At the Close of 2012...

Yes, it is the end of another year. Did you all really think the world was going to end on the 21st? (Just kidding.:D) Another year in which I saw great blessings. A year where I accomplished most of my 2012 goals. And a year in which I learned much (again).

Every year when I take the time to look back on the past, I am always amazed how much we can fit into 365 days. All the activities, social events, demands, requirements, schedules, family time, friend get-togethers, studies, commitments...really it's remarkable sometimes.

I saw the providence of God and the faithfulness of people again this year. I am currently writing out a newsletter of this year's activities, and it was amazing to see our Savior's hand in it all. He provided for our family when my dad's work slowed. He gave me the endurance to complete my music exams and graduate high school. I walked the oral surgeon's halls in His strength when I went to get my wisdom teeth out. I saw His hand in the events and decisions leading up to my degree consultation. When all seemed hopeless, I received His hope.

It was a challenging year; one that I would not push the rewind button on. However, I can look back now and I am grateful for what it taught me. Perhaps some of you remember the post I wrote back in March entitled He's Been There. All of those events are now past, and I can see that He truly was there and has been all along--just as He had promised. He is faithful.

I look forward to 2013, not because it will have no challenges to overcome, but because I can go forward in the strength of Christ. 2013 will be another year of challenges and blessings, but, Lord willing, it will be another that draws me closer to Him.

Anna and I have loved receiving and reading all your comments over the year. It has been a blessing to write for you all, and it has been an encouragement to us in the process. We hope that you will be encouraged through our next year of blogging. May you go forward into this new year "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." Live each and every day as though He were returning in the next moment. Enter His plans for you striving to do all to bring glory to Him. Don't give up; keep going. "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) And remember that "the One who gave the vision still calls, and what God calls us to do, He gives the strength to accomplish".

Deuternomy 31:8 (NIV 2011)
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 

John 16:33 (KJV)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

Mark 4:37-41
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

I can face the waves, for I trust the One who made the ocean. 

Your sister in Christ,
Kaleigh
(and Julianna)

~Christmas 2012 Greetings~

(Note: This is our Christmas letter-as written by my Mom-but I wanted to share it with all of you. :) Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New 2013!)

Our 2012 year has been filled with delightful-and sometimes sad-memories and we’ve managed to somehow stay busy with our jobs, school, and taking care of our animals. But the Lord has continued to bless us with good health and we have enjoyed our friendship with all of you.

To start off, we lost our draft horse, Mingo, just a few days after Christmas last year due to old age. He was 29 years old-which is a long time for horses that large, so he had a long life, but he just wasn’t able to stand on his own any more. We had a neighbor come over to put him down and he’s buried next to Julianna’s Quarter Horse, Samantha, who died just a few years ago.

In February, I started a bakery business with organic chocolate chip cookies and organic dog, horse, and cat treats. Our animals loved them, so I decided to sell them. One local store is selling my cookies and dog bones. Later on, Julianna and I started working for a company called Quality Track International-a business hired by Marriott hotels to keep tabs on their Sales Managers as they set up meeting space rentals and sleeping rooms with prospective clients. I try to get in seven hours a day (which is hard at times) and Julianna only works part time as she is continuing with online college classes.

In May, Julianna turned 19. She keeps busy with her college studies, showing horses and trail riding, work, and helping out Dave on the farm and some friends of ours who have lots of horses. At the moment, she is working on a Psychology course and is enjoying CollegePlus very much. Her coach, Brittany, is very helpful and is such a blessing to her. Julianna also continues as our church’s pianist and has been for five years now. She took JubiLee, her Quarter Horse, over to her riding teacher’s farm for the summer. Julianna prepared for numerous shows throughout the summer and for her last year in participating in the county fair. She also played for a Baccalaureate Service for area graduates in May.

Julianna also participated in the Welsh Pony Show in June with both my pony, McAnna, and her pony, Sky. This year, she entered driving classes with my pony and did quite well, considering that the sand in the indoor arena was really deep and made pulling a cart very difficult. She came away with seven ribbons: one third, four fourths, and two fifths. Julianna is now on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin club. There are three members on the board.

In August, Julianna competed in her last year at the Jackson County Fair. She came away with nine firsts and five second ribbons. She also entered my pony, McAnna, in an open driving class with the draft horses and came away with a third place ribbon. The judge leaned more toward the draft horses, thus a biased opinion. Julianna hopes to start riding lessons for some kids next year-as there are interested parents-and also hopes to help them get started in 4-H showing. The Horse Project group at the fair really want Julianna to come back to help with the youth and rewarded her with a $50 gift certificate for her leadership skills in the Project.

In September, Julianna took JubiLee and McAnna to the 4-H District Champ Show in West Salem, Wisconsin. JubiLee was a little “hot-headed”, so they didn’t do very well in their classes, but Julianna and McAnna came away with two grand champions in driving. The judge even made it clear to Julianna that she didn’t have to award a first place ribbon. But McAnna did very well!

In October, Julianna began a search for a 4WD truck. Her vehicle is only rear-wheel, so it is not the best for winter traveling. She has found a few that she likes, but the right buyer for her vehicle has not come along as of yet. She also played for her first wedding and enjoyed the experience. She also played for another funeral right before fair time in late July.

We had a dry summer this year, so finding hay for our horses and goats became a slight problem. But we are very fortunate to have found a source who could sell us some come spring time if we still need them!  We started to build an arena in our front yard so that Julianna would have a decent enclosed area to train horses and give riding lessons in.  

And lastly, we end this year on a sad note. Just this last Friday, we were forced to put our 14-year-old dog, Trevor, to sleep. He was such a sweetheart and as we used to call him, our little “Schweedie Beast”. He lived a long time for being a large dog and he had a happy life with us for as long as we had him. We’re not entirely sure why it was his time, though the morning of, he was unable to stand on his own. We miss him dearly, as do his sisters, Beth and Keara.

But now as we look to Christmas, we give thanks to God for His provision and for allowing us the time that He gives us with each of our animals and family members.  My parents are still living in their home and we talk most every night. My Mom will be 90 coming this January and my Dad is now 91. They have been married for 68 years now and it’s a blessing to see both still independently living in their own home.

God bless you and your family this coming year of 2013.  May the thought of Jesus warm your hearts and homes this Christmas season. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

God bless you from the Cadogoho Ranch family,
Deb, Julianna
Jack, Con
JubiLee, McAnna, Sky
Beth, Keara
Cecily, and Bandy

ICBF blog and Life

I'm having a challenging time finding something relevant to write about at the moment, so I'll just update you on some of my weekly activities. :)

I wanted to let you know about the other blog that I'm co-authoring, though. This blog was recently launched in order to keep record of our Bible study group's notes. Several students got together about a year ago to study Scripture, and though there have been many changes over the past year our group has, in some ways, expanded and is still a time and place for friendship and study. You can find the International Christian Bible Fellowship blog HERE and you are more than welcome to follow it. We still meet on a Google+ hangout each week, and they are something I always look forward to--especially in the middle of a busy (and sometimes tiring) week. :)

After passing Western Civilizations 1, Introduction to Computing, and English Literature in October to increase my credit count to 18, I began studying College Math and Biology in November. They are both going well. I'm thankful for the good background in math and science that the BJU curriculum gave me through high school. People often have asked me how different studying college at home is from attending a traditional campus. It is not much different from the 12+ years of homeschooling that I recently completed. However, I do most, if not all, my studying on a computer. CP is very flexible, although I do schedule out my study plans. Sometimes, I get stuck studying and forget to "just live" (as Pollyanna would say), but I am grateful that I am still at home with my family, church, and friends. I will have my Degree Consultation on Wednesday, Lord willing, and my current plan is to earn a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies.

I still babysit with Hannah (my sister) about 6-8 hours a week. Kids often don't "connect" to me as quickly as they will with Hannah, but I still love taking care of them. Being in charge of children is a great responsibility, but it is something that I am used to now. I have watched children of all ages, and have been blessed with valuable experience in that area.

I have a few more weeks of harp lessons left for this semester. I am currently preparing for the harp festival in February, as well as for a duet audition in January (possibly). Playing with my group as well as just on my own is something I have always enjoyed. On Thursday, I will be playing background music for a seniors' home. There is something more rewarding playing as background music than there is just performing, in my opinion. People can still socialize and enjoy the music without having to "pay attention". Of course, there is less pressure on the performer, too. ;)

Other than day-to-day activities, there have been other events over the past month. Some good, some bad. Yet, in all God has been faithful, as He always has and always will be. One of my life verses has stuck with me through it all: "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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Seeking Him,
Kaleigh

Heart of Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving in the United States being celebrated nation-wide tomorrow, we think back on all the many blessings that God has bestowed upon us.  But how can we be thankful with all the sin and havoc that is going on in the world today? How can we rejoice when wars are breaking out and our peaceful lives are being disrupted by chaos and confusion?  It's not easy.  But if we turn to our Bibles and pray daily for those who constantly live in turmoil, even if we ourselves do not, we are living out our Christian roles.  We cannot fix the problems in our world single-handedly; but we can turn to the One who can fix the problems of this world with a wave of His hand.  Powerful and almighty, God can do anything. However, we live in a wicked world and will continue to until "our number is up" or the world's "number is up".  We can pray though and give thanks to God for what He has done in the past, is doing in the present, and will do in the future.  The future is in His hands and it's not our duty to find out what He's going to do next; we just need to have faith that whatever happens, it will be for His glory and He is always in control.

In Psalm 100:4-5 it says, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations".  From generation to generation, we've seen His mighty hand at work; through wars and famines, through good and bad, God has always been in control and we must remember that we have much to be thankful for.  In fact, I'd like to share with you something that I've been doing for the past few Thanksgivings.  I take a piece of paper and on the left hand side of it, I write "Happy Thanksgiving" in a downward motion like this:

"T
 H
 A
 N
 K...etc."

Then I write one thing-beginning with that letter-that I'm thankful for, such as this: "H"="Horses".  It might not cover everything that you're thankful for, but that's when you can get out a notebook and write down everything that you're thankful for. Probably wouldn't take more than a few minutes and it serves as a good reminder on our days when nothing is going right for us and everything is against us.  These lists will prove to you-whether you keep it on your refrigerator or memorize it-that God has been faithful.

I would like to share a few verses with you now on Thanksgiving.

When you're worried: (Philippians 4:6) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything be prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;..."

God's commands on being thankful: (Psalm 50:14) "Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High."

When in despair: (1 Chronicles 16:34) "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever".

We're never out of God's love. And that's something most important to be thankful for. Christ died on the cross for our sins. Important to be thankful for. Christ is preparing a heavenly home for us to live in. What a wonderful thing to be thankful for.  No more tears, no more sorrows, no more pain, no more death, no more lying or cheating, no more stealing, and no more idolatry or adultery. Heaven is something to be thankful for. Wow! So many things to be thankful for and we've only scratched the surface. ;)

God bless,
Julianna

His Hope!

[After I wrote this post, my pastor gave a sermon on Sunday night about this exact topic. It was very refreshing and I'd encourage you all to listen to it as well. http://sermons.gbccv.org/?sermon_id=1159 God bless.]

"...But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?" (Romans 8:24b)

I think I can safely say that everyone at some point in time has struggled with hope. Hope is not something we can handle, and we as finite human beings tend to have more faith when we can see or touch something. Hope often means waiting--waiting for something that we cannot see or cannot have...yet. In other words we are trusting that something will happen even if we have no clear evidence. Hope comes in different levels and forms. A four year old may hope for a certain gift. A twelve year old may hope to attend a birthday party with friends. A seventeen year old hopes to finish high school soon. A twenty-three year old hopes to find a job and get married. A forty year old hopes to see his grandchildren. It goes on and on...

"For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." (Ps.71:5)

"...God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col.1:27)

What is our hope? Our hope is God. Our hope is in God. When all circumstances seem to be failing, when all possibilities are ruled out, when there is absolutely no reason to keep going, when there is nothing left but us and God, then we will see where our hope is. If it is in man, situations, money, or anything else, then our life will crumble. Man is fallible. Those we love will let you down--no matter how hard we try to ignore it--they will. Our complete hope cannot rest in man. Situations change all the time. They may be comfortable one moment and intensely emotional another moment. They will change frequently and shatter normality. Money is never certain. Economies fluctuate and banks change. We cannot think that money will give us hope when we need it. Whatever else you may hope in will let you down. In a depraved world nothing can remain the same at all times. A hope in God is a hope that never disappoints.

Our hope is God, and only God.  He is the only One who will never leave us--even when family and friends have left. He is the only One who can give true strength--even when our strength has ceased. He is the only One who be our Giver--even when all financial aid is gone. Our hope must be in God. If it isn't, our life will be nothing. We will have no hope of salvation, eternal life, or security in this world. If we can trust God for our salvation, why can't we hope in Him for the rest of our needs? His hope will never let us down--never in this life, and never in the next, either.

"Through him you believe in God, who raise him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:21)

We can take hold of hope by trusting in God and by following where He leads even when we can't see the pathway ahead of us, and even when all the world is against us. To rest in His promises and daily surrender to His will is when we will embrace hope. It requires endurance during a waiting season. God doesn't call us to wait and hope in Him if He will not fulfill His promises. "We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized." (Hebrews 6:11) Our hoping in Him does not go unnoticed, but we will need diligence in our daily tasks and perseverance to keep going when there is no other hope but God.  He will reward our patience. "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded." (Hebrews 10:35) Be like Abraham who "when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going...And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore." (Heb.11:8, 12) He had hope in an unchanging God, and God never, ever, once let him down. 

Don't give up. Hope in the Lord and He will renew your strength. His mercies are new every morning. Don't rely on yourself. "If you put your hope in the sovereign grace and power of God and not in your own strength, or in the approval of others or in money or in fleeting pleasures or in status, then when the limelight shifts off your ministry and your life, and the praise of man is gone, and the glamour of self-denial evaporates and all the supports of men crumble, then you SHALL endure—with the endurance of hope." (John Piper) 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

We have a hope that is sure and steadfast. It will not fail. Ever. Though our hope may fail daily, His hope will never cease to give us grace and strength. He will give us the grace to see anything through. Our faith and hope must be in the One who calls and our confidence in doing what He lays before us. The results are in His hands because our tasks are beyond our strength. We do not choose to battle, but it is come. And we can have hope, because the outcome of all our battles is victory. We serve a risen Savior—a Victorious Savior!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Sometimes we go through trials

That are so hard to bear

We lift our face toward heaven

“God are you really there?”

I’ve asked that same question

And I’ve been down that road.

Looking back I now can tell you

He’s always let me know:

There is hope so hold on;

There is hope.

God has sent me here to tell you

There is hope.

And He knows just what you’re going through

And what the future holds.

As long as Jesus lives

There is hope.

In Christ,

Kaleigh

Be Ready

Well, I’m sure everyone’s wondering where the next blog post is; so I thought I’d better get going on it tonight. Instead of the regular blog post that I tend to write, I thought that I might take this time to let you all know what I’ve been up to lately and what God’s been doing in my life. Well, here it goes.

First of all, I have news that is even shocking myself at the moment.  I am selling my truck.  Why is that?  Well, I need something a bit more “heavy duty”.  I found exactly what I need: a dual exhaust Chevy Silverado.  Only problem is is that I need to sell my current vehicle in order to pay for this one. With this, one lesson that I’m trying to put into practice is: patience.  I tend to get “ahead of God” and “leave Him in the dust” with the decisions I make.  “I have to make it now”.  Well, this time, I wanted things to be different.  I’m completely leaving the details in His hands and forgetting that “this is exactly what I need!”.  I’m definitely trying to put Philippians 3:14 to good use here: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”.  Even patience.

Work has been less of a burden lately and I’m understanding some of the guidelines better.  I’ve had some issues that I won’t go into here, but God has been faithful and again-been patient with me.  What a patient God! And though I may have my “up and down”, merry-go-round days, He’s there to take me by the hand and simply tells me to just “chill”.  Through my job with QualityTrack, I’ve been learning that whatever I do-whether I want to or not-I need to do it for Him and forget about how miserable I am.  It’s the right thing to do and in the end, it was the only way I could go.  Does that mean that I have learned my lesson well and am not in need of practice anymore? Certainly not.  I’m here as a prime example of how great God’s patience is.  But if I can overcome my feelings of despair and get over those “mole hills” that I’ve made into mountains, I finally can do my work with a cheerful heart and do it all for His glory, and not my own.

School has been going fairly well.  As this was the second part as to why I went on my social networking break, I’ve been trying to concentrate heavily upon it.  Problems have arisen with a few of the sites that I have been working on, but both my coach and I are happy to see that I’m making steady progress.  At the moment, I’m working on the section in the LearningNetwork that I consider to be “repulsive”; but it’s a part of Psychology that will be on the actual test, so I must endure the terms and ideology of those early, secular theorists from the past.  As I continue, I would just like to ask for prayer that I will not sink into these thoughts and ponder on them.  God has blessed us Christians with a conscience and we are to use it.  And studying those sections puts nothing positive in our minds.  This is why we learn from our parents at an early age to guard our hearts, our minds, and our ears as to what the world has to say about such things.  We must use discretion and compare what we cannot avoid hearing or watching with what God says in His Word.  

Last week, a friend of mine wrote me an e-mail to tell me that I had been elected as a Board of Directors (BOD) member of the River Valley Welsh Pony Association (RVWPA).  There are only three seats available, so I felt honored to have been chosen to fill one.  With this honor though, there comes more responsibility with decision making, financial advising, and so on.  I was also volunteered to help co-write a monthly newsletter for the group and to help start a webpage.  This is a totally exciting new step for me and will also be an excellent addition to my resume. :)  I have committed myself and will do my best to represent the club well.  As ideas rush through my head and the thought of extra work does flip flops inside my brain, I realize that God has a plan through all of this and will help me make the right decisions.

Just like He does with my future.  I have no idea what lies ahead, except my dreams and a plethora of anticipations.  But only God determines what happens a couple miles down the road.  I can’t see that far.  Just like I can’t see over that next hill.  I have two choices as to what I can do about it; which makes it easier to decide. I can either A. run and hide; or B. continue to pursue God’s will for my life and better myself, so that I can be ready for hard times and trials.  I hate to say it, but there will be those times ahead.  And not just for certain people.  But for all of us.  Whether we have faced many in our past, are facing them in the present, or haven’t faced them yet but will in the future,  we need to be prepared to take on the challenge.  To put on the full armor of God.  Not just the helmet.  Not just the breastplate.  Not just the boots.  For if we are without one, the enemy will point his arrows there and wound us, as we were not prepared.

As a closing thought, I’d like to challenge you today.  But not just today, but instead, for your entire lifetime.  Be ready.  Be on guard.  Never let it down; no matter if it’s only for a minute.  For Satan doesn’t need an hour to wound you.  He only needs a second.

God bless you as you continue to walk with Him.

Blessings,
Anna

Give Thanks!

Last Monday was Thanksgiving Day for Canadians. Many people envision turkey, pumpkin pie and whipped cream, family and friends, a table loaded with food, or maybe certain colors and smells. Regardless of what traditions or practices people hold during that holiday, thanksgiving is a Biblical command. It is a command Jesus, Paul, David, Daniel, and so many others have modeled for us.

Matthew 15:36
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks...

Ephesians 1:15-16
Wherefore I also...Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. 

1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

But...

This isn't a conditional command, though. Many people have no problem being grateful when life is great, but this is a command that is to apply to all circumstances. To the good and the bad; the happy and the sad; the easy and the difficult; the simple and confusing.

Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Giving thanks will not be always be an voluntary action for each wonderful occurrence in our lives. Certainly, we will praise God for those joyful times as well (Easy for me to say, right? After passing three tests in two days... :P;), but sometimes thankfulness will be a choice--not just a feeling. It will require an act of your will to give thanks for everything.

Thanksgiving is not an option. God didn't say...
"Give thanks when...
...your bills are all paid."
...you're passing all your tests."
...relationships are perfect."
...the sun is shining."
...friends are all in agreement."

But He did say...
"Giv[e] thanks always for all things."

I think praise and thanksgiving are related in many ways. Yes, we may praise God and not necessarily thank Him, and we can express thanksgiving without praise, but I think when we are truly thankful, our hearts will automatically praise God as well. Praise will naturally flow from a heart that realizes Who God really is and what He has done for us, and when we realize that, why would we not praise Him? 

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane thanking God for His disciples--some of whom who would shortly betray and deny Him. Paul (and Silas) sang praises to God in the middle of a dungeon--their backs torn from the beatings they received. David continually praised God in the Psalms, even through some of the most difficult circumstances in his life. Daniel--the man committed to prayer even in the face of adversity--praised God when He revealed the king's dream to him. These men chose to praise God through the easy and the hard times.

Think about it: how could we not praise Him? Even in the most hopeless and stressful situations, He was always there: He never left us. Let's praise Him for His faithfulness. In the lonely stages of life, when friends have gone, He always stayed close. Let's praise Him for His love. When uncertainty and worry fills our minds, He is waiting on the other side--watching us walk by faith through the path He has created. Let's praise Him for never-ending care.

Fanny Crosby's second verse of "Praise Him! Praise Him" says it well:

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled and died;
He, our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified!
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows;
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong;
Praise Him! Praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!

How will you show your gratefulness to Him today? What will you praise Him for this week?

Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Blessings,
Kaleigh

FROG

Well, as I’m writing this blog post, I’m just starting my third social networking break; only this time, I don’t know when I’ll really come back.  I stayed up the night before and thought of all of the schoolwork that I needed to get in.  I really had no idea just how far I was behind until my 22nd coaching call; then my eyes were opened.  Looking at everything in my schedule, I knew I couldn’t take out work, piano practice, or eating.  I couldn’t even really take off sleep either, though some days it already feels like I’ve taken sleep off my schedule.  In the middle of this mess that was going through my mind, I knew only one thing kept me from accomplishing my goals: and that was social networking.  I hated the thought of it, but I knew I had to find a schedule that I could get both schoolwork and work in.  Skype, Google+, and Gmail was staring me straight in the face; and that's what was hindering my view from my college courses.
In the midst of this though, the Lord touched my heart.  I had to trust in Him to help me make this decision.  It wasn’t one I could make on my own, though I could have tried. I was left with one choice: trust Jesus.  He knew what I wanted. He knew what I needed to do for awhile.  And I felt Him leading me to go on this break.  
As 2 Samuel 22:3 says: “The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.”
I was not sure what to do, but He led me.  I may not like what I had to do, but in trusting God, I knew I had made the right decision.
Is it always easy to trust God? No, definitely not.  Like this example, we know what we want, but God knows what’s best for us.  David had to trust God when he confronted both Goliath and Saul. Noah trusted that God would really send the worldwide flood.  Mary trusted God to give her the strength to carry the Son of Man in her womb.  Everyone has to deal with putting trust in someone at some point.  But as Christians, we know better than to put our trust in things or other people to meet all of our needs.  God is our sole Provider, Protector, and Guide.  We aren’t lost like the thousands of others who rely on their money, friends, cars and trucks, or even food and tv to give them everything that they need.  Putting our trust in material things will only give us more grief and will never result in true happiness nor will it result in what God’s perfect plans are for us.
Is it even possible to, as Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” all of the time?  No, as fallible humans, we will always stumble and forget.  But God’s always there to pick up the pieces and put us back on the path that He knows will be the best for us. (Jeremiah 29:11)  
Will God fail us if we put our trust in Him?  Never.  We may feel that way when He prompts us to make a decision that we would rather forget; but in the end, He proves to us that the choice He wanted us to make, was for our own good.  
If you’ve ever heard of F.R.O.G., you’ll know it stands for Fully Rely On God.  An easy reminder of what we should always do: tough or easy.  Food, cars, or computers may seem like great things to lean on for when we are going through difficult times, but God will always be there to see us through and will never let go. (Psalm 118:8-9)
I know this may seem like a simple message, but it really spoke to me this week and my hope is that it’s something that will bless you in the coming weeks as you “Fully Rely On God”.


Blessings,
Anna

His Reasons!

Person: I don’t even know why it has to be like this.

Me: It’s for a reason.

Person: Yeah, what reason?

I have a bad habit of replaying my conversations with people. I think through them, analyze thoughts and motives, and realize what could have been said (or added) instead. I do it all the time, and these lines from a conversation these past two weeks are no exception.

I know now how I could have answered that question. I didn’t then. I’m not an “on-the-spot” answer-giver. I like to think through my answers (especially long ones), and sometimes by the time I do that people are onto something else.  I didn’t know what to say in answer to “what reason?”, and they didn’t expect me to. It was more of a rhetorical question.

As I was thinking about how to write this week’s posts, I came across some of my quotes that I have collected over the past couple years from people, blogs, sermons, or anywhere I find them. Many of them speak on this subject, and I will do my best to incorporate them here.

Why are things the way they are? In your home, at work, in society. There are many reasons perhaps, but this one I know: it is for our growth and strengthening of character.  Each circumstance and situation God places in our lives is for our maturing of character. Because His thoughts are not our thoughts, we may not immediately see His plans, but often times later in life we can look back and view the whole story as one who has been carried through it. Our growth is what God desires of us, and like precious metals in the fire, we cannot be purged of impurities until we have passed through the fire. We don’t often understand reasons for each trial, but we can remember the past and see that God did carry us. He never forsook His children, and when they needed Him most He was already there. “The blow at the outward man may be the greatest blessing to the inner man”: the maturing of our character.  God’s reasons always have a purpose; He does not call us to futility.

Sometimes God calls us to a seemingly impossible task. A task we could not accomplish in our own strength. That is when we realize that we need Him most, because “the task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us”. It is through His strength, and only His strength that we accomplish His calling and purpose. His power enables us to live for Him, to complete His tasks, and to shine our light in a dark world in every situation. Sometimes we feel like giving up because it’s so hard. But “when one must be forsaken, let not that one be Christ”; give up yourself, rather than leaving the One who gives you true strength. With Christ, the only way to fail is to quit, so don’t give up, because what God calls us to do, He will give the strength to accomplish. “When we are weakest, He is strongest—and when we step far out of our comfort zones, we step right into the comfort of Christ.” Whatever impossible obstacle God places in our journey, He will also provide a way over it—your good work will be rewarded either here or when you see Jesus face to face. One of God’s reason for each and every situation we face is to show His power—not ours—in our helplessness.

The wise will use the events God gives us as instruments in our life, to advance His character in our lives. Taking advantage of each difficulty and seeing how we can grow from it will mold us constantly to His image. God doesn’t give us impossible tasks, trials, or temptations. In each one, He has provided a way of escape, promised His faithful care, and given us Christ’s strength. And when we come to the end of our weakness, and see that we can do nothing, then we will more fully understand that “in our weakness, He is strong.” “God doesn’t call the qualified: He qualifies the called.” He knows we aren’t perfect, but through His strength He can accomplish anything in us and we can still fulfill His will. His good work in an imperfect people will be perfectly completed when He comes for us. Don’t lose hope when everything seems to stand still, when it seems that God is not listening, when it seems like you’re going backwards and not forward—don’t let those waves wash away your hope. My dad said this to me not that long ago: “Dark clouds aren’t always bad. Sometimes they bring a little rain which is good for growth. It’s when it’s thundering and lightening that it can cause the damage. But usually there is always sunshine after a storm. …always hope for that: the sunshine.”  There is a reason. We cannot often see it, but when we pass through (yes, through; even if we are stuck in it for the present), we will see Christ waiting on the other side where He was all along, guiding us, sustaining us, and carrying us when we needed Him most.

His reasons? To show His strength. To further His purposes. To increase our likeness to Him. To demonstrate His power. To testify of His glory. To give us a hope and a future. It is all His, and no glory belongs to us.

Jude 1:24-25

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. 

In Christ,

Kaleigh 

CollegePlus! Scholarship

Wow, can't believe how fast this last week went and how fast this Monday has been going.
Well, I'm not going to write my regular blog post this week as I have something, actually, a big favor to ask of you as you read this.  As you've probably heard, CollegePlus! is offering a $25,000 scholarship to the person who has the best essay, 12 months of free college, and iPads to the two people (one with an essay and one with a video) who has the most votes. I'm not good at asking for things, but if you feel led to, please feel free to read the following essay and vote for it at the link below.  And if you also entered this contest, I'd love to know so that I may vote for you, too!  Thank you all so much for your support.

God bless,
Anna

"I have been with CollegePlus! for almost a year now and I definitely feel that I made the right choice in choosing it as my college. For a little background on myself, I’m a nineteen year old who’s going for a Bachelor’s in Journalism. I was homeschooled all my life and grew up with a passion to write everything from stories to poems to plays. I knew finding a great, Christian college was going to be a challenge, but that was until I found out about CollegePlus! through Vision Forum in Texas. God has just really opened doors for me and given me great, inspirational memories throughout this last school year. 
I admit, doing CLEPs is a bit of a challenge, but that’s why I’m so glad for coaches. My CollegePlus! coach has walked me through step by step on how to complete my goals while making sure that I have enough time in my busy life to complete those goals. She’s very flexible with me and is an awesome encourager. My coach, Brittany Barden, sends me what’s called “coaching notes” with everything that we’ve covered on our every-other-week coaching calls. She also attaches a verse and a blessing for my next study week. 
I find that not only are the coaches a great part of the CollegePlus! experience, but so are the staff members. The coaches have very busy schedules and sometimes, we students need to get a hold of the CollegePlus! office. They’re friendly team members who try to serve both new students and old ones, to the best of their ability. 
Now, to the heart of why I am writing this. 
CollegePlus! has given me a hope to earn my degree in a shorter time, for not as much money as you would have to pay for at even a regular technical college. That’s one of the many reasons that I wanted to be a part of CollegePlus!. 
Throughout my time so far, I’ve made some of the best friends that I could have ever asked for. Friends who pray for me when I test and friends who have some of the best study tips that I need to complete an exam and score well on. The experience has been beyond belief and God has mightily used it to bless my life. 
I first started out by writing a Life Purpose Statement, which I’ll share with you at the end of this essay. It’s a way to find God’s real plan for your life and gives you an idea where to start in this new way of learning. 
Through my experience so far with CollegePlus!, I’ve had the ability to build on the knowledge that I received in high school and transfer it to the next level and work towards a degree for a future job. Learning not only how to be a better, Christian adult in this society, but also learning how to be successful in communicating with people and with how to effectively reach those around me where I work. CollegePlus! is doing just that. Preparing me for the real world and getting me to the point where I can say, “I feel ready for this”. 
Traditional colleges have one thing and one thing only in mind. No, it isn’t the students. No, it isn’t the education that the future generation is receiving. It’s the money. Colleges over-charge at these schools. That’s one of the reasons why CollegePlus! is so wonderful. It’s much more affordable. It also gives me the “space” I need to complete my studies at my own pace. 
After my time with CollegePlus! is up, my next step would be to get my degree through Thomas Edison State College. Not only would this be a dream come true, but it would be an answer from God, as I’ve been seeking His direction in my whole college choice process. I know, it will not be easy, but if God’s will for me is to follow His plan for my life, then I know I can do it as my Life Purpose Statement explains: 

“I am resolved to first of all, be an inspiring witness for Christ by sharing what He has done in my life through writing and talking with others. Then to help those, both younger and older than myself, with their spiritual needs; whether they need someone to get advice from or simply someone who will listen to them share what God has been doing in their lives. In every situation, I can only be an effective witness with Christ guiding me on my life's journey. Working with the press-which has a lot of power over the people who read their material-I can write and communicate with people on "their" level. Not only the highly educated in important positions, but those who do not have as much of an education. Only with God's help, can my Christian witness and writing, influence the general public and my co-workers, by the way that I act and respond to problems at my job and in my personal life.” 

I guess to sum everything up in one paragraph, I’d like to say that my experience with CollegePlus! has made me see how blessed I was to be able to find it and also, how much I would have been missing out on. The benefits of my learning process, Godly staff and CP! friends guiding me, my Mom who is standing beside me all the way, is just a blessing beyond words. And now as I continue my schooling through CollegePlus!, I have confidence that God will lead the way and will give me the ability to help those who come behind me. To be part of CollegePlus!’s past and to be an example to the future."

Here is the direct link to my essay: http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays/88-why-i-chose-collegeplus

These are the links to anyone else's essays/videos that you would like to vote for: http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays

http://scholarships.collegeplus.org/essays?sorting=most_votes&type=video

Thank you all for your help in this effort and just to end this blog post on a Biblical note, I'd like to quote a passage from Psalm 86:12, as the topic of praising God whenever has been on my mind a lot lately.

Psalm 86:12 "I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever."

Grace, Mercy, and Peace

Mercy and grace--two things often mentioned together in the Bible. I think we often interchange the two without realizing that, though they are similar, they have different definitions. Both of them, however, are often listed along with peace, especially in the New Testament. Because peace comes from realizing what grace and mercy are: God’s love. As Jamieson-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary says “God extends His grace to men as they are guilty; His ‘mercy’ to them as they are miserable.” Only a sacrificial love could grant mercy and grace to the guilty and miserable. And because God’s love is perfect we can rest in the peace that follows: the peace “which passeth all understanding”.

Grace is defined as unmerited favor: God’s giving to us what we don’t deserve.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Eph.2:8) God’s salvation is a gift to us: something we do not deserve; something we cannot purchase because it is beyond any price level. Grace is “For God so loved the world, that He gave us his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) We did and can do nothing to earn life after death. God’s sending of His Son to an evil earth was something that we could never return. We could never pay Christ back for the indifference He received from His home city.  We could never pay Him back for the mocking and scourging He received from the hands of those he had created. We could never pay for the rejection He received from His holy Father as He bore the weight of all mankind’s sins. The love and life Christ lived is only a result of grace. Nothing else but His love and grace could have compelled God to sacrifice His Son for us.

Mercy is God withholding from us the judgment we do deserve. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom.6:23) The judgment we deserve is only held back because of God’s love for us. We are totally depraved humans. We cannot please God by any of our works. Our sin deserves the fire of Hell. It was our sin that nailed Christ to the cross and separated Him from the close fellowship of His Father. We cannot do good on our own, and our righteousness is only as filthy rags. That’s why we deserve judgment. And, yet, He provides a way of escape for us. The judgment unbelievers go through will never be meted out to us as believers. He loved us so much to send an Advocate to plead our life for us and to take the condemnation we deserve. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

Because of God’s mercy and grace, we can have peace. Perhaps you have noticed in Paul’s epistles “peace” always follows “grace” and/or “mercy”. Peace is a result of realizing God’s grace and mercy on fallen creatures such as we are. When we see the love of God in sending His only beloved Son to be the sin of the world and to take our punishment we have peace, because we realize that we no longer need to face eternal death and separation from God. When we see His compassion in holding back judgment for our many sins we have peace, because our condemnation is placed on the perfect Son of God and our sins are removed “as far as east is from the west”. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” (John 14:27) The peace God gives us stems from His grace and mercy. The world cannot give that peace because it cannot give us the grace or mercy that God can. His peace is a peace that passes all understanding. In a world full of conflict, Christ came to offer us His peace and to send us into the world to spread the good news about it. His peace (a result of grace and mercy) overcomes the world and provides a reason for us, as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth”, to live victoriously. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.” Jude 1:2

In Him,

Kaleigh

PS My graduation videos were successfully uploaded. I hope they work for you. :) God bless.

Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eni2iXuftSo 
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpeKjjZv6M4

Video 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmrQWSIEeaY

Video 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-UOqKiN2E

Video 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMpwRRA-lis

Video 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asEciDczhHY

Video 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoDbFZP0KTI

Special Purpose

One of my favorite, universal verses is Jeremiah 29:11.  I’m sure most, if not all of you, know that verse by heart.  It’s a verse that carries promise, restores lost hope, gives us peace, shows God’s genuine interest in our tomorrows, and proves how great God’s love for us is.

When I’m feeling down, this verse lifts me up. When I feel like I have no future, I remember this verse.  When I wonder why God even created me in this time and in this place, that verse brings me comfort.

The first part of Jeremiah 29:11 says this: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD,”. The Maker of the universe is talking to each of us, individually.  He’s not saying “you” as in the whole world population, even though He does have thoughts toward everyone and everything living, but this part is what makes it so special.  God speaking to us as individuals and not as a country, a group of people, a tribe; but rather as our own unique person.

The second part of the verse continues on with: “thoughts of peace and not of evil,”. God does not think malicious thoughts towards us. He doesn’t tell His children to find their own way through the dark. He wishes peace among us and not harm. Unlike Satan who wishes all of God’s children to fall into sin. Having peaceful lives is what God desires for you and for me. As I will get to in a little bit.

The last part of the verse says: “to give you a future and a hope”.  I think that this part of the verse is sometimes the best message.  Because the first part of the verse is leading up to this: God’s thoughts=good; God’s good thoughts toward us=peace; God’s good thoughts toward us are peaceful=future and hope. The message here is that God wants us to have a future.  And that future will lead to eternal life with Him in heaven. And when our life on this earth is fulfilled, we are sure to have a home with Him forevermore. Until that time though, we have a future on this earth.  And we have hope for the future after that.

As I said I would mention later, our parent’s concern for our lives are the same as God’s, only God has our lives “mapped” out and His desire is much greater. But our parents raise us by feeding us, clothing us, loving us, and preparing us to be Christian leaders in our society; just as our Father in heaven does. Our earthly parents want us to have successful lives, to give God all the glory, and to fully live our lives for Him.  God wants this as well.  And as possible future parents ourselves one day, we will wish our children the same.

God’s words at the beginning of the book of Jeremiah say the following: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;..”.  God had a plan for our lives before we were even born.  Long before our parents even knew we were going to exist, God knew what we were going to do and who we were going to become.

So the next time, we have the feeling that we don’t have purpose or our tomorrows aren’t worth living for, God is right by our side to remind us that we do have value, even far above rubies.

Blessings,
Anna

My Week

As many of you know, I graduated last Friday night. The weeks prior to the actual celebration were quite busy, and I’m not even sure where I should begin. All my family was involved and so were many of my friends. Actually most of the people invited came, so my church was quite full (around 100 people). But it was a wonderful night and I would gladly do it all again…except that it isn’t necessary. Many of my friends got to meet my other friends, so it a way it was a “reunion”. It was for me especially: I saw a lot of the people who have had a large influence on my life all in one place. It was wonderful.

On Wednesday (18^th) Elizabeth, Daragh, and Mrs. Drummond arrived at our house around 6pm. We helped them unpack and after things settled down a little Liz, Sarah, and I tried to listen to the Bible study with other friends. Hannah and Daragh began cooking dinner in the kitchen. Overall I don’t think I remember much of the Bible study, but I do know that we were probably a great distraction to those who were actually trying to listen. :P But after the actual Bible study we “hung out” and just talked and laughed together. 

We found out that Daragh LOVES taking pictures so everything we did was photographed pretty much: food, laughing, making faces, animals, etc. After dinner Liz and I opened our grad presents from each other’s families and then Liz and I hid in the loft (ok, we didn’t really hide, but we do hang out there a lot) and I practiced my grad speech on her.

Thursday was my 18^th birthday. I first opened my presents with my family quite early in the morning. Soon after breakfast we all traveled to my church (an hour away) along with a few others to help set up everything and decorate the tables. I took my two collage boards and we managed to successfully hang them from the ceiling. We also rearranged the sanctuary somewhat and shoved everything unnecessary into the teen Sunday school room. Then when we got home some CPers had a birthday call for me and read their messages (which were all collected and posted on G+) to me. SO special. :) At the end of the day Liz and I once again retired to the loft to practice my speech. Hannah and Daragh were often frequent observers as well. So I had lots of good criticism for my writing/speaking. :D

Friday morning I opened some grad presents and edited and practiced my speech some more. Daragh and Mrs. Drummond left to visit some friends and then met up again with us at church that night. THIS was like THE best day ever. One hour before I had to leave for church…I got this card in the mail. From the McKees and from lots of my CP! friends. That hour was the hour where I could just start getting tense about everything or I could relax and decide to have fun. After reading through the card from all my friends, getting uptight about things just didn’t happen. I knew there were others praying for me and wishing they could be here, too.  The friends I have made through CP are so amazing, and I don’t know how I could ever repay their loyalty to me. One hour later I (and my family and Liz) left for church to attend my long-awaited grad ceremony. It was so special and I had a LOT of fun. I wasn’t nervous when I was giving my speech (it was actually really fun) and the games afterwards were great. I’m actually in the process of uploading them to YouTube so I will post links if that works. The amount of gifts I received was overwhelming. I am so thankful to be surrounded by Christian friends; they are worth more than any treasure the world could offer. After the ceremony, everybody ate food and fellowshipped together. It was a late night home and I was up until 1:40am. But it was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day. Sometime these kinds of days show you a little bit of heaven on earth. ;)

On Saturday morning, Daragh gave me her birthday present: a photo shoot of Liz and me in our grad dresses. It was lots of fun to find different places around the yard for pictures. I think it turned out pretty well. Later my sisters, mom, and I went to the beach with some friends (who had come to the island for my graduation). There were eight girls (not counting the three moms) in total and one little boy. One event was really funny. At the end of the visit at the beach a lady (who was leaving the same time we were) came up to all of us and tried to match all the kids with the moms! She did a great job, except she didn’t match some of us quite correctly. It was a great day at the beach…although we did have to say goodbye to the Drummond family in the morning.

Sunday was a wonderful day also. We took Liz to church with us (as she had stayed on the island) and then spent the afternoon at some church friends’ house. We took our puppies for a walk and let them wade/gallop through 6 inch mud. They were two dirty dogs at the end of the walk. Good thing hoses and sinks were invented. Church in the evening was also a blessed time as we gathered together, worshiped God, and fellowshipped with one another.

Today, Monday, I have been writing a lot and not doing any studying. It is my last week of no “official” school as I start college studying next month. I am looking forward to it all, but I am enjoying the break I have right now, too.

Getting back into Western Civilization 1 will be a challenge, I’m thinking, but I hope it will go well.  I also received a birthday card in the mail from a very sweet 12 year old. That made me smile lots. :D This week will be somewhat relaxed although I have several things I want to complete—much of it including writing.

God bless you all as you serve Him each and every day this week (and forever afterwards, of course).

In Him,

Kaleigh 

Happy Birthday, Kaleigh

I have known Kaleigh for not quite a year yet, but there are still many things that I can tell you about her.  She’s a young, godly Christian woman who has a passion to bring glory to Christ. She has a strong desire to bless and encourage others around her, even if she may be feeling down herself.  I can also tell you the things that she is not, too.  She is not selfish. She is not boastful and does not lord her talents above her peers.  No, she is not the kind of girl that gives her loyalty when it “feels” right.  She’s the kind of girl after God’s own heart.

I guess the best way to describe Kaleigh would be to take a quick peek at the Proverbs 31 woman:

Work and resourcefulness:

Proverbs 31:13 “She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands”.

Proverbs 31:15 “She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.”

Proverbs 31:19 “She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.”

Proverbs 31:18 “She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.”

Proverbs 31:22 “She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

Proverbs 31:31 “Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.”

I have never known Kaleigh to avoid a chore or something that she’d rather forget doing until she absolutely has to.  Her willingness to work and give the glory of her completed task to the Lord is very commendable.

With Proverbs 31:13 and 22, we see that the woman mentioned, is very resourceful. Using her God-given abilities and wisdom to know how to do something, where to find the right materials to  complete the task, and what is going to make the finished project a success, is how she completes the work before her.   

In all the above verses, we can also observe that this Proverbs 31 woman is a hard worker and not afraid of getting her clothes dirty or calluses on her hands. In whatever she does, she does not grumble or complain that she might get pricked (as with a needle or pulling thorns out of the garden) or having dirt stained clothes.  She may not yet have a husband, but she works alongside of her parents and siblings.

Helpfulness:

In Proverbs 31:21 “She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy”.  

Sometimes finding the time to just sit down and talk with a hurting friend or asking a friend over for a meal can describe what the Proverbs 31 woman does.  We don’t always have to look far to see someone in need. Sometimes, they can be our own family members or neighbors.

Kaleigh has been that kind of friend to me. And she knows exactly when I need that “sisterly talk” and gives it to me. She’s lived out this part of the Proverbs 31 woman to its fullest and I can never thank her enough for being that wonderful encouragement to me.

In closing, I’d just like to end this blog post by wishing Kaleigh a “Happy Birthday”.


Sis, may your birthday be one filled with blessings and peace.  I know you have many more activities coming up with another graduation and a graduation party, but my prayer for you is that you will find time to just enjoy the day and rest on your eighteenth birthday. I’d like to leave you with this verse:

Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

Love you, Kaleigh! <3

Blessings,
Anna