Thought-Provoking Thursday...

Last Sunday at church we sang the song by Matt Redman, You Never Let Go. I know that I've heard this song before but I realized this time how much I like it.

It reminds us that God never lets go of us no matter what. It says "you never let go through the calm or through the storm". It might seem weird to some that it says through the calm but I have found that's when I need Him to hold on to me the tightest. It's during these times of calm that I tend to wander away from Him. You know what I'm talking about too I suppose because you've also experienced it. When things are tough and the storms of life come and we can't do it on our own people will find us crying out and clinging to our Lord. Yet when things are all going our way and there isn't anything that is driving us to our knees in prayer we so easily forget the one who died for us.

This is why I so love this, that He never lets go because if He did I would forever be lost. Thank you dear God for always holding onto me for casting out all fear and for giving me a hope and a future! If it weren't for You, I would have nothing to live for nothing to breath for that wasn't vain and unfulfilling.

Thank and Praise Him today for His everlasting love and His many daily mercies and for just being God Almighty!

Wordless Wednesday...

Tasty Tues...

Okay before the clock strikes 12 am I'm going to blog about Tasty Tue. Thanks to the Prachar's here is another special post of the day idea. (You should check out their blog, I have a link to it with all the other one; yeah right there on the right.) Anyway, I'm going to share with you a recipe that all of us enjoy and especially Andrew and I. Mind you it's Tasty Tue not Healthy Tue:)

Pumpkin Bars:

2c Sugar 2c Flour 2tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt 4 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla

2tsp cinnamon (we usually us pumpkin pie spice and I will put more than it calls for in)

1c Salad Oil

2c pumpkin (We like to put extra pumpkin in because it makes it heavier and I think moister. I think we put in somewhere around 3/4 c more but 1c would be good too I believe.)

Mix sugar and oil together. Add eggs, beat; add pumpkin and vanilla and then dry ingredients. Mix together and bake in a 15 x 10 in pan at 375 Fahrenheit for 25 mins.

Frosting (this is what really makes it good.)

3 cups (we use 2 1/2c sugar because it's too sweet with 3)

3/4 stick soft margarine or butter

1tsp vanilla

3 oz Philadelphia cream cheese

2T milk

Mix all together, beat well, frost cooled bars.

Hey, give it a try next time you have company or just for somethings special for the weekend.

One more thing, Bekah, I really think that you should use Tasty Tue on you blog except you can put a healthy twist on things! Then all your readers will find your blog even more helpful and I'll be able to visit your updated blog at least twice a week! (I have ulterior motives as you can see :)

Fun Sunday-day

Hello Everyone,

I pretty much just felt like posting today so I am. It's been a really great weekend and so I thought that I'd share with you all what we've done today.

Our church has two services so we went to first service today so we could meet my cousin and his wife for lunch. The singing was good and the preaching and we met some new people who had just recently gone on a missions trip to India. Or church is getting so big that you could go every Sunday for a long time and meet someone new. I also saw one of my girls from my small group at Bright Lights; they were seeing what our church was like. I'm really glad that we saw each other because it's easy to come into a big church like that and have no one really talk to you or anything. It's sad but all too true at times. There are definitely pros and cons to big and small churches. But don't get me wrong I'm so glad that we are going to Grace. If you're looking for a church right now, come try it out. Brooks (our pastor) definitely preaches the truth whether he thinks people want to hear it or not; which I like.

So after church, we went out for an early lunch in North Liberty with David and Kristin. It was so nice to see them and talk over a nice meal. We went to a restaurant named Eggy's which is pretty good.

After we said goodbye it was about 12:30 so we were going to go home but then we had been talking about how mom's coat didn't match the rest of ours. Dad, Andrew, and I all have more or less brown dress coats so we decided that mom needed one as well. We didn't really ask her if she wanted to go look for a coat we just decide we wanted to so we went. We found a nice coat at Sears for her and even though it's not brown it sort of ties in with the lighter color in my coat and it's a dress coat. Mission accomplished!

While we were shopping for Mom and Andrew I found a second hand purse for a little less than 5 dollars and a pair of really sweet gloves to go with my dress coat and orange scarf. They are pretty funky and they definitely add an artistic flair.

We then made a quick run the the Hyvee store and headed home. All tired and worn out but happy and glad to be a family! Praise the Lord for families.

The new purse: I'm thinking that even though I like my purse from Thailand I'm going to enjoy having more pockets to organize my stuff in so I don't always feel like Mary Poppins digging through her bag.

The new funky gloves. Don't you love them? I'm not sure where the little piece of blue lint came from but I didn't really want to retake the photo so there it is all the same.
Oh, I also got a new pair of earrings instead of a gift that I took back from Christmas. It's the brown one on the end. The cross is from Dad for Christmas, the next one is from Fongs for my birthday, and the last one I bought while I was in Thailand (let's just say that the ones I bought in Thailand were a lot cheaper the the ones I just got the other day and they were probably both made in China.). I can't wait to be able to wear all my new earrings! It's going to be too much fun. (And yes to all who are wondering, I do have a match to all of these :)

Freak Out Friday

Okay, it's Freak Out Friday for two reasons. The first is that IT'S THE WEEKEND, DUH :) And the second is this is an extreme video that will cause you to freak out either from fear or a new desire to live on the crazy side of life. I'll let you guess which category I would fit into.

Thought Provoking Thursday...

Love, it's probably one God's best creations. I'm taking Jie's idea and posting a Thought Provoking Thursday.

One Christian singer that I really like is Chris Rice. He has a way of looking at life differently than most people and then communicating those thoughts through his songs. I think that he brings out some good points in this song (posted below).

Our view of love today is so completely messed up. Our culture and country says "Love" is getting what you want in a relationship but it's not. As Chris Rice says, it's not what we can GET but true love is paying a price even to the point of death (like Christ) and Giving it all away.

Relationships whether a marriage, family, or friends requires love. Not the selfish kind of love that takes and takes but a selfless love that will forgive when it's hurt and keeps no record of wrong.

Sometimes it's hard to love, especially when we've been hurt. Sometimes in friendships we open our hearts and entrust them but in return they are bruised and broken we have a choice to make.

May we become people who because of Jesus' love we pour love to those around us in our everyday lives and as a result people find the healing love of Christ.

What a Heart is Beating for

-Chris Rice

Leave it alone, don't analyze

'Cause love can be your lullaby

But love can be your hurricane too

And love can take your breath away

But love can leave you lonely and blue
Oh, what's a heart to do?

Oh, what's a heart to do?

(Chorus)

Why be afraid

No reason to hide

Take the chance

Put it all on the line

Draw in a deep breath and throw open the door

'Cause that's what a heart is beating for

Yeah, that's what a heart is beating for

Beating for, beating for

Brace yourselves, take a good look around

We've all been thinking upside-down

That love's about what life can bring our way

Oh but love isn't love unless someone pays

And so with love, the only way to gain

Is give it all away,

Is give it all away!

(Chorus)

Wordless Wednesday...

I need you...

There are people in the posting world who like to have certain post for certain days of the weeks. For example, wordless Wednesday. This is when you just post a pic without words. I think maybe I should start doing that. I don't know, I guess we'll just wait and see. Anyway, what I want you to do is suggest titles for days of the week. I've thought of mine, "Freak Out Friday". Maybe if we get a lot of good ideas going, we will have people all over doing it like "Not me Monday" by MckMama. http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

I love my Ears?

Saturday night I proved to myself and my ears that I do not love them. Yes, at the ripe old age of 22, I got my ears pierced for the first time. It's really rather embarrassing and I thought about skipping posting about it all together but I decided to lay myself bare on this one. So yes, I finally did do it, to all my friends who have heard me saying that I'm going to do it for the past I don't know how long.

My parents gave me a kit for Christmas that you take into Wal-Mart and they will then piece your ears for you. Caitlyn said she wanted to come so she went with me Sat. night. We both forgot our cameras so I'm sorry there are no pic. from the process.

Now, to all you who haven't had your ears pierced. I'm very glad I did it but if anyone tells you that it doesn't hurt, don't believe them. It does hurt. I mean not terribly bad or anything, but it's not like it's a little pinch and then it goes away. This is what I thought. Duh, Christine Nicole! You now have a hole in your flesh it's not going to stop hurting just like that :). Okay, so enough of that. My ears are doing fine and they're dealing with their bitterness as I type. I think they'll forgive me since I've made them prettier.

(You know I am so weird sometimes! I really don't know where it comes from.)

Wow, after all that you probably think I'm extremely vain. You're probably right.

I can't wait to wear my new earrings from Christmas and the ones I bought in Thailand. It's going to be fun. Thanks for reading this insane post, if you made it this far that is; which I don't blame you if you didn't. TTFN (Ta Ta For Now).

surrender?

I was heard this song for the first time the other day and it really is true of my life right now. I hope you find it as beautiful as I do.

Dani

Happy Birthday Dani!!!!

Everyone, it's Danielle's 24th birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I expect all of you who know her to send her a birthday comment :)

Wow Dani, what can I say? I wanted to let you know how special you are to me by giving you your own special post on my blog. I can't tell you how wonderful you are or how much I appreciate your friendship. You are such a good friend and a great older sister, Jie Jie!

I so enjoyed our time together in Asia this past fall and it was great to get to know you so much better over the course of our trip. Your heart for missions is so beautiful and your heart for the Lord. You're so wonderfully funny as well. And I will never forget all the times we laughed together, even at stupid things :)

One other thing I will never forget is the first time I ever saw you. It was at leader's training for a Bright Lights conference and when you came in you looked very aristocrat and proper and a good Christian girl. What I didn't see was that there was a girl named Dani right below the skin of Danielle:) who was so much like Chrissy who is right below the skin of Christine.

It wasn't too long before I started to realize how much fun you were but I didn't like you just because you were fun but because I saw such a love for Jesus! I told my mom more than once (and you can ask her if it's true) that "I wanted to be like Dani". Your love for the Lord shines through your beautiful smile, your love for others, your passion for the lost, and your wonderful voice lifted in praise to your God (sometimes even singing songs you have written).

I'm so glad God created you and blessed my life with knowing you and having the honor of being one of your close friends even though the miles between us separate us.

I love you, Jie! Happy Birthday!

Isn't she beautiful?!


Dani and I holding the lizard we caught in S'pore.

And then the big, beautiful, brown, Italian, eyes of Danielle.

Andrew...

Andrew; treasured brother, one of my most loyal of all loyals, person who makes me laugh so much, skilled, talented, actor, friend, most wonderful little brother in all the world.

Yes Andrew, this post is dedicated to you. I just wanted to give you the spot on my blog that is due you and has been too long in coming. I also wanted to share with Kitti's Klips little world one of the ways you made me laugh, actually all of us laugh most recently. (You know what's coming:) Okay everyone, are you ready for this? Winston Churchill has so many famous quotes but this one from Andrew, might just be that famous one day.

One day when Andrew was putting away the groceries he looked at me and said out of the blue:

"Sometimes I don't like you very much,

and other times, I think that you are just a lump of butter,

so why bother?"

Wow, that was soooo funny! I still love it!

My little Brother in his senior year:

Andrew was in the Marion Home School play this year. He was Laurence in "Little Women". You did such a wonderful job Andrew! It was your best performance yet! (You can thank all of us Bright Lights leaders for all the acting skills and to do's and not to do's you pick up from us :)

Andrew and I after His last performance. I'm glad you skip the make-up on normal days :)

Andrew and our good friend Jeff this summer. Two tall skinny guys.

So I guess that's all. Thanks so much for being such a great little brother. A much better one than I deserve! Love you!

Oh, I forgot! One more thing, if you ever see Andrew in a suit and bow tie, just refer to him as James Bond.

My chapter for 2009...

While I was in CO the Lord gave me a chapter for this year. It's Ps. 84. When I read the first part I thought that it was really good and I wanted it to be true of my life. So I guess in a way I'm looking to the Lord to make this more true in my life this year. I think that He probably has somethings in mind this year and I will be able to look back and see His hand at work! I love being able to do that.

One thing you might consider doing, is asking the Lord for a chapter or verse for 2009.

84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young,

at your altars, O Lord of hosts,

my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,

ever singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

in whose heart are the highways to Zion. [2]

6 As they go through the Valley of Bacathey make it a place of springs;

the early rain also covers it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength;

each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;

give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 Behold our shield, O God;

look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

the Lord bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold

from those who walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts,

blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Video blogging once again...

Okay, here's one of the movies from our GOTG adventure!

Andrew had just made it down from his rock he temporarily got stuck on and we had reach our destination. I was also dealing with a case of indecisiveness as you'll see.

Where to begin....

Where do I begin! It's been such a packed holiday season since last time I posted! Wow, it has been a blast and it's hard to excepted that real life is upon us once again.

We had a small quiet Christmas. We got together with my Grandma for presents and then had one of the families we know over for a late lunch or luncher whatever you prefer.

Andrew and I both got each other hats for Christmas and we love them! I'm glad that hats are back in. They're so much fun and they really come in handy on a bad hair day.

The day after Christmas, the 26th, we left for Colorado where we visited our friends!

We known quite a few families who have moved to the CO Springs area and Andrew and I are hoping that some day it will be our turn!

We saw and spent time with the McDills, the Faehs, and stayed with the Lueckes.

Here are some pic that I took at Garden of the God's. I love that place and I got to enjoy it twice this trip.

This next pic is of the Kissing Camels in GOTG.

God's creation is sooooooooooooo beautiful and amazing!

One day while staying with the Lueckes, we, the kids, decided that we wanted to go for a hike at Garden of the God's. It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time! I'll tell you what, it was a little weird being able to hike in the dead of winter.

So here they are, in IBO ( in birth order, thanks to Dave McDill I learned another appreviation):

Kristen: a beautiful, fun, bible school student, working, oldest sister, wonderful baker, young woman.

Andrew: Little brother turned big little brother, one of the funniest people I know, fun, one of my best friends, young man.

Emma: another beautiful young woman, senior, older and younger sister, missions minded, animal loving, young woman.

Renae: a beautiful, craft loving, middle child, cute, taller every time I see her, fun, Andrew's Narnia partner, young lady.

Allen: a football loving, all boy, cute (he'd dislike me for saying that), sweet boy.

Jacob: youngest, older brother's constant playmate, Kristen's baby, trooper in keep up with all of us, and cute little goof (as the pic shows).

Climb, climb, climb.

As you can see, I had my camera along so we made a video with a news reporter, helpless civilians, and super hero. We had it all, okay, we forgot the evil villain but it was still good.

Here is a photo of our super hero, Luigi the Caped Crusader!

We came across this sign and I couldn't resist the opportunity to get a pic by it. I guess it's probably a little of my rebellious side coming out. I should have been standing on the other side of the sign though. Notice the $500 fine at the bottom.

Now that the holidays and traveling are over I will hopefully be posting more often. Also, I will probably be posting at least one of the many videos I took.