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Divine Inspiration In An Unlikely Place

Excerpt from LOUDER THAN WORDS, by Jenny McCarthy

"Looking back, I'm amazed at the strength it took for me to put one foot in front
of the other, but I did. Day after day. Instead of getting mad at God, like I'm
sure a lot of people do, I decided to make Him my buddy in this. I remember
saying to Him around this time, 'God, I know you gave me an autistic son for a
reason. I know I'm supposed to do something with this, and I don't quite know
what it is yet, but I need you to help me out. I need to be always pointed in
the right direction. I need the messages to be loud and clear so that I can
serve my purpose in your calling.' " (Pg. 90)

When I sat down to read this book, I did not expect to receive a lesson in faith. I didn't know much about Jenny McCarthy and honestly, I certainly didn't expect her to be a person of such faith and devotion. In this book she talks about the beginning of her journey with her son's diagnosis with Autism.

As the quote excerpt points out, when she was faced with a huge challenge and uncertainity she gave it to God and decided to trust Him completely in his purpose. She leaned on him for support and guidance. I like to think that I would do the same thing, but I can't honestly say that I know what I would do. I do not doubt that everything is a part of God's plan and I can do anything through Him, but I don't know that in the face of a great challenge or hardship that I wouldn't get angry or question God. So I am going to take away from this lesson that Jenny McCarthy taught me, and try to remember that no matter what is dealt our way we have to make God our buddy in all of it and trust that He will lead us out of the bad times. All we can do is learn and grow from faith in God and His plan for our life.

Thursday Thirteen- Standardized Test Edition

1. I have taken the 5 ridiculously long standardized tests. (not counting TAAS Tests and all the practice tests I took for the other "official" tests I have taken)
2. SAT
3. ACT
4. LSAT
5. GRE
6. TeXes EC-4 content exam
7. I have at least 3 more ridiculously long standardized tests to take.
8. TeXes PPR exam
9. TeXes ESL Supplemental exam
10. Praxis II- Social Studies
11. After every test I come and take a ridiculously long nap
12. Tests make my brain fried
13. I am pretty much a standardized test taking expert.

Wordless Wednesday- What is wrong with this picture?

I am posting this just so I never forget.

*This is the eulogy I read at my grandmother's funeral. I wanted to put here so that I will always remember it and I can never lose it.

There are no words I can say that will express how much I loved my Mawmaw and there are no words that can adequately describe the amazing person that she is. She was the most wonderful person that you will ever meet and I am so lucky that she is my Mawmaw. She offered me help countless times and she was my source of strength countless times. And you know what, this time is no different. My Mawmaw was there to help me with this too. On the very last page of her bible she had some bible verses written down. Those verses are perfect for today.
First I found Philippians Chapter 1 verses 20- 24 which reads:
“For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that will cause me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.”
It was definitely better for us that she lived. But now Mawmaw is rejoicing in heaven with her Lord.

Also on that last page Mawmaw had written II Timothy Chapter 4 Verses 6-8 which reads:
“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me.”
No one deserves that prize more than her.

In this time of great sorrow, all we can do is lean on our Lord God for strength. In the book of Isaiah, the Lord promises to dry our tears and smooth out the road in front of us. We must find peace in these promises.
The final piece of wisdom Mawmaw laid out for me was found bookmarked in her bible. I Samuel Chapter 2 Verse 1 reads “My heart rejoices in the Lord! Oh how the Lord has blessed me!”
And that is true, we must thank the Lord God that we have been truly blessed by being privileged enough to have a woman like Mawmaw touch our lives.

Eating my Feelings

Even though I have had a significant weight loss this past year. My issues with food are not resolved. The past month I have been eating my feelings.

First after Hurricane Ike: I ate when I was anxious, I ate when I was relieved, and I ate when I was bored.

Then it was my birthday: I ate when I was excited, I ate when I was happy, and I ate to finish the cake.

Finally my grandmother passed away: I ate when I was sad, I ate when I was anxious, I ate when I was mad, I ate when I was numb.

I hate that I do this, but honestly I have no idea what to do about it. I know I have put back on some of the weight I have lost but I am too scared to know how much.

Wordless Wednesday- I just can't believe she is gone

My heart is aching.

You can never be prepared for the death of a loved one. But this came as unexpected as you can possibly imagine.

At 12:57 this morning my grandmother passed away. She was fine one second and then the next she was gone.

I don't even know what to say. My heart is aching.

Sewing Class & My First Project

I got this sewing machine for my birthday. I had no idea how to use it so I decided I needed to take a class. After a Google search I found an awesome place in Houston to take a beginner's class. Sew Crafty Houston is a seriously cool place in the Heights and my class was perfect. If you are in the Houston area, you should really check out what Sew Crafty Houston has to offer.

This is my very first sewing project EVER. In my class the project was to make a craft apron. Overall I am satisfied with my apron. There are things (which you will see) that I would change, but for my very first time ever touching a sewing machine, I am pretty pleased with the outcome.

One mistake I would like to change. After my backstitch I got a little crooked.

My decorative embellishment stitch is most definitely not straight. But oh well. Practice makes perfect.

I am pretty proud of my pockets. I did 3 pockets: 1 big one, 1 medium one, and 1 pen, pencil, or scissors pocket.

My wonderful class. Some of those ladies were definitely more crafty than I am but it was a ton of fun and we all had super cute finished projects. I definitely plan on taking another class at Sew Crafty!

I *heart* this

"I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah"

FYI- This is Phil Wickham

26 is starting off as the best year yet

So yesterday was my 26th birthday. Here is just a quick recap of the birthday festiviteis. First off on Tuesday, Amber kicked off the celebrations by bringing cupcakes to our class for my birthday. (Thank you Amber, you are so awesome and I love you for it!) In the afternoon I went to lunch with Robbie and had some awesome Mexican food, and then I was expecting a low key family evening, but I was in for more than I thought. My mom picked me up for dinner at their house, but we made a stop a local restaurant to pick up a to-go order. Again I was in for more than I expected.

We walked towards the back of the restaurant and in the private party room was my family and our closest family friends. Everyone yelled SURPRISE and I was in shock. I was completely 100% surprised. I had no idea that my family had been planning a surprise dinner party for me. I was so surprised and completely touched that I started crying. (Picture of my entry to come as soon as my uncle sends it to me)

I cannot believe that my family was able to pull off such a surprise. I have never had a surprise party before so I was completely overwhelmed. The whole night was amazing. It was awesome. It was fun filled. It was overflowing with love. The guest list was perfect and we all had a great evening. Everyone at the table is very important to me and my family and I am so lucky to have them all in my life. And even luckier that they were there to celebrate my birthday. The only thing missing was my grandparents, who couldn't make it because they were out of town for my cousin's wedding. So I will see them next weekend and I'm sure that party will be just as great.

After dinner I went to my parent's house where they showered me with gifts and we ate cookie cake. Seriously the whole night was perfect. I am truly blessed by the people in my life. I am a lucky girl. I thank God for all the blessings he gives me, my family, and friends.


If this next year of my life is as awesome as my birthday I am in for one heck of a year.

Thank you to all those people who made my birthday so special. I love you all so much!

Life is good.
God is good.

October 8, 1982

As today at 1:00 pm CST I am officially closer to 30 than I am to 20.

Oy!

26 better be a good year.

Whoa this is getting too real

I just learned that I have been invited into the 3rd/final round of interviews for Teach for America. YIKES! This means that I am one step closer to Hawaii!

I'm starting to get nervous. Excited but nervous. I want to make sure that I am doing the right thing and feel confident that this is where God is leading me.

Please pray that I feel peace about this process and pray that I am seeking God's will/plan with my decisions.

Gratuitous Cuteness

Blogging Slump

I don't know what is wrong with me but I am totally in a blogging/life slump. Life has been pretty boring and mundane lately so I am lacking in material.

Thus, I give you a list of things that I am excited about that are coming up:

• My birthday
• My sewing machine
• My sewing class
• Cooler weather
• Researching my focus topic for ECI
• Doing a gross motor therapy session by myself next month
• The possibility of going to Vail at the end of the month

Blah

I am having a blah kind of week. Not a bad week but just not an exciting week. So instead of posting something boring, I am just going to post some links of cool blogs for y'all to check out.

CF Husband

Moosh in Indy

I am Bossy

Operation Skinny Bitch

Bring The Rain (Angie Smith's Blog)