One of the very Sweetest...

So thankful for sweet treats like this. Josh and Stephanie Lindstrom's sweet Sophia.

I could kiss those little cheeks all day.

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

I awake, and I am still with you.

Psalm 139:13-17

"There Is Work To Be Done"

I just finished listening to Matt Chandler's talk at Together for the Gospel 2010 Conference and it has moved me to want all of Christ- in everything in life. There is nothing better.

This week I have struggled with the reality of saying that I am a Christian. If indeed I am a believer in Christ and his Word, then there is an eternity at stake for every human being. How often do I live like Starbucks is at stake if I don't leave my house on time in the early morning. So foolish. How fickle is my heart!? Oh man...

Matt has encouraged me once again to be bold with the gospel. Speak truth in love- but SPEAK for pete's sake the TRUTH of the gospel.

If you have some time I would highly encourage you to listen to his talk. In fact even if you have no time whatsoever I would encourage you to make time for the sake of your heart and mind and listen to Matt praise the name of Jesus in the midst of his battle with brain cancer.

C.J. Mahaney with Matt Chandler

*scroll half way down and you will find the link.

"While I'm still here, there is work to be done." Matt Chandler

Sweet College Roommate

This past weekend I was able to make a quick trip down to North Carolina to visit my college roommate and her sweet family. Her baby boy turned two and acts like it more than ever.

Tucker Graham Anderson is a sweet handful of JOY. So thankful for his growth these past two years. I was honored to be a part of his lovely aviation themed party. His momma sure knows how to make people feel special and have a fun time. I love you Amory! So thankful for your friendship. Thanks to McCutcheons (Joe and Penny) for always being my surrogate parents while in NC- I don't know what I would do without you. I appreciate your prayers so much! The Lynchburg crew was wonderful to see again as well. Billy, Vandy, Russell, & Donna- I love you all very much. I will look forward to the day when I will see you again. Until then blessings to you all!

I am my problem...

"You are not my main problem. My parents were not my main problem. My enemies are not my main problem. I am my main problem. Not my deeds, and not my circumstances, and not the people in my life, but my nature is my deepest personal problem."

Brilliantly true. Taken from Finally Alive by J.Piper

I strongly suggest this book if there is confusion in your understanding of Salvation/New Birth in Christ Jesus.

Grapples with the heart of who we are. Sinful and fallen. The book doesn't leave you there but drives you back to the written Word, the Bible.

"I did not first have a good nature and then do bad things and get a bad nature. 'Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me' (Ps. 51:5). This is who I am. My nature is selfish and self-centered and demanding and very skilled in making you feel like the problem. And if your first response to that statement is I know people like that, you may be totally blind to the deceitfulness of your own heart. Our first response should not be finger-pointing. That's part of the problem. Our first response should be contrition."

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Oh Heavenly Father

Psalm 30

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up

and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me.

O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;

you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,

and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity,

“I shall never be moved.”By your favor, O Lord,

you made my mountain stand strong;

you hid your face;

I was dismayed.

To you, O Lord, I cry,

and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

“What profit is there in my death,

if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness?

Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

O Lord, be my helper!”

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

you have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Praising the God of great mercy and grace ...

Lamentations 3:22 -24

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, therefore I will hope in him."

You're not alone...

One of the saddest...

A tribute to our long lost favorite...

http://brandenburgink.blogspot.com/2010/02/our-cat-grayson-2001-2010.html

May you rest in peace little one.

Thank you Toni and Ben for rescuing her from mom and dad's basement closet.

She truly went out with a dignified life.

Oh little Robin...have no fear.

Today is a day that will go down in history. Not only is there another enormous blizzard upon us, there is also a rescue mission happening as we speak. I have a dear friend named Colby Phelps who I swear loves animals more than people. This is an aspect of her character that I normally find very odd and slightly disturbing, but not today. No, today- Colby plays the hero. It all started about an hour ago when Jessica and I were returning from braving the storm.
As we reached the fourth floor of our apartment building we ran into this little guy shivering in the corner.
Tears immediately filled my eyes. I don't know why so much emotion overtook me? Especially for a little bird!? I wanted to pick it up and bring it home to our apartment. I didn't know what to do!? All of a sudden flashes of Colby flew through my brain. A quick phone call was in place and Operation Robin was in motion. The bird is now residing in Colby's apartment. She is warm, happy and so thankful to be alive. I have not stopped laughing through this entire process. I am working on uploading more photos...until then these little snippets of info keep me hoping for the best. =)

These special little nuggets of info from my special friend Colby keep coming in...

Colby Phelps to me

show details 1:32 PM (1 minute ago)

I just gave her water and a little bread.

- Show quoted text -

Colby: my mom just spent 15 mins on the phone with a rescue center

get this - they wanted us to soak puppy kibble in water, then mix it with plain yogurt, and finely chopped apples and pears

holy toledo

The joys of snow...

Epic snowstorm hits the Eastern Coast. =) So thankful to be part of this historical snowfall.
I have two sweet California girls I am sharing this once in a lifetime snowfall with.
I seem to have gained a few more wrinkles on this blemish free face of mine because I cannot stop smiling! I love people and in times like these we see the funniest sides of men and women. Praise God for orchestrating events in our lives which drive us to depend on one another and most importantly Him. Colby mentioned today the scripture verse in Isaiah One. "Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Looking outside and thinking of the stark contrast of scarlet from the whitest of fresh snow, there is reason enough in my soul to lift my hands in praise to our redemptive savior. Praise God for his mercies. They are new every morning! Great is thy faithfulness!

Grandpa Al and Grandma Beth

I am so thankful for my grandparents. =) What a dear couple. Faithful they are! Married for 60 years? maybe more. Thank you Lord for keeping them near and dear to your heart. Thanking God for such a rich heritage. Love you guys.

1 Peter 1:3-9

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, has has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Jordan & Vanesa Minnick

My sweet friend Vanesa was wed last week. Beautiful bride and groom. The day went 100% not according to plan, but what a beautiful, peaceful wedding it turned out to be. I sadly did not get any pictures of the actual wedding day, so I have added the photographers link. I am so thankful for this marriage. Vanesa and Jordan, I love you both. To God be the Glory. =)
A few professional photos


Vanesa & her father rehearsing the walk.


The hand off to the hubby


Ash made me laugh out loud with this face... "typical, this would totally happen to Vanesa..." the headlines read..."Massive snowstorm hits east coast."


Danielle and her sweet husband Jeff


My favorite, Rachel Davis and her little one Bri


Favorite Groomsman. =)


Yvonne & Vanesa (V's last female roommate.)


Bri & I.