and the award goes to...

and the award goes to....

I have been given a coveted Blog Award.  I would like to thank my friends for your support and encouragement.

Ok, now let's get serious....a friend of mine sent this "award" to me and I thought it looked like fun. 

Here are THE rules:
1. Thank the person(s) who gave this award to you.
2. List 7 things that people may not know about you.
3. Pass it on to 15 other bloggers

Jessica, I don't really know how to put into words what you have come to mean to me. You accept and love unconditionally. You are an eloquent writer, wonderful mom, and great friend.  I thank God, and Tory, for putting us together. Sometimes I sit back and laugh at the way you can bring our group back into focus (it rather reminds me of herding cats at times). I treasure the day I stepped into the classroom full of Beloved Beauties.

7 Things people may not know about me

1. 1. My uncle played guitar with Bruce Sprinsteen, but decided to get married instead of stay with the E-Street band.
2. I have been bitten by a duck (or is it pecked)
3. I had no idea vegetables came in a can until we moved to SC
4. I used to drive to Hartsville everyday to ride horses
5. My son and I were baptized together in November 2010
6. Was offered a job at the Charlotte Airport right out of high-school as a translator
7. Have tactile issues with clothes

I don't know 15 other bloggers

Being Perfect

In this time before my mission trip I know God is molding me to be what He needs to use me in Kenya. I also know this has nothing to do with my physical appearance. I had a great experience in May in finding, and wearing a wig. However, in the 7 months since then, I have realized the following

1. Wigs are hot
2. Wigs are expensive
3. Wigs squeeze your head
4. Wigs fly off if they are not squeezing your head
5. Wigs are itchy

I am not a "girly" girl. Never have been. The wig for me was not to feel "girly" but I thought it would make me feel normal. Well, after these 7 months I feel more normal with it off. Now comes the worrying if people will accept me, make fun of me, laugh at me. Will I now, not feel like a woman? On facebook, of all places, I see a page for Bald Barbie. Awareness for women that are hairless for whatever reason. Love it! So then I start thinking. Is the Wig how I really am? No. Will I still wear one, sure. Just not all the time.

January at ACS is extremely exhausting (thank goodness people only close their books once a year). We are now at the end of week 2. I woke up this morning thinking, "I cannot wear the head squeezer to work today." So I showered, got dressed, put my hair in my backpack, and left the house. I stopped at our church (they have prayer breakfast on Fridays for the youth) and got some church family loving and no one laughed or pointed or anything.

OK, on to work! And no one laughed, or pointed, or anything. Then I opened my email and found my Proverbs 31 Ministry Encouragement for Today - Being Perfect. God sent me just what I needed today!  I love how He does that.  I am perfect to God, because He made me. Doesn't matter how fluffy I am or the lack of hair. He created me to do his work, so I am perfect, perfect for sharing the love of God with others!

New Year, New Me

I have prayed that I am going to Kenya for the right reasons. I have also prayed that have a servants heart.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to read the entire Bible by 12/31/12. As I have been reading the last 5 days God has really spoken to me. I realized that if I spent 1/10 of the time in the Word that I spend on social media, I would have one amazing relationship with Him. I see notes I have jotted in my Bible....pray for God's agenda, not mine," "give me a servant's heart." Then I see underlined, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...1Peter 3:15.

OK, He is showing me the way! Spend more time in the Word. Don't just read the words to say you have read them. Let the words change you. So I have decided to cut back on "cloud time" and spend more with my Lord. He is preparing me for the greatest adventure of my life this summer. Paige said to be flexible, God will mold us into what He needs before we leave. Please keep me and everyone in our group in your prayers in the coming months as we are "molded" into the messengers we need to be to spread the love of God.

Happy New Year Ya'll

Was blessed to spend New Year's Eve with friends that Chris and I have had for over 23 years. Most of the group came as Chris' package deal when we started dating. For years and years we would spend every New Year's Eve together at the beach. No matter where we were with work, school, life, we would all make the trip to Surfside Beach and spend New Year's together. Then came more marriages and children. The beach house was sold, people move away....

But this year several of us were able to spend it together again. We talked and laughed about the New Year's of the past. Thanked God we are still alive and never arrested (propane tank on the beach). Our children all got along as if they were already friends and understood the bond we all have with each other.

And then came the cannon. I guess I should mention that one of the group activities used to be to see what could be blown up or shot with the most "show."  All of these 40 something  year old men were running around like the teenagers planning, loading, and shooting the cannon. Again, I thank God no one got hurt and we weren't arrested. Fun was had by everyone from 3yrs old on up!  It's like we just picked back up from the last time we were with these friends. I am so happy we were invited. The only down side was I am not used to staying up or out until 1:30 in the morning.

The New Year begins and I am with my husband, son, and good friends...great start to 2012! I am so looking forward to see how God uses me this year. He has big dreams for me and I look forward to the changes in my life and the lives of others that will take place in 2012! Happy New Year Ya'll