God is with me

I should be sleeping right now but I have so many thoughts and emotions swirling around in my brain. I thought if I wrote about them, it would help me sort through it and sleep better. I hope I don't ramble too much and what I write makes sense, if not, please forgive me! ;)

The past week or so I have been praying hard for baby Ewan and his parents Kirsten and James. Ewan was born with a serious and rare CHD, Tetralogy of Fallot. He has had a couple of surgeries already in his first 2 weeks of life. His lungs have had issues and his sat levels and other things have gone up and down. While I know God is sovereign in this and He is in complete control and is trustworthy in all of this, it is hard...so many questions enter my mind...why is this happening? when will this end? but I keep reminding myself of all that God has done in Ewan's life, his mommy and daddy's life, and in the lives of all who are praying. God is a powerful, amazing, miraculous God. He knows what He is doing.

Please join me in praying for this precious babe and for his parents. If you want to know more and to follow this precious family please check out Team Ewan on Facebook or www.team-ewan.com

I love how God uses music to touch my heart...the song "Light up the sky" by The Afters was playing on the radio as I was driving home tonight. The sky had been filled with lightning and was an awesome display of God and His power...as the song was playing, I thought of my friends Kirsten and James and their precious baby Ewan. Tears welled up in my eyes...I am so thankful for how God used this song to minister to me tonight...

"When I'm feeling all alone With so far to go The signs are no where on this road Guiding me home When the night is closing in Is falling on my skin Oh God will You come close?

(Chorus) Light light light up the sky You light up the sky To show me You are with me I I I can't deny No I can't deny that You are right here with me You've opened my eyes So I can see You all around me Light light light up the sky You light up the sky to show me That You are with me

When stars are hiding in the clouds I don't feel them shining When I can't see You beyond my doubt The silver lining When I've almost reached the end Like a flood You're rushing in Your love is rushing in

(Chorus)

So I run straight into Your arms You're the bright and morning sun To show Your love there's nothing You won't do

(Chorus)

That You are with me That You are with me"

God, I am SO thankful that You are with me, all the time, no matter what! I am also SO thankful that You are continually with Kirsten, James, and Ewan...Your love is amazing!

The Wonder of God's Sovereignty

My pastor, Joe Rhodes, gave an amazing sermon on Sunday, September 19, 2010.

This sermon came at the perfect time for me...I have been praying hard for a couple of my friends who have challenging things they are facing. I pray and I pray and I know God hears and is answering, but they are not always the answers I had hoped for or in the time I wanted them to be. BUT, God is sovereign and He knows what He is doing and I can trust Him in it all.

Sovereignty: The supreme authority of God over all things.

2 Chronicles 20:6; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalm 103:19; Psalm 135:6

Premise:

God is either actively causing or purposefully permitting everything that comes into my life.

Everything has a purpose.

Job; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Luke 22:31-32

All people are not independent agents, but are instruments of God in my life.

Genesis 50:20

Personal Application

1. Work through negative emotions.

2. View every situation through eyes of faith.

2 Corinthians 4:18

3. Worship God in everything!

4. Be thankful and rejoice in everything!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be honest with God and choose to rejoice and celebrate God in it.

I am so thankful that God spoke these words through my pastor. They have ministered to me every day and every moment since hearing them. To know that God has it all under His control and in His hands truly is, as my pastor says, "My pillow to rest upon"!

Happy Birthday to me!

It is almost my birthday and I thought I would tell you 39 random things about me! Enjoy learning a little more about me...

1. I was born in San Luis Obispo, CA and lived there til I was 10.

2. My middle name is Erin and there was a time in my life, I think around Jr. High or High School that I wanted to go by Erin. I was tired of having such a unique first name, with no one ever knowing how to spell it. Now I love it!

3. When I was little I used to pretend to be a teacher or a veterinarian...my sister and I would use our stuffed animals for patients and students. I wanted to be those when I grew up...and I am a teacher! I have taught preschool, kindergarten, and third grade. I am currently a preschool and kindergarten Montessori teacher. It is challenging and fun!

4. I had straight hair until 8th grade, then the curls hit! I was mad at my mom for giving me her curly hair, but over the years I have grown to like and mostly love my curly hair.

5. I have no clue how to drive a stick shift!

6. My favorite food is ice cream! When I was little I remember going to Thrifty's for a scoop of chocolate malted crunch... and it only cost 10 cents!

7. I have never had a bloody nose.

8. I can say and sing the alphabet backwards. I can also spell words backwards. Not sure when or why I started doing this, but I know I was a kid.

9. I took piano lessons for 6 years, and I wish I had taken them longer so I could play better.

10. I was in a movie. "Little Nikita" staring River Pheonix. I was in the marching band in 10th grade and our band was chosen to be in a parade scene. SO cool!

11. I have a dream to travel the world! I want to visit each country and continent...

12. I can count to 10 in 9 languages.

13. My favorite number is 13.

14. I went to Israel in 1996 on my first mission trip and I loved it!

15. I "competed" in my first triathlon in 2005...I had never done anything like it. training was intense and the triathlon was challenging. I did the best I could and when I felt like giving up, I turned to God and He gave me the strength to persevere and endure til the end.

16. I made the most important decision in my life on April 30, 1984...I asked Jesus to come into my life as my best friend and Saviour!

17. I love music ~ singing and listening, and occasionally playing it.

18. I went to speech therapy as a child. I had a bad stutter and I didn't pronounce a couple letters correctly. According to my mom, me and a few of my friends all mispronounced the same letters, hmmm... ;)

19. I wish I could speak another language fluently.

20. I have lived in 6 cities and in 9 different homes.

21. I have had 8 pets: 2 cats, 2 fish, a rat, a guinea pig, a hamster, and a tiny frog.

22. Some of my favorite movies are High School Musical 1, 2, and 3! ;)

23. I lived in an orphanage in Ukraine for 2 months, one each summer of 1999 and 2000. I loved daily being there to love on the precious princesses and princes of the King!

24. I love staying up late and then sleeping in! I have to force myself to go to bed early during the week so I am rested up for work, but I am really a night owl!

25. I have many nicknames ~ Shayson, Shaybug, Shay Shay, Shaybee, Ieshy Pooh, Bluejay, Shaymus, Other Airbag, to name a few!

26. I love children's books and I have a large collection of them!

27. I love the back to school section in stores...it makes me smile! :)

28. I am a professional bowler, on the Wii of course!

29. I correct others' grammar in my mind or if I see mistakes on paper. It is a habit that I hope never gets me into trouble! :)

30. I became an auntie for the first time 10 years ago...now I have a niece and two nephews...I love them SO much!

31. I love Disneyland!!! One of my favorite rides is Splash Mountain...I enjoy the big drop and getting wet!

32. I have been to London, Amsterdam, Ukraine, Lithuania, Norway, and Israel and I hope to travel to many more places in the world!

33. I have taught Sunday School since I was 12 years old, from the nursery up to Jr. High.

34. I do not like onions, bananas, or pepper!

35. My sister and I decided to build a swing inside our house out of jumpropes and a board. It was fun until it broke and my sister and I fell down. She escaped unharmed, I broke my left arm. Kids, do not try this at home! ;)

36. I have been a big sister for 36 years...I love my sissy, Shelby! She is an amazing, fabulous, wonderful and loving sister and I am truly blessed!

37. I have green eyes, just like my dad!

38. Sometimes, I wish life was like a musical and we would spontaneously burst into song to share our thoughts, feelings, or to just have fun!

39. I have the best friends and family in the world! I love you all so much and am blessed beyond belief!

Thank you God for all the things you have done in my life...I love you and am thankful You created me and gave me life!

I hope you enjoyed reading these tidbits about me! I saw this on my friend Jessica's blog and thought it was a great idea! Little did I know how hard it was going to be to come up with 39, but it was fun!