*Crazy Love*

" Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and dont's - it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis, describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."

This is a brief description that's on the back of this book. I have recently heard Francis Chan speak at IYC a few weeks ago when I went with my youth group. He was a phenominal speak! If you ever get the chance I highly recommend it. After we came back from IYC the girls talked about how much they loved listening to him.

When we got home I decided to do a little searching. I remember purchasing "Crazy Love" awhile back because someone I knew that saw him had said the same thing. Little did I know what God had in store for me with this book. To sum it all up my Tuesday night girls bible study is reading it and the bonus is they have a D.V.D study resource. Being the visual person that I am I LOVE IT!!! Last night was our first night to talk about what we thought about the book so far, and discussion. I had the girls read Chapter 1 (Stop Praying) and Chapter 2 (You might not finish this chapter). Well everyone agreed that it was a easy read, they could understand it and they didn't want to put it down. I totally agreed with them. This book is GREAT! I am excited to see what the other chapters are like and looking forward to our discussions. God has seriously blessed me with such an AMAZING group of girls! It's just a joy to be apart of their lives.

If you are interested in learning more about Francis Chan and the book Crazy Love you can go here. This will show you brief videos about each chapter. I HIGHLY recommend if you are looking for a good, easy, impactful read to check out this book. The next book that I plan on reading is called "The Forgotten God" also by Francis Chan. If you have read any of these books or have heard Francis Chan speak let me know what your thoughts are. I would love to hear them.

*God has Truly Blessed My Life*

Sorry that it has been awhile...


Hey Everyone! I have been so busy and I apologize for not "blogging" as much. I always think of it at midnight or when I'm dozing off. Anyways, I just wanted to share this AMAZING journey that I have been enduring and enjoying every moment of it!

Let me tell it from the beginning: It was a few days before New Years and I had some plans but none that I really wanted to do. I wanted this New Years to start out right. I went to Monday Night Bible Study and afterwards we went out to eat and fellowship. There was a HUGE group of us. Everyone was talking about what they might do for New Years. As I was sitting there I had no clue what to do, a friend of mine (Ryan) was talking about having a lock-in with his Youth group at the church. It sounded interesting and I really didn't want to do anything else so I thought I would just go for it. Well let me tell you. That one decision was the BEST decision! I went to the lock-in and just clicked with everyone. I enjoyed talking and hanging out with all of them.
I knew a few weeks later while hanging out with the group that THIS is where God wants me to be and what a blessing it is. I started attending ECOG regularly and became apart of the Youth group. I started a bible study on Tuesday nights with the girls, which, has been absolutely AMAZING!!

Anyways, we went on a 10 day excursion. A group of 10 (6 kids 4 adults) traveled down to Florida for IYC (International Youth Convention) and a mission trip. We drove through the night and "tried" to sleep, but it was really uncomfortable. We split the trip up so we weren't in the car for 20hrs. On the way down it took me back to my Senior year when a group of us went to Florida over Spring Break. I was thinking about the person I was then and the person I have become and WOW what a difference (in a good way). We got to Atlanta ,GA about 7am so we just went to our rooms and crashed. Everyone was so tired. We went to The World of Coke factory, which was fun and interesting.We got to taste 60 different flavors of Cocoa~Cola products.

Then we got to go to the Georgia Aquarium and see a bunch of fishies and cute little sea otters.

After we were done we ended up just going back to the hotel swam for a bit and then vegged out. We all talked about all the things that happened through out the trip and how much fun we were all having. It was a lot of fun the next few days and then we finally made it to the Peabody for our conference. It was so moving. The theme of it was LOVE. Francis Chan spoke the first night and I highly recommend if you ever get a chance to hear him speak. It is so worth it! He talked about LOVING God. The next night was Reggie Diggs. I really enjoyed him too. He talked about LOVING yourself. Just to let you all know. I cried every night. It was so moving and just so amazing. We had Matt Papa as our worship leader the 1st two nights and Lincoln Brewster the last two. I got so much out of every night and it wasn't for me. Afterwards, we would have just these amazing talks about what everyone was dealing with, going through, prayer requests, and praises. The trip was so amazing!! Alright, I have to stop because it's getting a little long but, if you want to know more about it ask me and I will tell you. It was a PHENOMENAL experience.

God has truly blessed me and I am so thankful to be a part of this family. I wouldn't have it any other way. Each and everyone of those people are such a special part of my life and will always be in my heart. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I couldn't be happier!!

Sorry that this is a little long and I rambled through most of it, but what I'm going through there are no words. Let me know if your interested in hearing more and I would love to talk more about it with ya.

Start of Something BEAUTIFUL

About a week ago my beautiful cousin Jessica got married to a wonderful guy Brad!! It was such an eventful weekend. I got in to Huron about 4:00p.m on Thursday. We went to get pedicures done!!! It was fun and interesting. I sat next to my cousin Sarah and it was so funny. Let me describe it to you:

There was 5 of us and 5 big chairs. These chairs were massaging chairs. Sounds great right...NO!! It started out like a jack hammer on your back and then SURPRISE something was pushing on your BUTT!!! It was so awkward. My cousin Sarah and I pretty much laughed the whole time. The lady that I had was nice, sweet very talkative. The lady that Sarah had was not very talkative and kept hitting my cousin on the foot when she wanted the other one. It was very funny :) I guess you had to be there.

When we got home everyone was working on last minute things. Which was programs and favors. Here are some pictures of the hard workers
Sarah and Jess putting the favors together

Brad cutting the programs

Baby Jacob was to tired to do anything

The Favors all done!!!


Friday In the morning we ran some errands and then headed out to the reception hall because that's where the rehersal dinner was going to be held at. After we were done running around it was time to get ready for the rehersal. I got the privalage to share a room with my Grandma at a fancy little Bed & Breakfast. This place was absolutly adorable. I enjoyed it very much. We pretty much had the run of the whole place. The people where very hospitable. Which I think you have to be running a place like that. The best part though it was right across the street from the church. We headed over to the church around 6 and did a few runs on where we were all going to stand and blah blah blah. Afterwards we hopped in the cars and headed out to the rehersal dinner. This hall is absolutley beautiful. (If you are ever in Vermillion go visit there community center. ABSOLUTLEY breath taking!

Saturday: Was a crazy day. Everyone was running around. The weather man said it was suppose to rain all day. (It sprinkled in the morning and that was it Also I think that was Grandpa Welch and Grandma Doris making sure Jessi had a perfect day. Which she did) The day went by so fast,though.I was so amazed. I had a wonderful time though. Dancing, hanging out with family and making new friends.
Here is a picture of some of the girl cousins.


Everything turned out beautiful. You would of thought it came out of a fairy tail. Well after all my rambling on about this day, so here is a picture of the beautiful couple
THE HAPPY COUPLE

Here it goes

Hey Everyone!! I was inspired to do a blog by my lovely friend Lady Lee


You can follow her lovely blogs by clicking here! I have followed her blogs for awhile now and just think it's so neat and I'm into journaling so my family and friends know what I'm doing. That seems reasonable.

Before I get really started I want to apologize for any grammer or spelling errors that I might have. I'm kind of bad about that. Now that I got that out of the way I'll just blog about what I have been up too :)

Well this year my family has welcomed 3 new little ones into the family (Jacob, Addison and Teegan). They where all born within a few weeks of each other. Also my good friend Tiffy is expecting her baby within the next few days. My life is just full of little ones all around me. Which doesn't bother me at all. I actually LOVE it!! For whoever doesn't know me I love children!! I think it's because I'm a kid at heart.

I am also very excited because my cousin Jessica is getting married to the love of her life Brad next weekend.

They are both amazing people and I'm glad that I get to be apart of their big day!! If anyone knows are family we love to get together. Next weekend will be busy but nice spending it with the family! Even though my brother won't be there, which I am really heart broken about because I haven't seen him in a few months, but he has his military duty to do.

Anyways, To Brad and Jessi if your reading this Congratulations and I can't wait for next weekend!!

Well there you have it folks. My first offical Blog! I hope that it wasn't to boring for you and that you will check in once in a while.

Everyone have a FABULOUS weekend!!!