Nellisms & Life

So this year has been a good and bad year, but lets not dwell on the bad. I am thankful for SO SO SO many things!!! First and foremost I’m thankful for the Holy Ghost and truth. I’ve been raised by wonderful parents who were also raised in “the truth”. It’s wonderful to have such a rich heritage. Which of course isn’t everything. But it helps to know others have walked this walk and made it.  I’m thankful that I’ve had the Holy Ghost for 20 years. Even though I “got” the Holy Ghost when I was only 4, I probably didn’t quite understand it all. But it’s still a fun thing to say!!! Since I’m only 24!!

I am also thankful that I’ve been able to spend some time with a few of our new converts!!!! It has been a blast!! I was able to give away some clothes to those that needed them so much more than I and gave myself some extra room in my closet. =) God answered a prayer request of giving one of them a room to rent in Hollister so she didn’t have to move!! Thank You Jesus!!

I’m thankful that God has given my wonderful husband such a burden for the homeless. At first I was more than skeptical!!!! And I just could not get on board with him, so I prayed and told God that if this really was of Him I needed a sign. Soooo I was reading my Bible and came across this scripture ” Defend the poor and fatherless.  Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy. Free them from the hand of the wicked. They do not know, neither do they understand. They walk about in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are unstable. “  AND of course once again I was FLOORED that GOD really answered my prayer!!! So I’m very thankful that God still speaks to His people, even when we really don’t expect it. I also received another scripture the other day. I have at times battled with the spirit of fear. And I was beginning to get overwhelmed… I just picked up my Bible and asked God to direct me. ” Fear not my child, for I am with thee.” WOW!!!! I was once again amazed! I got up and annointed all my windows and my door and “kicked” that spirit out of my house!! So I am thankful that I have the courage to actually do that this year! Last year I wasn’t. I feel that I have grown so much since this time last year. And it is an awesome feeling.

I’m also thankful that my health is significantly better this year than it was last year! I feel better, I look better, I’m more my old self than the past two years!!! yay! Yes, medicine did have something to do with all of it but God directed us where to go to get the help that I needed.

Also for my wonderful husband. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for him. But you guys don’t know that and I can’t write a post on thankfulness and not mention him. We’ve been married 2 wonderful years, well….. this year has been much MUCH MUCH better than the first. However, Matthew is the best thing that ever happened to me!  I know how to cook a meal on 20 bucks!!! I can stay within a budget for groceries! HAH who would have thought!!! The first time I went grocery shopping it was almost $300!!!!  I’ve dwindled it down quite a bit!!! We have recently “adopted” a kitten. You should see Matthews face when he plays with her!! It is adorable and I know it sounds weird but watching him play with her… I think he’ll be a great father. BUT he cannot NAME our kids!!!!! He named the poor poor kitty… KUNG POW KITTY!!!!!!  How sad!!! HAH!!! So I just call her K.P.!!

I’m very thankful that Matthew is the head of our house. He may seem quite to some of you that don’t really know him, but when he’s had enough he’s really had enough! He’s not mean or cruel about the way he puts his foot down. But I sure do get the point! I’m so glad he stands up to me and has more backbone than I do. I would be extremely bored with a man I could control!  I think its very sweet that I still get love letters. Not as often as we used to write but I still get them and they still brighten my whole week!

There is not enough time or room to write about all I am thankful for, and I’m sure all you feel the same. These are just a few things and I have many many many more but since it’s almost 6 in the morning and I have yet to fall asleep!!!  All kidding aside I hope all of you have much to be thankful for too. Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

p.s. Even if you get to hear all the same stories all over again and laugh in the same places and then get tickled that you got tickled again by the same stories and then get tickled even more because you can’t stop laughing unless you “SIGH” at the end of your laugh!!!!!  YOU TRY IT !!! IT’s SO true!!

Tonight we had refuge!!!  And it was AWESOME!!!! Just incredible! Like wow!!  I got there a few minutes late, but they were still doing crowd breakers when I got there. Then Dominic led us into worship. Then Jason led the next 2 songs. I particularly liked the last song. Indescribable. It it such a easy song to worship to.I felt the Holy Ghost starting to move. Then Bro. Kirk ( our awesome and fearless leader) got up to preach. I love how Bro. Kirk leads our young people. He is so compassionate, and very loving. But at the same time he is a strength, and an incredible witness of how we should live our lives.  He kind of rebuked us, but it didn’t come across as a horrible rebuke. He said we had done great during boot camp and we made our consecrations and done great! But that the devil was kinda creeping in our back door… We were letting our unity get away from us, letting little things creep back in to our lives, etc… And did we really come to church to get something from God or to just go through the motions?!?!?   It really hit home for me! And obviously for the young people also.  I love to watch young people re-consecrate their lives to God. It is precious.  Anyways the Holy Ghost began to move in such a strong way!!!  People every where just worshipping, freely speaking in tongues, repenting, praying for each other. And as a result of “all this”  we had one lady get the Holy Ghost!!!!!!  And she got baptized!!! Our  first REFUGE BAPTISM!!!!!! WOW!  IT was awesome!!!  Of course the water was probably freezing and I kinda felt sorry for her but she prayed when she came out of the water too.  I remember the first time she came to REFUGE and have watched her each consequent service…. She just kept getting more and more and more into it. And then finally tonight she got the ultimate gift! Her boyfriend was also there tonight. I think it was his first time. You could tell he could feel the Holy Ghost but didn’t quite know what it was all about! God is doing awesome things!!!!!  Not that numbers are everything, HOWEVER it is a sign of growth!! Tonight I counted, we had 52 people at refuge!!!! FIFTY TWO!!!  The majority of that was young people! I think we had 6 adults not counting Bro. Kirk and Sis. Tina.  And I think we had over 12 visitors. I think. Don’t quote me on that. Still, wow how awesome. And to top it off God did some personal things for me tonight also!! Things that I had been trying to MAKE HAPPEN in my own way for several years….  God did in like 10 minutes!!! Of course it is just a beginning, but a good beginning. God is good. I know I say that a lot.  And who would have though that my posts’ of ALL PEOPLE would be more spiritual than others?????!!!???   But It is really what excites me, it makes me happy, I love seeing people get the Holy Ghost, I love church. I love God and God really is good. So I hope you don’t get tired of me  saying it!!!

On a less spiritual note, and kinda a random thought… I have a new favorite snack!!!  Green apple slices, Organic Peanut Butter and Sharp cheddar cheese!!!!  IT is SO GOOD!!!! Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!!! And the other day I tried a dill pickle with peanut butter…. IT was SO GOOD!!!  I have been getting the weirdest cravings lately. Like Pecans and Pears.  Or a tuna salad with feta or goat cheese. Or pudding and crackers??? But I can’t have crackers, yet I still want it !!!! HAH!!! Weird. I’ve always ALWAYS been an extremely picky eater so this is rather new for me. I think I’m just creating new “tastes” to make up for all the things I don’t eat anymore…..  Well that makes sense to me. But I’ve been known to think things make sense to me that don’t to other people. So anyways….  Go eat a pickle and peanut butter!! YUM!

Ok so there’s not a whole lot going on in my life at the moment. I apologize that I haven’t written in so long. I kept meaning to, but never got around to it!!  Some of you may remember a few posts ago I made a comment about trying to lose weight?!?! well since I first began my program I have lost a total of 14 pounds! woo hoo!!!  I know it’s not very much but it’s something! hah!!  I am one sixth on the way there! It hasn’t been extremely easy but it is so worth it. I can’t really tell yet, but other people can.  So that’s good.

Matthew has been extremely busy with his job. We have been praying for hours for him and it seems they all came in a bulk!!!!  I’m having to eat dinner alone. =(  But the money is well worth it. =)

I was not able to go with my family to Wichita Falls for Uncle Gene and Aunt Karla’s installation and I was soo sooo soo sad about it but they took over 400 picutures!!!!! So I just got done looking at those and I kinda feel like I was there for all the important parts!! My little cousins are SO cute and Alayna’s sister looks just like her when she was that age!!!! I thought to myself ” wow she looks the same” then I realized it was her sister!!! And Savannah and her sister are sooo cute!! And it’s been for EVER since I’ve seen Carmen, Brook Shara, and Aunt Ginger!!!! I don’t even know there kids names… but the twins are adorable!!!   I hope my kids are cute like that!!  AUNT KARLA!!!! Plan a family reunion PLEASE!!!

I am very very very very very very glad to have the Valenti’s back from vacation. When they are gone I feel like half the church is gone.. especially in the music department!  I really like my coffee mug!!  Someday I would love to go to Hawaii!!!  I enjoyed Mexico very much so I think I would like Hawaii!  However my mom has some pretty funny stories about giant sea turtles and walking on water….. so I’m not sure.

I am going through a very weird phase !!!!  As long as I can remember I have taken extremely long baths. Every night!  Forever!!! All the sudden, I can’t take baths anymore!!!  I wish I could but I just can’t !!! I’m sure the water bill is exceptionally lower. But I feel as if a part of me is gone. HAH!!! I’m sure those of you who know me are shocked!!!!   I also cannot get into a book!! I haven’t read a book in like a month!!! a WHOLE MONTH!!!  I can find nothing to peak my interest!!!!  Thats another thing! I’ve always for as long as I can remember read a book a night almost!! Now I can barely pick up a book! How weird!! I just go to bed and fall right asleep!!! Weird.  So anyways I’m hoping these phases pass !! But who knows…

So if any of you have any suggestions for a good book, I’ll be more than happy to take you up on it.

Thats all today.

Today church was good. Dad preached on the second Methuselah (?). Which is grace. Thank God for grace!! I think sometimes we live with it and take it for granted so much. At least I know I do. I sin or do something wrong and sometimes instantly or later that day when I realize what I’ve done… Oh Lord please forgive me. What would happen if grace was obsolete???  What would we do ? What would I do ??  The Holy Ghost is precious, the truth is precious. I wouldn’t trade the truth for anything. But grace is priceless.  If we run out of grace it doesn’t matter if we have the Holy Ghost or the truth !!!  That makes me want to live right, to try and to do better. To think about the small things that I say or do!  Scary verses like every idol word, every action, every thought… that’s all recorded. Now I’ve never been a ” live for God out of fear” person. I don’t believe that works long term. You either got it or you don’t.  But sermons about the grace of God and what will happen when the grace is gone… gives me chills.  I never NEVER want to run out of Gods grace. And the Sunday School and Church sort of went hand in hand. The Sunday School teacher talked about the love of God and how much He loves us and doesn’t give up on us.  And then Dad got up and preached about Grace.  Earlier in the service we were singing How Great Is Our God. And it was almost like a gentle but strong ocean breeze swept through the sanctuary!!!! I felt it !!!  And later I found out that my mom and my mother in law both felt it too.  It was an amazing feeling, and being on the platform I can see peoples reaction to the presence of God. There’s not denying that the Spirit of God was there today.   As much grace as God has shown to us, we must show that much to other people. So this is a small “plug” for my husband. If you have any coats, winter clothes, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows… really anything please bring them to the church or send them to our church.  For those of you that if God moves on your heart, our address is 2340 Technology Parkway  Hollister CA 95023.  We are trying to start a homeless ministry.  I have many times handed out church cards to the homeless but I don’t think I’ve ever given my clothes to them.  Looking back I do feel selfish. Of course we say, “well go get a job you bum” to appease our conscience, but that’s not appeasing mine anymore. The cold weather is here and it will only get colder and rainy and I have so much that I can give away.  And to me that is a form of Grace!!!!  I don’t have much money, but I can give what I have to those that need it.   WHEW I’m glad I got all that out.

In other news life is good, my job is good, Matts job is good. We are looking to get another apartment. I found a very nice one in Gilroy. 3 bedroom 2 full bath over a thousand square feet!!!! But I don’t know if I want to live in Gilroy!!!  I really like living in Hollister and when we lived in Marina, I HATED IT!!!! But I was also sick so know that I’m well maybe it won’t be so bad. It would be nice to have restaurants to go to. And to have the extra room… I mean eventually we want to start a family….  NOT RIGHT NOW!   But soon. And I don’t want to wait until I am “preggers” to look for a bigger place!!!  I want to get in it right now and have it decorated and be prepared!!!  Also it’s much closer for Matthew, he drives all over for his job. Oakland, San Francisco, Port Richmond, Fremont. It just makes more sense. So pray that we can get this apartment. If not we will just keep looking.  Hopefully before I KILL my neighbor!!!!! DON’T GET ME STARTED!!!  Bless his heart… hah.   Ok hope all ya’ll are well.