Proverbs 1

So last night we covered Proverbs 1 in girls bible study. In my opinion it was one of the best nights we've had in a long time. I felt like the Lord really gave everyone some insight and something to say. He spoke to everyone in a different way and I love to hear what He brings to the girls hearts. I also felt like it was special because I feel like we had such an honest conversation and time together.

That is one thing I really think God has blessed this group with...honesty...a safe place to be honest...about who YOU are, what you struggle with, how you view things, what we need to work on and encouragement to work on them. It is OK to not be perfect with this group. They love you because of and in spite of those things which you may or may not like about yourself. Now...on the other hand...if you come into the group and are not ready to be honest about yourself and what is going on inside...this can be painful. The truth hurts sometimes...but I was telling the girls last night that I am so glad that God gave me them. I would rather hear from them, out of love, that I was doing something that may need to be worked on, than from someone who wanted to hurt me with my faults or use them to defeat me. I love this group! I love their honesty, love, hearts, and sincere hope for the greatest God has for each person.

Also, last Wednesday night at church Hopper asked the question "What stands in the way of you hearing God's still small voice?"... I believe His voice is becoming more and more clear to these girls and me every day. They hear Him gently telling them to work on this or go talk to this person. I believe they are becoming more peaceful (and confident) so they can hear the quite gentle whispers of His will for them, as opposed to Him having to knock them off their feet before they would listen. It has been my privilege to watch that happen. To see them find their confidence in who they are as God's children. It really is beautiful to watch! What a blessing!

We also came up with an amazing idea for a shirt based on Proverbs 1: 17... Basically it is a bird, with a net in it's beak... on the back it would say "I've got mine"...
Read it and let us know what you think.

ok...alright...fine...

You want an update...here it is...

I don't know what to write.

Let's say Happy Birthday to Hopper and Aaron...I am so thankful God has given them to us. They are great examples of Godly men and that is a gift!

Uhhh...what next...I am very thankful for our discussion on spiritual gifts. I hope it provoked you guys to think and learn. I have gotten a few opportunities for us to serve in different areas...so I am excited.

I am super excited about a couple of prayers that I have seen answered this week. Karen got her fairytale...which I am so happy about. For those of you who don't know Karen very well...get to know her. She is amazing as a friend, a daughter, a cousin, a sister, a person..A GIRLFRIEND! And I am so happy that her and Justin FINALLY realized that what matters is that you love God and make each other laugh. 50 years from now...you better think each other's funny...If you don't...HOW BORING! And trust me...even when no one else thinks either one of them is funny... they are cracking up at each other (tell them to do the lip pulling thing... they think that's hysterical...it's really not that funny). I am also happy that Emily's back. I missed her smiling face and laughter...Sarah fell off a ladder last night...Emily didn't offer to help at all...as Sarah was getting ready to DIE...Karen and Emily were on the floor laughing...they couldn't even open their eyes they were laughing so hard.

Uhhh... I can't think of anything else...at least that might be interesting to you...so I'm OUT!

Shutterfly

So I found this website (actually I can't really take credit, one of the ladies that helped with my cousins wedding uses it and so I looked it up.) and you can basically scrapbook online. You can upload your pages to them and they will print and bind a book for you. Pretty cool...So last night I worked on a few pages in between talking with Michele and Brian.


These are kids from the service project we do with the bible club in downtown Fresno.
This is for Sarah...the kids act out bible stories and Sarah and I talked about taking pictures of them acting out the story and making a book of the story for them. So this is one of the pictures then the story would go on the side... pretty cool huh!
I love pictures! They make me happy!

Ahhhh....Girls Bible Study

Last night was so much fun. I was feeling like not everyone understood how much they were loved and what about them was so likable by other people. So we wrote down characteristics of God and Jesus. Then we did the cheesy take-a-paper-and-write-something-nice-about-everyone game. But not cheesy. They wrote real things, real personality traits that they admired about each other. I hope it was as encouraging for everyone else as it was for me!

Anyhow...we also as usual ate...

prayed...at least was supposed to be praying....

and played around...

MELISSA!!!!!!

So Melissa...yes...the pics are on the blog...I tried to leave out the bad ones...and just put on the funny ones...I am so GLAD you came!
Saturday we helped Michele and Katie deliver flowers...so we are taking credit for these beautiful tulips!
So this is Melissa mocking my mom's watercolor she's working on...(just kidding...they were finished and I made them go back so I could take a picture...so she was really mocking me...not my mom)
We can't seem to not make stupid faces when the camera comes out...but this is Easter dinner with stupid faces (actually...only I have a stupid face)
and this is Easter dinner pretending like we don't see the camera.

And this is just funny...and basically what we did all afternoon.


This is Easter Sunday Morning...Betsy...

and my Dad...sang on praise team.
Melissa and I pretended like we were helping in the children's program...but they had about 3 adults per child...so we left.
I had a lot of fun! I am so glad you came out and I can't wait for our next girls weekend!

P.S. where's Dublin????

Uhhh...I almost forgot the most important part...RUBEN!~

IT'S TODAY!

It's the big day! Melissa is coming!!!!!

P.s. Thanks to Jena for cleaning my house for me! You'll never know how much that means to me! I love you!

Friends...

So last night bible study was a lot of fun. It was one of those nights where we just played around. We played Butros, which is super fun and super funny! Michele and Katie were a fun addition. Katie is one of those people that make you laugh no matter what she is doing.
This is Katie's "I've arrived" pose!

This is after a day of shopping for wedding dresses for Michele. They make me laugh! Katie doesn't smile after she has made a comment so you are not sure if she is joking or really rude. I love her and I'm glad she came last night.

I missed all you guys that are out on Spring Break Adventures though! A LOT! You were greatly missed!

I don't know really what else to say...Danica says my blogs are so organized...which I think is funny. I am especially scattered today for some reason. Lots of things in my brain...not sure if I want to write about them or how to even if I did. Not bad...so don't worry Danica and Jena...just not feeling particularly verbal.

I am SUPER PUMPED that my Melissa is coming though! I think I've told everyone I know.