Tomorrow!!!...

Alright, so I am super excited about Halloween!! We don't usually celebrate it by going trick-or-treating, but tomorrow we are. Three of my friends and I are going "80's". Crimped hair, lots and lots of makeup, leggings, and everything else. My friends Sara and Katie, and I are all wearing skirts with leggings, boots, and big belts. Our friend Chase got a white blazer (with shoulder pads!!!) and a yellow polo to go underneath. His mom tried pushing for a pink v-neck to go under the blazer, but he said no. All of us girls thought it would look PERFECT...that's probably why he didn't get "the lady shirt" (as he called it). We were also trying to push eyeliner on him, but once again he said no (so boring). "That's okay Chase, we'll still be your friends". Anyway, I am so excited for tomorrow. I'll have pictures of our time up as soon as I can!!!

In The Potters Hand's

There is this band that I love called "Least of These". They sometimes play at our church youth camps. They are an amazing group of people. You can just see the light of Christ shining through them. They have a song on their c.d. called "Found Victorious". It's talking about how much grace we have poured on us, even when we wander and go astray. There is one part in particular that stick's in my brain. It goes: "Human nature fights against Him, though I'm just a piece of clay". I take a pottery class at the junior college, and last week I needed to get a new bag of clay. The fresh, new clay that I got was so soft and easy to work with, compared to the older clay that I had before. The older clay was hard and leathery because it had been exposed to the air and was drying out. So, if possible, I try to spray it with some water to soften it up and make it somewhat easier to use, but sometimes it's past the point of softening, and it goes in the trash. That can kind of illustrate the Christian life. We are, as the bible says, clay in the hands of the Potter. And when we get exposed to the "air", or the world, we tend to get hard, and leathery, and difficult to work with. Thankfully we have people around us that keep us "soft", they keep us accountable, teach us the Word, and help us strengthen our walk with the Lord. I am so thankful that I have such a loving Creator, that even if it seems like I'm past the "softening" point, He doesn't "throw me away". He still showers me with grace upon grace, and shows His never ending love to me through that. What a blessing to be clay in the hands of such a wonderful Potter as we have!!!

Weight Overload

OK, so this "10 Pound Race" thing's not going so good for me. It was at first, but now I'm slacking, and it's showing!!! *LOOK OF HORROR* I try, but fail...All The Time. WHY!!! I think I fail because I forget to remember that my body isn't invincible and I have to put the good things in, and not the bad. The Bible says that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and I don't want this temple to be littered with junk food. I also need to find a better exercise routine...still, it's been like two months in the process. My brother's is hopefully coming home around the holidays, and it'll be over a year since I've seen him, so there's some motivation. He's this awesome, super buff Spec-Ops guy, and I hope that I don't look like a TWINKIE when I see him in December. So all that being said, I'm going to try again no sugar, and exercising (I exercise now, but maybe it's not enough) , and also eating only "real'' things, nothing processed, as much as possible. Prayers are always helpful, and comments too.

My Three Loves...

Here are my three loves at their finest!!!

Here is the young scholar, Mr. Jack Ryan (he doesn't really wear glasses).

Super Ethan to the rescue!!! And now his sidekick, the Amazing Joshie Boy!! AWWWW, ain't they cute?

My Personal Gift...

I think that babies and small children are my personal gift from God. Only He know's how much I truly, truly cherish them. There is NO WAY I can EVER be sad, upset, lonely, depressed...etc. when I am around them. The way they snuggle up to you when they're asleep in your arms, or how they say some super sweet thing that makes you want to cry because it was just sooo cute, and you have no idea where they got it from. Mmmmm, I adore those moments. Sure, there are some times when my little brother doesn't STOP talking, and I wish for just half a moment of silence, or when one of my nephew's asks me the same question over, and over, and over until I hear it in my dreams. But someday I'll look back on this time, and wish for just one day of having these three little guys, little again. Hearing their high pitched voices screaming in delight of chasing one another down the hall. Having a little teary eyed boy come to me with a owie, or putting them to bed when the day's joys have come to a close. I look forward to seeing what kind of men they'll grow up to be, but still hidden deep inside, I'll wish those playful day's back again.

Birthday's and the Cross...

Whenever I have a birthday I get really excited. Another year's gone, and a brand new one is here for trying new things, and making new memories. I also feel really guilty when I look back over the year, and I think of all the things I could have done differently. I could have given a softer answer to that person, been more of a help, been more considerate. I "could have" but I didn't. So why would my family want to bless me with a day of my own, that revolves around me? Why would they want to give me presents, and birthday cards full of affection and love in written form? Why?...because they love me. That, to me, is a small glimpse of what Christ did on the cross for me. Why should He, King of the universe, have to die on the cross for me, a selfish, earthly sinner? What did I do to deserve such a priceless gift? What part of me is good? Sure, I may think that I have "good" qualities, but I don't. I know I'm not perfect, not even close. So, why did He die for me? Why? He did it because He loves me. HE LOVES ME!!! Wow!! Jesus loves me so much that He came to die such a horrible, painful, and shameful death on the cross, all for me. That is an AMAZING picture of love.

So, in this upcoming year, I'm going to strive to have more love-centered qualities, and others-centered deeds, and not self-centered ones. I just have to remind myself that Christ died on the cross to show His love to me, so I can easily (with His help) show my love to others in many different ways.

17 years ago on....

Hi, I am Joss's friend, Priscilla. I am doing a special post for her for her birthday - join me in wishing her a Happy 17th Birthday!

....October 18th, Jocelyn Rose Miller was born. Welcomed by parents Rick & Pam Miller and older sister and brother Janina and Justin.

Fast forward 17 years later to today:

Joss is a now a senior in high school, older sister to Julie and Jack, Aunt to two, sister-in-law to one, and most important calls Jesus her Lord and Savior.

Us in the 90's She loves her Lord, family, friends, all things green, fall, coffee, the Waltons, church, baking/cooking, shopping, the beach, and music.

Oh, yes, she also loves comments. :)

I look to the Lord for you Joss: that you will love the Lord with all her heart, soul, and mind. And for God's blessing, protection, and guidance for you for another year.Happy Birthday, friend.

Us in 2008

Total Dorks?...

Ummmm....YES!! I love my dorky friends (I am the biggest dork of them all...but shh don't tell, because no one knows that). We're an absolute AWESOME threesome when we're together. I love you "girlths"... :)

Katie and me (I look like a complete FREAK!!)

Sara and Jossie

Joe, Kyle, and Sam (Those are our guy names. See? Told you we're strange)

Me and Zac...

Last year I found out that the one of the stars of High School Musical, Zac Efron, and I have the same birthday. So, having that knowledge in mind, I wrote him a birthday letter. I told him we have the same birthday, and that I am also a senior in high school, so I'm excited to see HSM3 (it comes out on the 24th). I felt kind of silly sending a letter to some celebrity, but it was fun. I hope he gets it before his birthday.

Ooooh SMOOTHies...

It's so funny to see how I tend to make smoothies more often when the weather turns cold, rather then when it's hot. Today I made a smoothie for Julia and I. It consisted of o.j. , strawberry yogurt, frozen berries, and a green apple (and of course ice). It was delish. Julia is prejudice against apples, so she didn't much like it. When I don't make my own smoothies, I like to go to Jamba Juice, or Juice It Up. My favorite smoothie from Jamba is the "Strawberry Surf Rider". It's strawberry and lemon. It used to be called "Strawberry Tsunami", but after the tsunami disaster in 2004 they changed it. I had to ask why they changed the name, and that's what the worker told me. Anyway, I "heart" smoothies.