Circles and Friends

Tonight, to celebrate my birthday, Natalie, Stephanie, and I went to Cheddars to eat and then to a two hour painting class. They actually walk you through, step-by-step, painting your own work of art! IT WAS AWESOME! I have never done anything like this before. We had a blast (although we really missed the fourth person in our group, Teri Parks)! While I am not the most artistic person in the world, I can't remember when I have had so much fun with such wonderful people! :) Here is a shout out to Natalie and Stephanie! Thanks for making my birthday amazing!

I have included a picture of my final product for your enjoyment. We took a picture with all three of us and our paintings, but it's on my phone.

Stephanie, Natalie and I with our "Circles"

Up close of mine! :)

Happy Birthday, Elijah!

Happy Birthday Eli!

Here are a few pictures of the wonderful celebration!

Fun Weekend

Here are some pictures from my weekend with Diane, Mark, and Aaron!

"All done, Aunt Rachel!"

Covered in Mac n' Cheese

Painted bathroom!

A boy riding his horse!

Petting the goats at the petting zoo

Pointing out the cow

So happy when he gets to ride! :)

The book of James

Disclaimer applied!

I love the book of James! As I sit here and reflect on my day, the words of James are on my heart. This book has always caught my attention. I even took a class at Harding about the book of James; Sadly, I wish I could remember all that information. The book is an oxymoron for me. Sometimes he challenges my maturity and actions by making it so simple. Other times, I have no clue what it really means.

Practical:"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Then he throws in the phrase somewhere else, "he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him".

Practical: "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

And another confusion:Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

While these statements are not in order and don't go with each other, they are a great example of my confusion. (and this is just chapter. 1)

I wish that I could say statements as bold as James, with the confidence that he proclaims each thought. I wish I could understand phrases that he uses. They seem to be common phrases that I have heard and said all my life but never truly understood in a deep way. How do you keep trying to be something that you don't really understand?

Here's what I know. I know my heart listens, responds, and is reminded of his thoughts even though I don't know what most of it means (which I know is weird). I know my heart desires to be what he describes as "religious".

More thoughts later...