Making Friends....

Thought I would post this up. Ralph made a friend. His name is Heavy Duty! Well that's his show name. He breaks bricks, bends frying pans with one hand, crushes full soda cans, bends iron rods twice even three times. Ralph asked him if he could lift him up but Heavy was a little weirded out by that so he said he would take a picture of him in a head lock. I though it was pretty funny.

SOPHIE OLIVER MISTY!!

Fun stuff with friends..... rather goofy stuff.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRJwqUoyjT4

Blues....

Friend Ralph is visiting for two weeks. We drove to Glacier Park and had a blast taking pics of everything. He's only here for three more days, time just went by too fast. Here's a few with blues that took my breath away. *sigh*

Class assignment...

Sample of some Fall pictures I took for a class assignment. This year we had record temperature drops to such a degree we ended up with snow in early October. It was below the 20's. Anyway it froze the leaf transition for a while, but now I look outside and see fall as it should be. Warm colors and rain. I am not excited for the snow but it has to come. On the brighter side, I love wearing scarves. This was taken with a 35mm camera.

Books.....

Finished reading this book that took me through a journey of incredible endurance and how when determined to live the human body can be out beat by the willingness to live and be free. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone! I sometimes sit at my desk with nothing to do when days at work are slow. Well luckily that day I happened to look in my desk drawer and found this book the night watchman left in there. I was so grateful, because I fell in love with this book! It's amazing!!! I cried, hoped and rooted for the people in this book, that even though they have long passed they continue to receive letters from people who have been impacted by their bravery.

All you hear is......nothing

*Sigh*

Sigma August Contest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_YxyZptH7o

This is me putting makeup on my lil sister. For a contest where if I win I will get a whole line of makeup brushes! Sounds cool! A makeup artist can never have too many brushes. Hope you like.

Swimming lessons!

So we have never taken Cowcow out into any kind of body of water. So we weren't sure if he could even swim! He hates it when we bathe him so I though there is no way he is gonna like getting in the lake! So we went out to the lake today and kinda forced him to get into the water deep enough to know if he could paddle and become familiar with swimming. Well he did GREAT! He seemed upset at first but then later he started going in on his own will. Hopefully he learns to love it so we can go on some fun adventures! Here are some pics of our trip.

Take my picture pleaaaase!!!

So after I took Meli's pics, my lil neice lingered about me until she asked if she could have her pic taken. So I took these simple pics of her but she is so beautiful they came out stunning! I think she resembles Cher at times so I had her look a lil hippyish! haha. I love this girl!

Photoshoot! w/Meli

Latest photo shoot. Meli came up with my family from Arizona. She is my sister Leina's best friend so she tagged along and it was fun seeing her again! We laughed (a lot) at the silliest things. On their last day here we did this quick, but fun, photo shoot. In AZ I used to always use her and my lil sis Leina as subjects for makeup experiments so it was like old times when I got to take her pics.

I HEART! WOW!

So I am on the mailing list for "I Heart" and recently I had received an email that they wanted to know how we were going to impact our world. They wanted us to write it on a piece of paper and take a picture with it, to make a statement during the 2009 Hillsong Conference. From those they would choose the pictures they would going to use to make a wall of people from all over the world (and people all over submitted these) who want to make a change and impact their world. The wall came out awesome! And I got a chance to be on it!

This is the picture
Here is the link to when they put me on their site for the first time: http://ow.ly/15GPdI I am on there several times, they duplicated most of the pictures on there. It's easier to see it if you focus on finding the heart. If you go to the link on the website you can see it better.

Here's the link to the site:
http://www.i-heart.org/entry.php?intid=135

How fun is that! My face is in Australia!

Kids in all Shapes and Sizes....

My nieces and nephews came up to visit from Arizona and we had such a fun time. These pictures I took after visiting a park. This street had potential for great pics and I never could find a good subject for it, until this crowd of assorted young lives full of character ended up in the same car at the right time. So a light bulb clicked, in my head, before heading home that they would be really fun pictures. This first picture was funny because a man on a bike was passing by us and my nephew Isaac, the one with the peace sign up, was like "Hey man, whats up!" and it was cute because the guy on the bike was equally enthusiastic as he returned his salutations, and then everyone began saying hello and laughing along with the guy on the bike! funny moment.

This next pic reminds me of a tv show like "Beverly Hills 90210" or "21 Jump Street".

I love this last picture because Carla, the littlest one in the blue shirt, hates getting her picture taken. Well this was one of the last ones and she was kinda fed up and put up a pose that openly expressed disapproval. She got through it ok though. She even smiled on some of them after I would make her laugh.

I miss them, hope they visit soon again. I had a blast.

Photoshoot FUN!

Last Saturday my friend Mandi spent the whole day at my house and I did her makeup and we went places to take her pic. It was such a nice day! God blessed us with some sun and boy it was just a gorgeous day! Anywho here are a few samples of the results of a days worth of FUN!

Pray for Israel....

Ezekiel 38, 39

Wow, it's been a while...

I guess time has just passed and I hadn't posted anything. I don't think I have ever dealt with such tribulation in my life like what I have passed this last month or more. Jesus was my only rescue in this situation and I understand so intently now how this earth can never quench what we truly need as spiritual beings. I will never stop praising God and His faithfulness. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Well He has truly been my light when I sought His truth and He has given me life, and life abundantly! I almost feel like crying now as I write just to think of what He has brought me through. He surrounds me and covers me under His wing. God is good!

Amongst all this, winter has passed! And OH HOW I AM HAPPY!! The flowers are beginning to bloom in the fields and the grass is growing! I can't wait for the trees to fill up with flowers! Like every spring however, comes a lot of lawn work! So here are some pics of us working outside! Well mainly of my parents and a sunset to end a beautiful day!

Prayer....

God answers it. Wait for it, if it tarries, wait for it. He will answer you. He is our Stregnth, He fights for us and delivers us when we are battling. Christ is faithful. I laid my burdens at the feet of Jesus, He took them and turned them into blessing. I am now free and I will sing of His love forever.

Frozen water is Cool!

Frozen waterfalls are so cool. Some people show up with paintball guns and add to the effect.

Here are Leonard and Midget

Then there are frozen lakes, which are also cool cause you can walk on them. here's Shorty and CowCow on the boardwalk.

And everyone else walking out on the lake. It was chilly but it was a fun day cause we got to go where ever they wanted. So yeah Frozen water can be cool. Literally.

Migration?

This day started out with some snowing but we thought it wouldn't get too bad. So we went into town with my parents who are taking classes at the college. So while they were in class Leonard, Shorty, CowCow and I went to a park. When we got there it was very surprising how many ducks and geese were there. We parked right beside them and just watched as this lady and a little girl fed them some bread. I was hesitant to do that myself because I knew they can be overwhelming, especially with that many together. So I got out and started snapping pictures when they all went into her direction. After only a little while she was out of bread and all the ducks and geese started heading towards our direction, but they were actually quite nice. One of them kept sticking it's tongue out and hissing at me. I think it wanted food. So we got our leftovers and threw it at them. It was fun and I got some neat pictures.

After we picked up our parents a blizzard broke out and if anyone has driven in a blizzard they know how dreadful it is. The roads instantly get a sheet of ice on them and we just about crashed into a Semi truck but we swerved off the road and got enough snow to help us brake. The whole way home we dealt with blind spots and ice, horrible!!!!!! I think even in little moments like those our faith is tested, cause it can either freak you out completely or you can lean on knowing God is going to help you home, and that's just what He did. We are home, warm and safe with terrible winds outside. CowCow was terrified, I wonder how aware animals are of such weather. He seems a little concerned, he's not so jumpy and wild. He's oddly calm. Hahaha, I hope things clear up soon and we can see Spring soon!!!! Well I know I am praying about it! Please God!?

Isaiah 25:9

And it shall be said in the day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

I couldn't stop laughing.

This is CowCow, a 4 month old naive puppy who has alot still to learn. He's as curious as they come, rubbing his little nose into anything and everything, running wild investigating his surroundings. Doesn't bump into other creatures very often, but when the the opportunity to meet other species approaches, he runs fearfully to his master's side for protection until the coast is clear. However there is a certain cat that lingers the area often, who is no bigger than he. CowCow, not feeling any form of intimidation from this tiny creature, thought it fun to approach this cat.
This is Gorda, a cat filled with years and wisdom. She has dodged the biggest and quickest of animals and survived the coldest and meanest winters Montana has to offer. She is the Queen of this domain and her survival skills are sharp. She appreciates the human specie who she permitted to live in her house, because they feed her. They pet her at her command and provided her with an old sleeping bag where she can sleep. Her tolerance for wild, naive puppies is very, very low.

So CowCow seeing how this creature seemed perfectly harmless thought he could annoy her with his naive puppy manner. He began running around her, smelling her, jumping up and down in front of her, getting in her way and following her everywhere she went. CowCow was ignorant to her years of dealing with silly dogs (of any size), who seek her only for a tasty meal, or a toy to chase. She wasn't about to allow such a small example of this specie to ruin her day with adolescent manners. She was very patient at first, and occasionally threatened him with a raised paw here and there to maintain distance.

CowCow's persistence, however, got to her Majesty the Queen and she used one of her many tricks to ensure this specie be kept under control in her domain. She walked away slowly, then when CowCow ran up to get in front of her to interrupt her pace, She raised her glorious paw and forcefully slapped CowCow to a halt.
Behold the force used by her Majesty the Queen, which threw back the wild CowCow. Teaching CowCow one important lesson in his life. Smaller doesn't always mean weaker.

After CowCow came to from this majestic slap. Well, let's just say CowCow learned his lesson.

Why resting in God is crucial

My notes from Sunday morning preaching by Pastor Schmidt

Q- Why did Jesus come to this earth and to die?
A- For our Redemption

Q- What is the purpose of Redemption?
A-Given to us so an everlasting covenant could be established between man and God.

Q-What is the purpose of a Covenant?
A- To sanctify and consecrate

Q- What is the purpose of Sanctification?
A- To be able to enter into God’s presence, open a way for fellowship and have more in common with God and less in common with the world.

Q- What is the purpose of fellowship?
A- To restore us to a place God intended for us to be, the place sin took from us. A place of rest and fellowship with God.

To accept Jesus Christ in your life is to lead you to where God intended and wanted us to be. God desires to take you back to a fellowship with Him. Like the garden of Eden.

God’s Heart: is to give you the promised land
God’s Will: To keep you on the path of life as he leads you to your promise

Rest was important to God since the beginning.

The lie of Satan: If you work harder and do more and more, you can be more like God, accomplishing numerous things, fix all the problems around you, be an answer to societies declining state.

In reality we are more like God when we rest. Jesus revealed this with Mary and Martha.
Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

When we stop and fellowship and rest in God, He can be God in our lives and do what God does. All He desires to do is fellowship with us, for us to know His voice and presence. God understands rest and made it a law to rest.

Q- What keeps you from rest?
A- Disobedience Hebrews 4:11 (New International Version)
11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Ask God: Where have I denied you and disobeyed your voice?

This is me: Coming to Montana I left behind loads of responsibility in my church, with my friends, and family. I was stripped of who I though I was supposed to be and what God wanted me to be. Thing is, I don’t know how to quit. So God painfully pulled me away from it all. It hurt me to lose my so called identity and be judged an ignorant (I somehow convince myself that maybe I was). I was only trying to be obedient to God. I have a calling in my life and it is clear to me God sometimes has to lead us back into fellowship with Him so we can realize how out of it we really are when we clutter our lives with duties and responsibilities we think give us purpose, when in reality they are foolish attempts to be God in our own life and other peoples lives. I can’t be God for myself or anyone else. God has to be God and unless we are in fellowship with Him constantly we will lose ourselves in our attempts to be God. I desire to be in fellowship with God so I may never loose His friendship, cause it is the most important thing in the world to me. To be and bring the light of God because of my times with Him not just because of knowledge. The Spirit of God answered a question for me that has lingered in my mind and heart since I moved to Montana (Why would God move me away?). This is why I chose to post this simple but beautiful message. Let us not be led to believe we can ever be like God or receive glory that only belongs to Him. To rest in God daily and remember we can only do so much, let God be God in your life. Be aware of the true sacrifice Jesus made for us. Blessings<><