He Never Lets Go

He never lets go...

Tonight I watched a movie called, "The Guardian." It is a movie of tragedy, heroism and loyalty. All week long - for some reason - I had been thinking about this movie. I had never watched it. I had probably only seen a couple of advertisements for it in the past. But for some reason. I really felt the need to watch it. I thought maybe it was a God thing, but of course I pushed that idea aside immediately. Why would God want me to watch a movie about the Coast Guard? It didn't seem right to me at the time. Well tonight, God showed me exactly why.

You see, this movie is a perfect illustration of God's love for us. He makes us who we are. He puts us to the test... time and time again. Through trial, after tribulation, after trial, after tribulation. And then, when we least expect it, we see it... That the entire time we were going through what we were destined to go through... searching for the Light in the darkness... we see it. He NEVER let go!

The entire time, He was holding on to us. He was holding on with only His fingertips. Reaching... pulling us back... until He dislocates His shoulder, and tears every tendon in His arm. He NEVER lets go! Much like what Ben Randall (Kevin Costner), did for Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher) in the movie, "The Guardian." Ben made Jake who he was. Put him to the test. Test... after test... after test. He pushed him to every limit possible. He pushed him to the edge. And he showed him how to hold on... until the very end. Even when the outcome, wasn't what Jake or anyone on that mission would've wished for. Such a beautiful illustration of God's love for each and every one of us.

--- SO OTHERS MAY LIVE ---
--- USCG ---

Couch Sketches

Memorial Day Weekend

So as I was driving home on Friday afternoon, Chad called me to let me know that he was taking some Amish guys up to Huntingdon Caaanty (that's county...to all you city folk). The catch was that it was an overniter trip. Blaaah... Well I thought I'll get some time to get the house in order and listen to girl music and watch girl movies. That was until we decided I was going with them, because Raystown Lake just happened to be under an hour away from their cabin. So I rushed home and threw EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING into my car, including three dogs. So yeah, I ended up spending three hours out on the open road listening to girl music as loud as three chocolate labs could tolerate without throwing doggie tantrums. And I followed Chad and four Amishmen the whole way there. So we dropped the guys at the farm and cabin. Dropped my car there. Piled everything into Chad's truck. Then headed to Raystown Lake, at like...11:30 at night. I think for like 1/2 hour I was panicking that I had forgotten the tent poles. But thank goodness I didn't. And we ended up with the most awesome campsite! Right on the water down in Senoia Loop. My absolute FAVORITE place at Raystown! Our neighbors were great at like midnight they decided to offer help to us in getting our campsite set up. But we just asked if they had a flashlight (which I had forgotten to pack), and they really went all out with that one. It was a DEWalt. Oh yeah... It had the long flexi-neck and everything. So great! Anyways, we somehow managed to get the campsite set up within an hour and got the dogs in the tent and got to sleep. Saturday morning was amazing...for me at least.... Chad on the other hand. Well let's just say he was very sick (and still is). He's had a pounding headache for the past like three days. So please pray for him. But yeah, just loved the view from our campsite this morning. If I could wake up to that every morning, I'd do it! In a heartbeat! Anyways, we didn't bring the jetski. Just three labrador retrievers that kept us busy enough. Two of them tried to defend each other when some pitbull mix came out of nowhere at the park and started growling at them. It was scary. We're hoping the pitbull is okay. But he did nip Ranger's ear a bit and so Ranger I guess just decided that he wanted to defend himself. So he bit his nose. And the dog yelped. But the people said it was okay, and we were told by some random person that we had the second dog that pitbull went after today. Oh joy! And my other dog - had to be the girl - twirled me around and knocked me down on a big pile of rocks. Right, smack, on - my - tailbone. So yes, you guessed it, the old tailbone injury flared up. So yes, Chad and I decided that the next time we want to do a day trip. We're taking the dogs to like a doggie daycare or something, and then treating ourselves to a day dedicated to each other. Okay, so I came up with that, but the feeling's mutual. Yeah you guessed it, I'm currently watching Jon and Kate Plus 8 right now. You know, I think that Chad and I should have our own show. We'd call it, Chad and Mandy Plus 3. We'd get paid $75,000 an episode to show everyone that Jon and Kate ain't got NOTHIN' on us! Just kidding... You know, after watching more Jon and Kate episodes, I really don't think that Kate is as bad as everyone makes her out to be. She's a wife and mother of eight. I go bonkers on my husband sometimes after having to deal with a rough day and three dogs. And if you put it on television for everyone to view, you probably wouldn't think much of me. But I think I'll just stick to my day job! Anyways, I'm getting off of here now. Much too chattery right now. Time to watch more of the Jon and Kate Plus 8 marathon. Happy Memorial Day ya'll. Don't forget the true meaning!

Oh dear...

What is life? It's a question I ask myself frequently. And quite frankly...I don't know the answer... I just know that everything that happens in life...that makes up life...well...I put it all in the hands of God.

Okay, so...there's this co-worker of mine who has a dog. A chocolate lab named Ranger, to be exact. Same age as our dogs, and is fixed and housetrained and everything. Problem is, he needs to find a home for it. And my husband and I, well let's just say we don't want to see Ranger end up in the Humane League. So I don't know what we're going to do. But we definitely don't want him to take Ranger there. I'm not a big proponet of the "Humane" League option. I don't exactly consider them to be "Humane." (I reserve the right to my own opinion on that). So anyway, please pray for us on that. If anyone out there is actually reading this. Thanks.

99 Balloons - The Story of Elliot Mooney

This weekend at church, we did something special. I was privileged to be a part of it (behind the scenes, cutting 650 balloon strings. Watch this movie, and I'll post about the rest of it later. How amazing is God...

ART * MUSIC * JUSTICE TOUR

Can't wait to go see the ART * MUSIC * JUSTICE TOUR!!!

-Mr. Rock & Roll- by Amy MacDonald

I just found this artist. What an amazing singer/songwriter!