A promise to myself...

I promise myself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

God's Time

So lately I have been thinking about God's Time. I find myself always wanting to go go go, and I forget that i need to pray and recieve Gods answers...ON HIS TIME! When i started thinking about this, i started thinking about Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth, God sent Gabriel to send Zachariah a message that his wife, elizabeth (though she was averagly too old to concieve) would become pregnant and have a baby to be named John. Zachariah questioned this, how could an older man and an older women possibly concieve? (I LOVE GABRIELS RESPONSE!) Gabriel says back to him,

"I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time—God's time." -Luke 1:19-20

Gods time. the story goes on to Zachariah having to not say a thing until they were to name the baby John, and he follows Gods rule and gives him back his voice.

I find this all very convicting and very true. I love reading stories over again, I feel as if i get something new out of them all the time. The bible is full of million lessons and stories to learn from! God is AMAZING!

A Bad American

So, i got this email the other day, and i wanted to share it with you.

I Am Your Worst Nightmare. I am a BAD American. I am George Carlin.

I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some mid level governmental functionary be it Democratic or Republican!

I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!

I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer, it makes you a smart American.

I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything.

I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, try to do it in English.

I think fireworks should be legal on the 4th of July.

I think that being a student doesn't give you any more enlightenment than working at Blockbuster. In fact, if your parents are footing the bill to put you through 4 years plus of college, you haven't begun to be enlightened.

I believe everyone has a right to pray to God when and where they want to.

My heroes are John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and whoever canceled Jerry Springer.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time arguing about it.

I think global warming is a big lie. Where are all those experts now, when I'm freezing my butt off during these long winters and paying, paying, paying?

I've never owned a slave, or was a slave, I didn't wander forty years In the desert after getting chased out of Egypt . I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks and neither have you! So, shut-the-heck-up already.

I want to know which church is it exactly where the Reverend Jesse Jackson practices, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution. Can I get an AMEN on that one?

I think the cops have every right to shoot you if you're running from them.

I also think they have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are.

And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my drivers license. I think it's good.....and I'm proud that "God" is written on my money.

I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.

I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me crap or trying to guilt me into making "donations" to their cause. These people should be targets.

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents.

And what the heck is going on with gas prices... again?

If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American.

We need our country back!

Liz's request.

Yesterday i got an interesting text message from liz. Her boyfriends really close friends are dealing with suicide, and she wanted to know if i knew any verses on the topic. I didn't so i went in search for some to share with her. As i was searching (biblegateway! amazing!) i came across this verse, and it was just so simply put, that even though it didn't do with suicide, well the first part did but the part im talking about didn't. I loved it. So i thought i'd share it with you:

Acts 16: 27-31

"27-28Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: "Don't do that! We're all still here! Nobody's run away!"

29-31The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, "Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?" They said, "Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you'll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!"

"Put your ENTIRE trust in the Master Jesus"
It is easy for me to trust the Lord with easy everyday living things, but when things start getting tough i find that I need to fix my own problems before even praying to God about them. I cant do it alone, I need Him.

Cool

Brandy

I have been really busy this past month, and so i have kinda just been distant from everyone, but last night i got to go to coffee with Brandy, and it really made me realize how much i miss her, and how amazing she is. We got to talking about things, and there are so many qualities that I love about her, so i thought i would use the blog to share them. I think she is very straight forward, she will tell you what she thinks (HONESTLY) if you ask. I think that quality is needed because there are so many people that feel they need to sugar coat things, for me its refreshing to hear the TRUTH. secondly, it is hard to find people that have boyfriends, that can still be YOUR friend. You always end up feeling like the 3rd wheel or that they don't want to hang out with you, Brandy makes it a point that when you are hanging out with her it is just you and her. And I have never felt like a third wheel, or that she didn't want to be with me. I think that is hard to find. She really cares about all of her friends and wants to hang out with them. I just think she is amazing. She is a friend that i will have for a very long time. I LOVE HER! (:

Changes

Its funny to me how things change so fast, as cliche as it might sound, i feel like it was just yesterday when we went to CIY and I was asking Shannon Hill to sign off on getting myself a tattoo (not one of my finest moments for sure). In even the past 4 months i feel have been a time of change, not necessarily bad ones, but all the same it happens. I was listening to Hopper speak on Sunday, and I miss him, he is the BEST youth pastor i have ever known, and now going on to the Mission myspace and seeing how amazing he is doing at his new position it is just amazing how that change did so many good things. Its fun to see him up there talking, it really made me miss him. School started, and learning the responsibility of even something as simple as going to class has been hard for me. I guess it is just weird the difference 4 months can make. That is pretty much all I have to say. I hope everybody is doing great!

School part 2

So.. It was good! (: When i first got there though i got asked to leave my class because it was too full, so i didn't know where to go or what to do so i kinda wandered (i couldn't find Karen) I ended up running into my oldest friend Margo (we've been friends since the 2nd grade!) and just by chance she was going into the same history class that i needed to take! so i got to go "sit in" on her class and i ended up picking it up on my list. It kinda worked out perfectly because now i don't have any lay over time on any day!
I am very blessed with my schedule. I'm a college student now. yay!

School

So school starts tomorrow, and i am really nervous. Its weird to think that this is what I've been waiting for for a really long time, and now that it is here..i am really scared. I am trying to go into the entire experience with an open mind, because i know that if I let God take care of it, he will provide in so many ways. It is just that first step that gets me.
This summer has been an interesting summer because I've kinda just let go of everything and let people and friendships come to me. It has been an amazing summer because of this. I kinda haven't had any problems that i couldn't handle by myself. and it really made my trust in myself go way up because i know that the little things i can handle now. But today i was really nervous and I texted Alyssa telling her how scared i was, and even though we haven't talked in awhile she still knew just what to say. I saved the text just to remind me tomorrow that everything will be okay. (:

Just because you were born in '97 doesn't mean you're a 90's kid.

It's not like you could remember the original Simpsons.

I am sorry but three conscious years of the 90's just wont cut it.

You're a 90's kid if:You can finish this [ice ice _ _ _ _ ]

You remember watching:-Doug-Ren & Stimpy-Pinky and the Brain-AAAAAAAH Real Monsters!-Rockos modern Life.

You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE!"

You just cant resist finishing this . . . "Iiiiiiin west philidelphia born and raised . . ."

You remember:-TGIF-Step by Step-Family Matters-Dinosaurs-Boy Meets World.

You remember when it was actually worth getting up earlyon a Saturday to watch cartoons.

You got super excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.You remember reading "Goosebumps"

You took plastic cartoon lunch boxes to school.

You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence . . . not

when everyhting was settled by:-rock paper scissors or-bubble gum bubble gum in a dish or-daddy had a donkey inky binky bonky.

when cops and robbers was a daily activity.

when we played Hide and go seek until our legs grew numb.

when we used to obey our parents

You used to listen to the radio all day long just to record your FAVORITE song of ALL time."

Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?" was both a game and a TV game show.

Captain Planet. He's a Hero.

You knew that Kimberly, the pink ranger, and Tommy, the green ranger, were meant to be together. ¢¾¢¾¢¾

You remember when Super Nintendos and Sega Genisis became popular.

You always wanted to send in a tape to America's Funniest Home Videos . . . but never taped anything funny.

You remember watching Home Alone 1, 2 , and 3 . . . and tried to pull the pranks on "intruders"

You remember watching:-The Magic School Bus-Wishbone-Reading Rainbow on PBS.

You remember when Yo-Yos were cool.

You remember those Where's Waldo books.

You remember eating Warheads.

You remember watching:-the 1st Batman-Aladdin-Ninja Turtles-3 Ninjas movies.

You remember Ring Pops.

You remember drinking Surge, and Tang.

If you remember when every thing was "da !"When they made the new lunchables so that you could make pizza AND tacos.

You remember boom boxes vs. cd players.

Making those little paper fortune cookie things, and then predicting your life with them.

You played and/or collected "Pogs" :)

You had at least one Tamagotchi, GigaPet, or Nano and brought it everywhere.

one word. . . Furbies.

You haven't always had a computer, and it was cool to have the internet.

And Windows 95 was the best

.You watched the original cartoons of Rugrats, Power Rangers, and Ninja Turtles.Michael Jordan was a king.YIKES pencils and erasers were the stuff!All your school supplies were "Lisa Frank" brand.You remember when the new Beanie Babies and Talking Elmo were always sold outYou collected those Beanie Babies.CarebearsGak was the coolest stuff invented.Lambchop's song never ended.The old dollar bills.Silver dollars, which were cool to have.You remember a time before the WB.You collected all the Troll dollsIf you even know what an original walkman is.You remember wanting to sit on the orange Nickelodeon couch.You've gotten creeped out by "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"You know the Macarena by heart."Talk to the hand" . . . enough saidYou always said, "Then why don't you marry it!"You went to McDonald's to play in the playplace.You remember playing on merry go rounds at the playground.Before the MySpace frenzy . . .Before the Internet & text messaging . . .Before Sidekicks & iPods . . .Before MIKE JONES . . .Before PlayStation2 or X-BOX . . .Before Spongebob . . .Back when you put off the 5 hours of homework you had every night.When light up sneakers were cool.When you rented VHS tapes, not DVDs.When gas was $0.95 a gallon & Caller ID was a new thing.When we recordedstuff on VCRs.When we called the radio station to request songs to hear off of our walkman.When checking out drawing books and that one book about the rainbow fish from the library was THE cool thing to do.You had slap bracelets!Way back.Before we realized all this would eventually disappear.Who would have thought you'd miss the 90's so much!!!!!

CIY

So this was taken at CIY last year. And i just thought they were cute pictures. I had such a fun time when i went. I was also thinking about Karen and I we have done some really random things together before we even got close, like go and visit Natalie, we tried to go biking everyday, we were close during CIY. Just some random things. I thought i owuld share these pictures with you guys. thats all.

1.the first 2 letters of your name
Je

2.the first letter of your name
J

3.the letter i
i

4.double the 4th letter in your name
aa

5.the letter a
a

6.put it all together
Jejiaaa

ha pronounce that!

VBS

okay so tonight was VBS. It was so cute! if you don't know what it is it is Vacation Bible School. First off, the outfits for it were so cute, its country themed so we got a cute brown shirt a bandanna and a cowboy hat.
I flukely got to work with Beca and that made it alot more fun! The kids are really cute, and the dance moves for the music is darling! I had alot of fun. Tomorrow is water day so i cant wait!

Oh and I've been keeping up on reading. (:

ohhhhh and Alyssa posted about the Even Almighty thing, i really think it is cool. Everyone should go check it out. Just look at the site at least. It doesn't take long and its super easy.

Project: To take pictures of VBS and post them on here.

Church.

Well today I went to the late service at Northside with Karen, and Lito spoke. I LOVE when Lito speaks, he is hysterical. He talked about evangelizing, and the one thing that stuck with me is when he said to build relationships with people. I am not really good at walking up to a complete stranger and shoving God in their face, I could much more see myself as one who goes up to them and start a relationship. It was a really good service.

Then this afternoon i went to New Hopes college group. I REALLY liked it. It was a lot smaller than ours, and very personal. It was more of a bible study than a college group. I could see myself going to both Northside college group and this service. The only problem is it starts at 6 and goes til 8. So it is right in the middle of Encounter. ): So i don't know if i will be attending Encounter anymore. My schedule for church right now looks like this: Sunday: i will attend the 10:30 service, then New Hopes college group. Tuesday: 7:30-9 will PROBABLY attend Northsides College group.

I think i like both of the college groups for different reasons. I LOVE Ryan Pinier (sp?) when he speaks. He is very convicting. And i liked the feel of a smaller church, it was more intimate.

Project: To Pray ALOT more.

PS!

I am reading out of the Message bible, that is why it sounds a little more different.

Still In Proverbs, but almost done!!

18-19 People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, "I didn't mean it, I was only joking,"Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.

This is Proverbs 26: 18-19.

Today i woke up and started to finish proverbs. It is a great book, i have really enjoyed the simplicity of it. This quote stuck out to me because there are many times i say mean things, and shrug it off afterwards by saying "I was only Joking". But it says in the bible not to say these things. Proverbs 26 also talks about fools, it actually scared me because i would hope in Gods eyes he would not see me as a fool..

Lesson Learned: Think before you say things, and posses the wisdom God has for you.

Project: Still trying to write everyday and keep in God's word.

Proverbs 22 vs. 24-25

24-25 Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads.Bad temper is contagious— don't get infected.

So lately, Ive just kinda been off. I haven't really been reading my bible, and not really been in prayer. But last night i got super convicted to change my ways, so today i decided i would put God first in everything i do. When i woke up i read my bible, and read this proverb and its about the 30 guidelines almost. Well this was number 2 or 3, and I thought to myself I get angry far too much. And it says in the bible not to hang out with angry people, who would want to hang out with someone that is angry? or better yet why would i want to hang out with people who are easily angered. It got me very convicted, and i decided that i NEED to change how i think about anger, and how i manage it. I need to CARE more about my relationship with God and i need to work on it. I have been so wrapped up in my own things i have forgotten to realize what really matters to me, and to handle situations alot better.

Lesson Learned: God did NOT create me to be angry.

Project: To read every day and write on Blog what i have learned. Use Blogger almost as accountability from myself to read everyday.

Changes

Okay. So i've been trying to figure out what i want to do for the next couple of years. I was talking to my mom trying to decide where i want to live. I am kinda in a dilemma. Right now, i want to move and get away from Fresno, and my aunt wants me to move up to Portland with her and go to city college there, and i would be her kids nanny and she would pay me. So if i did that i would be set financially, i would be able to start new, and it would be so nice to be with my cousins. But i also don't know if in 3 months i will still be feeling the same way.
Maybe i am just feeling this way because i just want a break, but in August i will really want to stay in Fresno. And usually i would wait it out til August to make my decision, but i have to pay for Fresno City college on the 21st. So i have 8 days to decide. ):

So if you guys could pray for me that would be great.

I'm Done!! (:

This is my beautiful niece!! I went up to visit her this past weekend and i feel in love. My baba is doing such a great job at raising her. I am very proud. Her graduation was so much fun. These are just some pictures of my 2nd family and the graduation! I love all of these people!!

Brandy Lynn!

I am going to see brandy!!!

thats all. Im jsut super excited. I cant wait! i love brandy. she is my favorite!! (:


so see you all on Monday!!

Growing up. (:

Okay well first off let me just take you guys to yesterday. I was driving home from bible study ((which was amazing)) and i get a phone call from Justin that said, "Hey Jena, Karen is hurt, and she is at community hospital oh i got to go now they are calling me." THAT'S IT!! So my first reaction was that i was super scared. I couldn't even drive, i had to pull over to the side of the road and have Liz drive me back to her car. I also got sick and made myself very embarrassed in front of whoever was driving on willow. But i finally got to the hospital realized it wasn't as bad as i had imagined. Alyssa, Brittney Luttrell, and I stuck it out til about 10:50ish then decided to go home. And Karen was released at 11:45.
I went and visited Kare today, she had lost alot of memory. I thought something funny though is she forgot her and Justin were dating! ha. She is slowly getting it back but everything will be okay. Its funny cause you look at her and know that it could have been so much worse and God has just healed her and protected her. God is so good!

on a lighter note...
today i got my first credit card and checks. and while i know i probably wont ever use my checks, it is certainly nice to be old enough to get them. I feel all special and lucky to get this privilege. And my dad's birthday is next week, and all of the "adults" are taking him up to chuckchansi, and i can finally go!! I don't know it might sound lame, but i am super excited!

Oh and tomorrow will be my first day back at church. I need it and miss it. I am happy I've taken time away but i really just want to be back there. So i can't wait for tomorrow!! (:

My Blessings

God has blessed me with alot, and rarely i take time to stop and think about them. Lately i've been in a wierd funk, today i decided to change that. I read my bible this morning, and it was like i was thirsting for it. It just felt really good to get into the word. I then wrote note cards to help me the rest of the day. My verses were these:

James 1:19-20
"My dear brothers take not of this, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger for mans anger does not bring about righteous life that God desires"

This bible verse helped me, because i sometimes get so caught up with what is going on in the World that i forget that i need to listen, not to talk, and to not get angry over the little things. Last night we talked about getting in "Funks" and i have found that when i am in them, i tend to get very jealous, and very attention wanting. So this verse helped me today. Another one was:

Ephesians 4:26-27
"In your anger do not sin do not let the sun go down while ou are still angry and do not give the devil a foot hold"

When i first became a christian, this verse didn't make sense to me, actually i was very stumbled by it. I thought it meant to resolve all your issues before the day is done. And in some cases i still think that is true, but i can remember Alyssa saying that you dont have to resolve things to not be angry about them. I can understand that now. I can still go to bed not being angry without having to talk to anyone. Another verse was:

James 3:17
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit impartial and sincere"

When we had to memorize this verse i dont think it really hit me on what it means. This verse has become my favorite. It is just nice to think that the wisdom here on earth is so much different. How i can feel like nobody cares isn't important because God's love for me is so much more. I have come to realize that its not that I don't care about the stuff that goes on in my life but to care more about the things i am doing that need to be glorifying the Lord. Jealousy and Attention grabbing isn't glorifying the Lord. Another Verse that helped me today was:

Romans 5:3
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance"

This one helps me becuase to me it is saying even though it might suck right now, we should rejoice in it. Because it produces perserverance. It's almost as if God gets it. He isn't saying its going to be super easy, He tells it like it is. I like that. This verse by far has helped me today.


So all in all today has been a good day. I have found out something about myself that I would like to change, example being, texting. I have found that Texting is a way for me to grab attention. When i am feeling alone, i text someone to feel company. Like Vivi said last night that TV is her temptation, while TV is not mine at all, i feel like Texting is. It is fine for me to recieve text messaging but i know now why i want to text someone.

God is great! I am very blessed by Him. I love Him!

Prom 2007

So prom was last night. It was funnnn. I was really kinda nervous about the entire night, just cause i didn't know my date that well. So when i first pulled up to his house to take pictures i saw his car, and it had "prom 2007" written on it. It was a little funny the entire picture time at his house. We didn't get to do the traditional poses, like putting the boutonniere or corsage on, (But don't worry my family made us fake it) it was just interesting to start off with. Once we got to Karens it was a little more fun, we all took pictures, alyssa ran around the house taking pictures OF EVERYTHING, (EVEN OUR SHOES!)

Then we went to dinner, and that was fun. I really like all of the people in our group. We didn't get done with dinner til about 8:30, so then it was off to the dance. We got there about 9 and decided we were gong to take pictures...that took forevvvvver! We didn't get done with pictures til about 10. it was so annoying. After we took pictures we went down stairs and danced the night away.lol. My date didn't really dance with me or really at all, but the second that i decided that i didn't care if he dances was the second i had FUN! it was alot of fun. i danced with Kare and Justy, and Gabe and Britney, and Katie would come over every once and awhile and dance. it was a blast. when it was over i was sad it was. all in all prom was fun! (:

thank you to Karen and Alyssa who did my make up and hair.

Alyssa's Day!

Today was Alyssa appreciation day!!

I lovvvvvve Alyssa, and I hope it made her feel good, cause i feel like sometimes we don't get to share with her how much we really do love her. BUT WE DO!

So it was really funny cause i got at her house at 5:30 to wait to make sure nobody went inside...that was funny, Allie Green showed up first, and i felt kinda dumb explaining it to her dad, but he was very cool with it, and so Allie and I hung out for a little bit until Danica got there. Then after Danica came Chelsea Wathon, Liz, Kelsie, Chelsea Morgan, Sarah, and Vivi. It was so funny to wait with everyone. Alyssa called Sarah, and texted me asking where we were. It was SO FUNNY!

So that was the night. At bible study we talked about Proverbs 3. I LOVE PROVERBS! I printed them out today at school during my Computer's class, and I love them. My favorite so far would have to be though 7. And its funny cause its about a prostitute. BUT i like it cause it made me think about things that i wear, and what i think i look good in, and what i think is a little risky. I have found i HATE to show my boobs. I don't like it at all. The only time i ever really feel okay with it is if I'm wearing a dress. So my two favorite verses in Provers 7 is first in the NIV translation which says: 27 Her house is a highway to the grave, [d] leading down to the chambers of death. I like this cause its basically saying STAY AWAY FROM HER!!! He house is a highway to the grave...how scary is that? Okay, and my next favorite is about the birds...and i like it cause it reminds me of proverbs 1 and how Alyssa and Sarah said they would make those shirts with a bird and the net...this translation though is in The Message "Like a bird flying into a net not knowing that its flying life is over. "


Okay. and last but not least...Liz Smith. On Sunday she encouraged a girl to come to Youth group, and she did, then She encouraged the same girl to come to girls bible study...and she did. I was really impressed with her. It is so amazing to watch people lead people to Christ. It makes me truly ecstatic! I love it!

Well that's all. I hope you guys have a blessed night. (:

Danica

So awhile back Alyssa had pointed out that Danica and I look really good in pictures together. and i have to say (without sounding like im bragging) but we really do! ha. so this post is to you Danica Ryan. Here are all of our amazing pictures together! (: I love you. You are a great Friend, encourager, teacher, musician, and an amazing listener! (:

It's been awhile

I am home babysitting my little brother. ): I have to skip church, and painting at hops, and his suprise party thing tomorrow for babysitting. I'm kinda bummed out, but it will be okay. I get to also not go to my 2nd period and 6th period or my zero period for the next week. (: I love not going to school and sleeping in.

HUGE NEWS! Jusy and Kare...they are dating. I know everybody knows about it, but it seriously gets me so excited and happy for them, that I find myself always bringing it up..i Have no shame. Sometimes I'll be sitting in class, and I'll think, Justy and kare are finally dating, and soon a HUGE smile appears. I am SO HAPPY! They deserve to be happy. It feels like this has been coming for FOREVER! Oh and Emily and Bo are dating as well. Thats exciting. I really like Bo, he is such a great guy. And Emily is super happy. (: All my friends are so happy! It gets me excited.

So I've been thinking a little bit this week, and i've come to a conclusion that some things I want to fix about myself. I find that sometimes I want to know what is going on with everybody, but sometimes it comes to being about the wrong thing. So this week I started to write "nosy" on my wrist, and when ever I feel like I want to know something I look at my wrist and remember my check list which is, 1. Is this something that I NEED to know. 2. Did I need to ask more than once for the other person to be wanting to tell me 3. WHY do I want to know this information, is it cause i am worried or want to help, or just becasue I just want to know. It's really been helping. I find that when I ask myself these questions by the end of my check list, it is something that just sounds dumb for even wanting to know. I am learning to be more patient with people. I like this. But at the same time, I like doing it for me. I didn't change because of anything that happend. I thought it over. I just feel that I am starting to control ME, and trusting in God with all the rest.(:

Well I have to put my baby brother to bed. night everyone.

Sorry!

Sorry guys, I haven't updated in a reallllly long time! Its just cause this spring break has been the BEST ever! Today is the first day that I have been home to update. My FAVORITE day outta spring break was defiantly Tuesday! Kare Justy and I all went down to Santa Cruz, and we had the FUNNEST time ever! Lets start at the beginning and ill walk you through our trip...

We first went to Los Banos and we ate at the same restaurant that Alyssa, Brandy, and I ate at when we went to Hollister. Then after that we stopped cause justy had to use the restroom, and the bathrooms were closed so he PEED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! hahah! Then we were on the road, we got to Santa Cruz and went straight for the boardwalk. it was so great! I love it! we went to the beach where i made justy and kare take a "romantic" pose! haha. Then we went back to the boardwalk and Kare and I got tattoos (not real ones!) mine meant special! and Kare's meant laugh! haha. We thought we were so cool! After this Kare got a ticket on her car! ): But then we went to Capitola and got Pizza my heart and ate on the beach. it was beautiful but very very cold! Then we walked around and then came home. i had the best time ever! kare and i were talking about how grown up we felt after, we did it by ourselves. No help from anyone. It was nice. This has by far been the best spring break!

here are some pictures!!

Well hello, I woke up this morning and remebered that I haven't updated everyday like i said i was going to. Soooo this is me updating. (:

Lets see, today I am going to go up to Hume lake with Hopper, Megan, Liz and Chels. I hope it will be fun. I enjoy doing stuff like this, just usually there is someone there that i feel really comfortable with, im kinda bummed Danica isn't going. ):

Speaking of Danica, please everybody look at this picture! It is sooo cute!

So yesterday at Encounter we had been asked, "what is the abundant life? and do you have it?" And it was so funny that they asked this, because this weekend i had really been struggling with letting go my problems, and letting God take care of me. And I did. And the second i trusted him COMPLETELY with my own insecurities, and problems he started working away at them, and by last night everything had been worked out. IT WAS AMAZING! so when they asked this, I completly knew what they were talking about.

Its funny to me that sometimes I get stuck in my own way, that I want to control everything and fix it myself, I have to stop myself and let Him take over, and how much better i feel about situations when I let God take over. It is just a great feeling to know that God has a plan in my life, through the bad times and the good, he will provide and take care of me.

Alyssa had said something about how my past struggles that I thought were really hard to over come, how they aren't even that much of a temptation to me. And it is so true. I feel so much more free from my past. Its a great feeling. (:

The other day i was talking with some one and I had told them that my parents think that after a certain age (about 16) it is time to see if you have faith yourself. This person thought that this idea was crazy, and that my parents should have forced us to go to church after 16. The thought of someone disagreeing with me/my parents first of all got me a little upset, and then I started wondering is this right of my parents to do this.

this is my conclusion:

My parents when i was little started my foundation of church, I went to sunday school all the way up to jr. high, which is when i started to really rebel against the Lord and wanted to live the worldly life, BUT my parents still forced me to go to church (even to the point of me crying not to go). Then when I was 16 my parents let me be. I think that it was the best thing for me. I CHOOSE to go or not. My relationship with God is not my parents, and I have that personal relationship with Him. So, I think my parents did the best they can do for me, and I will carry that over for my kids. My faith. I have control of it, I dont live my faith for anyone else. I like that. (:

Sorry, just little ramblings from Me.

Okay, so everybody is telling me to update, and i am going to try to update at least 1 every two days or once a day.

There has alot gone on. umm. lets see.

Well this past weekend was SO MUCH FUN! on Friday i went to Alyssa's and watched movies with all the girls, then on Saturday night it was a night to do GOOD things, and Alyssa hosted a card night, it was so much fun, i dont think i've laughed that hard in a really long time. On Sunday i hung out all day with chelsea and Beca, i really enjoy those girls. We had victories that day, and it is so nice to watch people grow in their faith, and make a CHOICE to do the right thing.

All in all it was a very good weekend.

On monday we started our spiritual gifts, and I got high scores in alot of the different areas. I didnt have just one that i would say is completly me. I really liked it and am excited for next week.

Then on Tuesday, Alyssa Brandy and I took a road trip down to Hollister, and it was SO MUCH FUN! Alyssa is definately a mom when it comes to the camera. She stopped and took pictures of everything! even running across of 152, i will download my pictures and put them on here. it was so nice to see brandy and to meet her boyfriend, i like him a lot.

umm. Last night was church, and i went and hung out with Kare before, that was nice, i love Kare, she is such an amazing person. Then at church danica sang word of God speak, and i was in love! It is my favorite worship song EVER! aww. i love it. After church Danica, Liz, Chelsea, Megan, Beth, and I all went to Starbucks where we hung out like we normally do on Wednesdays. It was a nice week.

Alright well i have to go to work now. I love all of your guys posts! they are so interesting to read! (:

Okay so I'm posting a new post. (:

So today I worked from 11:45-8:15 and I'm pretty sure I could die. Usually on Saturday's my dad gives me a good shift like 9-5 which is great cause you don't have to open the store or close it...but today my dad was short people and I had to do the closing shift.. which makes me tired and i don't want to go out at all.. which leads me to writing this. lol.

Oh last night was the MONSTER TRUCK JAM! and i swear my favorite part was the dinosaur eating the car. pretttty darn funny. I have pictures so I'm going to post them later on in this thing. Thank you to Danica who hung out with me the entire night, we are fun! (:

umm lets see what else..oh I'm going to the snow tomorrow with Karen Kristin Micheal and I think Chelsea. It should be fun.. i just hope i don't get too sore from sledding.

This week has been amazing, i have had so much fun, and i really haven't even done anything, i think its just cause God provides for me in so many ways and he surrounds me with such great people that my life has just been fun. He is amazing, and I just keep thinking to myself, he did all this for me...WOW. if you sit down and think about that you really get tripped out. Jesus died for US. what are you doing to Glorify our God who has already done the very most? I'm really trying to ask myself that everyday, How can i be a better follower of God? which leads me to my next topic....WEDNESDAY NIGHT!

it was amazing! Danica ryan Overton you are an amazing worshiper of God, you are an amazing musician, and an amazing human. I get so moved by you worshiping. I thought Wednesday night went just the way i had been praying it would go. Shay did amazing. It was so uplifting to find all of us just worshiping the God who created us. I really hope that we continue to break though like that. I had so much fun, and was so impressed with everyone! It was so great!

well that all. I'm tired and I'm going to go to sleep. but first i will post pictures from last night!

I always have so much fun with all of these girls! God has blessed me with each and everyone of them! i love you all! (:

ps. Phil Wickham IS AMAZING!!!

Okay its been awhile since i posted. This weekend was Emily's 17th birthday!! So Alex, Amanda, and I took her to Sacramento on a road trip, and stayed with her grams. it was so much fun! here are some pictures from it. (: