I'm alive!

Howdy folks!

I'm still alive! I just have had a million things going on and have not had spare time to post recently :) But I will attempt to make up for that in this post. If I don't you'll just have to forgive me.

Anyhow, I just got back from our camping trip yesterday and I still sorta stink of campfire. Actually, I love the smell of campfires....camping is amazing.

I missed church yesterday, due to our camping trip. Last night we had care group and it was amazing. I love having people around me that really care about me. I love the deep discussions that we get into. I love the accountability. It seems like life is hard right now. With my grandpa's heart attack, all the issues with Wachovia, my dad's recent news of skin cancer, the whole election and the economy, ect. I'm so happy to have some many amazing friends always praying for us. I've been trying to decide what lyrics to post, since I know so many great songs. But last night on the way home from care group 2 songs came to me that I just had to post; because they apply to me so well right now.

The first one is 'Times' by Tenth Avenue North:
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I know I need You
I need to love You
I love to see You, but it's been so long
I long to feel You
I feel this need for You
And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

Now You pull me near You
When we're close, I fear You
Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done
Are You done forgiving?
Oh can You look past my pretending?
Lord, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become
What have I become?

Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

I hear You say,
"My love is over. It's underneath.
It's inside. It's in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, 'Is this for real?'
The times you're broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.
Well, My love is over, it's underneath.
It's inside, it's in between.
These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.
The times you're hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I'm there through your heartache.
I'm there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.
I don't care where you fall, where you have been.
I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."

Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

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The second song is 'Everything' By Tim Hughes
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God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

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We are leaving on Wednesday to go to TX, IN and OK to see family and go to a wedding. We'll be gone for 12 days. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm not looking forward to missing church and the LONG drive!

A few other updates: my grandpa was released from the hospital a few days back, and then a day later had to be rushed back to the emergency room as he had a high fever. Right now, in addition to recovering from the pain of surgery and all, he also has an infection, pneumonia and 2 cracked ribs. So, please continue to pray for him and pray that God uses him in amazing ways. The firefighters that had revived him are shocked that he's alive today. In 22 year of doing what they do, they've only seen someone make it though twice. So it's a miracle that he's even alive today. We know that it's God, but I pray that can be used to possibly share the gospel with these doctors and the firefighters that worked with him.

The baby hedgehog is doing great and thriving. He is adorable and spoiled!

I hope to make another post before I leave on Wednesday and maybe once while I'm away...but we'll see.