What Dimension are you ?

Pastor has been teaching on the dimensions of man. There are 7. 1 is like a snail. 2. A dog. 3. a basic human. … etc… I think he said to be a 5th dimensional person you MUST walk with God!!! Of course it is 1AM in the morning and that’s usually when my brain is the most active!

For the last hour or so I’ve been watching clips of preaching and singing. Bro. Ewing, Bro. G.A. Mangun, Bro. Pugh… Without a doubt these men WALKED with God.. Day in and day out. We all (or one would hope) that we all pray “God please let me be like that”!    “Let me touch people with the gifts you’ve given me”!  But we also know “Private prayer equals public anointing”.  I want to be like those men! Like those great ladies that I look up to! That I have looked up to for years… tried to sing like… How can one person move thousands of people to tears by singing a song? Is it “just” the Holy Ghost that is within each of us and that permeates the room? And please don’t look at that as demeaning the Holy Ghost.  Yes, everyone that has the HG is anointed.. But to have THAT KIND of anointing, I think a “little” extra work, prayer, fasting, everything goes into it.

So why then, when I feel the call to go pray or read my Bible or spend some time with God alone, without any distractions… do I resist??? I mean no disrespect, but these men are gone. They have their reward! They are where we WANT to go…  What are we waiting for? Who in my generation is going to pick up that burden? Who is going to pick up that anointing? Please don’t misunderstand this post.. I’m not trying to preach at you… I just know – “we” have lost some incredible heroes in the last 5 years or so – If I set down and really think about it… Really think about my prayer life, my Bible reading, my walk with God I begin to wonder if I am ready for all that I want God to do in my life! Yes, I believe that their are great things in store! Yes I believe the dreams I’ve had! Yes, I believe!!!!! But… and that’s where I get stuck. But.

But GOD I’M NOT LIKE THOSE PEOPLE!!!! BUT God if you REALLY KNEW ME!!!! But God …. And then I laugh at myself because if anyone really knows me, if anyone knows my doubts, my fears, my HEART, it’s GOD!!!!!!   So I have to keep pressing on – keep trying. Keep picking myself up. Keep walking. Keep Praying Danelle. Keep fasting…. Keep believing… Because – a 5th and 6th dimensional anointing doesn’t happen overnight!! It takes time and work and effort, and prayer and more prayer and more and more. Right?!  I often time think that we are the ones that hold ourselves back! No one else is doing it, God certainly isn’t doing it… But our own doubts, fears, and buts.   Lately I’ve been so down on myself. Thinking I don’t pray enough, read my Bible enough, do anything enough … But that only led to me shutting myself down and not allowing God to speak through me at all. My heart often gets filled with the But God’s, what ifs, I don’t think….  But WHY think about it, dream about it, pray about it if your not gonna follow through when God says go???

With my whole heart – I want what God has for me! I think I sing almost non-stop. In my heart, in my mind, out loud. From the time I wake up to the time I go to bed I have a song in my heart. But I know that alone is not enough. I know the Holy Ghost keeps songs in my spirit. But I long for that deeper…. that level… And I know there is no secret ingredient to “getting it” either. I want to be ready when God says “ok, who’s ready”?  I want to be the annoying kid in class that’s always raising her hand!!! Me God!!! Pick Me!!!!! I’m ready!! Pick Me!  ….. So I think maybe this post was me kickin’ myself in the seat…

Listen to that inner voice…. Go pray when you feel it, read your Bible EVERYDAY!!! Don’t take a summer break from God.. sigh… I am so jealous of all those that have gone on before me! They have MADE IT!  They are WITH GOD .. RIGHT NOW !!! and probably if God let’s them see me typing this laughing their heads off…. but I think I hear voices of those who’ve gone before. They’re cheering me onward, onto Heavens golden shore, their saying don’t give up! Child keep pressing on! It’s gonna be worth it all when you see your brand new home!  “  One of my favorite quotes is “If the position is assigned by God, then the anointing to function in that position is given as well”. But anointing costs obedience. So I suppose my level of anointing is directly affected by my level of obedience….

No more buts!

 

Is Amazing Grace still amazing?

Although the title is not that original… This has been on my heart lately. In my personal devotions it has been the main theme! Then today Pastor got up and preached about “Jesus in a Garage Sale”. You would have to get the tape to understand – But basically the thought (in my mind) was keep Jesus precious!!! Don’t let the way that you change – change how you see Jesus. I have to say that it really touched me.

The other day I picked up the Word and began to read about Job… there are times that I think “hey!! Hellloooooo God!!! Where are you?? What are you doing?? What is going on here??” And I can find myself having a pity party about the situation I am in. So I finally got sick of feeling sorry for myself and read about Job. My “woes” are NOTHING compared to what he went through! As bad as it may get I still have a loving husband who is kind and prays for me. He doesn’t shun me and say well God just doesn’t love you anymore Danelle – Lets give up and never go back to church. I have a roof over my head, clothes to wear, food to eat… I am truly blessed!

So I was reading and then I came across several verses that really stuck with me (some of this is paraphrased)  - While Job was pleading his case to his “friends” he mentioned several times “If only someone would give me a hearing” If only someone would listen to me plead my case! I would sign my deeds on a poster, sign my name to it and walk around town! If only Someone would give a hearing!  Let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless— Well pity party or not … this definitely got me to thinking… I DO NOT want my deeds written on a post for the whole world to see!!!  I began to feel conviction pierce my heart… I am not nearly as “righteous” as Job, so why do I get a self-righteous attitude?  I don’t even compare to him!  In my mind I think like Psalms 5 ” My sin is EVER before me”.

So after that I began to think about the grace of God … It is only because of his great love and his sacrifice that I can even speak his name! Much less come into his presence! I began to hum the tune of Amazing Grace… And to actually feel that it WAS still amazing!! I may have lost sight of it for a while… May have taken it for granted .. may have not really wanted to think about it… But when I took the time to THINK and Remember everything that grace has kept me from… Well, how can it NOT be amazing!? It’s like Pastor said today – do you see Jesus so often that you start to not really Him? I don’t want to be that person.  I want to take the time to remember! Take the time to really SEE Him!

I have got to have grace! I have got to have mercy! If I don’t …. I am hopeless. Sometimes I wonder if people really think that about themselves and their lives… You can’t fall back on talent – Not to mention, you only have talent because God gave it to you. Do we really believe that we are nothing without God? Really? Do we really believe that Grace is still amazing? Or is it just a song we sing but have no testimony of that grace? Is grace and mercy “old hat”… Heaven forbid that we go about our daily lives and no one even thinks that we might be a Christian… I want God to shine in every part of my life and I want to work for him and do what he wants… I want to be busy in his kingdom… But I don’t want to lose sight of His Grace!  Amazing Grace is Still Amazing!!!

 

Give me a Clean Heart

This song has been on my mind lately.. Every time I sit down to play the piano, I end up somewhere playing this.

Give me clean heart, that  I might serve thee. Lord fix my heart so I can be used of thee. Though I’m unworthy of all these blessings…. Give me a clean heart, give me  a clean heart.. And I’ll follow thee.

I try and make sure I pray every day Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Even if I don’t think I’ve sinned.. .I would rather be safe than sorry.

Our Pastor preached a phenomenal message last night about repentance. I want to have a repentant heart! Who am I to think highly of myself? I am no one without God! I can tell when people think too highly of themselves and it kinda disgusts me.. I would hate to make other others have that reaction to me!!  Give me a clean heart oh God!!! Don’t find ANY wicked way in me!

Pastor pointed out that the repentant heart feels the presence of the Lord – God draws near to those with a contrite heart – That really makes me want to have that kind of heart! To be able to feel the presence of Jesus every day?!?!?!  To feel Him when I wake up, when I go to sleep, when I’m at the grocery store… I want to be able to feel Him!

Psalm 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

These scriptures are really making me think – Do I sincerely have a contrite heart? How do I keep a repentant heart? How do I keep a sincere heart … To be honest sometimes it is difficult – I’ve noticed with myself – church becomes old hat, another service … well, ok I guess… Not wanting to be involved, not wanting to go to functions, not wanting to do anything!!! That is not a sincere heart!!! Well.. unless you say .. I sincerely do not want to do anything!

In order for me to keep a sincere heart – I have to keep my relationship with Jesus Christ fresh!! I have to pray even when I don’t feel like it! I have to read my Bible even when I would rather not!  And if I do those things then somehow I end up feeling better!

In order to keep a CLEAN heart – which is kind of but not really the same thing… however keeping a clean heart helps to have a sincere and repentant heart!  Turn off the radio, turn off the shows, turn off the computer, stop reading so many books that don’t help or add to my life in anyway! This is not rocket science! It’s all been said before, preached before… year after year, month after month! However, doing it is a different ballgame!  All I know is … I don’t want God to turn away from ME!!!! I want to have a good heart – So if I have to through out every book, cd, tape, magazine…. in order to be and feel close to God – then it’s worth it!!

Don’t you long to feel Jesus??  Then won’t you do anything to get in His presence? Wont you give up anything if it means He would show up and “hang out with you”?  If not.. maybe you should think about why. What’s more important than Him?  Is reading a romance novel more interesting to you than reading the Bible? Do you “long” and desire for other things .. but not really for the Word or for Jesus? How long has it been since you felt like you would give up anything in order to be in His Presence … outside of the 4 walls of the church building!  To me the moments I spend with Him alone are at times more precious than when I’m with people, in church.

It’s just me and Jesus.  How long since you’ve wanted that? I’m not trying to preach at you … Just reminding … Maybe think about it – What’s my priorities? What do I do when I go home, when I have free time? I know I get so caught up in life and working for the church that I forget sometimes the God that I am working for! I get burned out! So I take it back to the basics – Create in me a clean heart – that I might serve Thee!!!

 

I can’t believe it!

This is just my thoughts… no offense intended..  The You is no one person.. Please don’t feel singled out. I ‘m not talking about you.

I can’t believe that people put their whole lives on FB and then wonder why no one is surprised when they tell them something. I can’t believe you would actually say that on FB!!! I can’t believe some of the songs I hear on air one are considered worship music… I can’t believe the people that pass for christians nowadays… I can’t believe that sometimes I am so judgemental.. I mean who died and left me the boss.. I can’t believe I’ve been married almost 4 years… I can’t believe God gave me such and incredible husband.. I can’t believe that people blame God for every little thing that goes wrong in their lives or in the world, I can’t believe how SLOW the service at Johnny Carino’s in Gilroy is,  I can’t believe that homosexuality is ok.. no matter how much the agenda is pushed in my face by hollywood,  I can’t believe that you believe it is!  I can’t believe that you’ve been raised in the glorious truth your whole life and you feel like your missing out on life because .. why?? Oh you don’t have a STD, or your not pregnant or you don’t have hangovers.. or you don’t have to go get an abortion… I can’t believe that you eat that much and then wonder why your overweight!!! I can’t believe that you think life is free!  Or that freedom is free… I can’t believe the shape that our country is in… What happened to America? I can’t believe that we are all so connected to everyone in the world and we feel the need to share information every time something “momentous’ happens.  Or even when you cook dinner, tie your show or go tanning… I can’t believe that I actually care. Omyword!  And I can’t believe that you would come to a pentecostal church and SIT THERE!!!!!  With your arms folded and not move a muscle.. when you have so much to thank God for.. you just sit there and act persecuted because … life isn’t going your way? God is mean? God did it? It’s Gods fault?  But then after service you talk and laugh and its like your a whole other person. I don’t understand that.  I can’t believe that you expect me to talk about my brothers and sisters in the lord with you. I can’t believe that you expect me to understand when you are sinning .. I can’t believe that as horrible as I am God still loves me… I can’t believe that in all my worry I get peace in the midst of life ..  raging storms.. whether they are in my head or in my life .. I can’t believe that I am commanded to pray for those that despitefully use me… I mean doesn’t God know what I’m going through?!?!  I want them to suffer! LIke I’ve sufferered.. I can’t believe God expects better of me…

I can’t believe that I let things get to me so easily.. You do what you think is best and I will pray for you. I will do what I think is best and you pray for me.  I don’t want to be consumed with what everyone else is doing! I need to focus on my life! Who am I reaching? Who am I touching?  What am I doing on a daily basis to get to Heaven and to take someone with me???   I think if I read my Bible and was ALONE with God .. HALF as much as I was on FB or Twitter… I would not have all these feelings.. This is not pointed to anyone .. This is just me – I’m amazed at how I waste my time.. reading updates then saying “well I just can’t believe that”  “I can’t believe how dumb that is” ..  I’ll tell you what I can’t believe.. I can’t believe that despite all my baggage, all my worries, all my sickness, and pain.. and disbelief and judging, and selfishness .. and .. and .. and.. that God would STILL love me.. Still fill me with His spirit. Still … Be there when I need him..  Still expect greatness out of me even when it seems that “everyone else” is getting away with it .. I can’t believe all the chances I get,  and that his mercy is new every day… or how about that one day.. I’ll be with him, and like him!!!!  Can you believe that???

I Can.

 

Faith or Stupidity?

Today was a horrible day.. absolutely horrible!!! and I usually try to keep my posts upbeat and funny but I’m just not in the mood… Anyone who really knows me knows that my health is sometimes not the greatest and today is complete proof of that.  I get VERY frustrated at people who have pre-conceived ideas in their minds about what I’m going through, about what I feel, about how I should deal with it, etc… I do the BEST that I can do!!!  I can’t go into great detail on a public blog, but any ladies out there that have Endometriosis know the kind of pain that I’m talking about. It’s not pleasant, it’s not fun and it’s not a walk in the park!!!  It’s all internal issues, however just because you can’t SEE it doesn’t mean it’s not real or it’s not there.  Last night in the middle of the preaching my body decided to go bonkers.. so I left as quietly as I could … Today I went to work and got sent home from work .. and even now I am awake because I feel like my body is having aftershocks… They just decide to hit whenever they want!!! No introductions, no “hey, I’m about to make you miserable for the next however long I decide to stick around”, no invitation, no warning.  I’ve learned to deal with it, to try and live with it. I’ve gotten prayed for more times that I can shake a stick at. And I DO believe in the healing power of God! I have seen it happen too many times not to believe. BUT when is enough enough?!?! Do I keep believing no matter what? Or do I say ” hey we’ve prayed and nothings changed so I’m going to be smart and get this fixed”.   I’m not really asking your opinion.. I guess I’m just venting.  I want children – I want a family.  But in the meantime I want to live – I want  a good quality of life – So I think maybe adoption will be the best route for me. If the Lord chooses not to heal me and I can’t have a baby naturally… I believe that there is a baby out there with my name on it!  Is that faith? I believe it is.  I believe God wants us to live life to the fullest!  So – I have a doctors appointment scheduled in August – I’m hoping for good news – that this can be fixed easily and that I will be able to conceive a child =)  But if it’s bad news.. I won’t hate God, or give up on life or get bitter. It is what it is.  You play the hand your dealt – make lemonade out of lemons.  I’m not asking for your pity … I guess I’m frustrated – I don’t understand all this… But I also don’t want to ask why because I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t get an answer – I believe there is a purpose for everything .. On days like today I have to cling to that belief!!!  God knows what he’s doing… So I guess I answered my own question – It’s faith – it’s always faith – Having faith isn’t stupid. I trust that what will be, will be what God wants specifically for my life… .. Sounds easy enough….  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.

 

New Bands I like

I have a new favorite christian band … Tenth Avenue North… I have listened to both of their albums and have yet to hear a song that I don’t like or more important one that doesn’t speak to me!  It’s not often I even like Contemporary  Christian Music.. I’m more of a black gospel kind of person.. =)  However I have XM Radio and I’ve really only listened to 33 and 34 before .. Southern Gospel and Black Gospel.. Kind of opposite ends of the spectrum there.. hah!  Then one day they both were playing HORRIBLE stuff, so I tuned in to XM 32 and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised!!! WAY better then K-LOVE – which has been the extent of my contemporary music experience – and I wasn’t impressed.  However getting back to XM32 – I heard some of these in about a 2-3 hour period..

Love Is Here -  Tenth Avenue North
For Those Who Wait – Firefly
Lead Me – Sanctus Real
Healing Begins – Tenth Avenue North
Your Love Sets Me Free – The Advice
Beautiful, Beautiful – Francesca Battistelli
Blink – Revive
Get Back Up – TobyMac
Forgiven – Sanctus Real

Needless to say .. Sanctus Real, The Advice, and Tenth Avenue North are officially my new favorite groups… The ones posted are just the ones that really stuck with me!  I love the words to Forgiven by Sanctus Real ” In this life I know what I’ve been, but here in your arms I know what I am” !  Amazing words, amazing music.. A really good song -I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ!  I don’t have to carry the weight of what I’ve done, because I’m Forgiven!

Love is Here – by tenth avenue north … All the words speak to me … but especially “Love is near, it satisfies, streams of mercy flowing from his side” !!! WOW!!! You can’t really get more REAL than THAT!!!

Anyways I”m not going to go through all of these songs, but if your looking for something to put on your Ipod or MP3 player .. I would recommend the above mentioned songs – and even the whole albums of Sanctus Real and Tenth Avenue North – You won’t regret it!

 

Birthday

So last Friday I turned 26 years old… Can you believe that?!?!? 26!!!! FOUR YEARS FROM 30!!!!! Omyword!  I don’t feel one bit older!  In fact I think we should stop keeping track =)   But I thoroughly enjoyed my birthday – I was CAMPING! For the first time in my life – I didn’t know how I would like it.. If I even would like it …  But I gave it a try and I am so glad I did.  In fact I think I’m now officially addicted to camping!  My sweet husbands gift to me was to take me out on the lake in a pontoon boat for several hours. It was so relaxing and fun.  I know when some people think about camping they think a tiny tent and sleeping on the ground..  Um, no.  If you know me at all you know that would not work!  We had a HUGE tent!! Electrical plug-ins, cell phone service, internet service, very clean showers and restrooms… it was AMAZING!  Really roughing it.  We got there Thursday evening and  stayed until Sunday afternoon.  I have to say I am a big fan of vacations – This is the FIRST vacations Matthew and I have taken in 4 years.

Then I got to thinking .. about whats happened since last year — yes I’ve gotten one year older, but have I actually GROWN???  And I think I have -  I feel like I’m more in love with God than ever before!!!  Of course I probably say that every year!  But this year I really feel that way.  I think there are some consecrations that I’ve made and stuck to that have made me stronger in the Lord. They are not for everyone and I won’t tell you what they are, but I know that it is right for me.  I’m so glad that God was kind enough to show me “hey, that’s not really helping you”!  So there’s that… then there are other ways – My marriage is awesome! I have the best husband ever! God really knew what he was doing with my life, even though I seriously questioned it at times.  Matthew is the best thing that ever happened to me, besides the Holy Ghost.   And we are currently trying to start a family … which… Oh Lord, Pray saints Pray!!!

Well there are too many things to name – But I do have to say I am proud of myself!  I’m not trying to be boastful or anything… But looking back on the past year .. I got to say .. God has been SO good to me!!! And I’m really looking forward to another year!

 

Random thoughts…

So it has been forever since I blogged .. I kind of fell of the blogging bandwagon. But it’s ” the most wonderful time of the year” and I’m feeling chatty…. I also miss blogging. It’s kind of a place I can get all my thoughts out of my head and sometimes even get opinions on them. I think I sleep better when I blog. My personal form of therapy. I’m sure some of you think I need it too! =)

Lately my heart has been kind of heavy… Christmas is coming and the sales are going, people are shopping non-stop, going here and there… but I keep wondering how many of the people I see every day or people I pass on the interstate, or the lady at the bank or the guy at starbucks… Do they really know what Christmas is all about???? I am trying to tell everyone I can!!! And while I’m thankful for Christmas… It’s not that different from every other day.. I celebrate the life of Jesus everyday, not just once or twice a year. But I’ve been wondering… does my LIFE show Jesus or does it show Danelle??? So that got me to thinking about the past year.

I’ve grown. More than anything I think I’ve learned my weaknesses, strengths, patterns of life, and what I am really thankful for.  I learned God sees way ahead of my troubles. Or as the Collingsworths sing… God sees the rainbow when we see only clouds. But I didn’t just wake up one day and know that. I had to learn it. Its amazing how you can be born and raised “in church” and still have SOOOOO much to learn.  I’ve never thought that I knew it all…but this year I am so glad for the personal growth I’ve seen in myself and Matthew.  I believe the next year is going to be better. More growth, more faith, more love. I know I sound like a song….

It’s amazing how quickly I can forget how good God has been to me!!! Or how God will do something that I’ve prayed for and then I’m shocked!!! Some days I can’t wait to get home to Heaven… then some days I say no not yet I need to take more people with me.  I know I’m going all over the place in my thought pattern or … non-pattern. But this is what I have been thinking about.  I want to go to Heaven.. nothing is worth missing Heaven, but I still want to eventually have children and teach them the ways of the Lord.. BUT I don’t want to have children yet… I am a walking contradiction.  Some days I want God to come back in an instant.. other days I long to teach someone a Bible Study..

I think the point of this post is … I have no idea!!! I can’t pinpoint one thing. I’ll try to make my next post make more sense. I just want everyone to know, I’m ready for Heaven. Ready to go. And while my heart hurts for people that don’t know God… I want to go!!!! So I’m going to live so people see Jesus in me, because if they just see me, well I can’t save anyone… It’s the most wonderful time of the year..  and the trees are shining, the lights are bright, there’s lots of presents (in some houses), family get togethers … But the most important thing is Jesus…. I took a long way around to say I had to get back to the REASON of Christmas. As cliche as it sounds.  So make sure you let Jesus shine. =)  Next post I will try to be less serious. =)

 

Wow, It’s Been a Long Time.

Hello all you bloggers!!! I feel like it’s been forever since I have blogged!!! I have a lot of catching up to do and I have just not had the energy to do it. And yes I know that it is 3 o’clock in the morning, however I have been tossing and turning and decided to try and blog and then go back to sleep.

I was looking at something the other day and all the sudden wondered if I missed out because I didn’t go to college??? Did I miss out on learning and life experiences??  Well, I went to JCM for a semester but since my parents were evangilizing it was difficult to continue.  I did learn some things at JCM, just not what I thought I would. Then I got to thinking about what “stuff” I could have learned at college and compared it to what I did learn on the road.

Once I looked back and started comparing… the things that I learned travelling with my parents by far is more important and will have long lasting effects on my life.

I still want to continue with my real college and get my degree, but I’m not obsessing over it anymore. Which is a HUGE relief! However I have a tendancy to change my major with my moods. I think I’m gonna stick with Business, because it goes with SO much.  Although Nutritional Science is still intersting.

TEXAS TRIP -  Well I very much enjoyed my time back in Texarkana. I sat by 2 MAJOR TALKERS on the airplanes going. yay.  Then when we got to Texas, Tiffany or Shorty as I like to call her picked us up. I seriously forgot how little she was and shocker of shocker… we talked non-stop from DFW to Aundies house…. Which includes ordering Pappadeaux’s and taking it with us. It was SO DELCIOUS!!!!  Then when we got to Aundie’s she had WARM no bake cookies waiting for us. Delicious… Need I tell you that I was not sticking to my normal eating regimen??  It was SO GOOD to see Aundi, I mean the woman practically raised me when my parents were out of town, and sometimes when they were in town! We stayed up and talked and then tried to go to bed, and then talked some more, and tried to go to bed and the cycle continues.  We did finally go to sleep.  Then Saturday Matthew and I met Doc, Aundi, Renee, Danny (?), Bridget, Lincoln, Tiffany, Grant and a friend of Bridgits at Ta Molly’s.. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo… The 3 cheese chimichanga. It was SO GOOD!!! Lincoln and Grant stole the show, they are adorable.  To my point of view Lincoln has tiffanys personality and grant has bridgits. It was so cute.  Then I stole Matthew and showed him where I grew up, the old house, the new house, the church, the schools I went to and looked at all the new stuff that had been built. It was nice to go back and see the progress of the town and all that had happened.

The wedding was nice. It was good to see Dewayne get married. He is more like a brother to me so I may have cried a little.  I don’t know his wife well, but she seemed very nice and definitly seems to be good for Dewayne!! Of course everyone knows that the reception is the real party!! And of course I was one of the last ones to leave!! How does that happen EVERY TIME??  I got to meet Sis. Paula’s new husband, he is a very nice man. And it was good to see her so happy, although I did tease her…A bit.   After the wedding we met a whole group of people at Chili’s and the stories began!!!

It was so much fun! Greg, Monya, Dee, Kim, Anita, Paul, Katrina, Jennifer, Michelle, Tonya, Donna, Jason, Tara… and on an on the list goes.  We had such a wonderful time laughing and sharing old memories!!! I had actually forgotten some of those stories!! And I remember why I like TP’ing houses so much. That’s like all there was to do in Texarkana and we made it FUN!  Well, cowtipping but I only went once and never again. Gross.

I did make an honest EFFORT to go to church on Sunday Morning, but I’m just not used to going so early!!! I slept until it was over! Then Matthew and I went out for a while. He wanted to get a longhorns shirt and hat.  We just hung out and relaxed. Aundi fixed an amazing pot roast. yum! And then we went to church Sunday Night.  I started crying as SOON as I walked in. Pathetic I know, but its the first time I had been back in 5 or 6 YEARS!!!  The service was so good and seeing all the people I knew and all the new faces. I remember when we had Bro. & Sis. Calhoun for revival, it was a looong revival and after hearing him preach I remembered WHY it was such a long revival!  He is such a good preacher.  After church they had party in the fellowship hall to celebrate Bro. Calhouns birthday. All the ladies in the church made gumbo, really really really good southern gumbo. It was a good time had by all.

Landmark was the place that I was born and raised and I loved every minute of it. I was great to go back and visit and be with old friends. Tiffany and I had some really good talks and laughs and I really like her husband and her baby is adorable. All the kids that were.. well kids, are now in the youth group and have cars and are driving. Lord help us all!

Then Aundi, Tiff, and Grant drove us back to Dallas and I was so tired…And we of course talked the whole way back to the airport and it was so much fun until I got on the airplane and could not fall asleep. Then I took 2 dramamine and conked out! And after we got our luggage and stepped outside and felt the cool ocean breeze…Ah it felt good to be HOME!  I do love California!!! Can’t beat this weather! I do wish I could have brought some of that good ol’ southern cooking home with me. Or some no bake cookies.. I did get the recipe for Crawfish Etouffe! Yay! And I do have some pictures, I just don’t know how to upload them from off of my camera.

There really is so much more to tell, but this was the short and edited version.  I will try to BLOG more often, I just feel like I’ve lost my touch and my blogs are broing now.  So I took some off time and I will be back. Although it may be like 2 weeks until I have TIME to blog again.

I’ll be back! Now I am officially sleepy…zzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

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I’m too tired to write EVERYTHING about going to Texas right now.. but once I rest I will write ALL about it… I love Texas!!! And it was so good to visit and talk about old times and memories.. I took like 5 pictures!!! I always do that.. but I was too busy to take pictures! Dewaynes wedding was pretty.. He looked dashing in his white suit!! I’m so glad I was able to be there for his special day. Right now I’m going to crash. But I will post all the details later.