d r e a m s.\ m u s t. \w a i t.

...even if you don't want them to.

Trust God, trust His love, trust promises :)

[forever and always]

More and more like You, Jesus♥

Lord, change my heart from deep within, purify me once again, renew my mind to love Your truth; make me more and more like You! More and more like You, more and more like You! Do whatever You must do to make me more and more like You.
Lord, cause my will to choose Your ways in each temptation that I face, until Your glory's shining through; make me more and more like You! More and more like You! More and more like You! Do whatever You must do to make me more and more like You♥

the cold brings in my sunshine ♥

Ever notice how God is SO good even when we really don't deserve His goodness? well I've realized lately that I have to praise Him in everything because there are more times that I haven't praised Him when He was blessing me, than I've complained when He wasn't.

You are good, all the time, and all the time, You are good!

He was doing...something haha

I tried to look like a gangster in matt's birthday present...obviously it didnt work :)

WHOAH!

My God thinks I'm beautiful! Whoah...God of the universe and He notices me. Why do I care what the world thinks when the Savior of my heart thinks I AM BEAUTIFUL? I don't deserve anything He blesses me with but when His perfect eyes look upon one so lowly and unimportant and says that I am beautiful, there is nothing to say. Crazy, huh?
Know that you are beautiful, ladies! God bless you all :)

Daddy "Is that poop?" ♥

we made brownies...and this is what happened :)

I love you, Toris♥

three:)

3 favorite foods: Ham, Spaghetti, Taco's

3 favorite singers/bands: Relient K, Mercy Me, Jessa Anderson

3 favorite movies: Lord of the Rings, Inception (I hated it at first,now i love it), The Blind Side

3 favorite holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter

3 favorite iPod apps: i dont have an ipoddd:))

3 favorite songs: Must Have Done Something Right, Grenade, Lucky;)

3 people I look up to: Kraig, Sara, Dad

3 favorite books of the Bible: Psalms, Romans, Philipians

3 favorite states: Alaska, California, New York

3 favorite colors: Lime Green, Purple, Orange

3 favorite activities: singing, shopping, partiesss:)

3 favorite days of the week: Sunday, Monday, Thursday

3 favorite school subjects: Math, History, Writing

3 favorite animals: Horses, Lambs♥, and MY kitty...i hate other cats.

3 favorite TV shows: we don't have TV:)

3 favorite instruments: Voice, Piano, Cello

3 favorite bloggers: I'm not picking favorites:)

3 favorite names: Alexia, Matt, Brianna

3 closest friends: Marissa, Tori, Matt

3 people-I-feel-guilty-about-not-introducing-myself-to: i introduce myself to everyone haha

3 favorite fonts: i don't really spend time thinking about what fonts are cool...

3 favorite fruits: Pomegranate, Grapefruit, Grapes

3 favorite seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn

3 favorite stores: American Eagle, Hollister, Buckle

3 favorite beauty items: ...this is a ridiculous question. i honestly dont think at all about what my favorite things to make me try and look good are.

3 pet peeves: people acting like their cool is NOT cool, when people dont hug me, singers drinking coffee right before they sing. (idk if those are really pet peeves:))

ba ba ba bestie♥

I'm really thankful to God for Toris:) she's been my bestfriend since I was four...i love you♥

comment:)

The Stand♥

You stood before creation
Eternity in your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
And carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your spirit alive in me
This life to declare your promise
My soul now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand
My soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is yours

GOD.KNOWS.BEST.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ~Romans 8:28

I went to Winterfest tonight and had a blast! I was so happy to get to see friends, play lazer tag, mini golf, eat pizza, and just be with people that I love. Definitely a bright spot in a dark week! One of the things that has been KILLING me was also temporarily fixed. it was wonderful :) but...(I know...no one likes a 'but'. i really didn't want to hear this either ): ) of course, there was a dark spot. News that crushed me. Grr...I know I'm being dramatic. I know this is probably not as big of a deal as I'm making it and I'm not looking for self pity, just to make that clear :) Anyways...I forgot about it the rest of the night and just enjoyed playing golf, but when I got in the car, I remembered, and that brought me to think of memories. I went home and cried to my mom, making sure she knew that I know God's in control. I trust Him with everything...sometimes I just don't understand why they happen. It's not my job to know though...It's my job to remember that God loves me and His plan is much better than mine! So overall it was an awesome night and I'm so glad I got to go! I have also realized lately how many friends I have...ones that I never would have expected have come around to pray for me without my having to ask...GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME. AND ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD! :)

me and my wonderful mommy who's been so great in instructing me in the path God wants me to take:)
despite what the picture may look like, my mother still has me beat in size...darn. haha 5'1" and 5' even...what shorties...haha ♥

Lulu♥

Drama. Yep. Teens, and especially girls, are FULL of drama. Well, I'm sick of being dramatic. Lulu (movies4him.blogspot.com) YOU INSPIRE ME. So I have never met you, until five seconds ago didn't follow your blog, and besides what you know about me from my blog, you don't know me. But, you have inspired me to be a better friend. On my worst days, just your little posts in my chat box and prayers have made me feel loved by my sister in Christ that I really don't

and if you're *you know who you are* reading this...3 ;)

"A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity."
Proverb 17:17

My wonderful big sister took this picture, great isn't it? and not edited! way cool :)

No one would know...

Do you ever feel like just saying "No one would know if I did this..." yeah that's normally a bad sign. and you can bank on the fact that God knows. So after all that's been going on with me finally began clearing up, I realized that not only did God know everything, but my parent's knew more than I thought they did. hm...do they normally? yes. Parent's have this creepy ability to know nearly everything.
So now after all this I feel like "No one would know if I just curled up in a ball and died." yes, I have truly thought that. Funny I know...I'm pretty sure lot's of people would noticed if I died. I'm not gonna say if I think they would all be sad...you decide for yourself haha but after talking with a friend a little bit about everything, we laughed at the thought that God is God and if He doesn't want you to die..it's going to be pretty hard to, even if you try. And yes people would notice if you did. :) We have to remember to smile when we feel like crying, sing when we feel like screaming, laugh in all of our crap, and love in all of the hatred. Live life with a smile and trust that God knows best♥

I know it's long, but important

When we are struggling with an issue do we say life sucks? a lot of us do. I know I have. Well the past few months I've been struggling...a lot. Mm, no it's not life threatening like being diagnosed with cancer. But no, it's not just one thing. And no, it's not very fun. And no, it's not exciting to wake up in the morning and think "what am I looking forward today? Oh, nothing." Ever feel like everything you love has been taken away from you? Ever feel like when you need friends and love the most it's not there? Ever feel like nothing goes right anymore and someone's always mad at you? Ever feel like you can't do anything right and when you do, no one notices? Ever wonder why?
Well I'm not going to tell you what's been going on with me the past month or so but truthfully, a big part of it was my own fault. The other parts...I cannot explain except with this:
"My strength is perfected in [your] weakness. My grace is sufficient for you." (II Cor. 12:9)
As everything that I have been dealing with collapsed in around me again last Monday, I hurt more than I can ever remember hurting before. I cried out that God would deliver me from what He's been putting me through. I was in defiance to my parent's and so I was truly in defiance to God. Saturday and Sunday I began realizing that I wasn't doing myself any favors by being defiant to my parent's and so I began putting myself back together. Sunday morning I was at our prayer meeting and afterwords, our assistant pastor said he had something for me. I followed him into his office and he handed me a book, 'Jesus Calling'. He said to me "I'm hoping this will help you out with things, Andrea." I thanked him and left. He had no idea what has been going on.
Monday morning started a new week and I prayed that God would speak to me and give me a mind for Him. I sat down to do devotions and opened up this new book. Day one started like this: 'Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed.' It went on saying not to cling to old ways but to seek God's face with an open mind. I wanted to be changed! I smiled to myself, continued my devotions, and then went on with my life for that day. It was nice having everything focused on my Savior, my family, my school, and NOT myself. I had been very caught up in 'me' lately and spent much too much time doing things I shouldn't. As the day came to a close, more devastation appeared. I was shocked and heartbroken. While this was going on, I turned my attention from myself and realized something else was going on. Something that not only involved me, but very much so my parent's and older sister. We sat on the floor, Marissa and myself crying and thinking through what the heck we would do next. this wasn't supposed to be how things turned out!
Back and forth I went between the two situations, not knowing what was going on and why. After a while I ran to my room sobbing and sat down on the floor with my face in my hands. My toe touched something...'Jesus Calling.' I opened up and now was on day four. The first paragraph said this 'I want you to learn a new habit. Try saying "I trust You, Jesus" in response to whatever happens to you.' Um..are You talking to me God? Yes.
No one can understand God's plans but our part is simply to trust Jesus through it all. I am convinced that whatever happens, He is in control and will carry me through, putting back the pieces of my heart and making it more beautiful and precious than before. There is a plan for everything and we don't have to know what it is...just trust. With a smile :)

In Christ,
Andrea

A date with my sister Part 2 :)

Philippians 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Psalm 16:8
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, & into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him.

2 Cor 7:6
But God, who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed me.

Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be of courage; be strong.

2 Thessalonians 3:3
The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses

A date with my brother Part 2 :)

Psalm 9:9
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."