Update on the "Evil Mr. Roach"

For those of you who read the post "The Evil Mr. Roach", here is an update.

Well, I've been re-organizing my room lately, cleaning under my bed and throwing things away. On May 26th I was doing a few things before we had to leave the house.... I got on my hands and knees, pulled something out from under my bed, and he runs right at me! What did I do you might ask... AHHHHHHH!!!!! Yes, I screamed like a girl! haha Jumped on my bed, and got a game plan within seconds. As fast as I could, I got off my bed, and tried rolling my desk chair over him. He just ran in circles under it, and I kept missing. haha So I grabbed a flip flop, and as I was screaming I killed him! I did not just kill him... I mutated him! haha I wanted to make sure he was dead all the way! Those things are like opossums, they never die! But It really helped for that week he was under there to make myself believe he was gone. Not sure how I did it... but I did! haha =) Now, I can sleep in total peace, knowing he is dead! =) haha

A Little Scary

On Tuesday, I was at work, and there was a thunderstorm. I was in the middle of giving Faith a bottle, when it came in... and came in fast! Rain coming down in big drops, wind blowing like crazy, thunder booming and lightning flashing. Well, at one moment, I looked out the window and just then lightning hit in their yard! I FREAKED! I love thunderstorms, but I have to say I was very scared during this one! Being there alone with just Faith Ann, was pretty scary! I sat their praying the whole time! (FYI VA peeps... Virginia thunderstorms are no where near Florida ones!)

But tonight, as we were driving to small group, dad was talking to us (Josh and me) about God doing things for a reason. But at some point he said how God points the spot where lightning will hit. And it got me thinking, He pointed to that spot, in that yard, that got me scared. But I used that moment to pray, and trust Him! Isn't He good?

Maybe it's a silly story to you... but to me it's an EGG (Evidence of God's Grace!)

May Twenty Ten....

Wow! May came.......................... and went! haha
At the beginning of the month, Redeemer Church started small groups. I'm bias, ours is the best!!! haha But, we really do have a great small group! Most of it is young adults, but I can already tell after two meetings, we are going to have a good time!
We also started meeting every second Wednesday as a church to discus the book "When Sinners Say 'I Do'". That is a great book! It has really changed my perspective on marriage! It's really cool!
FINALLY bought a new camera!!!! haha I just need to get back in the groove of taking more pictures.
Went to the beach... A LOT! Celebrated Gwyneth's 5th birthday. Saw Iron Man 2 and Robin Hood. Good movies! Got to hang out with Mark a few different times... I have really, really enjoyed getting to know him! We are sooooo much alike! It's very cool!

The NBA Playoffs wrapped up... and the Lakers and Celtics are going to the Finals! I am hoping I am able to watch them!!! Not having a TV has been very hard!!!

And I did not forget... but Sabrina Catherine Cruz was born on the 18th, weighing 7lb and 18 inches long. She is beautiful!!!! And so tiny! God is so great to bless me with another cousin... and I was here the day she was born!

I hope you have been reading the rest of my blog, but if not, God has been doing a lot in my life! It's been amazing! And He is continuing to do so! He is good!
Well, that was my May! Hope you enjoyed reading... wasn't much!

♫All I Have Is Christ♫

We sang this song during worship this morning... and the lyrics were amazing! I really got choked up as we were singing. I love the part when it says "And if You had not loved me first, I would refuse You still". WOW!!! Really the whole song is amazing!!! Isn't He so good?!

♫I once was lost in darkest night

Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

By Jordan Kauflin

What is God's direction?

Hey blog readers,
Please keep me in your prayers!!! I'm very lost at the moment!
Last week, my dad had a talk with me. About life. I told him I was not sure if I wanted to go to college.... He challenged me, that if I'm not going to college, I need to get a "plan" together. What I'm going to do instead....

Life is so hard! I've been praying... LOTS, that God would make the plan He has for me at this moment clear. One thing keeps coming up... but I'm trying to be careful about it. Making sure it's not my heart telling me this... because as some of you know... my heart has been wrong before! And it was really neat, last week my mom shared with me that scripture says "the heart is deceitful above all else!" I can totally relate!

But please pray for me! I'm not exactly sure what He has for me. Whether I don't go to college or I do. If so, where do I go? Do I go away or stay here? Do I move back to VA? I don't want to... but is that His plan for me? Also, my desire is to get married young... but is that His plan? Or, is it something else...?
He has a plan for me!!! He says so in His Word! Jeremiah 29:11. It's time for that next step! =)

Change of plans?...

Life is hard! I'm learning that more and more, day by day. As a kid, you dream of when you are an adult, life will be so easy. HAHA NOT! I'm a planner! So, even in high school... I had my college life planned out! I was told I would get a basketball scholarship... I was hoping to go to UVA, get a business or sports related degree... get married after college, and start a family.
Things started changing right before I started my senior year of high school. Things came up, and I ended up not playing basketball my last year. I had looked forward to playing senior year my whole basketball "career"! To me... that... was... BIG! To be announced as a starting senior before a game was, ah, just to cool! Because of this, I was so stressed out, I got physically ill. Was not trusting God with it at all!
Fall of 2008, my parents began to talk about moving back to Pensacola, Florida. Moving back was never apart of my plan in life! I never wanted to move back here! So, when my parents said they were moving... I was planning on staying and living with my grandparents (which I had been doing 3 days a week already). God once again changed my plans!
Clearly I am here in P'cola... and I am so glad I moved.
But once again, God is changing my plans. At the end of January, I was really praying about what God wanted me to do in college. Doing Liberty University Online, and get a accounting degree was clear.
The last 2 weeks though, I have been uneasy about it all. Is God's plan for me to really go to college... at all?
Also... God has put it on my heart to be a wife and a mother. And I know some moms who went to college, got married, started having kids, never used their college degree... and are still paying for the loans. I'm not 100% sure I will get married... or even when... but it's just a thought....
Please pray for me! I'm feeling very lost in this area. Along with the pressure of everyone asking, "So what are you wanting to do in college?" That's not what life is about, right... to go to college?
As well as, pray that God would give me wisdom! What I need to do right now... what is His plan for me?

Starbucks-aholic

As most of you know (if not all) I love coffee... in particular, Starbucks Coffee. There has only been one drink from this company that I cannot drink! (the Pumpkin Spice Latte if you must know.) But my all time favorite is the classic Mocha Frappuccino. Mmmm, so good! =)

Well, the reason for this post, is not to go on and on about what I love. But to ask yall to pray for me!!!
Wednesday night we had care group, and we were talking about what we are passionate about. My dad was talking about how C.J. Mahaney had mentioned in a message that if he had 30 minutes to look at your check book, he could tell you what you are passionate about. Whether it be shoes, music, sports, etc. During the meeting, I was very convicted... just thinking to myself "what do I spend the most money on?" It did not take long till I thought Starbucks!
This week  alone I have bought 2 Mocha Fraps! And they are now $5! NOT FAIR! But do the math! haha That's $10 I have spent on coffee! Sooooo, I have concluded that I am going to buy one a month (if that!). Now that is not one drink a month... if ya want to get me a drink, please feel free! heehee ;) But that is me buying one! Please pray for me! It's so easy to run in to a Starbucks and get a drink. And it does not help that there is one in our Target... or that others have drive-thru!
It really get's ya thinking... "What am I passionate about?" There is always something you have a passion for. I wish I could say for myself it was the gospel... the Good News! But I hate to say it isn't!
Pray that I would have self control in this area... and God would use this to help me grow more passionate about the gospel, and not a silly coffee drink! As well as keeping me accountable! =)

The Evil Mr. Roach

Soooooooo, Wednesday night we had small group (which was very good and very convicting!) And when I got home, a friend of mine started chatting with me. (You know who you are! ;) It was a great chat!!!) Buuuuuut, as we were talking, about something rather important, a roach comes out from under my bed, and freaks me out!!!! I scream as loud as I can and freeze. (And this story is not made up either! Ask my family!) I'm not lying!!! I froze! I could not bring myself to grabbing a flip flop (which I have many!) and killing this thing! I couldn't! Josh comes running in asking what happened. I told him there was a roach... and he left! I was telling the friend everything that was happening! haha They said they could come over and kill it for me, because my brother was not willing to. (Honestly I think he was scared of it too! haha)
Seeing how I was unable to move and shaking at the sight of a roach less than 5 feet away from me, was told to stop screaming... dad was trying to sleep, and my own, over 6 feet tall brother was not going to kill it for me, I was left with no choice! (heehee) No, I asked the friend to get my mind of the roach, and he did! (Thanks, Mark! ;) ) haha Till we got off at 2:30 (sadly =( ) and I turned to face the floor from once the thing ran. After a few minutes, I finally brought myself together and took one step on the hard wood floor, and ran for my brother. He then came back in my room once more and helped me move everything! And when I say everything... I mean everything! haha
By 3:30am, my room looked like a tornado came through it, I was about to pass out of exhaustion, he was feeling like he was going to pass out because of his blood sugar, and the roach was no where to be found.
I ended up sleeping on the couch for 4 hours... 'cause I could sleep no more with smell of coffee brewing, and the noise of dad leaving for work. =( And I did tell myself the roach was GONE! haha
Well, the bright side! I did "spring cleaning" and threw a lot away! Woo hoo! I'm weird... I know!

Don't Waste It!

At the moment, I am reading "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. I have finally gotten past the first chapter!!! haha As I was starting to read the second, I prayed that I could understand Piper (because every book I have EVER read of his goes right over my head!) God really helped me!!! It was very cool!!! I understood! But there was a paragraph that really stood out to me. Here it is...

"God created me--and you--to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion-namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. Enjoying and displaying are both crucial. If we try to display the excellence of God without joy in it, we will display a shell of hypocrisy and create scorn or legalism. But if we claim to enjoy his excellence and do not display it for others to see and admire, we deceive ourselves, because the mark of God-enthralled joy is to overflow and expand by extending itself into the hearts of others. The wasted life is the life without a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples."

WOW! Well said Piper!!! =)

Robin Hood

So yesterday, Mark and I were talking at church... and he said he was going to see Robin Hood, and invited us to go with. I talked to my dad and he said sure, that we would try to make it. We still had 40 minutes to make it back home, drop off mom, Diego and Lili, unload the van, and turn right back around. But someone in our family (cough Kelsey cough) did not want to leave mom alone. (SHE DOES THIS EVERY TIME! Don't know what's going to happen when she get's married! haha) So we get there... around 10 minutes before it's starts... Mark saved us seats... dad get's up to the ticket booth... AND THEY ARE SOLD OUT! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! =( He ended up getting tickets for a later showing, but I really wanted to see it with Mark!
So we ended up going to Guitar Center (whip-de-do! NOT! haha). Kelsey, dad and Josh were drolling! haha... Me on the other hand, well let's just say that only thing about music I know is my iPod and Guitar Hero. haha But the 3 of us were talking, and when the 3 of us get talking... we have some very weird conversations! haha Kelsey was talking about how Guitar Center is her heaven... Josh said his is Bass Pro Shop... and mine is Dick's Sporting Goods! haha... it's amazing, how we all come from the same family, but are so different!
Well, it was time for us to be heading over to Rave, and when we did, we were the first in the theater!!! Got seats right in the middle!!! It was sweet! =D
The movie was really good, I thought! My family on the other hand thought it was to slow. Yes, it was slow, but it had some humor, pretty good action scenes (wish there was a little more), a great love story on how Robin and Marian meet, and Russlle Crowe!!!! haha But it wasn't your typically Robin Hood story... and that's all I'll say! haha You'll have to see it for yourself!

15 minutes after we get out, Mark texted me. Come to find out... HE SAT BY HIMSELF! I felt soooooooooo bad! =( But he was very sweet about it, and said he was glad we got to see it. =) I guess there are lots more movies we can try to see together!

(In my last blog, I did movie review, and I would like to do that again! So here is #1! =))