catching up

here are some pics from cece and lee's wedding...

today is my catch up day on reading and journaling, blogging and cleaning my apt, and getting my long run in. i have the day off due to our slacky schedule. kids just aren't interested in getting their teeth cleaned...or parents don't want to drag them out of school b/c of T-CAP practice. probably the latter.
i'm excited about catching up with journaling and reading my Bible. i am only really able to skim through my Bible in the mornings and not really study. and at night i either have something going on or i am exhausted from the day and just want to sleep.
so today will hopefully be productive, we'll see.
i wanted to share with you some quotes i have marked in the book "so long, insecurity" by beth moore. i know i talk about this book so much, but it is a book that perfectly applies to my life right now.
- "The truth is, God uses change to change US. He doesn't use it to destroy us or to distract us but to coax us to the next level of character, experience, compassion, and destiny. i hate to display such a firm grasp of the obvious, but how will we ever change if everything around us stays the same? or what will ever cause us to move on to the next place He has for us if something ddoesn't happen to change the way we feel about wehre we are? God is thoroughly committed to finishing the masterpiece He started in us..."

- “Humility is a crucial component in true security. it’s the very thing that calms the savage beast of pride. more important, humility is the heart of the great paradox: we find our lives when we lose them to something much larger. perhaps the write of ecclesiastes had a hint of this in mind when he wrote that God ‘has also set eternity in the hearts of men’ (Ecc 3:11).”

- “I have come to a place where I’m willing to be transparent with my insecurity, but I find great relief that human eyes have to see it through the filter- the clothing- of my God-given strength and dignity. I don’t have to stand before you or anybody else in total emotional nakedness. I have a scriptural covering that gives me the courage to expose my most personal self.”

- “what God initiates, He equips us to handle. this is true even when emotional assimilation requires a process.”

psalm 8

"o Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! you have set your glory above the heavens. from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. when i consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place. what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. you made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet; all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. o Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

the Shepherd

the above pic is what came up when I googled images for “shepherd”. haha. SO CUTE. from www.bestgermanshepherd-puppies.com

SO, THIS WEEKEND, MY FRIEND CECE GOT HITCHED!

IT WAS SUCH A FUN WEEKEND, SPENDING TIME WITH OLD FRIENDS AND MAKING NEW MEMORIES. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE.

WELL, TODAY WAS A TAD STRESSFUL. MY FAMILY AND I FLEW TO AND FROM NC. JUST A BACKGROUND NOTE, I ABSOLUTELY HATE FLYING AND AIRPORTS. IRONICALLY, MY DAD IS A RETIRED PILOT. WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I THREW FITS AND GOT SO DEPRESSED ABOUT RIDING IN AN AIRPLANE. I HATED EVERY PART OF THE TRAVELING BY AIR EXPERIENCE.

WE GOT TO THE NC AIRPORT THIS MORNING (3 HOURS EARLY) AND CAME TO FIND OUT DURING THE CHECK-IN PROCESS, THAT MY FLIGHT HAD BEEN CANCELLED. MY MOM HAD A SEAT ON THE NEXT FLIGHT AND MY DAD WAS ON STAND-BY THE WHOLE DAY. WELL AFTER LONG “CONVINCING” MY DAD GOT ME A SEAT ON A FLIGHT LATER TODAY FROM NC TO ATL. AND ATL TO NASH. HOW THAT HAPPENED WAS ALL IN THE LORD’S HANDS. AND DURING THE PROCESS, OF COURSE, I WAS SO DOUBTFUL AND SKEPTICAL. AND THE LORD PROVIDED AND WAS SO FAITHFUL. IT WAS HIS WAY OF SAYING- “DANIELLE, I’VE GOT THIS, NO WORRIES”. WELL I GET TO ATL, AND THE FLIGHT TO NASH FROM ATL WAS TO LEAVE AT 440. I ARRIVED IN ATL AROUND 300ISH. WELL GET TO THE GATE, AND FIND OUT THAT THE FLIGHT WAS DELAYED UNTIL 500…AND THEN 525 AND THEN 555 AND THEN 609. SO I WAITED, AND WAITED, AND ATE. HAHA. AND COMPLAINED IN MY HEAD, WHILE HEARING PEOPLE COMPLAIN OUT LOUD. BUT CONTINUED TO REPEAT- “LORD, YOU’RE IN CONTROL. I KNOW IT”. AND THEN….A VERSE/GROUP OF VERSES POPPED IN MY HEAD FROM PSALM 23: (I LOVE THESE)

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT BE IN WANT. HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS, HE RESTORES MY SOUL. HE GUIDES ME IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME. YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF THEY COMFORT ME…SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.”

I just absolutely love those verses. I love that they are consistent in revealing God’s faithfulness and presence in our lives. and to use flying as a silly example, I have serious anxiety/worrying issues about it, and I think it is because I am not in control of the plane. and during the entire plane rides, I read beth moore’s “so long insecurity” (again, ironic), and prayed over and over in my head to remind myself that the Lord had everything in His hand. every single detail of that trip He had already orchestrated. and those cancellations/delays were SO perfect in showing me His goodness and love.

so tonight, I am thankful for my Shepherd, for my bed, and for the Word of God.

grief

now that my homepage is msn.com, every morning i see different stories about japan and the destruction there. i so want to go there later & help clean up. i know that different organizations are accepting donations.
this picture caught my eye this morning. it speaks for itself, and doesn't it make you want to share the hope that we have in Christ?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42034875/ns/news-picture_stories/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1>1=43001

AMAZING LYRICS

So this song has been resonating OVER and OVER in my head…especially yesterday and today. I’m pretty sure I posted the lyrics before, but I want to post them again. they are so amazing.

Verse 1
I have decided I have resolved
To wait upon you Lord
My rock and redeemer shall not be moved
I’ll wait upon you Lord
Pre Chorus
As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
As certain as the dawn appears
Chorus
You'll come let your glory fall
As you respond to us
Spirit reign flood our hearts
With holy fire again
Verse 2
We are not shaken we are not moved
We wait upon you Lord
Our Mighty deliverer my triumph and truth
I'll wait upon you Lord
Bridge
Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

if you don’t already have this song, you MUST download it NOW. I also wanted to point out that the guy who writes this blog is speaking at kairos tomorrow. I hope I get to hear him, his stuff is hysterical.

I’m also thinking about being here…

I so wish I could be there & DO something. can’t you just hear the above song and thinking about this place?

the most powerful part of that song is the part that says, “Chains be BROKEN, lives be HEALED.” God is so faithful & loving.

a little over-excited

so I just realized that I have windows live writer now…. I can totally have cool blog posts now that look awesome. now I won’t feel silly for my ugly, boring posts I am SOOO looking forward to this the most about my computer…I’m not sure if that’s sad or not, but I LOVE IT!!!! look out, blogging world!

a milestone

i would like to document a milestone in my life...which actually happened yesterday, but it can technically be counted as today. yesterday, with my OWN $$$, i bought a laptop, printer, and printer paper. crazy, yes. worth it, yes. and much needed, yes. my computer has been giving me issues for some while now, and i finally decided it was time. so sort of on a whim, but after careful consideration, i went to best buy and made one of the biggest purchases i have made in my life so far. it felt totally bizarre, and i even made a big deal about it at the register, and my mouth was running 1000 words a minute to the poor cashier. he looked kindof scared and intimidated that i was talking so much, and he would just quietly say, "yea,that's awesome...." haha.
anyway, i am a proud owner of a new piece of equipment and am very happy with my large purchase...

mobile dental unit

i am currently in my application processes for grad schools....it is SUCH a longggg drawn out process. but in the midst of writing an essay, i decided to google what the bellevue mobile dental clinic actually does. during school, we had the privilege of working alongside with this unit and were able to clean so many different peoples' teeth. this video will hopefully catch your attention. what a calling we have as believers to share the light and Gospel of Jesus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wL8duc5aKc

birthday & engagement!

it was this girl's bday this past weekend...my bff:

and THIS girl's ENGAGEMENT & PARTAY!

amanda was totally clueless she would be getting engaged this past weekend. alot of our friends reunited in chatt town for "laura's bday bash"....little did amanda know that she would be getting engaged on saturday...

i have to say that i'm impressed with myself for not giving away the secret. i have known for a little over a week that this was all happening, and of course i was about to burst trying to keep the secret in. and i did it!

it was such a fun time, and loved being reunited with everyone. here are a few pics from karaoke....oh goodness.


happy 1st week of march! soon to be spring :)

Day 2

Same ol' same ol for the healthier eating. Meal 1, 2 were the same! Dinner was a famous meal from whole foods...they have a hot and cold bar. i mixed it up and got a variety of food. it was yummy! for dessert? not sure yet. the word dessert maybe should not be included in this post, haha.
this weekend=CHATT TOWN! excited to hang with the girls for my bff's birthday extravaganza.
and now, working on graduate school stuff, BLAH and getting motivated by watching american idol and mod family!
i am jealous of all my friends still in school who have SPRING BREAK coming up! i soooo miss that about college life :(. i wish i could head to the beach in the next week or 2 and savor the sun.
today at work was a LONG afternoon. it seemed like we were there for years. i am loving work so much more and i'm starting to adjust to the environment better. the kids are what keep me going, you never know what you will hear from their mouths. like today, i was cleaning a little kid...he was maybe 7...his name we'll say was bob. he looked at me while i was finishing scaling and asked, "i'm hungry, do you have any food?!" haha i just started laughing and said..."ummmm no bob we are in a dental office and we don't have food here silly!! i'm cleaning your teeth!!!"
i had another kid today named we'll call him sammy. he was SO cute...he was 4 and came back with his older brother. last time he was in our office he was "uncooperative" which meant he cried and screamed during a toothbrush prophy. well today he came back crying, he had on baggy umbro shorts and a tshirt that said "wheaties". he stood on the stool by my chair and started crying saying he wanted mommy. i said, "sammy, we have to brush your teeth first buddy! then you can get a sword balloon and go see mom". that didn't help, it made it worse. so anyway he continued to cry...but he was so calm about crying. he stood on my stool and slowly started to lean down and put his face on the blue bench/chair and TEARS flooded down his face onto my bench. AHHHH it was the cutest thing, but it broke my heart! i finally got him to lay back and i brushed his teeth and used everything. he was just the cutest. and he got up and went to get a sword balloon...and then i was cleaning up my area and he came over with his balloon and looked up at me and said in the cutest voice, "excuse me---can my cousin have a balloon?" i just looked at him and smiled and said YES SAMMY!!!! YOU ARE SO STINKIN CUTE!!! the thing i love about kids is they really do say the cutest things....and i tend to just say whatever comes to mind, it's kindof funny because the reaction of my co-workers is like---"um, danielle, did you just say that?" haha.
i just love kids, they are so cute. i absolutely love hispanic little ones!! they are the cutest.
well i'm sure i'll have more stories to come. those are just ones that stood out today. on to grad school essays!!

Day 1: Healthier eating (I'm not going to refer to it as a DIET)

today is day 1 of for-real training eating. my eating is most of the time pretty healthy, but i tend to eat more than i should...and then regret it later on. i also tend to get hooked on one food and eat it so much that i get so burned out on it! there is one thing, however, i can never get tired of: cereal. i could eat that for EVERY meal.
well today was day 1. i realize these are not going to be exciting posts, but bear with me, bc it is an accountability thing for me to blog about it.
meal 1: cereal! coffee, original blah non-fat creamer, and of course my staple SPLENDA
snack: banana at work!
meal 2: grilled chicken, low fat cheese, apple, peanut butter
snack 2: banana, peanut butter
meal 3: RANDOM---pork chop, eggs, and i made NUTELLA COOKIES!! they of course included splenda, however, i tried them, and they were disgusting. so i threw them out...i was going to give them to a special friend who is studying at this moment! but i will have to take her a different sweet treat tomorrow (sorry, lace!) AND i had a glass of milk. well, 2 glasses. small glasses. i love milk, thanks to kwaitt. i loved it before i knew kwaitt...but she and her cows increased my love for it.
and NOW, on to more interesting things, i'm loving the BACHELOR. i can't believe it is getting so close to the end and him choosing EMILY. :) she's my favorite.
i'm in the midst of planning for grad schools, and it is overwhelming.
michael is in the midst of senior project stuff, studying, etc. we are so busy, we barely chat during the day and at night i am so completely exhausted that are conversations are bare minimum. this makes me sad, but it is just how our timing is working out these days. timing is everything, right?
and lastly...i need some encouragement/motivation for my running...and healthier eating.
i'm loving march already- HAPPY SPRING IS NEARING and alot of great birthdays and a fabulous wedding of a bestie. loveeeeee march.