Blah, Blah, Blah...

1. I am happy.
"He has made me glad..."

2. I made "Pastry Paradise" yesterday.
When I was young, Mom would make bread and give me enough dough to make my "secret" pastry.
I was sure that I was going to start my own bakery some day. "Pastry Paradise" was my calling. Then... I stopped making them.
Yesterday.... Mom made bread.
I asked for some dough.
I made my "secret" recipe.
It was yummy.
 I felt like I was ten!
SO, my shop will be opening in the summer of 2013!

3. Emily got even cuter since I left.

4. My dad is SUCH a servant!
Every single morning he wakes us up by bringing us a delicious cup of coffee (Tea for the weirdos...) and slices of fruit.
He amazes me!
Who wants to wake up and do that?
For as long as I can remember, dad has.
Throughout my whole life, my dad has done everything he possibly could to make us happier and our lives more enjoyable.
My dad loves black licorice and root beer... so do his seven kids.
If my dad has a small root beer or little thing of licorice, he will split it up to ensure that we all get as much as he does.
No treat is too small to share.
He has shown me what it means to have a servant's heart....
I love him.

5. You know how some people eat when they are stressed or overwhelmed.
I don't.
I cook.
I find it SO relaxing.
If I have a day off.... I want to make something yummy.
THEN I eat it!

6.  Being home makes me thankful for SO many things that can be overlooked.

Like...
- Mom's food.
- The gym.
- My bed.
- My little siblings' crazy sense of humor.
- Being a part of my sibling's life.
- Talking to  Johanna.
- Long talks with  Mom and her undying interest in every aspect of my life.
- My dad's hugs and wisdom.
- Java Bear.
- Cooking.
- Our little church.

7.  I love to be comfortable.... in an atmosphere that I am used to; doing what is normal.

God showed me while I was away that He doesn't just want me to be comfortable.... He wants me to be growing, becoming more like Him, serving others.

When I was away, I didn't have the little things I was used to.... but I had God.
 And He was (...and is.) enough.

8. God's Word is SO awesome.
When I was in Indiana I thought.... "OK, God. Can you tell me what you want, write it on a wall or something?"
 My sister heard from God so clearly when He took her to China... why wasn't He speaking to me?

Then I started searching the Bible.
And God did speak to me.
He didn't say, "Go" or "Stay."
But things like, "I know." " Trust in Me." "Rest, wait, be patient." "Let go." "Nothing is hid from Me!" "You are safe in My hands." "Don't be afraid."

God made it so extremely clear what He wanted me to do.
Then.... He gave me peace, confidence, and joy.
I KNOW that He knows. I know that I have nothing to worry about....
THAT is true peace!


9.  God is SO very good to me!
He is my beloved!


That's all, folks!

LOVE!

Yesterday and today are my parents anniversary! We are not sure which day they actually got married. Both days are marked on the calendar.

Instead of writing a post about how wonderful they are (You can read their birthday blog here.), because they really are wonderful, I decided to post a "journal entry" that dad wrote to Johanna when she was born. He has a journal for each of us that he has kept up-dated throughout our lives.
Dad gave me permission to blog this... I promise.

 "We met in Bandon, Oregon. Your mother left her career as a social worker, working in a child protection agency in Penticton, to attend a small Bible school where I was a teacher. Under the surface we were immediately attracted to each other. Our feelings grew as we shared common interests. We attended the same church, we shared much time together on the campus, we ministered together door-to-door sharing the gospel (with only little 4 year old Drew Davidson as a chaperon), plus, we went for lunches and coffee together. I remember long beautiful walks on the gorgeous Oregon beach with the waves crashing continuously under perfect moonlight where we discussed at great length our vision for raising a family. And all this occurred before we even admitted that we were attracted to each other.


When we acknowledged our mutual flame of affection it was already a blazing inferno of heat.
We knew that God had brought us together. That He had purposed that we become one and that we should demonstrate what a godly marriage could be. We had no question but that joining each other we were doing God's will. And more - we believed that having a family and raising it in the Lord was our mission. To give you a healthy environment and to instill in you an understanding of God's purpose for your life. We have embraced this concept from the beginning so you can appreciate the joyful anticipation we felt when we first knew that you were in your mother's womb."

Aw... so sweet! *sniff*
Mom and dad got married at a Justice of the Peace. No, nothing was wrong... mom wasn't into planning a wedding.
It is pretty ironic that now "planning weddings" has become a ministry God has used her with.

Mom wore a red dress... she still can't figure out why she wore that ugly thing.

Cool thing is.... 24 years later and my parents really love each other.
Oh... and 24 years later they have 7 kids that love the Lord and think they are the BEST!
Mom and dad, You really did give us a "healthy environment... to instill in you an understanding of God's purpose for (our) life."

Thank you, dad and mom!

I can't resist an opportunity to

 have a Michael Buble Song... :)

Thank You, Lord!

It is Thanksgiving!

One of my favorite holidays!

I have so very much to be thankful for this year!
God has been SO good to me!

I do not deserve all that He has given me!!!!

This year, I am especially thankful for:

1. My Family!

They really knock my socks off!

2. Dad.

It wasn't until recently that I really began to appreciate how precious the love of my dad is.
It has always been there... I never doubted it.
But in the last couple years I have come to appreciate it in a new way.
Maybe it is because I have seen the pain that comes when a girl misses out on that love.
There are so many young women who are searching for love.
Searching to be told that they are beautiful.
Searching to be accepted.
I have a precious gift!

3. Purpose and Direction

I am so thankful that God guides.
He really does have a plan!

4. Carrots! 

From the amount of carrots I ate growing up.... I should have amazing "night vision!"

Because they make my life better!
There is something wonderful about chomping down on a huge carrot!
Don't laugh at me!
I love them!

5. My New Brother
You know, Kuzco, from, "The Emperors New Groove."

That movie makes me laugh a ridiculous amount.

Well, that's Jeffrey!
Saves me from having to tell you about him.

I'm kidding!
Although there may be a slight resemblance..
That's what I called him before they got married.

He is awesome!
All of my life I wanted an older brother... now I have one!

You can see why I had my doubts! 

6. Emily

Cuteness Overload!

I LOVE being an aunt!
When I hold this cutie.... I struggle with pride!
I just can't get over how perfect she is!

7. God's Faithfulness!

God is SO faithful!

8. Idaho

I love this place!

9. My Job

I love my job at Java Bear!
I am super blessed!

10. Grajuation!

(Yes... I spelled that wrong on purpose!)
I LOVE being graduated!
It is awesome!

11. Crazy Memories

I'm so glad that the Lord gave us the ability to remember things...

12. Friends

*Insert your face here*

New and old.
Crazy and Sane.
They're awesome!

13. Coffee!

Because I never really appreciated it until this year!

14. The Ability to Grow and Change!

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

"Thou art the Potter... I am the clay!"

15. Food

I think God was awfully nice to let us have taste-buds!
I recently have begun to LOVE cooking!
I finally can say I have a hobby.
It's like my own form of art... Because art and I never did get along.

My Home!
I am thankful that I have a home where Christmas (*we know you aren't suppose to until tomorrow... but do you know of any "Thanksgiving music?"*) music is playing, laughter is heard, dad is making me a special cup of coffee because someone poured mine out, and people love each other... a lot!

On that note... I think I will go enjoy it!

Thank you, Lord!


Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. I am thankful for the ability to laugh!

Teacher: Why did the turkey cross the road? 
Joey: It was the chicken's day off.

How many cooks does it take to stuff a turkey? 

One, but you really have to squeeze him in! 

What do you get after eating way too much turkey and dressing? 

Dessert, of course! 

Who is not hungry at Thanksgiving? 

The turkey, because he’s already stuffed! 

So Corny! I know!

Daddy's Girls!

It is a complete understatement to say that my dad is the best dad in the world. I know almost every child must think this about their dad, but I am completely unbiased (well... almost!) in saying that my dad is absolutely and positively AMAZING!!!!! My favorite story about my dad is from many years ago... I must have been barely three years old.

Every day my dad would tell his little girls how beautiful they are. Blushing we would snuggle closer and ask, "Who's prettiest, daddy?" He would smile and say that we were all equal in beauty. In our three, five, and six year old minds, we would gripe wondering when dad would really tell us who was the prettiest!

Finally, on a beautiful summer day, daddy had an announcement! He had finally decided who was the most beautiful girl! He had hung a picture of her in the back of our precious playhouse. Off we ran... racing to see who's picture would look back at us. As be piled into the little house, we stopped short as we saw a huge mirror with all of our faces laughing back! We stopped asking who was the most beautiful, because we all knew that daddy thought we were all the prettiest!

Silly as this memory may be, I will always treasure it! I am so thankful for my dad! I really would be a mess without him! He is there for me every day, loving, protecting, laughing... he is my hero! I love you, dad!

My 16th birthday date!

Dad's Girls!