Friends, Thunderstorm Parties, God's lightening show, and Dancing in the Rain

Last night whilst on Close up for camp, I was blessed with just a fun night with people I love dearly and to top it off we got blasted with an incredible storm! I had been sitting in the entry way to our Town Hall and heard thunder so immediately myself and good friend Jenny looked at each other and darted out the door to see the oncoming storm. Sitting on the porch listening to the thunder rumble and the beautiful lightening flashing, it was amazing. As soon as chapel had ended I was walking to my house and I looked up and it was so very dark. I haven't seen clouds that black in a very long time. I knew that I might want to grab my duster and just be ready for rain and adventure! I had just grabbed my duster and headed out the door when the first sprinkles started, mind you the lightening was getting more and more intense and the thunder louder. I hurried across the lawn and went to join my close up crew on the Ox Yoke porch, whom are hilarious and so much fun! Just about when I sat down, Chapel let out and whoooosh! The rain came down in a torrential downpour which was incredible gorgeous! Now, if you don't know me in person you must know how much I just positively love rain and storms (as long as I'm safe), something about it just makes me laugh and get really really excited. So I'm literally bouncing, laughing and just enjoying the mini niagra falls from the roof when my friend Aime dashed out and started dancing and I just couldn't resist so yep! I dashed out and we were spinning and just enjoying God's creation, while praying that lightening wouldn't strike us :) The power flickered quite a few times and the contrast of the sky and lightening was stunning! Then we looked up and saw the pink and blue night sky peaking through the storm clouds and it was breathtaking. A bunch of us went over to the backside of our new bathhouse which has a perfect storm watching porch and watched lightening and the sunset. I just couldn't stop smiling and giggling at how amazing and powerful our God is. Sometimes I can't even keep it to myself so I shout that God is amazing!!!! To think that we serve Him is even more humbling. He is so gracious to love and use us for His glory. I never know what He is going to do and in that I am really ok with. What better place to be than in the center of the will of the one who created you?Just the raw powerful beauty......yep I really don't even know how to finish this sentence because there is no way to describe the matchless grace, beauty and love of God.

Memories

Did you ever have a time in your life when you were looking at old photos or something triggered a memory in your brain that made you almost cry and want to go back to those times? This has happened to me quite frequently the past few days. Most of my memories are of myself and my best friend Mia gallivanting across the world (ok maybe it was just the Ranch) having adventures and just being country girls. I think this was spurred because she has moved across the United States to Texas. Now I'm super duper excited for her and the family but it's like a season has come to an end and I know it will never be the same. Ever, I grieve because I know I will never go back and be the carefree young girls riding our "hobbit ponies" in the woods and crawfish hunting. God has chosen to move us apart and give us separate lives. And we both must adjust and know that we will still always be sisters in Christ no matter how far away God takes us.
   Another change and memory that is sweet is the memory of Holidays and the special times at home. You know you're growing up when the new generations don't know certain tv programs like "Magic School Bus", "Bernstein Bears", Looney Toons, etc. Gone are the days of summer with no responsibilities and cartoons with a sugary breakfast you only get at Grandmas and Grandpas.  My parents are preparing to retire and selling our house and moving. Just knowing that I may never be in that house again is just so weird. I spent my teen years there, learned to be a woman there, lost my childhood friend (my dog Bully) there, bought my first horse there, graduated there and the list goes on and on. Mom says "Home is where family is" which is true but going to "my parents house" for Christmas vs "home" is definitely different. 
    Now don't get me wrong. Growing up is an adventure and totally fun, and sometimes completely overwhelming and terrifying but a necessity of life. We only get to live once. Make the best memories possible and be sure to love the family that God gave you. Things always change but God never does!

These are the Days of our Lives

Days. The gift that God gives us to simply glorify Him. The man made 24 hr time created to match the design that God gave us. They're intricately designed for the seasons and things to grow and die. For people to sleep and be awake. Even the animals sleep and know when to go rest. Everyday we make choices that God predestined and that will mold our lives and prepare us for the next day. What a blessing it is to be able to live life here on the planet that was designed for us. Imagine what Heaven will be like!!!!

Story of My Life

Wow, seems like forever, and yes I admit I am a horrible blogger. I know most of you have heard of the newest song from Piano Guys "Story of My Life" (first made big by One Direction). I have to say it is one of the ones that has hit home with me. God has brought me on an incredible journey the past couple months/weeks/days. We are entering into our summer season and so desperately I want to have a Story of My life that is fascinating and meaningful that when people look back at it they say wow. And then God pokes my heart saying, "Am I not enough for people to look back on and say she loved Him with everything in her being?" The pppptttthhhhhh (that's the sound of air leaving something inflated) I am again humbled and made to feel so utter small and selfish. I have an amazing life that God has blessed me with to be able to serve hundreds even thousands of people all the time and reflect God's amazingness to them! God is totally worth looking at and saying WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!
    This summer is very stretching already and I've only had one week of semi summer camp. I literally looked up to heaven one day and said, "Lord, I have absolutely nothing, I am yours use me as you will this summer. Break me if necessary, and bring my heart so close to Yours that nothing can get between them." Sadly, He has revealed how much I have allowed and chosen to come between He and I. But by the grace of God He has washed me clean and renewed me to be able to walk closer to Him. And I have a whole new picture of what Grace looks like. Praise be to God!!!

Faith in the Unseen

Faith:
Forward Always In Trusting Him

Today the act of faith was lived out before my very eyes. And it was such a random and awesome way! I was out at the Never Say Never Therapeutic Riding Center with my friend Emilia and we were working some of their horses. Mia asked me to ride her horse Max! Now let me tell you about Max. He is a big, beautiful Grey (there are no true white horses) Kentucky Mountain Horse and he is just plain grand! He honestly reminds you of Maximus from the movie tangled (that's how he got his name) He will sniff out where he is at and when he listens he cocks his head (which is by the way adorable!) But the best thing about Max is that He is completely blind! As I worked with him I noticed that he needed confidence and security. He needed guidance over obstacles and directed around the arena. At one point he didn't want to follow my direction but the other horses in the arena. I was talking to him and all of a sudden I was like "Max, you need to have faith in me, it's Forward Always In Trusting Him." And just like that all of the spiritual analogies of what Faith looks like and trusting God. To walk by Faith and not by sight. As I was traveling home, I was pouring my heart out to my Heavenly Father about the desires of my heart. And I am realizing even now about how much I don't trust Him, and not walk by faith. My new prayer is that I would walk by the faith in Jesus Christ who has everything planned out for my life!

Jeremiah 29:11
          "For I know the plans I have for you said the Lord, plans not to harm you but to give you a hope and a future." (paraphrase)

I can only imagine forever!

O to grace how great a debtor 
 daily I'm constrained to be! 
 Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 
 bind my wandering heart to thee. 
 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
 prone to leave the God I love; 
 here's my heart, O take and seal it, 
 seal it for thy courts above. 

This song has been one of my favorite songs to sing for years! And I love to sing the last verse because there are so many times that my heart wants to wander. Wander from this or from that or not give up this or give up that for the cause of Christ. I pray everyday that my heart would be sealed by God's hand and nothing else! So that one day I will will be able to sing praises of His grace and love in His marvelous courts and worship Him all day long forever! 

   Wow, ever think of forever?? It's like.....well....forever! :)The idea of forever is slightly frightening that is for sure but I am really excited!  Imagine,  God welcoming you at the Pearly Gates, and every day, (even though there is no time there) you get to run around and sing, play games, worship, eat amazing food, and the River of Life? you betcha! Gonna have water fights ;) It all just makes me laugh and smile and I honestly cannot wait. Seeing Jesus all the time and being able to ask those questions that you've been waiting to ask Him! And meeting all of the people in the Bible that I've read about and studied for my whole life! Whoa! So fun! I can just see story time with David, or Moses or Adam and talking about Creation....sigh sounds well Heavenly!

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes....

Winter.....the word usually brings a smile to my face because it brings memories of snow, friends, Thanksgiving, curling up with a blanket and cocoa, and of course Christmas. But what I so frequently forget is the growth that winter brings. The cold of the winter brings insulation for the grass to reseed the ground and grow strong in the spring. It helps the trees grow strong and tall. It also reminds me of how God walks us through the cold times to grow us closer to Him. And bring in the spring a melting of hearts and a new birth.
Each snowflake that falls to the earth is completely different. There is not two alike. The amount of snowflakes that fall from the sky and knowing that there is not one alike humbles me. I barely have enough creativity for 5!! The sun beams that reflect off the pristine cut edges  making the freshly fallen snow look like diamonds. The world looks brighter whether by day or by night. The sounds of the falling snow is magical and it lays like a heavy blanket. Encasing the world in a crystal beauty.

The correlation between the snowflake and our christian walk is amazing. God takes a simple raindrop and freezes it in perfect beauty transforming it. As it settles in the exact spot where God places it, it reflects the suns beauty! Can you see it now? God takes our hearts and transforms them and sends them to some place that is perfect for us and then we begin to reflect Jesus' light to the world!

Here is a post of photos of snowflakes:
      http://www.boredpanda.com/snowflake-macro-photography-diy-alexey-kljatov/