beauty from the inside---out

" God designed you with tenderness and forethought. He uniquely fashioned you to bear His image and no one elses's --- your individual beauty can never be duplicated. Like the most complex, exquisite snowflake sparkeling across the winter sky, you are unlike any other creature who has ever lived or ever will live."
-T.D. Jakes

Oftentimes my heart sings with the love of Christ, proclaiming boldly the beauty I know I hold deep within myself...I am a woman of Christ...a fierce warrior...a leader...a mere vessel. Manytimes however, my eyes get shadowed by the world's standards, my ears are plastered with the waxy lies that I'm not quite good enough. My jeans are supposedly not the "right" size, but they seem to fit me just fine. My smile is far from perfect, but I count it a blessing to have all my teeth and zero history of dental work on them. No matter where I look..when I have on worldly shades, all I can see are people prettier, more successful and healthier than I am...I'm sure we've all been there a time or two.

Right now though, I dare you to step out, throw those glasses on the ground and STOMP on them. Grab a q-tip ladies, it's time to clean out the waxy lies about your supposed lack of beauty.

I'm may not be the prettiest girl on the block, but my family would probably beg to differ.
All the boys don't chase after me,(Thank you Lord) but I have a man, (the man for me), who loves me and tells me how beautiful I am in his eyes all the time. (Praise the Lord for His goodness!)
I don't wear size 3 jeans, but if I could sew 3-4 pairs together, they might fit.
I'm not the model woman displayed in America, but I am a daughter of the King.
I am His beloved.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am unique. Special even.
God fashioned me with forethought.
He intriquetly fashioned every finger and toe, muscle and organ.
He knows every hair on my head.
There's no one else quite like me around.
Likewise, there's no one else quite like YOU my friends.
I am free.
I know my heart is full of love.
Every deep desire and hearts cry, He hears.
Jesus is in there...He has created me to be Christy.

Therefore:
I really am BEAUTIFUL...
and so are YOU!

swing, swing, swing

Naps are wonderful.

Quiet time is a blessing.

Swinging is uplifting, adventurous and innocently sweet.

Sing! Laugh! Run barefoot in the summer grass!

Wear a sundress and go spinning in the tall grass of a flowery field.

Giggle! Chuckle! Squeal with delight!

Go swinging with your Daddy...let Him breathe on your his delightful promises.

Feel the wind pass by your face.

Feel your chin raise towards the brilliant sun.

Smile.

May your feet be loosed to dance.

Your tongue to sing.

Go swinging and be free. . .forget about worries, schedules and disappointments.

Watch the sunset.

Reflect on the good Word.

Just be.

a special gift

Sitting here, I'm trying not to cry...
All I can simply say is: Praise the LORD for a brother in Christ who cares enough to answer the longing of his best friend and seek out his sister in Christ to extend words of love and encouragement...words of hope and that extra push to keep going..to keep standing on my solid rock....to remain confident in my Jesus...words of peace and rest...making my heart smile and dance with great JOY! Words can't explain how the Lord blessed me tonight with a gift...He is so good and He hears us when we call! He heard my hearts cry and answered with a gift only He could provide, something that never crossed my mind or even seemed like a possibility to me...but there it was, prepared just for me. Tears of joy running down my face don't do this justice. He is all powerful! He is GOOD!

a new song

"Sing a new song to the Lord!
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!" -Ps.96:1

a tribute to life

Sometimes in life we grow up too fast and forget about being a child at heart.

Author Max Lucado wrote,
"Couldn’t we learn to be children again? Bring out the marbles -(so what if the shoe gets scuffed?). Bring out the bat and glove - (so what if the muscles ache?). Bring out the taffy - (so what if it sticks to your teeth?).

Be a child again. Flirt. Giggle. Dip your cookie in your milk. Take a nap. Say you’re sorry if you hurt someone. Chase a butterfly. Be a child again.

Loosen up. Don’t you have some people to hug, rocks to skip, or lips to kiss? Someone needs to laugh at Bugs Bunny; might as well be you. Someday you’re going to learn to paint, might as well be now. Someday you’re going to retire, why not today?

Not retire from your job, just retire from your attitude. Honestly, has complaining ever made the day better? Has grumbling ever paid the bills? Has worrying about tomorrow ever paid the bills? Has worrying about tomorrow ever changed it?

Let someone else run the world for awhile.

Jesus took time for a party...shouldn’t we?"

Honoring a man dear to my heart and the hearts of many others, Murle Masters as we celebrated his life today and his childlike spirit and passion for people. Christ lived in him. I bet he'd jump at the chance to chase a butterfly and I'm sure at the men's prayer summit he and chris skipped rocks a time or two, he probably delighted in the chance to kiss his beloved wife and realized that worrying never changes tomorrow. He probably always dunked his cookies in milk...

The lessons and encouragement I've recieved from Murle over the past few years will last a lifetime and I praise the Lord for the opportunity to have such a beloved couple in my life, both Murle and Carla. God is faithful! I am filled with a joyous laughter remembering all the times behind the sound booth and with appreciation for all how Murle always pointed Chris and I towards Christ.

Take a walk with a dear friend today.
Soak up the sunshine.
Share Jesus with a stranger.
Hug your siblings.
Tell the person you care deeply about, you love them.
Seek opportunities for fellowship.
Skip down the sidewalk.
Jump in a mud puddle.
Dance like a little girl in a flowery field!
Be free beloved, be free!

listening

I really enjoy how the Bible is a mystery, full of giant surprises. It amazes me how sometimes we dwell on a promise or phrase and never dig deeper. We become satisfied in the wording of the first part of a verse and allow it to speak volumes to our heart, never wondering if the Lord has even more in store for us a few words later. I myself am guilty of this...sometimes it's easy when you get the "feel goods" to dwell in the moment and be content. Eh, I want more...much much more! I want to chase after Christ with an aching hunger and the only way I can do that is by consuming his word and digging deeper, to draw even closer to his nature.

"a peace that surpasses all understanding..." has been dancing through my mind for a week now, and hearing those familiar, safe, encouraging words of promise made my heart smile. Last night it hit me and before I knew it I was reading Philippians 4:7 with my mouth agape. Where in the world did the second part of that verse come from. I've never heard it spoken before. I didn't even know it existed.

"Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

I sat on my floor and heard myself say out loud "So Lord, this means..." and before I could even finish my thought, I stopped and he said " Yes." I continued "so..." and again "Yes."

How amazing is it that when we invest our time in the word, he'll bring us deeper, revealing his goodness to us and answering us when we call unto him? A voice of clarity and truth boomed in my heart's deepest chambers and I am beginning to understand my purpose for being in Caribou, ME this summer while I'd really enjoy being some place else.(feel free to guess where) God is good and his promises are far more than we deserve.

My dear friends
" May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace." -Num. 6:24-26

Lovely Ladies havin' fun

So, Graduation was interesting and my family celebrated after the ceremony...here are some pictures of the lovely ladies who celebrated with me! God has blessed me with the greatest family and sisters in Christ!

Auntie Debbie (such a goofball, but I love her!)
Are ya feelin' the tree?
The 4 (Ramos) sisters: Debbie, Annie, Mom & Missy
Annie is feelin' the tree...
Richelle...just bein' cute!
Mom's feelin' the tree too...
Mes soeurs: Sherri et Lor
Gracie-Loo...about to go pooh...
Kristina, at my graduation!
Ma soeur: beautiful Nicole
Ma soeur aussi: (Curious? Seductive?Pensive?) Rachelle
(not sure what face that is...just be creative, go adjective crazy!)

A season of accomplishment...

hooray for grandparents
marching in...can you see the joy on my face! praise the Lord!
attempt at looking nice for class night
counting down the days until graduation and anxiously awaiting scholarships
my sash....decorated with an NHS pin, embroidery and I recieved a yellow honors cord!

Well..I'm finally done.

I couldn't have asked the Lord for a better day.

The only way my day could've gotten any better would've been to have Chris here with me to celebrate.

I'm thankful for family.

I am free.

There are no more casual excuses of why I can't go here, or do this.

I'm ready to do the Lord's work and nothing is holding me back!

I'm ready!

I'm excited!

I'm a little frightened, and unsure..

but there's peace...

and hope...

and I am trusting in the Lord...

He's my security!

Good bye Caribou High School!

Goodbye useless AP Bio tests!

Goodbye Physics.

Dirty hallways...

late bells...

tardy slips...

rubber burgers!

It was a joyful blessing for me to celebrate the accomplishment of graduating from highschool with some of the people I love most in this world. It was a privilege to be in company with the Lavaways and to spend an entire day with my aunts, uncles and grandparents. It was a joy to have a best friend spend part of her birthday honoring my accomplishment, showing unselfish love and encouragement during this season of my life. It was a joy to see the smiling faces of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ cheering for me as I recieved my diploma and marched by! God is so good!

Here am I...send me!

"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Acts 20:24 NASB

Prom 2006

me & chelsey (she looks just like cinderella, isn't she gorgeous!?)
Varsity Girls Softball Team Seniors 06'
(me and micah wall)
(dan morneault & I)
The rec. crew (me, billis & em)