Happy Birthday Merika...

For comic relief.. try saying America with your most Southern and/or Cajun accent. It's pretty fun. Merika. God bless Merika. Merika the beautiful. And as of recently, Happy Birthday Merika!! (This is the result of listening to the Swamp People, because my boyfriend cannot get enough of that show..)

Here are my firework shots! 

The glimmer of light on the lake's surface...

I apologize for the length of this post! I can rarely find time to blog and when I do I have a lot to share! 

Now time for a funny story... My little brother was supposed to get a dirt bike for Christmas in six months. The dirt bike was sitting in our storage unit so he wouldn't find it. 

Well, my daddy accidentally took him over there one day and Nathaniel saw the bike. Instantly, it was all he could think about! As a result, my daddy had to make up a story about how somebody from his work asked him to hold it in the storage unit. 

My brother decides he is going to write a sweet letter asking if my dad could buy it from him (even though it is really ours..) 

Long story short, my dad continued to play along with the fake story of the dirt bike and eventually gave in. So, as I write this, I can hear the vroom vroom of his dirt bike driving past our house (six months early!!!). :)

"Did you see how fast I was going?!?!?!" -Nathaniel

For a good read check out my dear friend Lisa's recent post: Caregiver

Finding the words...

I just wanted to write a quick post to say that I am still here. I know I haven't posted in a while. I just haven't found the words yet to blog about Africa. I trust God's timing, even in something as simple as blogging, and the words will come when He plans for them to. Likewise, I will get a letter sent out to everyone who sponsored me on my trip, but I am just not ready yet. Hope you all understand. :) 

Like a yo-yo...

Today has been an interesting day. It's been a lot like a yo-yo... 


The morning was good. I went to class, lunch, and ran errands with a good friend. As I pulled back into the dorm parking lot after purchasing some linen pants for Africa, I received a very exciting email. I am going to be the Student Mission Team leader for the 11-12 school year! I am so very excited about the opportunities to glorify God through this position! I'm so excited that you will probably find me daydreaming about it at any given moment. 


Next, I logged on to my global expeditions account to find that I have reached 100% of fundraising! This is incredible. I'm truly speechless. But God is incredible, beyond description really. 


I am constantly in awe of this life He has decided for me to live. Every straight line, exciting turn, uncomfortable fork, or hill he has me travel on this dynamic road called life I am grateful for. Had you asked me this last semester, I wouldn't have told you the same answer. I wasn't content. But I also wasn't fully giving my everyday over to His will. And now I am. 


Here's the sudden snap back of the yo-yo... I just found out a dear friend has been diagnosed with cancer. How is it possible for all this in one day? I'm not really sure. I do know, however, that my friend, we'll call her E, is beautiful. I don't mean the worldly definition. I mean you cannot be around her without feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a beautiful experience. Something that is unfortunately hard to come by. I love to be around her, to pray with her, to be in bible study with her, and just to be friends with her. I strive to be more like her. Her gift with remembering scripture is amazing. Really, I sit amazed as she remembers verses that relate to what we happen to be talking about that night in bible study. She has the entire Lord's army behind her. She has the power to fight because she dwells in God's love, God's mercy, and God's strength. 


It's confusing, but God is in control. All I can do is try my puny human best to glorify Him. Because with days like today, with such incredible joyous news and devastating news, I must stand in awe of the Lord who gives and takes away. Blessed be His name through it all. 

I Promise I didn't Fall off the Face of the Planet...

Well, I'm officially the WORST blogger ever. I really do enjoy blogging. :) When those extraordinary things happen, like awesome quotes, fun events, new photo shoots etc, I love sharing them! However, because of school, when I don't have to be on my computer, I just don't get on. I didn't get on my computer for a whole 8 days during my spring break! And it was SO nice. To just experience life and not feel the pressure to get on Blackboard, Facebook, or even Blogger! But, I'm back now. :) At least for now... I'm not making any promises. :P


Isaiah 6:8- "'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'" Then I said, "'Here I am! Send me!'" And He said, "'Go, and tell this people...'" 


I read this the other day. You know when you read a verse and it's just puts a smile on your face? This one did it for me. I prayed a while ago that God would present verses to me that relate to missions. I'm sure there are so many, but I wanted one that just... fit. And again, even in the little things, HE IS FAITHFUL.  Basically, in this verse, Isaiah is called to be a prophet. He doesn't even question it. He simply exclaims "Send me!" I desire to be like this. And not just for Ethiopia. For my whole life! Wherever God wants me to be or do.


What's funny though, is that I don't have a hard time deciding. It's the waiting that's the killer! My true daily conviction is the constant prayer and patience required to wait to head to Ethiopia, that I sometimes struggle with.


My pastor said something insightful a couple weeks ago. He pointed out that "disciple" is the root of "discipline." In the world and country we live in, we WILL have to discipline ourselves to choose quiet time, church, rest, prayer, over TV, (that's my trouble..) facebook, materialism, music, and SO much more. It's sad that Satan can just sit back as we willingly choose meaningless things over our Sovereign God. And I am SO guilty of this. So guilty that I am asking for prayer from whom ever out there reads this.


I would also love prayer regarding Baptist Student Ministry here at Lamar. I am applying to be the student mission leader! It's been placed on my heart by God for a while now, and I am SO excited at the possibility. Being the student mission leader would involve fundraising for GoNow Missions (the organization BSM supports), community missions, and helping with the spring break mission trips (possibly). Being a leader also means you get one-on-one bible study/mentoring with an intern for BSM. Our intern is Samantha and I LOVE her!


And a few photos.. :)

Jamie and I after the Rodeo. Some nice people gave us free tickets to get into the rodeo and the concert! 

Books for a research paper. I <3 old books. 

A common location for me as of late!

My Life Lately...

Last weekend, I went to visit my best friend, Lindsey, at LeTourneau. :) We were each other's Valentine. <3 I felt so blessed for being able to visit her! I survived the long drive, and gained a weekend of fun, love, insight, and worship. 


It's funny how the smallest things can make the biggest impact... When I was at LeTourneau, one of Lindsey's floor mates said something so simple, but so powerful! After sharing a verse she had read earlier that day, she said "I seriously love reading scripture. I am just so in love with this book!!" I was in awe. I was inspired. And, I can honestly say I am discovering everyday what it means to be in love with Jesus and his book! Truly in love. 


Here is my verse for last week... It's one I stumbled upon, and well, fell in love with.


"But God's foolishness is wiser than men, and God's weakness is stronger than men."

1 Corinthians 1:25

Neat perspective, huh? My strength doesn't even compare with God's weakness. And I know God is strong. So how could I possibly NOT depend on Him, give my life back to Him, and worship Him?

In other news, I HAVE REACHED MY 50% MARK FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ETHIOPIA! This means I am officially, for sure, without a doubt, on the trip. Why? After you reach the 50% mark, you can buy your plane ticket! :) GOD IS FAITHFUL. Korah, my mother, and I still need prayer, though! Look HERE for prayer requests and more information on my trip! Also, I am speaking at my school at the Baptist Student Ministry's free lunch this Wednesday about my trip. Please pray God speaks through me, and I don't get too nervous!! :)

In other other news, I cut my hair off. It was too poofy for my liking, so it's gone. That's what you get hair, for being unmanageable...

To the University of Cambridge, in New England...

"Students, to you 'tis given to scan the heights
Above, to traverse the ethereal space

And mark the systems of revolving worlds.

Still more, ye sons of science ye receive

The blissful news by messengers from Heav'n

How Jesus' blood for your redemption flows.

See Him with hands outstretched upon the cross;"

Phillis Wheatley 1773

Phillis Wheatley was an African American slave, brought to American from Africa to serve the Wheatley family, specifically to keep Mrs. Susannah Wheatley company. Susannah taught Phillis English and Latin enabling Phillis to become more and more educated. She became a published, prominent writer at the age of 19 or 20. Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock are two of the people who made sure she truly wrote what she claimed to have written, being that she was 1) female and 2) an African American slave. 

She was a firm believer in Jesus Christ and held true to Puritan beliefs, in the midst of the Enlightenment era of America. In the above excerpt, Phillis is giving a speech to the upper-class, white, male graduating class of Harvard University. She is telling them that as they make new scientific discoveries and allow knowledge acquisition to fill their lives, they should not lose sight of Jesus. He died on the cross for them... 

Amen to this! I was reading this in American Literature earlier today, and I was enthralled by Phillis's prose. They way she describes the students as "sons of science... mark[ing] the systems of revolving worlds" is so, so WELL-WRITTEN. 

I love how big a role God plays in past American Literature. Even as America claimed to have moved into Enlightenment thinking (social realm > spiritual realm; knowledge acquisition; independence and self-sufficiency), Phillis's poems are being published. God had His hand under our country then just as He does now, and He has his hand under our lives, lifting us up daily. That's powerful stuff people!

Happy Valentine's Day. <3 

Waiting...

I want to be in Ethiopia now. It is so hard to wait, especially since most of my time is filled with studying or just hanging out. Not that I am not absolutely in love with my life. I am. God has brought me to this amazing school, where I have already met so many people. I am more CONFIDENT than ever before. But, my prayers for my heart to break for Korah are happening. I want to be there so badly. 
My prayer request regarding Ethiopia, that I am adding to the already long list. :), is for God to give me peace in this time of waiting.  I have exactly 92 days until I am on that plane, and that means I have 92 days of life to live glorifying Him in my studies, with my friendships, in all that I do. Thank you everyone, for your prayers. <3 


Gorgeous, Authentic Photographs:
http://tuckerbleu.com/thescoop/?p=1063

Momma was right...

I just started reading Radical by David Platt after a recommendation... well, long conversation with my mother about an epiphany that was "rocking her world." Already chapter one, BAM, ouch. Too much truth. Truth in the convicting, want-to-deny-it-but-can't, want-to-stop-reading-but-can't kind of way. Here is the passage that hit the hardest.

"We are giving into the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with. A nice, middle-class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who would not expect us to forsake our closest relationships so that he receives all our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, because, after all, he loves us just the way we are. A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter, wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings comfort and prosperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American dream."

He goes on to write...

"But do you and I realize what we are doing at this point? We are molding Jesus into our image. He is beginning to look a lot like us because, after all, this is whom we are most comfortable with. And the danger now is that when we gather in our church buildings to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be worshipping the Jesus of the Bible. Instead we may be worshipping ourselves. 


That is some tough stuff to read. Although, it is comforting to read, and to know, that my spontaneous decision to travel to a country I know nothing about, to a completely different world that the one I have been blessed to live in, is not as crazy as I originally thought. :)

I CANNOT wait to be in Ethiopia. I want to tell the women how beautiful they are. That they are made beautifully in His image! Our skin will not be the same color, our clothing will not be the same, our language will not be the same, but we will share the fact that our Almighty Creator made us EXACTLY how he wanted us. How can you even argue with that?

I want to hug and cuddle with the incredibly resilient children. I want to shed tears of misunderstanding, only understanding that only God is in control. I want to be there, to be changed.



I thought it would be a while before I started to really desire to be in Ethiopia. Well, it's happening. God has gripped my heart. Our only purpose on this earth is to let the billions of people who have never heard of Jesus KNOW ABOUT HIM! It is stated clear as day in the Bible. How after 18 years have I missed it? I was caught up in being a teenager; I was worried about boys, college, friends, work... When all I should be worried about is letting everything I do be towards the growth of His eternal kingdom! Ethiopia here I come! I have so far to go (literally, Africa is FAR!), but I am excited to let everyday be one of glory to Him.

  No more wishy-washy-ness. 

Now on to Chapter 2.. Man, Mr. David Platt, you sure wrote a good book! :P

Ethiopia!!!

I am officially announcing my trip to Ethiopia this coming May! 


God very quickly placed Ethiopia on my heart and in my mind after attending Acquire the Fire back in January. I knew after the conference that I wanted to go somewhere to tell about God. Global Expeditions is a great organization specifically designed to send young people to spread the gospel! So, I knew I wanted to go with Global Expeditions. I went online to www.globalexpeditions.com to look at the different trips. Well... there are so many! Where God wanted me was very quickly my prayer! For a reason I can only attribute to God, Ethiopia was always at the forefront of my mind and soon my heart. So I applied for the trip to Ethiopia from May 14-26 and got on the team! I cannot be more excited!! :)


I will be traveling to the village of Korah, right outside Addis Ababa (the capitol city). The village is one of great, unbelievable poverty. Children and adults alike search for food at the local trash dump. Nobody travels to this village because they believe the residents are cursed. In short, Korah is in desperate need of love. God's love! They need to feel important, and God is just the guy to go that! He who knew each of them before they were even born. He who made them wonderfully. He who makes no mistakes. He who can offer them an eternal life in Heaven! Anyways, please please please watch this video so you can get an idea of where I am going and who I will be serving in Korah!



The Village of Korah - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.


I will not be able to go to Ethiopia without your help! I need prayer!! Lots of prayer! The enemy will be doing what he can to prevent me from going, so please pray for these things:
- Financial Support
- Personal spiritual preparation 
- Political stability in Ethiopia
- Safe travel


I am also asking for you to pray about possibly being a financial supporter. I will be posting how to donate to my mission fund a little later. Until then, please pray! 


I will be updating soon! Thank you to all who follow me and for your prayer! God is in control! 


His Hands and Feet,

ATF...

I'm about to start a busy week at school, so I just wanted to write a quick post about my weekend before I get lost in the books! 


This past weekend, I was at Acquire the Fire at Grace Community Church. It was an awesome experience, and I mean awesome! Powerful worship, meaningful, relevant dramas, and inspirational, motivating sermons! It was a flashback to circa 2007 when I went to Student Life Camp with my youth group! Except, I am so content with my life right now, and I'm beginning to find the joy of following the ultimate Leader. God has placed so many new things on my heart and I'm excited about them all! One new thing is that I'm now sponsoring a sweet boy from Indonesia through Compassion International! I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to be at the conference. Sign me up for next year! :) 

Dorm Days Begin...

I moved in today to my dorm at Lamar University. My roommate is very nice, and my room is looking cute! I took a few pictures as a sort of tour of my suite. :) 

Here is my bedroom..

My desk (still working on organizing it!)...

 My bedroom door.. I'm room A.

The kitchenette and TV. :) It looks bigger in person for sure. 

Our living room...

The super nice bathroom! I was pleasantly surprised!

Shower room...

Basket for my books and school supplies...

My closet with giant mirror doors. :) This picture shows where the room is in relation to the living area. 

Classes start tomorrow! Hopefully I won't get lost, but I've got my trusty map. <3

2011's word...

My friend Angela has this great thingy (for lack of a better word) that she does every year. She's picks a word and then applies it to her life for the year. It's a way of helping to live simply, stay grounded, and become a better you that year. (Her word if you're wondering is DELIGHT (see HERE)). Anyways, with so much change happening in my life so early in the year, I decided to pick a work I felt suited me. It's going to be a daily struggle, but reminder for 2011! Drum roll please.... :)

I chose CONFIDENCE. Here's why...

I am going to choose on a daily basis to be CONFIDENT in God's plan for my life.

I am go to be a more CONFIDENT photographer.

I am going to [seriously attempt] to be CONFIDENT as I start at a school I know no one at, and make new friends.

I am going to be physically CONFIDENT with the body God gave me. 

There you go. :) Same me, just with a boost of confidence. 

Chris is 20!... Well, in 2 days!...

Chris will be turning the big 2-0 on Saturday! Now, last year I had serious issues waiting to give Chris is birthday present, because I was so excited to give it to him. So, he got his birthday present a month early last year. This year I made it until 2 days before! I'd say that's progress! 


(I realize the paper says "Happy Birthday Girl," but I added blue string for masculinity!!! Hehe)

Telling my brother, "It's mine!"

A happy 20 year old kid! <3

 

Christmas Special...

Here is a sneak peek for all you who follow my blog, or happen to stop by, of the Christmas card special for this season that I am handing out during the Pearland Parade. :) 

Come out to the parade on December 4th at 5:30pm from Pearland Parkway and Old Alvin Road! It's going to be a blast!

Prayers for Josh...

In our little well, kinda big city of Pearland, nothing like this has happened, at least in my lifetime. On Tuesday, a boy named Josh Wilkerson didn't make it home from school. Yesterday at 6:30pm, his body was found. I was not friends with him, nor did I ever talk to him. It is so real though, because I did see him on occasion. And he was supposed to graduate here really soon. Please pray for his family and friends. Based on the sad I'm feeling, I can't even imagine the pain they are feeling. Bad things happen to good people, but it all works together for God's ultimate plan. I know that. But with my human mind with which I sometimes can't even wrap my mind around the concept of Heaven, this is difficult to understand. It defies the natural order of life. 18 year old children, regardless of actions or enemies, should not die. But, again, I choose to believe that SOMEHOW it is God's plan. God's glorious, confusing, sometimes wonderful!, never-ending, pre-organized, sometimes (like this time) awful plan. But that is coming from my weak human mind, and I also choose to believe that I have no idea what the big picture is. God does though, and that brings me peace. Josh had so much life left to live, I can dwell on, OR Josh lived 18 years. I know nothing about the life he lived, but just like you and I, he had probably made bad choices, maybe some wrong turns here and there. But, imagine him now as a child walking into the arms of Jesus. The perfect Jesus who he himself died so that Josh could live 18 years here. He was really only a child. Aren't we all just children in God's eyes? 


I pray he knew You, Lord! I pray with all of my soul that his parents at least have the peace of knowing he is holding Your gigantic hand right now, Lord. That while we are confused, some with heavy hearts, he is beautiful in Your light, with no more pain at all. I pray for the search team. Thank you for them! We are lifting this to You. 


Amen

Dwelling Place...

I don't have much time. But I just wanted to post a quick Scripture. It ties in directly to my blog, especially the name. I come from the Bible [obviously :P], but I stumbled upon it after reading Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. 


"Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell WITH them." 
-Revelations 21:3


That my friends, is the best news I've heard in a while. :) I love that this is what I am looking forward to. Not a stinky old coffin, or a "fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev. 21:8)." 


Happy Wednesday! 

P.S. One of my guilty pleasures, Big Brother, ends today! And my other guilty pleasure, Survivor, starts today! Woohoo!

Somewhere between boredom and love...

I made this for my boyfriend of a year and a half, Chris. He's an amazing trumpet player, and a music education major. I think it turned out pretty neat if I do say so myself! 

Cupcakes and Crafts...

Happy Monday everyone! I'm praying for all the kiddos out there counting down the days until Christmas! :P


GREEK YOGURT CUPCAKES


As mentioned in my latest post, I made cupcakes! Now, I've never made cupcakes in my life. Weird, I know. But I haven't had ANY interest in the kitchen (unless it involves eating) ever before. But, I was watching the Seaworld Birthday Bash episode of Cupcake Wars and my creative juices got flowin'. So, my mom drove me to Kroger and we got:

• 1 box of 18.25oz Devils Food cake mix
• 1 cup (1 1/3 containers) of Greek vanilla yogurt
• Icing (big container!)

Once home, I:

• Added the whole box of cake with 1 cup of the Greek yogurt
• Then, mixed it all with 1 cup of water. 

I then scooped the cake mix into aluminum muffin holders and baked for 25 minutes at 350. (I did 12 at a time, but made 23 total..)

For the icing, I added about 3 drops of green and 2 drops of blue food coloring. Then scooped into a baggy, cut off a corner, and squeezed the icing on top of the fully-cooled cupcakes!

End result: 

Last night, I was tweeting about how I had made cupcakes. Well, a baker who appeared on Cupcake Wars of Food Network (@RedVelvetStef), asked me for a pic! Well, she wanted to feature cupcakes that people had made over the weekend when her episode of Cupcake Wars aired! So, here is the link where my cupcake is featured (unfortunately it's only an iPhone photo. :/) But still cute! 

http://www.redvelvetstefanie.com/category/blog/ 

P.S.- You can follow me at @CMcPhotography!

MINI-SCRAPBOOKS

Now, the other half of this blog post it titled Crafts, and here is why. I thought of a super fun craft idea to do with my kiddos I nanny! We've had so much fun this summer and so I thought it would be fun to make mini-scrapbooks with photos from our summer. So, I put together scrapbook kits for each of the kids to make their scrapbook..

Here is how to put together this easy and fun craft. 

1. Cut 2 pieces of card-stock in half, punch holes, and tie with string. 

2. Print pictures.

3. Pre-cut scrapbooking paper in different sizes, shapes, and colors. 

(sorry it's blurry. :/ )

4. Cut out individual stickers (this will prevent the use of TONS of stickers, costing you big bucks!)

5.  Add other fun craft items (here I added my favorites.. buttons and ribbon!) 

6. Add all the supplies together and you have a mini-scrapbooking kit! 

Note: Be sure to have scissors, double sided tape, and a chaperone! Have fun! :)

Fall 2010... (warning: transparent.)

It's interesting to me how portions of our lives get named different things based on events. For instance.. "the summer between 8th and 9th grade" or "Christmas Break." Well, the time that I'm about to be in is called "Fall 2010." I have not changed, or so I think, and nothing else substantial has changed in my life. Simply stated, I'm going to learn new things. Except, you see, "Fall 2010" is so much bigger than that. It marks so many things for me. Things that are going to be changing. Here is what will hopefully be changing for me..


1. I learn how to make friends, and I mean really make friends, not acquaintances. 


2. My photography "business" blossoms... God's will permitting. :)


3. I learn to appreciate MAKING food, not just eating it. (So far I've learned to make sausage and fresh green beans, apple tuna salad, and greek yogurt cupcakes.. post coming soon! :P)


4. I grow undeniably closer to my already good friend Jesus. 


5. That Chris and I experience a new level of appreciation for each other. 


So, bring it on "Fall 2010." With the help of aforementioned Jesus, :) I will not be anxious any longer. I'm jumping into this new season head first, with great expectations. 


"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Phillipians 4:6-7


Here are a few things that have been going on in my week..


- I made myself a new craft station! It's in my guest bedroom, haha. I'm semi-modeling it after Angela Moore's. :) 

- Emily, my little sister and I, have been spending a lot of time together. She's hilarious!

- I am almost completely ready for this new semester of classes. School supplies- check. Tuition- check (thanks Daddy!...) New clothes- check (again.. thanks Daddy!) Books- check! 

- I got a wild hair and made cupcakes. Haha. I've never made cupcakes in my whole life! 

- Chris and I went to Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. It was packed but very fun!! 


- And random picture for the week!!: