Happy Reformation Day!

On Reformation Day, we glorify God for what he accomplished in 16th century Germany through His servant, Dr. Martin Luther -- the recovery of the gospel of salvation by grace through faith for Christ's sake. We also earnestly pray that God would keep all of us faithful to the true gospel and help us to joyfully declare it to the world. This lovely hymn verse encapsulates the theme of our Reformation celebration:
By grace God's Son, our only Savior,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
That Jesus died your soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone,
It brought Him from His heav'nly throne

this passage was copy and pasted from:

http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/MP3-Audio--Multimedia/Celebrate-Reformation-Day/

Happy Reformation Day!!!!

What Are We going to TITLE this??? You Decide!

There is going to be something interesting happening here!

Dennis and I are going to have a life change.

No, no babies, no move, no change of occupation,

but we are going to be losing some weight, and becoming healthier!

We are starting this on.. (don't laugh) MONDAY.

I am going to be posting some BEFORE pictures of both us

AND

Some weight info like current weight, and weight loss goals, long term and short term.

The first phase of this last 3 weeks.

I am going to post an update each Monday of a hopful new weight number.

So.. I need your help!

First, I need you to pray for us as we are going to need the will power.

Pray that we would pray when we feel weak. .

And lastly, help us come up with a TITLE. for our weight loss blog competition!

So Far, my mom has said:

Monday Maggi Meltdown!

(Meltdown.. meaning the pounds are melting away!)

See what you can come up with!

Leave me a comment!

I will choose the winner in a couple days! The aboce pics are what our fridge looks like in preparation for our big week of healthy eating! Let's make this fun! Keep us accountable!

Waiting on a Baby!

I have been patiently awaiting 3 births this week! 2 are down and there is one young lady that needs to go into labor! Jessica is a friend of mine that I met through a friend. And she had her baby yesterday! You can see a pic of her new baby boy at her blog.
http://jandjkeys.blogspot.com/

Then there was another lady that I have been following in the blog world, and she just had her son yesterday morning as well. I dont know her, or even where she lives, but I have been waiting for her to have her baby as well.. and you can see her little Stellan at:


http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2008/10/we-have-another-brother.html


And NOW.... and I am waiting for Erin to have her little bundle of Joy! They do not have a blog YET, but hopefully they will, right, Nathan???
but I will post pics once I have one, if they let me!

so, let's count down! I am waiting!

Kleenex, Please!

I made the mistake in our Monday night bible study of bragging to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that I had the immunity of a King! I would NOT be getting sick.. and you know what?
I woke the very next morning with a COLD! Yes, I did! It was not a terrible cold, but it still prevented me from breathing normally, and sleeping in bed with my husband due to blowing my nose all night long! So. . Tuesday I was home working on school work in my jammies on the couch watching Television all day.. yes, ALL Day! But today I was back at it. Still stuffy, but feeling better!

Application Monday #3

Let's Ponder this this week:

The heart of man plans his way,

but the LORD establishes his steps.

-Proverbs 16:9

I may comment later on how this applies to my life, but for now let's contemplate what this means for each one of us!

Let's Win over the Renard's!!

*** Against my better judgement, I will post a picture and a brief description of some "friends" of ours.*****

This is Adam & Kathleen! They are some "friends" of ours that we go to church with. We also like to eat Pizza with them on a pretty regular basis. They have a little baby boy or girl on the way, that I am really excited about meeting! Kathleen and Adam are both teachers! Adam teaches 5th grade, and Kathleen teaches 12th grade English! We happen to think that they are pretty neat.

I use "friends" in quotations because they do not read our blog! Since they don't read my blog, I question their loyalty to us! They should care about what I had for supper lastnight, what is on my mind today, and even what I spent my time doing this weekend! Don't you think that they should care?? Obviously, you do, or you wouldn't be reading right now! So... in an effort to win their hearts to the blog world, I have made them the feature of friendship. . Hopefully they will be convinced to visit! So, I urge you friends out there that see this blog and know them, to encourage them to visit "THE BLOG" you must say: 'THE BLOG'... and tell them that they are on there and they should go check it out. They have the address so don't worry about giving them that!

Thanks for your help in spreading the good news of 'The BLOG" I appreciate your help!

Weekend with Friends..

Saturday we went to the campground about 40 minutes from home and spent the evening with friends. There were children all over the campground, and the children walked around and "trick or treated" for a while. This is Anthony who is Spongebob, and the little girl with him was something pink.. I am not sure what she really was. They had a fun time, and we had a great time, too!! Thanks for dinner Danny & Debbie we enjoyed it!

Curtis... the Boy Who Lives in the Pond.

((....... Darren this is for you........)))

I lived in Buchanan with my dad when I was little. About 15 years ago, My uncle Darren lived with us. It was fall. One evening, I came out into our living/dining room space and noticed that the banner we once had hanging was half off. I turned to my uncle, and said: "Wonder why that banner is hanging off." With a serious face, and horror in his voice.. he says: "I bet it was Curtis."

All worried, I said: "curtis who?" and he says: "Curtis is a boy that lived in the pond." (We have a pond that is in front if our house that our neighbor had dug and filled with water years before)Darren continued: "Back a long time ago,when Johnny filled the pond, he disrupted Curtis.. and that is where he lives, so to get back at us, Curtis comes out at night when it gets cold."

Really Really believing this: I said "have you seen him before?" and he said: "Yea, I have.. in fact I was in the camper one night, and he came in. I was scared to death, I turned around and he punched me!" Listening attentively: I said: "Really???" wide eyed with wonderd.. while Dareen responded: "Yep!" "it's true" Let me tell you what he looks like!
Darren then grabbed the oodle doodle thing that you write on with that magnet thing underneath. Darren drew a round face with spikey hair. I can still see it in my mind's eye.

'So Curtis probably took the banner half down to let us know that he is out for winter!" Darren reminded.

This is a very charming story UNLESS you are the poor child that is believing it... that still scurries in the house when the weather is chilly back home in Buchanan; hoping Curtis does not get me... and still remembers this story with great detail. I dont know when I ever figured out Curis was a figment of Darren's imagination, but it never quit being apart of mine!

I wanted to share this story with you in light of the chilly weather that has arrived. Better look for Curtis... he is around!

Happy Anniversary Dennis.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Dear My Dearest Dennis,
I want you to notice the montage up top. I snuck into the office after you quickly fell asleep lastnight and created it for you.

I love you. I have most likely said this to you every day more than once for the past 5 and a half to 6 years... and I want you to know that I have meant it from the bottom of my heart every time. Even if there was not an overwhelming "feeling" of love, it was certainly there every bit of it. You have taught me that even young people can really be in love. I was. I knew that I knew you were the one when I was in high school. I remember longing for this day.... and I do not take these days for granted.. this time with just you and me. I love taking care of this house even when it looks like it does today...

I love this place that God has put me. No matter what I am doing in this life... teaching, being a mom, or both... or maybe neither of the above, I know for sure that I will always be your wife. THAT FEELS PERFECT. Since I have known and loved God, I have truly loved you. He has taught me how to love. Dennis, he has taught you how to love. He has taught us to love each other the way that each of us is intended to be loved.... our relationship is different than others because we love with a unique love designed especially for us.

I cannot always find words that describe the change that has taken place in us. That is a total work of God. He has transformed us. These four walls of our home are different because Christ has shed his grace upon us, redeemed, and changed us forever. I look forward to learning and growing more and more each day with you here by my side.

I am glad that it is you that I share my life. I love you. I hope that as you work today you think about the union that took place 3 years ago today. Two became one flesh... and we are one flesh. No man can separate this bond between me and you.... if they could, they would have already!

I love you... I love you.... I love you.... but I pray that you would always be number 2... and that I would always be number 2... I am happy to be your second best love... because God gets to be number 1. Didnt you say that is all that it took 3 years ago today? God first? I thought so!

Happy Anniversary Hubby!

Can You Get out of God's Will??

Application "Monday" on TUESDAY TODAY!

This is some discussion that we had as a group last night.

My question was: "How do I know that I am in God's will? How do I know that I am doing what God wants me to do. Should I teach? How do I know that I should???

Eddie says: 'Is God's will a dot or a football field?"

I said: "I wish that it were a dot..."

My brothers and sisters in Christ gave me excellent advice about how I know if what I am doing is right. How does one battle the desires of the flesh, and how does one know that desire of God for our lives? How do we know... by prayer and reading!!!

This drawing was placed on the board taken from the John Piper book:

"The Pleasures of God"

and this is how it is explained:

This drawing demonstrates that God has an end. And We are awimming in the River, no matter how much we may bump the river bank, we cannot get out God's perfect will, he does not allow that. Eddie used the description as blasphemy being something that would be not allowed for us to do because it is the unpardonable sin.

So... I guess that throughout life whether we are teachers, students, waitresses, CEO's or whatever, we can serve God and his purposes, and we can be examples and Godly in our jobs. We rest assure that God will keep us in the river current.

So, last night I learned:

We should:

• Never limit What God can do
• Seek his will through fasting and prayer
• Stay in his word for direction
• Accept correction
• Rest assured that God is in control
• Never put God in a box
• We should never worry about tomorrow

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says:

For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come to pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and fine me. When you seek me with all of your heart.

Something also to consider:

When a person is saved, sanctified, submissive, Suffering, and thankful, he is already in God's will. David tells us when we are what God wants us to be, He is in control, and our will is merged with His will, and He therefore gives us the desires He has planted in our hearts. Jesus is our supreme example. He always functioned by the divine principles established by the Father.

Psalm 37:4

Hmm..... something to think about huh??

3 Years Married, 2 Years Bliss

In celebration for our 3rd Anniversary coming on Wednesday (October 22.) We went on a one night unintentional get-a-away!

We intended to go the the Clifton Forge Fall Festival, and then go to Warm/Hot Springs area, then come home! Well......

You'll see what happens..

This is us at the Festival! I HATE pictures of myself,

so this is on here as therapy...

Crowd at the Festival....

This is the Beloved, "Nanny"

Can you believe this???? This is Barack Obama, and Martin Luther King Jr.

ON THE SAME SHIRT!

God had a sense of humor pairing me with this nut, didn't he?

This is a group pic of Nanny, Dennis & Me! (another pic of me, you should be so proud!)

After we left Clifton, Dennis and I started on our journeys!

Dennis drives this way on a weekly basis. He thought that it

was so beautiful that he brought me out here to see what he

gets to admire!

These are some of the very FEW Amazing displays of God's beauty that we saw:

This is a waterfall!! You can see it to the right....

the moutains and colors are so distracting that you barely notice!

Colors were so rich up there!
We made it all the way to West Virginia before we turned around!!!!!

Then we turned the corner, and BOOM! There was this huge overlook of the mountains... this is part of what you see above....

And the REST

We ran into Warm Springs. Dennis actually walked into these roundish buildings in the pics below. Men were there in the buff, talking to them about the 98 degree natural mineral water... hey! They were naked... it can't be natural anymore! The lady wouldnt let me in without paying $17.00, and that is much too high to have a naked lady talk to me... I will just take Dennis' word for it!

This was the gift shop.... above.

These were some great pics that were taken while Dennis was getting

"an education" from the naked guy...
Then we got back in the car and found this little place across the street...

and I talked my husband to staying the night....

but we had a couple little problems....

Hubby had to take care of some business.......

............ and we had nothing to change into, no toothbrush, no nothing! .........

But we stayed anyway! We just bought some essentials necessary for a night away! (These are common travel staples of ours)

Listerine, candles, and matches to light the candles!We got up early to make it back home to get to church

and we found this amazing view from the top of mountains. You are seeing clouds hovering over the small towns, etc.

Happy 3rd to us. .

If you are wondering about the title... the first year was not so good!

Snuggly night....

• Just a few words to say on this dreary rainy day:
• Eat Soup.
• Get a Blanket
• Get a Good movie
• A Good Man or Woman (the opposite of what you are preferably)
• Lock the doors, give the dog a bone....
• Light some candles... Unmake the Bed....
• ENJOY A GOOD RAINY FRIDAY!!

Abhor what is Evil, Hold fast to what is good.

Lastnight at church we are and have been going over Romans 12.

We are on verse 12:9

This sermon has penetrated my heart allowing me to understand God more fully.

Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. -Romans 12:9

If there were a universe in which there was no evil that hurt people or dishonored Christ, there would be only love and not hate. There would be nothing to hate. But in a world like ours it is necessary not only that we love and hate, but that our love include hate. Paul says, 'Let love be genuine, abhoring what is evil." One commentator calls this abhoring "an intense inward rejection." It is rejection. It is inward. It is intense. And my point is that in this world love has to feel hate for evil. Since evil hurts people and dishonors God, you can't claim to love people while coddling evil. Don't make the mistake of saying: "The evil I cherish only hurts me, and so it is not unloving to others." That is absolutely false. (see 1 John 5:2). You were made to display the worth of Christ to others. That is what is good for them. That is what it means to love them. But if you do things to yourself to damage your delight in Christ and your display of Christ, you sin against others and not just yourself. You rob them of what God made you to give them. So I say again, love for others must hate evil. Because evil hurts others directly, and evil hurts others indirectly by hurting you. Evil obscures the beauty of Christ. And Christ is our greatest good. Our greatest Joy. (John Piper)

So now: Look at Romans 12:9

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. -Romans 12:9

Do you see that for our love to be genuine, we have to abhor what is evil?

If we do not abhor what is evil, we do friends and family a dis-service.

We sin against them.

Ask yourself these questions to examine yourself:

Where do I secretly cherish what which God calls evil?

What is the cost to my soul to love what is evil?

(there were many others, but I thought that these were the most helpful)

Let's abhor evil for the good of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

It's another link to Godly fellowship and holding each other accountable!

Ahh, Fall....

It is definetely fall! I went to Radford today for classes, and found this beautiful scenery on my way to class. I actually ventured around today despite my fear of never finding my car again. I concluded that this is my only fall there, so I might as well walk at least all the way around my building and see what kind of beautiful trees I could find. I found a lot. I even walked a more scenic route back to my car and found that there is a lot to see on this beautiful campus! Gosh, I am so lucky to even be able to go there. I have worked hard to get this far... so I deserve to look like the only idiot taking pictures of trees...
Apparently, on a campus when you are walking between classes it is cool to do one of a few things:

(1) Just walk looking at your feet

(2) Talk on the phone

(3) listen to your i-pod

(4) #'s 2, and #1

(5) #'s 3 and #1

The only way to get out of looking at your feet is to have a friend walk with you...

and if that is the case, then you must say things like:

"Yuh, like I totally couldnt get up this morning.. I'm like crashed out from the party lastnight.. totally sucked.."

or "I'm so frickin tired.. do you understand that I am totally stressed, I can't even think.. man"

But never actually stop moving, and look up, get out your camera, and take a picture!
This says: College of Education. . this would be my part of campus!

Classes here are Ok, it is not my favorite place to go, but it's not bad when you get scenery like this.

Thanks for joining me on my walk through campus today! Hope you get beautiful fall views like me!

Good things are happening......

I have been thinking about Dennis and I lately... and how different we were when we first met! I mean when we met I was 15! Yes, 15..... and he was THERE for my 16th birthday party at the bowling alley! He was 23... and he was nice, charming, cute, adorable, and I had THE biggest dilemma.. I was barely 16, and he was too old, and he would NEVER be mine! It is the familiar frustration that some of you girls may have had when you were a dorky 6th grader, and your crush was in high school.. kind of thing! ....

Saturday as I was sitting on my front porch sitting beside my aunt Kelly, Dennis was mowing the grass. He was just sittin on that thing, carefully mowing OUR lawn.. and I thought: "That guy was not that guy that I met!" and he isn't! I started to giggle, and that giggle turned into a laugh... and he saw me laughing, and he laughed because I was laughing.. and he had no clue....

Think about this: I had my learner's permit, I was a sophomore in high school, I had never had a job, I hadn't even recieved my class ring when we started dating.... Dennis has watched me grow up! I have also watched him grow up. Before you get all googly on me, first let me say that our 6 total years together have not been ALL cuddly and cute, it has been HARD, it has seemed inpossible, and at a few hundred points in our dating and even married life, I didn't think that we would make it.... but we have.... and we will providing the Lord's provision and direction in our life and marriage.

That man that I was afraid to hold hands with in the car (in the early days) is the same man that mowes our grass, kisses me before he goes to work every morning, while I sleep, is the same man that brings me lemonades from sonic after bible study, that steals half my chocolate bar and grins when I figure it out finally, that farts in bed when I almost asleep.... he is the same man that I love with a more mature appreciation for, is the same man that drives me crazy when he walks through the house and shows me his dirty socks so hint that the floor desperately needs mopped.... He is Dennis, and he is 30, not 23, that is my husband and more than my nightly daydream.... I am happy where we are.... and I hope this growing up or old, or out thing gets all the more sweeter......

He is the same man that leaves me pink heart post it notes on the car that I now know how to drive!..... how sweet.. I love you Dennis!