Fanhood

This may sound slightly funny, but it's true. I really have to watch myself when I come across a bandwagoner. No lie! Every team I have ever liked, was not due to them winning. And I'm the type it kinda drives me crazy...

With the Colts, the start of season 2006 (Yes the year they won the Super Bowl) I became a fan. When I started watching football, I was already a Gator fan (since I'm from FL), but when it came to NFL, I had no clue who was who. I then asked my dad, "who does Peyton Manning play for?" Since I had heard his name from time to time, with no idea who he was, I started following his team. And the color blue might have had a factor in it as well.... This began my Colts fanhood. 

L.A Lakers and Miami Heat was also more on the line of not knowing anything about the league. Early 2001, my family moved from our farm to the middle of Midlo. My neighbor Anthony and I would play street ball most days of the week, and he was a big Laker fan. He was my influence to begin watching the NBA. The following year, since I'm from FL, I started following Miami Heat as well. One year later, D. Wade joined the team.

Gators, like I said, was due to being from FL, Tebow's freshmen year (which they won the BCS that year). And in the spring of 2010, I had a friend convert me to Auburn. The following season, they won the BCS. Still devoted to both teams, Auburn more so than the Gators.

The only banwagons I have ever jumped on would be Lebron James and Blake Griffin. And since being a fan of James since 2006, I was beyond thrilled when he came down to Miami in 2010. I began to follow Griffin his rookie year, and enjoy watching him play his amazing game.

Now the only team I have dropped would be the Lakers. For nine years, I didn't have one favorite NBA team... but two. Till in 2011 I decided to only have one, and it made since. This team had my favorite coach as their owner (who coached this team before retiring), my top two favorite players, and in the state from which I was born. During this time, I began to see that I didn't care so much for LA's additude. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I didn't care for it. Then on top of Bryant leaving during the lockout (to me this showed poor team-mate-ness), and Gasol wanting to leave after the lockout... I lost interest. 

So here are the stories to my fanhood. Tebow fits right in the the Gators.... Won't find a bandwagoner in this chick. 

Go Colts! Go Heat! Go Gators! And War Eagle!!!

Morning & Evening

One of my wonderful gifts this Christmas from my parents was Charles Spurgeon's book Morning and Evening. As I was reading it tonight, one part stood out, which I would love to share with you.

January 6 - Evening
"That glorious right hand that molded the world can renew my mind; the unwearied hand that bears the earth's huge pillars can sustain my spirit; the loving hand that encloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand that breaks in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins. Why should I not feel that hand touching me this evening? Come, my soul, address God with the potent plea that Jesus' hands were pierced for your redemption, and you shall surely feel that same hand upon you that once touched Daniel and set him upon his knees that he might see visions of God."

Isn't that a crazy thought? Just think about that. The same God who created the heavens and the earth cares for me! He cares for you! The very God that walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, cares for you! The very God that flooded the whole earth, cares for you! The very God that holds the universe in His hands cares for you! What an amazing thought!
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7)
If He cares for the sparrows of the sky, why should He not care for you? Like one of my favorite Sovereign Grace songs says, "Yesterday, today and forever, You are the same, You never change." And how true that is!!! And even though you may feel beat down, and that no one cares for you, I've been there too... and the truth is, someone does care for you. And even though it doesn't look like good to you, most of the time He's trying to teach us something. Scratch that... He is always teaching us something. Persevere! You are doing better than you deserve!

Goodbye 2011

Well, here is my last post for 2011. I'm sure I say this at the end of every year.... but what a year it has been! Moving back to VA, finally starting college, working at KWCC, etc. It's been a good year, but hard at times. Life every year there are those ups and downs, but God continues to be faithful.
Something I have learned this year is that sports is not everything. This sport season has been a hard one for me with the Colts 2-13 and Auburn 7-5, along with the possibility until late of there being no NBA. God has really worked on my pride in this area. It always seemed that I had a team to brag on.... but not this year.

Another thing God has been teaching me lately is patients. I have never paid attention to this before, but most Christmas songs are all about falling in love! Not the best for a single girl like me. Rather than listening to non-stop Christmas music, I focused more on SGM cd Looked Upon. One song in particular, Thy Way, Not Mine.

Thy way, not mine, O Lord
However dark it be
Lead me by Thine own hand
Choose out the path for me, for me

Smooth let it be or rough
It will still be the best
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to Thy rest

C: I dare not choose my lot
I would not, if I might
Choose Thou for me, my God
So I can walk aright

Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill
As best to Thee my seem
Choose Thou my good and ill

Not mine, not mine the choice
In all things great or small
Be Thou my guide, my strength
My wisdom and my all, my wisdom and my all

God has really given me a peace lately with being single, something that can only come from Him! As 2012 approaches, I'm praying that I can lean on Him as I go down the path He has set for me. I know it's gonna be smooth at times, and then rough... but He has made it good!

Happy New Year!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentelmen

Here is my dad, Kelsey and Bryan Holt playing during our Christmas Eve candle light service, performing the song God Rest Ye Merry Gentelmen with our church choir. Enjoy!

No More Bio!!!! Woo hoo!

Sorry I have not been posting this term... Biology was a killer! I knew this going into the class as they tell you on the phone, "You do know this is our hardest course?" I really do now! It was a challenge for sure! One reason was the course... they had you read sections from the material, and then have questions that were not even related on the test. Then my group for our discussion board, did not really act like a team. There were 4 of them that would do the work themselves and post it days before it was even due. Our teacher on numerous times emailed and mentioned on our DB that we need to work together as a team, and that it was not due till Monday. Did they listen? Nope! They posted without the team still. At that point, I gave up working with them, and posted what I needed to post. And my teacher was gracious enough to give me 100% on those!

This was a major struggle for me, as last term I was making all A's, and this time I was failing. My other class, Apologetics, I was pretty much winging, since Bio was taking up most of my time during the week.  Other than my teacher grading poorly for my spelling on most of my papers, I scored almost 100 on everything else. It was perfect that I was taking these two classes together. I felt like I was being tested on my knowledge of the gospel, God, and Christianity, everything I have been taught by my dad and at KingsWay.

I hate to say that during this term, I was not trusting God like I should have been. I was taking things into my own hands. 6 weeks into the 8, that began to change. I didn't care what the outcome was... I left it up to God. I was still failing Bio, and had a B in Apolo, but I left it up to Him! I turned on worship music for everything... studying and tests. This helped me to focus on Him rather than taking things into my own hands.
All the way up to the last day of Bio, I had an F. But by the grace of God, my teacher graded on a curve due to most of the students failing!!! I passed the class!!!! But not only that, I made a C!!! What a gift from God! All I wanted was to pass the class.... He is so kind! My other class I made a B, and that's ok with me!

So what else has been new? Well... I will be playing soccer again in January. Which I am totally thrilled about! Also, this past Sunday, my friend Kristen and I went to get our noses pierced. What an experience that was! Going to a tattoo parlor was an experience alone.... Then there was a chance I could pass out like the last time I got something pierced. I was trying to stay calm. I didn't want to pass out... and Kristen was slightly freaking out. After much waiting, panicking, numbing cream, and anticipation, we finally did it!

Well, I know I say this a lot... But I hope to be blogging again... and a lot more often.
Merry Christmas!!!!

Carol of the Bells

For the Christmas season, my family, along with Bryan Holt, put on this special treat for KingsWay yesterday (December 18th, 2011)! It was totally awesome!!!!!! Rock on... and Enjoy!

Thanksgiving #2

Oops. I totally forgot about blogging! My biology class is killing! But I'll be sure to set an alarm on my iPhone to blog!

Today I am thankful for God's never failing, faithfulness. Yesterday marks one year to the day God turned my whole world around. He had other plans for me. At the time I was heartbroken, I thought my world was literally over. But as I look back on the year, He is always faithful! To think that if He didn't change the plans, I wouldn't have moved with my family back to Virginia. I wouldn't be back here with my friends and church family. And also, I wouldn't have the lessons I learned on this hard road He has taken me down.
I think of the verse in 1 Peter. "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."(5:10)
It's only by His grace that I can say that through this past year I did suffer, but through that suffering He restored and strengthened me. And for that I am so thankful!

Thanksgiving #1

Well, it's that time of year again. Thankful November. I really enjoyed posting last year about things I am thankful for that day.
I am amazed that this year has flown by! I can't believe it's November already.

Today I am thankful for that God has blessed me with a wonderful job. How blessed I am to be back with my church family, and to be serving our children in the way that I am. I could not ask for a better opportunity! At times as I sit at my deck I realize, I am working with people I have known sense I was 8 years old. Not many people can say that! God is so faithful!!!

Happy November!

Channel 222

If you live in our house, you know when you get up in the morning that the TV is going to be on channel 222, the Fox News Channel (thanks to dad). Well, today when we turned on our TV, this is what was on Fox News. This is worth checking out! As Shepard Smith said today, "the world is weird..."

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1227017711001/exotic-animals-on-the-loose-in-ohio/

It's Been A Long Time....

Woooooooow! It's been over a month since I last posted. And I have no good reason to give to you, my readers, why I have not been posting. I have just been slacking.

Not much has happened in the last month, other than school, a trip to Pennsylvania, work, things going on at church, lots of hang out time with friends, and my 21st birthday.

I finished my first term of school this past week! Total EGG that I finished with an A!!! What a blessing that was! My next classes start on Monday, so please keep me in your prayers.

I have never been passed Maryland before, so it was a neat experience to travel north. We visited some old friends of my grandma's, who lived on the side of the mountain. On top of great fellowship, and lot of laughs, we had a time of worship which was so cool! We then traveled to the Amish country. What a different world they live in! I also saw a chocolate lab puppy. I so want one now!!! haha We had a blast having our first vacation with GG and Don. Next northern trip.... New York... here I come!!!

Can I just say that I love my church? I think I go to the best church ever! What a blessing it has been to be back at the church I grew up in? I was at my desk the other day, thinking... all these people I work with, I have known sense I was 8 years old. How cool is that? I bet most of you can't say that! haha At the moment I am doing our membership class, which I have really enjoyed. It's difficult being there at 8:30 in the morning before church, but it's been great refreshing on what we believe. Along with the singles community group, I am doing a book study on Hinds' Feet on High Places with some single girls in our church. If you have not read this book, I would encourage you to do so. I can totally relate with Much Afraid on so many levels. I'll try to get on here tomorrow to blog about the chapter that really stood out.

Saturday was my 21st birthday. All day I saw EGG's. I was so blessed. One way I saw how blessed I am, was my family I am surrounded by. Sorry everyone, but I have the best family in the world! And I'm not being biased. They are a gift from God! And after a wonderful day, He topped it off with a win for Auburn vs. Florida, and 100% on my test. I would say, this was my best birthday yet.

In closing, I'd like to share this verse.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trails of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." -James 1:2-4