Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!

I know I have so incredibly much to be thankful for...not only on Thanksgiving, but every single day of my life. God has truly poured His favor out in my life and in my family's life - we are so blessed. Enjoy a few pictures of my time with Little Man last night. Nana made him this super cool indian outfit for Thanksgiving. She's so talented. :) He LOVED it. Well, maybe I shouldn't say "love"..but he did think he was the chief with it on. No pun intended. Do you not just want to squeeze him?!?
I love his expression - "man...I'm the bomb". That's what he's thinking right there.

"How!"

What are you people doing to me?!

This is what happens when Mae Mae gets to give the Mister a bath.

He wants to be a rockstar when he grows up...he told me so.

Before bath time. Gross.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving day!

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another!" John 1:16

Meredith's Get Fit Journey - Take 8..."I get knocked down...

...but I get up again!!" Ok, I know I've whined before about having some tough weeks here and there in the weight loss world, but this past week...actually the past 2 weeks, top them all! Holy cow...have things been hard! I've not been focused at all on careful eating and almost completely avoided exercise for at least a good week. I think the important thing is that I understand the "whys" behind what caused this set back - but still, my excuses are not sufficient enough for my lack of discipline. I know that set backs are absolutely going to happen and that I'll occasionally be sidetracked from time to time. But I'm ready to face it head on, put the past 2 weeks behind me and get at it full force once again. My last weigh-in was 2 weeks ago and I was down 2 more pounds, bringing my total to 82.4 pounds. My next goal is 85 pounds, which hopefully I will reach on Saturday at weigh-in. I really wanted to reach my 100 pound goal by January 3rd, which will mark my 2 years since starting weight watchers. I realize that's a lot to lose in a month so I'm not going to be down on myself if it doesn't happen...I'm not in a race here! :)

My advice for this GFJ...don't beat yourself up when you have a set back. But be disciplined enough to get yourself back on track, knowing that you've come to far to turn back! Hang in there! :)

Oh my...

Hey my friends! I promise I haven't left you forever. Sorry I've been a little slack in keeping you all up to date on my business. Life has been nothing short of CRAZY the past few weeks and I promise to take some time later on this week to actually blog. I just had to get on here for a second though to tell you 2 funny stories from the day.

Poop on the Hand - Story #1
So...I'm skin testing a precious little 3 year old girl today. She was a trooper as I applied the skin test to her back and while she was waiting her 15 minutes before I could read her test, she sat in the patient room floor with her mom and colored. SO good...for a 3 year old. Well, when I go back in the room to read her test, I just get in the floor with her and let her continue on with whatever she's doing to occupy herself...a.k.a...coloring a pretty princess picture. So I'm down in the floor doing what I do and all of a sudden I feel something really weird on my hand. Oh yes, this child had POOPY coming up her back...and my hand totally got in it. I didn't freak out or gag...I just politely told Mom that she might need to change her pull-up and her pants. I thought poor Mom was going to just DIE b/c I had gotten poop on my hand. I was talking with a friend tonight who had a "poopy on the hand" kind of day too. Glad I wasn't the only one! :)

Pregnancy and Men - Story #2
My sweet, dear friend Emma is very pregnant. Today is actually her due date, but unfortnately, still no baby boy. She's waiting patiently...as are the rest of us! Anyway, I sent her a text this morning asking how she was doing and if she was feeling alright. She sends me a text back stating that she had just left the doctor and she's at 4 cm and is 100% effaced. Guys, sorry. You probably don't really get that unless you're married and your wife has been through labor. Anyway, here's a conversation I was having w/ my parents tonight at dinner. (keep in mind that my dad doesn't hear very well)

Me talking to my Mom: I heard from Emma today and she's at 4 cm and 100% effaced.

My Dad: She's 4 cm and 100% afraid??

Made for a GREAT laugh after my "poopy on the hand" kind of day! :)

Hope you all have a GREAT week - I know I've got LOTS to be thankful for and I'm sure you do too!

GREAT Weekend!

We had an awesome Disciple Now weekend! Thanks to those of you who prayed and thought of us. This is the first youth retreat I've gotten to participate in since being out of fulltime student ministry. I was reminded in so many ways this weekend why I LOVE working with students. God definitely showed up and taught us some very important, hardcore truths about our life in Him this weekend. I know my heart was refreshed by the things I learned and by the time I got to spend with some amazing young ladies this weekend. And to think that they actually SLEPT this weekend. God is good in SO many ways! :) I loved my weekend and can't wait to see how we all begin to apply and live out what we learned. Enjoy a few pictures from our time together.

Brandt - our fearless Student Ministry Intern

My Girls! Tori, Amy, Marissa, Emily, and Me :) Our last moments together before our fun weekend came to an end.

Emily, Brandt and Marissa

Josh - one of our super cool Senior guys.

Monique and Meredith - Fun times!

Victor and Monique - attempting to recreat a special wedding moment. (see the picture on the mantle.) They're so cheesy.

I have no idea.

Emily, Marrisa, Meredith, Tori and Amy

Monique, Emily, Marrisa, Meredith, Tori and Amy

Our super hosts for the weekend - Victor and Monique. You guys are GREAT!

Monique likes Starbursts.

Amy and Emily

Nothin' wrong with a little Ultimate Frisbee during freetime!

Our girls at breakfast on Saturday morning.

What a super fun weekend! I'm so blessed to get to be a part of these girls lives!

Disciple Now Weekend!

Today begins our DNow Weekend with our students at Grace! Please pray for our students this weekend as they take time out of their busy schedules for some intense discipleship and fellowship with others. It's sure to be a great weekend! I'll be leading the girls this weekend - pray that they choose to SLEEP some this weekend! :) I'm gettin' old. God's got a big weekend in store for us...I'm lookin' forward to it!

My Hope

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteouness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand."

Jesus is to be my ONLY Hope...I've been reminded of that truth today. I am to put my hope in no man, no matter how powerful he may or may not be. And I'm not just talking about the President here. We put so much emphasis on humans sometimes in general. How often do I turn to another person instead of my Heavenly Father to seek out advice or comfort or approval? Way too often. People are important, and leaders are important. But Jesus is the ONLY one that offers me a living hope!

Tuesday's Vote

My friend Todd sent out an email today and I thought it was appropriate to share on my blog. God is Sovereign and completely in control. May we remember that always!

I usually don’t write these types of emails, but yesterday I got REALLY convicted about Tuesday’s Presidential election. We (like many of the churches around the country I am sure) had a message yesterday on politics. However, this sermon was not the typical sermon that you hear. Our pastor, David Hill, got up in the pulpit and with one swift kick to my teeth, made me really ponder if I had made the right decision when I voted several weeks ago during our early voting time. However, that part of his sermon is not what I am writing to you about today. What I want to write to you about today comes straight from the text that my pastor used for his sermon yesterday. Romans 13:1-7. In this particular passage, Paul is writing to the church and telling them what their role or responsibility is concerning politics. Well since the Bible is timeless, perfect, sovereign, and very much still alive and well today, Paul’s message still rings VERY true for the church today.

So what is our role in politics? Well go ready Romans 13:1-7 and you will see. It will not tell you who to vote for, but it sure will tell you whoever wins was chosen by God and appointed by the sovereign ruler of this world way back in eternity past. Verse 1, “those which exist are established by GOD!!” In other words, if Barrack Obama wins this election, guess what, GOD CHOSE HIM!!! How about that for a dirty taste in your mouth? Can you believe that a Bible believing, inerrancy believing, sovereignty of God preaching pastor, and strong supporter of the pro-life agenda would say that? Here we have a man who has staunchly opposed and continues to oppose ALL my views and I am telling you that if he is elected that GOD chose him. What is up with that? READ ROMANS 13! Then look back all throughout the old testament and see where God used many evil Kings to bring about his divine purpose and plan. And that was just the start of his sermon. He made another point in his message that cut me to the core. If the man who wins this election is not the one that I voted for, I am commanded time and time again throughout the Bible by God that I am to pray for him. This left a really bad taste in my mouth. I don’t like the other guy. But I am still commanded to pray for him. Then our pastor asked this question, “When Bill Clinton was in office, how many times did you pray for him?” WOW!! As much as I disliked that man, God chose him to be in power and by my not praying for him, I have disobeyed God.

I guess that is enough for now. I just wanted to share my heart with all of you on this FINE Monday morning. If you have not, I challenge you to read Romans 13. Let God challenge you like he has challenged me. I will say that this election has been on my mind for some time now. I can’t listen to talk radio, watch Fox News, or anything of that sort without getting fighting mad. But then God takes me to a passage like Romans 13 and he kicks me right in the teeth. God has chosen our leader already. We must be faithful to do what he has called us to do. Trust his hand of ordination and orchestration, and pray for whomever he lets be the next president of this great nation.There are so many more things that I could say regarding this topic of our role in politics, but I will leave those for another time. My fingers are tired. I will say this as I finish. Just because God has already set forth who the next President of the USA will be, that does not mean that we still don’t have to vote. It is much like evangelism. I believe God and only God calls people unto Him and he elects them into his family. However, we are still his mouthpiece. Either you can obey God and do what he has commanded you to do, or you can disobey his command and reap his punishment. Just pray long and hard for God to show you who he wants you to vote for!