit those who are reading, yet have fun and make it interesting too. =) SoOoOo... as I began thinking and praying about it several verses came to mind that had to do with the concept of "numbering our days". I felt like I should write a post around those verses with the thought that each and every day is precious and should not be wasted. Then the Lord gave me the idea to actually calculate how many days have gone by since the day I was born.

----------------------------
Thus this post begins...
----------------------------

Man's days are determined;

you have decreed the number of his months

and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Job 14:5

Isn't it comforting to know that our days were ordained for us before one of them came to be? (Psalm 139) The thought that God has pre-determined each and every day we will live out on this earth is mind-blowing for sure! Nothing can keep us from reaching the very last day He has determined for us. Nothing will allow us to live a day beyond that date. Basically, because we serve an infallible God, in a sense our days are infallible!

Show me, O LORD, my life's end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm 39:4

After reading that verse I can't help but wonder: What kind of situation would prompt such a request? It sounds to me like David was in need of divine inspiration. Reading through the entire chapter it becomes obvious that he was a bit unsettled. Crying out to God, he asked to be shown the number of his days. Now, I think that if I knew the exact number of my days, I might be motivated to live life a bit differently--with a new perspective and carefully making the most of every opportunity with what I had left! I have a feeling David needed that kind of inspiration. Many times, not until someone is given some kind of terminal diagnosis do they realize how fleeting life really is. It'll make you think twice about things you would have completely overlooked in the past. Why is that?

It's so easy to go through a day without taking the time to thank, praise, and worship God for who He is. With the many distractions this world holds, it's unfortunately become quite easy to forget about Him entirely. Sadly, we have to make an effort to keep our minds stayed upon Him because that's not something that comes naturally to us. If we truly realized how significant and holy He is, I don't think we'd have time for anything else! Think about it. The only reason you woke up today is because He wanted it to happen. The only reason you are breathing your next breath is because He's making it happen. He is 100% responsible for sustaining us through every moment. Without Him, let's face it, we wouldn't be here right now.

How great is God—beyond our understanding!

The number of his years is past finding out.

Job 36:26

On the opposite end of the spectrum, God's days are without number. He is the beginning and the end, eternally existent. That's not a God we should be able to forget.

Does a maiden forget her jewelry,

a bride her wedding ornaments?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

days without number.

Jeremiah 2:32

We don't want to be a people remembered for forgetting God.

So... let's make every day count!

Today I am

days old.

It's a brand new day the Lord has made.

I'm rejoicing right now...

and I'm glad in it! :)

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

{Psalm 90:12}

For Fun...

2010-09-26T19:16:00.000-05:00

I decided to join the blog party being hosted by Shannon at Below the Plateau! It includes several Etsy-sponsored giveaways, and also involves creating your own party post and answering some fun tag questions. So... Let's get started!

Ring! Ring! You receive a phone call from a national sweepstakes organization saying that you have won a life-time supply of your favorite beverage!! What would that drink be?

A caramel one to be exact.

Okay, so maybe this isn't technically considered a "drink"

...but it would be my pick anyway! ;)
.
.

If you could live in a Jane Austen novel, which book would you pick? What character would you be?

From Pride & Prejudice

Honestly, this is the only Jane Austen book I've ever read!
.
.

What is your theme song, that favorite song that absolutely matches you?

You are trapped on a deserted island. Your only supplies are the clothes you have on, and a box with five things in it. What are those five things?

#1 My Bible

#2 Matches

#3 Knife

#4 Pillow

#5 Blanket

Chocolate or Caramel?

Chocolate for sure. =)
.
.

Vacation! If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I think that would be Israel... or Rome... or Hawaii. Yeah. Definitely Africa. :D I'm so indecisive! I really would like to visit Israel though.
.
.

If forced to do one of the two, which would you do: sky diving or scuba diving? Why?

I think I would rather sky dive because I've always been kinda leery about ocean water. I'd rather jump out of the sky at 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 feet. lol!
.
.

Favorite TV show, and why?

Duggars: 19 Kids and Counting

It's encouraging to me because the Duggars share a lot of our same beliefs... and it's fun to see how their large family interacts and functions on a day-to-day basis!
.
.

Are you a coffee and donuts sorta lady, or a tea and scones type of gal?

In the past I think I would have leaned more towards tea and scones... but I sure LOVE doughnuts and I've recently started drinking coffee (after being dead-set against it for so long!) I have to say, I'm starting to really ~~like~~ love it. :) So... does "all of the above" count?
..
.

The time machine has finally been created, and you are the first to be able to use it! What era would you travel too?

Sometime during the 1800's - early 1900's. Don't ask me why. For some reason I'm really fascinated by the thought that it really wasn't toooo long ago, yet things were so different! I like to think about the fact that those were the times my grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents lived as well. :)
.
.

What is the last movie you watched?

A few minutes of Pearl Harbor on television.
.
.

Ding-dong!!! Your favorite actor/singer/celebrity is at your front door! Who would it be?

This is the best I could come up with. For some reason my mind is drawing a blank!

What was your absolute favorite toy as a baby?

His name was Puppy. (So original, right?) Naturally, he was a puppy... but with a puppet mouth.
.
.

What types of blogs do you like best? (examples: DIY, cooking, journal, ect.)

I love blogs written by people who are 100% sold out to and in love with Jesus Christ. They can be of any type and as long as it's obvious that Jesus is the center of their life, I love them! :)

What is your favorite Bible verse, your "life verse?"

"Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8

Alright, that was a lot of fun! I'm glad I was finally able to get this posted. (I've been working on it a little "here and there" for the last few days.) I pray you have a very blessed week, everyone! :)

::Update on Dad::

2010-09-22T19:28:00.001-05:00

A week ago Dad started having some symptoms that told us another lesion was growing. We first noticed he was having trouble staying upright when walking. For some reason he would naturally lean to the right and fall over if we didn't steady him. It gradually grew worse and by last Thursday (a week ago) he was flat on his back in bed, unable to walk on his own. Of course, Mom called his MS doctor that morning. The doctor never ordered an MRI but he did order 5-day steroid infusions to be administered by a home health company as soon as possible. That night Dad started vomiting each time he sat up or walked to the bathroom. We also discovered that his double-vision had come back too. When Mom talked to an on-call physician they said it sounded like the lesion was growing at the bottom of the brain stem because a lesion in that location would cause all three of his current symptoms. Needless to say, it wasn't until last Saturday that Dad got his first dose of steroids, making today his fifth and final day of treatment. And thankfully, he is doing way better; he's able to walk on his own with only slight trouble, and the nausea and double vision are gone! Thank you, Lord!!

Each time that Dad has had a new lesion grow it's only progressed in severity. This is the first time a lesion did not cause worse or more severe symptoms than the one before it! In all actuality, this go-around wasn't anywhere near as hard as it has been in the past. We're most definitely praising God for that victory.

As far as overall treatment goes, Dad is supposed to start an MS drug sometime in the near future. Right now we're in the process of getting things approved, etc. We've prayed and prayed about it, and we continue to trust all things to the Lord. He's the one responsible for opening doors that need to be opened and shutting those that need to be shut... So we're confident that if it's His will for Dad to take this drug then He'll make sure it happens! If not, we know He'll prevent it. Either way, God knows what's best and it's all in His hands.

Anyway, I thought I would type this update so everyone would know what's been going on. Thank you to all of you who are praying. As always, your prayers are greatly appreciated by our family. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH. :)

New Blog Look... & Giveaways!

2010-09-21T21:50:00.001-05:00

Yes, I finally did it. After going so long with the same blog design I decided it was time for some change around here! I'm still in the midst of tweaking a few things, but I think I've got the basic overall look. Feel free to let me know what you think! ;)

(I think I'm going to miss her! lol)

As for the giveaways . . .

Lindsay is hosting a very special giveaway including some great fall lovelies!

Eden is also having her own giveaway in celebration of her 1-year blogging anniversary!

Be sure to head on over and check both of these out! You won't want to miss all the fun. ;) Have a blessed evening!!

Wanna Learn More About Me?

2010-09-15T19:24:00.000-05:00

--------------------------------

Well, this post is going to be filled with plenty of fun facts (i.e., I'm getting pretty good at going at least a week without posting--sorry about that!), my favorite things, and even a glimpse at what my handwriting looks like! I hope you ENJOY . . . ♥

---------------------------------

First off, Abigail tagged me with this quick little questionnaire! Thanks Abby! ;)

Country or city? Country for sure. :)

What is your favorite color? P u r p l e

How many states have you been to? Five

What is your favorite Bible verse? James 4:8 "Come near to God and he will come near to you."

What is your favorite song? That's a tough question! There's just too many to choose from. :)

Would you rather be inside or outside your house? Hahahahahaha...... everyone that knows me knows my answer..... That would be: inside my house. Final answer. =)

Do you like pens or pencils? Pencils

What is your favorite memory? I have so many, but one that randomly comes to mind is playing with my sisters in our old backyard before any of us were teenagers. We lived in the city then, and had the PERFECT climbing tree and a wooden (log cabin) playhouse. We would oftentimes pretend the tree was a spaceship and we all had our special "spots" where we climbed up on to sit at our individual stations. We would also set up the playhouse to be a number of things such as a doctors office, McDonalds (lol), and even a mechanics auto shop with our own bays and an indoor "office" to boot! (Our Dad has always been an automotive mechanic and we loved visiting him at work and seeing what the environment was like at his job. :) Oh, and did I mention we used our bicycles as the "cars" that needed to be worked on?? That reminds me how every now and then we would even pretend the bikes were our horses. We would set up race tracks around the yard and even a few small ramps for our horses to "jump". ;)

Okay, that was one big memory. :D Now I'll pass this tag along to anyone who sees it and wants to give it a try!

Next, I've decided to do this "Handwriting" tag I saw going around for awhile. Here are the rules:

Write down the following, snap a picture (or scan the document), post it, and tag others.

#1 Name/Blog Name
#2 Right handed, left handed or both
#3 Favorite letters to write
#4 Least favorite letters to write

#5 Write: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

#6 Write in caps: CRAB HUMOR KALEIDOSCOPE PAJAMAS GAZILLION

#7 Favorite song lyrics

#8 Who you'd like to tag
#9 Any special note or drawing

And here is the finished product... *drum roll*

*Don't mind the drawing that's slightly showing through
this sheet of paper. That's just what happens when you
leave it lying on the desk without supervision BEFORE the
photo is taken. I guess it's also Sister #3's technique of
sneaking her way into a blog post! lol Tee Hee.... Well, it
worked! ;) (The funny part is that I didn't even notice it
until I was previewing this post. :D)

Well, that concludes this "fun" post. I really do hope you enjoyed reading. :) "Have a wonderful day!"

Patient Endurance

2010-09-06T12:28:00.000-05:00

As I'm nearing the end of my Bible-in-a-year plan, I'm reading a lot of the book of Revelation. This particular book of the Bible is a mind-boggler for sure. It's amazing how much depth this book contains. It definitely requires reading with a discerning spirit! One phrase that has especially stood out to me these last couple of days is the words "patient endurance". Several times John tells us in the book of Revelation, "This calls for patient endurance." It was an eye-opener that got my mind going as I began to think about the many trials and tribulations that are now present, and those that are soon to come. Obviously, having patient endurance is a real key and plays a significant role in these things because the Lord repeatedly reminds us that we must patiently endure. Here is a quick excerpt from 2 Corinthians that gives an example of that which produces this "patient endurance":

"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer." 2 Corinthians 1:5-7

However great or small, sufferings in this life will come. Anyone who claims Christ Jesus as their Savior will in some way suffer for His name. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

"This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." Revelation 14:12

It's my prayer that the Lord will provide me with the ability to endure patiently through all the things he has planned for my life. Without His help I know it is impossible... but with God ALL things are possible! ;)

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!

Happy Sweet Sixteen ~ to My Little Sis . . .

2010-08-30T14:32:00.001-05:00

Happy 16th birthday,

Sister #1

Sixteen Wonderful Things About You:

#1 Your smile

#2 Your funny sense of humor :D

#3 Your thoughtfulness

#4 Your creativeness

#5 Your ability to take care of and play

with children and babies so well

#6 Your resourcefulness when it comes to

working outdoors-where I'm not so resourceful!

#7 Your Christlike spirit

#8 Your love for reading

#9 Your ability to accomplish whatever you

set your mind to do

#10 Your confidence

#11 Your baking... it's always yum-o!

#12 Your pretty blonde hair and blue eyes

#13 Your amazing talent to mow large areas of

grass in no time at all. ;D

#14 Your beautiful singing voice

#15 Your hugs

#16 And last but not least...

the fact that you are always there for me when I need you.
We are definitely total opposites, and I know we
don't always get along, but whenever it comes to
doing something important it's been a tremendous blessing
to have you right there with me. There are so many examples I
can think of when you and I had to work together to take care
of something. And--by God's grace--we've always been able to get it done. We really have been through so much together, and it's at times like this when I realize just how thankful I am to have YOU as my sister. You are so special to me. Thanks for everything. I hope you have a wonderful, blessed birthday!!!

I love you SO much!

Cough Sniffle Cough

2010-08-29T16:25:00.001-05:00

All last week I was sick with a terrible sore throat, fever, and congestion. Yuck! My mom and Sister #1 both had it a couple of weeks before, so I guess I was next in line. :) I was able to visit the doctor's office on Thursday and tested positive for strep throat. I've been on antibiotics since then and today feel SO much better. Praise the Lord!

There's nothing like being sick to help put things in better perspective for you. It sure makes me realize just how easily I take my good health for granted. There's always a reason to give thanks to God, and today I'm thanking him for my health. :)

"My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:20-23

*So happy*

Dear friends, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all is well with you today! (My paraphrase from 3 John 1:2 :) Have a blessed week!

These Days ...

2010-08-19T16:47:00.002-05:00

I'm spending lots of time with my Daddy.

I didn't realize just how much of each day I spend sitting around with my Dad, until he and my mom left for appointments all day Tuesday. It was then that I realized after finishing my daily "tasks" that I had nothing to do. I was so bored and couldn't figure out why it seemed like the day was dragging on. Typically, it's the other way around and I feel like I'm trying to sqeeze in all my responsibilities and ideas for the day before its over. So thanks for always keeping me occupied, Daddy! --Or maybe it's the other way around. ;)

When I'm not with Dad, I'm spending time with Mom. :D

I've always enjoyed talking to my mom about everything. We spend a lot of time together discussing our struggles, things that need to get done and how to do them, things that God has been showing us lately, or even what we're going to make for dinner that night, etc. We really do talk about everything! I'm so thankful for the closeness of our relationship. It's so nice to really have a best friend you can tell everything to. And that's exactly what she is to me!

I'm getting ready to start my homeschool Senior year.

...And I can't wait to say this ↓ :D

I've been planning out my schedule and workload for the next school year, and I'm getting really excited about the prospect of graduating from "highschool". I plan to start this year's curriculum the first week in September... That's only two weeks away!

I'm Driving

^ And here's the proof. :D

I've been doing quite a bit of driving around the area lately. Whenever we need to make a grocery run or go on a few errands, I take the opportunity to add some hours to my time "behind the wheel". I still only have my permit so one of my parents has to be sitting in the passenger seat, but I'm working on finally getting my license. It's just a matter of time...... :)

I'm about to complete my plan for reading through the Bible in a year...

For the second time! I first took the challenge of reading my entire Bible through the course of a year in January of 2008. I learned a lot through that year and was able to stick with the reading plan and finish in January of 2009. ...A huge accomplishment for me! For the next few months I enjoyed reading at my own pace. Not until September did I feel the need to start following the plan again for three reasons:

Honestly, there were days when I failed to read my Bible at all because it simply didn't cross my mind. With following the reading plan I was motivated to dig into Scripture every single day.
I remembered reading about a man who was in his 10th year of reading through the entire Bible. Once he would finish, he would start all over again! I decided there really wasn't a reason why I shouldn't continue reading through the whole Bible either. Doing so would only be beneficial! :)
Like I said in the beginning, I felt led to do it!

I'm excited about finishing, but of course that won't really be the end. ;) I have so much more to gain in knowledge and depth of insight... I will continue reading until the day I die! Or until Jesus comes back to get me. Either one. :)

So there you have it! That's an overall look at what I've been up to lately. :) I hope you enjoyed reading. Have a blessed day everyone!

♥ Happy 20th Anniversary . . .

2010-08-18T15:10:00.001-05:00

To my wonderful Mom & Dad. I love you both very much, and I'm proud to call you my parents. I couldn't have been more blessed with such amazing, full-time, godly role models. =) I hope you enjoy your special day! I love you, Taylor

1 Corinthians 13:4 - 8

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails." ♥

Meet Our Newest Additions:

2010-08-12T20:56:00.012-05:00

We recently got three goats, and of course I have plenty of photos to share. :)

This is Sis #1's goat.

Her name is Lilly...

And as you can see, she enjoys eating trees. =)

This is Sis #3's goat.
Her name is Rosey...

As you can see, she likes eating trees too. =)

This is Sis #2's goat.
Her name is Baley...

And as you can see, she likes eating weeds. =D

These goats are so precious!

...And they're friendly too.

Sooo... we now have a total of 5 "pet" farm animals: Molly (one of our cows), Darcy (my cow), Lilly, Rosey, & Baley! And yes, their names intentionally all rhyme with each other. And yes, they intentionally all consist of 5 letters each. You know how girls are... ;) I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Have a blessed week!

"...There the wild goats will leap about..."

Isaiah 13:21

Wanna Enter An Exciting Giveaway?

2010-08-09T15:46:00.005-05:00

Lindsay is hosting her first ever Etsy giveaway!!

So head on over to check it out. ;)

40 Years Old Today...

2010-08-06T00:11:00.016-05:00

************************************

I'm so glad God blessed me with such

an AMAZING father like you.

I love you very much,

Taylor

.♥

Time For Some Catching Up!

2010-07-27T13:48:00.016-05:00

Oh, wow...

Has it really been OVER a week since my last post?!? I guess it has! Sorry about that. :) I thought I would spend this post catching up on everything that's been going on.

.............................................

Last week... a friend of mine {her name is Emma} came to visit. She lives over an hour away (where we used to live) so she stayed with us the entire week. Every summer we make plans to see each other, and since she already has her license (*chuckle* --still working on mine!) this year it was her turn to come see me! ;) There are at least 4 things we typically do every summer.

#1 - Play cards. California Speed & Nertz are our all-time favorites. ;)

#2 - Go swimming. (In some form or fashion.) In the past we've gone to water parks and even jumped off docks into the lake, but this year we had to settle for something a little less extravagant: the pool in my backyard. :D

#3 - Go to the movie theater. In 2007 we saw Fantastic Four 2. I don't remember what we saw in 2008, but last year we saw Race to Witch Mountain and this year we saw the new movie Inception. (It was pretty good. Except for some unnecessary profanity. Argh!)

And last but not least...

#4 - Make cupcakes!! :D

Emma loved wearing my *fabulous* cupcake apron...

which fit in just perfectly for the occasion! ;)

These are our colorful creations... :)

Anyway, we had a really nice time together. Maybe next summer *I* can drive up to her house for a visit. ;D

..................................................

Now onto this week...

Monday I went with my parents to several different appointments for my Dad. In between appts. we made a stop at a nearby Bass Pro Shops store. Mom agreed to take Dad there as long as he would comply to using his wheelchair once inside. Of course, he did. ;) I ended up buying him a new Bass Pro cap, and I even got one for myself. :D

Tuesday there were no appts. scheduled, so Mom decided to use that opportunity to take Sisters #2 and #3 to see a movie with Dad.

They saw Despicable Me.

And of course, my sisters loved it! :)

Wednesday I had to go with my parents to Dad's speech and physical therapy at the rehab center, because I had an appointment with my orthodontist afterwards... Ah, the dreaded dentist.

(Not my picture)

I haven't mentioned this on my blog before, but I finally got braces put on last May. I missed my June and July appointments, but Mom was finally able to call and reschedule. ...I forgot how much I appreciate being able to eat and chew food without any pain! lol Now my mouth is very sore, but it should be feeling better in a couple of days. :)

................................................

Today I stayed home with my little sisters while Sis #1 went with Mom and Dad for more speech and physical therapy at the rehab. Dad is still doing well. His trouble with being able to find the right words when speaking is still a bit of an issue, but he doesn't seem to have a problem with being confused anymore. Praise God! Please keep praying for us as we are about to make a decision on what method of treatment we need to use. We only want to be obedient to the Lord's will and whatever He has planned for Dad--whether that be a certain diet, MS drug, etc. Either way, we know that ultimately his healing will be from the Lord. :)
Alrighty! I think that about sums up these past two weeks for me. I thought I would end this post with a Bible verse of praise to the Lord...

"The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory... Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD."
Psalm 102:15, 18
Praise the Lord! :)
I hope you all have been enjoying a lovely week. God bless!

How Great is Our God!!!

2010-07-18T14:17:00.009-05:00

Praise the Lord! Mom and Dad are home! Daddy ended up spending one week at the rehabilitation center after he was released from the hospital. Mom said she saw more and more improvement each day he was there. He's still not communicating at 100% yet, but we are so thankful he's doing so much better. When he left in an ambulance almost 3 weeks ago, he was completely rigid and stiff. His body would not bend and he was completely non-responsive. But now, he's walking with very little assistance and his understanding has improved tremendously! Thank you, God!

Of course, we're really glad to have them home once more. Hopefully this will never happen again! Please pray that his symptoms will not progress, but that they will be completely resolved--and soon!! But most importantly, pray for the Lord's will to be done in our lives, because His will is best.

Now onto another note...

Would you like to see a picture of Dad's "battle scars" from the brain biopsy?!? Well first I have to tell you something.

After Dad was first diagnosed with "an inoperable brain tumor" in May of 2009, someone shared an amazing YouTube video with us. It was about laminin. Laminin is a protein molecule responsible for literally holding our bodies together. (There are a lot of other fancy, technical terms I could use, but let's just stick with that short explanation for now. ;) To understand how amazing this really is you have to see a picture of it for yourself! Here is a scientific diagram of laminin:

Isn't that amazing?! God designed the stuff that holds our bodies together in the perfect shape of a cross. (Also notice the three separate chains that intertwine, representing the three ways God manifests Himself to us as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.) Wow! What makes this even more amazing is that God Himself confirms this to be true in Colossians chapter 1, where it says: "In Him all things hold together." ... He means it literally! Dad went on to preach a sermon highlighting this subject at three different churches last year. He was invited to speak at others but never had the opportunity to do so.
So now, would you like to see the picture his scar?
First...
You have to see an actual microscopic image of laminin:

And now...

Here is a picture of the scar that's left on Daddy's head:

Laminin!
Do you see the resemblance? (You can click to enlarge the picture if you want.) Maybe it's not so noticeable to everyone, but when we first saw it we felt like this was God's way of giving our family a permanent, outward, physical sign and reminder of His omnipresence in every situation! Thank you, Lord!

.....

Anyway... I know this made for a pretty lengthy post, but I just had to share! If you'd like to see the amazing 9-minute video I mentioned, click HERE. You won't regret taking the time to watch it! ;) ~Have a blessed week, everyone!

.....

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

Colossians 1:16-20

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH. :)

Top 2 Photos: courtesy of Google Images

Birthday Blessings . . .

2010-07-08T10:08:00.015-05:00

...

Today is Sister #2's thirteenth birthday! My goodness... I cannot believe how quickly the years have gone by. I remember the days of climbing trees, playing in the water hose, dressing up, "spying" on Dad while he would mow the lawn, taking trips to the park, jumping on the trampoline, doing flips all over the couch... along with all the other fun things we did when we were girls--as if it were only yesterday! Where has the time gone?

...

............................................

I'm so thankful for all the memories we've made together,

and I'm even more thankful that you are my sister.

I love you very much, Sis! And I hope you have a

wonderful 13th birthday. You truly do deserve it. :)

"The blessing of the Lord be upon you."

.................. Psalm 129:8 .................

A Very Happy Fourth of July...

2010-07-04T19:21:00.010-05:00

...

Last night my grandparents took my sisters and I to

see the fireworks show in town. It was really neat!

...

I decided ahead of time to take my camera along and give its

"fireworks" setting a try. ;) I was so surprised at how well the

pictures turned out! I took a whole bunch of photos, but the

two above are my most favorites. :)

...

Anyway, the best news is that I got to visit my Mom & Dad at the hospital today, and I had such a nice time! (It definitely made for a very happy fourth of July. ;) I was really glad to see Dad happy and talking better, and I noticed a big difference in his ability to understand things and speak with words that made sense. We're hoping he can come home soon, but he may need to have a plasmapheresis treatment (which will help take the swelling in his brain back down) before he can leave the hospital. If so, it will be at least another 10 days before they can leave. Either way, we know He's in the Lord's care and God is in control of just how long he's stays. :)

Well, I hope you all have been enjoying a very blessed Fourth of July.... I know I have! =)

Remember to be thankful for the freedom we share in our country, and to pray for those who continue fighting for that freedom. But more importantly, let's praise God for the freedom we share in Jesus Christ!

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."

Romans 8:20, 21

Praise the Lord all the earth!

Dear Lord,

2010-07-02T11:08:00.006-05:00

Dad had the biopsy early this morning and all went very well! Mom said he's awake now and when she walked in the room for the first time, he said, "There's my Mama!" (He always calls her Mama or Mommy, because we do.) She also said he's happy and talking a lot too.

Praise the Lord for watching over Dad, and for guiding the hands of the neurosurgeon! It is one of the BIGGEST reliefs to have that biopsy out of the way now! Oh, I AM SO HAPPY!! :D

... Just had to get that out of my system. ;)

Now, there are still going to be lots of big decisions to make soon. And we have to continue to pray that the biopsy did not cause any permanent damage or side-affects. We know God has all those things under control and we continue to trust everything to Him. For now, we'll just wait patiently on the Lord and keep praising Him no matter the situation. To God be the glory forever!

...

"Praise be to you, O LORD,

God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness

and the power

and the glory and the

majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and

earth is yours.

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;

you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;

You are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,

and praise your glorious name!"

1 Chronicles 29:11

...

I hope you are all enjoying your Friday!

God bless!

Photo: Courtesy of Google Images;

Edited by Sis #1 and Me. :)

Great is the Name of the Lord

2010-06-30T21:09:00.003-05:00

"For the LORD is the great God,

the great King above all gods."

PSALM 95:3

Well, Dad is back in the hospital again. He had to be taken by ambulance Monday afternoon because he was non-responsive and couldn't move when Mom tried to wake him up. His left eye wouldn't open either. He's already had a CT scan which showed that there is a whole lot more swelling and shifting of the brain than there was when he was there two weeks ago. The doctors are wanting to do a biopsy soon, so we can hopefully figure out what this is we're dealing with. Mom just told me that they're hoping to get it done either tomorrow or the next day. We're really praying for the biopsy to go extremely well and for the Lord's will to be accomplished through it. We're also praying for the swelling and ALL of his symptoms to go away very soon.

Anyway, I thought I would give you all a quick update on what's been going on. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement. It really means a lot to our family! :) We know we serve a great God, and He holds us in the palm of His hand. His timing is perfect and we trust in Him completely for all things. ...We know His purpose will stand!

"No one is like you, O LORD;

you are great,

and your name is mighty in power."

Jeremiah 10:6

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH! :)

Picture above: Dad sitting on the couch arm "ponderin'"! ;)

TO:

2010-06-25T22:53:00.004-05:00

Daddy

FROM:

Me :)

-----------------------------

Okay, I know Father's Day was almost a week ago...

but I just couldn't resist posting this picture!

Unfortunately, Dad is still having trouble with being confused and not always understanding what we say. He's also having a hard time communicating with the right words. So... whenever we try to tell him something and he starts getting frustrated because he doesn't understand, we just say,

"I love you!"

And he smiles and says, "I love you."

-------------------------------

Daddy, I can't wait for you to get better. I know you like to take a peek at my blog every now and then, so I'm leaving this here as a surprise for when you are well and come back!

These past few weeks have been tough, and I realize at this point it's not yet over. But I am confident that God will restore you to good health soon. I know He has a purpose and a plan that is being carried out, and we all trust that His will is going to be accomplished. And I pray when that time comes we will all be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Until then... "Press on!" :)

I love you.

And I ALWAYS will.

_____________

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive a crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

James 1:2-4, 12

Dear Daddy,

2010-06-20T13:08:00.003-05:00

And thank you for all that you do! I'm SO thankful to have such an amazing daddy like YOU. I hope that you have a wonderful day filled with many blessings from the Lord! I love you so very, very much!! :)

Love Always,

♥ Taylor

"The LORD is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise him,

my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Happy Birthday, to My Best Friend :)

2010-06-12T20:56:00.007-05:00

I couldn't let the day pass without wishing my dear Mommy a happy, happy birthday! She is such a special person to me and she truly is my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without her! :)

---------------------------------------

Thank you, Mommy, for all that you do.

You do such a wonderful job at taking care of us girls,

and Daddy too.

I am so grateful to have a loving, godly mother like you.

I love you so very much.

Happy Birthday!

~Love you, Taylor

---------------------------------------

My Mom at a birthday party when she was a little girl.

(Pictured front right, with the black socks!)

"This is the day that the Lord has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

Psalm 118:24

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

2010-06-11T16:51:00.010-05:00

Hi everyone!

Yes, today marks the end of our one-month fast from electronics... and I have a lot to share. :)

Unfortunately, my dad ended up in the hospital again. For quite a few weeks he had been having some trouble with high blood pressure and extreme fatigue. Other than that, he seemed to be doing pretty well health-wise. Then, last Saturday (June 5) I woke up at 7:00am to my alarm going off. I quickly silenced it and rolled back over to catch some more sleep. Surprisingly, Sister #1 woke up soon after that and left to help Mom with breakfast and making orange juice for everyone. (She's usually the one who sleeps in late!) Next thing I know, it's 8:00am and she comes running in the room saying, "Tay wake up! We need to pray for Daddy; I think something's wrong." I shot right up and asked what was going on. She said, "I don't know. But Mom went in her bedroom to get Daddy up and she never came back. So I went in their room and saw her sitting next to Dad who was lying on the bed. His eyes were just wandering around the room. I sat down next to them and she told me that I needed to leave. I left and shut the door, but stayed close by listening. She was repeating his name over and over but he never would respond. Then she called "___" (who is a nurse) and asked if she needed to call 9-1-1." So, we both prayed and then ran to the kitchen. I won't go into all the details of what took place after that. But Mom did call 9-1-1 and the ambulance eventually arrived. The paramedics came inside, placed Dad on the stretcher, and then my sisters and I watched as they wheeled him out the door and down the ramp with our Mom following closely behind. As she went out the door we were all in tears and as her own tears began rolling down her face she said, "Just pray, okay? Just pray. I love you."

Long story short, after six long days passed... I am happy to report that Mom and Dad are now back home! They got here this afternoon and we are so happy to have them with us again. Our Nana took my sisters and I to see them in the hospital the day after they left, but it wasn't an easy visit. Daddy was lying in the hospital bed confused and unable to communicate with words that made sense. He didn't really acknowledge us or know who we were, and he was suffering from a bad headache. After a couple of hours we left. Needless to say, he still has not completely recovered but he is much, much better! Yesterday Mom called to tell us that Dad was asking about "the girls" and that he wanted to come home. He isn't as confused anymore and he usually makes sense when he talks. :)

As far as the results found on the MRI's go, he now has one very large lesion covering a lot of the left hemisphere of his brain and some other smaller lesions scattered in different places. The doctors are all pushing to do a biopsy on that larger lesion so they can hopefully finally determine a firm diagnosis for him, because they've never been able to give us one. Some of them say they're 100% sure he has MS, but others still aren't willing to rule out lymphoma. We're praying and seeking God's will on what to do about that. We know we still want to follow the diet therapy that we're on, but we're specifically praying for the Lord to show us what to do as far as a decision about the biopsy goes. We know it's all in His hands and we're trusting Him to lead, guide, and direct us--as we know He has been and will continue to do.

~

Now, I'd also like to tell you all how glad I am to be back in Bloggerland. :) I have to admit that I enjoyed the break quite a bit. It was nice to be able to take my focus away from so many electronics for so long. But I also enjoy hearing from each of you and getting to keep up with your posts as well. =) I do want to keep my time on the computer limited, though. (Just to warn you! :D) A lot of times I find myself feeling "obligated" to post something, but I'd really like to make blogging more of a special thing I get to do every now and then--instead of having it be a regular part of my life! I hope you all understand. Right now especially, though, I feel like it is important for me to concentrate my time on my family. (Don't worry I'm not saying that I'm leaving. Just that I'll be blogging in moderation. ;)

SoOoOo...

Anyway, I hope and pray that all of you are doing well (and that I didn't overwhelm you with too many details about my dad! I'm a very detail-oriented kind of person and it's hard for me to leave stuff out. Lol!).

Thank you for all your prayers. God is faithful and we know He continues to watch over our family. ...Have a very blessed weekend, everyone!

------------------------------------------------------------------

"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Nehemiah 9:5b-6

------------------------------------------------------------------

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!

Before I Go...

2010-05-13T14:00:00.032-05:00

... I have a few more awards to post! Since there are so many of them and I don't have much time, I think I'm going to do what Lindsay did in her post and skip out on the tag portions that are supposed to be included. ...I hope that's okay with everybody! :) Also, I'm going to "officially" tag anyone who hasn't been awarded with one of these yet!

...........................................................................
The Best of Friends Award

............................................................................

From...

Liz Darcy & Eden!

.............................................................................
The Beautiful Blogger Award

..............................................................................

From...

Leah & Lindsay!

............................................................................
The Sweet Friend Award

............................................................................

From...

Eden & Liz Darcy!

............................................................................
The Faithful Commenter Award

.............................................................................

From...

Lindsay!

............................................................................
The Prolific Blogger Award

............................................................................

From...

Lindsay & Liz Darcy!

..............................................................................

The Lemonade Stand Award

...............................................................................

And lastly,

but certainly not least,

this one is from...

Eden!

~

Wow, thank you so much to every

one of you girls for thinking of me!
I love the awards and I really do

appreciate all the sweet things you

mentioned about me in your posts.
Thank you! :)

Now...

It's time for me to go! I won't be posting here or using the Internet again for an entire month. I'm going to miss you all! But, I have to admit I'm looking forward to all the time that my family will be spending together as we read and study God's word. :)

I pray that you all have a wonderful

and blessed start to Summer! =)

May the Lord bless you and keep you!

Photo credit: Taken & edited by me. :)

Just So You Know...

2010-05-11T14:20:00.012-05:00

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that as of this Friday I will be taking at least a month-long break from blogging. :) Our family has started a study on Biblical holidays together and we're really excited to learn more about the significance of Christ behind Jewish feasts and festivals celebrated in the Bible. The holiday that is coming up next on the Jewish calendar is Pentecost, which occurs during the month of Sivan. So, we've decided that we'd like to fast from all electronics for the month of Sivan (which starts this Friday) and spend more quality time with each other and studying God's word. :) There is so much to learn about and we're really ready to dig in! I know this will honestly be a much-needed break for us all. (I'm sure once we start we'll realize just how much of our days are spent using some kind of electronic device! :) I don't think it will be too difficult of a challenge, but I am definitely going to miss reading everyone's posts for the next month... I always enjoy logging into my blogger dashboard and finding new updates! ;)

Anyway, I'm planning on writing at least one more post before I go. (I have a few more tags and awards I need to do! :) So this won't be the last time you hear from me. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up!

I hope that you are all enjoying your week. Have a blessed day!

Dear Mom,

2010-05-09T20:13:00.009-05:00

Thank you so much for all that you are and all that you do. I pray that you have a wonderful and blessed Mother's Day. I love you! ♥

Love,

Taylor

"A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies...

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

'Many women do noble things

but YOU surpass them all!'"

PROVERBS 31:10, 28-29

A Few Tags & Awards

2010-05-01T21:07:00.011-05:00

Hi everybody! I've been working on this post a little "here and there" since last Saturday. Now I'm finally getting it up! Whew... this has been one busy week so far! ;)

...

Liz Darcy, Rachelle, & Eden all tagged me with the "Pure in Heart" award. Thank you so much to each of you girls for thinking of me! I really do appreciate it. :)

Now, this award does come with a few rules! So here they are:

1. Post about the tag.
2. Choose 5 bloggers who deserve this award.
3. Leave a comment on the blogs of the people you tagged, letting them know they were awarded.
4. Answer the questions along with your post. (Omit questions you don't want to answer.)

Apples, oranges, or bananas?

Definitely bananas... although I do love orange juice!

How many siblings do you have?

I have three sisters. =)

Do you live on a prairie, woodland, city, or other?

Hmm... I don't live on a prairie, and it's not really wooded here. I also don't live in the city (we say we're out in the "country"), so I guess my answer would have to be "other"!

Scissors or glue?

I guess I'll go with scissors!

Is your room clean?

Well, when I first started this post it was! I have to admit that it's gotten a little messy since then. ;D

Italy, Greece, France, Spain, or England?

I choose England.

What denomination are you?

I'm a Christian, saved by the grace of Jesus and redeemed by His precious blood.

Gum, chocolate, or jelly beans?

First of all, I've never liked jelly beans! ... I'm definitely choosing chocolate. :D

What is your favorite book?

First and foremost, the Bible. But there are also a lot of other books I love. I don't think I can pick just one, though! ;)

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

If you had to eat one type of food for two weeks, what would that food be?

Probably organic potatoes. They're filling, decent without seasonings, and they're healthy too! =D

What is your favorite Olympic sport?

I love to watch figure skating in the winter, and gymnastics in the summer!

Describe yourself in three words:

Faithful, honest, and caring. :)

What chore do you dislike?

I think my least favorite would have to be sanitizing the bathrooms. =)

Now I will award:

Lindsay at Content in Christ :: Samantha at Set-Apart Living :: Morgan at A Day in the Life of a Southern Girl :: Shannon at Below the Plateau :: and Alli at Waiting for Rain

...

This next award was also given to me by Eden. Thank you, Eden!

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. State 5 random facts about yourself.

2. Award 5 of your stylish blogging friends.

Hmm... Well, I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. (Although, I don't consider that to be very random! :)

I just finished reading the modernized version of Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night" for school.

I just started reading "Robinson Crusoe" for school.

I used to love climbing trees!

And... It's always hard for me to come up with random facts about myself! (...Does that count as an answer?? ;)

Now I will give this award to:

Samantha at Set-Apart Living :: Tessa at Chase Your Dreams :: Leah at Fleurs des Champs :: Amber at Taking Life One Step at a Time :: and Samarah at Samarah's Sayings

...

Now, I've also been tagged by Abigail at A Light to Follow! Thank you Abigail. =)

YOU CHOOSE:

Cherries or blueberries?

That's actually a pretty hard choice for me! I like them both. :) I think I'll go with "cherries", though.

Dogs or cats?

Another hard choice! But I think I like dogs better.

Beds or sleeping bags?

Definitely beds!

Hamburger or hot dog?

I've never cared for hot dogs, but I do love hamburgers! :)

Typing or writing?

Hmm... I guess I'll go with "writing".

Day or night?

I love the sunshine, but I also love nighttime! I guess I'll go with "night".

Beach or lake?

The lake. Honestly, I don't care for large waves and I love jumping off docks at the lake!

Christmas or Easter?

Christmas!

Math or reading?

Definitely reading! I've never liked math, but I love to read. =)

Tests or studying?

Hmm... I think I like the tests better because they don't take so much time.

Pens or pencils?

I love using pencils. :)

Caterpillars or butterflies?

Butterflies. They're just so pretty!

Okay, now I'll tag:

Buttercup at Soaring on Wings Like Eagles :: Haley at Haley's Happenings :: Leah at The Narrow Path :: Taylor at Soar on the Wings of Eagles. :: and Charity at Her Price is Far Above Rubies

...

I pray you have a very blessed day, everyone!

Come Join the Fun!!

2010-04-30T10:05:00.008-05:00

Hannah over at Aspire is hosting the LAST week of her four-week Planting Chums event. There are a lot of exciting giveaways involved... So you really might want to check it out. =)

This week we're supposed to post "Four Fun Facts" about ourselves. So, here I go...

***

#1 Alright. This is kind of embarrassing... but I actually had to go to WWW.Merriam-Webster.Com and look up the definition of the word "chum". Haha! I just couldn't resist sharing that as my first "fun fact"! ;D I already had an idea of what it meant and Sis #1 did tell me herself, but I guess it's just one of those things you have to see for yourself! lol

#2 I'm 17 years old and still like to sit in my daddy's lap. :)

#3 I love thunderstorms, but only during the daytime. If they happen in the middle of the night I can't stand it and I end up staying awake until it passes!

#4 Okay, now this one might seem kind of weird, but... I'm afraid of the movies "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" & "Alice in Wonderland". lol ...Silly, I know! :D

***

Well, that was fun!

Just --> click here <-- to join up.

( You know you want to! )

***

"A friends loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17

"If one falls down, his friend can help him up." Ecclesiastes 4:10

: Chum : a close friend.

Pronunciation: \ˈchəm\
Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps by shortening & alteration from chamber fellow roommate
Date: 1684 -- No wonder I was clueless! :D

SOURCE

~ Have a blessed Friday, everyone! :)

"God is Good All the Time...

2010-04-26T14:23:00.005-05:00

... All the time God is good!"

Chris Klicka, Power Perfected in Weakness

I just finished reading Chris Klicka's book, Power Perfected in Weakness, this morning. It was such an amazing book! My mom bought this book soon after it came out and she read it right away. After she was finished, my sister and my dad both read it. All three of them said it was an aweseome book and that I would really like it. Well, they were definitely right. I have to admit that it wasn't the easiest book in the world for me to get through (it's a real "tearjerker" ;), but I certainly had no regrets about it! It was very eye-opening and encouraging to us all as we read of the amazing influence Chris had on such a great amount of people. Even in the midst of his dibilitating disease and many other trials, he never failed to shine the light of Jesus to everyone he came in contact with. He truly made the most of every opportunity, and I found it a huge encouragement as we've been facing our own similar trials with my dad's illness. :)

Anyway, if you haven't read this book... you should! :-)

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;

the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.

The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;

he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.

The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and

restore him from his bed of illness."

Psalm 41:1-3

Praise the Lord for being our Sustainer...

Praise the Lord all the earth! :)

Yummy Looking Apple Pie

2010-04-21T19:38:00.014-05:00

Doesn't that look DELICIOUS?!

Well, it really wasn't that great. Lol!

(Hence the "Yummy *Looking*" title! :D)

The other day we found this recipe for apple pie in our therapy handbook of approved foods we can eat, and decided to give it a try. Well... let's just say we were a little disappointed. I made the crust (it didn't really turn out quite like it should've!) and Sister #1 made the filling. The crust ended up being hard as a rock once the pie was finished (we forgot to cover it in foil) and it just wasn't the same as the good ole' apple pie we were hoping for. I thought I would go ahead and share the recipe anyway, though, in case you happen to be interested. ;) (Of course, we used all of our organic ingredients. :)

Apple Streusel Pie

aka: Yummy-Looking Apple Pie ;D

1- 9" Pie Crust (See below)

12 med. Green Apples, sliced thin

1/3 cup crude Brown Sugar or 1/4 cup honey

2 tsp. Cornstarch or Oat Flour

2-3 tsp. Lemon or Orange Juice

1/2 cup Dried Currants or chopped Dates

pinch Coriander, Mace, Allspice

Combine dry ingredients. Coat apples. Drizzle on honey (if used) and juice. Fill pie crust. Sprinkle on topping. Bake at 300-325 F for 1 hr 15 min or until apples are tender.

Crumb topping:

2/3 cup Oat Flour

3 tsp. Crude Brown Sugar

pinch Allspice

1/3 cup Honey or Maple Syrup

Raised Crust:

1 Cup Oat Flour

1/2 Cup Potato Flour

(or use more oat flour)

1 Cup Triticale or Whole Wheat Flour

1 tsp. Honey or Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Warm Water

1 tsp. Baker's Yeast

Sprinkle yeast into warm water mixed with honey. When frothy add flour and mix well. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour. Knead on floured board for 5 min. Let rest for 10 min., roll out on floured board. Place in pie plate that has been thoroughly coated on the bottom with rolled oat flakes. Flute edge. Let rise for 15 min. Bake at 375 F for 20-25 min.

Now, dare I say...

Enjoy!?

Just kidding! :) It really wasn't too bad... considering it was the first time my sister and I ever made a pie. ;D

I'm sure it would've received an A+ for presentation. =) Ha Ha!

~ Have a blessed evening, everybody!

"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough."

Galatians 5:9

Picture taken by: Me :)

~ Serving Others, Serving Christ

2010-04-19T13:04:00.019-05:00

~ ~ ~ ~

Make Me a Servant

Make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

For you are a servant

Make me one too

Make me a servant
Do what you must do

To make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

Jesus the servant

Got down on his knees

He washed feet that followed
So they would believe

Service to others

Is service to You

So make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

~ ~ ~ ~

Serving others is a wonderful privelege God has given us as Christians. For, by serving others we are honoring and serving Christ! Sometimes it's easy for me to grumble or complain when it comes to doing something I don't want to do. Instead, I should rejoice and be glad that I'm given the opportunity to serve my family (or others, whatever the case may be!) and therefore glorify my Lord in doing so. It's my desire to be a servant of the King of kings, and one of he best ways to serve Him is by serving others with a humble heart.

The song above has been one of my favorites for a long time. :) (Unfortunately, I couldn't find it anywhere online though. So I have no idea who wrote it!) I love it so much because it serves as a great reminder for me all throughout the day. I pray that it will be an encouragement to you as well! Remember, whether you're serving your family in the home, working a job, volunteering your time, (or whatever the case may be! ;D) . . .

you are serving and honoring Jesus Christ! So,

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Colossians 3:23-24

~ Have a blessed Monday, everyone!

Picture credit: Google Images

I've Been Tagged...

2010-04-16T13:50:00.004-05:00

by Eden at Heirs of Promise!

Yay! Thanks for thinking of me, Eden. :) This looks like fun...

Here are the rules for this tag:

Please tag eight people and do not tag the

one who tagged you. If you would not like

to answer a certain question, simply

change it to one you like and answer that.

What song are you currently listening to a lot?

That would probably be "City on Our Knees" by Toby Mac. I just bought his newest CD a few days ago, but that has been one of my favorite songs for a long time now. (It's also the ringtone I have set for my phone! :D) It's funny, though, because I was just telling my mom that I don't typically care for the kind of music Toby sings, but there are certain songs of his that I just love!

What books are you currently reading?

My Bible (of course! :), Power Perfected in Weakness by Chris Klicka (an AWESOME book!), and then there's my schoolbooks (I won't list them all! :)

What did you do today that was really fun?

Hmm... let me see. I haven't really done anything special today, so I don't know! I did make myself a yummy banana smoothie, though... with non-fat organic milk, instead of water! That was actually pretty fun I'd say. ;D

Do you sing a lot?

Yes. I sing around the house all day long! (And so do my sisters and my mom. :)

Sweet or salty?

Sweet!! ...Especially if it's chocolate! ;D

What is your favorite hobby?

Well, I'm not sure I have a favorite. I do love the opportunity to sit and read a good book, though. :)

What books have you read at least three times?

The Bible... and nothing else comes to mind! I usually don't read books more than once. :) I might read one twice, but never 3 times!

What sites do you always visit when you go online?

My email, and Blogger... I don't usually go anywhere else unless I'm searching for something.

What was the last thing you bought?

When we were at Walmart a few days ago I got myself three shirts, some scrapbooking tape, and Toby Mac's CD "Tonight". :D

Which fictional character do you think you are most like?

Maybe Jane Bennett from Pride & Prejudice... that's the first thing that came to mind!

Favorite earliest memory?

Playing "airplane" with my daddy. =) He would always lift us up in his arms (while lying on his back) and swirl us around in th air. We loooved it!

What do you do to change your mood?

I usually pray to the Lord about it and ask him to replace my bad attitude with a Christlike spirit.

What was the last meal you ate?

That would be the oatmeal I had for breakfast this morning. :)

Do you want to learn another language?

Yes! I would love to learn Hebrew and Spanish. (I only know a little of both!)

Five things you cannot live without:

#1 Jesus Christ & my Bible :: #2 My family :: #3 Water :: #4 A healthy diet :: #5 And exercise. :)

Find the closest book currently sitting near you and flip to page 54. What is the first sentence of the second paragraph?

"Let me see it." -- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

(I had to randomly grab a book off the shelf in our living room because I'm sitting on the couch with mom's laptop!)

What is something you would like to say to someone right now?

Remember to be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances--for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ! :)

What are you looking forward to?

Making myself another banana smoothie when I'm finished here. I do love my smoothies. ;D

Alrighty... now I will tag:

Alli at Waiting for Rain :: Kayla at The Lord is King of Kings :: Stephanie at Stephanie's Saga :: Poppy at Mold Me, Make Me :: Sara at Courageous Womanhood :: Taylor at Soar on the Wings of Eagles :: Hannah at A Homemaker's Daughter :: and Melody at Vividry

~ Have a wonderful Friday, everybody!

I've Been a Busy Bee!

2010-04-14T14:12:00.006-05:00

Yes, it's true. :)

I've been doing a bit of changing up to my blog! I was getting a little bored with the old look, but I just couldn't bring myself to replace it with anything. So... I decided I would just add a few things to make it warm and "Springy"! I think I like the way it turned out... What do you think? :)

Oh, and just so you know, I actually drew that bee picture myself! Lol! I was looking for one I could use online but I never found anything I liked. So... I drew my own, snapped a quick picture of it, loaded it on the computer, made a few "touch-ups", and viola! -- my very own bee! (And that is the extent of my artistic abilities when it comes to drawing. *whispers* I usually stick with"stick figures" only. ;D Lol! )

~~~~

Well, I hope you all have been enjoying your week so far. I'm sorry I haven't been posting very often lately. I've been a busy bee at home too! ;) Thankfully, my dad is doing well and we're still managing to keep up with our busy juicing schedule. Maybe I'll be able to sqeeze in some time to post more often! :)

But for now...

I pray you have a very blessed week!

Eden's Giveaway

2010-04-09T18:08:00.004-05:00

Eden at Heirs of Promise is hosting a wonderful giveaway

for a set of 3 dishcloths and 1 dishtowel that she crocheted

herself! :) There are some fun ways to enter the giveaway...

so head on over and check it out by clicking HERE.

~ A sneak-peak picture of the beautiful set! ;)

Some Fun with Family...

2010-04-07T16:33:00.012-05:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all have been enjoying your week. I know I have. :)

Last Friday my mom's brother and some of his family came down to visit and we had a really great time while they were here! This morning we all got up bright and early (6:30am) and said our "good-byes" and "I-love-you's" and then watched as they drove away. :( It's always sad when it's time to say goodbye, but we were so glad that we got to visit with them! (The last time we saw them was in 2007.) The only regret, though, is that two of my cousins weren't able to be here this time because they are both working and one of them is a sophomore in college now... My, how time flies!

Anyway, I thought I might share a few pictures that I took while they were visiting... :)

Here's an interesting shot I got of my Mom while she

was preparing dinner for all the family last night. :)

(I was really doing a test shot with my camera sitting on

its stand on the table, because we wanted to get a group picture

with everyone later on. It ended up turning out really great! ;)

Now here's Sis #1 and our cousin again.

(Yes... they're using a broken desk chair as their "table"! lol)

The three of us stayed up until about 2:00 each night

playing card games and watching movies. We had

a whole lot of fun together!

Here's my uncle fishing in our pond. :)

(Yes, they're playing ping-pong on our dining room table! :D)

And here they are jumping into our swimming pool
with Sisters #2 and #3...

Can you believe that they actually went swimming in April?!

The water was FREEZING cold and the pool wasn't as

clean as it should've been, but that sure didn't stop them!

They had a blast anyway. :)

(I love how the trees are all turning green again! It looks

so much nicer that way. :)

And here is Ty. :)

He was SO happy to have a boy that would play with

him while they were here. He just loves running around

outside and none of us will ever do it with him!

----------------------------

Well... I hope you enjoyed the pictures! I wanted to give y'all a quick "sneak-peak" from our lovely week and weekend. :) We really did have a wonderful time with our family and I'm so glad they came. We have LOTS of fun memories of when all of us cousins were younger, and now that we're all getting older I'm cherishing the times we have together more and more. Hopefully it won't be too long before we see each other again, though! ;)

Have a blessed rest-of-the-week, everyone!

This is Sis #1 and our cousin playing "War"!

~ Easter Blessings ~

2010-04-03T22:33:00.010-05:00

I pray you all have a very blessed Easter as you celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ--who was, and is, and is to come! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Men of Israel, listen to this:

Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited

by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,

which God did among you through him,

as you yourselves know. This man was

handed over to you by God's set purpose and

foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,

put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

But God raised him from the dead,

freeing him from the agony of death,

because it was impossible for death to

keep its hold on him." Acts 2:22-24

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH!

Photos taken by: Me :)

Lindsay's 200th Post Giveaway!!

2010-04-02T16:37:00.006-05:00

Yes, that's right...

Lindsay is having an exciting giveaway over at her blog right now! She's made two different items (the purse above being one of them!) to give away this time... So that makes it twice the fun, of course. ;D Head on over to her blog and check it out by clicking HERE!

~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on your 200th post, Lindsay! :)

~~~~~~~~~

Proverbs 31... in Training!

Still Here!

Valentine's Day ♥ with a Purpose

Concerning Courtship...

Choosing Courtship

Eighteen Candles... and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

This Christmas Eve...

Happy Birthday to My Littlest Sis . . .

It's the *Greatest* and *Busiest* Time of Year...

'Tis the Season for Miracles

My Thank-You to Jesus

Lessons from a Fly?

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Seven

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Six

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Five

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Four

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Three

Feelin' Feminine :: Day Two

Home, Sweet Home

Feelin' Feminine :: Day One

Q and A

Read All About It!

Confidence in the Name of the Lord

Time for Another Miscellany Monday!

Random Questions Tag: 8 + 8 = 16

Top 5 Reasons Why I Love This Time of Year

What's in a Name? ;-)

For Emily ...

My First Miscellany Monday

You Were Bought at a Price

*Jumping for Joy* -- Aspire Photo Challenge

I'm 6,484 Days Old (Yes, You Read That Right!)

For Fun...

::Update on Dad::

New Blog Look... & Giveaways!

Wanna Learn More About Me?

Patient Endurance

Happy Sweet Sixteen ~ to My Little Sis . . .

*Cough* *Sniffle* *Cough*

These Days ...

♥ Happy 20th Anniversary . . .

Meet Our Newest Additions:

Wanna Enter An Exciting Giveaway?

40 Years Old Today...

Time For Some Catching Up!

How Great is Our God!!!

Birthday Blessings . . .

A Very Happy Fourth of July...

Dear Lord,

Great is the Name of the Lord

TO:

Dear Daddy,

Happy Birthday, to My Best Friend :)

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Before I Go...

Just So You Know...

Dear Mom,

A Few Tags & Awards

Come Join the Fun!!

"God is Good All the Time...

Yummy *Looking* Apple Pie

~ Serving Others, Serving Christ

I've Been Tagged...

I've Been a Busy Bee!

Eden's Giveaway

Some Fun with Family...

~ Easter Blessings ~

Lindsay's 200th Post Giveaway!!

It's the Greatest and Busiest Time of Year...

Jumping for Joy -- Aspire Photo Challenge

Cough Sniffle Cough

Yummy Looking Apple Pie