Thursday, November 29, 2012

Life in Pictures: November

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks!
With Ariane at Opryland!! 
Hot tea in a happy Christmas mug :)
Love this girl!!
Artsy food pic?
Take two
Cheesy Sweater Day!!
Cheesy Sweater Day!! (Yes I did wear that little gem to school... senior year no regrets right?! :)
ESL Certificate Ceremony! So proud of all of the students!
Lighting of the Green 
Factory chair with my little sisters!!
Finished an application!
Lighting of the Green
Mom!
Love these girls!! 
Lunch with my favorite guy! 
mmm... Peppermint mocha freeze at the Well!
Cute girls!
Lunch with my favorite guy!
The extent of my Settler skillz...
Love this! PC: Julia
Classic Opryland shot
Love this girl!!
Sometimes mysterious pictures show up on Julia's instagram... *cough*

The Well!
Cute girls!
Look at the fun Thanksgiving Eve swim practice we did :) Thanks Coach Lezlae!! My favorite was definitely the pumpkin toss :)

Thankful- A bit behind... :)

Today, I am thankful for:

-a wonderful Thanksgiving
-a week off from both schools
-Darling Ariane, who came to stay with us for the week! We are missing her!
-Starbucks on chilly days
-two more weeks of classes (very bittersweet)
-a great semester
-the privilege to go shadow an amazing Spanish interpreter at Siloam Health Clinic.
-being very blessed during my times there (post coming soon)
-Pandora Christmas radios
-warm weather, especially when our upstairs heat goes out...
-having much-needed hang out time with several friends over break!
-Lighting of the Green with the fam
-chat and adventure time with Julia, Rachel, and Sarah
-that God is in control at all times and is using current situations for my good! (Romans 8:28)

Coming soon... Jenny's senior fall shoot, Siloam, and recent pictures!

Love,

Lil

Monday, November 19, 2012

Verse of the Week- via JFarese

Written by Keith Beauchemin via JFarese
~~~~~~~
Psalm 34:19

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all."

 We need to remember that many are the afflictions of the righteous.  We wish 
that there were no afflictions, or maybe just a few.  But this is the way is has 
been for the saints throughout the ages.  When we are in the midst of 
afflictions, especially long term afflictions, we can begin to have doubts.  
Does God care?  Am I really a Christian?  Does God really love me?  There is 
real comfort and assurance in these words: "Many are the afflictions of the 
righteous."  

You see, it is those God loves that He afflicts.  He has shown great love and 
grace by making us righteous in Christ.  Then he conforms us to the image of 
Christ.  He works in our lives to purify us, and one of the ways He does that is 
through afflictions.  He weans us from self-confidence, love of ourselves and 
the things of this world.  Our afflictions are not enjoyable, but they are a 
blessing.  When we look back upon our afflictions and see God's hand and purpose 
in sanctifying us, we will be able to say, "It is good for me that I have been 
afflicted."  (Psalm 119:70)

Thankful- November 19

Today, I am thankful for:

-beautiful weather
-not having to go to classes this morning
-feeling good after a long practice
-going to the Well with Dad, Julia, and Cara
-getting to see a friend I haven't seen in a long time!
-the Makos

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Thankful- November 18

Today, I am thankful for:

-peace from our heavenly King regarding college decisions
-an amazing video called "Star of Bethlehem"
-that God has known everything from the beginning of time
-my church family
-sweet mama helping me finish some college applications
-seeing God answer prayers
-cherry coke zero while working on applications
-that there is a pause in between clicking the "demo" button on the church keyboard and it actually going off... so I have time to stop it before it starts playing in the middle of a prayer... oops... *heart stops*
-a kind pastor who keeps playing drums with me even when I get it gets a little crazy and I am changing time signatures...

Thankful- November 17

November 17, I am thankful for:

-outings with Dad every fourth Saturday
-one such happy Saturday yesterday!
-getting to go to the Symphony for free
-getting to hear the Symphony play a piece Julia and I are performing as a duet
-pumpkin ice cream
-Thanksgiving break
-sleeping in till noon- what?!
-beautiful weather

Friday, November 16, 2012

Thankful- November 16

Definitely got behind... But I am just going to keep going :)

Today, I am thankful for:

-Thanksgiving break!!
-sweet mama going on adventures at LU with me
-Camille! Dinners, study parties, heart to hearts, and maybe demasiado espaƱol ~:-)
-going to the pool and feeling like I'm going back home after being gone for a while.
-the Makos!
-cheesy sweater day at school.
-Grandview dinner and the fun LU friends
-a lovely ceremony honoring our ESL students
-proud and excited faces getting their certificates
-Ms. Lezlae and Celeste!
-potatoes and ice cream at 10 pm: dinner of champions
-Sonic with Jenny and some catch up time!
-my new Disney piano songbook- it is making me very happy :)
-lovely chats on Thursdays
-lunch with a sweet friend
-notes in the mail
-a little time to do some shopping
-that God is in total control.

Love,

Lil

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Thankful- November 10

I am thankful for an afternoon with one of my dearest friends, Riley! We went to see Disney at the Symphony- definitely my favorite thing I have seen there! It made me so happy to be with my dear sister and listen to some of my favorite music! I am so thankful for Riley- she is such a blessing and a gem! I love you!!

Disney at the Symphony with Riley! (yes my hair was straight! :)
I am thankful for a fun evening with our community group having a bonfire! I am thankful for warm fires, blankets, hot chocolate, telescopes, and lots of fellowshipping... and of course lots of laughing :)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Thankful- November 9

November 9, I am thankful for my dear grandparents and getting to spend time with them! To celebrate Nana's birthday, the birthday girl, Papa, and I went to Cheekwood's Pineapple Room and out for a little shopping! We had so much fun and I am so glad we got to celebrate together :) I love you both very very much!!

I am thankful for lots of great chatting and fellowshipping at the swing dance (and ironically not a lot of dancing...).

I am thankful for sweet Ms. Kathy, who does a great job cutting our hair!

I am thankful for much needed quality chat time with Rachel and Julia- driving through a lovely neighborhood, freezing on the porch even with blankets, eating all of the Blue's cookies, and catching up... :)

Thankful- November 8

November 8, and every day, I am so thankful for my dear Nana, who was born on this day! She is such a blessing to so many. She brightens our lives immensely!




Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Thankful- November 7

Today I am thankful for Friday classes that get cancelled, exams that get moved back, quizzes that didn't happen, kind professors, the Makos, fabulous coaches, cheerful ESL students, seeing my mom on TV, finishing my tests, my first Starbucks peppermint mocha of the season in a happy red cup, and said coffee with a dear friend.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thankful- November 6

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:20.

"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lordhe turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1.

Praying for our nation and our president. Praying that our country will follow the Lord.

I am thankful that God is in total control and that He is sovereign!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Thankful- November 5

Tomorrow being Election Day, today and every day I am thankful that God is sovereign. That He is in total and complete control at all times. I am thankful that His ways are better than ours. I am also thankful that He works everything for our good:

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

I am thankful that we can trust Him and have peace amidst times such as these.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Thankful- November 4

Today I am thankful for my church family! I am so blessed to have these dear believers as part of my extended family. I love you guys!

Here are some pictures from this past year's women's retreat! (what a sweet memory! Definitely one of the highlights of 2012)




Check out our church website, Vimeo, and Sermon Audio. Check out Amy's post about Pastor Stephen's current sermon series.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Thankful- November 3

Today, I am thankful for the Makos! This is definitely the best thing that Mom has ever forced me to do :) Back in 7th grade, I was not at all excited about joining the year-round swimming bandwagon. Now, I can't even begin to imagine my life without the Makos! I love these people! I am thankful for my two fabulous coaches and my amazing team! GO MAKOS!

2009-2010!
Regionals 2012!
Regionals 2012!
Regionals 2012!
State 2012!
State 2012!
State 2012! 
2010-2011 Makos girls!
Regionals 2012!
State 2012! 
Regionals 2012! 
Regionals 2012! 
World's best coaches! 
State 2012!
State 2012!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Thankful- November 2

Today I am thankful for my dear sweet family! I love you guys so much- you are wonderful!