Pray

Today...Pray for Abby! Click on the side bar to read her story!

New Year Resolution(s)

It is amazing to me that it is already 2009! I had always heard that time begins to move faster when you get older, but I had no idea it would move this fast. Over the past year Keith and I have managed to accomplish and encounter many amazing things. Here are few that are on my mind (in random order):

1. We were married on January 26, 2008...we are closely approaching our first anniversary!
2. We spent a week in Jamaica celebrating our marriage.
3. I started the nursing mobility program...one step closer to be completely done with school!
4. The Generation Band completed their first CD.
5. We experienced God move in a mighty way through our college ministry.
6. God laid it upon our hearts to begin a non-profit ministry that provides opportunities for individuals to travel to orphanages and serve our God...See the Need!
7. Keith's father survived a massive heart attack...to God be the Glory!
8. We planned our first international mission trip through our non-profit organization.
9. We added a member to our family: A 901b. Weimaraner named Bella.
10. Keith visited New Orleans for school...said he would never go back.
11.Realized that there is nothing more precious on this earth than family!

These are just a few of the major events that occurred this past year...I know I am leaving tons out! It was a very busy year. As 2008 came to a close, and 2009 began I found myself once again making resolutions for this next year. In the past I have made resolutions that are so far out of reach I know that I will never accomplish them, but this year I have been slightly more reasonable.

New Year Resolutions for 2009
1. Become closer to God. This is by far the most important on my list. My heart is yearning to learn and know my God more. It is something that has constantly been on mind the past few weeks. God is doing so many great things in our lives, and I want to know more of Him.

2. Eat health. Much less important than the first, but what I can say. I am not going to say that I want to lose weight in 2009, but I would like to fill my body with more healthy items. This one will prove to be very difficult. Keith and I have such crazy schedules that eating usually consists of fast food on the way to where we are going or a frozen pizza because we are both too tired to cook. I know that the first step to meeting this challenge is to only buy healthy foods, so when I finally have time to go to the store that is definitely what I am going to do.

3. Complete the BSN portion of my mobility program. This one will be completed in approximately 4 months...so this one is pretty much done! Thank you Lord! I hear the master's program is a little easier, so I am looking forward to that...and to finishing!

4. Be more spontaneous! Keith will love this one! I am usually a "I need a plan" kind of person, but this year I am going to leave a little bit of that behind...or at least I am going to try.

5. Focus a bit more of my time on "my girls" in the youth department. I love my girls, but I can honestly admit that I have neglected them over the past year. We have been so busy with other things that I have failed to make time for them. I know that God has put each one of them in my life for a reason and I feel a little responsible for them now. My greatest desire would be that they would grow to be beautiful women of God, and I pray that God would give the wisdom to lead them in this direction.

6. Last but not least...to show my husband every single day how much I love him. I must say that I really believe that Keith and I have a great relationship. Yes we are married, so we do fight, but overall we are generally a very peaceful couple. I make this resolution because I know that somedays I can be harsh and moody, but I always love him. God has blessed with an incredible man, and even though he is a little hard to handle sometimes...just a little...I love him and I never want him to go a day without knowing exactly how I feel.

So here they...six things that will happen over the next year. I also plan to update my blog a lot more.

One thing that I would like to mention would be our upcoming trip to Mexico. We will be leaving the 25th of January and traveling to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. This is part of our non-profit org. There has been concerns over safety and the condition of the border town we will be traveling to. I would like to ask anyone who reads this blog to please keep us (there will be four of us traveling) in your prayers this week. We will be leaving the 25th and return home on the 31st. Not only would we like your prayers for safety, but we also pray that God would be glorified through this trip. We will be spending lots of time with approximately 110 orphans and their caretakers. My brother and I have previously visited this orphanage and it brings tears to my eyes thinking that in only two weeks we will be there with them again. Needless to say, I can't wait. I pray that God uses us and the supplies that have donated to this orphanage to minister to these children and show them God's love.
I will post pictures when we return, but until then please check out our orgs. website and blog for new info.

Until then...

Love wins!

The Generation Band

I have written previously about The Generation Band (Keith plays guitar). Well, the boys and girls of the band have just finished their first (of many I am sure)CDS and it is now for sale. I must admit that it is...INCREDIBLE! They are selling the CD for $12 if anyone is interested, but I was really writing to inform all of you that tonight at 7:30 they will leading a whole night of worship straight off of the new CD. If you are not busy and need some place to go head over to the GFBC multi-purpose building and enjoy an evening of worshiping our God!

Love Wins!

Over Due

Things have continued to be incredibly busy around the Varden house. To see what has been occupying all of our time check out seetheneed.blogspot.com or click See the Need on the side bar.

Life Changing

I had every intention of updating last week about the wonderful weekend Keith and I had with all of our friends. I had a girls night, Keith had a guys night, and we finished the weekend up by spending an entire day at the Cooper's house watching football games. War Eagle! Like I said I had every intention, but did not succeed. My faith in the Lord was tested last week, and I must say that I am not sure I did very well. I had a very scary and not so promising conversation with doctor regarding some severe joint pain. She ended my visit by preparing me for the worst. Needless to say, I lost it! I cried the entire way home and poor Keith really had no idea what was going on. Being a nurse makes days like these very hard. The very moment my doctor mentioned the possibility of a chronic illness, I started reliving all the things I had learned in nursing school. I actually remembered a lot! I had prepared myself for the worst, forgetting that God was in control. It took 48 hours to process my lab results, and lots of prayer...they were all within normal limits! I did show signs of the beginning of an infection, but 7 days of antibiotics would knock that right out. The final verdict was a reaction to a medication that I was taking...much better than what was first placed at my feet.

What did I learn...I finally grasped something that I have been taught my entire life...it was life changing...God is in control. My life is in the hands of the Lord, yet my human nature thinks that I can take care of things on my own. While I was diagnosing myself with some disease, my God was taking care of me. I was "fearfully and wonderfully made," so why do I constantly feel the need to worry. We worry about money, jobs, stability, the clothes we where, the houses we live in, the cars we drive: this world revolves around worrying. As Christians, God has called us to hand our lives over to Him. I read in Mathew this morning about what Jesus said about worrying:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, or what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

I love this:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mathew 6:25-33

Seek first his Kingdom. I am learning more and more about this verse. My life is not about this world...it is simply about a loving relationship with my God and bringing glory to Him through everything that I do. His love for me is so great, and His plan for me is perfect. Now I must let go and let Him take control.

Auburn Football

Keith, Me, and our dogs headed up to my brother's house on Saturday for a day of corn hole, hotdogs, and Auburn Football. Alabama was only on paperview, so Keith did not have a problem watching the game with me and about 12 other Auburn fans...he did stand strong and sported his BAMA shirt on gameday. The day itself was wonderful. Jonathan and Rachel set some tents up in their front yard, along with lots of Auburn gear. It was very warm, but there was a slight breeze to cool us off. Everyone played tons of corn hole and ate lots of awesome food. Auburn kicked off at 6 and so began one of the most stressful football games I have ever seen. Thanks to our defense Auburn beat Mississippi State 3-2 (yes Keith I know...it sounds more like a soccer score than a football score.) Next week Auburn plays LSU and Alabama plays Arkansas, so things should begin to get interesting. I have tons of pictures below that show how great the day was! Enjoy and God Bless!



War Eagle!



Rachel and Allison



JP's game face



Jonathan and Dad playing corn hole



My hubby and me



Jonathan and Carla working the grill



Keith and Price wrestling before the game



Kaitlyn in her cute Auburn shirt



Corn Hole!




War Eagle Dogs!

Birthday Weekend

This past weekend we were able to celebrate Keith's parent's birthdays. His mother's birthday was Friday and his dad's birthday was yesterday. We celebrated with a trip to Flemmings. Keith and I had heard from numerous individuals that this resteraunt and the steaks were phenomenal, but I must say that I really did not think that it was that great. I am the kind of girl who believes that the best steaks are cooked at home on a charcoal grill, but nevertheless the evening was great. The dessert was the best. We had a Chocolate Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream and two candles...so good! Keith and I got to dress up and go out...which we do not do that often. Keith actually wore dress pants, a button down shirt, and DRESS SHOES (he usually wears flops). We looked good, but I did not get a picture. We celebrated one more time on Sunday. I cooked a small lunch and we had an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Keith followed up the afternoon with a nice long nap, and I did homework! Overall, the birthday weekend was a success!



Happy Birthday!