Mar 1, 2007

My American Idol Picks...

This is the first year I've watched a whole season of American Idol and I'm loving it
These are my faves:
Gina Glocksen- I love her voice. She's totally different than previous winners. I don't think she'll go all the way, but I really like her!!

Melinda Doolittle-This is the girl I think will win it and if she doesn't I will be sooo surprised. She has got the most incredible voice ever!!!


Sundance Head- This guy is super good and his name is Sundance...cool eh?

Chris Richardson- This guy is good too...different which is a good bonus!!

Feb 28, 2007

ITS OFFICIAL....


On February 25th, 2006, Ryan proposed to Leah at church in front of the whole church!!! There was a lot of cheers that morning! We are soooo excited!! Later that afternoon, the four of us (Ryan, Leah, Mark & I) went to our favorite adventure spot and took pictures...it was a lovely day!!

















Feb 27, 2007

Aunties Eyes...

Okay, yes, i know obviously he doesn't have my eyes, as being of no blood relation to me, but

you have to acknowledge the resemblence. Now that I think about it, I think he has my nose....*wink*





Feb 25, 2007

Finally...

There are very few pictures of Mark and I that I really like (well me in the pics)! But today Leah took some of us and... I LOVE THEM!!! Here they are...















My 'Champion'

I wanted to give honor to one of my greatest friends in the whole world! On February 23rd she exceeded my expectations. One of the nurses continued to call her 'Champ' & 'Champion' ! She truly was! She became my hero & champion while she endured a hard labor to deliver her beautful little Liv all the while maintaining her 'manners' & sense of humor even in the midst of it all! What an honor it was for me to be a witness to this miracle! Thanks Chris & Christy for letting me be a part of your extra special day! I love you much!!!!







Feb 23, 2007

"The Blessing of a Storm"

I did not know His love before,
The way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
My pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care,
The "Self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
Not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark,
The storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship,
I found I had no hold.

The ship that I had built myself
Was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
With nowhere else to hide
I had no strength or faith to face
The trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name
And bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me,
And then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm,
But I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night
He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day
Or when I'd smile again.

Yet through the pain and endless tears,
My faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
But my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in a brand new light,
His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could
Jesus' love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can’t go on."
I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife,
Through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.

And now I see as ne'er before
How great His love can be,
How in my weakness He is strong,
How Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good,
Although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear,
And then He said, "Enough!"

He raised His hand and said, "Be still!"
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy
And flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still,
I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness,
He never did me wrong.

And now I know more storms will come,
But only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow
As nothing ever could.
I still have so much more to learn
As Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more,
That's where I want to be!

Feb 15, 2007

Feb 12, 2007

Beautiful Jenna...


















God-child #3!!

Yahoo!! Mark & I are going to be God-parents to a new Penner baby!
Congrats to them & to us..haha!

Feb 4, 2007

Not so many posts anymore....


Well, my parents have safely returned now which is great! The downer is I won't be posting so much! My dad needs his computer alot for work so he will have it most of the time. I hope to get on at least once a week to share some of whats going on. But as for now, i thought I'd give you a quadruple whammy of great pics to hold you over...until we meet again...smiles!!!! Love, Me!!





pictures on www.deviantart.com

Feb 3, 2007

'Praise You In This Storm'

And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm


Song lyrics by Casting Crowns
photo by Julia Stiles (10 things I hate about you)

Feb 2, 2007

Courage

"Courage is not the absence of fear, rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear"
Ambrose Redmoon
picture by 'josemanchado' at deviantart.com

Feb 1, 2007

Beautiful...


I love the lighting on the picture...it has the 60's vibe for some reason!
No inspirational thoughts though!
Enjoy

picture by 'Mediocre Matt' at deviantart.com

Jan 31, 2007

Who are you and Who am I?




These are a duo for today's pic of the day.
They both portray a huge message for me!
The first shows desperation & despair. The mask she thought would hide her, really exposed the pain, and she longs for the freedom & transformation she sees in the butterfly.
And so she lets her guard fall and you see the broken beauty underneath.
The second one shows the extent to which some will go to put on a facade. They cover who they really are, but like the first picture, you still see through it.
This reflects a bit of how I'm feeling in me and what I see in others.
Jesus has made us who we are! We are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come! We need to live in that.
BE WHO YOU ARE!!!!!
Don't try to be somebody else because you're afraid of what people might think of you.
Be YOU!!
photos by Lara Jade @ www.larajade.com