This is how amazing God is:

Our fall Kick off for FUEL has been out of control insane!

Over 100 kids the 1st combined night-75 at our first AWAKEN on Sunday morning in the Fireside-and a Servant Leadership Team that rocks my face off!

Ya God-you are so amazing and I can't WAIT to see what You are going to do for Your kingdom this year!!!! Thanks for letting us be a part of it!

BROTHERLY LOVE

So as previously stated in my blog, I got Bell's Palsy when I was down at IYC in Tennessee with the students a few weeks ago. First off, I'd like to give a props to God-my face I believe it 100% better! That's right!

Secondly, I feel I must give credit where credit is due-and I'm talking about brotherly love-literally. You know you are truly loved by your siblings when they are willing to take a picture like this with you:


Now that's love.

CHASER IS HERE!

The long awaited arrival of the newest addition to our family is here!

We picked Chaser up on the way back from DTW at the Dearborn Animal Shelter-we've had a fantastic few hours with him, and everyone who has met him has been impressed by his friendly response to people (He did GREAT in the car!)-and he goes to "relieve himself" outside already!!! Praise Jesus!

I'm sure we will have regular updates!

F-L-O-R-I-D-A

Well here we are-in Ft. Walton Beach FL-This is Jared's 1st time in Florida (makes sense since he's from California) and my 1st time here with the love of my life! We've been having a great time going to the beach, swimming at the pool, and "playing tennis" in the morning-trying to beat the heat at 7:30! The reason I said "playing tennis": because it's more like Jared serving me a perfect serve, with me returning it 5 ft. over his head. We got our exercise just by chasing that stupid ball around the court!

Probably the best part about this quick trip has just been hanging out with my parents-we've missed them over the summer-I'm excited for them to come home!

For now however, we will continue to enjoy the white sandy beaches:)

3 Weeks:


After 3 weeks my facial movement has improved so much! I feel particularly blessed after hearing several stories of people who never recovered from Bells Palsy-now that this is my second time around I am so grateful to have recovered 100% last time and hope to this time as well. I would say I'm around 90% better right now-I can still see and feel the muscles not quite as strong in the right side-but it's really coming along!
YEA GOD!!!

2 weeks of Bells Palsy:


After 2 weeks I am shocked at how quickly my face has been recovering. It is not very noticeable as most people have been telling me-although of could I can see and feel the spots which are not as responsive. It's probably most noticeable when i try to raise my eyebrows or laugh. Part of the healing process has been a LOT of face twitching (my eye, lips, and chin mostly) which thankfully is not painful-just annoying:)
God is so faithful and good and I am thankful for this opportunity to grow!

Thanks for your prayers!

Bells Palsy after 1 week

MRS. INTERNATIONAL!

One of my very dear Friends Rebekah Negrete JUST WON the Mrs. International Pageant!!!! I can not think of a person more deserving! She will be an absolutely amazing ambassador for Christ!!! Congratulations Rebekah! I'm SOOOO proud and happy for you!

Why not a second time?

One of the major events which occured at IYC 2007 this year, was my sudden second bout with Bells Palsy. Monday night Jared and I went to the ER in Knoxville TN (some very nice people there in Knoxville) to receive my 2nd diagnosis of Bells Palsy in 9 years. So after being on Steroids for a week, and an anti-viral as well as using more eyedrops then ever to keep my eye from drying out, I am doing ok.
The good thing about Bells Palsy-It doesn't hurt.
The stupid thing about Bells Palsy-It is hard to eat and drink, and I currently can't taste much of anything.

The good thing: God is so good and I am so thankful I know He is with me and who defines me, not this Bells Crappola!

IYC 2007

What an amazing time! 25 students from CrossRoads joining thousands of other Free Methodist Students from across the US-
Highlights from our Group- Fuel Student Ministries:

5 First Time Commitments
Several Re-dedications
Countless commitments to be fully God's!

Praise Jesus!

VACATION!!!!!


Well, Jared and I just got back from our first vacation since our honeymoon-a week spent at Yellowstone with his family-and it was amazing and so stinking relaxing.
Here's what our week looked like:

Friday: Woke up at 4:30(AM) and my bro Alex took us to the airport. Flew out to Salt Lake City-picked up our cool rental card (saturn SUV)-shopped (my loving husband bought my 2 shirts and a dress!!!) ate at Olive Garden and checked into our hotel. Jared family all got in around 8:00 p.m. and we ate at one of my favorite places-BUCA DI BEPPO!!
Saturday: We drove 4 hours to our cabin at Henry's Lake in Idaho right outside of West Yellowstone in Montana-We were in the middle of no where and I loved it! We concluded the day by getting groceries and playing games together
Sunday: Jared and I went for a walk to the lake and encountered a REAL LIVE MOOSE! Only about 100 ft away! Then we drove out to West Yellowstone and shopped and hung around town for most of the day
Monday: All of us (me, Jared, Mom, Papa, Dan, Annette, Tommy, Tom and Cheryl) drove through Yellowstone and saw Old Faithful and some other really cool places-and BUFFALO!
Tuesday: Went for a walk (no moose this time), put puzzles together and ate Dinner at a friends house and played games
Wednesday: Drove out to Jackson Hole Wyoming for a day of shopping, a rodeo and fireworks off the mountain!
Thursday: Jared and I decided to take the afternoon and rent tubes and float down a river for 2 and a half hours-my favorite part!
Friday: We all went horseback riding:) Good times
Saturday: Said a sad good-bye to everyone and flew back home at 1:00 am on Sunday

God is so amazing-I love his creation so much!

OUR 1ST VACATION:

Jared and I will be taking our first vacation together (since our honeymoon of course) next week. We are going to a place called "Henry's Lake" which is right on the border of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming-right next to Yellowstone. Not only do we get to spend an entire week with his family who live out in CA, but we get to do the preceding activities!

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

STAFF OUTING:

So last week the executive staff at CrossRoads had a "staff outing". This day proved to be one of the most memorable (exculding the doll house) times I have had with the staff.
We started out having a wonderful lunch at Adam's Fav. J. Alexanders. I enjoyed the largest grilled chicken salad known to mankind.
We then had a beautiful stop at the Toledo Art Museum. Each of us chose several paintings which were our favorite-and take everyone else on a tour of our fave's. After a few exciting brushes with the docents-we actually made it through alive!
We then moved on to a beautiful drive along the beautiful Maumee River-down to Perrysburg-we all chose mansions we wished to live in-
After an awesome dinner at the Navy Bistro-I was so stuffed from lunch, I only ate soup! Oh ya-and chocolate cake:)
We then finished the evening off at a late night mud hens game. It was truly incredible. I'm sure we were some of the roudiest rabble rousers in the stadium!
Thanks everyone for the awesome memories!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Be JOYFUL always, Pray CONTINUALLY, Give THANKS in all circumstances...for THIS is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"

One of my favorite verses.

PRAY FOR MITCH (PFM)

My friend Mitch-man we go way back. Our parents were friends before we were even a glisten in their eyes. And when I lived in Spokane WA, Mitch made sure I had a good laugh and friend to hang out with. He loves God. Lives in So Cal-moved there right when we left. Serves at an FM church down there. Is 27. And has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. His family is posting daily videos on YOUTUBE to keep all of us posted-he may have started Chemo today-hopefully by tomorrow.
Please pray for him-Even if you don't know who he is. Cancer sucks-but God is bigger then that-so let's pray that the Lord will remove this disease and will continue to bring everlasting strength, comfort, and peace.

LOST:

I don't know how I will possibly wait to see the next season of LOST until February! Thanks to my bro Alex, Jared and I are totally addicted (in a healthy way), to this show. I even dream about it!

Season Finale Highlights:

-Hurley saving the day with the van

-Jack telling Kate he loves her (ahhhhh:)

-Patchy-does he ever die?

-Charlie's death---I cried. seriously.

-Jack FINALLY punching Ben in the face

What is to come in the future!?! What is going on! Will they be able to change the future!? SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!!!!

PURITY CONFERENCE 07

Our First ever Purity Conference sponsered by Fuel Student Ministries was AMAZING!
Everything from the fashion show, break out sessions, the beautiful lunch with our brothers in Christ serving us, Rebekah who did an INCREDIBLE job speaking-to God's spirit moving-It exceeded our expectations!

A HUGE thanks to everyone who was a part of this wonderful event!!!
Here's a few pics from the weekend-

LOCKS OF LOVE=SHORT HAIR FOR ANGELA

As you can see from the pictures-this week has proven to hold some drastic changes for me! I like my new hair-but it's so weird!!!! I'm thankful that someone will now have hair who previously did not though since I gave it for locks of love--who knows, maybe I'll do it again in 3 years!