COUNTDOWN!!

So....
TWO day until Christmas...
FOURTY-THREE days until I go to Uganda...
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR days until I get married!!!!

Things are so busy....Fun, but busy...
I was reminded this morning of the importance of taking time, even if its just a few spare minutes, to sit at my precious Jesus' feet.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

A verse that I spotted on the Girl Talk blog is Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge him.” Here's a quote from Charles Bridges’ pertaining to this scripture also found on the Girl Talk blog.

"Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted...Consider no circumstances too clear to need his direction. In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who of us has not found the unspeakable 'peace' of bringing to God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted to the most confidential ear?"

I pray that my heart is most importantly focused on Christ during this busy season! What could be more important that sitting at Jesus' feet? May my gaze be captivated by Jesus, more of Jesus!

Woot Woot...I got tagged....

5th folder, 5th picture...

one of my best guy friends that i grew up with, Brian and his wife Jenny, at their rehearsal dinner!  They are such wonderful friends!  So many wonderful memories :)

 Love you Brian and Jenny!

The Hunt Is On... :)

WE"RE ENGAGED!!!

My three best friends from college came to Staunton

and helped get everything set up!  Thanks girls...You're the best!

Off to see the sunrise at my favorite spot in Staunton...

We talked for a while and then we walked around the

bush and this is what I saw :)

This was my sweet outfit...haha!

My Baaaaaby

My friends made tshirts that said: RASH (Ray and Ash) Operation Engagement

The back said: The Hunt is On!

New Family

Sweet Raybo!  I can't wait to spend everyday laughing and growing with you

on our new adventure together!  Whooohooo! :)  It's gonna be CrAzY FUN!

I love you more and more everyday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET BEST FRIEND :)

Ok, so I just had to laugh at this picture...

This was my "Welcome Ashley" party that the Kee's

had for me when I first moved here last August...and guess

who I'm sitting next to...haha :) The Lord makes me smile! :)

We look so dorky!! haha!

And now...well...I get to hang out with this cutie

all the time! :)

Happy Birthday sweet boy! I am so thankful that the Lord has brought us together!! You are such a gift to me!

I am soooo thankful for you! I am most thankful for the constant way you love the Savior and seek to grow to become more like Him! You continually seek to know my heart and what the Lord is doing in my life...even when I talk your poor ear off! Thank you for being one of my very best friends since I moved here! You bring so much happiness and joy to my life everyday! Thank you for making me laugh so hard that my eyes water and my stomach hurts, for caring for me after hard days at work, for all the thoughtful surprises and super fun dates, for making silly memories, for belting out our favorite songs in that car, for helping with my budget (haha), and for constantly loving me through it all. You are my strong man and there is no one else in the world I would rather be with! I am excited to continue growing together in this season :) I know that Lord has such good things for you in this coming year!

The Last Great Outpouring

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the Beginning and the End,"

says the Lord, "who is and who was

and who is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:8

"Behold, you stand on the threshold of a new day.  For I have truly great things in store for you.  Yes, you have not power to conceive what I am about to do.  For I will bring to pass a new thing.  You will rejoice exceedingly.  You have heard of the showers, but I say to you: I will send a mighty downpour.  Many have cried out to Me from hungry hearts and have received of my fullness and seen My glory; but I say to you: In the day of the great deluge which is coming, many will come to know the reality of My power who have until now not even dreamed of a thing.

Many who are scoffers and many who are honest doubters will find themselves swept away on the swelling tide of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  For this is the time for the last great outpouring.  This is the day of preparation for the coming of the Lord.  Many shall rejoice together in the Spirit's work who are now at sword's point over doctrinal disputes and barriers of tradition.

But let your heart be encouraged; for a new day is dawning; a day of repentance and a day of gathering for My people.  For they shall not continue to be barricaded and isolated behind walls of prejudice.  I am the Lord, and I will be worshipped in spirit and in truth, and not in the bigotry of sectarianism and narrowness of denominationalism.  The world is waiting for a robust Church to minister to its needs; and how can an ailing, dismembered Body bring healing to a sick and dying world?

Surely  I will pour out My Spirit, and by prophecies, by signs and wonders, by many different types of miracles, and by healings, I will reaffirm the veracity of My Word and bring the message of the Gospel of Redemption to many who would otherwise never give heed.  I am the Alpha and the Omega.  Sand firm in Me.  Never waver.

Be faithful regardless of apparent failures and discouragements for My word shall surely be fulfilled, and your eyes shall see revival in proportions such as never before witnessed in the history of the human race.

Keep your eye on the end of the coarse.  Victory is secured already.  Do not let the hurdles cause you consternation.  Stay in the running.  Truly, I am at your side.  According to each day shall your strength be; and the race is not won by the swift, but the obedient shall receive the prize."  (Come Away My Beloved, 130-131)

Acts 2:17-20

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

Let us not forsake our First love...

 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.  “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ Revelation 2:1-7

May we be a people on our knees crying out for God's Spirit to be poured out upon His people. We as individuals, the church, families, this nation...are all in desperate need of Jesus today!  He should be our FIRST LOVE, the blazing fire that is burning within each of us even in the midst of the darkness surrounding us.  He is eager to pour out His Spirit afresh on us today!  

Oh Lord, we wait in expectation for you! 

STRIKE...

On Saturday I went bowling with one of my favorite families...the Hunts! :)  I'm so blessed to have them as a part of my life!!  They all have such precious hearts for Jesus....AND they love to have FUN!!! :)

That's MY boy :) 

 
Silly Caleb...

Ray and his sweeeeet mom :)  So cute!

I GOT A STRIKE!!  (everybody broke 100, but I was trailing behind with 70 baby!)
I love being with him :)

He was workin it!! 

 

Kyle was trying to coach me..i'm not a very fast learner!  But he has some smooth bowling moves!

Go ahead girl... That cycling is paying off!  ;)

Grandma Hunt had it goin on!

My cute little twin...

Yeah for FUN Saturday outings!!

New ESV study Bible!!!

My best friend Kristi came last week for a quick a trip.  It was such a time of encouragement (and lots of laughter of coarse)!  But one of the highlights was when we went to buy the new ESV Study Bible.  We were so excited...it felt like Christmas...haha!  Anyway, the next morning we woke up early and went to Bean There (one of my FAVORITE coffeeshops...if you've never been get the Island Kiss iced) and started digging into our Bibles.  I know it sounds kinda silly to be so excited about a Bible, but I think what we are really excited about is that there has been a fresh passion and excitement for Gods Word that has infiltrated out hearts...and though the Bible is waaay cool and very helpful, we are most excited about going deeper into the glories of calvary as we read and study the Word!  We also started CJ Mahaney's new book, Worldliness, which is rocking our socks off :)  If you get the chance, pick it up, it is a very provoking book! 

"When someone sets his affections on the cross and the love of Christ, he crucifies the world as a dead and undesirable thing.  The baits of sin lose their attraction  and disappear.  Fill your affections with the cross of Christ and you will find no room for sin."  -John Owen 

Happy Monday! 

CaNcEr needs a cUrE!

I wanted to post some links to some of the precious kids that I have had the priveldge of caring for... These are blogs that families update through the joys and sorrows of their journey with cancer... so inspiring.



This sweet boy, Keeghan Barry, has inspired my life so much and I was only with him for one week at Camp Fantastic. His mom has a very honest blog about his story. He passed away one week after Camp was over...but what a joy to spend that last week watching him live!



Last week was a hard week at work. We had two very special patients pass away. Tommy was one of them. He was the smartest kid I have ever taken care of! He was hilarious too...always had something to remind you about :) His story will bring tears to your eyes...his family is going through so much heart ache at this time. I know his parents would appreciate your prayers.



Happy news! Two of my favorite kids in the world... full of personality and FUN!
Sky and Jacob are both in remission from very serious cancer...yeah!!



Thank you, friends, for all your prayers and listening ears as I share my stories!

child like FAITH...

                                                                     

These are my favorite kids to babysit!

When I moved in with the Kee family I didn't realize that one of our pastors  and his family

lived two blocks away...I have had the privilege of hanging out with these super cool kids many times since I moved here.  About a week ago the four of us went on a little adventure around the neighborhood...we had a blast!  We found lots of trash that became treasures to us....everything from a trashcan to a watergun to a leaf blower to a toilet seat.  The toilet seat was definitely something that Benjamin wanted so that he could have a target to practice football!  haha!! 

The girls and I painted each others nails HOT PINK!  We managed to keep things semi tidy :) 

My favorite thing about the Campbell kids is that they are so polite, respectful, and grateful!  It is so amazing to watch them each growing in their knowledge of Christ and the gospel!  Their child like faith has encouraged my heart many times!  :)  

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:2-6 ESV)

*F*A*L*L*

FALL is my favorite season!  I saw that Lizzy posted her favorite things about fall and I wanted to participate :)  This is a picture of my sis and I last fall in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley!

I love...

*Pumpkins!!...I'm terrible at carving them though :)

*The way my mom decorates our little house with cute autumn things

*LEAVES...In Staunton (my hometown) the leaves change the most amazing colors...its breathtaking!

*Barn Dances :)

*Crisp air in the mornings on the way to work

*My grandma's pumpkin pie... though, the older she gets, the more she forgets important ingredients such as sugar..haha!

*Wearing vests and cardigans!  

*HIKING...

*MoUnTaInS. . . 

*Sitting on the porch with a blanket, Starbucks, my journal, and the Word spending time with the Lord :)

*Hay rides...I'm such a kid sometimes!!

*Taking walks with my friends...sharing our hearts...breathing in the smell of the most wonderful season :)  

Yeah for Fall!!

Happy Harvest :)

yeah for Surprises!

I'll just start by saying I miss my three best friends like cRaZy!!  My sweet Kristi is a labor and delivery nurse at a hospital in Greenville, NC.  She was such a blessing to have during all the hard times in nursing school!  She truly is a ray of sunshine wherever she goes.  She loves people and has a heart to serve the Lord over seas.  Julia, or better known as Hules, is about to move to Colorado :( to work for a Christian sports camp ministry called Uncharted Waters.  Our friendship is just one of a kind...you just gotta spend some time around us to know how we work! :)  Hules is the kind of friend that would do anything for me.  She would get up early just to make me breakfast during college on the days that I had to be at the hospital really early for clinicals.  And then there's Sarah, my precious room-mate for all four years of college.  There is no one that could have put up wth me like Sarah.  She is working hard at Appalachian State getting her master's in speech pathology.  I want a gentle and quiet heart like Sarah!  All three of them encourage me and build me up in the Lord and that is what is most important! So....Last Saturday night after work I got a call from Kristi saying that she was at the Panera in Norfolk. So I drove over there and sure enough she was standing outside!!  My heart was sooo happy, then as I am hugging Kristi, I see Julia walking up to us...ahhhh!  My heart was about to explode because it has been months since I have seen Julia.  Then I see over Julia's shoulder that Sarah is walking over to us!!  My heart did burst at this point! :)  We only had one night together, but it was full of amazing memories, lots of laughs, and tons of pouring out our hearts!  There is nothing like having your best friends by your side.  I am so blessed to call these amazingly godly and incredibly fun girls my best friends.  Here are some pics from our time together...

Just Kidding...This is my real debut! Haha!

Here I am Blog World :)

Well friends I have been putting off blogging for quiet some time now...
But the time has come to jump in with both feet!! Because it is difficult for me to keep in touch with my friends and family in different parts of the country I decided what better way to keep everyone updated on my life!
Another reason for recent desire to blog is...I feel like everday has a wonderful story and for those of you that know me, know I love to tell stories (even though sometimes I exagerate to make them a little funnier). My days are filled with wonderful stories because my life is filled with such amazing people...from the adorable little kids I work with to my silly family to my wonderful best friends...life makes me smile and I hope that the stories of my daily life make you smile too! :)
So may we choose to smile and embrace all the wonderful surprises God has for us each day!