2011

11 things:

1. Had a "family" reunion in Arizona w/Kebbie and team princess! :)

2. Went mountain biking for the first time with wild horses, watch out!

3. Went on a spur of the moment Memorial Day Trip to St. Louis w/friends!

4. Lost 2 very special Grandma's from battling diseases (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) for many years.

Grandma Rhoads (July)

Grandma Huhn (October)

5. Met some "famous" people.

COACH GINO!!!! If you don't know who this man is, you should start reading ESPN now.

The NEW butter cow lady for the Iowa State Fair, COOL!

6. Went on vacation for a week of complete lounging, including boating, skiing, boarding, and swimming.

7. Ran my first ever 1/2 marathon!

8. Became 100% debt-free!

9. Went out East for the ISU-UCONN game, while stopping in NYC going to Broadway!

10. Tried to become domesticated by making my sister a ruffled shower curtain for Christmas.  Thank you to Gusta for her helping out big time! ;)

11. Completed one official year in the "real world!"  BOOYAH!

give me faith

"Give Me Faith"

by Hillsong United

I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
To see that You’re shaping my life

All I am, I surrender

Give me faith to trust what you say
That you’re good and your love is great
I’m broken inside, I give you my life

I need you to soften my heart
To break me apart
I need you pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me

I may be weak
But your Spirit’s strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will

Oh how ever true is this of my life right now.  I first heard this song on vacation in late July and listened to it non-stop after I got back.  One night we went out on the lake around midnight, anchored in, and just sang this while the boys played, purity!

soon and very soon

"Soon"

by Brooke Fraser

Soon and very soon

My King is coming

Robed in righteousness

And crowned with love

When I see Him, I shall be made like Him

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

I'll be going to the place He has prepared for me

There my sin erased, my shame forgotten

Soon and very soon

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I'll see Him

There my soul with be satisfied

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

See the procession

The angels and the elders round the throne

At His feet I'll lay

My crowns, my worship

Soon and very soon

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I'll see Him

There my soul with be satisfied

Soon and very soon

Though I have not seen Him

My heart knows Him well

Jesus Christ the Lamb, the Lord of heaven

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I'll see Him

There my soul with be satisfied

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

i surrender to you

"I surrender to you"

by Jeremy Camp

Lord, you live in me

You're my best friend

You're the King of kings

The beginning and end

Now that you have my eyes

I see your spirit inside of me

All that I am is for you

My Savior

I live by your word

And surrender to you

Here where I stand in this moment father

My spirit has been renewed

I surrender to you

You hold the key to my life

In your loving hand

Always by my side

I offer all that I am

So glad I realize

You are the truth and the light

In my life

Everything I need I find in you

I believe your promises are true

I will lift my burdens up to you

Your loving grace will see me through

I listened to this song countless times while transitioning from college to the "real-world", life as I know it!

tis the season!

let your light shine

"Let Your Light Shine"

by Bethany Dillon

The Calmer of the sea
Here in this room with me
So gently welcoming
The weakest things in me
You are the blood over
The door of my heart
What pain You spared me from
How could I know it all?

Oh wonderful love, You died for me
The power of Your life is in me

Father, let Your light shine down on me
Father, let Your light shine down on me
No matter what the day or night may bring
Father, let Your light shine down on me

Oh Jesus, You became what was my deepest shame
That at Your very name
My calloused heart would change
How could You, oh perfect One
Love me, when I have done nothing that's worthy of
My freedom You have won

Oh wonderful love, You died for me
The power of Your life is in me

Father, let Your light shine down on me
Father, let Your light shine down on me
No matter what the day or night may bring
Father, let Your light shine down on me

Open up the heavens
Poor down Your Spirit
Home me God
Jesus, wherever You lead
I'll sing harmony
Hold me God

Father, let Your light shine down on me
Father, let Your light shine down on me
No matter what the day or night may bring
Father, let Your light shine down on me

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

i celebrate the day

"I Celebrate the Day"

(Okay, so we may have been a little pitchy at times, and off on some words, but still kind of funnny!  I would describe this as pretty "typical" sister interaction.)

by Relient K

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might [ really ]live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life