Jonny

This past Thursday was a day of so many emotions... It started off with sleepiness, then went to being nervous as I waited for my final grades then to happiness as I was going through the halls of putnam done with finals and seeing all of my amazing friends and talking about summer, then I get a call from my mom saying that she was in town coming to help me pack, so that brought even more excitement (because my two best friends surprised me!) Then, when I get outside, I run to my mom and sister and basically tackle them with hugs and then another emotion comes over me. Confusion. My mom kind of calms down and suddenly her face changed. She told me that my cousin Jon died that morning. He never woke up from his sleep. Then shock hit me. "How could this be?" Not my Jonny! He is like my brother. What am I going to do without him? What am I going to do without our weekly Skype chats? I loved those. He would MAKE sure to make time for my sister and I. His brother and him were the closest things I have had to brothers. I love them so much. Oh my gosh. Then, we just stood outside of Putnam holding each other and bawling. So, after about three hours of running around doing errands, crying, packing the rest of my room out, crying, saying quick goodbyes to all of my amazing friends, and some more crying, we left Manhattan and came home to Newton to spend time with family and are headed to Seattle on Wednesday for his funeral. I have really been so confused by all of our emotions. One minute we are ok and acting like normal, another minute we are speechless, and the other minutes we are crying. The one thing that hasn't left anyone is shock. He was only 38. He has a wife and a two year old. Holy cow. My first instinct is to just get mad at God right away. But, I haven't let myself go there. I WON'T let myself go there. I know that this is what my family needs. They (we) all need the Lord more than ever now. I don't know and can't even imagine how people go through this without the Lord. I feel as it would be impossible. So, I ask everyone right now. Are you Saved?! Sorry to just put it out there, but I want everyone to be in Heaven. No one deserves to be with Satan. I know that Jonny is with Jesus, but what about you? Do you know? Also, Thanks to everyone who has had us and them in their prayers. I personally can feel them in the little things right now. So, thank you for your continuous prayers.

Jesus replied, "You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
John 13:7

I love you Jonny. I hope you are having the most amazing time partying up there with Jesus and Dad right now. =)

Chicken Parmesan!!

So, this past sunday, Jim and I were wanting to try some recipes, so, for supper, we made Chicken Parm! It actually turned out really good! =) Here are the steps:

First, get your ingredients together. (Recipe at bottom)

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl:

With your chicken, make sure all of the fat is cut off:

Take the chicken and cover it in melted butter, then dip it in the spices until it is fully covered:

Put them all on the same baking pan:

Right before you stick them in the oven, sprinkle all of the chicken breasts with fresh lemon juice:

Put them in the oven at 350 degrees

While the chicken is cooking, Start the spaghetti!

And the sauce...

We also made garlic bread =) Take the bread, cut in slices, butter and put garlic salt on the slices and then stick it in the oven for like 10 minutes

They should look like this

Vwa Lah! It is super delicious too!

• 
  
• Recipe:
• 1/2 c dried italian bread crumbs
• 1/8 t garlic powder
• 1/8 t paprika
• 1 t salt
• 1/4 t pepper
• 1/4 t parsley
• 1/3 c. dry Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 c. melted butter
• 4 whole chicken breasts
• Lemon juice (fresh)

Combine bread crumbs, parm. cheese, salt, pepper, parsley, garlic powder, and paprika. Dip chicken into melted butter, then in crumbs. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Bake on foil lined pan at 350 degrees for 35 min. or until juices are clear.

14 Years

This past weekend was the Christian Challenge Formal and a couple of the staff members brought their daughters and I started to really miss my dad and realized that it has already been fourteen years that I have been without a father. That is a really long time. Then, after a while of crying, I realized that this was all part of God's plan and that his promise is that i will see my dad again. Yeah, I am still sad, but I realize that I am so truly blessed. I know for sure that his death was part of the plan and it has made me a stronger person because of that. I wouldn't trade anything that has happened to me, my mom has an amazing fiance that I see as a father figure, I have THE most amazing people in my life that I am honored enough to call friends, mentors, and brothers and sisters in Christ and lastly, I have my mom and sister. If it weren't for my dad's death, who knows how close we would have been? Would my sister be my absolute best friend in the whole wide world? Would my mom and I be as close as we were now? (That is pretty dang close too!) So, to all you fathers and mothers out there, cherish everything. =)

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

K-State Proud

Tonight, I had the great opportunity of going with a group and going to the Manhattan Regional Airport and greeting the players after they got back from Salt Lake City. It was so good to see them in such great spirits. You could really see that they appreciated that people had come out, they walked around and took pictures with everyone that asked, hugged everyone and thanked them, and also they signed all the autographs that people asked for! It was so great! I am so super proud of those guys and couldn't be ANY prouder to call myself a Kansas State Wildcat! =D

The Great group that went:

Greeting the Fans

Rachel was excited for Kelly being behind her!

Frank doing interviews

Curtis Kelly! (Favorite Player! =])

Jacob Pullen signing autographs

Wally Judge

Jacob Pullen! =)

Martavious Irving and the girls

Summit

For my spring break, instead of going home, I had the amazing opportunity to go to Colorado with Christian Challenge. I went last year and about 67 people went. This year, about 100 more people went. It was crazy, yet so great at the same time. I have never seen so many amazing people wanting to live for God. The speaker was Gordon MacDonald and he was probably the most amazing speaker I have ever had the privilege to listen to. At Summit, we had olympics, we swam, we worshipped, we hiked, we had fun. =) I am so glad I got to go again this year and I cannot wait until next year!

Giant Group Lay Time after supper one night

All of the people participating in the Olympics!
Beautiful group of girls watching the beautiful sunrise =)

I love friends =)
God's creation is breathtaking!

20 people in the hot tub while it was snowing

Everyone loved listening to Gordon

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10

He Is Mighty

So, I have been really busy and a lot has been going on so I haven't really been able to write, but I have learned a lot about myself. One thing for instance, I cannot do things on my own! I need to talk to people. Now, for me, that is way harder than it looks. Don't get me wrong, I love to talk, just not to deep because I feel as if I am burdening them and making them listen. Now, I also know that isn't true, but I keep telling myself and that is one of the biggest ways the enemy gets into me. This past Sunday, I was having a pretty difficult night and i went to talk to Erika and when I was done I felt so relieved to have someone like her to talk to at 8:30 at night or anytime. =) I am blessed. On the way back to Putnam, I heard the song 'Mighty to Save' by Hillsong. The part that really stuck out to me is the part that says, "So take me as You find me, All my fears and failures, Fill my life again. I give my life to follow everything I believe in, now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains, My God is Mighty to save, He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave."

I heard that and realized that I was acting ridiculous. Why won't I talk? Oy. Stupid Emotions. Whatever. ;) I am going to try my hardest to talk to people when they ask, right now, the only people I truly talk to and who truly know me are my Life Group girls and of course my mom and sister. I am not going to tell my whole life story to people now, but if they ask, I will just go a little deeper, even if it is a little weird. Thanks to everyone. =)

A True Inspiration

For the next 15 or so days, me and a couple other girls are going on a fast for our dear friend, Chelsea. She was diagnosed with CRPS, which is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. I am not 100% sure what it is exactly, I am pretty sure it is injury to nerves and it messes with her arm and now has moved up into her shoulder, but I also know it made our friend move away from K-State for this semester and I am not ok with that. ;) I also know that Chelsea is one of the strongest people you will ever be fortunate enough to know. She is in such pain, but if you were to talk to her, you would never know it! She has really given this to God and by showing that, it is such a testimony to everyone! She has the best attitude of anyone who is struggling with something like this. She just got put on a gluten free, sugar free and dairy free diet, so a couple of us are fasting from one of those things in support of her. Chelsea, if you read this, thank you for being such an inspiration to everyone! You are truly amazing and I am so truly lucky that I get to call you my friend! Love you girl!

I think this verse fits you perfectly my friend:

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

(That is exactly what you are! Strong AND courageous!)