Photo Shoot

Sorry for the lack of posts. I am writing papers and reading like crazy right now. I love the paper I am working on now over mortification of sin. Until I can write a real blog here are some engagement pictures that I took this weekend for some friends. I am pretty excited about how they turned out!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Vessel of Mercy, Compelled by Compassion

It has been my ultimate prayer recently that the Lord would find me as a faithful servant. In seeking my heart and finding areas where I am sluggard I have been pleading with the Lord to sanctify me with His grace and use me for his mercy. I have found myself praying for opportunities to minister to the lost and bring a message of hope to the hopeless. Daily the Lord has presented opportunities that have broken my heart for the afflicted in each circumstance. The situations that have taken place these past few months have brought me to an utter dependence on the One True God who is sovereign and compassionate. There are many dear to me who are hurting. It is my prayer that in whatever trial that we find ourselves in that we would seek the God who knows us intimately, who created, who is just, who is righteous, who redeems our life from the pit and through Christ's death and resurrection He has conquered the death that sin brought and gives hope beyond this life. This life is a mere mist, like the grass that withers in the winter's cold. I have seen a lot of withering lately. I have also seen a lot of fighting for life...I guess I wonder though, do I fight more for this life that proves to be temporal or for the Life in Christ that is true to be eternal? I pray that God would continue to give me a broken and contrite heart compelled to die to myself and live to glorify the Creator/Redeemer/Savior/Prince of Peace/Sustainer, etc...There is hope beyond the pain of this world. May I be a vessel of God's mercy and compelled with compassion for those who do not know this hope.
Please pray for:
-My grandmother- her brain is no longer bleeding, but the seizures have taken a toll on her. It's been rough on the fam since my grandfather just died and had similar problems.
-My dad- He leaves today for California. He just had heart surgery last week and is doing well.
-A dear family members mother who has lymphoma.
-Tyler and Melissa who miscarried after 22 weeks of pregnancy.
-A very close friend who just received news that she has cancer on her thyroid.
-And for the family of Doris (sweet old lady that I became fond of who died yesterday)

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prayer Requests

This blog is short and I do apologize, but I need to get some reading done...in the mean time please pray:
I found out today that a very good friend is having a biopsy tomorrow. They found some masses on her thyroid and are concerned it is cancerous. Please pray for her (not sure if she would want her name disclosed yet). Then this evening my dad called and my grandmother (the one in Cali who's husband just died during the Christmas break) fell and the assisted living people found her by her bed. They are not sure how long she had been there. Her brain is bleeding and also her abdomen. She is in ICU and is pretty weak. I will update when I know more. Thanks in advance.

Car blah

A few weeks ago my car was acting up and the Lord was gracious to provide a trustworthy mechanic to do a tune up and change my spark plugs for a very reasonable price. Soon after my car started having problems again, so once again I took my car and this time the news was a little bit harder to swallow. He initially thought it was the fuel pump and replaced it, yet he never thought to look at the engine since I merely have 95,000 miles on my car. He found oil in the vacuum of the engine where this is not supposed to be any oil. The conclusion...my engine is entering a slow death. It seems the only way to fix this problem is to eventually rebuild the engine or...dundundun, get a new/used car. He felt like it will run for quite a while, but just not well. So, I am not opposed to prayer. More importantly...I ask that you pray for my cousin's mother-in-law who just found out that she has lymphoma and for the health of my dad. I rejoice in serving a good and gracious God. May I continue to trust in His good and faithful will.

My Little Valentines

I had quite the surprise when the boys I am a Nanny for came over to give me tulips and a card they had made for me. Valentines Day isn't too bad afterall when you have these little guys around. Thank you August and Charlie (My Little Valentines).

Semester Two

As most of you know our first week of classes at Southern were cancelled due to an ice storm. I was so thankful that our electricity was stable throughout the storm. Classes started this week and boy do I have my work cut out for me....And I thought last semester's books stacked high.

I consider myself blessed and the Lord has lavished His grace on me to provide for my schooling and to have me in this institution. The work ahead of me is plentiful, yet I pray that it will make me more useful and fruitful in this lifetime.

One book that I read this week was "The Enemy Within" by Kris Lundgaard. I really appreciated this book and the self-examination that was encouraged as I read. I recommend that you all read it and suggest that it could be a great bible study. Mere suggestions.

Grace and Peace be with you all!

You Must Suffer- Sermon by John Piper

Bonnie Huckabee sent this video to me on Facebook and in her words I truly agree that "this sermon is powerful!" It is well worth your ten minutes. You Must Suffer- click link

It's a Beautiful Mornin'

Last night I received news that Ryan and Sarah Bebee were heading to the hospital because her contractions were getting stronger. At 6:00 this morning I received a picture text of a beautiful baby girl named Brooklynn Grace Bebee. The labor and delivery went unexpectedly fast and due to the treacherous weather conditions we were a bit delayed in getting to the hospital. Thanks to Michael and his fantastic truck we were able to rejoice with the Bebees in person and see the new bundle. Here are pics from the beautiful snow and beautiful Brooklynn Bebee. Congrats again Ryan and Sarah! We do love you guys.

Texas D-Now, California funerals...Gee it's good to be home in Kentucky!

On Thursday January 15th, I along with 9 other folks from Kentucky loaded on a plane and headed to Eldorado, Texas. Our mission was to teach the good news of Jesus Christ and the theme of the weekend was Spiritual Warfare. We knew going into the weekend that we were putting ourselves on the frontline of the battle ground with the theme that was chosen. What i didn't expect was a phone call on Friday night before the basketball games that informed me that my grandfather Raymond A. Booth had died. I had my moment, yet I also felt an urgency like none other to share the gospel with these kids. What Satan may have wanted to use to distract me was used for God's glory. Along with the news that my grandfather had died was the new that my cousin Priscilla Sanders had also died due to a battle with cancer. You can go here to see the tribute her husband made for her and the honorable and inspirational life she lead.

The Scripture that hit me at the game on Friday night was Luke 9:59-60:

To another he said, "Follow me."

But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead.

But as for you, GO and PROCLAIM

THE KINGDOM OF GOD."

Through prayer and grace the Lord gave everyone one of us the strength to go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Each one of the preachers (Jason, Eron, Dustin and Blake) that weekend gave a word that was powerful. I am so thankful that the Lord has given us eachother to build one another up, to pray for one another, to exhort and encourage one another in the truth that through one heart, one mind and one Spirit we can go forth in boldness and love and proclaim the truth of the gospel to the town of Eldorado. Please continue to pray for these youth and for Shea and Sylas (the youth minister and his wife).

Sunday we boarded the planes once again and I received news that my grandmother had passed out and was in the hospital. This prompted me to find tickets to California and rush by my families side. We arrived Sunday night in Louisville and by 2:00 Monday afternoon I was back in the airports once again. Monday was Priscilla's funeral, and the days to follow were filled with funeral plans in loving memory of my grandfather. Due to the fact that my grandparents had just moved to Orange County there was no church family or anyone to help with the arrangements. I can now add funeral planner to my resume though. The service was Friday and was very nice. Family members from all over California came in and afterwards we gathered for an after-party and sang around the piano for hours.

Needless to say...it has been a week. Thank you all so much for your prayers. I am undeserved of the grace of God that has brought the friends and family that I have in my life. Thank you so much for mourning with me and encouraging me. Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior who gives and takes away. Truly His lot for me is good.

Speaking of good...it is good to be home in Kentucky. I have lived out of a suitcase for 4 weeks out of this 6 week break from school. It is time for that break to be over as I start a new semester on Monday. By the way....3 A's and 1 B....makes a 3.7 for my first semester's GPA!!!

I love you all!!!

I have needed to update since I returned from Texas and have been busy to say the least. My trip was great and the time with loved ones was wonderful. I love Texas and always will and yet I am glad to be back in my new home Kentucky. I went to Fort Worth, Houston, San Angelo and Dallas and did anything from sneeking on rooftops to the stomach bug. The time was delightful and I am almost fully recovered from the amounts of food and the sleep deprivation that took place. Another update to come soon I am sure...Until then here are some pictures.

Coming Home

"I'll be home for Christmas"

Well this post is to inform you all where I will be and when I will be where.

Please give me a call if you want to get together. I don't want to miss seeing my dearly beloved due to lack of contact. I can't wait to see ya'll.

Thursday, December 18th: Fly to Fort Worth and stay with Kasey that night.

Friday, December 19th: Meet Cousin Chad and drive to Houston late that evening.

December 19th-22nd: Humphrey family Christmas

Monday, December 22nd: Ride back to San Angelo

December 22nd-Jan 2nd: In San Angelo

January 2nd: Ride with Dalgliesh's to Fort Worth

January 4th: Fly back to Louisville.

Tis' the Season For Ugly Sweaters

As most of you know, as of 2:30 on Friday afternoon, I completed my first semester of my pursuit for a Masters of Arts in Biblical Counseling at Southern Seminary! And, what better way to celebrate than with dear friends...

U-G-L-Y...You ain't got no alibi,

your ugly yeah yeah your ugly

I am not sure if any of you remember that horrible, unedifying chant from when we were in school in the yonder years and less that mature. It seems appropriate to pull it out and dedicate it to the sweaters for this occasion. Let me make that clear...it is dedicated to the sweaters...the people in the sweaters are ridiculously good looking.

So, needless to say, what do you get when you put together: wassail, snacks, Christmas decorations, Mad Gab, Taboo, $1 gift items for a white elephant gift exchange, and beautiful friends dressed in horrible, repugnant, hideous, ugly sweaters....well, see for yourself....

A JOLLY GOOD TIME!

I would also like to take the time and thank the Free Store on campus that made this party possible. Without the donations of these horrendous sweaters the smiles may have not been as big nor the pictures so wretched. So thank YOU free store!

Deck the Halls of the Eyrie

On December 1st, here in Louisville, we had 3 snow falls and the roomies and I got together, made dinner, played the classic Christmas music, put up Christmas decorations, arranged some furniture and ended the evening with coffee (decaf) and the movie Elf. It was a fun time and needless to say things got a little out of hand (Sarah! haha)

TADA! next post....'Tis the Season for Ugly Sweaters'

A Texas Thanksgiving in Louisville

I am pretty sure I can confidently say that fun was had by all, and this Thanksgiving was a hit. Friends and food arrived at my place at 1:00.

We gathered around and shared what we were thankful for, prayed and then the devouring began.

The food was phenomenal and the fellowship was sweet. After we ate the clean up was fast and easy (Praise the Lord for dishwashers). The girls went for a walk by the river and reservoir while the boys watched football. Upon our return I set up a coffee bar and we partook in the delicious desserts.

The final element that made the evening that much sweeter was the laughter that filled my home from the game Boxers or Briefs.

The guests left at 9:00 and I retreated to my destination for the next few days. So...here I sit..reminiscing by the fire of this beautiful home that I am house sitting at...could this day have been better?

All praise, honor and glory be to the God that saved me, sanctifies me and has been ever so gracious to me. Truly I am blessed.

I have a blog?

Of course I know that I have a blog, yet the number of recent posts would prove otherwise. I do apologize to those of you who take thirty seconds to click on my blog only to realize that it is the same ol' same ol'.

School has been great and time consuming. I have written 8 small papers, 2 big research papers and 2 big projects since the last post. One of those research papers took me 23 hours total to complete. I have also continued the great amount of reading required for each course. I can say assuredly that I am thankful for the Lord's provision and plan of bringing me here. Although it can be overwhelming at times, since there are huge concepts being thrown at me in short periods of time, the nuggets of truth my mind can grasp have been ever so sweet. I am thankful for the Professors at Southern and for the Lord that has gifted each of them with such wisdom and knowledge to equip us all.

The Lord has been teaching me a lot about being faithful. There is so much to be said in that one little word. More than anything I am praying that the Lord would continue to grace me with faithfulness not only during my time here at Southern, but in all that I do. May I be a faithful daughter of the King first and foremost. In all that I do it should be for the glory of God and my enjoyment in Him. May I be a faithful friend that is willing to serve, love, rebuke, edify and be true to my word. May I be a faithful student, not only at Southern once again, yet in all my relationships. There are so many thing to learn rather it be from the kids I care for or my almost 90 year old grandmother. I could continue, but I must wrap this e-mail up to be faithful with my time. Haha.

I want to give thanks to the Lord for bringing me here and surrounding me with such incredible people. Though home and the relationships there will be hard to be so distant from at times, I can truly say that I love this place.

Future post to look forward to:

-The Texas Thanksgiving in Louisville

-Deck the Halls of the Eyrie

-Tis' the Season for Ugly Sweaters

I ask that you pray for me as I study for finals that will take place December 1st-5th. Pray that I would retain the material well, not merely for the test but for the glory of God for the years ahead of me.

"What just happened?"

I have to tell you that i had the oddest experience on campus today. My roomies boy friend is a music student at Southern and for one of his classes he has to teach personal voice lessons. Needless to say he talked me into being his voice student. Today was the final lesson that took place in front of his class. The beginning went well and I felt pretty comfortable. He had warned me that his prof's practices are crazy and she tends to touch people quite a bit. In the middle of the lesson she approached me and suddenly started prompting me, "Are you ready, ready! Go UT, ready to sing..." as she was touching me and then she went to the piano and told me to start singing...I did as she said and then she said, "ignore me" as she proceeded to stand up, grap my hand and frolic around the room pulling me along with her shouting, "Sing, Sing!" I looked at Brennan and he was horrified. There I was...running around the room behind this professor singing in front of the whole class. Oh, my! Thoughts? Comments? I am just trying to figure out...what just happened?

The Serenity of Fall

Since my last post I have had my first mid-terms, my first canoe trip (in Kentucky at least), my first fall season filled with colors and my first visitor. Time here proves to stay consistently busy and very sweet. I have been homesick at times and have discovered the distancy of distance. Though at times home seems to me to be distant and a memory, the Lord is continuing to be so faithful in establishing a sweet community of friends and familiarity here.

On my way to work I pass a pond. Next to the pond is a Weeping Willow that sets the whimsical stage and framing the pond are trees dressed in their fall colors. The air has a crisp feel to it and yet is not uncomfortably cold. Beyond the pond I drive down a road whose trees arch over as if to create a tunnel of divine nature. The view is stunning and I pray that I never forget to praise God for the beauty of his creation and for His provision in bringing me here. Though the scene is a delight to the eyes, may I be delighted in God as exemplified in the story of George Muller's life.

When it comes to studies (such as George Muller) and mid-terms I can't help but think about what Dr. Stuart Scott stated in class that "I was not commanded by God to come to Seminary in the Scriptures and my A will not impress the Lord. I was, however, commanded to love the Lord, love others, etc..." I am continually realizing that I cannot perform to please God or even others at that. The important thing during my time of equipping here is that I am sanctified and that I would be able to be a tool to teach and disciple others for years to come. As you can see in the picture above the books can seem overwhelming. Yet the things I learn are to benefit others and glorify God. At the point I loose this mindset and begin to worry about grades over the education, I will have then missed the purpose of my being here. David Platt questioned whether we were training to be receivers or reproducers. There are applications and truths that I am learning, yet I should never keep them to myself. I pray that the things I am learning here would overflow in my speech for the edification of those around me for the Lord's namesake. The more I am learning in my study of God (theology), the more I am learning about myself and others. I am left with the truths discovered and my heart to be searched and sought by the Holy Spirit.

I have also be so blessed recently by a taste of home through a visit with Shea Polite. Our time has been precious to me and so edifying. Her hunger for God and her personal discipline has left me encouraged and spurred on. Tomorrow we take her to the airport and it is going to take everything for me to not want to climb on the plane to see my dearly beloved in Texas. I do look forward to that trip during Christmas break though. Until then, fall break for me dwindles. It is time to hit the books and start retaining and writing again. I am still in the midst of a church search. In the midst of this search I have gained such a love and appreciation for the church and have had narrowed my choices. Thank you for your prayers in the midst. I cannot proclaim my love for you all enough. Please continue to keep me updated on your lives and prayer requests.

I love you all and until next time...grace and peace.

IKE!

Hurricane Ikes winds caused considerable amounts of damage around the Louisville city and suburbs, and were the cause of lost power for over 340,000 customers. My friend Blake White posted these pictures from his friend. Click here to see Ike destruction in Louisville, KY.

I survived the storm

I write to you today with electricity. That is a big statement here in Louisville. On Sunday we experienced Hurricane Force Winds from Ike. There are trees down on most streets and the power is out in more that 70% of the town. It has been wild at grocery stores and gas stations. I am learning to be thankful for the little things like hot water and electricity. It is humbling to know all that we have and how little so many others have elsewhere. I have found myself complaining about taking a cold shower and realize just how comfortable I am here. I am glad that the Lord takes away comforts for us to be glad in Him alone. The seminary has been shut down throughout the entire week which means that I pick up more hours at work and convince myself to stop procrastinating and start catching up on school work.

Many are asking how my time here has been and how school has been going. Well, in short, my time here is great and school is enlightening. Haha. Ok, so really...I am so thankful for my friends here. They have been great! Not only am I blessed by my Texas friends, but I am so thankful for the others that are coming into my life. For instance, Corrie Ann has been a doll since day 3. I cannot thank the Lord enough for the encouragement and spirring on that I have received. I am challenged daily by the lives of these people. As for school...fantastic. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I like the writing much, but if that keeps me under the teaching of this great institution, then I will gladly write.

Now, in reguards to work, the boy have been great for the most part (hey, we all have our moments). Today we went to the Zoo and Q'Dobas and they learned how to wink. It was so precious. I can say that these two boys have also taught me so much thus far. August is in this inquisitive stage and every other sentence out of his mouth is a question. There have been occasions where I have been able to share the gospel with him, but overall he is teaching me to think upon things. There is a sweetness in seeking and knowing and I am gaining a thankfulness for the position I am in to seek and know the Creator and Redeemer during my time at Southern and forevermore.

I know this is a short update and hope to update soon. I will leave you with this ....

The Bebee's and friends came over for the great reveal:

Is it a boy or girl?

It's a GIRL! Congrats Bebees!