Just a few more:)

TEAL/AMERINE FAMILY PICTURES

Taken and edited by non other then my bestest friend Emily Smith-check out her blog www.smithgalleryphotography.blogspot.com

SMALL GROUP FOR H.S. LADIES


So Becky W. and I are starting up a Small Group for 10th-12th grade girls. It will be meeting every Monday night from 6:30-8:00. STARTING TONIGHT!!! (Brownies will be there --so should you)
We will meet at 8150 Jackman Rd. #17. It's in the apartments right by Bedford high school. The 1st Building 1st door.

If you don't come-I will cry.

ALL 6th-12th Grade Students and leaders! Please join us next Wednesday Sept 26th from 6:45-8:15 for a time to worship God together.

IN THE ATTIC
CrossRoads Community Church
6960 Sylvania-Petersburg Rd.
Ottawa Lake, MI 49267

So my Best Friend Emily and her husband Andrew have do photography together. And it's pretty much amazing. I've added her link to my blog and here is a taste of their work at our wedding almost a year ago!

So I've officially picked up running again...or maybe for the 1st time. I'm not really sure if training for Miss Azusa counts because I did that to lose the nasty pounds.
I've been consistently running 4-5 miles about 3-4 times a week. Jared and I would love to do a marathon together and I think we may as well do it while we're young and childless! Maybe sometime in the spring?

Kicked Bells Palsy in the Butt!


That's right-after only about 3-4 weeks, my Bells went long gone! Praise Jesus! So thanks for your prayers-and thanks Dr. for the Steroids!

YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL

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!