The Importance of Words

So this week I have been thinking about the importance of words especially for the use of encouraging one another but even more specifically how much power there is in encouragement from someone of the opposite sex. I think a lot of people (myself included) have veered away from encouraging people of the opposite sex because we are worried about how it will come across to them. I know that I have been SO guilty of that. Anyways, I was chatting on Facebook with someone and they told me that I would make someone a great wife someday. It was a simple, heartfelt compliment but it was SO encouraging to me because it told me that I'm doing something right! It's comments like that, that keep me going, knowing that other people can see the fruit of the Father in me. I'm not saying that we should do things to be noticed by any means, but it's encouraging to know that someone sees the fruit of the Father in you and isn't afraid to let you know that! I am personally going to try and do a better job of encouraging my brothers in the LORD, and guys, let me know the kinds of these that encourage you!!

Okay, I'm off my soapbox for now :)
But I would love to hear what you think!!
God Bless!!

My Christmas Break (so far)

*sighs*

It is SOOOOOOO good to be home!

I have missed my family and all of my friends here so much...and Bible Bowl :)

Megan and I did some Christmas shopping together and that was a lot of fun. Megan gave me my Christmas present on Monday and it was....*drumroll*......................the new DAVID ARCHULETA cd! *gasps* She is the BEST friend and I love, love, love the cd! It is so good :) While Meg and I were at the VV Mall, I got my left cartilage pierced :) It hasn't swelled at all and really hasn't hurt other when I first got it done which has been nice.

I went with Mom today as she finished up all of her Christmas shopping and we got some really good deals on stuff. It was nice to get to spend a couple of hours with my Mom by myself.

Ganny (my Dad's mom) came up from Gatesville to visit us on Wednesday and then went back home today, so that was nice to get to spend some time with her as well. She came so that she could spend some time with Dad since he's been kind of cooped up here at the house. She also brought us a lot of goodies that she made :)

I don't know if any of you guys know who the Duggar's are, but they are a family that lives in Arkansas and Michelle (the Mom) just had her 18th baby. Anyways, if you get a chance, check out their family website if you get a chance. 

Also, the Duggar's oldest son, Josh, just got married in September (he's a year older than me) and he and his wife, Anna, have a website as well with their story and I found it very encouraging as I strive to save myself for my future husband. I encourage you all (guys and girls) to check out Josh and Anna Duggar's story at: www.ja20.com./ourstory.html

Well, I'm gonna hit the hay!

I hope everyone has a great Christmas with their families!

Kayla and I were at Starbucks waiting to go to the airport to fly home and I decided to have fun with my MacBook :)

I decided to take a picture of Kayla's and I's feet.

Kayla and I at the ballet!

Kayla, Josie and I at Jed and Josie's apartment! We had so much fun :)

I went to San Antonio this weekend to see my friend, Josie, as Clara in the Nutcracker. I drove to Dallas Thursday night and flew into San Antonio. Kayla was flying to Nebraska and switched planes in Dallas and so we ended up being on the same flight in to San Antonio and so that was a lot of fun! 

Josie picked us up from the airport and we went over to her and Jed's apartment for about 45 minutes and the Mrs. Glenda picked us all up, we ran some errands and then we all headed downtown so that the girls could get ready for their performance.

Saturday, Jed and Josie came over for breakfast and we got to hang out and talk for a while before everyone had to head off to get ready for the ballet. Kayla and I chilled at the Deahl's house the whole day and so that was a lot of fun. We watched: Male Order Bride (Cary Grant), The Wedding Present (Cary Grant), The Village and Sense and Sensibility. For lunch, we walked about a mile to Sonic and so we got our exercise in :)

Sunday morning, we got to go to Oak Hills, which was SO nice! I miss it a lot and so it was good to get to see a lot of people and to hear Max speak again. It was a really special weekend to be back because Oak Hills had their 50th Church Anniversary. They had a video that told the history of the church and showed pictures and videos of special moments in the church's history. I got to go to Family Class which was also really cool since we were so involved when we were there. It made me feel at home, sort of.

After church, Kayla and I went with Mr. Arnold and Elijah to Alamo Cafe' and then we chilled at Starbucks. Mr. Arnold was taking us to the airport and so we had some time to kill. It was so good to see them!

FINALSS....

I had my English and Bible finals today and I have my Communications final tomorrow and then I'm DONE! I'm coming home tomorrow and should be back in time to go to church tomorrow night. I am SO excited! I will miss the fact that I won't be able to just go and do whatever when I'm at home, but it will be so good to be at home!

I hope to be able to see everyone when I come home...Have a great week!

(By the way, I have no idea why all of this is underlined...I couldn't figure out how to fix it)

The Nutcracker

Hello dear friends!

Wow! I can't believe that it's already December, crazy! I am almost done with school and ready for Christmas Break to be here! I will be done with my last final on Wednesday and I can hardly wait!!!! I have 3 finals on Tuesday and 1 final on Wednesday.

This weekend I'm flying to San Antonio to see one of my best friends perform in "The Nutcracker" with the San Antonio Ballet. I'm flying on Friday and will be there for the opening performance that night. Josie and I's really good friend, Kayla, will also be flying in Friday from Nebraska. I am SO excited! The 3 of us haven't been together since Josie's wedding in March and so we are all really excited!

Well, I need to go to bed...I have a psychology test tomorrow and I have to give a speech :/

God bless!

Friends

I am so thankful for good friends!
Last night, I got to talk to 2 of my closest friends in the WORLD!

Josie and Kayla,

You guys are uh-mazing! The Lord has used you guys in such a powerful way in my life...I don't know what I would do without you guys! We have so many memories and I miss you guys so much! Remember our co-op days? Haha! Watching "Pride and Prejudice", Josie making fun of Kayla and I because we are "hopeless romantics" :) Walking with your Dad, Josie as he was teaching us biology and then all of our several hour long talks!

You both have been such a source of encouragement to me. You help me keep my mind focused on the Lord and you both constantly remind me through your actions, what a woman of God looks like.

And I am so thankful that even though none of us live close, and Josie, you're married now, we have still stayed in touch! All we need to do now is to set up a 3-way :)

I love you guys SO much! Thank you for always being there for me!
-CB

I have struggled a lot since I've been at ACU with loneliness. I have not made any good friends and I have found it really easy to mope and tell myself that no one wants to be around me. But, that does me no good. I have realized that the Lord is teaching me that I rely on my friends too much and I need to learn to rely on him more and more. Besides, I LOVE the friends that I have back at home...you guys are amazing!

I haven't really gotten "plugged into" a church yet, mainly because I don't feel like I will ever be plugged in since I don't have a car, but I really like Beltway. This morning I went to Beltway with a group of girls and it blessed me so much! Every time I go to Beltway, I feel like the Lord speaks to me in a deeper way. The worship at Beltway is AMAZING! Coming from a family that has such an appreciation for woship, it is something that is very important to me in a church. Every time I go to Beltway, I can't help but cry...not just cry, but sometimes sob. At first, I thought it was because I was homesick and the way the worship minister leads, reminds me so much of my Dad; but that's not the reason. The spirit of Christ moves so freely there and I can't help but weep. It's amazing!

I know that many of you guys followed the election and not all of you were happy with the results. I know that I wasn't. I voted Republican and I will probably always vote Republican. I will respect that Obama is our new President, but I don't agree with his stance on some moral issues and I have no fear in saying that. I respect those who disagree with me as long as we can agree to disagree :)

In saying that, the ACU paper, The Optimist, did something that bothers me a lot. The optimist cam out and endorsed Obama, somthing that the Dallas Morning News didn't even do. No good has come out of it, and we are already losing some prospective students due to their lack of judgement. If those individuals wanted to come out and support Obama, fine. But not in the school newspaper. I know that the newspaper doesn't technically reflect the school as a whole, but it does to an extent. What's done is done and I hope that the staff learns from their mistakes.

Well, I hope that everyone has a great week! I have some homework that I have to get done!

May the Lord bless you all!

My Grandpa

Would you guys please pray for my Grandfather?
My Mom's step-brother called us Friday night and told us that he might have had a heart-attack and that they were on the way to the hospital. That was about 10:30pm and he called up with updates until 2:00am. It took them awhile to figure out what had actually happened, but they have now decided that he's had a stroke and the stroke has effected the part of the brain that deals with his consciousness. He is still unconscious and my Mom flew to be with him in Kansas City yesterday evening, and my Aunt from North Carolina flew in early this morning.

Just pray that everything will be okay and pray for my Mom and Aunt Kris, that they are both filled with comfort and peace and that they are able to stay well rested.

Thanks everyone!