·Thankfulness·

||T H A N K S G I V I N G||

Thanksgiving is about praising the One who made it possible for us to have eternal life. Thankfulness is a selfless act of giving back to the One who paid the price no man could ever pay. And for that I am eternally thankful. What are you thankful for?? I know Thanksgiving is over and this picture is late. But I still wanted to post it. Because even though Thanksgiving is only once a year, the thankfulness we can carry in our hearts can be every day of our lives. Thankfulness is a very special thing that we don't often enough grab hold of. It is something that changes our hearts and transforms our selfishness into a heart abundant with gratitude and humbleness. So what is keeping you today from being thankful? And how can you change your heart from discontent to a heart full of contentment and humbleness.

Worshiping Together

This past weekend I had the very special opportunity of leading worship for a retreat of about 70 teens.
Youth group had it's annual fall retreat, and it was very special to worship with them. Also to write a theme song for the youth group called Unshakable and to share it with them all and also to teach them it.
I am incredibly blessed how God moved and performed this weekend. He was glorified in beautiful ways...

How was your weekend?

Welcoming Autumn

I guess it's about time I admit Fall is here. I wish summer didn't fly by so quickly, but all I can do is welcome the cold weather with plaid and boots.

||SENIOR PICTURE SNEAK PEAK||

Sneak peak of my senior picture session! All taken by my lovely, talented friend, Emily! She did a beautiful job!! What do you think?! I'm pretty excited!

Blessings In Senior Pictures

Got part of my senior pictures done last night by a lovely photographer friend. I think I'm over excited to see how some of them turned out. God definitely blessed our time last night with beautiful weather, beautiful light, and a beautiful time. <3
I can't wait to see them!!!

||An Outpouring Of Melodies||

I love when the Lord overflows music into my heart so much so that I am completely overwhelmed as I'm trying to write down all that He is pouring over me...it's a beautiful thing, and so very special to my heart.

Liebster Award

Thank you dear Deya at "The Psalmist And Her Garden" (http://thepsalmistandhergarden.blogspot.com) for nominating me The Liebster Award! |Go follow this beautiful lady. She's so sweet and has some very deep and profound posts and she has a lovely way of writing of God's glory and His truth.| ««The Rules»» |1. List 11 facts about yourself (optional). |2. Answer the questions given you. |3. Nominate other bloggers with less than 200 followers (optional). Alright now it's time to answer her lovely questions: «1. Who or what inspires you? Very good question to start out with :) well, I would have to say my mother is a very big inspiration and example in my life. She's been through so much and through it all she still points to Jesus and knows how constant He is. Also a huge inspiration in the writing music world would be Kari Jobe. God has used a lot of her music to speak to me and inspire me to write new music. I want my music to have the worship aspect as her lyrics do :) ««2. What is your idea of a perfect day? Hm...well, a sunny bright day with big fluffy clouds in the sky. A summer day that is not incredibly hot but warm enough with a lovely, refreshing cool breeze :) haha kinds kinda like today was for me :) ««3. What made you want to start blogging? Well my sister started blogging and it looked so fun so finally I was able to create my own blogs when I was about 12 :) another thing that made me want to start is so I could shine the light of Jesus. My desire in starting a blog was (and is still my prayer and desire) to encourage whoever was reading and point them clearly to Jesus. ««4. What are your favorite books and movies? Well, I don't read as much as I wish I did...but I read a lot of devotionals. My favorite devotional is called "Streams In The Desert". A lot of people have redone the book over the years but I'm talking about the OLD Streams In The Desert devotional by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. It is so good and so deep and so encouraging. I love it! I'm not trying to sound cliche, but my very favorite book is most definitely the Bible. You can't get any better refreshment and truth anywhere else. Words straight from the Father Himself <3 p="">

His Love Letter is my biggest treasure.

His Love Letter is my biggest treasure. Anddd favorite movies? I do watch more movies than I read books, I'll admit it ;) A few of my favorites are (not in order of favorite. Just off the top of my head) Captain America (one and two), God's Not Dead, The Lord Of The Rings, The Narnia movies, Robin Hood (with Russel Crowe), hm...I know there's others but I just can't think of any... ««5. What is one your biggest dreams? Oh most definitely getting my own recording studio to write and record my own music in. To write CDs and reach people with the love of Jesus through His music He gives. For Him to change lives and be glorified through the music HE gives. To write and record music for a side living and be able to glorify The Real Music Maker (my Father) through it all.

His Love Letter is my biggest treasure. Anddd favorite movies? I do watch more movies than I read books, I'll admit it ;) A few of my favorites are (not in order of favorite. Just off the top of my head) Captain America (one and two), God's Not Dead, The Lord Of The Rings, The Narnia movies, Robin Hood (with Russel Crowe), hm...I know there's others but I just can't think of any...

5).What is one your biggest dreams? Oh most definitely getting my own recording studio to write and record my own music in. To write CDs and reach people with the love of Jesus through His music He gives. For Him to change lives and be glorified through the music HE gives. To write and record music for a side living and be able to glorify The Real Music Maker (my Father) through it all. To become a worship leader that can bring people into the throne room of God. A selfless worship leader that glorifies God.

6).  If you could make a playlist of your favorite songs what would they be? Ooh, this is a tough one. I like TOO many to pick a handful for a playlist...hm...can we go with favorite artists? Well, I love Seeker & Servant and all their songs, I like Bellarive, Chris And Bethany Solyntjes, The Glorious Unseen, Rend Collective (and their song "Boldly I Approach" ohh and "More Than Conquerors"), Desperation Band, Kari Jobe, Hillsong United, andd manyyy more.

7). What what are some of tour favorite hobbies? Um...I don't have to think hard for that one ;) definitely MUSIC. Writing music, playing piano and guitar, singing, worshiping Jesus.

Outside of music world I love photography (if you couldn't already tell by this blog ;]). Playing around with lighting and snapping pictures at anytime. I've always got a camera on me.

8). If you could travel anywhere where would you go? Colorado. Oh yes, totally Colorado and the mountains. Mm, anywhere with big beautiful mountains. Estes Park in Colorado is my favorite place and I long to go back there. haha am I simply satisfied? The question says if I could go ANYWHERE where would you go? And I pick lil' old Colorado when I could pick ANYWHERE in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD???? Haha I guess that's me ;) I'm easily satisfied. But I guess visiting Europe would be pretty stellar. Austria would be COMPLETELY amazing and I doubt I would want to come home...haha! :) okay enough rambling.

9). What is your favorite Bible scripture or scriptures? Oh. Another very hard question. I can't answer this question simply because I have SO MANY FAVORITES! But trying to pick a few I love: Isaiah 61:1-2 (my biggest prayer for my life), Jeremiah 1:5 ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born you I CONSECRATED you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations"). Now this verse is literally like it was written to me. My name means consecrated to God. And also, when I took the spiritual gifts test I came out highest in prophecy. Now I'm not only going by what that test says. The test answers don't define the gifts that God has placed in me. He knows my gifts better. But, prophesy means speaking truth boldly and that is something I am very passionate about doing. Speaking truth. Anywho, that verse is pretty special to me.   I have many more favorite verses, but I'm realizing how longgg this post is becoming so I'm trying to cut my words a bit shorter.

10).  If you were given the option to only do one thing thing every day for the rest of your life what would it be? Worship Jesus. Does that count? Because literally that is my biggest desire? And if you think about it, you are worshiping Jesus every time you pour love out onto someone, every time you encourage someone, every time you point someone to Jesus, every time you serve selflessly, you are bringing glory to Jesus. And I want to glorify Jesus through how I serve for Him.

11).

 What are some topics you feel strongly about? God uses pain for a purpose. My life story is a testimony of how God uses pain and tragedy for a purpose to grow us and draw us closer to Himself. YOU have a purpose. YOU are valued, and God has a plan and PURPOSE for your life. So I guess one of my favorite words is purpose. Because of how God has a purpose for everything and everyone. And I am very passionate about reaching people with the truth He has about how He uses pain for a purpose. Sooooo....I guess that's all!
And my 11 questions areee: 1. What are the differences and changes you see in your life that are different because of how Jesus has transformed your life? 2. What are your passions in life? 3. What brings you joy when you are doing it? 4. How has God grown you this week? 5. What are your prayers and dreams for your future? 6. What are three things you couldn't live without?
 7. What is your favorite thing to do on your free time? 8. Where would you like to be the most: by the water (beach, ocean, or lake), the mountains, or the woods? 9. What do you like the beat: cooking, sports, arts/music? 10. What version of the Bible do you read? (like I read the English Standards Version). 11. What are some topics you feel strongly about? (this is such a good question, Deya, I thought I would use it too ;) hope ya don't mind!). Okay! Well that is all! Forgive me again for how boringly longggg this post is! I'm slightly ashamed of how long it's become! But whoever reads until the end gets a golden sticker star ;) haha jk. Okay! Write me a comment if you want to take the award! Have a blessed day!
 P.S. I'm sorry there are no spaces in between any of the questions or anything. I tried to fix it but it keeps going back and doing it...sorry...

|Every Brunette Needs A Blond Best Friend|

I did a photo shoot with my best friend yesterday afternoon. My sister took the pictures and it was so much fun! We both wore our matching lace dresses (that we bought on our own at different times then realized we bought literally very similar dresses!), & wore sneakers to match our dresses. We decides to do the photo shoot so we can look back at our pictures when we're older because I'm a senior now and will be graduating and going off to collage next year. She is such a blessing in my life. All my life I've dreamed of having a best friend that I could be spiritually connected with. Who would understand what I mean when I'm talking about my walk with Jesus, and whom I can listen to about her own faith. I've prayed for a best friend whom I can talk hours with about our love for Christ <3 and Jesus gave me that in our friendship plus more. He gave me the blond best friend I needed because I'm brunette ;) a friend that I can be myself with and she'll get me because she's the same way. He provided me with a best friend that I can turn to and laugh my heart out with about something that only me and her get. I praise God for how He provides <3 What are you thanking Him for today?

Restored Conference

In the beginning of July I went to a week long conference called Restored in Kansas City with a few of the seniors in my youth group. It was a powerful conference and a wonderful time with my close friends <3 God moves in beautiful ways. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the week.
And on the way home we stopped in St. Louis and visited The Arch :)
How has your July been?

Adventures

My siblings, their friends, and I went canoeing the other day and had a blast! I haven't been canoeing in a while and it was quite the adventure with a bunch of fun people who are crazy in having fun.
What is your favorite summer adventure to have with friends and siblings?

Strawberry Picking

Went strawberry picking the other day! This is summer to me...

Summer Camping

Went camping with a few of my friends a couple weeks ago <3 it was a lovely time of resting, worshiping Christ around the campfire, four wheeling, roasted hotdogs and watching the stars through the pine trees <3 What is your favorite part about camping?

Lifting Your Burdened Heart

| No matter how dark it is, no matter what the trouble may be, a quick lifting of the heart to God in a moment of real, actual faith in Him, will alter the situation in a moment.|

Quiet Evenings

Calm evenings full of lots of music, plenty of journaling and writing (including writing new lyrics), and pondering of thoughts. What do you do on calm, still evenings?