Playin' In Playa!

Mere & Carter!

The Rife's!

Me & Meg!

The whole gang!

Our exercise for the day!

My beautiful Mom and handsome Dad!

Just the kids!

Sisters!

Still having fun!

Nice background!

Pool Time!

Fun in the Sun!

What we do best...Eat!

Yep, that's me!

Can't have too many family pics!

Team #1!

Team #2!

After a sweet time of prayer!

What a trio!

Si! Si! Si!

A great experience!

You'll Come!

Staring at a plate in my kitchen this morning. It reads, "The Mighty Deliver! The Triumph! The Truth! Lyrics from a worship song entitled "You'll Come!" Chains will be broken. Lives will be healed. Eyes will be opened and Christ will be revealed. He will come! Just thinking about the power of Christ being my Deliverer, my Triumph, and my Truth. Thank You Lord. I may have no idea what my life is going to look like, but You do. Thank You for always seeing me through, for Your unending faithfulness, for Your victory, for being Truth. Life with You is a mystery but so worth it! I love not being able to figure it out but knowing with all my heart that You are good. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You" (Psalm 139-7-12).

In Christ Alone!

Just a song that I have been listening to over and over again this week, but it is so much more than a song...

In Christ Alone
My hope is found
He is my Light, my Stength, my Song
This Cornerstore
This Solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love
What depths of peace
When fears are still
When striving cease
My Comforter
My All in All
Here in the love of Christ
I stand

In Christ Alone
Who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of Love and Righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross
As Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the depths of Christ
I live

There in the ground
His body lay
Light of the world
The darkness slain
Then bursting forth
In glorious day
Up from the grave
He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin has lost its grip on me
For I am His
And He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life
No fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry
To final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell
No scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Til he returns
Or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ
I stand


Thank You Lord for the victory we have in You! Thank You that nothing can separate us from Your love. Thank You that when we draw near to You, You draw near to us. Thank You that we can rest in Your destiny for our lives, because it's good. Your heart for Your children is always good. Thank You for the peace that comes with knowing that You are God and You are in control. Thank You for taking on the sin of the world and for making us righteous. By Your wounds, we are healed. Without Your gift of love on the cross, we could not stand in victory. Thank You for dying, for resurrecting on the third day, and for that same victory and power that You give Your children. You alone are our All in All. On You alone can we stand!

Paradise!

We made it safe and sound! Thank You Lord! I have been looking forward to this vacation for some time now, and we are finally here in Paradise! Woohoo! Mere and I had a late night before we left yesterday. We were up until 2:45 a.m. packing and talking. Nevertheless, when the alarm went off at 6:00 a.m., I popped out of my bed and thanked God for the opportunity to get away! At this moment, we are still waiting for Meg, Ron, and Rhonda to arrive. They will be in later tonight, but for now... it's just the five of us. This morning I woke up to Carter knocking at our door. What a pleasant surprise! I love Carter Rife. Have I mentioned that? He brought my sister a precious card this morning, lingered in our room for a bit, and we just talked. Sweet times. Then we headed upstairs to breakfast. Delicious and healthy! Mom and I worked out this morning, then Dad joined us. Mere and Carter are in a hammock reading their books. The day is off to a great start! Before I go, I want to leave you with something I was reading yesterday and thinking about this morning...."It is exactly that "moment by moment" every waking moment, surrender, responsiveness, obedience, sensitivity, pliability, "lost in His love," that I now have the mind-bent to explore with all my might, to respond to Jesus Christ as a violin responds to the bow of the master. In defense of opening my soul and laying it bare to the public gaze in this fashion, I may say that it seems to me that we really seldom do anybody much good excepting as we share the deepest experiences of our souls in this way. It is not the fashion to tell your inmost thoughts, but there are many wrong fashions and concealment of the best in me is wrong. I disapprove of the usual practice of talking "small talk" whenever we meet, and holding a veil over our souls. If we are so impoverished that we have nothing to reveal but small talk, then we need to struggle for more richness of soul. As for me, I am convinced that this spiritual pilgrimage which I am making is infinitely worthwhile, the most important thing I know of to talk about. And talk I shall while there is anybody to listen..." (Frank Laubach). To me, paradise is surrounding myself with the best, so that the best comes out...being with my family and friends, enjoying the beauty of His creation, laughing so hard it hurts, a great conversation, time to be still and quiet, time to play, all the while actively engaging His presence (because He is here)...Jesus, You are the best thing in me and worth it all! Because Your love is better than life, I will praise You. I will praise You as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in prayer to Your name.

Got Water?

It's a long process, but I am doing it. I am getting back in shape! It feels so good. I have been working on it for some time now, but it is becoming a priority again. This morning I was thinking about the importance of water, how much I need it, how I crave it, how it sustains me, how it refreshes me, how it fills me. Then, I thought about Jesus...THE LIVING WATER. "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Jesus, may the vision of You be the death of me! Keep awakening what is inside of me. Tune my heart to all You are in me. I don't want to live anything less than Your very best for my life. I've made a million mistakes, and I know I will make more. Thank You for loving me in the midst of failure and for being my Victory. One step at a time, one day at a time...I run to You! Just as nothing satisfies me more than water after a morning run, nothing in this life satisfies me more than You.

Remember...

Today, we honor those who gave their lives and who are giving their lives in service to our country. Lord Jesus, bless these men and women and their families. We are so grateful.

Surprise Visit!

MY AMAZING SISTER!

Mere surprised me and came to see the results of my shopping spree with the girls. She was pleased. Although we may not always agree and often have different ways of going about things, I love how much my sister cares. I love that we love being apart of each other's lives. From the smallest, insignificant details of shopping for swimsuits to the most important matters of the heart...we are there for each other. Thank You Lord for my beautiful sister.

Attempting to get a picture...

Almost...

Sweet...

Yay! We are both looking at the camera!

Kisses!

Best Friends!

Shop 'Til You Drop!

Today was a great day! I had the incredible privilege of spending time with these beautiful and encouraging women. Even though they are all living with their husbands now, they will always be my roomies. They are some of my favorite people in the whole wide world, and I need them more than they could possibly know. Thank you girls! You lift me up. You make me laugh. You speak the right words at just the right time. You listen. You're patient. You're kind. You're honest. You're inviting. You're so much fun, and you love me so well. I love each one of you for different reasons, but there is a common denominator with you all. You bring out the very best in me. I can't think of any four people I would rather have crammed in a dressing room with me!!!

The Colonial 2010!

We were so excited to go in!

Then, they checked my purse.

No cameras allowed. Standing in line to drop off my camera and

disappointed that I can't take pictures.

Had to get a few in after the tournament!

We wore the right color. PINK OUT for

breast cancer awareness!

It was so hot but worth it! We couldn't have

made it without our fans and Arnold Palmer's.

THE END.

How Do You Explain?

I can't believe May is almost over. Where does the time go? It seems this year is flying by. Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness thus far. You have been my Healer, and all that I need. I claim that You are more than enough. I am overwhelmed with thoughts right now. I cry out for Your wisdom and discernment. I am incapable of making the best decisions for my life, apart from You. Help me to abide. Give me the grace to remain steadfast in keeping my mind and heart fixed on You. Keep me from temptation and deliver me from evil. Keep me from manipulating or taking control. Help me not to lean on my own understanding. I trust that You will continue to direct my steps. Show me Your ways, O Lord; guide me in Your truth and teach me. Thank You for knowing the deepest parts of me, for listening to my heart, for interceding for me when I don't have the words...and the list goes on! I am choosing to forget the former things. I will not dwell on the past. I know that You are doing a new thing, and I am excited. Thank You that I am complete in You. My hope is in You, and I will wait for You. Thank You that it is in the waiting that my heart is enlarged to love You more. You have been so good to me. Thank You that You are in the midst and ever present in my life. You are the Mighty One who saves! Give me the courage to take risks for love. Help me to allow any grief or pain from my previous relationships to carve out an even deeper place for love to reside now and in the future. Jesus, I pray against barriers. I trust You as the Keeper and Healer of my heart. It's in loving You and others that true healing takes place. I am grateful for another breath, another opportunity to serve You and bring You praise. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You. Thank You for Your constant pursuit of me and the sweet ways You draw me to Yourself. Thank You for continuing to fill me up with Your precious and perfect love. I can't help but let it overflow.

Summary Of Pictures!

So far, the year is off to a great start! These first five months have flown by! I am overwhelmed with trying to recall all that has happened and the sweet times I have had, but thankful for the ability to write and communicate what I am thinking, feeling, experiencing, dreaming, loving, and living. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I thought I would share a few...

Barrett and Jennifer invited me to come stay

the night with them, and we had a blast! We had

dinner in uptown, met up with some friends, and stayed

up talking until 3 a.m.

My best friend, Savannah, got engaged! I have the amazing

privilege of being Maid of Honor and standing by her side.

We have been in desperate need of a third full-time Speech-Language Pathologist, and I have been praying diligently for the Lord to bring the right person. In February, He answered my prayer. Lauren Wohl is not only my friend, but the newest addition to our team at Broadway. I am so thankful. She is a woman of God that I love and trust. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to work with her each and every day!

The whole family went to Waco to watch Carter Reid Rife walk across the stage and graduate! We will be back in August to watch Meredith Leigh Smith! I can't believe it.

I love these two! Happy Day! Congratulations Carter!

Amanda's Wedding! It was so much fun to be back

with the LCP crew. Our ten year reunion will be here

before we know it!

KOT Sweetheart Tea!

Chelsey's Birthday at

the Ball Park!

TSHA 2010! Our first conference

as professionals!

Celebrating Amber's Engagement!

My Amazing Parents!

B.P. & Poppy!

Poppy's first snow! In the beginning, she was a little timid.

It didn't take her long to realize she loved it!

After a few days of snow, Poppy was pooped!

Inclusion!

We need some pretty radical change in the church if we are going to reach a world we SAY we care about. We have excluded a lot of people out of our lives, being more concerned about the danger they might be to us...then deciding whether or not maybe it is somebody Jesus would include...and perhaps we have it wrong. There is an issue of inclusion. God's nature is for us to live with the assumption that everyone is coming to the party. God isn't interested in who may or may not want to come to the party, but everybody gets an invitation. God gives everyone a chance. Historically in the church we have not wanted to waste our seed on people we don't think will respond so we judge, separate, and exclude. And then we put our seed in someone we think is a likely responder which means most of the world are never reached by the church because we pre-judge them as non responsive types and so we finish up having church just filled with our types which usually means most of the community are not being reached. So we are inclusive with those we feel safe with, which is a human nature thing. But we by default exclude the majority that are not like us. Who are some of the people that Jesus included that might be kind of surprising? Everyone Jesus included were those that were not included by the established church at the time. He seemed to specialize in people that were not accepted in mainstream. They were being excluded by the religious people of the day. If we get this religious mindset, we will literally exclude those that Jesus would include. Jesus, from day one, reached out to the prostitute. Often an act of inclusion is what you don't say. He didn't judge her. He didn't express an opinion. What he actually did at the end of the day was protected her from their exclusion. Jesus was willing to be excluded to include someone that would never be included. That is Jesus.

A New Year!

Back to blogging. It's been awhile...So much has changed in this last year, yet You have remained the same. For You cannot disown Yourself. I have found all of Your promises to be true, O Lord. Even when we are faithless, You are faithful. There have been a lot of first time experiences, but You have been there for them all. Thank You for the opportunity to live life one more day. Thank You for all that You have done in 2009 to make me ready for 2010. The journey has been hard, but so sweet. Thank You for opening my eyes. Thank You for your protection and provision in my life. Thank You that everything I experienced this past year, good and bad, left me knowing You and loving You more. You are worth it all. I look forward, with great expectation, to what this year might hold. Being confident that the greatest gift I will receive will be finding You, over and over again, in each and every circumstance You allow in my life. May I be quick to search with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength...knowing that You will be found. With everything You have given me in this world, You are still my greatest treasure. Forgive me when I get caught up in myself or the temporary things. Nothing this world could offer could ever compare with You. Help me to maintain focus, fixing my eyes on You...the Author and Perfecter. I trust You with all of my heart, and I know that You will direct my steps. There is freedom in surrender, and I surrender all. I know Your goodness and Your grace in a deeper way, and I am grateful. Lord, I pray that You would find me faithful. In spite of my hopes and fears, Lord, You know them all...May Your will be done in my life.