Travel the World?

So today; I went to the movies with the girls. As usual, hanging with them.. lots of fun! So we went and saw “P.S. I love you” Let me just say that that movie was fantastic! It was a chick-flick, no doubt, but I love them! It was one of those movies that made you smile, made you laugh too hard, cry, reminded you of your own friendships, made you think about your own dreams…

So in parts of the movie; were set in Ireland…. well it looked beautiful. That made me think how much I want to travel.
But first, let me explain my pride in where I am from.

Okay; so I was born & still being raised in Texas. I have never lived anywhere else. I have always lived in the same area; I have even always been at the same church. Abundant Life/ Gateway! I guess you could say, I was one of the original church kids! Not until about two or three years ago did I really start taking pride in where I was from and where I live. Prior to that, I always wondered why my family never moved around and whatnot. So anyways; I take great pride in where I live and love it so much!… I really never want to live anywhere else; but in saying that….

I do want to travel. My heart says, “Jenny, there is so much more out there!” And I dont have a doubt in my mind that there is more out there for me! I want to travel this world, see the sites, meet the people of this world, see what this world is really made of. I can only imagine the beautiful places! My heart just drifts and wonders! Plus, I want to travel to not just see God’s beauty in where I am from and in my everyday life; but other people’s everyday life! That sounds incredible & one day, I will!

Cheerleading Nationals

             

Alright so; just got back from NCA Highschool Cheerleading Nationals and it was amazing!

Well; let me back up a bit…
the day after Christmas, we had our last practice & I was so ready. I was pumped & ready to show everyone how hard we had worked. The next morning I was off to Dallas [while my dad and brother were in New Mexico visiting family; with my stepmom, Deb and my sisters were in MS while my mom and stepdad, Rick were still in Houston!... scattered Christmas I know!]  So off to Dallas, I wasnt getting nervous but I was excited! We are there, the first night we have practice in our hotel & then we go out to eat. It was good fun with the team!

The next mornring, had some breakfast, had one more practice and we were off to the Dallas Convention Center for Prelimbs! While the rest of the team prepared and some nerves kicked in, I refused to allow mine too…. in cheer, nerves do nothing but mess you up! So after being at the Convention Center for a couple of hours; we competed. We did great. No stunts fell, we were confident and it was so much fun! But our attitude was: “this was only prelimbs and tomorrow at finals needs to be even better!”

Next morning; nerves started to kick in, but I quickly kicked those babys to the curb because this was the day & this was the time to prove everyone wrong! So I prepared myself mentally, listening to my music and putting my “game face” on! We go to warmups and stunts dont hit, but our attitude stays positive that everything will hit. We get backstage and are ready to do this. I give a few final words to my amazing girls, pray and we are ready to hit the floor with our “game faces” on! We get out there and we do our thang! I mean it did not just hit, but out of the hundreds off times we had done, that was the best!… I spirit off the floor and we are so excited! Sure that we did great! I am hugging every girl and I am just so proud!

Award Time comes and we are in a circle, holding hands… 13 teams names are called, down to the top three…. “From Houston Texas, Clear Lake High School” No lie, we were a bit disappointed, but we got third and that was great! We did our best and it felt great!

My overall experience was incredible! I had so much fun & though I left 12 years of gymnastics and that was tough and all; this has become my element! And I love it!  

Light

                                 

Christmas Eve Service at Gateway was incredible! At the very end we did the candle lit part and it was just so cool! We were all sitting in the dark and Betsy lit her candle and said, “It’s amazing how bright one light can shine in a dark room…” It was just so true, that that one little light can “light” up the room and make it that much brighter. And that is so true in our daily lives, we are the light of Christ and no matter who is around us and what is going on around us; if we have the love of Christ living within us… we are that one light in the dark room!

What Christmas is REALLY all about

 

Merry Christmas Eve to you all!

So this morning I read a bulliton posted by a friend, Brandon, and it was about what this Christmas season is about… so thank you B & everyone enjoy!

Many of us, even Christ followers ask, what is this season really all about?
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16The historic record of the birth of Christ can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20.

Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. He was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence . He is God, the Son—Creator of the universe. This is why Christmas is called the incarnation, a word which means “in the flesh.” In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing Creator came to earth in the flesh.

Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated?

Because he LOVED us that much.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins so we all can have eternal life with Him in heaven. That is the ultimate sacrifice.

Love yourself and love others with everything that God gives you. This Christmas season is about our SAVIOR!

God Bless you all! & if you do not have a church home to attend tonight, Gateway’s doors are always open! We would love to have you there, services are at 5,7 and 11. We hope to see you there!

Merry Christmas Eve ya’ll!

Vast?

Alright so tonight we were at the church for over 6 hours for Christmas Eve reheasal & in part of the video clips for the service, is one that is pretty much a ”ride” through space and seeing all the stars and planets and galaxies and black holes and whatever else there was. But during that, it brought me back to Student Life Camp 2007 down in South Padre. The first night, the pastor/ speaker guy was talking about how big our God is! And how there is this huge universe & there are most likely more than one galaxy (we are MIlky Way) and anyways; that this HUGE God cares for us, sinners, who live on this little earth, compared to the rest of the universe… it was pretty eye opening, I must say.

So then, we were driving out of the parking lot at church, we were looking at the sky & how beautiful it was! Like I had never seen a full moon like tonight. Yes, I had seen huge full moons & tonight’s was not that large, but the clouds that surrounded the moon perfectly were incredible.

So we were driving down Clear Lake City Blvd and I couldnt look away from the sky. While I was looking up at this vast sky; I just could not help but to wonder. The biggest thing was reminding me that God was not just a vast, but He is enourmous. So as we continued to go down Clear Lake City Blvd, I was just in so much awe, I was almost to the point of just wanting to sit there forever and ever and ever & just stare. I thought about how I am a sinner and someone who contradicts everything she says; no matter how hard I try not to commit the sin. And how I do everything I hate to do [sin] and cant seem to do anything I want to do [do good] …. Yet there is a God, THE God, who still loves me? Even though there is this universe that is bigger than I can even fathom, THE God, He still loves me… I will never undserstand that; but I will accept His love, grace & mercy!

I am in awe & although it is coldd outside, I am going to go out onto my trampoline & lay out under the stars.
{I am attempting to see them; for I live in suburbia of the 4th largest city in the U.S. :]}

Merry Christmas Eve Eve :]]