Tumble on over...

So, seeing as I don't update this blog as much as I should, I've decided to leave it behind for a little while. 

If you want to keep looking at photos, get some good quotes, listen to some tunes, 

and 

maybe read a little writing from me.

Tumble on over to Tumblr. 

I know it is still a blog, but it is a faster pace and easier for me to upload pics straight from my phone. 

This blog may be up for a little while longer, but most likely it is coming down.

Whenever I wrote on here, I used it more as a scrapbook of travel and photos for adventures. 

Not really as a place for me to spill my guts. Plus, I figure no one wants to hear that.

So, for my thoughts and guts to continue to come out, I'm going to keep writing in my journals. 

I do love the books. 

But, if you are all at interested in keeping up with photos and future journeys, check out my Tumblr: 

Beauty from Ashes.

Peace, 

J.

Left My Heart In San Francisco

Right now, I'm in a van with the other girls. And we are on our way to San Francisco!!
Some days I still can't believe that I drive the streets of California.

The Lord is good!

The Great Reno Balloon Race 2012

This was one of my favorite events so far!

We woke up really early (3:15 AM), loaded the vans, and headed to Reno, NV for the balloon races!

Around 5 AM they had the Dawn Patrol, where about 7 balloons lit up in the night sky!

Then, at 7 AM there was the Mass Ascension where all the balloons were blown up and began the race! 

We got to be right in the center, with balloons blowing up all around us as they lifted off!! 

It was so awesome! 

I was excited like a little kid!

This was something that I had always wanted to see!
So glad that I had this experience! 

:-) 

Around the Lake!

On one of our first weekends here, Leana (the assistant preschool director, Bama fan, and all-around awesome person), took us on a road trip around Lake Tahoe! 

A few interesting, random facts about the Lake.

It is 12 miles wide, 22 miles long, and has 72 miles of shoreline! 

It is very deep! You could drop the Empire State Building into the deepest part of the Lake and it would STILL be covered! 

The water is sooo clear and sooo cold! 

Enjoy these pictures from our trip around the Lake to all the different shores! 

First stop, Emerald Bay!

Emerald Bay

Emerald Bay

Driving through the South Shore

South Shore of the Lake

Sand Harbor

Me at Sand Harbor

Some of the girls on the rocks

Sand Harbor

Moon over the mountains

Moon in Incline Village

Tahoe Adventures in Pictures

Apparently, my style of blogging is where I write about two posts a month. 

Sorry, guys. This is going to change!

I want to share with you all what I have been doing in Tahoe! 

Work has been the same and I am still working with both preschool and the school-age children. 

Today, I really felt like our connections with the kids and families were building as we greeted and talked with one another at church. 

It is one thing to see them everyday at work, but when we are able to see each other out of work, whether at church or in the town, it just builds those relationships even more. 

I'm not able to post pictures of the kids online or on FB, so I'm sorry that I'm not able to show you their smiling, beautiful faces. But, they are so much fun and always make the days interesting!! 

:-) 

Our supervisors here are making sure that we don't miss out on what Tahoe has to offer! 

We have already been able to do some great and fun things. 

I'm going to be posting different posts for what we have done so far.
Check them out each day!

Enjoy the pictures to come!

:-) 

Tahoe Update

Hey Everyone, Happy Labor Day!! 

Well, it has been a few weeks since moving out to California. Today actually marks three weeks that I have lived in Tahoe City, CA. 

I figured that it was time for an update and to tell you guys some things that you could be in prayer for. 

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind trying to get settled into a new place and into a new ministry. The first week we had the kids was a transition time from summer into the school year. So, we did a week of summer activities which included hiking to Eagle Rock and going to the beach at the Lake throughout the week. The way that summer worked

 was essentially like a VBS. We had rec time, bible time, sang songs, and more. Now that school has started, we get kids early in the morning and then put them on the school buses. Then, we don't get kids again until around 12:45 and 2:45. We use that time to clean, make lesson plans, etc. Their after school day allows them to do homework, have a bible story, play outside. 

Meanwhile, there is the preschool! They have a full-day program for 3-5 year olds with circle time, centers, bible story, outside play, etc. So, wondering what more I do? I work in the preschool until 12:45 when I go downstairs and work with the older kids until closing. I help any of the teachers who need help keeping their ratio of teachers to students met. I have really enjoyed it, because it has allowed me to get to know most of the kids that come to the program. We also have Parent's Night Out (PNO) and My Morning Out (MMO) starting soon. I will tell more on those when they get here! :-) 

Now for some prayer requests! 

-- That me and the rest of the girls will continue to experience unity together as co-workers, missionaries, friends, and sisters in Christ. And that we will have the strength and endurance needed during the week.

-- That the children and parents involved in our ministry will continue to build relationships with us and see Christ as we love on their families.

-- FBC 

Tahoe City and it's members. The current pastor, Pastor Dan, or "PD" as we call him, will be retiring this fall. They already have a new pastor who they are very excited for, although they will greatly miss PD who has been here for a very long time! Pastor Scott and his wife Jennifer are coming in September and PD leaves in October. Pray for the church as they go through this hard transition and as they learn to love and trust Pastor Scott.

-- Pray for Tahoe and CA!! This is a big resort area, most of the people here do not live here full-time, but only vacation here. Pray that we will be able to show them the love of Christ while they are here. Pray also for CA. Around 80% of people in CA do not go to church anywhere.

-- Pray for Nell, Debbie, and Leana as they continue to run A+ and the Preschool. They are strong ladies, who have made an impact in this community and these families! 

That's it for now!
I hope tomorrow to do a post full of pictures, so be on the lookout! 

:-) 

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." -- Mark 11:24

First Day Jitters

Tomorrow is the first day of work with kids!

We are meeting all of our kids tomorrow and get to start loving on them and their families. 

Showing them the love of Christ and developing relationships with them.

This place is beginning to change me in so many ways.
I'm excited to see how God continues to use it to minister to me; the place, the people, the community, the other girls. 

One of my favorite things to come out of serving the Lord, is to see and feel how He serves and ministers to me. 

Until later...

:-)

Update and Pics from Tahoe!

Let me just say, that I will never get tired of taking pictures of this place!

 It is gorgeous. I love the landscape, I love the trees, the rivers, the Lake. It is all wonderful and I am so happy to be here. 

The other missionaries are a wonderful group of girls and we have already had many great laughs and conversations. 

This past week has been about getting to know each other and going through orientation to familiarize ourselves with the program. We will begin school and have kids on this coming Monday! 

I will be helping out in both the preschool and with the Kindergartners. 

I'm very excited, because I will get to know many of the kids as I will be floating around helping. 

We get to do a lot of fun things with them as well, like go on hikes and go to the beach at the Lake. 

Fun times are ahead! 

I can't wait to share more with you guys! 

Enjoy these few pictures!

:-) 

Welcome to Tahoe City!

Hey Everyone! 

I only have time for a quick update and post.

I left Mobile, AL early yesterday morning, around 6:30 AM (Central) and made my first stop in Houston, TX! 

Then, I left Houston for Reno, NV where I got here at about 11:00 AM (Pacific). 

I met up with the other semester missionaries, we drove to Tahoe, ate dinner, 

and 

then unpacked and got settled in our new home!! 

I will share more info and pics later, but I have to go!! 

:-) 

My True Identity

Parts of this post have been taken from the book, "Made to Crave." 

One of the books I have been reading is "Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food" by Lysa TerKeurst.

I have not gotten very far into it, but so far it is very intriguing and has offered great advice and goals for living a healthy lifestyle. 

This is, after all, about glorifying God with my body and taking care of the temple in the way that He has instructed me. 

So far, Chapter 5 has been my favorite: Made for More.

Lysa says, "We were made for victory. Sometimes we just have to find our way to that truth." 

The life that we have is about so much more than just us, it is all about Him and what the Savior has done and how God wants to have us and use us for His glory.
We have to realize that we are worth it.
That He does want us!

Lysa talks about embracing our true identity in Christ. 

The way we see ourselves is not how Christ sees us. It is so important that we know how our Father sees us. 

I wanted to share these truths with you all. These are taken from chapter 5 in the book. 

Read and reflect over these. Let them resonate over you. 

Open your heart and let Christ show you who you are to Him. 

The forgiven child of God.
"...and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus"

Romans 3:24

The set-free child of God.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

Romans 8:1-2 

The accepted child of God.
"To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ -- their Lord and ours..."

1 Corinthians 1:2

The holy child of God.
"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." 

1 Corinthians 1:30

The made-new child of God.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17

The loved child of God.
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love..."

Ephesians 1:4

The close child of God.
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far way have been brought near through the blood of Christ." 

Ephesians 2:13

The confident child of God.
"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." 

Ephesians 3:12

The victorious child of God.
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." 

Romans 8:37

A few more thoughts from Lysa: 

"The truth of my identity as a child of God empowers me to believe that living in victory tastes sweeter than any unhealthy delicacy." 

"The real reason for grounding ourselves in the truth that we are made for more is 'so that you may know Him better.' The more we operate in the truth of who we are and the reality that we were made for more, the closer to God we'll become." 

"Being ruled by anything other than God is something God takes quite seriously. And so should I." -- Chapter 6

tunes-Day Tuesday: I Will Wait

I am not creative enough to come up with that post title. It was taken from a blog that I read. Pretty much every Tuesday, they post a song/video that they like to share and pass on. They also do awesome DIY projects and have hair, makeup, and clothes tips.
It's a really cute blog! 

Go check them out at: OH SO PRETTY the DIARIES. 

I was introduced to Mumford & Sons earlier this year and I love listening to their music. 

This is a new single off their new album due out in September.
It was released this week.

Enjoy! 

:-) 

I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons 

Beach Trip -- Biloxi, MS

Warning: This post contains a lot of photos!

Last week, my Dad had a conference to attend in Biloxi, MS. Mom and I decided to go along so we could enjoy some pool time. 

Then, on the last day, we took a boat ride to an island 11 miles off the coast. We got to spend the whole afternoon there. It was wonderful!

Enjoy the pictures! 

:-) 

We got to stay at the Beau Rivage. 

One night, I enjoyed some puzzles and the Olympics!

These are pictures of the Gulf as seen from the pool. 

Never-ending hallway?

This place was SO good! So delicious, that we went back the next night!
The first night we went I ordered Seafood Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with a Ceaser Salad and Garlic and Parmesan Roasted New Potatoes.

Spend a little time at the Arcade! 

A dessert one night: Mississippi Mud Pie

Pool attire for one of the days!

This is the next night at the Half Shell Oyster House. 

I ordered the Big Easy Surf 'n Turf: Steak on top of a Crab Cake with Lump Crab Meat on top, with a Ceaser salad and Cheese Grits. 

And each night that we went, we ordered appetizers of Oysters. 

I'm telling you, SO good!

Beach Boulevard 

Leaving for Ship Island from Gulfport, MS.

The boat we rode.

The only things on the island were a snack bar, showers, two pavilions,

and

Fort Massachusetts. 

Stingrays would swim around you in the water!
Along with schools of fish and hermit crabs.

Hermit Crab that I found in the water.

We got to go into Fort Massachusetts for a few minutes before our boat came back.

There was a lighthouse on the island, but in the 70s (?) some campers accidentally set it on fire and it burned down. 

Leaving the island. 

:-)