Ouch!

Yesterday I got my wisdom tooth pulled. I was scared because I have never been put under with anesthesia before. Within counting backwards from 10...9...8...7...6... I was out. Waking up out of it was the hardest part; I had no control over my motor skills and I was like jello hahaha. My parents had to carry me to the car and into the house whenever I arrived home. When Corey came over to help take care of me all I could do was say hi, your home hahaha. My mom and Corey said they wish they had a video camera because I was acting so silly. Who knew that trying to eat mashed potatoes and a milkshake would be as hard as it was. I did not feel any pain until this morning and then it started coming. I am thankful that God blessed me with a wonderful surgeon because I do not look like a chipmunk and God has been taking care of the pain for me; thanks Daddy! I am sooo not looking forward to having the other 3 pulled soon.

Emotionally Exhausted

This Christmas was definitely a bittersweet one. My sister-in-laws mother passed away Christmas morning. It was hard to let her go and to know that we would not be spending anymore holidays with her on this earth. The sweet part is she passed on her favorite holiday, she went to celebrate Jesus's birthday with Him, & she is no longer suffering from this horrible disease. She was a fighter for 13 years and she was determined to keep her promise of making it for one more Christmas. She was in bed rest for the last 6 months or so and I know how badly she wanted out of that bed. It brings a smile to my face to know that she is now in heaven running along side her Heavenly Father. What a tough few days it has been and I don't think it has fully set in that she is gone. I went to her house the day after Christmas and it was so quiet without the sound of her laughter. She treated my brother and I like we were her own children and loved us to pieces. She was a wonderful mother who was always there for her baby girl and what a beautiful wife she was also. It brings us such hope and joy to know that she is not suffering anymore and that she is in the arms of our Lord. This is not goodbye but a we will see you soon. I can't imagine not having this hope, joy, and comfort which only our Lord can bring. She made me make her several promises like, I will graduate from college and not let anything stand in my way (she told me I would make a great teacher), to be the best aunt that I could possible be and spoil my nieces and nephews rotten, that I will not let her grand babies forget who she is, to take care of her daughter, and that I will not let what everyone else wants for me stand in the way of my own happiness. It is crazy to think I have known her since I was 8 years old. Gosh I am going to miss her like crazy, but I will make sure we never forget her and that her grand babies won't also. Thank you God for giving us the honor and privilege of knowing such a beautiful woman, what a blessing she was to so many!

Prayer

My family needs a lot of prayer right now. My sister-in-laws mom has been fighting cancer off and on for about the last 11 years and this time the cancer has come back hitting her harder then before. Almost 2 weeks ago she called all of her friends and family to her home in order to say her goodbyes. She is a fighter, but she says she is getting tired and she is ready to go. Please keep our families in your prayers as we all know that she does not have much longer to live and with it being the holidays it is harder for my sis and her family. We just pray that the Lord will be glorified through this sad and horrible situation! Thank you to everyone!

Run To Win

The letter I read today from the book "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King" is based on the scripture verse 1 Corinthians 9:24 which states, "Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win." I was able to relate to this letter because it discusses how we tend to struggle with pleasing others and forgetting that our goal should be to please our King. I have to say this is something I have struggled with and had to give over to God. I realized that if I am trying to please people then I am not being a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). The only one we should focus on pleasing is our Heavenly Father and also there is a race set out before us that we should never lose sight of. The burden of trying to please others keeps us from having victory in this endurance race that we are running. The title for this letter is:

"My Princess... Run To Win"

"You, My princess, are destined to win. I know how tired you often become, just by trying to do and say all the right things. Take that pressure off yourself, because I did not put it there. The world may judge you by what they see and hear, but I look within your heart, My child. I see your desire to please Me, and I see your struggle to please others. If you want to win this endurance race, you must let go of your need for the approval of others and seek My will and My pleasure. Simplify your life, and let go of the burdens that weigh you down. You'll find that My grace will lighten your step, and My favor will even draw others to join us. Yes, at times you will stumble and fall. But don't worry. I'm here to help you get back up again-- as often as it takes. Make it your daily passion to run with Me, and I will carry you over the finish line of your faith. Together we will win!
Love,
Your King and your Champion."

I know that sometimes I become ADD and lose sight of the race ahead. I even stumble a little along the way and allow myself to get side tracked by things like trying to please others.
Its soooo nice to know that I am not running this race alone, but that my Daddy is my running partner; He is along side me every step of the way to help pick me back up such as when I feel I cannot run anymore. Thank you Heavenly Father for being patient with us whenever we take our eyes off of the race and off of You. Thank you for helping me to carry the heavy load and for picking me back up again. I know that with You by my side I can win and have victory! Thank you my Father!!!

His Princess

Every day I read from a book called "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd. As a woman in today's society we are constantly bombarded with how skinny we should be or the type of clothes we should wear and we try to measure ourselves to these so called "perfect" woman. By doing this it makes us feel insecure and we start to believe we are not beautiful. By reading these small letters it helps me to remember that I should not compare myself to other people. I should love myself for who I am because I am a child of the King! He made me this way for a reason just like Ephesians 2:10 states "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew." We are radiant in His eyes; we are a masterpiece, wow! I wanted to share the letter I read today which is titled, “My Princess You Don’t Have To Fit In.”

“I know you want to be accepted by others, but you were not made to fit in. You, My princess, were created to stand out. Not to draw attention to yourself, but to live the kind of life that leads others to Me. Remember, it’s your choices that will pave your path to life. I will not force you to do anything. I have given you a free will to walk with Me or to walk away from Me. I want you to know that you can put on your crown at any time and let people know that you belong to Me. You have a royal call on your life. I want you to remember you wear the crown of everlasting life, and through you I will do abundantly more than you would ever dare to dream.

Love,

Your King and Crown Giver"

Galatians 1:10, NIV

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?

Or am I trying to please men?

If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

So we were created to stand out and not to fit in with the rest of the world. We are to be set apart! Also never forget that you are gorgeous, uniquely made, and you are a princess of the King! You have a royal call on your life and it is your choice to believe it or not.