School days...

As another year has come and gone so quickly, I have found that my heart has learned many lessons this year. I have managed to finish my first year of college only to have to begin college all over again a few months later. I have achieved going on my first major mission trip while also managing to go out of the country for the first time and also get on a plane for the first time.

A few lessons I have learned...

- God has to come before anything that I bring into my life. If He is not first, then not only one thing, but many others will begin to pile up before Him and in His place.

- Jesus is my heartbeat; missions is my passion. I truly enjoy serving others. It is what I was made for. Serving and helping other people gives me such joy.

- My greatest dream is to open an orphanage in a foreign country. I have taken my first step towards that and am working towards the second step.

- I should never be allowed in a kitchen by myself cooking...ever...things end up burnt.

- Me + empty house alone = one very paranoid 20 yr old.

- I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, but sometimes have to make myself refrain from being around people so that I can concentrate on alone time with my Father.

- I will probably never [or not for a long time anyway] ride a go kart again. I am not fond of them right now...or the drugs I have to take to be able to feel ok after having wrecked one...

Well, that's all of my lessons for now. I am sure there are many I forgot, but I am stopping there for now.

School starts on Thursday [and orientation in Tuesday]. I am super pumped, yet so nervous all at the same time. Jacksonville State is so much bigger than Southeastern, which really doesn't make me feel real great about it. But I am so ready to get into what God has waiting for me. Becoming a Social worker is my next step to achieving the Big Dream God has placed within me. I am so excited and cannot wait to see who I get to meet through this program at JSU and can't wait to see how He will use me to help so many.

Also, I am starting my fundraising for China. I get to go back this summer. :) The trip is a couple hundred dollars more than it was last year, but I know God will provide like He did last year.

Out for now.
Chels

Winter Xtreme 08

I went to Winter Xtreme this week with the students. It was an awesome time with some really great bands and speakers. Unfortunately, my body didn't have as much fun. Monday, I was sick. Tuesday, I felt great; yet that evening came to an end when I wrecked the go kart I was driving on a track. And Wednesday, I was reaping the benefits from the wreck. My body is still really sore, but I had xrays done and no bones were broken [praise the Lord]. He gave me some meds and sent me on my way. I am praying for quick recovery and hoping that I will be alright enough to go to work tomorrow.

Blissfulness

The holidays have been slightly on the ritz this year. Our Christmas tree in the Usher house was put up on Christmas Eve morning and ended up on our porch the following night. I really enjoyed Christmas Day [and also not having to go to work the day after to deal with returns]. Christmas Day I was able to spend precious time with family and extended family. It actually wasn't as crazy as it usually seems, and I loved it. My aunt and I were able to have a sweet heart-to-heart talk that was probably long overdue.

our tree

and our other decor

Luckily I survived my first set of holidays in a retail store. Although everyone appeared to be a little insane...I really did enjoy it. And while I am on my job, I might as well update you too. I still really like it a lot. It is wonderful, to me, that I get to help people and get paid for it. I have such a huge passion to help folks out and this is just topping on a cake. I would still really like a job [soon] in human resources, but for now, this is ok. I can wait on Him to put the job in my path.

Let me just say...we so take a lot of things for granted. I saw a drama put together to a new Faith Hill song, "A Baby Changes Everything." It was really good. At the end, the song says: "My whole life has turned around, I was lost, but now I'm found." This part made me break down everytime I saw it. Everyone is dressed in 'biblical clothes' except the guy that does this part. He is a person from our time. He takes the baby from Mary and just holds Him in his arms.

God sent this baby to a lost and dying world. He sent His baby boy to take on MY sins and save from a terrible, wretched place that I really deserve. That blows my mind. Why in the world would He decide to do anything like that? Especially for me?? I just don't understand. And then as I get into the Word I remember why. He loves me. The God who created this universe, this world, the land I walk on, and my very being with such intricate detail loves me. My oh my. I just want you to take that in. He loves you. He loves you despite the mess ups that we do every single day, week, month, year. He will always love us and be there for us. I hope and pray that as another Christmas season has come and gone that the true meaning will live on in your heart. Jesus is the reason for the season. He is the reason we have breath each new morning. He is the reason we need to live our lives. Focus on the Father.

Birthday week: numero uno...

This week has been wonderful and so much fun. Birthday week started last Sunday (Nov 23rd). Nikki said I should have had a birthday month, but I usually start a countdown 3 months before my birthday and make sure everyone knows about it, so I decided that I wanted to have one solid week of birthday fun. [I got the idea from an episode of Gilmore Girls when it was Lorelai's bday and she got a bday week.] Pictures will be posted below each day from that day...

Sunday: A group of friends that went to China with me was coming through Birmingham on their way from Tennessee back down to Florida. They went to go pick up one of our translators, Midea, for her to spend the holidays with one of them. So, I drove up after church that morning to meet with them for lunch. It was a wonderful surprise to the week [because I had no idea they were coming until Saturday]. And after church that night, a whole group of folks came to celebrate with me at Struts. We had the center of that place filled up. It was so much fun!

my China friends. :)

Jessica and me at Struts

Connor [he wanted his corndogs to be on a stick...so i put them on straws for him]

the big 2-0

Monday: This was my actual birthday. I worked for a little while, went to lunch with Connie and then me and my sister, Nikki, went out to eat at Outback and hang out...we missed you Katie.

Tuesday: I spent the day in Birmingham, worked for Mrs. Kathy for a few hours and then went to spend the evening with Melissa. :) And then I went bowling.

yummy birthday cupcakes.

me and Mel

Wednesday: I went out and bought myself some cute dress shoes. [This is a big deal...I never buy dress shoes...]

three of the most comfortable, cute dress shoes ever...

Thursday: Thanksgiving. We had our 1st annual Turkey Bowl game. Courtney [Wendy's 8 yr old] taught Wendy and I some cheers and we cheered til we got bored... Later that day I went over to Katie's in-laws [another set of parents to me] for lunch and then off to Raylee's to see Nikki and Chad and everyone.

Friday and Saturday: We had the Miller kids stay with us. 6 kids. It was intense, but great! I had to work most of the weekend, but still got to hang out with them. The 5 girls stayed in my room with me, while the brother had the upstairs living room all to himself.

This week, birthday week: number two...Tiff is having me open a present a day. A blog will follow on this week as well...possibly will be just pictures...

Til next time.
Chels

Happy thanksgiving!

I have the most amazing friends in the world. Yes, you...

I could never thank God enough for blessing me with the people He has allowed to be in my life. You are each so precious to me and I want you to know that I am so thankful for you.

And I also thank you for being a part of my journey. I appreciate the role that you each play in my life. You are wonderful.

p.s. Random thought...I don't understand why 'turkey day' replaces 'thanksgiving' as today's name...

Have a happy thanksgiving!
Chels

Peebles

I started my new job on Wednesday. I sat and watched videos for hours only to find out last night that I really didn't have to. Yesterday was my first day on the floor. I loved it. I worked from 10-9 [open to close]. Of course I was exhausted after work, but I learned soo much! I think that is only a few things that I don't know how to do now. I am really excited about it. I have never done retail before, but I think this is one job that I was made for. I helped this older lady pick out a whole outfit and some other stuff too. It was a lot of fun! :) I have found that when I greet a customer and ask if they need help finding anything...well, i actually have to help. lol. I don't know where hardly anything is except by department/section. But it is helping me to learn the whole floor. We had two new kids start last night and I was walking the girl around and explaining stuff to her like I had been there for forever.

Anyway, this is just to say...I like this job a lot! :)

out for now.
Chels

House/dog sitting weekend

This weekend has been another one of those good ole 'stay at someone else's house while they aren't there' kinda weekends. I am not 100% sure why I volunteer to do this for people when I know it creeps me out, but I guess it is good for me...mayybe...I went to see Katie and the kids this weekend and also got to hang out some while I wasn't at the house. I just thought I would include some fun pics. So, here they are...

katie, me, and nikki [sisters got the new cut too]

rylee brooke [my new niece]

i feel like this one deserves a little explanation...this was after i had put a small piece of painter's tape on his mouth...he liked it and decided to keep it there...

Maggie wanted to play this morning when I took her out...she has a sister, but Twiggy doesn't like me and won't let me take her picture


now it is time for drawing and Gilmore Girls before bed. :)

out for now. :)
Chels

Push comes to shove

Tonight was very interesting. I was going over notes for my 15 minute presentation about my trip to China when I was suddenly told that Bro. Tim, our pastor, wouldn't be at church tonight. I was supposed to share and then he was going to speak. So, I quickly found out [20 mins before service started] that I had charge of the entire service! I panicked! I went into Jim's office and began searching for more info and trying to figure out how I was going to turn a 15 min presentation into 30-45 mins. After I calmed down, I went into the sanctuary and read over my journal a little bit and finally found a passage to talk about. I ended up filling the entire service by sharing about our camps and experiences, talking about Joshua 1, watching a video I made, and having a question session. And as people asked questions, I remembered more and more that I wanted to share. It turned out really great!

Super fantastic weekend

This weekend was so wonderful! Friday I drove over to Birmingham to spend an evening at the Hawkins' house with Melissa, Mrs. Kathy, and Dr. Hawkins. We enjoyed a nice meal and fellowship. It was a nice foreign affair. DHawk shared India pictures with us and I was able to share China pictures and we talked about various mission trips and such. It was fantastic. I was also able to spend a good bit of time with Mel. It was much needed. :) After all, we hadn't seen each other in ages...ok ok, so it was only a couple months, but that is a really REALLY LONG time. We went for a jog/walk in Veteran's Park. [so wonderful] I was surprised I made it for as long as I did. [Thanks Melissa for the drive and encouraging] I was also able to catch up with Mallorie this weekend over some Starbucks. [white hot choc is the best...mmm :)]

Today at church was so much fun. We are learning about the roles each person has in a family. This consists of the women, men, and students splitting up and each having their own lesson. Tonight in the student's quarters we talked about respecting your parents. Jim asked Jessica, Callie, and I to come up with a skit to the song R.E.S.P.E.C.T by Aretha Franklin. And the pictures below can show you what we came up with...

me in all my...well...i dont know what you would call it...

Jessica [wife], me [husband], and Callie [rebellious son]

We obviously have too much fun dressing up together, but it just wouldn't be the same without them. The kid in me especially comes out when I am around these girls. They are awesome! [And just in case this thought is crossing your mind...No, you don't need to be worried about us] We started the song with a short skit and then went into the song with Jess leading and me as her background singer and oober crazy dancer. You can only imagine this...really...lol.

Anyway, that's all for now. Til next time...
Chels

In recent news...

Well, it has been a while since I have updated everyone on how everything is going my way. I am not real sure how many people actually read this, but for those of you who do, thanks. And for you inquiring minds, here's the spill.

God has been doing such an amazing work in me in the past couple of weeks. I am seeing so much of His glory in everything I encounter from day to day. My worry level has certainly gone down as my faith has been increasing. For those of you who pay attention on Facebook, you may have seen that Joseph [my bf of 14 months] and I are not dating anymore. I did not feel as if the relationship I was in was headed in God's direction. I have been so much more of myself the past couple of weeks and have been so happy. I know that sounds really mean, but I know it is certainly in the will of God for my life that I am a single person. My focus and drive has to be on Him before it can be on anyone or anything else. I know that He is going to handle everything else. God is so amazing and I am so blessed to have wonderful people in my life to support me. I thank Him each day for giving me such wonderful friends.

Also, I have been in search of a new job. While I still really enjoy being in construction and doing something new almost everyday, I have to have a new job for when I start school in January. Please be in prayer with me on this. Chad, my brother-in-law, told me that a lady is looking for a college student to come and work for her 20 hrs a week that is going into something related to human resources. As most of you know, I am going into Social Work at Jacksonville State...I would say that social work and human resources are pretty connected. :) I am hopeful and Chad is going to put in a good word for me. It is really good pay and not many hours a week. Plus, some experience to go with my field. This is what I decided a while back that I really wanted to do when school started, so I am praying that this is why no one has called me back from other jobs I have applied for. If not though, I will just know that it is not meant to be. I am trusting Him in this.

Well, I think that is pretty much it right now. OH wait! I take that back. One more thing. This week Jim and Donna are on vacation. They left for Maggie Valley, NC yesterday morning and will return next Saturday. For the record, I don't enjoy being home by myself. It pretty much freaks me out and I really miss both of them.

Ok, that's really all for now. Peace.
Chels