She Was Watchin'

I got the Mark Schultz "Broken and Beautiful" music book today and have been playing those songs. I had forgotten about this song and cried all over again when I listened to it today!

Mark Schultz "She Was Watchin"

(turn off the music on the right hand column of the page so you can hear the song!)

Here's a poem I wrote in response to this song.... (Dad, i hope you don't mind that I posted this.... :) I'll take it off if you want me to! You were already asleep when I wrote it!)

Walkin' With You

Walkin' with you
hand in hand
Your strong fingers in mine
Form an unbreakable band

Your lap is still
the perfect place to sit
I'm all done growing now
So I think I'll always fit

I'll always be your little girl
Your princess, little bear.
You always do what's best for me,
showing me loving care.

Someday, daddy,
when I look for my prince,
I'll be thinking of you,
Thankful for your significance.

Walkin' with you
hand in hand
You will give me away
To some wonderful man

When you hand me off
I hope you'll be proud
Proud of who I am
Proud of me as I take that vow.

Thanks for being you,
A Godly man, husband, father.
Thanks for loving me,
and growing me further.

I love you Dad!!!

Molly

Sweet Book

For all of you ladies who love stories of purity, and saving your first kiss for marriage, I found this sweet book the other day and I recommend it! It's actually a children's book but I found that even so, it sums up my heart!!!

It's called "The Princess and the Kiss" by Jennie Bishop. Here's the summary:

"A loving king and queen present their daughter with a gift from God, her first kiss, to keep or to give away. The wise girl waits for the man who is worthy of her precious gift. Where is he and how will she ever find him? The surprising answer in this marvelous parable will touch the heart of parent and child alike."

It was just really sweet and I plan on keeping it on my bookshelf and giving it to my little girl someday. Meanwhile, I'm sure I will pull it out once in awhile to remind myself of this treasure, because i still have several years still of guarding my "precious gift."

Christmas Pics!!

I hope all of you had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas day! I have so many pictures I have no idea how I'm going to decide which ones to post!!!!

We had a great Christmas day. I woke up before everybody else for some reason so I got up and decided to curl my hair and style it in an up-do- just for fun, since I never take the time to do anything more than straighten it!! After everyone had woken up we had a great breakfast of coffeecake and casserole and proceeded to open stockings:

Then, we opened eachother's presents! Mom with the quilt that I made her!!! :)

My new car stereo!

Tonight, we had our big Christmas dinner with the fam!

Merry Christmas 2008!!

It is Christmas Eve again! We're snuggled up in our family room watching "Miracle on 34th Street" eating popcorn and Christmas cookies, our annual tradition.

I want to wish each and every one of you, whether I've met you or not, a blessed Christmas! May you bask in the greatness of God's PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL gift of sweet baby Jesus.

We had our annual Christmas Eve service. As usual, I jumped around the sanctuary from the choir to the piano to the choir to the keyboard to the piano and back again lol!! These services keep us musicians bouncing around! We LOVE them but breathe a sigh of relief when the last chord is played. The music was beautiful and it was a delight to hear our amazing choir. It has grown so much in the past year and it's amazing to see how much talent God has given our church!

Our annual Christmas eve picture:

Merry Christmas!!

My Sweet Sweet Brother

My brother Noah is so sweet. A couple of months ago he wrote that note on the hood of my car in the dew. Today, my brothers and I were outside for over an hour scraping all of the ice off of our driveway. I was working at the top and didn't realize Noah had a project going on down at the base of the driveway. He'd carved me a message in the ice!!! Take a look:

Noah, you are going to make a GREAT husband to some lucky girl someday!! You are so sweet and thoughtful and I know you will treat your wife with the same love and care that you do me. You go out of your way to make me feel beautiful, valued, and loved. Thank you!!

A Question....

I know that alot of my readers are passionate about orphans and adoption. I have a question for y'all. There are some days when the burden of the orphans is consuming. Sometimes I miss Claudia and the other kids so much that I just start crying. My sorrow for them and the desperation that I have to help them overwhelms me. Do any of you ever feel this way?? I am so thankful for the Word, for it gives me hope in knowing that God is their Father, and that He doesn't even let the sparrow out of His sight, much less a precious child of His! Yet even that does not completely take away this feeling!! And I suppose it can't/shouldn't. If God put this fire in our hearts then it won't be easily burnt out! Anyway... just seeing what you all have experienced. Let's get a conversation goin! :)

The fam's here!!

Our aunt and uncle from New York arrived on Monday night! We're thankful they're not one of those people that are still sitting in the airport waiting to fly out!

We went out for breakfast with them yesterday (Jay hadn't gotten there yet. Sorry Uncle Jay!)

Lots more pics to come from tommorow's Christmas celebrations! :)

The Ice Took Over

We had a big ice storm on Thursday night and..... the ice took over. We lost 4 HUGE branches in our yard. We were totally fine all Friday morning but then at 12 we lost the 4th branch. It came crashing down, twisted the power line, and brought down the power box with it. How kind. So we just got power back this morning!!

I saw again a beautiful display of the body of Christ when we were immediately invited to spend the night at our friend's house. I feel so blessed and loved. People were so eager to take care of us and make sure we were comfortable. When I came home I just felt like sitting down and crying. When I walked into the house and could flip on lights again, feel the heat coming out of the vents, check my email, I realized just how incredibly blessed we are. It was such a good reminder to be thankful, that not everyone has life so easy. It's overwhelming. But I know that because of the past 24 hours, my Christmas week will be full of more thoughts of appreciation and thankfulness.

here's some pics from the weekend!

My Christmas Girl

Here's some new pics of my Christmas girl:

It is with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes that I post these. How crazy is that??!! It's so bittersweet. My heart leaps when that monthly email comes, yet it breaks when I see her beautiful face smiling at me. She's so beautiful and just takes my breath away. It's so sad to see her baby fat gone from her face and that "little girl" look blossoming. Mothers are always saddened when they see their "babies" becoming big kids but it is even sadder when you know these kids aren't with their families- they are growing up 1000's of miles away. And.... this is a really depressing post lol. So I'm going to stop!

Catch Up!

Whew it's been a long time since I've blogged!! I have been incredibly busy the past week and feel like I am just now getting to catch my breath!!

Here's some pics from the past week:

Holding newborn Ella Kate- a HUGE treat!! I LOVED holding this sweet baby!

The two cuties I babysat tonight.

Our annual gingerbread house! :)

A Wow Moment

Have you ever had one of those moments when you kind of sit back for a second and realize all that your life is??? Whenever I do have those realization moments that my life is SO incomprehensibly blessed, I have a loving family, I'm living in a country of plenty, my heart just towards thankfulness. I am moved to tears in those moments when I realize my sheer selfishness, my ungrateful heart toward the Father who has given me EVERYTHING!!! He has not left me needy and His love is more than I could ever ask for. Have you stopped recently to take in all that God has done in YOUR life??

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
Psalm 77:11-13

Thankful Thursday

It's time for another Thankful Thursday!! You might groan but I like thankful Thursdays!! :)

So here we go!

1. I have spent more time on the piano in the past 2 days than I've spent playing this past month. I decided tonight that the best way to describe it is that I've fallen in love with the piano again. I was slowly losing my motivation, but praise God I am not feeling that anymore. I was even practicing some potential songs tonight that I could sing and play for offertory maybe... if I don't chicken out.

2. I'm almost done with my first Spanish college class (yaay!) and i've completed 31% of my Chemistry course. I am counting down the days until that class is over with. That will be the lowpoint of my school year lol!!! I really dislike that subject. But the school year is going by fast and for that I am thankful!!

3. I am too tired to do anymore lol!!!

At Home

For the first time since we've moved, I finally felt like this was home. Why?? We got a piano!!! A REAL piano!! I've been playing on my keyboard for past year and a half since we've moved and I was fine. But it truly isn't the same as a real piano. So today the piano was delivered. I got home from work and played a couple of chords but was in a hurry so I didn't really take in all that had been given to me in this gift. After I finished my homework tonight, I sat down with my worship music and i felt at home. My hands glided across the keys (not plastic keys!!) as the beautiful songs of praise flowed from this instrument into our home. It was a sweet time of worship for me and I feel so thankful and humbled right now. Music is such a beautiful reflection of our Creator. As the harmonies flow I just think of our lives and how perfect God blends everything together.

I want to thank Mom for the time she spent lining up delivery services and tuning. Thank you SOOOO MUCH to the family who used to own this piano! You have no idea how thankful I am.

And... though you never thought you'd hear this.. drum roll please..

Mom and Dad,

thank you for pushing me on in piano. What a gift it has been to be able to play and serve at church with it. Thank you for encouraging me in those tough spots that I went through and wanted to quit.

Blessings,
Molly

Deck the halls....

We decorated our Christmas tree today!

Water To My Soul

My heart was just feeling heavy this afternoon. It was over alot of things, but in the end God is so faithful to encourage. I sat down with my laptop and Bible and listened to these two songs and my heart was just refreshed by the Spirit.

Fireproof

My mom and I went to go see Fireproof on Friday night. It was a wonderful movie and I cried several times throughout the movie. It just had such incredible lessons, and such a beautiful story about marriage (how ironic that was the topic, since that's been on my mind recently!). I don't want to give anything away!!! But it was just SO GOOD! :) I would definitely recommend it. If someone needs somebody to go to it with I'll go again lol.

Bargains!!

Go check out: www.vistaprint.com for AMAZING deals on 2009 calendars that you can make yourself!! Upload your own pictures and they'll insert them for you!! :) All you have to do is pay for shipping!!!!

Proverbs 31 Wife

I spent some time surfing blogs tonight while we were watching a movie and I found myself at several blogs of mothers who had posted/commented/highlighted Proverbs 31 as their "theme verse." I also saw a couple of blogs of girls my age who said in their profile that they wanted to be a "Proverbs 31 wife." I thought that was so cool and I was so encouraged to find other girls like me who already are striving to become Godly women that we might serve our husbands well (whenever that stage of life happens!). It's hard to sum up all of my thoughts on this topic and I know that since I'm not married I really am clueless lol. And yes, I know I'm only 17. I have no idea if I really ever will get married. Yes, I know that marriage isn't everything. Yes I know that it's one of the hardest things ever. BUT it is also one of God's highest callings, something He started way back in the Garden of Eden. So anyways, I did write a poem, trying to express myself. It doesn't even begin to do the job but.... it's something!!1

Proverbs 31 Wife

This calling God gives, to be a mother and wife
My heart hopes and longs that this may be my life

I pray that I'll be all he wants in a wife

That I'll comfort, respect him even in the midst of strife

Though it feels far away, my teen years are nearly over
I have so much to learn to be the woman I hope for

With God's help may I be this “wife of noble character”
One who is faithful, loving, and a very hardworker

A woman whose words are gentle and quiet
A mother who teaches her children with wisdom

May my arms be wide open to welcome the orphans
That Christ's love might be shown through the beauty of adoption

I look to this Scripture and pray it will guide
My prayers to the Savior, in whom I will confide

My prayers, hopes, and dreams for that season of life
Where God calls me to marriage, to be a Godly wife.

Molly 11/27/08

Thanksgiving Post 2

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving as I hope all of you did!

We started our day with the Macy's Day parade. Here's most of the clan minus Jon and mom (who's taking the picture!):


So at our house we do not have an ice maker. Nope. We're old-fashioned. We have the ice cube trays that we refill several times a day. It's annoying (but I'm thankful for a freezer in which to keep ice and water to make ice with!). So when we visit my aunt and uncle's house we LOVE using their ice maker. I had to laugh when I saw Noah filling his glass up this morning (on his knees I might add! maybe he was tired????) so I snapped a picture.

Our family gathered around the table. I love timers on camaras!!! :)

Playing euchre!! After a little bit I had my strategy down and was quite pleased to keep up with the "euchre experts" in the family.

The other euchre table!

Thankful Thursday

How appropriate that Thankful Thursday is on Thanksgiving?!! So now you get to hear all about what I'm thankful for on this day of giving thanks to our great God! I'm just going to use this to summarize my thoughts from today as I've pondered all that God has done in my life. The things will probably be redundant as I've blogged about all of them in the past but oh well! This post is for me and my heart as I praise God for all He is! I find that I take for granted these incredible, core parts of my faith and this should not be!!

1. At our girls bible study we've been reading Romans. Anna and I sit and look at eachother, just trying to fathom how and why He would possibly forgive us and then LOVE us! How amazing is that?!!

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. "

Psalm 13:5

Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."

Psalm 17:7-8

2. This season of my life has, along with many other lessons, been a time of finding hope. Through scripture and words of encouraging people I've come to realize that as Christians, we are never left without hope. I'm so thankful for that!! It is almost healing to have the promise of hope when one's heart has been left wounded by the disappointments, harshness, and pain of this world. I find comfort and rest in knowing that there is hope for a future, hope for a new day, a second chance. My heart is so much more joyful and my outlook so much more positive since the Lord revealed this great hope to me.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

3. I am so thankful for the beautiful body of Christ. It has been so amazing as I've gotten older to see firsthand what it means to be apart of this body. Serving and being served. Rejoicing for and with others. Crying on their shoulders and letting them cry on mine. It is just an incredible group of people, pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle, linked by each person's gifts and personalities, and saturated by the love of Christ in all of our hearts.

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Romans 12:4-8

4. And, lastly, I'm thankful that when I think about the past year I see so clearly the kisses from heaven and fingerprints of God ALL OVER!! HE has changed me, stripped me of idols, and taught me despite my sin, rebellion, pride, and selfishness. He could just leave me yet He didn't! He chose to teach and guide me that I may look back on my life and give Him glory saying, "My gracious Father, look what You have done!! Great are you Lord and worthy to be praised!!!"

Blessings,

Molly

Thanksgiving Post 1

We drove to Aunt Diane and Uncle Dan's house last night. We started out the evening with a yummy dinner (i will be excercising when I get home lol!). Dad had printed out some Thanksgiving/turkey/duck riddles and we had a contest. Noah and I tied for 1st. We finished the night with some board games, darts, foosball (sp?), and the new Indiana Jones movie.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Bloggy friends, I pray that you all have a happy thanksgiving!!! May the Lord fill you with joy and peace, and may He bless your families greatly! :)

We have so much to be thankful for!

And, I stumbled upon this Scripture passage this morning and love it!

"3May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
4-6Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you—it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
7-9Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that."
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Message Version

Cleanin' House!

I was in a cleaning mood today so this evening I tackled my bedroom. I literally emptied everything but the clothes on hangers out of the closet and reorganized. I was so surprised to see how my busy life had let my room get so out of control! I used to keep my room meticulously clean. But.. I suppose I've gotten used to the little pile of clothes in the corner, my stack of papers on the dresser, and my stack of shoes on the floor of the closet. So I cleaned it all up! There's not one stray item in my room. Yet I know in another couple of months I'll have to do the same thing because I won't keep it cleaned up!

I started thinking about life, sin, and forgiveness. I thought about how many times I commit a sin, repent, God forgives me, and I do it again. I do this ALL THE TIME! Sometimes, I'll go awhile before repenting, getting comfortable with my sin, and then God has to do in my heart what I did in my room. He has to help me dig through the piles of garbage in my heart and clean out to make room for Him again. When my room is clean I walk in and feel at home, secure, and peaceful. When I walk in and see piles of stuff on the floor I just want to leave- it's dirty and reminds me of the lack of care I've given to my room! The same happens when I study my heart. I look in sometimes and am disgusted and just want to leave. Yet God says, "Molly, I will forgive you of ALL of those things! I'll be here with you and will help you work through it all! I'm here for you, my daughter, and love you for who you are!" Praise God for His forgiveness. He just astounds me with His grace and mercy. We do not deserve such forgiveness. We deserve the death that Jesus died. Yet that is not what God chose! Christ died for US! He bore the pain and suffering for US- sinners! When I think upon this wonderous love I can't begin to comprehend it. I'm so thankful for such an incredible God!!

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."

Ephesians 1:7