Fun times...

This morning: I was at the chiropractor--who doubles as my health consultant. he told me I may want to get a massage cause my shoulders are ridiculously tight.

This afternoon: I got an email from a family friend (my foster brother is marrying his daughter). He wrote:

"I have a gift for you! I have a massage practise and would like to give you a massage! Let me know when works for you."

Um... Thanks Lord!

Just got back...

Just got back today, yes from yet another trip. This time it was to Wheaton, Illinois. It was just me and the Dad!! We had a fabulous time---did a TON in the short amount of time (thurs-sat) that we had. We got to connect with a lot of JV folks! Theresa Kerns, Gord Nickerson, Sarah and Bret Bertrand, and of course Erin Thomas! I even saw the JV office. It was fabulous. Why did it take me SOO long to come and visit you guys?!

On the way back I got bumped up to first class! For the record that has never happened to me. But I definitely had a hard time enjoying it because
Number One: my Dad was back in Economy.
Number Two...he paid for the plane tickets (1/2 of mine)!

I truly was spoiled. I had a steak dinner with mash potatoes. The dishes and silverware were not plastic! I even got a chocolate sundae for dessert, complete with a cherry on top!

The chocolate sauce dripped on my white hoodie... karma.

Since its been a while...

Ok, its been a while since Ive updated. So, for all of you wanting to know whats going on in my life, here are few pictures and stories... In Portland, Oregon I met the Heavenly Man!! Brother Yun! For those of you that have never read his book. Its a MUST read! It will change your life. This guy went through so much persecution in China. Has been jailed and beaten and chased down by the police because of his faith in Christ. Anyway, while chatting with my friend Bri (who works at Multnomah), she mentioned he would be at the next chapel! Of course I made sure I was there!













Valentines Day I woke up and went into my bathroom and my brother Caleb had a little gift for me! Flowers and a stuffed puppy dog. On the dog was a sweet note. Thanks Caleb! Later my Dad gave my mom and I matching bathrobes. White with a heart on each pocket!

















And then the family vacation. We stayed at my Aunts house in Leavenworth. "A quaint little Bavarian Village nestled in the central Cascade Mountains of Washington State." We had a lot of fun as a family! There was a TON of snow, we spent time in the hot tub, watched movies, and played a lot of cards and other games.





































Oh and we had a lot of car time too cause the roads shut down because of a bunch of snow....












We made a gingerbread house... (ours was the best!)



































Being wooed...












The whole family!

Oh then on our way home we stopped by the grandparents house...












Grandpa and Grandma and Great Grandma Burrison.
















Dont I have a CUTE Grandma?!













Four Generations of us Ladies... And.....thats pretty much the latest.

Ash Wednseday...

This Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. I flew into Portland that day and I went with some friends to, The Pearl-- a church in downtown Portland.

Ive never celebrated Lent or Ash Wednesday before. The service was very somber, liturgical, and by candlelight. We listened to and reflected upon Scripture that reminded us of our frailty and our need for Christ. Then the pastor put a cross of ash on our foreheads telling us each individually,

"Remember, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Therefore count yourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ."

I came into the service extremely exhausted from traveling and in all honesty I was not in the greatest of moods. I didnt know how to respond to listening to this constant reminder of dust.

I wanted to be encouraged.
Joyful.
To think about the greatness of following Christ.

And yet as I sat in silence pondering what it meant that I was dust, I was in fact reminded of the glory that lies in this specific truth..

It is no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me! I can cease striving because... I am dust! I can stop seeking to plan my own future because...to dust I shall return! I am dead to sin and alive to Christ. I have in fact become Christ's righteousness.

I am Christ's righteousness.
I am the righteousness of Christ.

The longer I thought upon these things, the deeper these truths resonated and brought freedom to my soul. And then before I knew it...

I was walking away encouraged.
Joyful.
Thinking about the greatness of following Christ.

I got bangs.

A few days a go I darkened my hair and got bangs. I havent been brave enough to post pictures until now.













Me and my friend Katy at Starbucks. We've been friends since she was 6 and I was 7 years old.













Me, Anna's Grandma and Anna's mom.













Just driving around...