PIcture Udate

Some big things happened in the past few months starting with this:

The launch of citychurch in Jonesboro! Keep praying!!!

Then on night these two showed up at my door with this RING!

My sister, Mollie and her boyfriend, Chris got ENGAGED!!!  June 11, 2011 is the tentative date!!

I had a FIRST at Thanksgiving this year.  Oliver and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house!

And speaking of animals, Aerostar was brought into our family

Aerostar (like the van) is a black bear hamster, she makes me a little weirded out, but it's not the first time someone in my family has done that to me!  No really, I love everyone in my family, weird or not weird.

Mr Brumley (Oliver Brumley) celebrated his very FIRST Christmas!!

And this handsome guy is 10 weeks old TODAY!!!

 This is Mr. Jack Sullivan (Jeremy and Kerrie Sullivan's Son...our pastor)  - we waited a long time for his arrival and it is so much fun being a part of his life! He is going to grow up thinking he has 20 aunts and uncles from our church, we all love him so much and just claim him as our own!! I am so excited to watch him grow up in a Christ-centered home and just love and serve our King Jesus!

So this is what's been going on in photo form...I am hoping to have many more pics up on here soon!  Have a great day!!

-Cassie

pre-passion

Hey everyone! By everyone I mean the 2 of you that may or may not read my blog, ha! I just want to put it out there…..I’m so excited about passion!!  Christmas was okay and I am defiantly enjoying my time off from work but what I’ve been most looking forward to is PASSION!  We leave out on Saturday morning around 3 or 4, no one is very excited about that, honestly.  But we travel to Atlanta to meet with God and to ignite change in our lives. There are 10 of us going and I’m so excited to grow closer to my friends on this trip.  To be honest, I kind of feel like I’m the old one going…well I guess that’s because I AM the old one going, but I don’t really care, it’s going to be incredible.

So, my challenge is to spend as little money as possible on this trip, seriously as LITTLE as possible.  This does not include hotel or gas or registration, which is taken care of already and cost a pretty penny.  The cost is going to be food.  I am hoping to spend less than $10 for the entire trip…I know that is crazy but I’m pretty broke and I am trying to loose weight so I really don’t need to be eating out.  So, my plan is to stop at a wal-mart or publix and get some food that can be kept in a fridge and brown bag our meals.  I may do some sort of breakfast bar in the mornings or something.  I am already bringing my low-fat/low-point snack food so I’m hoping this will not be too hard.  I’ll be blogging while I’m there about the conference and also about the food $, it’s silly but I love a challenge! 

If you have any suggestions, post a comment, I would love to hear them!! 

-on a side note, my pastor, Jeremy Sullivan is coming up with his top 9/10 memories from 2009 and I am trying to think of mine as well.  Do you have any? 

facebook

so i just had to share this quickly before i head to bed.  i am having my 6th graders create facebook profiles for W.A. Mozart!! they are actually drawing them out on huge pieces of butcher paper.  one boy said today, "ms. black, this is the coolest thing i've ever done in school!!"  that was probably untrue but it was so good to hear!

it just kind of made my day so i wanted to share, again.   whew, no blogging in months and then 2 in one day...something must be up!

missing out

     So, tonight I find myself at home for the 2^nd night in a row.  This is extremely unusual for me and I have almost been bored at times.  Tonight I turned to a Bible Study and God spoke so clearly to me through His Word.  I am thinking I need more “free” time.  Not just, waiting to go somewhere or to get something done time.  But FREE,  totally FREE time where I can be in the Word without the thought of, “I’m going to be late” or “I’m so tired”.  I love when He stops my life to have relationship with Him.

     I have missed my Heavenly Dad.  I have missed being in His Word in an every-day way.  I have missed His Spirit speaking through me and bringing Scripture to my mind throughout my day.  I missed Him.  And not only did I miss him in a, I-have-not-spent-time-with-Him way but in a, I-have-missed-OUT-on Him way.  Confusing?  Let me explain.  I was presented with a, “Love my enemy” situation today and instead of loving this person, I talked about them.  And I talk about them to someone I have been trying to show a lot of love to, God’s love.  I, honestly, didn’t think anything about it.  I felt justified in someway to be sharing my frustrations about another person to my friend.  I got home and was without any distractions and God led me to Romans 12.  I’m just going to cut and paste the entire passage in here. Take a minute and read with me. 

1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters,^[a^] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.^[b^] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 3 Because of the privilege and authority^[c^] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,^[e^] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.^[f^] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,  “I will take revenge;
 I will pay them back,”  says the Lord.  20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”  21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

I skipped some in the middle bc these were the verses that were dealing with me and how I missed OUT on Him in that situation.  I don’t want to miss out tomorrow, I want to be active and IN on what He is doing in and around me.  I want to STRIVE to please Him and to show His love to the women I work with and the students I am allowed to teach.  To be diligent in my service to my Heavenly Dad, to be a “pleasing aroma to Him”.  I encourage you to get in the Word. Even if you have NEVER read the Bible before, try it out and see how it goes.  The Lord never fails me (or anyone else for that matter) and His Word is so alive and active.  I am thankful there is no limit to it.  Like, if I haven’t read in 3 days, I have to put in 3 days before God speaks to me.  FALSE!  He speaks to me EVERY time I am reading.  Even if I don’t recognize it at the time “His word never comes back void”.

Thank you Lord for the time to read and reflect on Your Word.  Please don’t stop speaking to me and working in me?!

Quick Thought

Just a quick thought.  Emmanuel (Immanuel, how do you know how to spell it?) = GOD WITH US!! How amazing...seriously. Just let that sink in GOD with US!! With ME, IN me, and THROUGH me.  

Let this change you this week as you wake up in the mornings and live throughout the day.  God, in His glory and splendor, chose to come and dwell not just among us but IN our skin.  And He still choses to live IN his children. 



Bring on Christmas.



Cassie

livin' for the weekend

It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Jonesboro and I just thought I’d share about my weekend.  I had no initial plans for the weekend other than having band practice and it has been surprisingly great!  Yesterday I woke up and took it easy while enjoying a little Saturday Morning Kids programming provided by Hannah Montana and That’s So Raven.  I promise I am 26, not 11 but we only get channel 8 and as soon as I turned it on I remembered why I would watch these shows when I was younger.  They suck you IN! You start watching, knowing full well that you are a grown-up and this show is so ridiculous with it’s gross pranks and “in studio (fake)” audience, but somehow you find yourself unable to turn it off.  I think the producers of these shows and others like them have some sort of subliminal messaging that makes you addicted to “The Suite Life” the second you start watching.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I WILL NOT Be watching these shows anytime soon but I could not turn away once I started watching.  I was a little embarrassed about my TV choices so this is the first time I’ve mentioned it.  And since only about 3 people read my blog, I’m pretty sure I’m safe.  When “I returned to regularly scheduled programming” Pip and I went to Office Depot, Lunch, Hobby Lobby, and Wal-Mart.  Since we didn’t have any plans we just took our time and probably spent too much money on things we don’t need, but all-in-all, it was a nice little trip.  I came home, did a little clean up and headed to Jeremy and Kerrie’s.  We had a chili-dog supper and had band practice in a real garage!! I have always wanted to play in a garage!! It was so nice out there, and amazingly you could hear us inside the house! So, the citychurch band has a new spot and we will be meeting us there on Wednesday nights.  Today was citychurch and it was so good.  We had 5 first time visitors, I feel so dorky saying “first time visitors” but it’s true so I’m saying it!  It’s so exciting when people come and are a part of our little group!  I’m just hoping they’ll come back!  We talked about all the characteristics of Jesus in John 1:35-end. Want the highlights? OKAY!

Our Pastor Jeremy Sullivan taught today, not on the “Calling of the Disciples” like we’ve heard all of our lives, but instead pointed out How Jesus Relates to Me. Oh yeah, and we had a 12 point message, but it didn’t feel that way (secretly…thank goodness) So, 12 ways Jesus Relates to Me:

1.He comes as our sin remover

2.He comes after our hearts

3.He invites us to see

4.He invites us to be where He is

5.He comes as the Anointed One

6.He comes as the Only One who can change our identity

7.He calls us to follow Him

8.He has authority over us

9.He comes to fulfill the scriptures

10.He knows us inside and out

11.He stands between Heaven and Earth

12. Following Christ is not heroic.

Jeremy went into each one of these points and really pointed out some good things I have never thought about before. If you want to hear the whole message visit our website under media – sermons.  www.citychurchjonesboro.com

After church we ate at Shorty Smalls and enjoyed some lively conversation filled with talk of male cheerleading and ringtones. We missed those of you who were not with us.  Then took a little trip around Bed Bath and Beyond.  I found what I want for Christmas….a Sharper Image Shiatsu Massage Chair Thing (that’s the official name…well, kind of) it goes in a chair and it’s amazing, I was yelled at because I just wanted to sit in that chair for the remainder of the Bed Bath and Beyond experience but I’m glad I didn’t because Mollie found me a great thing.  It is a coffee thermos but it looks like a disposable coffee cup, I LOVE it!! I can’t wait to put coffee or hot chocolate in it tomorrow!!! I’ll let you know how it goes.  Then it was to my friend Sherry’s house for some hot tea and home for a 2-hour nap! I’m about to dive into a mid-level fiction book on the back porch with a hot drink, blanket and a puppy named Oliver.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend, thanks for tagging along for the ride about mine!

i'm falling for you

Fall is my absolute FAVORITE time of year.  It’s so beautiful outside with the leaves changing colors and the weather is PERFECT.  Well, that’s how it’s supposed to be but this year it’s as if we’ve jumped from summer heat to winter! Are you kidding?? I’m thinking it’s going to be a long, cold winter.  I really love this time though.  Yesterday at citychurch we had a membership luncheon (which reminds me, Jeremy I have money for you for that).  After the lunch I was taking my friend Sherry home to her apartment and we started talking about Christmas.  Sherry is from China and was asking all kinds of questions about our holiday.  I told her everything from the tree to the lights on the house.  Somewhere in the middle of that conversation I got SO excited about Christmas!! I am about ready to get a tree! Last year I was so down during Christmas, I think life was just kind of rough this time last year and I was not at all ready to celebrate. But this year I feel like I’m in a time of harvest and I am ready to celebrate.  Plus this is Oliver’s first Christmas! Anyone know where I could get a puppy shirt that I could get “Oliver’s first Christmas” on it? I am just so excited to see what God has in store for this season, where we will get the chance to serve the people of Jonesboro and just how much fun we’ll be able to have!! 

Have a great week and start getting excited, Christmas is just around the corner…well after we round the Halloween and Thanksgiving corners. 

Cassie

new blog

I have created a blog specifically for prayer requests, go check it out!

http://cassie-prayerchangesthings.blogspot.com

mama said there'd be days like this

I had my very first “mommy” moment yesterday.  Oliver, my sweet puppy, was very sick when I got home from citychurch. He had thrown up in his crate an unbelievable amount, it was really gross.  I thought it was just a one-time thing so I gave him a bath.  Then he began to throw up every 5 to 10 minutes.  Seriously, it was scary. I know he is a dog and I shouldn’t be like that but first, I’ve never had a dog and second, he’s my ollie-bear! So an hour into the whole ordeal and I called the vet.  He said to come in at 6 if he was still doing it. Well, he was so I took him in, they gave him a shot some meds and also found that he had an eye infection.  I was not so pleased with my whole experience there.  I am guessing the lady at the counter was pretty irritated about having to be there on a Sunday so she took it out on all of us…blah. Then Oliver threw up in the office and I had to clean it up, so gross.  THEN to top it all off it was $155!!! I really felt like saying, “are you kidding me?” but I didn’t.  So that was it, he’s been fine ever since, just super loving, which is fine by me! 

If you’re wondering how citychurch is going I’ll tell you: it’s AWESOME!!  We are meeting at the convo next week and I am so ready for that. It’s a smaller venue (about 200 seats) and I think it will be more “us”. I am also excited about getting to meet more peope. I can’t wait to see people come to know the Lord, I am so ready for that day. If you read this, please pray for our church, may God love the people of Jonesboro THROUGH us!

Question time. I need something to eat for lunch.  Tonight I bought some soup but that will get old really fast. I need something I can just bring and will be good. Got any ideas?  Please share!

Have a great day!

thinking about eyes and music

This morning I woke up to my left eye burning so badly when I tried to put in my contact. I thought I had something in there; I had to wash it out then put the contact back in. I never thought anything else about it.  Then this afternoon I was washing my hands and I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed how red my eye was but only in one spot. Since then, it’s only gotten worse.  I heard that if you have pink eye you’re not supposed to go to school…I don’t know if this is a “real” rule or not so I’m going in the morning. If it gets worse I’ll head to urgent care to check it out. Blah, pink eye…

I LOVE the internet! Just thought I’d throw that out there.  I absolutely LOVE how you can connect with things from all over the world! One of my favorite things is podcasts.  I listen to a few on a weekly/bi-monthly basis.  One is Elevation Church in North Carolina. www.elevationchurch.com God is doing absolutely AMAZING things though that church.  Their worship team is so on the ball, they post their songs and chord charts, etc.  So tonight I’ve been doing a little researching of new worship music.  I have a lot of ideas for the coming weeks. Oh, if you don’t know me, I am currently leading worship at citychurch.  I was really resistant at first but God is working through me and I am loving it.  It is not a permanent gig, but I love helping any way I can with citychurch.  I am seriously praying that no one will see me but will get to a place of abandonment worship, where there is no one but them and our God!

Here are a few possibilities for this week:

Cannon – Phil Wickham

Great is the Lord – Elevation Worship

Salvation is Here – Hillsong United

I’m so excited about this weekend. Wanna know the schedule? OK!

·      Tour of Classrooms with my teacher friends Debbie, Julie, and Hannah – amazing teachers and women of God.

·      Jibs Sullivan’s baby shower (his real name will be Jack – to the rest of the world)

·      ASU vs. TROY Tailgate and football game!!!

·      Band Practice and citychurch set up

·      CITYCHURCH Sunday morning

·      REST, REST, REST, REST!

I have been really convicted about being so busy with grad school on Sunday’s I’m going to work really hard tomorrow afternoon to get it all done so Sunday can truly be a day of worship and rest!

I know my blog is so random, if you read, thanks for following me. If you  know me you know that’s how I am too…I can never have just ONE story or thought going!  Have a lovely Thursday!  For Brookland Middle School it is “jeans and jerseys” Thursdays…I LOVE IT! 

God Bless!!

*cb

i heart books

I am really excited about a few things in my life right now.  Specifically, two things. 

 First is a new Bible study called, "Can we Talk?" it is by Pricilla Shirer.  She is one of my new favorites and I am so glad she has this study out. It is a book that facilitates discussions with God. She is not telling me what to think and giving it all to me but she is posing a format for digging into the Bible.  I am beginning in the morning and am so looking forward to it.  

My second exciting thing is, my FAVORITE book of all time was 1/2 off at LifeWay this weekend!  It is called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I read it about 6 years ago and fell completely in love with MY love story.  It's a story of continued redemption by my Savior.  If you've never read it go get it, you won't regret it!

  

I would just like to share that I am so behind in my classroom it's not even funny! I wish I could somehow get a ton of sleep tonight and still get up super early and get everything done that needs to get done in the morning...oh well.  I am currently in grad school at ASU (Arkansas State University) and it's all online.  I thought that would be easier until I remembered how much of a procrastinator I am, so Sunday has no longer been a day of rest but it has really been a day of homework.  This week, I will be working hard to make Sunday a restful day void of any homework.  

During my Bible study in the morning, I would love to be praying for anything that needs prayer.  If you are needing someone to pray for you, I would love to help! Just leave a comment. 

Have a great Monday!

time to get serious

I'm back! It's been a LONG journey of computer issues and I am currently typing on my computer that I will have for the next 50 years. I love the MacBook Pro, but I could have purchased 3 Oliver's (my yorkie) for the price of this one laptop. I thought about going back and recapping my entire Summer but I just can't. I am not very good at remembering things and presenting them in the way that would capture other's attention and also, I am living in the now and want to share some things about now.

So, school is going on and I am loving it so much more now. I think it is becuase I am now teaching in the mornings. Before (the past 1 &1/2 years) I taught starting after lunch till the end of the day. One might think that is great but to be at school at 7:45 and not have your kids in your room until after lunch is torture. I actually feel like I get SO much done this year and I honestly just feel like a better teacher all around. I teach middle school (4-6 grade) music. To be honest, it's not my dream job. I never wanted to be a teacher but God led me here and I fell in love with Jr. High during my internship. Then I got this job 3 days before I graduated from college and I'm teaching "kids" now. At first I really didn't like it but this year I am really taking pride in my students and what they are learning. I somehow feel that God is really teaching through me. I am so thankful for my teacher friends, those who I actually teach "with" and those just in the teaching community. Two of my friends who teach in my hall are Carol and Marinda. Marinda is 10 years older than me and Carol is 20 years older than me but God has ordained our relationship! They are my mentors, my "gripe session listeners", and my encouragers. We meet in my classroom every morning at 7:30 to pray for the ladies on our hall and for anything and everything else in our lives. It has been so refreshing to begin the day physically with others in prayer. It's amazing how much I want to be at school in the mornings to pray with them, even when it's so hard to get out of bed. If you are a praying person, I encourage you to find someone else who prays and pray together. "Two are better than one", it's true!

I've not ever posted pictures on here, mainly bc my camera was stolen at school but I have taken a few of my precious pup, Oliver, with my computer. So, here he is!

This is one of his favorite spots, here he is all cuddled up.

And here's where he is REALLY sleeping, all sprawled out!

Isn't he precious? Seriously, I never believed that a person could really love a dog...and here I am, loving my little Ollie-bear! Oh, and by the way, I have now had my camera, my ipod, and my jump drive stolen from school. My ipod and jump drive stolen in the past 3 weeks by the cleaning crew. I had a TON of North Point and Elevation Church podcasts on there, I really hope they listen and my little ipod is used to bring the Gospel of Jesus into the lives of people.

Alright, one more thing. CITYCHURCH HAS LAUNCHED!!! I can't beleive we are actually going to be meeting again this Sunday! We have been praying for over a year about God starting a church through us for the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas and we really launched last week. I am so excited about the things the Lord is doing and is going to do through citychurch. If you want to check us out go to, www.citychurchjonesboro.com. More to come!

This picture is the front of our invite cards, Alicia and Pip got permission to write this on the steps of a local business. Wouldn't it be cool if God used these steps to speak to someone? I bed He did...that would be just like Him!

Have a FABULOUS friday!

I hate my computer!!

Seriously, I can't stand it right now. I know that only 3 people willl ever read this blog but I feel really bad about not writing, plus, I acutally have things to write about!! One day, really soon, I am going to get caught up!!

Psalm 19 is where I'm livin right now, come visit!

~Cassie

it's been a long time....

I know it's been a LONG time since I've posted. My ancient computer got a virus that has, I think, permanently damaged it. It is slower than Christmas and I'm so frustrated with it I have not even blogged. I feel like in order to document the happenings from the summer so far, I need to be in a small cafe somewhere with the whole day free to write and drink as many iced white chocolate snicker lattes' that I can handle (and if they could be completely void of calories too...even better). But, alas, I do not have ANY of those things so when life slows down the same time my computer speeds up, I'll write!

Speaking of slowing down, I read a verse last night I'd like to share. I have been going through my One Year Bible since May. I have started this Bible many time beginning in January and I always give up around Ma. So this year, I began in May and am reading things that are so fresh to me. I love reading the Old Testament chapter by chapter it really helps me wrap my mind around the events of that time. Well, in this Bible you also read through the Psalms twice. I was reading Psalm 131:1-3 last night and the Holy Spirit stopped me at this verse and I am making it my prayer:

"...I do not concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me."

I love how David recognized who God is and where He is. I fail to do that so many times while I am reading my Bible and flippantly praying while going about my day as if it is mine to have and to own. I sin and quickly ask forgiveness without stopping to realize who I am talking to and the weight of what I am doing. I speak of Him in conversations with others without investing the time to really know Him in my own life. I want to be still and quiet before the Most Holy God and put myself in my place before Him. My prayer this week is that I would be stilled and quieted before God, humbly recognizing who I am and, most importantly, exalting God above myself and this world.

My you also still and quiet yourself before the Lord this week, my prayer is that He will meet you in that place and speak a fresh word to you.

dilemma

we got in at 4:30 this morning from a Hillsong United concert in Nashville. I have girls sleeping all over the house. I am trying to be very quiet, even now I am typing super slow as to not disturb the sweet girl on the couch 2 feet away. Here's the dilemma. I threw my old razor away and HAVE to get a new one, it's 90 degrees outside, I'm wanting to go to the park with Oliver, I don't want to wake everyone up by going through my room finding clothes to go to Wal-Mart in. So, unshaven legs to the park or waking up very sleepy girls to quench my new razor feeling? I am going to try to be ninja-like and tiptoe around to get to Wal-Mart. I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh yeah, keep reading, soon I have a HUGE post coming about this crazy week! Highlights?

~School's Out
~Mock Robbery
~Passing the Praxis
~Oliver Tales
~Drove around a drug dealer
~Made a round trip safely from Nashville and back all thanks to rap music and Starbucks!!
~Highlights from my travles in God's Word!

sad day

I am so sad to hear about so many tragedies that happened over the weekend. It seems that months can go by without anything going seemingly , "wrong" then all of the sudden, tragedy. There were 3 people that I know of that lost their lives this weekend, one being a 14 year old boy who took his own life. I heard someone say this weekend that he could never understand suicide. I can't imagine not knowing for sure where I was going if I died and then taking my own life. How sad that there are people walking all around us that are so hopeless they would go to extreme measures like suicide for some "relief". It is not enough to have salvation for myself. To be in relationship with God and know that I will spend eternity with Him. I want to re-evaluate how I live, I want to be open about my Faith to live in a way that offers others hope.

I was also so bummed out about Jon and Kate. I really hope they will seek God's will for their marriage. I feel like a stalker even mentioning them in my blog.

On a happy note, Oliver just went to the door all by HIMSELF!!! He went right outside and peed! I'm SOOO proud!

short week

I just realized that tomorrow is my LAST day this week! I'm headed home for my sister, Hannah's high school graduation and taking Friday off. Not only do I have a short week but it's Oliver's first "overnight"...I am just hoping he doesn't freak out! My dad's poor cat is in for a treat!

Oh, and I was introduced to the coolest site today that you should check out. It's www.picnik.com
it's for anyone who can't afford Photo Shop. I spent hours on there today and I'm thinking I'll be doing a lot of editing this summer! Seriously, check it out!!

Sunburned??

I know I'm very pale complected. In fact, I was told last night that "white is weak"! Today, I was only outside for a couple of hours manning the "balloon bust" game at our Math Olympics and my arms and face are scorched! I guess white really is weak. How sad.

However, I am loving the book I bought on Saturday, "A Bride in the Bargain" by Deeanne Gist. I am completely and totally addicted to reading. If I could get paid for reading books, I would do it all day long! I discovered how much I love to read last year when I began teaching middle school and was encouraged to read the Twilight series. Well, I can't stop. Seriously I have a problem. Luckily I'm broke so when I finish this book I'm done until I get paid again.

I have also recently learned that my new puppy, Oliver, has a few addictions as well. More on these later!

pointing

I have been resistant to blogging myself, but I LOVE to read others. I love to read other blogs so much, in fact, I want to be a "follower" of a few. So, in order to do that I must have a blog. So, I may not write much on here but you should read the one's I follow!
That makes the think that I should live my life in that way, confusing? Go with me here. I am called to live my life in a way that points to Jesus. If I am truly following Him, it's not about how I lead my life so much as who my life points to. So, just like my blog, you should check out Who I'm following. I am not interesting, quippy, or funny really, but anything that is good in me come directly from Him! He is worth following, worshiping, adoring, and loving!

Have a restful Sunday!