Hurkey Creek...

Last weekend was our Kaleo retreat, and we went to Hurkey Creek. It was one of the best weekends in the history of best weekends. It was a great time of fellowship, fun, and great teaching. The theme for this retreat was prayer. It was both challenging and comforting. I was so blessed in those three days, and thankful for great friends, and an even greater God.

Hellooo Hurkey Creek!

Whoa! Who are these happy campers?!

GOOOOD MORNING!!

Cowboy Dave braving the roaring river...;)

This was the scariest part of the hike. I'm not such a fan of rickety, old bridges.

Hey Paul!! Niiiice glasses!

Keep, keep, keep it up! Keep that hiking spirit up!!!

The view from the top...TOTALLY worth the hike. Breathtaking!!

This is Phillip...we don't get along.

I LOVE this this child with my whole heart!! She is the cutest thing ever!!

Oh! A rare sight! A "Nuhair" in his natural habitat. Strange creatures these things. (Jk Nuhair! friends still?)

*Note of appreciation-Thank you SOO MUCH Richie Avila for giving me these pictures!! They are Ah-mazing!! (Especially the one of me and Isla...I love it! Well, her face, not mine. lol!) Thanks again, amigo!!

It's A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood!!

I love spring! The weather has been so nice out lately, that being in the house is almost depressing. I love when the weather starts warming up, the birds begin to sing, and the flowers start blooming...nothing compares to this time of year! God has such perfect timing, because it always seems like just when I can't take another winter day, He brings me spring! He puts away the cloudy skies and gray, cold weather, and brings out the sun. He wakes up the birds and they sing Him praise. He causes the wildflowers, that color the roadside, to bloom, and fill the world with character. Only He can do these things, and why? Why does He give us spring?...I think it's because He loves us so! All the little details He puts in to this season go to show that we have a Great and Awesome Creator that loves to bless us with gifts of sunshine, warm breezes, birds singing, and flowers beginning to blooming, and all these gifts reflect His Glory. What a Beautiful God we serve!

~ Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world ~

Don't Say It...

Today in church, our Pastor made a statement that caught my attention, and will probably echo through my mind forever. What did he say?..."Christians never say can't, because they know that with Christ all things are possible" It got me thinking of all the times I say "I can't". I can't face that person right now. I can't overcome that sin, it's too big. And I can't possibly ever be the Godly woman God has called me to be, I have strayed way to far to turn back now. WRONG! I can. I can face that person, overcome that sin, and be the godly woman I'm called to be, because of Christ.

We as Christians aren't called to be failures, but to to be conquerors. Romans 8:37 says "in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us".

Why Me?...

Have you ever had those times when all you can say is "why me"? Why is this happening to me, why didn't that work out, why can't we just get along, why is life so hard sometimes? Why me?!!...I have times like that alot. And when those times come along, my first response is to get upset, and think "how could this happen? what did I do to deserve this? this is not EVEN fair!". It's so much easier at times to get upset and angry, and try to put the blame for this "why me" moment on someone else, even God. When you stop and really think about what you're doing, it's actually pretty silly.

I get so consumed in thinking that all the trials that come along in my life, are NOT my fault...no way, no how. Why would I do something that would bring pain and heartache into my life?...I mean really, that's sounds pretty ridiculous to me. But, weather I like it or not, I do. Almost all of the emotional and spiritual scars that I have, are from self-inflicted wounds, and those wounds come from not having a clear view of God.

Since God is so awesome and mighty, I tend to think of Him more as an "enforcer" than a "lover". So when I do wrong things, and the fruit of those actions come about in the form of a trial or heartache, I blame God. I blame Him because I view this trial as a way of God getting back at me for sinning. I think that since I disobeyed Him, now He's really going to let me have it! This kind of thinking makes me cold, distant and maybe a little bit afraid of God, which in turn, beats me down and leaves me scarred. How incredibly foolish can I be?! God isn't "out to get me". He loves me, and wants only the best for me. These trials that I face are just times of refining and making me more like Him. Romans 8:28-29 states this perfectly:And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. What a great thought! All things work together for good. Not somethings, or most things, but ALL THINGS work together for good. Not ony that bur when we go through trials and face heartache, we are being made more like Christ. That's so great! I'm not saying that I want to face trials and heartache, but having the thought of becoming more like Christ in the front of my mind while in them, makes them more bearable.

So the next time we face a trail, and want to ask "why me?" out of an ungrateful heart, instead lets ask in a heart of humility and wonder..."why me?". Why did Christ die for me? What did I do to deserve this love? Who am I that the Creator of everything, wants me, a lowly sinner, to be part of His family...why me?

Life Lately...

Life is a strange thing when you really think about it. It's a thing taken for granted, abused, given, and then taken away forever. Some are lived to the fullest, and some are ended before they really even had a chance to begin. When I think about my life, I wonder how long it will be, where it will take me, and will it leave a lasting impression once I'm gone.

Recently my life has been a whirlwind of peaks and valleys. This past week however, has felt like a glimpse of the tribulation. Everything that could have gone wrong, did. And as I was sitting in my room late one night, I started thinking about how selfish and childish I was acting. Sure, this week was hard. Yes, I cried to the point of where I couldn't cry any more, but did. No, I didn't look for the brighter side of things. And of course my world felt like it was coming to an end!...but it didn't. What I thought was the end of everything, was actually just another beginning on my walk to a closer relationship with my Lord. This "rough patch" I've been stumbling through, has shown me what a GREAT SAVIOR I have. How even through the midst of my fiery trial, He was with me EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, and when I didn't think I would last another second, He was there to pick me up and carry me the rest of the way.

Life truly is short. You don't have much time here on earth, 75-80 years (at best). Personally, that is a depressing thought. I treat life as if it won't ever end, like I have all the time in the world. But seriously, my days are numbered. I don't want to look back over my life at the end of things, and see a life full of whining and worry. Wishing I had spent less time on that, and more on this. I want to see a life lived to the fullest, fixed on the hope of Heaven, and honoring to the Lord; so that when I am FINALLY in His presence, I can hear those words...well done, my good and faithful servant.