A Challenge for you!

 

Yesterday was a horrible day. I'm not going to lie. It was one of those days where everything and everyone was getting to me in some way. I was feeling very unhappy with my job and education, I got very emotional and just wanted to cry...I worked 11 hours, then when I finally got home we recieved some news that totally bummed us out ...I was ready to just go bed, I so badly wanted the day to end.

When I got in bed I started to think that even with all my personal problems and the tough things I am being faced with, my life is good. It is SO good. I have the most amazing husband in the world, I have the sweetest pup who loves us even at our worst, and my family is nothing but supportive. I have a beautiful house over my head, food in my fridge, and atleast I am working even though it's far from ideal.

This song has been my go to song lately when I am feeling down. The lyrics fill my heart...

"You must, you must think I'm strong to give me what I'm going through.

Well, forgive me forgive me if I'm wrnog but this looks like more than I can do on my own.

I know I'm not strong enough to be everthing that I'm suppose to be I give up, I'm not strong enough....

Hands of mercy won't you cover me, Lord right now I'm asking you to be strong enough, strong enough for he both of us"

Today I am challenging myself, and you, to....

-Take the time to tell someone you love them

-Give someone a hug

-Appreciate the little things in life

-Help someone in need

-Smile at a stranger, you may be the one person to make their day

-Be thankful for all the blessings God has given you

One line of that song, which is also from the bible, that I keep close to my heart is

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength."

Today I am really trying to focus on being postive, and to not dwell on the negatives in my life. I am confident in God's plan for me, and I know everything will work out in the end.

Jamie Leigh

Where did this weekend go?

I keep asking myself this question this morning...It was so jammed packed with great things that it flew by in the blink of an eye!  Saturday I spent the entire day at Empower Ladies conference with some of my favorite bloggers and friends. Let me tell you..this day was amazing!! The message was that we are all God's treasures even if we may feel inadequate. All we have to do is believe and let Him in!! The day was full of great speakers, amazing worship, tears, hugs, massages and manicures....it was so refreshing! Here are some pics from the day..all cell phone ones unfortunetly! 

AMAZING! I can't wait until next year!

Saturday evening we went out to a couple different restaurants for some yummy food, drinks, and music! It was so much fun...I love my friends...do I mention this enough?? I just feel so blessed :)

Sunday we went to lunch with my mom, little sister Jodell, and Sean's parents. It was so delicious, and great to catch up with family...I took the cutest picture of my sister and I, but my laptop is out of commission right now so it's stuck on the camera, boooo! Afterwards we looked at a few more houses...still haven't found our home but we are feeling more optimistic about it!

We ended the weekend with some relaxing and cuddling...I love my husband and doggy so much!

Happy Monday :)

Jamie Leigh

 

Trust

trust

 

noun

 

1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

 

There are very few people in my life that I completely trust. I could probably even count them on one hand. When you read the definition of trust above, what do you feel? I know I feel a little nervous, scared, unsure......I have been working on trusting more...especially trusting in the Lord

 

As most of you know, Sean and I have just recently started our lives together on our own. It has been tough...both financially and taking on all the new responsibilites that come with a house. On top of it all we are newlyweds so it can be difficult at times to focus on eachother and not all the other "things" that are getting thrown at us left and right. I have been struggling to trust, to trust in the Lord that he has a plan and will faithfully lead me. Everything works out right? I keep trying to tell myself this.

 

I came across this the other day and it really tugged at my heart strings.

 

"If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it"

 

Happy moments-Praise God

Difficult moments-Seek God

Quiet moments-Worship God

Painful moments-Trust God

Every moment-THANK God

 

I will continue to remind myself of this each and every day :)

 

Jamie Leigh

God is Faithful!

I have to say, I feel SOOOO incredibly blessed. God has answered so many prayers this past month that I am overwhelmed with His love and faithfulness. Not only was I blessed with an amazing job opportunity, but so was Sean, and both my sisters! How amazing is that??
Sean and I have also  been praying that we would get a sign as to what the right path to take is regarding our house hunt....and we got it! We now have one month until we move into a BEAUTIFUL town home! 
To top it off I want to introduce you to Dixie. She is a puppy that needs a home. We are meeting her within the next week, and hopefully from then on out she will be ours!! 

God Bless! 

Jamie Leigh

Comforting Advice

I have a bible app on my phone that gives me a different verse each day. I love reading it every morning, it is the perfect way to start the day. Today the verse really spoke to me. 
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
If you read my blog yesterday you know that I have been feeling impatient, anxious, and all those fun feelings towards some big things in my life that we have been waiting for to happen. After reading this verse this morning I felt at ease....Yesterday I received some really great advice from a couple sweet friends of mine: to rest in God, he has a plan for me, and God is faithful, even if I can't see the whole picture He knows what He is doing. This verse reminded me again of this advice. 
God has an answer, I just need to wait for it. He will give me the strength to not grow weary. His plan for Sean and I will happen when it is meant to. I can trust in Him, He will never fail me. 
Jamie Leigh 

Crazy Wedding Dreams and Thankful on a Thursday!

The crazy wedding dreams have officially started....for me AND Sean. Last night I dreamt that my little sister was playing dress up in my dress, and ended up cutting it so it was a mini skirt! There were holes all over it, and it was too late to get anything new, I had no choice but to wear it! I woke up in a panic, then relief that it was only a dream! Funny fact; Sean texted me this morning when he woke up saying he had a wedding dream as well....how weird! For all of you who are married or engaged, did you experience these dreams?!

Okay now for Thankful on a Thursday!

91. Finishing a class! Now I only have to focus on 3 classes for the  next 4 weeks! This will be SOOO nice!
92. The fact I have a fiancé that loves to cook! Sean definitely is the cooker in the relationship. He is always thinking up new recipes to cook for me....we're trying to create one of my favorite dishes this weekend! More on that tomorrow!
93. My countdown! 3 1/2 weeks until graduation! 6 months 3 weeks until I Do! WOW!
94. YOU! You are all so inspirational and always make my day by sharing your sweet words of wisdom, advice, and encouragement! Thank you to my faithful followers!
95. This song! My sister recently introduced me to this band, Tenth Avenue North and I have loved everything I have heard from them! It won't allow me to post the video because of some restriction from Sony, but here is the link! I highly recommend you check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU
Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you lifeI want to give you life
So awesome! Shows how faithful God's love is!

Have a blessed day!

Jamie Leigh

Northern Lights

If you remember yesterday I mentioned our church branching out into a multi campus congregation. Later this year they will be opening a campus in Ramsey MN that will be more contemporary. It will be called Northern Lights.  Sunday we were able to get a little taste of what a service will be like when this new church opens. The music was upbeat, contemporary, lots of instruments were being played, and the service was interactive. I really enjoyed it! I am excited because if Sean and I get the house we want, it will be close to the new church! They sang a song that really stuck with me that I wanted to share today!

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus 
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus 
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus 
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live! 

Jamie Leigh

Hello Break

I am SOOO happy to announce that I am DONE with my classes this quarter! This was definitely a tough quarter, lots of work, and very time consuming...can't say i'm sad its gone! I now have a break until January 3rd. I know that doesn't seem very long, but considering I go to school year round, I will cherish and enjoy every second of it! The end is in sight...only one quarter left EVER!
Here in Minnesota we just got through another snow storm...this weather NEEDS to go away so I can travel up north for Christmas! We are nearing the most snowfall in the history on MN!! Isn't that nuts??! They have been having to bring in snow melter's to get rid of some of it...it is taking over!
3 days until Christmas!! I can't believe how fast it came this year! I am pretty much finished with my shopping, just have to go pick up some treats for my work party tomorrow! Are you finished with all your shopping?! I wanted to share two quotes I saw they other day, It really reminds us to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas.  Many people get caught up in the busyness that the holiday season brings, the shopping, the cooking , traveling, the baking....just take a minute to remember WHY we will be celebrating this special day! 
"Christmas is forever, not for just one day.For loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away,Like bells, and lights, and tinsel in some box upon the shelf.The good you do for others is good you do yourself."
"God sent his only son into the world so that we might have life through him"                                - John 4:9
This picture says it all....  

Jamie Leigh

Will Jesus pick me up in a car?

So the boy I PCA for, Ryan, has autism. I met him through my other job 4 years ago, and always knew this little boy was something special. He is so much fun to be around, and has the best personality! I am very thankful that I was blessed with the opportunity to work with him. Even though he is only 14, he has taught ME so much about life, and shown me what it truly means to be thankful.
Ryan has been really curious lately about heaven and Jesus. He has been reading a bible for children, and has started to ask a lot of questions about life, death, and so on. I have to share one of our conversations, it was so sweet and innocent.
Ryan: When will I meet Jesus?
Me: When it is your turn, Jesus will come and pick you up.
Ryan: Will Jesus pick me up in a car? (after he said this, I honestly did not have a good response....this totally left me speechless, how innocent...)
After I tried explaining the idea of going to heaven more to Ryan, which was a challenge to say the least, he said one more thing that made me laugh so hard I cried.
Ryan: Where is heaven?
Me: Its up in the sky, above the clouds.
So he looked at me with this concerned face, and thought about what I had said for a couple seconds.  Then he replied, "No thanks, I'm scared of heights!"
Is this not the sweetest, most innocent, yet funny thing you have ever heard? He totally made my day with this conversation.  Kids sure do say the darndest things!!
Jamie Leigh