short and sweet

very short update..I have graduated 1st year (yay) now onto the longest hottest summer of my life...Sam left on Wednesday to go back to England for the summer to work and save money, leaving me here in Redding to do the same. It's only been 4 days and Im already miserable...Im praying the next few months speed up! For those that dont know, I'm working at PacSun..i have been promoted to Senior Sales (which is a fancy term for shift manager), but Im also looking for a second job, so please be praying I find one! :) My brother moved here about 1 1/2 weeks ago, so he has been a life saver since my life is feeling a bit empty right now...other than that, there's not much new...so I guess that's the end of my update...

here's a couple pictures of Bill Johnson and Kris Valloton knighting me and Sam :)

fun

1. Find your sixth picture folder and in that folder, the sixth picture.
2. Post it on your blog with some of the background of the picture.
3. Tag four others and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been tagged.

This picture is of the BEST missions team ever! A group of about50 people from BSSM went to Tecate, Mexico in February and this is our team outside this amazing youth center right after we had ministered there. :)

Mexico

Wow..it's been awhile since I last wrote something..it's funny, I think when I get these things that I'll write everyday, but I never end up doing it..haha! Oh well..

So something I've been learning is that God loves surprising you..it's like a favorite past time of His. :) I love it..He loves to take our weaknesses (or rather what we think are our weaknesses) and turn them into strengths...He loves to do things that are totally unexpected, but things that are so amazing and beautiful. I love when He gives you something you weren't looking for. it's the best..He's the best!

Now update time..

I've been really good...I just got back from Mexico (my missions trip for school)..it was so amazing..we got to minister in an orphanage, a Bible school, and various churches throughout Tijuana. I fell in love with some kids (ended up spiritually adopting one..), prophesied over some people, prayed for the sick, empowered their students to do the same, saw people healed, saved, delivered, etc. It was so much fun! :) Im glad to be back in the States though...with indoor plumbing and showers..

While I was in Mexico, I became an Aunt! My nephew, Myles Asher Shreve, was born on February 20 at 4:09am weighing 5lb 1oz..Im pretty excited about it! I think Im going to try to come home for my spring break to see him..

School's been great..we just had a prophetic conference with Larry Randolph and Leif Hetland at the church..which I didnt get to attend, but heard was amazing...and that's about it!

New Year

So it's a new year and you know what that means..stupid resolutions that you make but secretly never intend on keeping..like losing 20 pounds, eating healthier, get more organized, etc. But before I go into all that..let me share with you the revelry of what I did tonight...I went downtown to see my friends, The Gills, play a show at Hopjacks. They were amazing, as usual. They are so entertaining and so talented (such a great mix! haha) I absolutely love seeing them! Then, to escape from the cold, we went to Subway, but had to buy something in order to stay in there, so we all get small cups of coffee, then leave (go figure) and go to a coffee shop (once again, go figure) where we sit for an hour and a half just hanging out. Then, Amber decides that we need to go out into the freezing cold to watch the oh-so-lame pelican drop from a crane. So, we venture out into the cold and crowds, pushing through the thousands of drunks to get close to the stage which had a wannabe Kiss band playing on it. So, not only are we freezing our butts off, but we're also being put through the torture of these guys dressed up like Kiss trying to make it big..So, it's down to 11:59, we all begin the countdown in anticpation of this wondrous pelican dropping...5..4...3..2..1!! The Pelican drops all of 20 ft. and confetti starts flying everywhere..drunk people are making out all around..fireworks going off in the background..people screaming..it was seriously so much fun. I mean..it was lame..but I guess that's sorta what made it fun..I was with some of my closest friends, laughing at the idiocracy of it all and it ended up being one of the best New Year's Eves I've had. Go figure...haha.

So back to resolutions and how it's stupid to make them cuz you're more likely to break them and make yourself feel guilty about it, then to actually succeed in going through with it. I have made so many resolutions and to be honest, I don't know if I've kept even one..It's sad but true. So my "New Year's resolution" this year is to not have any. Haha..I have my goals (cuz what's life if you have nothing to look forward to), but I refuse to be upset if I dont reach all of them. I am going to do my best to further my relationship with God and be led by the Holy Spirit in all I do, but I refuse to condemn myself if I mess up. I'll repent and move on..nothing else to it. Make sense? So..there you go..that's all I have to say..so Happy New Year to everyone..I pray that this year, you encounter God in deeper ways..and that through your relationship with Him, you are blessed so abundantly, you dont have adequate room to contain them all!

Christmas Break

So I've been in Pensacola for Christmas break..been fun..been interesting..I had never understood why it seemed awkward when people would come to visit..but now I understand..it just feels weird coming back. You've been disconnected from people for so long, that you almost dont know what to talk about when you see them..the only people it's not like that with are those you are/were really close to and/or the people you've kept in touch with. And then there's the whole fact that Im not the same person anymore...I dont think the same things are funny and I just dont have the same things driving me anymore..Im not into the gossipping, complaining, and overall trying to pull me into a depression that so many people seem to engage in over here. But everytime I try to give them any advice, they just get upset and start making more excuses for themselves..VERY frustrating..I wish people would just realize how easy it is to step up and take action in their situations..whether they're sick of being in Pensacola, or sick of their job..it's not hard to find another job or MOVE..so many people are so scared of messing up the will of God in their lives...but if you're seeking God and wanting His will, it's gonna be REALLY hard for you to mess your life up. Even if you do stray off track a little, it's not hard to get back to where you need to be! Im not sure where this whole idea that following God's will is hard or complicated..cuz it's really so very simple. just take a risk..step out and try something...God's not gonna disappoint!

anyway..now that I got that lil burden off my chest, Christmas has been so good..I've had alot of fun with the fam and those few friends that I've kept in contact with. Today I went to my brother's church in Fairhope. His father-in-law, Kenny, is the pastor and he always asks me to play piano and sing back-up, so I was expecting that, but what I wasn't expecting was for him to ask me to come up and talk in the middle of his sermon! It was kinda crazy..I actually got up and preached a little..he wanted me to talk about what we are doing at school and how Im in the prophetic art track..and then I got to tell this really awesome testimony about financial breakthrough..and in the end, it ended up being really fun and really amazing. Just goes to show you that God will use just about anyone to minister..and He doesn't expect us to know everything..but to just give away what we do have, and He'll provide the rest! It's so awesome living like this!! I love it..I love Him!

Stole this from Amber's blog..:)

The Bucket ListHit forward and place an (x) by all the things you've done and remove the (x) from the ones you have not. Then send it to your friends (including me). This is for your entire life!

(x) Been to Europe
(x) Been on a cruise
( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington , DC
(x) Been to Vegas
(x) Climbed a lighthouse
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Rolled in the snow
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Seen the Cherry Blossoms in Washington , D.C.
(x) Played cops and robbers
( ) Been present in a confrontation where guns were pulled
() Been in a knock down drag out fight
() Flown a plane
( ) Owned a boat
( ) Watched grandchildren grow
(x) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Been to the Kentucky Derby
( ) Been to Key West
(x) Been to a rodeo
(x) Sang Karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Had a near death experience
( ) Watched the sunrise with someone
( ) Seen the green flash at sunset
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
( ) Owned a convertible
( ) Been in an outside hot tub when it was snowing
1. Any nickname? Alli, Big Al, Al, Bright Eyes, Galactica, Shananana
2. Mother's name ? Patsy
3. Body Piercing ? Jut the ears.
4. How much do you love your job? it's aight..
5. Birthplace? Albany, OR
6. Been to Hawaii ? not yet..
7. Ever been to Africa ? No..but I wanna go sometime soon!
8. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? yeah..
9. Ever been on TV? Yes
10. Ever steal any traffic sign? yeah..after Ivan, a bunch of them were down, so me and my friends stole a stop sign..haha
11. Ever been in a car accident? yeah,,but it wasn't my fault...
12 Drive a 2 door or a 4 door? 4 door
13. Favorite number? eleven
14. Favorite movie ? there are too many to count..
15. Favorite holiday ? Christmas
16. Favorite dessert? Cheesecake
18. Favorite food? Sushi, Italian, and Greek!
19. Favorite day of the week ? Saturday
20. Favorite brand of body wash ? Bath and body works Coconut lime Verbena
21. Favorite smell? not sure..I like Lucky You, Boss, Ralph Lauren
22. How do you relax? Read, watch a movie
23. How do you see yourself in 10 years? hopefully married..a couple kids..in ministry somewhere..
TAG! You're IT!

Christmas Christmas Christmas!!

Im in Pensacola!! It was quite the ordeal to get here (cancelled flights..lost luggage..fun adventures..haha) but Im so excited to see everyone, so it's worth it! I still haven't got my luggage, so hopefully that comes by tomorrow!!!
Im watching Elf (GREAT Christmas movie..) and making some Christmas treats with my mom..I've been wanting to watch it ALL month, but Sam and Eleanor never wanted to watch it with me :(..so now Im watching it all by myself! Totally random, but in one of the scenes Jovie is eating noodles and it made me want ramen noodles really badly..so I just made some and am taking a break from baking to eat them! lol
It's so good to be back..though I dont really consider this home anymore..Redding has become home and I've only been gone 2 days, but I miss everyone there already..they've kinda become family, you know? Anyways..I've got lots to do tomorrow..Christmas shopping, hanging with Hannah..I need to call Ber and Megs to hang out..and finish up baking..and hang out with Michael..should be a fun day! So, Im gonna go finish baking so I can get to bed somewhat early! :)