Goodbye

* EDIT - We ended up being able to fix my car YAY :)

I didn't wake up this morning knowing I would have to say goodbye to Howard, my first car and my car of 3 years.

I was surprised by how much snow we got last night and before exiting onto the main road, I told myself to be extra careful, since I haven't driven in snow in many months. I made it almost to work, then when I tried to turn into the drive, I kept going straight and ran into the curb.

By hitting the curb I pushed in my axle, so my tire is now touching the car, the rim is smashed, and the break line is bent. My Grandpa thinks it will cost over $1000 to fix, which is more than the car is worth, so it's totaled.

I'm not sure why is was so emotional, but I broke down and bawled my eyes out, knowing that I would have to say goodbye and junk him out for $150.

I don't know what I'm going to do, buying a car this close to a wedding and getting an apartment isn't going to be easy at all, but I know my God will provide, and it's going to be ok.

I will add more pics later.

I voted! :)

I voted for the first time today :) I went at about 10:30 which I think was really smart, there was no line at all! I voted for John McCain, actually a straight republican ticket, and No on proposal 1 and 2. I had no idea who the judges were so didn't do that :P The chances don't look good for McCain :( But I'm trusting in God that He has a plan and a purpose for everything. I did my part and I prayed, and that's about all I can do. I'm honestly a little afraid of having Obama run our country, with his lack of background in politics and the charisma he has that woes people in an almost Anti-Christ way. I'm not saying he is, but he's definitely a suspect in my book. Anyways, I'm hoping the best for our nation, GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Grand Rapids Press - Engagement Announcement!

Our picture and announcement was in the paper yesterday! Only 5 days til my first bridal shower, and a little over 3 months til the wedding!! Things are really starting to fall into place!!!! I tried my dress on last night too :)

Share your light!

I have a crazy busy day, and week for that matter! So posts may be rare or short.

I found this quote and I just love it so much!

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

This brings back memories of Christmas Eve services, where thousands of people would fill our church. The Pastor would light his candle, his candle would light his wife's, then would light the pastors and elders who would go to the end of each row and light the candle, and we would go down the row, and soon thousands of candles would be lit. It was beautiful and a very touching time.

But isn't it amazing? Amazing how thousands of candles were all lit by the original one?

What if we lived that way? What if we poured in our light and hope into someone else and the effect passed on like the light of the candle?

Just something really encouraging I thought I would share!

Have a blessed day!!

It's pumpkin carving time!

On Saturday night we went to our friends Dan and Diana's house with some other people and had a pumpkin carving party! It was loads of fun!

My Pumpkin

Joel's Pumpkin

Dan's neat dear pumpkin and Jacque's Cat!

I got a forward e-mail and thought this was sooo neat!

'HAPPY FALL TO YOU'


From one pumpkin to another!!!!!!!

A woman was asked by a coworker, 'What is it like to be a Christian?'

The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.' God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'

Carefree

Today, I am learning to be carefree. Not to not care about anything, but to not stress about everything so much. I've made it 19, almost 20 years without anything extremely traumatic. I know that God is by my side and nothing is going to happen that He can't handle. We have such little faith, but serve such a Big God! We need to start treating Him that way. He is in control of the universe!

Matthew 6:25 to 34: 25 (NLT)
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Loving People

Well this is my first *real* post :) I kind of miss blogging, I used to do it alot, before we had myspace and facebook there was xanga, which was a blog and that's all us kids had, spilling our lives :P

I often have some random thoughts, with no one to share them with, so I figured this would be an outlet to ramble about the crazy things that go through my head, so here it goes :)

I've been reading the book of Psalms the last few weeks, but to be honest, I was getting a little tired of David's rollercoaster of whining, then thanking God, whining, then thanking God....

So I decided to start reading Matthew and thought I would try reading the whole New Testament in order. First thing I found interesting is that in my Bible, they have an introductory to each book of the Bible telling you the history of it, who wrote it, when it happened etc. Something I never knew before was that there is a 400 year gap between the Old and New Testaments!

But the one thing I read that really burned deep was found in Matthew 5: 46-47

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"

It seems in our culture, it's so good to love your family and there is so much focus on that, but what about loving people who don't love you? We are no different than the world if we simply love our families and friends, and only greet and communicate with the people we are familiar with and like.

What a challenge to me! To go out of my comfort zone and love people the way Jesus loves them, even with nothing in return!