Jim Brickman - The Gift Music Video

We had a wonderful first Christmas as a married couple! We have been blessed tremendously by such a loving family! This song is perfect for the occasion and truly explains how I feel! We are so excited for a new year to start, I have a feeling this is going to be a big year for us, stayed tuned and maybe you will find out the big happenings in this coming year!!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Hello there world. I come here today to say say that I am thankful for everything God has given me. He blessed me with an amazing husband, who is always by my side no matter what. I am so loved by such an amazing human being and I am so glad to call him mine. God has truly blessed us with each other. I have also been blessed with an amazing family. Even though it is the family I married into, I thank each and everyone of you, for always accepting me, it truly does feel great to be a part of a wonderful family. I am thankful for having such a wonderful and rewarding job. I love what I do and I know God has me right where I need to be. I am thankful for the new people I have met through work, you all are the greatest and the best to work with! I am so thankful to have a car, a roof over my head, food to eat, running water, so thankful for the things of everyday life. Most of all I am soo thankful for a new life through Christ, he has saved me and washed me white as snow. What an amazing thing! Thank you Lord Jesus for all your many blessing you have given to me! I put all my hope, faith and trust in you and I know that you will lead me to even better things, and I am so excited to see what you do in me and Chad's lives!

Puppies!

No wonder they say that a dog is man's best friend. For Chad's birthday his family got him a chihuaha, now I have never really cared for them so much but Turbo patch is the exception. Let me tell you that Chad and I love this puppy! He is so sweet and so loveable! Chad's little sister Chelsea also got one but she is a girl and her name is Scarlet! Here are some pics!

 Turbo Patch

 Awe Turbo patch asleep

Too cute!

We are so blessed!

Well Chads aunts on his dads side had a post wedding shower for Me, Chad, Scott and Christin. It was a fun day and we got so many nice things! We have been so blessed by such a loving family. Thank you to everyone who came on Saturday!

 Chad and I behind the table!

 Yummy Cake!

 Grandpa Tommy and Gma Raelene

 Getting ready to open gifts

Christin and Scott

 KamKam with his Uncle Chad

Everyone!

Sanctus Real - Whatever You're Doing Music Video

This song explains exaclty what I am going through right now, the closing of one chapter in my life and the opening of a new chapter. I have been fighting this for the last 2 years and I am tired of being hurt and I will never understand why things turned out the way they did with my family. All I can do now is forgive and move on because I have let this go on for way too long. Once I get through this rough patch in my life, there will be no more hurt and pain! Please pray for me during this time as I reflect and write a letter to each one of my family members.

Lifes happenings lately!

Hey there, I know its been awhile since I have posted a But here I am now a month later!!!! Things are going good in our little corner of the world. I have been working soo much lately and that is probably why I have not posted a blog in so long. Speaking of work, I am finally starting to realize that I am exactly where I need to be. The first few months of working at the VA I wasnt sure that I was in the right area but now that I have been working at the VA for a little over a year now, I truly do know it is where I belong. I see so much and I am really realizing how hard civilian life is and can be on our veterans. You will never know the horrors of war and having to come back home and I see that everyday. I just never realized how real it is. I strongly believe that I have something to give to these men and women who have served our country. I thank God everyday for giving me such a rewarding job, because at the end of the day I know that I am doing something good and sometimes even making someones day. Of course we are all going to have our bad days but I think we should all be happy that we have such wonderful jobs. 

On another note, Chad and I are in the process of saving money so that a year from now we can buy a house. I know this time is going to be trying and it might get hard at times but I am putting all my faith in God and in Chad because I know we can do it, and I know in the end it will pay off, its just a matter of getting through it. So I am praying that we will get through this next year! So many exciting things are going on in our lives right now and we are just so excited to see where God leads us! Well that about wraps everything up for now...until next time!


~Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8~

Verse of the Day

Acts 2:42 – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. – Acts 2:42

When the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost one of the effects was that the early Christians devoted themselves to the teaching of the Scripture.

There is a difference between devotion and learning. The early believers laid their views on the altar of God’s Word. They allowed it to shape them.

How do you view the Scripture? Are you willing to devote yourself to it? To simply learn is not enough.

Ok So I must admit...

I think baby fever has officially hit me! I mean look they are just too precious

There are so many people I know who are expecting and who have babies. It doesnt help either that most everyone I talk to has to ask me if Chad and I are going to start trying to have kids, now that we are married. I would love to have a baby but I know that right now I am much more focused on work and school and getting done with school and settling into my career that way we are really ready. Dont get me wrong, if it just happens then of course I would be so excited! I just know that God will bless us with a child in his time and I am so excited for whenever that time may be!

Verse of the Day

The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.” – Nehemiah 2:4-5

Nehemiah, who is a cupbearer to the king, has found out that Jerusalem has been destroyed. But instead of questioning why God would let this happen, Nehemiah begins to repent for the sins of his people. This humble posture leads to the opportunity to ask the king to help rebuild Jerusalem. When things seem to go terribly wrong do we simply criticizing God and those around us, or are we looking to heaven for the solutions? Instead of judging, Nehemiah was asking for mercy, and that posture opened the door for God to provide for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. How about us? How do we respond to challenging situations?

Verse of the Day

Hosea 6:3 – As surely as the sun rises, he will appear

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” – Hosea 6:3

Hosea was called into a very difficult situation. God’s people were unfaithful and Hosea was to call them to repentance. Yet in the midst of Israel’s spiritual adultery there come words of hope. When God’s people turn and acknowledge the Lord, He will come to us! Let every sunrise remind you that no matter how unfaithful you have been to God, if you are willing to acknowledge Him, He will come to you. Let every rain remind you of His faithfulness!

September 11, 2001

I can not believe it has been 9 years since this awful attack on our country happened. I remember I was a sophomore in high school and I was in geometry class when we found out. I remember having the tv on and we all watched in dis belief! I was watching some tribute videos this morning and it still makes me cry. We must never forget this dreadful day and those who lost there lives. We also must be thankful to those men and women who have fought for our freedoms! God Bless America!!!!!

This morning a listener telefaxed me a copy of a calendar he had purchased. Every day you would turn a page in this calendar -- and every day there would be a new verse from the Bible for you to consider. The listener forgot to turn the page in his calendar Tuesday morning. He was too busy following the tragedy in New York. When he did open his calendar later in the day -- he was, to put it mildly, in for a shock. The scripture for September 11, 2001 was from The Book of Zephaniah, Chapter 1, Verses 15 and 16.



Read this .... and ponder:
15. That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress,
A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16. A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers.

Come Ye Sinners

come ye sinners poor and needy
weak and wounded sick and sore
Jesus ready stands to save you
full of pity, love, and power
come ye thirsty come and welcome
God's free bounty glorify
true belief and true repentance
and every grace that brings you nigh
i will arise and go to Jesus
he will embrace me in his arms
and in the arms of my dear saviour
there are ten thousand charms
come ye weary heavy laden
lost and ruined by the fall
if you tarry until you're better
you will never come at all
i will arise and go to Jesus
-Robbie Seay Band
 
Heard this song this morning and forgot how refreshing it is to hear this!

October

Well I am so ready for October to be here. First because it is my husbands birthday on the 29th. He will be 25!!!!

Second we are going to Dallas to the

vs.

game at the cotton bowl! Also while we are there the Texas State Fair will be going on!!!! We are going to be staying with my friend Tana Dodier! She is a friend I met at Tech and one of my Phi Lamb sisters! I am so excited to see her!!!!

Third I am so excited for the changing of the season and the beautiful fall colors!

And last but not least HALLOWEEN!

I got this email and I just wanted to share it, must we never forget this day in American History!

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'





You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I. I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'  I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.  I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.  'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'  I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered. I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.  I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan . I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.  Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.  Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.  I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do.. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you . But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'  I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.


-God

Just what I needed

"And [we] receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him."



- 1 John 3:22 NIV


This Scripture reveals an important Biblical principle--the power of our prayers is directly related to our obedience to God's Word, and to our desire to do what pleases Him. As we progress in our level of obedience to the Lord, the effectiveness of our prayers will increase. I have seen this principle at work in my own life, as well as in the lives of other believers who walk closely with the Lord. Proverbs 28:9 (NIV) says, "If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable." This is another verse which shows a connection between our obedience and our prayers. Even though we've made a decision to trust Christ as our Savior, we can't expect ready answers to our prayers when we ignore God's commands. Psalm 66:18-19 (NIV) says, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer." If we want God to honor our prayers, we can't wink at sin, or have unconfessed sin in our lives.




We also can't afford to harbor unforgiveness toward anyone. Jesus made that clear when He was teaching us how to have mountain-moving faith in Mark 11: "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (v.25 NIV) The Bible reveals that the quality of our relationships can determine the effectiveness of our prayers. Peter says that husbands must "be considerate" of their wives and "treat them with respect" so that their "prayers may not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7 NIV) This principle applies to our other relationships, as well.




Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7 NASB) The Lord is promising us here that if we will live for Him and obey His Word, He will hear and answer our prayers. If you have unsaved or backslidden loved ones, your prayers can make all the difference in their lives. Job 22:30 (NIV) says, "[The Lord] will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands." Our prayers of intercession can be especially powerful when we are fully committed to the Lord. This is particularly important when we are unable to reach our loved ones with our conversation or example. Our prayers can be our best "secret weapon" in winning them to Christ.


Scripture admonishes us to, "Find out what pleases the Lord." (Ephesians 5:10 NIV) If we will do our part in committing ourselves to learning and doing God's will, the Lord will do His part in blessing us and honoring our prayers. God doesn't expect us to do it on our own. Philippians 2:13 (NLT) promises: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." And we can pray like David did: "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." (Psalm 143:10 NIV) I encourage you to start getting serious about obeying God, and start boosting your prayer power today!

This is exactly what I needed to read right now. Since I was not able to go back to school this fall(will be hopefully going in the spring), I have really been trying to figure out what God's will is for my life. I realize I need to give EVERYTHING over to Him and He will give me the desires of my heart. Please pray for me during this time, I am also going to work on a better relationship with God and spend more time in prayer!

-Jen

A New Do!

Well last night I dyed my hair, it is a dark chocolate brown with a little red in it. Here is a pic of the new color, I absolutely love it! I think its a good choice for the fall season!

I am also planning on getting my hair cut, I want something different and shorter so I am thinking of a super cute bob like this maybe

Let me know what you think!

Finally

Well I finally got this blog up and going and looking the way I wanted it to. I am so excited for fall, everything about this season I love. I love the turning of the leaves, the cooler weather, the football, Halloween, Thanksgiving and most of all I just love the autumn colors!!! I am looking forward to this season of change and I am so excited to see what happens this year! Married life is great and things couldnt be better! I am so blessed to have such and amazing husband and new family! They truly are a God-send and I am so lucky to have them all in my life! Chad and I are both going back to school, I am going for nursing and Chad is studying social scienes and plans on becoming a teacher and a coach. We are so excited for this time in our life and we just cant wait to see what God will bless us with!!!!

<3 Jen

Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:4