Haley and Michael's Wedding- September 19, 2009

After helping out with Shelby's birthday party, I went back to Mama K's house and got ready to go to Haley and Michael Graydon's wedding in Jasper. I am so glad that the rain stopped long enough for the wedding to still be outside. It was gorgeous. Everything was decorated to a tea. I love how she came in on a horse and buggy. It was so elegant and different at the same time. It all turned out wonderful. You couldn't have asked for anything more. It was worth the drive to go and watch them come together as two but leave as one. The whole wedding was amazing. Her cake was absolutely stunning. I didn't get to taste it but I know it had to be good. Having Dr. Pepper to drink as well as other refreshments was very unique and different but it was something you definately don't see. I am greatful that I was able to witness this special occasion. Congrats Haley and Michael!!!

Got Ya!!!

Well, I guess we know who didn't go to sleep till late. I was up before they decided to open their eyes. Lindsey was the only one who was awake out of the girls. So, I decided why not take a picture of them getting their beauty sleep. I knew they would need it since they had a funfilled day ahead of them. I was not about to awake them. I let Mama K do that. We were all in a good mood when we woke up, which is definately a good thing. It was hard not to resist taking their picture. I took the top one and Mama K took the one of Shelby. Everyone except Kaylie went to bed at like 3:00 in the morning. I went to bed around 12:30-1:00, and got up at like 7:45. It all turned out to be a good night and a good birthday party. No injuries or no one going home not happy.

Shelby's Birthday!!!

What a funfilled weekend it was. I got to help out Mama K with Shelby's 13th birthday party. It definately was fun. It brought back memories of being a teenager. Well, spending the night with four 13 year olds was pretty funny. It was a good night with laughter and fun. The girls decided to play a trick on one one the girls who had fallen asleep before they did. They decided to put sour gummy things in her mouth. She didn't feel the first. Well, the second one she did feel and she thought it was sandfoam. It was funny. The girls kept talking to her and asking her what? Finally at the end, she never woke up but she said it's grass, grass- G-R-A-S, grass. It was a night worth while. I guess that's what you get when you fall asleep before everyone else. On Saturday, it was the party day. We went to I-Jump, which is like Pump-It-Up but it also has a rock climbing wall and go-karts. It was a fun day to say the least.

My Funfilled Weekend

I have the opportunity to be apart and help out with Shelby's 13th birthday party tonight and Saturday at I-Jump. I will be spending the night with Mama K, Shelby and some of her friends. Wish me luck. HAHA!!! I am glad that I was asked to help out with this special event. Everyone remembers becoming a teenager, and was so happy to finally be 13!!! It is going to be a blast. Also, tomorrow night, I will be going to Haley and Michael's wedding. I am greatful to be able to celebrate both of these occasions. I will definately post pictures when I get home and able to so you can see what happened. This weekend couldn't be or get any better. Be looking for pictures sometime Sunday or Monday.

We UnAshamed!!!

We went down to Tuscaloosa last Thursday for the UnAshamed kickoff for the school year. It was incredible. It was packed in the main sanctuary and people were even in the overflow room as well. God is definately getting ready to do something big on the campus of UA!!! Just wait. He showed up last week. It was like the Basement but with not as many people there. Before the semester is over, they will probably have that church packed out even the overflow room. I can't wait to see what God has in store for UnAshamed and UA campus. God is definately changing lives on this campus. I know he will continue as well. Matt got everyone fired up as he normally does on a Tuesday night.

23rd Birthday Party

Thanks girls who came out to my party. Yall made it a special day for me. I am glad to have friends like yall in my life. Yall are an amazing group of girls. I am glad to work in the ministry with yall. I feel blessed to have friends who care about me and would take time out of their schedule to come celebrate my birthday with me. I feel honored. My parents and nana thought yall were an amazing group of girls. They are proud of the person I have become. With yall's friendship and God's hand, I am who I am today. Yall have helped me, given me encouragement when I needed it, lifted me up in prayer and many other things. Every encouraging word yall said really made me feel good about myself, and it let me know I was doing something good whether I know it or not. It really touched my heart. I appreciate every girl that came. Even if you weren't able to come, I am still glad to have you in my life as well. Thank yall so much for coming. I can count on yall if I ever need anything. Yall have a special place in heart. Keep doing what you are doing for the kingdom!!!

Summer '09

These are such amazing girls. They have such a servant's heart to see the lost saved and pour out God's love onto other people. They are such a blessing and have truely impacted my life. If I ever need some encouragement or anything, all I had to do was ask them, and they are willing to help me in anyway. They truely have the heart of Christ!!! Hanging around these girls has helped me come out of my shell and quit being so shy, which has been so rewarding. I love these girls. They are so amazing. I am glad that I have gotten to know each one of them. It was time to let go of the past and press on towards the future.

Even though I haven't know Ashley that long, I felt like I have known her forever. She is such an awesome servant. She is always encouraging me. I love her. She is like a best friend. I don't know what I would do sometimes without her. She's amazing. I mean to move all the way from Michigan to Alabama to be apart of the Basement was such an inspiration. I am so thankful I have gotten to know her over the last several weeks. If you don't know her, you need to get to know her.

Jamaica 2001

This missions trip to Jamaica in 2001 was incredible. I would do it all over again. It was my first time flying on an airplane, especially being without my parents. I fell asleep on the way back. We were there from June 5th-11th. It was such an amazing time. To see how many lives we impacted was awesome. I got to work with the elementary school kids. They wanted so much attention. They just wanted to be held and loved. That's it. They do not get love and affection like we get. Their arms were always open for more. They couldn't get enough. We gave them stickers the first day we got there and on the last day, they still had them. We learned how to play Cricket and Spin the Top. To see what they have and to look at what we have, we are so blessed and so fortunate to have what we have. Some sleep on a hard floor , where we have a nice comfortable bed to call our own. We need to be more appreciative of what we have. Often times, we don't thank God for what we do have. They did not have cars to drive them to school. Most of them had to walk, and some walked a mile and some walked even more than that. We did a puppet show for them. The memories are priceless. I will never forget the smiles on the kids' faces. Getting to lead them to know Jesus was such an amazing feeling. We did human videos for the high school. We had to wear dresses while we were there, and they had to be below the knee. That was their dress policy at the schools. Where we stayed, we had a pool. Our showers there were not you typical showers. They were tall and skinny, and the bad thing is there was only cold water. There was no HOT water!!! I am not joking. You definately make a quick shower. You defiantely appreciate things back home.

The one bad thing for me was I could not get in the pool. All I could do was stick my legs in. It wasn't very much fun watching everybody else have fun in the pool. I had to wear a small piece of a cotton ball with vasoline on it when I took a shower. I couldn't get water in my ear at all. That helped stop the water from going in.

I got home that Monday, June 11th. On Friday, June 15th, I was at the hospital having major ear reconstructive surgery. This was all planned. Nothing from the trip caused this. I knew this before I went. Even though I had some limits like the pool, nothing really got in my way to do what we had planned to glorify Jesus. We made him known while we were there. If I could go back, I would get on a plane tomorrow. Those kids made me smile and realize that I am so thankful to have wonderful parents and a nice house to live in.

11 Years Ago- April 8, 1998- April 8, 2009

These pictures are from April 8, 1998 when the F5 tornado came through Alabama. I lived in Sylvan Springs when it came through. I was 11 when it happened. Oak Grove School was gone. There was nothing left but the remains of houses. The school I went to did not get damaged. The last two pictures are at the end of our street. If it would of came down the street anymore, it would have gotten our house. We were not able to get out of our street because of all the trees that were down. We walked around after the storm had passed to see the damage, and it was unbelieveable. Nothing could ever prepare you for what we saw that day. We were very fortunate to have our house still standing. A girl I played t-ball with lost her house completely, which is the 5th picture on here. Hearing the wind and hail is something that blew me away. The hail came down so hard, it sounded like somebody was knocking on our garage doors very hard. We had me, my parents, and my nana there. We had all 3 cars in our basement, thank goodness we did or otherwise the wind might could have gotten them. The wind was kicking booty. God was so watching over us. His arms were wrapped around our house and there were angels there to protect us. We were very lucky and fortunate. To go back and see it today, it looks somewhat the same but to look back to 1998, you couldn't say that. There is a reason why I am still here, and did not loose my life on that day. My heart went out to all those who lost their possessions and family members, and my heart still goes out to them. It is not easy to get over something like this no matter how long it has been since it happened.

IT IS A DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!

GOD IS OPENING DOORS!!!

God has opened up a door for me. Where I work, it is crazy and hectic. No one is a believer but me. The girl I work with asked me last Wednesday to find some verses for her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law is going through a hard time right now. I was like ok, it can't be that hard. So, I sent like 15 verses home with her that day. She was so happy. She said to me, " Once I re-write them and read them, it might help me get my life back in order with Jesus." I am praying that God will pierce her heart and begin to just show her how much he loves and cares for her. I have been patient for 2 and a half years, now and God is slowly opening up doors there. Even though it is like hell sometimes, I can't give up on them. I have to keep pressing in for them and letting God's love and his light shine through me. It has had its ups and downs, but I am not giving up till I know I have done what God has asked me to do, and I have fulfilled my purpose there at my work. Everytime I work, I feel like I am making a way more and more. I have been asking God to break my heart for what breaks his, and he has. He has started with the people I work with. He has blessed me. Even though every other word I hear is a cuss word, I let it go in one ear and out the other. They know I go to church and to the Basement. If I give up on them now, I will let God down. When it is finished, I will be happy. God has been there for since the very beginning. There is a reason why I am still working there. I am believing I am there to shine God's light to the unsaved!!!