Well, Allison, I told you...I'm not very good at journaling!!! =D

Yes...I am still alive and well!  I just have a love/hate relationship with my computer, blogger, and technology in general.  The more I try to do things the more things get messed up, so I pretty much turn my computer on, reply to emails, and shut it off and hope no updates or anything else important pops up.  :-O

So....I guess you are wondering what I have been up to...that's a good question.....what have I been up to??? Hang on, let me think for a minute.

Last week was Missions Conference. Woo! Hoo! It was an amazing conference with really wonderful speakers! God really worked in my heart through the messages.

This past Monday night I had the opportunity to go help at the nursing home ministry that Rachel and Susie are involved in each week. Ray was also able to go, he was a blessing to the ladies as he led the singing and sang for special music, they all asked him to come again soon! :D

Tuesday was Good News Club and I was SOOOOOO glad SUSIE was able to come and help this week. :D:D:D:D:D She is pretty much awesome. :D We had 39 children! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to give them the gospel every week! They are VERY well behaved and sweet children and it is really a privilege to get to work with them. Continue to pray with me that club will have an eternal impact on these kids and their families!

Wednesday I got to take Mom to Charlotte to pick up her new car! Yay! I raided the church library before church and found a few good books. Reading has taken up my evening time and that's one reason why I haven't had time to blog much. :D

Thursday was a slower day around the house. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! Benjamin was an AWESOME brother and went with me to the library to take some "non-self portrait pictures" for me. :) The courtyard outside the library is pretty and sometimes you can get good pictures there. After about a bazillion pics I got one or two I sorta liked. :-O

Today was a fun morning! Got to go spend some time with a sweet family from church and play with their kiddos! I'm gonna just take the little 2-year-old home with me one of these days. :D The weather was SOOOOOO nice this afternoon and evening! Pretty blue sky, PERFECT temperature, and a breeze blowing. I took the dogs for a LONG walk and it was so relaxing and peaceful! Some quiet time to reflect on everything God has been doing in my life. God is good! All the time!

I've had an extra dog for a few days! She is leaving tomorrow, but I think Pepper is just getting used to her and I don't think she is going to want her to leave. I don't think the pup's mommy would like that idea too much. What do you think, Allison? Time with the two dogs is sure different then just Pepper, but, anyone that knows me will know I like a challenge. :D I tried out my dog training skills (I WENT TO A CLASS! :D) and I think they might have worked! We will see. :D WARNING: Both dogs badly need a bath...I don't think I'm going to be able to do that tomorrow soooooo..:D Sorry, A! =D

I've rambled long enough....I should get to bed! Here are a few pics! Enjoy! Goodnight!

At the library.

My pup, Pepper Parker!  :D

Me and my pup!  =D

Piobaireachd

Ok....so the word "piobaireachd" had something to do with bag pipes...I think it has to do with a certain style of song but I forgot....ANYWAY, I got to go with Sara to her bag pipe lesson today.  It was really neat!  Then we went to Everything Scottish in Linville, NC.  I had a lot of fun!

Today's verse;

Psalm 71:1
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

The world is such a confusing place!  When we are trying to do things our own way it gets even more confusing!  Trust in the Lord!  :D

O Magnify the Lord With Me

Short post again...sorry!  Had a great day and a wonderful evening.  :D  God is so good to me!  Thanks, Dad, for letting Ray come over!  Mom, I hope you get feeling better SOON and you don't end up with a sinus infection!!!

Verse for today;
Psalm 70:4
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

Today is a great day because my God is still in control!

Are you choosing to have a great day today?  Sometimes circumstances (AKA, life!) come along that discourage us and we are tempted to let it "ruin our day".  Do we forget...God is still in control?!!!  When we feel like we can't handle our problems we need to remember that WE don't need to handle our own problems!  Give them to God!  If we focus on our problems, they seem bigger than God, even though we KNOW that's not true!  Focus on God.  :D  Easy to say, I know, but God is a big God! 

=D   =D   =D   Be Encouraged   =D   =D   =D

It is so lovely outside!  Pepper and I had a good walk around that neighborhood this morning.  Well....I was going to share the encouraging song that was stuck in my head all morning BUT...it just got "unstuck" and now I can't remember what song it was!  Oh well.... :D  I worry about myself sometimes...I have to write my name down so I don't forget it!  It was something about how it was good to be in God's will.  If I remember I will write about it later.  =D

Since I didn't have time to post yesterday....here is yesterday's verse;

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be the Lord, who DAILY (emphasis mine) loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.  Selah.

I spent some time yesterday just meditating on that verse.  If you look for them, you can see how God really does DAILY load us with benefits.  It's all in your focus.  :)

I just finished putting together a power point slide show for Children's Church.  I am teaching them a new song Sunday!  It's called "I am a Missionary".  Lord willing, the children that are in the children's parade for Mission's Conference will be singing it for the adults!  I'm excited about that!

I gotta run...here is today's verse!

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

This verse is near the end of a Psalm where David is talking about all the people that are against him, and that his enemies are more than the hairs of his head.  Even with life is hard and it seems everyone is out to get us, we can still praise the name of the Lord! 

I know, I know....I didn't post yesterday.

:D  Sorry!  Sundays are busy so I probably won't have time to post on Sundays. 

Here is the verse for today;

Prov. 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

I am going to bed, but tomorrow I hope to give a quick update on today. :D

Happy Sleepy Saturday to Everyone!

Saturdays are a good day to sleep in!  That's just what I did today.  =D  And.....now I can't go to sleep.  =D 

It's a little late but I'm going to go hang out with Rachel sooooo...TTYL.  Have a good Lord's Day tomorrow!

Verse for the day;
Psalm 64:10
The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him: and all the unright in heart shall glory.

Compassion leads to action...

I thought it was interesting that I was thinking about compassion this morning and then tonight I was sitting in the revival service and Dr. Beal mentioned that "compassion leads to action". That really got me thinking, and as I'm sure you can tell, I am still thinking about it! Do I have a compassion for lost souls? If I truly have compassion, then I will show it with my actions! How are you reaching out to those around you today?

I hope I'm not giving anyone a heart attack (*ahem*...Allison) with the fact that I am posting, not only twice in one week, but two days in a row!!! I almost don't want to mention my goal as far as posting because then people might start to get on me if I don't reach it....BUT....I hope to blog at LEAST a verse of the day. I don't think that's too hard of a goal! Feel free to bug me if I forget. :D

Today my little brother headed off to college. It's hard to believe he is already old enough to be in college! Please keep him in your prayers this semester.

This morning Dad left with Susie, Ben and Luke...that just left four of us at home! It seems like our family is getting smaller really quickly! Will we ever have a "normal" again? I don't think so! I was telling Isaac today, change is a part of life. We have to choose how we are going to react to those changes. When Dad gets back the younger kids will be back to school. I'm really enjoying NOT being in school this semester. :D I hope to get in more piano practice than I used to, and I'm looking for an accordion. I've always been interested in learning to play an accordion and now I think I might actually have time to learn. I also am going to pull out my Rosetta Stone Spanish and try to actually finish the program, I might know some Spanish when I'm finished. Time will tell. :D

This morning Rachel and Isaac helped me wash and clean out my car. THANK YOU!!! Afterwards we enjoyed some Chick-fil-A together. :D I love getting to spend time with my 'little' siblings. They are crazy, but....I am too so it all works out and we had fun. :D

 Rabbykinz...you're so cute! :D

Yes....Isaac gave me permission to put this picture on my blog. :D He was pretty excited (maybe a little TOO excited?!) about getting to help chaperone tonight.

This afternoon I kept myself out of trouble by cleaning the house. I'm sure that's one of the methods that Mom would prefer. :D Actually, (don't tell!!!) I like to clean and I really enjoy washing dishes. Not really sure why, but I do. :-D

Supper was hamburgers and (my favorite :D) Parker Party Potatoes. Some people ask why we call them that, the answer - it's a long story. :D We had to come up with some interesting sounding names for some recipes and that was the name we came up with for these potatoes.

Ray was able to come over for supper and then Rachel, Ray and I picked up some college kids and headed to the revival service. Great preaching at ABC as usual!

I'm happy to say that my pup is feeling a little better today! She should be back to normal in a few days.

All in all, another good day! God is good. All the time!

Verse of the day; (I actually got this one a few days ago...)

Isaiah 40:30-31

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.

September 1st

Today starts a new month.  One big change for me...I just deleted my Facebook page.  Yes, I'm already having withdrawals so that just PROVES it's addictive!  No need to fear, I have a list of much better things to do with my time instead of Facebook.  :D  One of them being actually keeping up with my journal (are you happy Allison? :D). 

I'm trying the new blogger set up/layout thingy...it seems to be easy enough to use!

I had a great afternoon at Moss Lake with Ray and Mr. Workman.  We ate lunch and went fishing!  :D

This is the only pic I got!  That's the first fish that was caught. :D  If we go again hopefully there will be more (bigger!) fish biting!!!  :D

Well, it's late and I better get off here! 

Verse for the day;

Micah 6:8
He hath shewd thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.