This Year in Review...

Wow! This year has gone by really fast! So much has happened and it is amazing to look back and see where I thought I would be and where I actually am. This time last year, I was in high school, completely stressed out about trying to get all my graduation requirements in and totally unsatisfied with my life. A year ago, we moved into our house (the first house that I actually loved) and it felt like we were getting a fresh start. Let's see what has happened since the beginning of 2008:

• 2 moves for our family(3 for me)
• 2 cousins moved in, then moved out
• 2 online classes completed
• a total of 12 credits earned in one school year (normally you can only get 8)
• 1 trip to San Fransisco
• 33 friendships made and built with some amazing Life Skills students at Bend High
• First time being on the worship team
• 1 small group (Yeah Katie!)
• 3 roomates since last year (Michelle, Stacia, and currently my Mom...)
• Tons of relationships built
• A few lost...
• 1 Graduation from High School
• 1 car accident
• 1 hospital visit
• 1 trip to Nampa Idaho
• I learned to play the guitar
• 1 trip to Playa del Carmen
• 3 Billion Miracles
• 1 little bobble head turtle bought from Mexico
• 1st time in warm ocean water
• 1 job aquired
• 1 job lost
• 2 difficulty levels gained in Guitar Hero
• I started Cascade Life Commission
• I moved out on my own for the first time
• 1 Encounter with God that tore through my whole life
• About 5,498,076 more encounters with God since then, and still counting
• 1 God who has shown me His love and Mercy and is changing me
• 1 prayer life reignited
• 1 new hair color
• 12 different haircuts
• 1 time trying to be hardcore (it didnt work out that well!)
• 4 new friends discovered in CLC
• 9 old friends to grow with
• 1st time leading worship
• 1 old mindset exchanged for a new one
• 10ish classes in CLC so far
• 1 newish oldish mentor gained (Yeah Katie agian, and by old, I dont mean age!)
• 1 new found respect for the maintainance people at the church
• About 58 really embarrassing moments that mostly include me tripping
• 1 very bestest friend found (Andrea...)
• 1 I Heart Bend
• A couple of tough situations
• Way more good situations
• 1 life transformed by the unending love of Christ...

And the list goes on and on.... ! I am a completely different person right now then I was a year ago and I am thankful for that! I can only imagine where I will be next year. God is changing me so much and I dont want Him to stop... Man oh Man! I love you all and I hope this new year brings things into your lives that will help you grow and change, because I know that's what I am looking forward too!

Knock, Knock... Who's There?

"For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by the fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint you eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me." Revelation3:17-20

There He stands. Jesus invites me to come in to Him. So many times I have told God with my actions that I am fine without Him..."I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing..." I can make it on my own. All along God is desperately trying to show me that without Him I am wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Jesus shows me that if I will buy, at the cost of my whole life, His gold refined in the fire, His white garments, and His anointing salve, I will gain my life back, in Him. His pure Gold refined by the fire is character and wisdom. The White Garments are purity and righteousness (right standing with God). The Anointing Salve for me to see is to open the eyes of my understanding of God. If I would only open up to Him! A Life lived in Jesus is the only one I want to live. I know this can sound so cliche, because we hear it so often... "Give God your whole life, let Him have control, open the door to your heart!" I know I have heard it enough! But what if the hearing actually turned into doing?

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me."

'Tis the Season!

Due to the recent aquiring of a camera (YEAH!), I can now finally post some pictures! I hope you enjoy these...
These last couple of weeks have been really amazing! God has just shown Himself so faithful and I really love Him lots. I have moved back in with my mom and am waiting for a host home, which I KNOW God will provide at the right time. Life Commission has been going really good! God has been asking me a lot of tough questions... not tough for Him, but tough for me because He is refining me, which is not always fun, but it has definitely been really good. So, yeah... here are some pictures to let you know what I've been up to!

Drake Park!

Christmas Tree decorating '08

CLC Friends, Kids Christmas program, and Guitar Hero at Micah's...

Elliot CD Release Party

Red Robin

YEAH FOR PICTURES!!!! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years!