"Life is but a walking shadow..."

Looking back on 2008 I remember...

I remember life being good with so many wonderful memories tucked into each corner of every day. Memories of laughter, love, happiness, contentment, peace, excitement. I remember looking ahead to my future and seeing my dreams fulfilled. Life was something I faced with anticipation.

I also remember pain, anguish, hurt, confusion, hope, insecurity, the feeling of being lost and forgotten...and a perpetually wet pillow. My dreams seemed to fade with each passing day. Life was nothing but a distant memory.

As I reflect on the events of 2008 I smile, I cry and I thank the Lord I'm still alive to enjoy His many blessings. Through all of my past circumstances one thing is as clear as a cloudless day, and that is the fact that my God has always been there for me with open arms of comfort, the still small voice of peace, and love beyond my comprehension. As the only one to turn to He taught me many lessons; lessons that are worth every bit of the happiness and pain, laughter and sorrow, contentment and discomfort.

My understanding of Him has increased substantially, my faithfulness to Him has grown stronger, and my love for Him has become more passionate. Not to mention that He has blessed me with the gifts of friendship, healing, and the strength to endure.

I enter this New Year, 2009, refreshed and renewed with a bounce in my step and expectation of what the Lord has in store for me. I commit myself to serving Him with every fiber in my being. I praise Him for His goodness and mercies to me. I love Him because He first loved me.

My Childhood in Pictures

***I'd like to dedicate the title of this post to my good friend Sam McConkey.***

While browsing my photos to find the troll picture I came across a few others of me from my childhood. I thought I'd put them up too. Why not?


Me as a baby.


Two years old and practically bald!


Yes, after I started getting hair I was a blonde.


My SWEET Barbie Corvette car. I got this for my 3rd birthday. After watching me drive this thing my dad knew I'd be a good driver. :)


First day of second grade.


My 12th birthday.


This is one of my senior pics.


Just to be random, here's a picture of me a few days after I had my wisdom teeth taken out. I looked like a chipmunk for about a week!

I used to be a Troll!!!

Okay, not really.

I was probably 4 in this picture. I remember my dad holding me upside down by my ankles while my uncle combed out my hair and put TONS of mousse and hairspray in my hair. I wonder how long I hung upside down while my hair dried?

(I couldn't think of anything to blog about. Can't you tell?)

Facebook F.Y.I.

For all you Facebook users, newbies and prospectives let me fill you in on a little tip that may help you with your Facebooking skills.

Using the Inbox:
Did you know that you can send the same message to multiple people! It's great if you want to say "Merry Christmas!" "Have a nice break!" "See ya'll when school resumes," etc.

Let's say you want to reply to the person who sent you and ten other people a nice little message. Well...just know that it goes to ALL those other people. So make sure you don't say anything personal.

(....lesson learned the hard way)

The Countdown Begins

How many more days! How many more days!!! HOW MANY MORE DAYS TIL SCHOOL CONVENES?!?!?!

*gasp* Dustin would know! :)

An evening out

I'm back again with not a whole lot to say. (Now you see what I do when I don't have homework. I blog, and blog.....and blog.)

Melissa and I went out tonight around 8:30. She was restless so she came down to my room saying, "Let's go somewhere! *clap, clap*"

We ended up at Barnes and Noble for a bit and then Steak'n Shake.

It's almost 12:00 AM and I STILL have not started packing.

***Warning***
For those of you whose cars are in the parking lot - BEWARE!
Why pay $5.00 to go to a rink when you can skate for free in the GBS parking lot!
Yes, it is EXTREMELY icy in the spots where they haven't salted (....wow, now isn't that profound...)

Snowman Soup

Right now I am enjoying a cup of Snowman Soup (a.k.a. hot chocolate). My cool R.A. and awesome friend Leanna left some holiday cheer at my door the other day with the following ingredients and directions enclosed:

*Make your hot chocolate and throw in the Hershey Kiss and marshmallows and give it a stir with the candy cane.*

It is especially good to drink when you have some of Mrs. Profitt's homemade ginger snaps to dip into the cocoa. Yummm!

Waiting on my last load of laundry so I can start packing.

(I haven't gotten that far since last I blogged, but I HAVE finished cleaning.)

Fini!!!

Well, all my tests are taken and I am officially finished with another semester.

Right now I am working on cleaning my room and bathroom. You wouldn't think it to be too much work to clean a little room and a bathroom, but trust me it is. I thoroughly scrubbed the tub, dusted, cleaned the toilet and sink, and swept/mopped the floor.

Then I have to vacuum my room, dust, and tidy up any clutter. Oh, and then I must pack to go home!

I will be leaving tomorrow around 2:00 PM with Gumby. He is the only person I could think of who lives somewhat close to my mom (she lives north of Chicago).

Anyways, I must finish cleaning and start my packing.

Mmm, burgers!

Tonight I got to enjoy a little twist to my Sunday evening. I went over to Zach and Kristen's (Steinbrook) apartment for dinner! We had a lovely time with a few other friends just visiting and eating.

Zach, being the master chef of the household, made these delicious turkey burgers. They looked like something out of a gourmet cook book. They smelled heavenly and had such a mouth watering, savory flavor.

He first sauteed onions, cherry tomatos and minced garlic and packed it into the ground turkey. Then he took cubes of cheese and stuffed them into the center of the patty. After grilling the patties he topped the burger with more sauteed onions and tomatos and served it on a bun.

I can't emphasize enough how wonderful they were! Here are some pictures just to make you even more jealous. Hehehe!

Untitled Emotions

Can you guess which one is me?

The funny thing is, on my list of stressors classes, homework and tests are at the bottom.

...I need a break from reality - just long enough to make sure I still know how to smile. I feel like I'm living an emotional nightmare that I don't know how to wake up from. Go figure the things that would comfort me most right about now are things I don't or can't have.

But I still have my Jesus and His Word:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" -Psalm 91:1-2

Home Sweet Home!

Well, I'm back!! It was a long car ride - 7 1/2 hours on the road through snowstorms galore. But, arrivinging around 10:30 PM (well, 10:50 after waiting 20 minutes in the Taco Bell drive-thru, psh!) Joe, Maria and myself are all safe and sound.

The break was nice. The food was delicious, I had some of my grandmother's apple pie (Yum!), I have 7 new books to add to my collection, and I FINALLY got to see The Incredibles.

I got to see my adorable baby brother, Landon. (By the way, I spelled his name wrong in my last post.) And I got to see my other brother and sister who are growing up so fast. Since the last time I saw them in August their vocabulary has increased immensely! So after seeing them I'm all caught up on my hugs and kisses for awhile....and Veggietales.







I'll have to post more pictures later. I have to get to bed.

Landen is HERE!!!

I have a new baby brother!!!

I was hoping and praying that my Aimee (my step-mom) would have her baby either before I came home or while I was home, and he was born today at 2:01 PM.

His name is Landen Edward Walsworth. I was SO wanting my parents to name him Landen, and to my surprise they did!

Well, here is a picture of the cute lil' guy.



And here he is with his mommy and daddy.



(Wow! My dad, uh, looks really scruffy in this pictures.)

And here he is with his 2nd oldest big sister, Rachel.



I am so excited to see him! I'll post more pictures when I get back from break.

"17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

Psalm 34:17, 18 NLT

My Treasures

My most treasured possesions are my books. I love books! You can learn from books, be entertained by books, get help from books, find information in books. Books are just wonderful things.

My most favorite books, however, would have to be my marriage/relationship books. I'm studying to be a marriage counselor, and for the last year I've been collecting books for my personal library. So far I have about 50.

I decided to do a photo shoot and take some pictures of my books. The lighting in my room is horrible so they didn't turn out quite like I wanted them to.

Here is my entire collection except for a few.




Here are a few of the books that I've either read already or am in the middle of reading.



I have A LOT of reading to do!

Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow

To tell you the honest truth it has been really hard for me to find positive things to write about lately. Everything seems so dismal and dreery in my life at the present moment. It feels like the only thing that is keeping my head above water is the merciful hand of God. But what better way to fight pessimism than by praising Him?

I praise God for allowing me to wake up each morning, for allowing me to be here at GBS, for a bed to sleep in, clothes on my back and food in my stomach.

I praise God for the spiritual mentors I am surrounded by, for the freedom to serve Him, for the opportunity to minister to others who do not know Him.

I praise God for the many wonderful, encouraging books available to me, for the ability to sing songs of praise unto Him, for the ability to learn more about Him each day through my classes.

I praise God for His Word, for the promises therein, for the Holy Spirit who helps me to know and understand these promises.

I praise God for His correction, for without it I would be lost.
I praise God for His grace, for without it I would be damned.
I praise God for His mercy, for without it I would get no second chances.

I praise God for His redeeming, sacrificial love, for it gave us the cross.
I praise God for the cross, for by it I know I'm saved.

I praise God for His Son Jesus Christ, for with Him I have life, with Him I have security, with Him I have acceptance, with Him I have joy, with Him I have a Friend, with Him I have...all I ever need.

I will never cease to be amazed at how much God loves us. Each day I find that I need Him more and more. When people all around me fail to give the comfort and love I need I know that I can turn to God and find peace and security in Him.

I was surfing the internet the other night and found this interesting, well, I don't know what it would be called. Anyways, here it is:

It is my desire to lavish my love on you. (1 John 3:1)
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. (1 John 3:1)
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Mat. 7:11)
For I am the perfect father. (Mat. 5:48)
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. (Jam. 1:17)
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. (Mat. 6:31-33)
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope, (Jer. 29:11)
Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jer. 31:3)
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psa. 139:17-18)
And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)
I will never stop doing good to you. (Jer. 32:40)
For you are my treasured possession. (Ex. 19:5)
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jer. 32:41)
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jer. 33:3)
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deut. 4:29)
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart, (Psa. 37:4)
For it is I who gave you those desires. (Phil. 2:13)
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine, (Eph. 3:20)
For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thes. 2:16-17)
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psa. 34:18)
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isa. 40:11)
One day I wll wipe away ever tear from your eyes. (Rev. 21:3-4)
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. (Rev. 21:3-4)
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my Son, Jesus. (John 17:23)
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26)
He is the exact representation of my being. (Heb. 1:3)
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. (Rom. 8:31)
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. (2 Cor. 5:18-19)

This paraphrastic compilation of Scripture spoke to me so deeply in a time when I really needed it. I love how it sounds like a letter written by God specifically to me. Maybe it will encourage you as it did me!

Starbucks, Friends and Homework

After coming through a wonderful weekend, I had a very pleasant evening with friends. Dwayne, Shane, Jaleesa, Melissa, Sam and I all went to the Secret Starbucks to study. That's it, that's all we did, just study. But it was a nice change to my rather dull schedule.

If ever you want a fun, interesting experience just hang out with these people. You'll spend hours quoting movies, acting out hypothetical scenarios, drinking coffee, and making awesome memories.

What a wonderful way to start out my week.

Oh how I long for morning!

So today was one of those days......I kind of felt like a comic strip character with the little scribbly cloud over my head; just a little disgruntled

(Disgruntled: "displeased and discontented; sulky; peevish." There couldn't have been a more perfect word to describe my mood.)

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him." - Lam. 3:22-24

Morning, come quickly!

I can't contain myself any longer....

I NEED A CAR!!!!!

Do you have any idea how hard it is to "plan" anything when you don't have a car of your own?

You can't even really say you have plans, because "plans" implies something that you are going to do. And really, you aren't guaranteed of doing anything if you aren't guaranteed of a way to get where you want to go.

Hence, a person without a car can never really have "plans."

I am at the mercy of all those dear friends who have cars.

So here I sit on my bed, feeling very much like a caged animal, longing to be outside to enjoy the warm sun and the beautiful weather.

Maybe someday I can make plans. As of right now I will just let my mind aimlessly wander so as not to disappoint myself with failed plans.

My Family Tree

In my "About Me" section I mentioned how many siblings I have and how "that is a story in itself."

Today, I am going to tell that story because I know how confusing it must sound when I talk about my step-mom, step-dad, 3 year old brother, sister, and the list goes on.

So here is how it is:

I was the first child of my parents Ron and Doreen Walsworth. 3 1/2 years later they had my sister Rachel.

When I was 7 my parents divorced.
My dad remarried when I was 9 to my step-mother, Aimee.
My mom remarried when I was 13 to my step-father, Kevin. He has a son, Johnathan, who is the same age as my sister Rachel. They are both 16 now.

My dad and step-mom have two, soon to be three, children together. There's my 3 year old brother Ronnie, my 1 1/2 year old sister Kimberly, and they will be having their third child on December 2.


This is my dad and step-mom's wedding.


My mom and step-dad's wedding.


Rachel and I


Ronnie, me, Rachel and Kimmie


Rachel, Johnathan and me

This is my family!

More Homecoming Pics

Here are a couple more pictures from Homecoming that Lucy Garcia took. Seth is in these ones. (Jeremiah Parker took the three pictures from my previous post.)

Homecoming

This year I helped the college Sophomore class with their booth at Homefest to advertise the costumes for the Christmas program. Several students dressed up in the outfits to spread the word that we are in need of more suits and dresses.

Bethany, the class president, found four guys to dress up in the suits and top hats: Kin Hurst, Dustin Muir, Isaac and Seth Owens. Last year I helped her create beards for the male characters in the Christmas program, and this year we are going to put sideburns and mustaches on the guys. So to help authenticate the look we created sideburns for these four guys.

It really is a lot of fun and they look SO cool!


Bethany made Dustin and Kin's sideburns. Dustin kept cracking me up. I think he had WAY too much fun in this get up.


I made Isaac and Seth's. They both looked VERY cool! Unfortunately I do not have a picture of Seth.


Here Isaac was acting like a mannequin. He does it so well that it is kind of creepy. (I don't understand why I kept opening my mouth like that but it looks stupid. Just ignore it.)

The Future

It just hit me the other day that the future is so unclear to us. I mean, I realize that this is kind of a duh statement. But it really hit me like a ton of bricks in a way that it never had before.

One day you think you have everything planned out...and them WHAM!!! God throws something into the equation that doesn't seem to equal out with what you had in mind.

I was listening to the Mark Schultz song "Walking Her Home" yesterday and it brought back some painful memories. It reminded me of the dreams I had for my future. Boy have those dreams REALLY changed!

God simply reminded me though that "in all things [He] works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28) Whatever God has in store for me is going to be SO GOOD! And I know that I can trust Him with my life.

"When my plans have fallen through, and I don't know what to do...When the dreams I dreamed have died and I need a place to hide, I just look unto the hills whence cometh my help."

Hmmm....

I think I think too much...

I read into things.

I overanalyze things.

In my mind I start to play out the worst case scenario.

Negative thoughts rush in.

I begin to lose self-confidence and slowly slip into the pit of despair.

Ah! But wait. Then Jesus reaches down, pulls me out of that pit and reminds me that I am His child, and that none of His children are insignificant.

HE LOVES ME!

What a wonderful thing it is to be loved by the Creator of this world.
What a wonderful thing it is to know that He never has, and never will forget about me.
What a wonderful thing it is to have Jesus as your best friend.

Hmmm, what interesting things come to mind when you allow yourself to think.

I'm Changing My Status

So I've decided to become a Catholic mother.






"Mother Megan" - doesn't that have such a pleasant ring to it?

The Good Things in Life Sometimes Come In Small Packages

Right, now...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! There's a spider on my wall!!!

Must....kill it......!!!

*Sits back down and gains composure* Okay, I'm back.

Anyways, I was about to say that right now I am enjoying some chips and guacamole dip from a friend down the hall, Katie Diganno. Gotta appreciate those kind friends who share their food.

Awww man, I'm on my last chip. Well, they were good while they lasted.

I guess I will get ready for bed now.

(I hate the "getting ready for bed" process, always have. I like doing things at night. I feel I get more accomplished. And having to settle down, put things away, brush teeth, iron, etc. is just annoying. But then once I'm in bed I don't ever want to get up...)

Good night everyone. Have a Happy Getting Ready For Bed.

The Ultimate Source of Beauty

As I sat outside this evening working on some homework, I couldn't help but take in the breathtaking beauty of my surroundings. You may be thinking, "GBS campus, Mt. Auburn, Cincinnati....beautiful!?!" However, this is not at all what I was thinking about, for it goes much deeper than that.

Today in the 21st century we must reach far into our immediate perception of the world to grasp its true beauty, the beauty of God's creation: the emerging colors of yellow and orange, the faint rustle of wind through the trees, the soft rainfall of leaves, the hazy light of dusk slowly descending as the sound of crickets begin to chirp.

THIS is true beauty in all its fullness.

The Joy of Friendship

This post is dedicated to my dear friends that I have made since being at GBS.


Heather is one of my most wonderful friends! I've learned that she is a great friend to talk to about the difficult things I'm facing in life.


Charity is Heather's younger sister. This is her first year at GBS and ever since she got here we've hit it off great!


I love going out with Brandon and Heather. They are such supportive friends.


I've known Tiffany since Freshman year. She's a great friend to talk to.


Melissa and I just started becoming friends this year and it has been so much fun hanging with her and talking with her!


Leanna and Cheryl are sisters, and I've known them since my freshman year. They are really fun friends to have around!


Brittany is another friend that I'm getting to know better this year. If you ever need a good laugh she's definitely the friend to be with. (I don't mean that in a bad way Brittany! :)


Seth, Isaac and Sam are more friends that I've gotten to know better since school started this year. They are such jolly chaps to have around and make life much more fun and interesting.

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I must thank all of you for taking me in as one of your friends. I count each and every one of you a blessing from the Lord.

(Well, this is everybody I can think of. I'm sorry if I've missed anybody!!! Please forgive me!)

The Battle Lines Are Drawn....Drawn Straight to Jesus

It's easy to trust God with our complacent, easy going, satisfactory lives. But how about in the hard times, when things couldn't possibly get any worse; when all of a sudden our circumstances become even more strange, painful and confusing?!?

It seems that I'm there. I would have called it a testing time, but Mr. Profitt pointed out to me that he likes to call them trusting times. God isn't testing me, He's trusting me...trusting me to trust Him.

Pictures

Okay, because I don't know how to put the link to my Picasa Web Album anywhere noticeable, it is under Favorite Links at the top.

Check it out to view the pictures from this past week at Tiffany's house.

No Power = No School

Wow, a lot has happened since I last blogged. Where to start, where to start?!?

I'll start with last Sunday...

Sunday started out as a fairly nice day, sunny and slightly breezy. By the early afternoon the wind blew SO immodestly strong. (Immodestly strong means too strong for girls to be outside...if you know what I mean.) (Is immodestly even a word?) Due to this strong wind the power ended up going out...at GBS, all over Cincinnati and farther out into Ohio as well. After a series of many interesting and unfortunate events, we were told Monday that we probably wouldn't have power for the next 3-5 days. At 1:30 PM Monday afternoon President Avery called a town meeting and told us that we might as well all go home. And for those of us who live too far from home, to find a place to stay with a friend. So my good friend Tiffany invited me to stay with her, along with Melissa, Leanna, Cheryl, Sam, Isaac and Seth.

So Monday afternoon all eight of us headed to Tiffany's for a stay that turned into a very fun week.



I'll try to figure out a way to post the many pictures that were taken thoughout the week.

Random

* My muscles are sore (from exercising in the mornings now).
* I need some quarters.
* We had a fire drill tonight.
* Someone over by UC thought Heather and I were twins, or at least sisters.
* I had some yummy nachos from the snack bar.
* I need a new key ring.
* One bad thing about my room at the end of the hall is that the aroma from the kitchen wafts up through my windows...and it's not always pleasant.
* I have some awesome friends!
* This one is funny, a Freshman emailed me today at work and addressed the email as so: "Dear Mrs. Walsworth," I laughed so hard!
* Then another Freshman came into my office to take care of the trash and asked if I wanted to be called Miss Walsworth. Talk about respect! That's what I'm talkin' about.
* Liz always has very good smelling soaps in the ladies restroom in the library. Right now she has Aromatherapy Eucalyptus Spearmint. It's supposed to be energizing.
* I am craving my grandma's apple pie. She makes the most delicious apple pie in the entire world!
* Fall is nearing. (That's a duh!)
* I love Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!
* My bed is very comfy, and I think I will get in it now to sleep.

Note: These were just very random thoughts and experiences I've had throughout my day. There is no real point to this blog, so please do not hurt yourself trying to figure it out.

Schedules! Goals! Success?

Because I hated the way I was always tired and rushing around with never having any free time last semester, I decided that I was going to create a schedule and set some goals for myself this semester.

Things I Have to Fit Into My Schedule:
* 30 min. of devotions
* Hours of homework
* 30 min. of exercise
* 30 min. prayer meeting on Monday nights in the girls dorm
* Possibly volleyball intramurals on Tuesday nights (30 min. a game I think)
* 1 hr. 15 min. D-Groups on Wednesday nights
* 8 hrs. of sleep

I hope to have the schedule well established within the next couple weeks. I have to experiment for awhile to see what works for me.

Here are my goals in a schedule:
* I hope to be able to get most of my weeks worth of homework done on Fridays and Saturdays. (I am going to leave either a Friday night or a Saturday night open for recreation with friends.)
* During the week wake up at 6:00 AM for 30 min. of exercise
* Be back in room by 5:30-6:00 PM to work on any homework that wasn't finished over the weekend.
* Stop at 9:00 PM to do 30 min. of devotions
* Get to bed by 10:00 PM!!!! (Mondays and Tuesdays will be later depending on when the prayer meeting ends and what time slot the volleyball games are scheduled for.

I know that to some people this schedule sounds impossible, but I'm pretty confident that as long as I remain diligent it can happen. And I know that the Lord will help me. We'll see how things are going in a couple weeks from now!

My Faith Is In Him

I just read an amazing verse while having my devotions tonight, "And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith." Genesis 15:6

The story of Abraham has been so inspiring to me recently. It is such a wonderful display of faith. Abraham trusted God when He told him to leave his native country, even though he didn't know where he was going. Abraham believed God when He said that his descendants would be as many as the stars. Abraham trusted and obeyed God when he was told to sacrifice his son Isaac, whom he loved with all his heart. In these circumstances Abraham didn't know what the outcome would be. And I'm sure he most certainly did not understand why the Lord would have him sacrifice his son through whom his promised descendants would come. But through all of the uncertainty and confusion Abraham put his faith in God, and for that God considered him righteous.

I pray that every day my faith would grow stronger and stronger, and that I would become more righteous and Christ-like. Ironically, I am slowly beginning to see how God is building my faith as He blindly leads me by the hand. I love this relationship that I'm in with my precious Savior. The peace in my heart is something that I will never compromise for anything in the world.

Recent Update

With the little time I have remaining of this night I suppose I will give a brief update of how the week has been going.

I've been to all of my classes but one so far......SCARY!!! I have 5 classes, 6 including choir, and they are all very involved classes. I won't say too much more other than the only way I will survive with a decent grade is by God's grace. I prayed for His help, have taken action by asking Mr. Profitt to help me in getting a schedule set up, and purposed in my heart that I will do my best. That's about all I can do, the Lord will do the rest.

On top of all that I am deeply involved in the General Studies Division as the President, helping in organizing a prayer meeting each week in the girl's dorm, working at the Vine St. Mission on Sundays, and hoping to exercise for a half hour each day. Oh, and making sure that I spend significant time in prayer and devotions. *pant, pant*

So that is what I've been faced with, and will have to learn how to deal with it.

On the flip side God has been working wonders in our revival services! I've been praying all week that the Holy Spirit would move among the students and cause an outbreak of surrender in their lives. Well He HAS moved and people HAVE responded. Praise God!!!

I thank Him also for how He has been helping me and working in my life. I couldn't imagine living without Him. Each day I still struggle with the pain I mentioned earlier, but I KNOW that God is with me. My prayer has been that every time I feel the empty void, that God would fill it with His presence. And He has!

Lord, I'm letting the world know that I love You, am committed to You and will do whatever you ask of me.

Thank God!

I just thank God for the counsel I can find in the people around me, specifically the staff and faculty here at GBS. I have been able to talk to so many people about a situation that I am going through and find the wisest most comforting advice. Talking to them has encouraged me a TON! It just goes to show that God cares for us so much that He would place these kinds of people in our lives.

The prayer meeting last night also helped me tremendously. I haven't been able to go to church for the past 3 weeks or so and I was thirsting and hungering for a service where I could express my love and praise to my Jesus. He certainly met my needs last night. Also, hearing countless testimonies, one after the other, how the Lord supplied and met needs just reminded me of the God I serve. I love Him so much, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am in the center of His will. He certainly is a wonderful, merciful Savior!

Home Sweet Home

I'm back! Oh does it ever feel good to be back. After 8 hours on the road my grandparents and I arrived to GBS at 7:15 on August 18.

Oh! Oh! Guess what!?! Ms. V called me Monday while I was on the road and asked me if I wanted the room with the bathroom...so I took it! How exciting! AND it is on the same floor as my friend Heather and her sister.

I have so much stuff! Most of it is unpacked already, now the tedious part is getting it all organized where I want it.

It has been really nice to see all of my friends again, the ones who are still here that is. Many of them have graduated or transferred. How sad :(

My grandparents left today around 11:00. It was nice of them to bring me down. I don't know how I would've gotten here if it weren't for them. I went out to lunch with Heather and her family and got back just in time to go to work. This year I am working for Mr. Profitt. I think it will be a lot of fun!

I went down to dinner around 5:00 and it was one of the hardest things for me to do since I got back to school. Trying to eat, and not having that certain someone sitting with me, was....well, depressing. Seeing that person on the other side of the cafeteria made it even worse. By the time I was done eating I could barely stand being there. I left and came straight to my room. Let's just say that the rest of the evening has been one of loneliness. I've never felt more alone... Oh how I wish I had someone to talk to right now.

Lord, please help me overcome these feelings of pain and find my comfort in You!

Streams in the Desert

Over the course of the summer I have been reading the Streams in the Desert devotional by L.B. Cowman. This book has meant so much to me! About a month ago a painful situation happened to me and I didn't have anywhere to turn but to God. Each day as I read this devotional it is amazing how God speaks so clearly to me through it. Here are some of my favorite excerpts and quotes:

Where would our faith be if not for the trials that test it; or patience, without anything to endure or experience and without tribulations to develop it? ~ selected

There are many blessings we will never receive until we are ready to pay the price of pain, for the path of suffering is the only way to reach them. ~ J. R. Miller

After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. ~ Hebrews 6:15

By faith Abraham...obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ~ Hebrews 11:8

When a person who suffers reaches a point where he can be calm and carefree, inwardly smiling at his own suffering, and no longer asking God to be delivered from it, then the suffering has accomplished its blessed ministry, perseverence has " finish[ed] its work " (James 1:4), and the pain of the Crucifixion has begun to weave itself into a crown. He can now let the circumstances be what they may, and continue to seek only God and His will, with the calm assurance that He is causing everything in the universe , whether good or bad, past or present, to work "for the good of those who love Him" (Rom. 8:28). ~ from Soul Food

When God tests you, it is a good time to test Him by putting His promises to the test and then claiming from Him exactly what your trials have made necessary. ~ a simple old man

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ~ Psalm 46:1

Our faith is always at its greatest point when we are in the middle of the trial, and confidence in the flesh will never endure testing. Fair-weather faith is not faith at all. ~ Charles Spurgeon

There are TONS more that I could write but I think you get the picture. The Lord has been so faithful to me. I thank Him for providing me with the comfort that I desperately need right now.

The rainbow comes only after the storm...

It's been a whole year and I am still here!

Hello everyone out there in blogger land! Yes, I am still here (for anyone who even cares). It has been well over a year since my last entry but I am still here.

A lot can happen in one year...(lol) a whole lot!!! Some I will tell you and some I will not. (Weird! That kind of sounded Dr. Seuss-ish.)

Anyways, what has happened in my life since March of 2007? Oh yes, I left off with telling you that my sister Kimberly was born. She has grown a lot since then and is now 17 months old. Ah! My parents are going to have their third child in December...a baby boy! That will be...exciting? My almost 3 year old brother has grown a lot since then as well. He can say a ton of words and makes the silliest faces I have ever seen a boy of that age do.

I successfully made it through my second year of college. What a relief! Throughout the course of this year I have also learned of what the Lord wants me to do as far as a career in life, at least generally. I have felt led to become a counselor, specifically a marriage counselor. As the months go by I develop a deeper passion for the occupation and a larger library of marriage/relationship books. I probably have over thirty of them and try to recommend them to all of my dating friends. Lol!

This summer has sort of drolled by. Without a job, money or a car...well, I'm sure you can imagine. I am so glad it is near the end. Only one more week until school starts back up again for yet another adventurous year of college. Oh how I do love the college life despite all of the classes and homework. And how I do miss all of my dear friends!

(These last two sentences sound so British. I just finished watching a 5 hour long BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. It's kind of taken affect... I absolutely LOVE that book! And for those of you who are wondering, no I did not watch it all in one sitting. It was split into two DVDs that I watched at separate times.)

Now, if my computer will load them I will post some pictures for you. Mostly of my two youngest siblings and then some recent pics of my mom's family. Dial-up, I beg of you, PLEASE load these pictures!!!


Here is a picture of me with my mom, step-dad, sister Rachel and step-brother Johnathan.




Rachel, Johnathan and me.


Rachel, my mom and me.


Me and my adorable brother Ronnie.


And here is my adorable sister Kimmie.

I wish I could post more pictures but unfortunately it takes WAY TOO LONG to load just one picture. Maybe after I get to school where there is high speed internet will I post more. Until then...