Woe to the rent!

Well, as of November 1st, 2006 our park decided that we were going to have to pay for our electrical separately. Since we've been here our space has always paid a flat rate for electrical and water... which til now has been great because we can use as much as we want and still pay the same amount. So, we got a notice from our park that each space will be paying separately for their usage of electric. Yikes! Okay we started out paying very little like $600/mo that's with what we pay for the RV we purchased. So, it went up again a few months back. So we were paying $700/mo including the RV rent. Now, we are looking at somewhere around $750 to $800/ mo. Well, we were saving a lot of money going this route, now Andrew and I are trying to figure out if God is trying to tell us something. So, I have been researching some alternative ideas so that we can maybe live in Riverside or something. We are going to be praying hard for the answer that GOd is hopefully trying to send us. Gosh, it's like one thing after the next, you'd think that our sewer line breaking and DSL going out the last few days wasn't enough. Ahh, well onward to my prayers so maybe God can show me something and then off to sleep I go. I am so excited tomorrow is Friday and this weekend is Labor Day. I hope all of you stay safe this 3-day weekend :)

I can't believe it

I have lost now 10 lbs in 5 weeks, I am so unbelievable stoked!!!!! I
messed up on my eating here and there, like 1 small piece of pizza, tacos
one night, fried chicken... Which kinda surprises me even after I ate all
those horrible foods I am still losing weight. A lot of people tell me it's
because of my age and not having children yet, but I still believe I had a
hard time keeping weight off and that was mostly in part to eating too much
and of the wrong things. I think I have 1 pair of work pants that actually
aren't falling off my waist :) The best part is I eat starches (which are
my favorite) and I still lose weight. The part I hated about other diets
was they cut out my favorite parts of eating and I always lost the battle
because I had a craving for the foods. My goal weight is 125-128lbs, I am
at 138lbs now... Only 10-12 more lbs to go!!!! I should be able to do in
only 4 more weeks... Yeah!!
Best advice yet on eating: When buying foods, read the ingredients... If
you don't know what's in that food like maltodextrin, you shouldn't be
eating. Ever seen a maltodextrin tree? I haven't :) Buy organic foods
whenever you can. Stick to whole milk dairy products (no low fat), and
there is no limit on fruits and veggies servings so EAT UP!!! Cut in half
what you would normally serve yourself, eat slower!! And if after eating
that smaller portion you are still hungry than you may go back for a little
more. Remember it takes your brain 10 minutes to comprehend that you are
full. Never eat til you are stuffed, you want to shrink your stomach :) Any
questions... Just let me know, I have been completely happy with my results
:)

Untaming the heart

(1:7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
(1:8) So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, (1:9) who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Andrew's sermon from last sunday was on these verses. Speaking about how we have been given power by Christ. Don't be tame about witnessing or ministry, why are we tame as Christians? If you have ever seen a Tiger starving, you'd see how weak they look as a creature. But untame and fully fed they are majestic and powerful creatures made by God with a purpose!!! Take a hold of God's power today and live for Him.

Life changes

So, with being a wife to a husband in ministry it is difficult to put roots
down somewhere and then maybe be moving. Andrew and I prayed and have come
to a conclusion that with ministry being so unstable that it wouldn't be
smart financially to buy a house for the time being anyway. So we have
discussed our other options for babies. Andrew's quote recently "There is a
lot to be said about living a humble life".

Andrew recently met a man who had everything income of $6K a month a 10,
000 sq ft. House and it was all taken away... Right before he lost
everything and they had just purchased this RV and now him and his 5 kids
live in a 31 ft trailer. The man said " It had to happen this way for me
understand life isn't about money. It's about my family".

Our conclusion, to wait for the Lord on what to do. We both want to have
babies so bad, so that's why it's so difficult to fathom having them in an
RV. But we also think, at least our children will know it's not about the
stuff and that won't distract them. We are still considering just upgrading
our current RV to be more liveable so we can start a family. Somehow, we
both just have this funny feeling that we need to be mobile so God can move
us if called, We won't be tied down to a mortgage. I don't want anyone to
look down on us because we want to start a family but don't have a house
for them. Our kids will be loved so much no matter where we live, I used to
have this idea that we should own a home before we have a family but I am
throwing that out the window and go with God's plan for us and ahh well we
live in an RV. It's pretty great living the simple life!

Get some tissue for this one:

Jesus says..."If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father
in Heaven

A Simple Thank You

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine
sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two
together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been
invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was
heading home.

No, he responded.

Heading out I asked?

No. I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to
his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the
gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the
soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family
and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I
turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for
doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the
following announcement over the intercom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of
having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this
flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask
that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow
Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then
turn off the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the
casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that
I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do
so we can live the way we do.
signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C.

Photos of the Year
First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines
climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his
casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver
International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful:
"See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching
those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing
that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They will
remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to
remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."

Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused
to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time.
The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag.
Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs
that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them
to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice
if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have
wanted."

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can
we do to make things better for you?" is ..."We need
your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out
and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear
something red every Friday.

What is God's will for you in the tenth commandment?

From H.C. 113

That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one of God's
commandments should ever arise in my heart.

Rather, with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in
whatever is right.

* Ps. 19:7-14, 139: 23-24, Rom. 7:7-8

8 lbs!!!

I weighed myself once again and following the French don't diet plan I have
successfully lost 8 lbs. I don't miss the fake food at all and love all the
great tasting real food. I have been following the French eating plan for
now 4 weeks and have successfully lost 2 lbs. Per week and am on my way
down to 125 ....
Whooo hooo!

Forgot to mention

I was busy reading Nicole's blog when I remembered.... ha ha I have my very first wedding photograhy job November 18th. Now, my fees are still pretty low because I still need some equipment to do the job, like maybe a PROFESSIONAL FLASH :) So, I charged only enough so I could buy the flash I needed for the job since all of it will be an inside wedding and reception. I charged $350.00, plus if she wants any prints of the photos that will be an extra charge for those. I still need my reflectors, the awesome ones are a 5 in 1 reflector for lighting but I don't have an assistant so I am not quite sure yet how that is going to work... I am going to have to think about this a little better. So anyway, I am very nervous because well I have done a wedding before but I was using a 35mm and this time I am using my very nice camera. Yikes, pray for me that this goes well and God will inspire me with creativity so I can get some good shots for their wedding. Let all my equipment work and that nothing will fail. I can't believe I forgot, Thanks Nicole for reminding me.

Side Note: My dad inspired me to love photography, he took a lot of classes in college but eventually stopped taking photography classes because a professor told him he was only a mediocre photographer. My dad has consistently encouraged me and told me how good he thought my pictures were. Love you Dad! Thanks for encouraging me :)

If tears could build a stairway

If tears could build a stairway
and memories a lane
I would walk right up to heaven
and bring you back again

No farewell words were spoken
No time to say "Goodbye"
You were fone before I knew it
and only God knows why

My heart still aches with sadness
and secret tears still flow
What it meant to love you-
No one can ever know

But now I know you want me
to mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
life still has much in store

Since you'll never be forgotten
I pledge to you today-
A hollowed place within my heart
is where you'll always stay.

Miss you Josh!

90 day evaluation

I met with my supervisor last Wednesday and received my evaluation. To my
excitement, my whole evaluation was excellent... Nothing but praise about
how good of a job I am doing. I always hated evaluations, but since I have
switched jobs I have worked my little butt off to make my boss look good.
She said everyone she talks about how great my customer service and how
quick and accurate I am. I love my job and how great all my co-workers
truly are. Thank you Lord for blessing me at this job. I can't wait until
my annual evaluation in November where I am actually going to get a raise.
Whooo hooo!!!

Catalina pictures

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Journal Entry 8/14/06

We may not have the best paying job
But we know that where we are is where we are supposed to be

We may not have a lot of money
But at least we know that it is not our focus

I may not be the prettiest woman in the world
But at least I know that this is how God intended me

I may not have the most serene voice
But know that God still enjoys me singing

We may not own a home filled with decor
But at least we know that God is still blessing us

We have a roof over my head
But at least we know it's not the roof protecting me but GOD

We may not own a lot
But who says blessings = stuff?

I know that what I say may not always make people "feel good"
But at least we know that God has called me to say them

We may not have "everything"
But at least we know that we are following God's will and not our own

My Daddy's home safe now!

After all the London terrorist mess, my dad rerouted his flights through
France and finally got home around 3 am safe and sound! Thank you to all of
you who were praying for his safety! I should have some stories from his
trip later on.

Catalina here we come!

We are sitting on the boat with our Youth group getting ready to depart for
Catalina Island. I am so excited, it should be lots of fun. We will be on
the island until 13th Sunday. We will be camping and snorkeling. Should be
lots of fun this year! I will be posting a slideshow with the pictures as
soon as we get back. Pray for our safety there and back home.

Fixed the sink!

We have been housesitting for my Dad for the last 3 weeks and this was the last week that we have been staying here and of course everything has going smoothly until BAM!!! the kitchen sink decides to start backing up on me. So, I of course did the natural thing went to the store and bought some drano... after using the whole bottle still nothing happened. So, I tried soaps of all kind, still nothing. Andrew remembered from High School that the powder Drano is supposed to work better, I said POWDER DRANO... I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF POWDER DRANO. I grab the plunger and begin to start plunging the sink but it makes it even worse, I turn on the garbage disposal and yet it still makes it worse. I got to the store, and behold the crystal/powder Drano. I used it 3 times... nothing. I went about the rest of my errands and when I sick and tired of waiting for the thing to drain to I could wash my dishes. I, once again, grab the plunger and just start plunging the drain as hard and fast as I can. I hear a plunk!!! And all the water begins to drain faster than I can say "Thank you LORD!" So, I finished my dishes and ecstatically sang because of how proud I was that I took care of the clogged sink and thought I didn't even need a plumber.... WHOO HOOO!!!!

My Dad

My Dad was supposed to be home tonight from his annual missions trip to
Spain. As some may have heard there was a terrorist attempt in the UK. My
dad's connection flight was from Spain to UK and then onto the US. Well,
because of the terrorists, the earliest flight my dad could have gotten was
Sunday. So he should be home then. By the way... Because of the attempt and
it being a liquid, the security was checking everything even contact lens
liquid and liquid in baby bottles. Keep his safety in your prayers!

Mother of Israel

Awesome!!! Reading through Judges today in my devotional and about
Deborah. What I found awesome was that she never called herself a leader,
judge, general, wife. She referred to herself as the Mother of Israel. We
can be mothers of our job, our friends, etc and by that I mean be an
influence to them.
People often ask the question about female Pastor's and so we explain. I,
personally, do not believe that women should be Pastor's. I am a woman,
yes, and can honestly say that statement and be fine. The reason why is
because men and women play different roles, God has set it up like that. I
believe that women can play roles within the church, but to be a head of a
church, No. The highest place a women should be in a church is a deacon.
This is my opinion, remember, when you feel your blood rising because of my
comments... It's my opinion. Why, then you say, is it that Deborah was a
leader? If you read earlier in Judges you will find that Deborah had tried
to pass this responsibility onto a man to be a leader, no man would step
up. If in the case that no man is within the church to be the leader of the
church, only temporarily should they be leading the church. This is ONLY if
a man is not able to lead the church. Women and men play different roles,
typically the man is be the leader, at church and at home.

During the women's movement, women really fought to be allowed rights and
equality, but I think our society has gone so far the other way that women
think they don't need Father's for their children or Men as their Husbands.
Families need a man to be the Head of the family despite what society has
skewed the reality to be. Women have been able to accomplish so much since
the women's movement, but we still apply Biblical principles. Now, if by
reading all this and your blood is still boiling because you feel women
should be able to pastor a church think about these verses:
1 Timothy
"(3:2) Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one
wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
(3:3) not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,
not a lover of money. (3:4) He must manage his own family well and see that
his children obey him with proper respect. (3:5) (If anyone does not know
how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)"

Stand Out

Jessie Daniels, Stand Out Lyrics

You're staring in the mirror and your looking back at me
Somehow you've replaced yourself and don't like what you see
You've been a slave far too long to what other people think
So you bend and you break and you lose along the way
What once was beautiful I want to

Stand out
I wanna stand tall
I wanna be myself even if it means
I won't fit in at all
I wanna be real
I wanna be me
Cause everything I am is who I'm meant to be
I was meant to be free

Why are we so quick to hide originality
We try and try to fit inside a false reality
We're all the same when it comes to putting on the face
and its such a shame
Oh its such a waste
Cause what makes us beautiful
Is what makes us
CHORUS
We are we are beautiful
We are we are beautiful

6 lbs. and counting....

Whooo hooo!!! I have lost a total of 6 lbs in about 3 weeks and my clothes
are totally feeling looser already. I a very impressed at my results, I
have not worked out that much which is surprising and exciting. We walk a
lot of places and eat better. I am definitely heading towards my goal of
125 lbs!!! I will let you know of the continued progress.

Joie de Vivre

French for The Joy of Living. The joy of living is being forgiven, and
being free from our sin. The Joy of living is being able to read the Bible
freely without persecution. The joy of living is being able to take each
breath and remember it's all mercy. The joy of living is thank our Heavenly
Father for sending His Son as a ransom for many. Let us remember that we
have joy's in living... So many I do not even think to try and name them
all. Thank you Lord for blessing us all beyond what we deserve.

Matters of the Heart

"Author Bob DeMoss writes " Yoour heart is rhe core of your being. It's the
essence of who you are. It's where your mind and will, your emotions and
convictions come together to shape what you believe and the choices you
make." He's saying that our behavior is determined by what is in our heart.
scripture backs up this idea: "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart
reflects the man." (Proverbs 27:19)
Behavior dictated by the heart sounds fine- except that our hearts have a
fatal flaw: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyong cure. Who
can understand it?." (Jeremiah 17:9).
-From "Disciplines of a Godly woman" by Barbara Hughes

Freedom in Christ

Galations (5:1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm,
then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

(5:4) You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from
Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (5:5) But by faith we eagerly
await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. (5:6) For in
Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The
only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
(5:7) You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from
obeying the truth? (5:8) That kind of persuasion does not come from the one
who calls you."

This was in my readings this morning and it totally lifted me. I have such
freedom in Christ, that I am no longer tied to the sins that have enslaved
me. I have a hope in a God that I will be righteous in His sight. The Lord
calls by name His children, I have called on the Lord and he has rescued me
from the pit of despair. I am grateful once again for each breath that he
has given me. Others may have more stuff, but I have more Love for Christ
because He has given me less than others. The nails in His hands set me
free because He has paid a ransom for my soul. Lord, thank you for the
people you have put in my life. I will sacrifice for you, nothing in
comparison to what you sacrificed for me but I will spend every day trying
to pay back the ransom you paid for me. Lord, do not let your blessings be
in vain, hear our prayers and see our desires and answer them according to
your will. Forgive me for my lack of trust in your plan for us. Lord, show
us where we are to go, when to start a family, where to live, what to say,
and how to follow your path. Reveal Lord to us through your eyes what you
want us to do. I thank you and praise your name, Lord.

I don't need Weight watchers

Thanks to reading "The French don't diet plan" by Dr. Will Clowers, I have
already lost 4 lbs in 2 weeks and my pants are already fitting looser. I am
very excited, and I don't really work out that much either. The key to this
eating is eating non- processed foods and cutting back your portions. I
still have chocolate when I have a sweet tooth, and I still eat pastas,
breads, and potatoes. Good weight loss should never be lost quickly because
it actually puts your body into shock. I am not hungry most days until I
get home from work. If you want to lose weight and still enjoy the foods
you love, seriously read the book... It makes complete sense and its
healthy eating!!!

Toilet bowl syndrom

The idea of eating and flushing food down with a drink.
"Try this as your homework:Eat your dinner without a drink. I know it seems
strange at first, but just try it. You'll find that you have enough saliva
in your mouth naturally, and your food has enough moisture, that you don't
actually need a drink at all. Eat small and you can swallow without
incident, without having to flush it down your throat.
If you have trouble swallowing, your bite was too big. That's how you
know." Dr Will Clower- The French don't diet plan
Put down your fork or spoon after every bite and enjoy your food by eating
slower

- Sounds like maybe some mumbo jumbo to most but reading through the
book... And following the ideas I have lost 3 pounds already in about 2
weeks !!! Yahoo.