Changes

I do not handle any kind of change whether good or bad well. I never have. I am definetley a creature of habit and I quite enjoy things to not change up too much. Kind of makes me sound pretty boring...Oh well maybe I am. I have had so many changes in the last few months that I can't even see straight sometimes....For instance...Of course the obvious that I am going to be a mommy in about 5 months...since Carson Matthew is due on my 7 year wedding anniversary!!! Then, we have moved and live back in our hometown of Texarkana. My doctor has changed, our home has changed, who we see everyday has changed, my job has changed, and well everything has just changed. I am trying to be greatful for everything that we have and our health and the fact that we are FINALLY going to have a baby...but sometimes its just hard....I like things to stay the same. Matt is completley the opposite...he has always adapted well to change...I wish I could be more like that. I will get over this soon I hope and be back to boring old me.....thats how I like it!

I get to be a mommy!!!

I can' tell you how elated, excited, thrilled, in awe, and just dumbfounded at the fact that I get to be a mommy and Matt gets to be a daddy. He is going to be the very BEST daddy there ever was, I am sure of that! God is just so faithful and sweet. How sweet of Him to think that He would loan us a baby to love and care for and raise it in the way to always serve God. I am so excited. I get to adopt from the best agency there is God's Free Adoption Agency. He hand selects the perfect baby for me and Matt and there are no fees....just love. I can't believe that I am 7 weeks along right now and feeling sick and everything. It is soooo worth it. I pray that I am sick everyday as just a little reminder of the blessing inside me. Thank you Jesus. You always have taken care of me and my wonderful husband. WE LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!

My Blue T-shirt

I have a blue t-shirt that has a big yellow sun on it that is smiling and says "E-Z Mart & Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay '95". The material is all thinned out because it is so old and worn out. It is one of those t-shirts thats too big and feels so comfy and good all wrapped around me. One day many years ago back in 1997, my life had reached an all time low. I was in a relationship that was unhealthy and the poor guy I was in it with had his own set of problems. He was a good guy, we were just bad together. My parents had been divorced for going on two years after an 18 year marriage. My entire world had fallen apart (at least it seemed that way) back then. I had a had a fight with this guy and all I wished for was relief from this horrible pain that I felt inside. I ran to my daddy's apartment just hoping he could save me. My daddy and I had sort of a strained relationship at this time because of the divorce and I really didn't know how to talk to him. I had been really angry with him. I ran to my daddy that day and nearly threw myself in his arms just balling my eyes out. I had no where to go and it felt like no one to turn to. My daddy hugged me and let me cry. I remember I got mascara all over his shirt. He wiped my tears away and tried to encourage me in some way....I can't remember now what he said...but the one thing I do remember is that my daddy pulled out this old blue t-shirt and gave it to me with a pair of his shorts that had a draw string and let me use his shower. I cried and cried during that shower and got it all out. I will never forget how good that blue t-shirt felt when I got out and put it on with my daddys shorts. This event was a turning point in my life. It was shortly after this incident that I gave my life to the Lord at the age of 19 years old. There is some sort of magic in that shirt. Even now when I wear it I reminded of how God mends relationships, how he hugs you when you need a hug, and how he always makes a way for you to get to Him. Thank you Lord for my blue t-shirt.

Colossians and stuff

Okay....I have been reading Colossians....man its a good little short book full of wisdom and guidance. I came across a particular scripture in this book and I just thought it was so good...Colossians 3:10. It is so elementary and basic and plain...but yet such a good reminder. It says.."In it's place YOU have clothed YOURSELF with a brand new nature that is CONTINUALLY BEING RENEWED as YOU learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you." What this spoke to me was Jesus is the one who created this new nature within me...but it is up to me to get up everyday and put that particular "outfit" on. I could choose to put on an old outfit that is more comfortable but doesn't really look as nice. Or I could get up every morning and clothe myself with this new outfit that makes me look my best and fits just right! And the great thing is that everyday is another new outfit...because I am continually being renewed....I have to make the choice though as to what I am going to wear everyday. How do we get renewed? The word of God...reading it and getting a little food in our bellies so that we are not malnourished lacking what we need to survive and flourish...I don't know about you...but I will strive everyday to wear my best and get to know Him a little better everyday.

Small Group for my girls...

I am starting a small group for some of our teenage girls...I wish I could invite all the girls, but if I did that then our "small" group wouldn't be "small" anymore. So, for now I am inviting a handful of girls to start things off. I am so excited about how God is going to help these precious girls grow their relationship with Him in a much deeper way. It is going to be lots of fun and I can't wait to get started. So starting May 22, 2006 on a Monday night at 6pm at my house will begin our first small group for our teenage girls only. Remember girls....just bring yourself, your favorite pillow and be ready to have fun, worship, and get to know eachother!

There is a new arrival.....

One of my old best friends April Andrews had a little boy this week. David Andrew McCright was born Wednesday at 4:42 pm and weighs 6 pounds 14 oz. He is absolutely beautiful! He is so perfect...so cute...so precious! I can't wait to actually get to see him and hold him. Congratulations to Rusty and April, who I know will be awesome parents! God bless their sweet little baby boy!

Operation Freedom!!!!!!

I had so much fun Friday night! We had about 55 teenagers particpate in this CRAZY event. I wish my own little brother who is 16 could have been here. You would have loved it Brad! Anyways, we had 6 teams that had to find their Gnome who was hidden somewhere in the city and then we had "tasks" that we had to do with our gnome. Such as...have our gnome buy Pastor Jeff spicy pork rhines and cream soda and take it to him and then have him pray the prayer of salvation over our gnome. It was hilarious. I can't wait to watch the videos of every team. My team I have to stay was so awesome! We got our extra 1000 points because we had our entire team at church this morning sitting together with our gnome. My team consisted of me, Courtney, Torbett, Emile, Bryan, Bob, Michael, Jon, Coury, Philip, Trevor, Martin, and geez....who else....I know I may be forgetting someone but we had a blast! I actually ran and not because it was for my life or anything...but because I was so excited! I hate it if you missed out. I can't wait to do it again!!

I know it sounds like a cliche...but God is so good!

He really is just so good. Even the stuff that happens and the times we are let down and we wonder where He is or what in the world He is doing...even then He is just so good. What a relief to know that His plans are for our good, they are to prosper us and not to harm us. I am just so excited to be here in Sallisaw and at Journey Church. I LOVE my city and I really LOVE my church. I feel like for the first time in mine and Matt's marriage of a little over six years, that we are exactly where we are supposed to be and I just feel at home. I mean I wish our families were closer, because we want to share this part of our life with them so badly. But, man God is just so good. We truly have the best youth in our youth group and the absolute most wonderful people I have ever had the privledge to know go to our church. I am not meaning to toot the churches horn...but rather to toot God's horn. He is just so sweet and caring. He not only takes care of the big stuff, but He even cars about all the littel details too! ~J