A Night of Ike

My mom's whole side of the family lives in Houston. None of them decided to evacuate. All are safe this morning! (almost afternoon). WHOO HOO!! I was up until 2 A M watching KHOU on television to see what was happening to my family. I was hoping we would at least get some rain out of Ike but it seems that he has only brought wind to Austin thus far! It makes me so ready for cooler weather! Thank you Ike for rubbing it in. 

I am so glad that everyone is safe! Now I am off for a run in the wind around my apartment. Can't Wait!

Mi Familia

THIS blog was inspired by a blog written by my dear friend who beats me at Scrabble every single time. Jenny H!  I would like to introduce you to the people who make me better and bring  me so much joy.

Introducing my nephew Landon James! He is so beautiful! He and I even have the same cheesy smile! He was born on June 21, 2007 and since he lives in San Angelo we don't get to see him enough.  He is my pride and joy and has brought the whole family much closer!

This is my sister Lindsey. She is three years older than me and I love her very much. When

 we were growing up we didn't have much in common at all but as we have grown older we have struggled through things that have brought us closer together. 

She is the mother to Landon and I am so blessed to have them in my life. 

This is my friend Jenny Helm. She and Kyle (my husband) have known each other for a very long time and when she first met me she didn't think they needed another "Jenny" in their group of friends. Now she agrees that they do. She is a beautifully strong women and I admire that she tells me like it is. It is wonderful to have a friend who prays for me and one who is so talented! See http://helmhousecreations.blogspot.com and buy your banner today!

These are the women who have a very big chunk of my  heart. Stephanie McGilberry on the left was a student trainer when we were in high school and she thought I was snobby until we met at youth group and were inseparable. Miss Ruby (between steph and myself) was my boss at the store I worked at in Gruene all through college. I LOVE HER and would name a daughter Ruby but Kyle and I are sticking to "J" and "K" names. Christina Joy Coleman is on the right and she is in Indonesia on missions until December. I love her so much because she is adventurous and doesn't take negativity from anyone! Stephanie, Christina, and I all met in youth group in high school and we have a pretty special bond. 
This is my husband Kyle and me at Jill's Wedding. Kyle and I met each other in June of 2006, had our first date on July 1, 2006 and were married on March 9, 2007. He is my best friend in the whole world and I am so blessed to have him in my life. He is my number one fan and believes that we can do anything we set our minds to. He is my hero and I am amazed at how well we compliment one another. God knew what he was doing! 
I have several more people to add to this but I it is not letting me upload any more pictures to this post. I will post another blog tomorrow with the rest of you included. 

I am so thankful for everyone who is a part of my life and am excited about all of the people that I get to meet every single day. 

PRAYER

Sanctified

Let there be no condemnation

For all who are fully known in Christ

Unspeakable grace for all the nations

By way of holy sacrifice

We worship with the sound

Of broken shackles

Falling to the ground

Sanctified

I have been set free

Grace divine

Has swept me off my feet

No greater love has ever been known

Than He who came to find the lost

No greater sacrifice has been shown

Than He who laid upon the cross

Let all creation sing

For HE has come

and He's changed everything!!!

Sanctified 

I have been set free

Grace divine

Has swept me off my feet

And I know that I will never be the same

Sanctify 'sa ng (k)te fi' verb (-fies, -fied) (trans). set apart as or declare holy; consecrate: a small Christian shrine was built to sanctify the site. (often be sanctified) make legitimate or binding by religious sanction: they see their love sanctified by the sacrament of marriage. free from sin; purify. (often by sanctified) figurative give the appearance of being right or good; legitimize: they looked to loyalty to sanctify their cause. 

Instead of the Piercing...

I REALLY want a cute little nose piercing but my friends say they look like sparkly boogers. I don't agree with them at all but would rather not have a third hole in my nose. I think going from blond highlights (for the past 8 years of my life) to brown was a very good decision to curb the wild streak in my heart! 

I like to change things and am restricted to the furniture in my apartment staying right where it is because hey its an apartment and it only comes with so many walls. 

I like to change things and cannot put a pedicure into the budget because I still have a car that is not paid for (and a degree for that matter). THAT means that my toenails are painted by me and I have a 'pediegg' that does a pretty good job month after month and only costs $9.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond (without the 20% off coupon). 

I like to change things so I go a few days with eating healthy and feeling great and then ruin it with a stuffed crust pizza that feels great too!

Even better...God likes to change things. He is currently working really hard on me and this word "simplicity" I do not need all of these things that I think that I need to have! 

Matthew 6:19-20

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

and besides...

Isaiah 61:10 and 11 says

"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."

Confessions of a Work From Home Woman

Today 

Was quite boring.

I'm totally fine with it because I got to go for a run, watch Grey's Anatomy, Believe God, and

sell stuff on ebay. I am amazed at how well a "positive feedback" can make a woman feel after making a startling $100.19 on a sterling silver James Avery SWT charm. Who would have thought? 

I ran for 20 minutes without stopping which some may think is hardly anything at all. The most amazing thing is that I ran that 20 minutes without any knee pain at all. I feel the need to train for something. I feel the need to push myself and finish the race. I would like to think the Olympians for that ;) <--thats a wink for you Jenny Helm! 

I have a FABULOUS idea for how to pay off all of these students loans but some may think it absurd. I think I will call my relatives and tell them that I am trying to pay off debt and need them to pledge any amount they want per mile I run (during February's Marathon). What do you think? Do you think people would offer even a penny? I have visions of wearing a running shirt that says, "RUNNING OFF DEBT" 

Maybe I am just wishful thinking but a "Work from Home Woman" has plenty of time to wishfully think. I am considering other options to pay off debt as well. I thought of cleaning houses, collecting cans, and continuing to sell stuff on ebay. (that paragraph is for those that think I should get a job instead of asking for pledges!) I am perfectly willing to do both. 

The most exciting thing about working from  home is the ability to make my own schedule. I am now available for girls ministry way more than ever before. As I watched Beth Moore live in San Antonio last week, I was smacked in the face with the passion that the Lord has given me for girls ministry. It is imperative that all girls know their worth. 

Dear heiress of Christ, 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made! Your life is not left to chance. You are inheriting a kingdom. He is your portion and YOU are HIS!!!. The down-payment has been made. Your boundary lines form a pleasing place. The will has been activated. You can be secure. You have a Beautiful inheritance! (those were all points that Beth Moore made and I typed them as much to you as to me as well) 

My prayer for those of you who are reading this lies in Psalm 16:

"Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. 

I said to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.' 

As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. 

The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. 

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. 

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You  have made known to me the path of life; you will find me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

 

Getting Serious

Kyle and I will be moving into a one bedroom apartment (at the same apartment complex we live in now) on Saturday September, 13th. We are serious about paying off debt and will save close to $150.00 a month by downsizing. That $150.00 will be added to my monthy car payment and will speed up the process of paying the car off. If any of you would like to help us move from building 4 to building 8 we would really appreciate it. 

I will have everything boxed up and ready to be moved about 200 yards. 

Rain

Something about rain can be quite inspiring. I awoke from a wonderful nap and finished my Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book. It was great! The ending was refreshing and left me feeling accomplished. There is something special about finishing a book when rain is falling down outside. I wish it were still raining. Last summer if I had a wish such as this it would have come true the next day. Last summer it rained EVERY single day. I could almost time the first rain drop and would plan my daily runs in anticipation. 

Yesterday I cleaned out my classroom at Travis High School. I wouldn't call it exhilerating but there was something very final about the whole experience. Truth be told I really enjoyed teaching when it came down to it but I will not be sad when I get to sleep in on August 11th. So far I am enjoying the Network Marketing world and taking it as it comes. I find it pleasing to have a choice about what I want to do from day to day. I am finding great ways to stay motivated and enjoy that every day I get to help people gain more freedom. 

I am also very excited about GRACE ministries. Early last fall some fabulous women came to me about starting a ministry at our church specifically for girls. Last year we planned an event for every first Saturday of the month and I think the girls became overwhelmed. This fall we will kick off the school year with a movie night and snacks and will have other events quarterly throughout the year. I am excited because I now have more time available to serve with that ministry. 

I don't really have much else to tell you but that it just so happens to be raining again. I think I might start another book.