I know that it has been forever since I have blogged but I wanted to say my new landscaping that I just had done at my house. I am so happy with it! 
This is the only "before" picture that I have, but maybe you can get an idea of how bad it was before.
After
This are daylillies that came from my Mamaw's garden. Love them! Can't wait to see them bloom.
This afternoon, I had my first visit to Dandy Doodlez in Starkville. I have wanted to go for awhile, but just never took the time to go. I went with Joy Bailey, Cheryl Wright, and Brandi Kain. We had a great time; however, I am such a perfectionist when it comes to that kind of stuff that I was a nervous wreck about it. Below is a picture of my finished project before it has been fired. I think it turned out pretty well. I look forward to going back soon!!!!
For almost 17 years, I have lived in Columbus and almost every year I say that I am going to go to the Pilgrimage, but I never do. I just never seem to have the time or I just don’t make the time. That changed today. Debbie, Carey, John James, and I toured three houses in Columbus. It was wonderful. We toured Waverly, Bryn Bella (my favorite), and Riverview. Riverview has not been on the pilgrimage tour for at least 20 years. It was incredible. If you are around Columbus, I recommend that you take the time to participate in the pilgrimage. I hope that next year I will get to tour more houses.
Debbie and John James in front of Waverly
Waverly
Me and John James
Bryn Bella
Riverview
The girls in front of Riverview
The kids were playing Red Rover
On April 23rd, I will be participating in the Lowndes County Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research. Almost eleven years ago, my mom lost her battle to cancer. My mom was an incredible woman, who loved life and loved people. She was one of the most giving women I have ever known. She was always doing something for someone else. I am participating in this walk to give back like she did all of her life and to honor her memory. If you would like to help me reach my goal, please visit my website to make a donation. Also, if you would like to purchase a luminaria in honor or in memory of someone who has suffered from cancer, please let me know. They can be purchased for $10 each.
Last night, Debbie and I got the chance to go see Kari Jobe at a local church in Columbus. I am not really sure where I actually heard about Kari Jobe, but ever since I have truly enjoyed her music. Her music is so worshipful and it touches my heart every time I listen to it. One of my favorite songs is “Healer”. It is great to be reminded that Jesus is all that we need.
HEALER
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease
I trust in You
I trust in You
I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus, You're all I need
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Go check out her website, www.karijobe.com.
I recommend all of her CDs (I own them all!).
Here is a picture from after the concert.
Kari Jobe and me
Well, today is the last day of 2009 and the new year is upon us. As I approach this year and look back over my life the last couple of years, I have realized that I have not been the most pleasant person to be around. I want to thank all of my friends who have listened to me and tolerated me through these times in my life. I have realized over the past few weeks from my Sunday School lessons (based on “Finding Fullness Again” by Ralph Douglas West) that like Ruth I have been stuck in Moab. Like Ruth, I felt like God had forgotten me. I have this terrible tendency to love God based on my circumstances and feeling like everyone else is getting the blessings. Anyone else out there every feel that way? I realize this is wrong, but I feel like there are many people out there who feel the same way. We get into our own pity party and we just stay there b/c it is easier to do that than to actually do the work (spend time with God when we don’t feel like it, trust Him when He seems so far away, etc) to get out.
God has really been working in my life the last couple of days. Last Sunday while I was home, Bro. David preached on prayer and how we really need to be a praying people. One statement that stood out to me was “May our FAITH be bigger than our DOUBT”. It really hit me that I truly need to be praying that EVERY day. I have a tendency to doubt my God, (again I hope that I am not the only one) which goes back to feeling like everyone else is getting the blessings. This morning I decided to read my prayer journal from the past year and half. I realized that my God was there all the time. I felt like that He wasn’t listening to me and that my prayers weren’t getting past the ceiling, but He was listening and talking to me. There are numerous times that are documented on things He said to me. The problem was not that He wasn’t listening, it was that I wasn’t listening. It was easier to stay mad and bitter, than to let everything go.
I say all of this to say that my prayer is that this year will be different. I am tired of the bitterness, anger, jealousy, etc that is eating away at me. I hope to be more committed to Jesus and that my attitude will be changed. Right now, I feel good about it, but I know that as I get back into the real world (actually going to work and facing different issues) that it will be difficult. I ask that each of you who reads this blog will pray for me and I deal with these struggles. I hope that none of you have these problems, but if you do, I hope that something I said will help you to know that you are not alone and that other people deal with these same issues.
I hate to call these my New Year’s Resolutions, but this is what I want for this year:
I look forward to see what God has in store for me and all of you. I love you all!!!
“But in my distress, I called out to the Lord; yes, I called to MY God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry reached His ear.” - 2 Samuel 22:7
“He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. “ – 2 Samuel 22: 17
