Hope's Novellette

I simply think of my favorite things....

2010-02-01T21:47:00.003-05:00

Watching M*A*S*H with my whole family (Mama's laughing like a school girl).

Chowing down on the best pecan pie EVER made by my gorgeous sister Whit :)

A smile from my beautiful piano teacher :) (I plan on wearing red lipstick just like her when I grow up).

A new pair of boots to keep my feet warm.

Rereading the Anne of Green Gables series (Gilbert is.... *sigh*)

Movies that give you chills, make you cry and keep you laughing for days.

Discovering how soft Jesse's cheeks are.

Getting the new Anthropologie catalog.

Catching up with old friends (and making new ones).

Wearing my favorite scarf with every top in my closet.

Finding out a friend from church is going to Shorter too!

Discovering a never ending, incomprehensible, life saving truth:

John 13:1

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

To the end. To the cross. Why?

I am surrounded by warmth, laughter, family, love, comfort.... Why? Out of all the situations God could have placed me in He chose this family. Instead of leaving me for dead (as I deserved) He gave me HIS life. Not just any life, HIS PERFECT LIFE. Why? Never will I fully understand this but I have eternity to bask in His Life, His Blessings and His Love.

Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son

Give Him the Glory

Great things He hath done!

Prayer for a young boy

2009-11-08T20:19:00.004-05:00

Special Prayer Request from Peggy Lesley at Brookwood Church .

I am (asking for prayer) for my son's best friend who has cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma). He is 11 years old and is not doing well at all. He was diagnosed with this cancer 2 weeks ago and the tumor is next to his jugular, over it and entwined in it. It has moved his wind pipe over an inch, making it hard for him to breathe. The tumor is the size of a large eggplant and is sitting right above his heart. This little boy needs all the prayer he can get. I love this child as though he is my own and we really need all the prayers!

Thank you,

Peggy Lesley - Brookwood Church 4th and 5th grade Volunteer Coordinator

After reading this email I began to think of the countless blessings that I constantly take for granted. As I prayed, one of my favorite songs ran through my mind. Below are some of the lyrics....

It'd be easy to add up all the pain

And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames

Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain

But not me...I'm alive

(Chorus)

And today you know that's good enough for me

Breathin' in and out's a blessing can't you see

Today's the first day of the rest of my life and I'm alive and well

I'm alive and well

The young boy who needs our prayers is struggling to breathe right now. When was the last time that I thanked God that my breath came with ease? I can't imagine the pain and fear that this child must be experiencing so I am asking that you all would pray for the peace of God (that peace which passes all understanding) to cover this young man and his family.

Thank you.

Your the reason why

2009-09-13T19:26:00.007-04:00

Today was homecoming at our church, so like any good Baptist church we had singing after the meal. We were asked to sing and on a whim Marigrace asked Jubilee if she would sing with us.

She said yes.

Today my beautiful new sister sang "Amazing Grace" in front of our church family. Marigrace shared that she almost began to cry as she held her African sister and thought of the story behind the man (John Newton) who wrote the song, and his conversion from slave trader to staunch Christian. By the grace of God both Jubilee and Jesse are free. Free to be adopted, free to love and be loved. Free to be taught God's word and declare their love for Him.

That same grace that Newton discovered is still promised to anyone who will believe. Your the reason why Christ came to earth as a mere man, lived to serve, heal and disciple, and then died for the atonement of ALL sin. The same sin that He died for, will chain you down and keep you bound for Hell unless you repent of it, accept Christ's forgiveness and believe that He is the Son of God and His Father is the Creator of all things, the only God.

It doesn't end there. Now comes the hardest and most rewarding part of it all. You will be a child of God therefore the going will be tough, times will get hard but guess what? You have the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings on your side! He is dying to hold you, to draw you close and give you His very best for your life; don't settle for less then that.

Stop running. You belong to Him.

You run, you hide

As tears fall from your eyes

They fall like snow

From a wounded soul

You hold inside

The hurt of great divide

The hole is starting to get old

So come back to the light

To the love, you will find

It’s been here all along

So come back to the start

And you’ll find in your heart

That you always belonged

To me

Just take the rope

I won’t let it go

Give in

We can start again

I’m life, I’m hope

And I’m ready to explode

With how bad I want you back home

So come back to the light

To the love, you will find

It’s been here all along

So come back to the start

And you’ll find in your heart

That you always belonged

To Me

You’re my daughter, you’re my son

You’re the one I long to love

And you’ve heard I chose to die

Do you know you’re the reason why?

~ Grey Holiday

Home

2009-08-14T23:33:00.003-04:00

These babies have officially stolen my heart. I could hold them in my lap for hours and just listen to them laugh (which they do constantly).

Mama has been blessed with new students!

Whitney-Faith slipped into the role of big sister with ease.

The THREE Travis Smith boys :)

Thank you all for your prayers! Without God on our side these babies wouldn't be here.

Six days and counting....

2009-07-28T14:15:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, August 2nd, I will be waiting at the Atlanta airport to meet Jesse and Jubilee Smith!! Our children are being escorted home from Ghana and Mama and Marigrace will meet them in NYC on Sunday afternoon.

In six days I will be holding my dear, precious, LONG awaited siblings! Isn't God good?

Thank you for all the prayers. None of this could have happened without our Awesome God :)

The Wilderness

2009-07-26T20:35:00.004-04:00

My sisters and I went on a weekend retreat with our youth group to "The Wilderness", a secluded piece of land conveniently located near an awesome river. It has the sweetest cabins, a pond for fishing, and fields for recreation; all of these combined make for an awesome weekend of reflection and diving deeper into The Word. My morning devotions were spent atop a massive boulder on the trail to the river. It doesn't get much better then that. The splendor of God's Creation is unavoidable at this place. The mission of The Wilderness is to give you a place to worship God (at little or no expense). It is an awesome ministry and if you want more info. just let me know.

The river :)

We had a beautiful hike to the river (even though you were dying on the way back)

Group photo!

"I hold, without appeal to revelation, that when we take a view of the Universe, in its parts general or particular, it is impossible for the human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction of design, consummate skill, and indefinite power in every atom of its composition. It is impossible, I say, for the human mind not to believe that there is, in all this, design, cause and effect, up to an Ultimate Cause, a Fabricator of all things from matter and motion."

Thomas Jefferson

Awesome news!!!!!

2009-07-25T15:09:00.003-04:00

Guess who's flying to Ghana on Aug. 18th? That's right, Mama and Marigrace have tickets reserved and will be coming home with the babies on Aug 20!!! Mama got a call Thursday that Joha (one of our adoption advocates) was holding Jesse's passport in his hand, had looked it over three times for errors and everything was fine.

Man, God is good :) Thank you Jesus for Your blessings!

A disappointing update....

2009-07-21T16:01:00.002-04:00

I don't have words better then my mother's for the sad news we heard a few days ago concerning Jesse's passport. Please be in prayer for our family and check out Mama's blog here to get the details.

Passport :)

2009-07-17T19:45:00.005-04:00

I am upstairs at the moment. For the first time in way too long I can hear my mother laughing with sheer joy as she tells the good news to a friend on the phone. You know what the good news is if you know my mother at all. Our little boy has a passport. A little black book that will allow him to leave Ghana and arrive in America with no problems. The laughter dowstairs goes on.... :)

I can finally imagine myself at the airport, welcoming my new siblings home. I couldn't do that before today.... Thank you God! I thought that I would want to shout or scream with joy when we finally heard the news, yet instead I'm filled with a content calm. They will come home. I think we were all beginning to think (and fear) that they would remain in Ghana forever. Mama said her trip to see them seemed like a dream. No more. They are coming home!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

The post I didn't want to do...

2009-07-02T10:16:00.006-04:00

Making a post for the Carpenters for Christ LA mission trip means that it's over, the end, finished. I didn't want to accept that so I put off posting about it. I have now realized that I have great photos and awesome memories and I need to share them. God did a great work in and through every person who went to help Beulah Land Baptist Church in Haughton, LA. I can say with confidence that we all left changed people, ready to serve the LORD in our Jerusalem.

Here are a few photos....

The roofers were blessed with overcast skies on Monday and were able to knock out those shingles in no time.

Hard working girls

Special friends

This is one unstoppable crew!

Final day group photo :)

Let the fun begin!!

I've never seen that much insulation in my life! A day of working with that lovely stuff means a cold shower at the end of the day :)

Beulah Land Baptist Church

Fun times :)

Thank you Jesus for bringing together an unlikely group of people and using them to further your kingdom. The building that we helped construct is just that, a building. The people who gather inside that building to worship You and learn about You will become the church. Bless Beulah Land Baptist Church as they strive to reach their community. Give them strength as they do Your will.

For Sarah

2009-05-29T15:34:00.001-04:00

Below is an amazing arrangemant of Love Story (Taylor Swift) and Viva La Vida (Cold Play) by Jon Schmidt. This song is dedicated to his little girl, Sarah.

If

2009-05-10T17:16:00.011-04:00

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

The first five lines of this poem (the fifth line especially) remind me very much of my Mama. She is the bravest woman I know and yet would never consider herself so; her mercy is abundant but she never forsakes justice. Right now Mama's heart is torn between two children in Africa, a husband and seven children in her home and the reminder that her oldest child is about to leave for her own home 400 miles away. This will be an exciting and enriching year (it already has been) but it as not been without heartache and great faith on the part of my Mama.

I love you Mommy and pray for your strength. This poem gives me a vivid picture of your walk with Christ and I pray that I may emulate it in my own life.

When the weather's not so fair....

2009-05-01T22:27:00.012-04:00

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie

You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far'
They just show on up with their big old heart
You find out who your friends are

When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?

You find out who your friends are

If you've been keeping up with my mom's blog (Streams of Joy) you know all about the outpouring of blessings our family has received for the adoption process. Gifts have come from friends we haven't seen in years, family members who live in other states, friends and family from our community and church and anonymous donors that will never reveal themselves.

It's hard to remember when but I do believe that about two weeks ago we were still unsure of how and when the adoption fees were going to be paid. As of today every single fee has been met ( with gifts and grants), Mama has flight plans (the tickets were also paid for by friends and family and our Grandmother even gave us snacks for the little one's on their flight home), and just yesterday we were given three different gifts from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ which amounted collectively to $500.00.

God is showing my family just who our friends are. Without Him working through them we would still be worrying about a $3000.00 fee that hadn't been met. We felt as if our well had run slap dry, but God knew better. It was as if He looked around and said with a smile "Hey y'all, watch this."

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.

Missed Opportunity

2009-03-15T21:04:00.005-04:00

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas A. Edison

My Mama is going to Ghana!

2009-02-07T21:53:00.003-05:00

Within hours my mom will be holding these precious babies in her arms! No longer will they simply be faces on pictures. She will hear their voices and their laughter, kiss their faces and hold their hands! What an awesome God we serve. The adoption process has seemed to be a dream until now. They are coming home in a matter of months, no doubt about it! Thank you dear Jesus!

This is Home
Now I'm finally where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah this is home
I've been searching for a place of my own
Now I've found it
Yeah this is home

~ Switchfoot

2008. What a Year

2009-01-03T16:52:00.004-05:00

December has been a full month! I can't believe it's 2009 already. Each year seems to fly by faster and faster, bringing changes that we would never have foreseen.

Never would I have thought that....

My oldest sister would become engaged...

My family and I would become involved in the process of adopting two children from Ghana...

I would be blessed with the chance to study under the most amazing piano professor...

I would become even closer to my sisters...

And above all other changes, I would make the most important decision of my life; a decision that made Jesus Lord of my life and left me without a shadow of a doubt that I will meet my Saviour in heaven.

Thank you Jesus for this year, 2008, that you have blessed me with. I love You and can't wait to use the year 2009 to serve You with my whole heart. Direct my steps as I follow Your Light. I love You.

Amen. {Let it be}

May I introduce.....

2008-12-06T16:51:00.004-05:00

Jubilee and Julius Smith!

Our babies from Ghana are officially ours! We still have some waiting to do and paper work has to go through, but in Ghana Julius and Jubilee belong to the Travis Smith family.

They are ours. The truth still hasn't sunk in....

Thank you all for your prayers.

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom power and love
our God is an awesome God

~ Michael W. Smith

Reminiscing.......

2008-11-07T11:40:00.007-05:00

November is a beautiful month. It has me in mind of Thanksgiving, a time where we gather with our precious family and give thanks to God for all the great blessings He has given us. I love how the leaves change, the wind becomes crisp and the hickory nuts begin to fall; autumn is here!

I found some photos of last year's Thanksgiving weekend and thought I would share them. They brought back great memories; they made me smile. I hope you enjoy them as well.

Thank you God for the beautiful leaves, the amazing sunsets and the cool winds. Thank you for family and friends; laughter and good food! Please bring all of us together again this Thanksgiving. Be with those who are suffering from illness; if it is Your will please heal them and allow them to fellowship with us this year. Your blessings are amazing. Thank you God for saving me, a sinner. I love You.

Andrew Trimble: Modern Day Eric Liddell

2008-11-02T22:37:00.001-05:00

In a magazine published by Billy Graham my sisters and I ran across an article about Andrew Trimble and his amazing testimony for Christ. See, Andrew is an very talented Rugby player for Ireland yet in the midst of all the fame and privilege that one man could hope for he declares that there is nothing more "excitin" then talking about Jesus. In the video below Trimble makes a reference to Eric Liddell, a missionary to China and an amazing Olympic runner who gave all glory to God. It is obvious that Trimble has learned from Liddell's example and is proclaiming his faith just as boldly. I was so excited to see a man who has such influence in his country shine his light for Christ without hesitation and with all sincerity. I hope you enjoy the video :)

My Sisters

2008-10-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

Don't they look like twins? We love and miss you Noel!

Two of my best friends.

Look who just turned 15! Isn't she gorgeous?

Who are these characters I'm associating with you might ask?
Well, it seems my sisters got into the spirit of our Fall Festival which invited everyone to come dressed as their best impersonation of a hick. LJ's choice of character was Daddy!
MG chose to powder her hair, don an apron and wield a gun, impersonating none other then Granny Clampett. WF and I chose a more subtle approach :)

Thank you Dear Jesus for blessing me with five supportive, hilarious, and loving sisters. Please be with my sixth sister in Ghana; please comfort her with the knowledge that someone loves her and is waiting anxiously to hold her in their arms; let there be someone to kiss her goodnight and tell her good morning. Bless Noel as she goes about her day; give her strength and patience. Be with MG as she goes to college and lets her light shine bright; let her be an influence on a lost generation. Strengthen LJ as she works so diligently on her school work; thank you for the joy that she has brought into my life. WF is turning into a young lady of wisdom, knowledge and insight; please guide her steps and bless her hunger for learning.

Thank you God for sisters.

Freedom Isn't Free

2008-10-21T21:06:00.000-04:00

We had a great week with Noel but alas this past Saturday we had to take her to the airport for her flight back to Jacksonville. It was hard to watch her go because we couldn't go past security with her, we just had to let her go. We waited around until she gave us a call saying she was in her terminal and everything was good. As we waited we observed that there were several small groups of men in their Army fatigues walking to different terminals. As we were leaving Mama went up to a group of three soldiers sitting in our waiting area and asked if they would mind telling her where they were headed. She was hoping they would say somewhere like Michigan or Wisconsin. She hoped they were headed home. Without flinching the (seemingly) oldest of the group said "back to Iraq Ma'am." My heart sunk. Without even thinking Mama gave them all hugs. My sisters and I shook their hands and thanked them for their service. The third man was no older than Noel. He looked frightened. Going out the door of the airport we were all speechless. All of a sudden telling my sister good bye and knowing she was headed a mere four hundred miles away to be received and welcomed by a man who loved her didn't seem so bad after all. I didn't cry when I watched my sister walk through security but after looking those three men in the eyes and seeing their courage and commitment I was brought to tears.

May we never forget the sacrifices made for us daily so that we might be free.

Tonight, three mothers are thinking about their boys. They're wondering if they are all right, worried about their safety....

God, please bless America.

Fireproof

2008-09-27T15:38:00.000-04:00

Guess what my favorite movie is now? I saw Fireproof last night and was amazed at it's awesome message. Fireproof is produced by the makers of "Facing The Giants", which I love, but this one is significantly better. Go see it, bring your friends, your family and your Kleenex!

Noel's Visit

2008-09-09T15:37:00.001-04:00

I know, I'm always the last one to blog about anything but better late then never right? The weekend with Noel and Darell and his family was awesome. Too short, but awesome.

He got to meet our wonderful, crazy family :)

As Noel told the news she got some interesting reactions.
This one was my favorite.

Noel got to recount the entire story to her best friend.
How beautiful they both are.

We hated to see you go Noel and we miss you very much

A goofy one for old time's sake.

Thank you God for the blessings you have poured down on my family. Thank you for Darell and his commitment to my sister. Both Noel and Darell have waited on You and because of their patience You have rewarded them with a joy that is indescribable. Thank You for their joy, thank you for their love for each other.

Blessed 17

2008-08-13T21:49:00.000-04:00

I turned 17 on Sunday. I have never felt any different on previous birthdays but this year something has changed within me. I feel as if God is giving me new life every morning as He gave manna to the children of Israel. The sad truth is He has been trying to give it to me all along yet I am just now finally accepting it. I want this to be a year of spiritual growth. I earnestly desire for this to be the start of a new lifestyle for myself, a lifestyle of fervent love for my Saviour and Redeemer. I can't really explain how God has changed me but I know that He has. It is as if I am reading His Word with new eyes and hearing His message preached with new ears. I rejoice in this newness and I ask that you would pray for my strength because I know that Satan would love nothing more then to tear away my joy and trample my spiritual growth in the dust. I love you all and am so glad that God saw fit to heal me at age 15 so that I may be here, celebrating a very blessed 17th birthday with all of the ones whom I love so dearly.

Habakkuk 3:18,19
I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.

They Are Found!!!

2008-07-27T22:29:00.000-04:00

Our friends have, as Daddy said "Found their selves". They found the check point and checked in. Their mother called us with the news weeping for joy!
Thank you for praying.

Prayer for a friend

2008-07-27T21:27:00.000-04:00

2 Corinthians 1:3,4

All praise to the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

A friend of ours, Woody, is on a hiking trip with three friends and failed to check in at the appointed time today. There was a search party called and they looked for the guys until it became dark. Our friend is lost with his friends in the dark tonight, yet we know they are not alone. Christ is with them and is comforting them. I would ask that you pray for their protection wherever they are. Please especially pray for Woody's mother, that the Lord would comfort her; I can't imagine how she must feel. I will give you an update as soon as we hear from them again. Thank you.

Do Hard Things

2008-07-25T23:25:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone.
I have a question.
Will you please pray for me? Pray that I will hear exactly what God is trying to tell me. I feel it is something important but I'm afraid I might over look it or avoid it. I want to be different, set apart from the world, do something great for God's Kingdom, yet I feel like I'm not trying hard enough to accomplish this goal.

God has been teaching me that to do the right thing is what He expects of His followers, yet we are to go beyond the expected. We must be more then normal, we must do hard things, things that no one else wants to do. If you feel (like me) that you want to have a better idea of what this lifestyle of doing hard things looks like check out therebelution.com. It is a website/blog made by two young men (twin brothers Alex and Bret Harris, younger brothers to author Joshua Harris) who have seen the low expectations of this generation and refuse to meet them. This blog is what got me thinking; I want God to use me.
To use the slogan coined by Bret and Alex, I want to "Do Hard Things".
Please pray for my strength. I love you all.

Proverbs 4:25-27

"Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Summer Arts Institute

2008-07-02T17:32:00.000-04:00

God gave me an awesome two weeks at the Summer Arts Institute at Shorter College! I made great friends, I learned many new things and was able to experience so many different kinds of music! Everywhere you turned there was music in some shape or form whether it was blue grass, classical, opera, musical theater or jazz. My teacher was incredible and the staff was wonderful. God's hand was with me through the entire two weeks and He never let me stumble. I am tired now but it was worth it! Here are some pictures (I couldn't keep it down to a few!)

Me and Joanna right before the bluegrass concert. She is the sweetest Christian girl. And so talented, her piano skills are amazing!

Accompanying class!!

My Putt-Putt team: Emily S., Me, Bethany and Emily M.

Bethany and Dr. Nedvin after Putt-Putt

Bethany and I before a game of "Hunter"

My roommate Maria at bowling night

Eliza! The crazy counselor :)

Yoga class. (Surprisingly enjoyable)

Final performance!

Group photo!
My jaw was cramping by the time everyone got their picture!

Bethany and I.
God truly blessed me with her friendship. Because we share the same beliefs and morals it was very encouraging to have her there.

Dr. Nedvin and I.
Doesn't he just look crazy? He even tie dyed the shirt himself :) He really is a nice guy though and orchestrated the camp very well.

Tex, Cara and I.
Tex will be attending Shorter in the fall so hopefully we can stay in touch. Both he and Cara are awesome pianists.

My roommate Maria.
She came all the way from Puerto Rico to attend the camp!

My awesome teacher. What a wonderful, Godly woman she is.
I don't think I will ever find another teacher as talented as she is.

I will cherish my memories of this summer. Thank you Jesus for providing everything I needed so that I could attend camp and make awesome friends.

Psalm 20:4
May he grant you according to
your heart's desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.

Sunshine

2008-06-03T11:18:00.001-04:00

Your smiling aren't you? :)

Catching Up

2008-05-27T16:54:00.000-04:00

I know, I'm a horrible blogger! So many things have happened in May. Maybe that's why I haven't had time to post :)

Here are some pictures of the awesome times God has blessed me with during May.

A great trip to the Aquarium with new and old friends

Both are so photogenic don't you think?

A new friend who brought laughter (and new drawing skills) into our home

A beautiful (but nerve wracking) spring recital

Went to (seemingly countless) ball games....
but enjoyed them all (especially Will's first home run!)
Such a wonderful start to the summer! Thank you God for such a blessed month.
Thanks for reading.
Hope:)
(See Aunt Jenny, I did it!)

A Psalm of gratefulness

2008-04-30T20:50:00.000-04:00

Psalm 30:11-12

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

I have just spent an entire afternoon shopping 'till I dropped with our student minister's wife (I found a skirt at Gap for $6!). I had a blast :) Yet I can't help but remember how exhausted I would become not too long ago when I tried shopping for over an hour. The Lord has returned to me my strength and I am so very thankful. I pray that I may "give thanks to You forever" as David promised the Lord. My strength has returned, praise be to God!

Jesus, the answer to the question

2008-04-26T13:38:00.000-04:00

I was looking through pictures recently and I couldn't help but think of the countless things that God has blessed me with. The blessings are almost always unexpected and are in the Lord's perfect time. Yet even in the midst of these gifts I catch myself thinking of the future and how impossible some of my dreams seem. I seem to think that after so many blessings God cuts off the spout. My rations are spent and the Lord has nothing left to give me. How the Lord must laugh at what I think of His resources. When these doubts creep in I must ask myself a few questions:

Who has blessed me with four sweet piano students?

Who has put family in my life that make me laugh till' I cry?

Who has given me irreplaceable memories with my awesome sisters and wonderful mama?

Who gave me two brothers that tell me they love me every night?

Jesus. That is the answer to all of these questions. That one word can calm every fear, erase every doubt and dry every frustrated tear. That same Jesus can take my seemingly impossible dreams and make them a reality. The familiar words of this song come to mind and I hope it will encourage those who find themselves thinking God has cut off their blessings spout.

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely?
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
My constant Friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me

No Place Like Home

2008-04-03T18:13:00.001-04:00

After a day of errands and music lessons it feels wonderful to be home again! A day in town makes me appreciate the hard work Mama has put into making our home a perfect haven, a sweet place of refuge from the busyness of life.

My favorite occupation. Thanks for the book Princess!

Little Man, isn't he a sweet napper?

Buddy, he even sleeps in his cap :)

Thank you Mama for making our home a welcome respite from the troubles that tend to overwhelm us. Thanks for reading!
Hope:)

Update from the schoolroom :)

2008-03-28T22:27:00.000-04:00

I've been kind of discouraged over the past couple of days as I looked at my schedule and saw the things I hadn't accomplished yet yesterday I was able to complete everything on the list! Praise the Lord!

I am now relishing the fact that it is 10:30 and I don't have to go to bed if I don't want to; why? It's FRIDAY!!! Thank you Lord for seeing me through another week of school and please be with me through the next ten, not that I'm counting or anything :) Let us remember to praise God in everything, even seemingly endless weeks of school. The words of Casting Crowns expresses this well.

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

Thanks for reading. Hope.

I finally did it :)

2008-03-22T19:15:00.000-04:00

Though novellette sounds like a mini novel it is actually "An instrumental piece free in form, bold in harmony, romantic in character and with a variety of contrasting themes." I chose this name because it reminded me of life, particularly mine. My prayer is to grow to be a young lady who is free of all regret, lives her faith boldly, never forgets to dream and lets God guide her through peace as well as conflict.

I'll use this blog as a record of my life as a daughter, sister, student and teacher of piano. I can't promise it will be exciting but maybe there will be a few laughs, and hopefully not all of them will be at my expense:) Thanks for reading, Hope.