I think I ate the state of Idaho out of food yesterday. Every where I went and everything I did involved food. I think when you get older for some reason people just want to take you out to eat for your birthday, and I love it! I over ate, I under ate...no wait. But seriously, I went out to eat 3 different times during the span of my birthday. Today I plan on working out. A nice cardio workout. Lord help me.
Is it just me or do people feel older once you hit a certain age? Well I do. I'm fully aware that I am young but I feel old...well older. All I could think about when I was 18 was turning 21 and now that it is here, well it's not all that exciting my friends. I had a great birthday tho, thanks to all who participated in making it great!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
JuneBug
This Christmas was probably one of the best my family has ever had. Memories were made, great memories that will be remembered for years to come. I would say it was an emotional time for my family. There weren't a whole of tears and sadness, no it was more of joy and laughter, something I love. But there were its moments of tears, but they were good tears, tears that had meaning and tears that showed gratitude and appreciation. You see for me the best gifts aren't the material things I want. I love those presents and to me it shows me that you really take the time to notice the things I love and appreciate. But I will tell you that the best Christmas present I received this year was this:
Now. I understand this isn't the best picture in the world or the most flattering. But, I have never ever not once received a picture of my Grandmother, and better yet, this is one of the few I've ever seen of her smiling in. If you understood the relationship I had with her you would understand the greatness of this gift. My Aunt and cousins were looking through some old pictures and they found this one and framed one for each of my sisters and me. I love this picture. This was an emotional moment for me. I don't quite remember how old I was here but I know for sure that this was within the last year of JuneBugs life. I love June. I love her humor, I love her attitude and I miss her everyday. She is the grandparent that I have the most memories of and there are many. She passed away in April of 1996 due to lung cancer. I was six years old and completely understood the severity of the situation. So this picture will go with me everywhere that I go. Now you can understand why my blog is named what it is. Her name is June, my middle name is June and I am very proud of the fact.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Prayer & Intercession
I have memories as a child waking up before the crack of dawn every sunday to be at church. We would get there early Sunday morning and we would stay all day through each service. I can remember thinking sheesh! why can't I just sleep in and why do my parents think it is so important for us to be at church so early!! Little did I know and little did they know that they were paving the way for a ministry, a passion and lifestyle for me. My parents were over the "personal intercessors" for our Senior Pastor at the church I grew up in. My parents made it a point to be there, serve and bath our Pastors in prayer, not only on Sunday but I can remember hearing my dad pray as I would get up in the morning, praying for our church and for our Pastors. I'm not sure if you have picked up on this yet but my parents have an anointing for prayer and intercession. And because of the years that they have sown and pushed they are bearing fruit. I am that fruit. Just this last summer at our summer church camp I can remember God telling me that I need to serve on the the NXT prayer team.
I have loved growing and serving on this team in the short time that I have. God has opened my eyes to the importance of prayer. One thing that has been pressed upon my heart is that prayer is one of the most resisted things on the planet. Why is it that it can be so difficult for a Christian, who fully believes in God, to sit down and pray for 30 minutes a day? Why is it that most of us give our 100% in prayer only when there is a crisis in our lives? Why can't we give 100% every day that we walk in? Here's an answer for you, because I believe that prayer is the gateway to God's heart. And don't you think that the enemy will love nothing better than to make you want to put it off or doubt it? I will be the first one to raise my hand and say that I am completely guilty of this. Am I proud of that? Nope! But. I am willing to lay it all down and push past all the resistence and doubt. God will reward you. There is no doubt about it. I love this verse that David prays in Psalm:
Psalm 17:6 "I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer."
David says " I call on you, my God, for you will answer me..." I love that David is so sure! He knows God not only hears him but will answer him. David doesn't say maybe or possibly or beg God to listen, He knows that God's attention is on him and hearing David's every word.
My challenge to each person who reads this, whether it's today or 5 years from now, is to press in and pray. And if you feel 30 minutes will be too crazy for ya, start with 10 minutes and before you know it you'll be praying for 30 minutes, then an hour and so on. This week has even challenged me in my personal prayer time. I'm taking on my own challenge to go deeper in prayer and I hope that you will press in and find God in the midst of each day.
I have loved growing and serving on this team in the short time that I have. God has opened my eyes to the importance of prayer. One thing that has been pressed upon my heart is that prayer is one of the most resisted things on the planet. Why is it that it can be so difficult for a Christian, who fully believes in God, to sit down and pray for 30 minutes a day? Why is it that most of us give our 100% in prayer only when there is a crisis in our lives? Why can't we give 100% every day that we walk in? Here's an answer for you, because I believe that prayer is the gateway to God's heart. And don't you think that the enemy will love nothing better than to make you want to put it off or doubt it? I will be the first one to raise my hand and say that I am completely guilty of this. Am I proud of that? Nope! But. I am willing to lay it all down and push past all the resistence and doubt. God will reward you. There is no doubt about it. I love this verse that David prays in Psalm:
Psalm 17:6 "I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer."
David says " I call on you, my God, for you will answer me..." I love that David is so sure! He knows God not only hears him but will answer him. David doesn't say maybe or possibly or beg God to listen, He knows that God's attention is on him and hearing David's every word.
My challenge to each person who reads this, whether it's today or 5 years from now, is to press in and pray. And if you feel 30 minutes will be too crazy for ya, start with 10 minutes and before you know it you'll be praying for 30 minutes, then an hour and so on. This week has even challenged me in my personal prayer time. I'm taking on my own challenge to go deeper in prayer and I hope that you will press in and find God in the midst of each day.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Search Me, O God, & Know My Heart
Any time I feel the slightest hint of separation from God trying to come and creep in on me... I run. I run to the Bible, I run to my God. Usually I will find myself stumbling upon Psalm 139. I fell in love with this chapter when I began to learn and understand how to have a relationship with God. I would sit alone in my room and begin to weep because in this chapter that I have read time and time again growing up, I began to find my identity in Christ and how He loves me.
I love that David talks to God and tells Him of how much God loves him and knows David. David was secure in his Savior's love for him. I also love the fact that David is aware of God's grace, because even before David acts upon something or before he even speaks... God knows. Which leads me to my next thought.
Knowing all the thoughts that I think, the words that I say and what I do each day God already knows.
1O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Sometimes I think as Christians we can get so lost on trying to please everyone around us that we forget who we really need to please. And can I just say that I am guilty as charged. Thank God for His grace right? And He actually had the nerve to remind of that! So when I began to have doubt in what I thought God was clearly trying to say I read Psalm 139 and then He lead me to a scripture that brought the doubt in my mind to rest...
Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Oh how I love the peace of God! I have to trust in God that what He says is good, and I do. So with that being said, I am excited to walk in what God has for me and I may not have things figured out for years to come but I know that what He does have for me in the next year or two is great.
I love that David talks to God and tells Him of how much God loves him and knows David. David was secure in his Savior's love for him. I also love the fact that David is aware of God's grace, because even before David acts upon something or before he even speaks... God knows. Which leads me to my next thought.
Knowing all the thoughts that I think, the words that I say and what I do each day God already knows.
1O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Sometimes I think as Christians we can get so lost on trying to please everyone around us that we forget who we really need to please. And can I just say that I am guilty as charged. Thank God for His grace right? And He actually had the nerve to remind of that! So when I began to have doubt in what I thought God was clearly trying to say I read Psalm 139 and then He lead me to a scripture that brought the doubt in my mind to rest...
Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Oh how I love the peace of God! I have to trust in God that what He says is good, and I do. So with that being said, I am excited to walk in what God has for me and I may not have things figured out for years to come but I know that what He does have for me in the next year or two is great.
Friday, September 17, 2010
New Life
This week I have had the pleasure of meeting a new and wonderful baby boy. Ethan Kelly is adorable. He was born September 14th at 10:14 am, he weighed 7lbs 8oz & 22 inches long. He has light brown hair and the moment I saw him, I was in love. When he sleeps he already makes the same faces that his older brother Landry does when Landry is sleeping. He is one healthy boy, let me tell ya!
It's amazing, I never knew I could love someone so much as I do my nephews ♥
The Summer of Weddings
I think many will agree with me when I say that this summer has been the summer of engagements and weddings. I love watching couples through the dating and engagement season, especially the girls, as they plan and their ideas come to life. One wedding that took place this summer was one that was very special to me. It was the wedding of my sister and her then fiance and now husband. I have always dreamed of my sister having a gorgeous wedding that fit her style and preference perfectly and I really think that this one had Becca written all over it. It was a wedding where tears were evident and happiness was overflowing, at least that is how it was for me, the youngest of three daughters.
My sister and I are very close and we always have been, we have been through a lot and through those times we have stood by eachother no matter the circumstance. If there is anyone I am not afraid to go to and tell anything to, it is my sister. She is gracious, loving, gentle, kind and the list goes on. So I watched her as she met the man of her dreams and fell in love and helped her plan this wedding, I couldn't help but think of every thing we'd gone through together. Sisters are important and there is a bond there that is unlike anything else.
So this one is for my sister. I love you Becca and I pray that you have a blessed marriage.
My sister and I are very close and we always have been, we have been through a lot and through those times we have stood by eachother no matter the circumstance. If there is anyone I am not afraid to go to and tell anything to, it is my sister. She is gracious, loving, gentle, kind and the list goes on. So I watched her as she met the man of her dreams and fell in love and helped her plan this wedding, I couldn't help but think of every thing we'd gone through together. Sisters are important and there is a bond there that is unlike anything else.
So this one is for my sister. I love you Becca and I pray that you have a blessed marriage.
I would have to say this is one of my favorite pictures, just because it shows how we really are :)
Friday, August 27, 2010
Sweaters, Hoodies and Light Jackets
Fall is on it's way in and boy am I excited! I can already taste the pumpkin lattes that I will be endulging in this coming season, along with pumpkin pastries, yum yum yum.
For me Fall brings newness and freshness. It's the time in my life where I re-evaluate where I'm at in life and what I want to do in the coming year. It's like New Years for me except in Fall. Let's not forget that this is also when colors begin to come in on the trees and I can walk around in skinny jeans boots and light a sweater...maybe even a scarf. I love love love Fall.
As in the beginning of this post, coffee is what I really look forward to. It's competely different during this time of year. It's as if the taste changes. Although I love coffee shops, especially during this time of year, I have to find a new one to fall in love with, because Brownstone closed a while ago and this time last year I was all about going there for hours on end. So my venture for a favorite coffee shop must begin.
There is also something about the fall that makes me want to read. I love to read but this is where I get most inspired. Lately I have been looking into some books to pick up but one thing that has caught my attention is Jon Acuff and his amazingly creative and funny blog. Here is his website for you to check out, http://stuffchristianslike.net/about/, Jon Acuff is hilarious, he is a Christian Writer and is very talented and did I mention funny? Most of my mornings this last week have been pre-occupied at work, don't worry I get all my work done before hand, but I have really gotten some great thoughts going about my relationship with God and walking out my Christianity.
Fall also brings out great music! Jon Foreman is a musician who adds to my favorite season. His style of music is perfect for fall. I will walk around downtown Boise and listen to him on my ipod and shop around while drinking a pumpkin spice latte from starbucks. Can you simply amazing? Because I know I can!
For me Fall brings newness and freshness. It's the time in my life where I re-evaluate where I'm at in life and what I want to do in the coming year. It's like New Years for me except in Fall. Let's not forget that this is also when colors begin to come in on the trees and I can walk around in skinny jeans boots and light a sweater...maybe even a scarf. I love love love Fall.
As in the beginning of this post, coffee is what I really look forward to. It's competely different during this time of year. It's as if the taste changes. Although I love coffee shops, especially during this time of year, I have to find a new one to fall in love with, because Brownstone closed a while ago and this time last year I was all about going there for hours on end. So my venture for a favorite coffee shop must begin.
There is also something about the fall that makes me want to read. I love to read but this is where I get most inspired. Lately I have been looking into some books to pick up but one thing that has caught my attention is Jon Acuff and his amazingly creative and funny blog. Here is his website for you to check out, http://stuffchristianslike.net/about/, Jon Acuff is hilarious, he is a Christian Writer and is very talented and did I mention funny? Most of my mornings this last week have been pre-occupied at work, don't worry I get all my work done before hand, but I have really gotten some great thoughts going about my relationship with God and walking out my Christianity.
Fall also brings out great music! Jon Foreman is a musician who adds to my favorite season. His style of music is perfect for fall. I will walk around downtown Boise and listen to him on my ipod and shop around while drinking a pumpkin spice latte from starbucks. Can you simply amazing? Because I know I can!
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