2007

The year is just about to close. Kind of crazy, if you ask me. It has totally flown by. I have loved just about every minute of this year though. It's been amazing. With Winterfest, choir competitions, two new babies, two graduations, getting my permit, birthdays, the Olympics, Honduras, Work Camp, Church Camp, Mission Trip, youth rallies, and complete randomness. It has been one heck of a year. I'm so thankful for all the new things I experienced. It has totally changed my life. I've strengthened many friendships that I hope will last a lifetime, and traveled to the country I love to call home. I'm so thankful for all God has allowed me to do this year. I can't wait to see what will happen in 2008!

(I'll find something to update about later.)

Much Love

Amen

I went to MedExpress today to get the ankle checked out. I just pulled a ligament (I think that's what it was. lol) in my ankle. The doctor did say that rolling my ankle may happen repeatedly now that it's started. So, physical therapy looks like it's going to happen in the near future. I have to wear an aircast for a month, but I can still play. I can get back in the gym on Monday, if pain allows it. I am so excited about it. My crowd better be at the game Tuesday! =P

Much Love

Fabulous Day

Yesterday was one of those days that was just so insane, you've just got to write it down to remember it. So, this is what I'm about to do.
On Tuesday morning I woke up at 4 o'clock with a migraine. I've never had one that was so bad that it actually woke me up, but this one was just that. I took some medicine and tried to go back to sleep, but that wasn't going to happen. I woke mom up, so she did her momma thing and took care of me. It was precious. I was definitely reminded how thankful I am to have a mommy that will stay up with me, rub my back, and sleep on my floor just in case I need her. My migraine medicine wasn't cutting it. I felt so nauseous, it just wasn't a pretty thing. I finally fell back to sleep at about 6 that morning. My parents were gracious and let me sleep in.

I went in to school at about 10:30 because we had a basketball game at 1. Now, I was just planning on going and watching the game. Oh, how I'd soon be surprised. I walk in to school and our principal, Mr. Smith, and the varsity boys' coach are talking in the lobby. I was greeted by Mr. Smith asking how I was feeling, which I told him I still felt awful, and his response was "Well, I'm glad you decided to come take one for the team." Did I hear him wrong? He made it sound like I was playing! I went into the office and the secretary tells me that Kara, our other captain, just went to the doctor to get her foot x-rayed. What did I miss in two hours?? I then realized I was going to have to play even if I did puke all over the other team. That would just scare them off. Not a bad plan...

I played. We were down by twenty or something. It was just not pretty. After maybe five minutes of playing time I came down on my ankle wrong. Now, my migraine hurt pretty bad, but this was worse. My coaches had to carry me off the court and my ankle was nice and swollen. First I cried because, well, it hurt. Then, I cried because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to play the rest of the season. But then I just laughed. I laughed because honestly, it just amazed me how bad my day had gone.

Now, I'm on crutches and my ankle is just as swollen as it was yesterday. Oddly enough it doesn't hurt all that much. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow. So, pray nothing is seriously wrong and that I can play by next Tuesday! Ok, that might be asking too much, but whatever.

I hope everyone has a great week! Don't go break your ankles.

Much Love

God Bless America

On the way back from Honduras, I saw a sign at one of the restaurants in the Houston Airport that caught my attention.
All it said was "God Bless America"
Before my trip to Honduras that sign would not have caught me off guard. It really wouldn't have been a big deal to me at all. You see that phrase everywhere in the states. But now? I have a totally different outlook on it. God Bless America? Hasn't God already blessed America? And my thoughts just started running from there. Everything from God blessing everyone in some form and their responsibility with those blessings. I don't feel God would bless a place so much if He didn't feel they were able to bless others.

God has blessed America, and always continues to do so. Because God blesses America, we have a responsibility. We should be using these blessings to bless others. Third-world countries are in need. America should be helping those in need, and therefore be a blessing to them. Do you see what I'm saying? And this has become so clear after visiting Honduras. I know America is doing a lot for other countries. But I still feel more can be done. God's dream for the world doesn't involve a fourteen year old girl being at the hospital by herself because both of her parents are dead. God's dream for the world isn't for a mother and her seven children to sleep in a shack with one mattress that gets submerged in water whenever it rains. Seeing how that is happening now, we should be a blessing to them and show them God's love and mercy.

And the same is true for individuals. God has blessed me. So, now I should try to be a blessing to everyone I come in contact with. And God has blessed you. What are you going to do with those blessings? I know this is all easier said than done. But I have faith that God actually knows what He's doing.

Let's be the blessing this world needs.


Much Love

Basketball Time

Sorry for not writing anything in almost a month. It's a bit crazy around here with school, basketball and youth group.
Basketball is going great. I love it a lot! I'm starting on the varsity team as shooting guard, and I was also voted as co-captain. It surprised me a lot. We had a scrimmage yesterday and I'm feeling pretty confident about the year. It's just awesome to be playing with these girls. We have a team Bible verse that we say at the end of practice. We don't have practices on Wednesday which I've found to be such a blessing after playing for public schools. We also pray at the end of practices, and we prayed a few times during the scrimmage. It's just such an awesome experience. We all get along extremely well and have a great time together. Our scrimmage was forty-five minutes away, and we laughed and sang stupid songs the whole way there. It was great.
They are such a blessing!

So, come support the Lady Wildcats!

I'll try to update on some other things on my mind later.

Much Love

Please Pray

At the end of worship this morning, we were told Mario Figueroa, a sophomore at OVU, died in an ATV accident on Saturday. The congregation was totally shocked about it. I can't even imagine what his family is going through.

Please keep Mario's family and everyone at OVU in your prayers.

Love

Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.
2 Corinthians 5:14

You know, sometimes I just need a reminder of how much God loves me. How He unconditionally loves me no matter what I may do. No matter how many times I sin and go against His will, He still loves me, and not any less than He did before. How blessed I am to have a Father who loves me so much that He'd lay down His life for me.
And God doesn't love any person on this earth more than the next person. God loves you just as much as He loves me. God loves the Baptists just as much as He loves the Catholics. God loves the Jews, Hindus, and Muslims just as much as He loves Christians. God loves all the terrorists on this planet just as much as He loves you. Kind of crazy when you put it in that perspective, isn't it?
God sees us all the same. Mere human beings that need his mercy and grace on them. And He's just crazy about us, and so madly in love with us.

And I find myself wanting to love others just like God loves me. And I know I'll never be able to love someone as much as God loves me, but I can love to the best of my ability. Of course it won't be easy. Jesus didn't say following Him would be easy. If anyone told you that your life would be perfect after you became a Christian, you were clearly misinformed. You're going to have more trials and tribulations because you've decided to partner with Christ to make this world into what He's always dreamed it of being. But I'm ready for the challenge. Jesus' love is enough for me. No matter how many times I'll slip up on this journey I'm on, (which will be billions of times) God by my side and holding my hand every step of the way.

So, here's my challenge to anyone who actually reads this silly blog of mine. Love with no limitations and expectations. Love your enemies. Love as much as humanly possible, and then a little more. Love when it's not the easiest thing to do or what's expected.

I'm excited to see what this world can be like if we just loved one another just as Christ has shown love on us.

Much Love

"He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God. God is love. Therfore love. Without distinction, without calculation, without procrastination, love. Lavish it upon the poor, where it is very easy; especially upon the rich, who often need it most; most of all upon out equals, where it is very difficult, and for whom perhaps we do the least of all."
- Henry Drummond