It's nights like tonight that make me thankful I am right where I am. I love my life. It's the little things in life that make it wonderful. Mom's cooking (which I have missed), Sean making everyone laugh-which is usually at my expense, Stephen making me laugh until I hurt and then rubbing my legs with lotion (he faithfully does this EVERY night- can you say amazing?) and a long bubble bath with a good book.
Life doesn't get better than this. I have ups and downs just like anyone, but it's when I step back, I realize I just don't have anything to complain about. I know this time in my life won't last forever, but I am trying to soak up EVERY second.
And Yankees just tied it up... so it's even a little better now! :) Go Yankees!
"...As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." -Joshua 24:15
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wonderful Weekend with The Wards
All of Stephen's family lives in Dallas, so we try and visit often. This was our 4th trip in the past 4 months. Although this time seemed to fly by, it's always nice to get away. Not only do we have a blast, but his family is always there to encourage us.
I could not hand pick a better family to be connected to. The men are wonderful men who follow and love the Lord, it's evident in their life and families. And words can not begin to express how much I love the Ward women. Stephen's sisters in law are amazing to say the least. Not only are they absolutely wonderful wives and mothers, but they LOVE the Lord. Like I said already, I just could not ask for better people in my life. I feel as though they love me for me, apart from being Stephen's girlfriend, and I truly appreciate that. From the time Stephen and I started dating (almost a year ago), he has bragged about his family... and it is a family to be proud of. His mother and father raised their boys right and I am forever grateful for that. I try and thank his mom often for the man I have in Stephen and I am looking forward to the day when I can do the same to his father.
Anyways, back to our weekend... we had a wonderful time. Friday night (after a ridiculous long drive- 6 hours) we arrived at Tim and Holly's house and the whole family was waiting. Mili was so excited to play with her cousins, and we sat around and caught up until late into the night. Saturday was a beautiful day and we had the best afternoon. Chick-fil-a brought in Home Depot for the kids and they made bird houses. Well, we made birds houses and the girls got to call them theirs... hehe. But this was a special time for Mili and her cousins, making some sweet memories. After long naps, we went to Cody's (Stephen's nephew) football game... all 18 of us. Needless to say the restaurant afterwards was happy to see us leave :) Mili was able to wear the overalls I made, I have been wanting to make her something for awhile and finally made my first project. She LOVES them and ask daily if she can wear them. She constantly tells me how proud she is for me, she has the most sweet spirit. Randomly she will say, "Chelsea, I am so proud you did these pockets all by yourself" or "I am so proud you did these ponytails, they are just beautiful". I need to write down all the things she says more often so we can tell her one day, God has given her a very sweet personality. I pray that His hand remains on her and she might be a woman after God's own heart. Here are some pics from our weekend...
Sunday morning was just what I needed. The Lord really spoke and presence of the Holy Spirit was so intense, it was as if God was speaking just to me during the worship service. Since Sunday a certain song as been on my heart- Hillsong sings "From the Inside Out". The lyrics are...
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
This song has been my prayer and encouragement in the past couple days. To be in the center of God's will is all I want, and when I allow Him to consume from the inside out, and allow Him to control every decision, thought, action and even my plans, that's when TRUE peace shall come and the only way I will be happy in Him. I am thankful that He is so faithful to keep such a promise.
I could not hand pick a better family to be connected to. The men are wonderful men who follow and love the Lord, it's evident in their life and families. And words can not begin to express how much I love the Ward women. Stephen's sisters in law are amazing to say the least. Not only are they absolutely wonderful wives and mothers, but they LOVE the Lord. Like I said already, I just could not ask for better people in my life. I feel as though they love me for me, apart from being Stephen's girlfriend, and I truly appreciate that. From the time Stephen and I started dating (almost a year ago), he has bragged about his family... and it is a family to be proud of. His mother and father raised their boys right and I am forever grateful for that. I try and thank his mom often for the man I have in Stephen and I am looking forward to the day when I can do the same to his father.
Anyways, back to our weekend... we had a wonderful time. Friday night (after a ridiculous long drive- 6 hours) we arrived at Tim and Holly's house and the whole family was waiting. Mili was so excited to play with her cousins, and we sat around and caught up until late into the night. Saturday was a beautiful day and we had the best afternoon. Chick-fil-a brought in Home Depot for the kids and they made bird houses. Well, we made birds houses and the girls got to call them theirs... hehe. But this was a special time for Mili and her cousins, making some sweet memories. After long naps, we went to Cody's (Stephen's nephew) football game... all 18 of us. Needless to say the restaurant afterwards was happy to see us leave :) Mili was able to wear the overalls I made, I have been wanting to make her something for awhile and finally made my first project. She LOVES them and ask daily if she can wear them. She constantly tells me how proud she is for me, she has the most sweet spirit. Randomly she will say, "Chelsea, I am so proud you did these pockets all by yourself" or "I am so proud you did these ponytails, they are just beautiful". I need to write down all the things she says more often so we can tell her one day, God has given her a very sweet personality. I pray that His hand remains on her and she might be a woman after God's own heart. Here are some pics from our weekend...
Sunday morning was just what I needed. The Lord really spoke and presence of the Holy Spirit was so intense, it was as if God was speaking just to me during the worship service. Since Sunday a certain song as been on my heart- Hillsong sings "From the Inside Out". The lyrics are...
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
This song has been my prayer and encouragement in the past couple days. To be in the center of God's will is all I want, and when I allow Him to consume from the inside out, and allow Him to control every decision, thought, action and even my plans, that's when TRUE peace shall come and the only way I will be happy in Him. I am thankful that He is so faithful to keep such a promise.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
After a lot of encouragement
Several of my friends have a blog and have been telling me for sometime now, I need to start one of my own. So here goes...
I have so many exciting things going on in my life right now. I could not be more blessed. These past two weeks have been the most exciting two weeks in my teaching career (I have only been teaching for two years, but working at the school for four).I have ALWAYS wanted to be a teacher, and never once doubted that it wasn't for me. My students are amazing, they are all very different. I teach seniors, so I have 130 18 year olds that are about to enter a world that isn't always nice. These past weeks my students have made me become more aware about how important teaching is, and not just because the curriculum. Of course I want them to master the objectives and goals I have for them with reading Beowulf or The Canterbury Tales, but more importantly it's exciting to watch them grow, think on their own, and show it in their writing. I feel very blessed to have a part in each of their lives, even the ones I can't wait to get rid of by the end of the class period :)
This week a boy in one of my classes took a HUGE step. He has a rough life and did some amazing work, which he has never done before. This of course, made me cry (yes, real cool to seniors) but at the end of class he said something that has stuck with me all week. He stayed after class and said, "Did you start to cry because I made you proud?" Of course I answered yes and went on and on about how proud I was of him. As he left my room (a kid who never speaks up), turned and said, "No one has ever been proud of me". Right then and there so many emotions came over me. Guilt, because it's the 9th week of school and I had just reached out to him, sadness that at 19 he feels no one cares, and then conviction to show Christ's love to my students. While I can't "witness" to my students, I have been praying that my actions might represent Christ well so my kids might see a difference in me.
Anyways, my personal life is filled with excitement as well, but we will save that for another post. If by chance you are bored enough to read what I have to write, I am sure you will grow tired of hearing about how wonderful Stephen is and how awesome our life is... hehe. So we will have that for later... There you go girls, my first post, count it. :)
I have so many exciting things going on in my life right now. I could not be more blessed. These past two weeks have been the most exciting two weeks in my teaching career (I have only been teaching for two years, but working at the school for four).I have ALWAYS wanted to be a teacher, and never once doubted that it wasn't for me. My students are amazing, they are all very different. I teach seniors, so I have 130 18 year olds that are about to enter a world that isn't always nice. These past weeks my students have made me become more aware about how important teaching is, and not just because the curriculum. Of course I want them to master the objectives and goals I have for them with reading Beowulf or The Canterbury Tales, but more importantly it's exciting to watch them grow, think on their own, and show it in their writing. I feel very blessed to have a part in each of their lives, even the ones I can't wait to get rid of by the end of the class period :)
This week a boy in one of my classes took a HUGE step. He has a rough life and did some amazing work, which he has never done before. This of course, made me cry (yes, real cool to seniors) but at the end of class he said something that has stuck with me all week. He stayed after class and said, "Did you start to cry because I made you proud?" Of course I answered yes and went on and on about how proud I was of him. As he left my room (a kid who never speaks up), turned and said, "No one has ever been proud of me". Right then and there so many emotions came over me. Guilt, because it's the 9th week of school and I had just reached out to him, sadness that at 19 he feels no one cares, and then conviction to show Christ's love to my students. While I can't "witness" to my students, I have been praying that my actions might represent Christ well so my kids might see a difference in me.
Anyways, my personal life is filled with excitement as well, but we will save that for another post. If by chance you are bored enough to read what I have to write, I am sure you will grow tired of hearing about how wonderful Stephen is and how awesome our life is... hehe. So we will have that for later... There you go girls, my first post, count it. :)
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