That's MY King!

Christmas Day Fun...

We had a very relaxing Christmas Day, just hangin' at home! Here are some pics we took while out on a Christmas evening walk...

Dad (being goofy) and Mom.

Mom and my somewhat normal brother :-)

Me and Dad

Being manly...er...taking out the trash! :-)

Caleb showing off his trash-tossing skills...

Too true!! :-)

I just bought this song. It's from the album "This Is Our God" by Hillsong, and it's GORGEOUS! Enjoy!

Desert Song
by Brooke Fraser

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow.

The Proverbs 31 Challenge

My Mom told me about this online Bible Study recently and encouraged me to use it. So...I am! The challenge is to read Proverbs 31 every day for 31 days. I also read a daily devotional by Nancy Leigh DeMoss; each devotional deals with a different element found in Proverbs 31. I've enjoyed it so far, and I'd encourage you to check it out for yourselves!
Since I'm having trouble finding time to regularly post, I think I might just post the things that I'm learning from this Bible Study...since I'm already taking notes on it anyway...so come back soon... :-)

So I'm Going To College...

I found this video through the Rebelution. It's very challenging...

Cougar Volleyball

Last weekend my volleyball team took a long, LONG road trip...to Kentucky! We left on Thursday and came home on Sunday; we played 4 matches in one weekend! Needless to say, it was quite a tiring experience! Despite the exhaustion, it was a lot of fun, as well as a great learning experience. I'm so grateful for the opportunity God has given me to play on this specific volleyball team...I have enjoyed myself greatly, and I have also been stretched physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Here are some awesome pics from the KY trip, courtesy of Kathryn (one of our assistant coaches/team photographer).

Go Cougar Volleyball!!

One cool team... :-)

I'll tell you what, Tabitha can KILL that ball...

...seriously...

you don't want to stand in that ball's way!! :-)

Me passing!!

Me serving!!

"Calling all team captains..."

Team huddle

We played well..had fun...and we got to eat Dairy Queen ice cream! How much better can it get!?!?! :-)

Please continue to pray for me as I am still adjusting to the college work load...I'm TIRED!!!

Love you guys!

Oh yeah...BLOGGING....

Remember me?!?!?! I'm that person who used to post 2-3 times a week...I'm very sorry that I haven't posted in so long!

I have several good excuses for why I haven't been consistently posting and several not so good ones...the good ones are 1) our Internet has been down for several days and just started working today, and 2) COLLEGE involves a lot of WORK!

Wow...novel concept... :-)

I'd like to share several prayer requests along with several praises to God. I'll PTL first...

1) I love my Bible classes. I am taking two this semester, and both of them are challenging me spiritually. They "force" me to study God's Word regularly and from a different perspective than I have had in the past.

2) My music classes are definitely stretching me mentally; that's a good thing. I have two of these classes, and, well, let's just say that I'm honestly astounded that people actually sit down and think up all of this theory stuff!!! I'm also experiencing what it's like to be in a choir (GO ALTOS!) . I've never been a choir member before, and so far it's been challenging and fun.

3) I'm greatly enjoying my experience on the volleyball team thus far. We had our first game yesterday afternoon; we played in NC and were gone from 7am-12am!! **HUGE SKULL BUSTING YAWN** We lost, but we had a BLAST!! :-) We also played pretty well, considering it was our first game...

4) I am SOOO thankful that I am able to live at home during college! My parents are so helpful, and I honestly don't know what I'd do without them.

Now for some prayer requests.

1) Please pray that I will learn to use my time wisely and efficiently. I always get my work done on time, but I tend to procrastinate as much as possible. I also need to plan out my day so that I have time for QT...which I know is vital as I strive to grow in my spiritual walk.

2) Pray that I'd learn to control my emotions. I STRESS over a lot of stuff--everything from homework to volleyball to friendships--and I know that I MUST bring my emotions under Christ's control if I want to glorify God throughout these years in college (not to mention the rest of my life).

3) Please pray that I would be bold and that I would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as I experience situations which challenge me to stand alone. It is so hard!!! I think college is going to stretch me mentally, physically, and spiritually; it will force me to make choices between doing the "easy thing" and doing the "Hard Thing."

4) Please pray that I would have the attitude of John the Baptist: "He must increase and I must decrease." I am constantly tempted to zero in on myself and to forget that there are others around me who need encouragement and love. I have a responsibility to build up my brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter how I feel at any given point in time.

Thanks for being patient with me as try to fit blogging into my schedule. Hopefully I'll be able to post at least twice a week; however, it may be a week or two before I get into "the groove." Just know that I am NOT dumping this blog or the blogs of my friends...I love you guys and I love blogging...

Check Out This Oh-So-Challenging Article...

No Little People
by...or should I say "through"...Tim Sweetman

I found this link through the Rebelution website.

Here's a peek...

"...it's not about who we are in the public eye. It's about who God is. He works through us, and it's His grace alone that allows us to do anything, that brings meaning to the mundane. It was none of Moses' work that saved the Israelites. God received all the credit. I've found that when I put too much credit in 'big' people or 'small' people, I take away from God's fame and glory. "'God so used a stick of wood' can be a banner cry for each of us," wrote Francis Schaeffer. 'Though we are limited in talent, physical energy, and psychological strength, we are not less than a stick of wood. But as the rod of Moses had to become the rod of God, so that which is me must become the me of God. Then I can become useful in God's hands.'

I want to be a stick of wood. His stick of wood..."

To read the rest of this article, click on the link above...

The Rebelution Conference

I'm re-posting (is that even a word??) this video, since my family and I are attending the conference TOMORROW!!! YAY!! I'll post and let you know how it goes!

Below is a portion of one of the Rebelution blog's latest posts:

In the book Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin writes that “each of us has a battle raging within us over what we love most — God or something else.” He’s right. Worship is crucial, because every day there is a battle raging for our hearts. The enemy wants us to find our joy in the pleasures of sin and the distractions of this world. It’s vital that we fight back, for God makes it clear in His Word that if He doesn’t have our hearts, our outward service is wasted energy (Matthew 15:8-9).

To read the rest of this article...click here.

My Brother

OK, so I guess this is kind of a "Thankful Friday" post...because today I'm thankful for my brother! Caleb is 14 and a freshman in highschool. He loves soccer, Lego's (he currently owns a set that is comprised of over 3,000 pieces!), and computer games, and he also enjoys hanging out at the gymnasium where our dad works. He has a wonderful sense of humor; there is never a dull moment when he's around! He's wonderful with little kids and loves making people laugh. He has a sensitive heart that wants to do what is right, and we love him very much!
Here are some pics of my awesome bro...also known as "Ferd" (yes, there is a story behind that nickname... :-)!

The Goofy man himself.

Partners in Crime!

"Wow man...this is, like, a majorly big chair!"

A mama's boy...and proud of it, too!

Sis and Bro...

Bored in the car...

...very bored!

Love you, Caleb!! Thanks for being a great brother!

I Was Tagged!

I got tagged by Julia...so here it goes...

Who is your favorite author and why? Probably Elizabeth George. I've read several of her studies for teens, including "A Young Women After God's Own Heart," "A Young Women's Call to Prayer," and "A Young Women's Walk With God." I loved them all!! Not only are these books challenging, but they also talk about issues and concepts in a tactful, God-honoring way. As far as I can remember, they don't include any unnecessary or disturbing details (unfortunately, my mom and I have discovered that many Christian studies for teens do). If you want to check these books out, click here.

Who was your first favorite author and why? I really liked L.M Montgomery. I read several of the Anne of Green Gables book, as well as the Emily series, and I LOVED them all! Oh, and I loved Louisa May Alcott; I've read "Little Women", "Little Men", and...I think I read either "Old Fashioned Girl" or "Eight Cousins." I really liked Patricia Reilly Giff as well. She wrote "Pictures of Hollis Woods," "Nory Ryan's Song," "Maggie's Door," and many others. Her books are so interesting and are usually historical. "Nory Ryan's Song" and "Maggie's Door" took place during the Irish Potato famine and really fascinated me.

Oh yeah...I was supposed to list one author...

Who is the most recent addition to your favorite authors and why? Well, I haven't really read "Do Hard Things" yet, but I glanced through parts of it, and I already know that the Harris brothers are soon to be on my "Fave authors" list! They present such a powerful and unique message, both in their book (I've heard!) and on their blog.

OK, that was fun! Now...who shall be the next victims??? :-)

I tag Laney, Arya, Christine, Liz, and my mom.

Please check this out...

I'm attending the Rebelution conference with my family this summer, and I am so excited about it! The Harris brothers have done so much to impact Christian teens for God's glory!


SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

Fun With Friends...

We've had a lot of fun hangin' with Arya, Christine, and their family!

Christine feeding the geese at the park...


The swing set is awesome!




We decorated these slides that we got at the craft store...aren't they cute? Oh yeah...that's my brother's sock...he felt left out! :-)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends are so much fun!
If you want to meet Arya and Christine, you can find the links to their blogs on my sidebar!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

We're Back!!

Vacation in Florida was wonderful! Here are some pics...

The World's Tallest Man at Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum.

We went mini golfing...

Dad went on this roller coaster at Sea World...he's at the end of the middle row in the white shirt.

Bored in the car...very bored!! :-)

The dolphin and whale show at Sea World. It was AWESOME!!

I GOT MY PICTURE TAKEN WITH PRINCE CASPIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

My Graduation Party...

It was awesome! We thought the rain would keep us from being outside, but the sun came out just in time for the party start, and then left again right after the party ended! YAY!
Anyway, here are some pics...

Some friends from church helped us set up early...thanks guys!

My grandma made the cake...isn't it gorgeous? It tasted pretty good too!

I had so much fun! I'm so thankful for all of my family and friends and for the support they showed me on Saturday!
YESSS! I'VE GRADUATED!!!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

Thank You Lord for Friends!!

I know it's not Thankful Thursday yet, but I wanted to thank God for my friends Arya and Christine. They just moved to the area, and we spent the whole day helping them and their family move into their new home. We had so much fun unpacking, laughing, talking, playing the piano, and just having fellowship. Isn't it awesome that we have brothers and sisters to hang with? God is so gracious! Arya and Elizabeth are two godly, wonderful young women, and they are such encouragements to me! We've known each other since we were babies, and I'm so excited that they are officially "local friends" now!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA

My kitty...

LEO!! Isn't he handsome??

Showing off his new tie...

Lounging on his sister's socks...

Studying history...

Taking a nap...

ISN'T HE CUTE!?!?!?!

SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA