Lovin Life

I absolutely LOVE that!!!! Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full". Are you full of joy today? God is on His throne & He is at work.... & I love that He is showing me bits & pieces of what He is doing in my life! I know He is working on me every hour & every minute of everyday. I have said it many times in the past few days & I will probably say it many many times in the future, but..... He's Still Working On Me! I feel it.... I see it.... I hear it..... I feel Him.... I see Him..... I hear Him.... How awesome, that Jesus has time for little ole me. To speak to me, to listen to me, to watch over me, to lead me! WOW!!! Do I let Him lead me? I pray, with every being that I have inside of me, that I do. I am really in love with life!!!!

I have a wonderful husband, that adores me; a child that I love unconditionally & I know he loves me too; a Mother that blesses me everytime I am with her; a Father that will ALWAYS take care of me; a Sister that I love beyond measure, Nephews & Nieces that I can not ever see myself living without..... a class full of Junior High kiddos that look up to me in every aspect of life..... TRUE FRIENDS, that I know will always be there for me & A SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.... that died on the Cross for me!

You know, its very humbling to think that even if I was the ONLY person in this world, Jesus STILL would have gone to the cross! I am so touched that He cares for ME that much! I DO NOT DESERVE IT.... but yet, He still blesses me each day..... cause He LOVES me. How AWESOME is that?

John 10:10, again Jesus is speaking: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." I know I have that abundant life! I feel it everyday! There are those out there that do try to steal it from me... but I will not allow satan the privileged to take my Joy away from me!

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me & for giving me that abundant life! I am lovin' every minute of it!!!!

Transformers

I don't really know where this blog is gonna lead tonight, but I promised a special kiddo in my life that I would post this pic just for him!

Transformers are awesome! Now, I am not talking about the transformer toys.... I am talking about the True Christians.... the ones that are SOLD out to living for Christ. You see, there is a difference in being a Christian, and being TOTALLY SOLD OUT!

We are not to conform to this world.... we are to stand out, be a Peculiar People. 1 Peter 5:2 says WE are a CHOSEN GENERATION, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an HOLY NATION, a PECULIAR PEOPLE, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. The world should be able to look at us and KNOW that we are God's Children.

There are so many Christians in this world that have just decided being saved is enough. Yes, having Jesus live inside of us, gives us our ticket to Heaven. But is that all we want? Or, do we want to please the Lord & gain those Heavenly Crowns, to lay at Jesus' feet? I don't wanna be a PEOPLE PLEASER.... I wanna be a JESUS PLEASER. So, Jesus, make me, shape me, & mold me into what YOU want me to be!

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We had the privilege to have The Latimer's sing at Liberty today. What an awesome couple! They blessed my heart beyond belief!

Danny & I were able to sit with them during lunch & what a hoot they are! They kept us laughing the whole time.... After lunch they sang for about 30 mins or so. One song, specifically touched me! I Bowed On My Knees ~ by Michael English. Awesome song!!! You can watch Michael sing it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geQz0BI0y0w Please check it out... you will be blessed!

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We did not have evening services tonight, so I was able to go help out on a photo shoot. It was so fun!!! And, of course, I am giving some of them finishing touches with picnik.com. I am really excited to get to know my new friends! Thank you to the Moore's for allowing me to help out and spiff up your pics. Ya'll have already settled on that special place in my heart!

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Prayer Request:

Henery Lewis, of Lewis Cheverolet in Canton, TX, lost his son last night, due to a car wreck. Please keep the Lewis Family & Friend's in your prayers as they morn the loss of a son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend. I know the road ahead is a rough one.... May they feel the love of Jesus all around!

I'm Out!

Motivation

Today was the walk-a-thon with the Teens. All the kids got sponsors and committed to walking to 10 miles. There were a total of 21 of us. 16 Teens & 5 Adults. We loaded up in the church van and took off to Purtis Creek. 5 miles, then lunch, & 5 more miles. It was a CHALLENGE!!!!! I can not tell you the last time that I set out to walk several miles & did it. I kept telling Danny.... "I will walk 10 miles today" & you know what.... I DID!!!!!!! I am so proud of all the kids for hanging in there, but I am also so proud of myself. I really didn't know if I had it in me. I was bound & determined tho that I would do it. At one point Danny tried to get me to ride in the van for a couple of mins, but I didn't want to. I wanted to push myself & see how far I could go..... I really still can not believe that I did it.... 10 MILES...... that really blows my mind! My feet ache.... I'm sure they will have blisters on them in the morning. My body aches, my head hurts, I am sun burnt. But you know what.... I did it & I could do it again tomorrow. Your body does what you tell it to do.... I did push myself, but it was all worth it!!!!!

I am really excited about this adventure that I am on. Never, in a million years, did I think that I would be getting myself into shape. I have always said I would go to the gym, but never have. I would eat healthy & lose weight.... but now I am working out & eating right.... I can not wait to see myself in 3 months, 6 months or even a year from now. He really is still working on me..... & I am so anxious to see the results!!!!! (btw, I will post pics on here so you can track the results also.)

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Before I sign off, I am asking for prayer for a very special family. Kyle & Keesa Pederson. Their daughter, Samantha, who is 5, was stepping off of the trampoline this afternoon & slipped. When she did, she fell on her arm & her face. They rushed her to the ER in GBC & then ended up transporting her to Athens for emergency surgery. It is just a broken arm & they did not have to put any pins it, however, she does have to stay the night in the hospital. Just lift them up to the Lord this evening & may they feel the POWER of JESUS working in their lives. Thank you!

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Tomorrow is Friends & Family day @ Church. I invite each & everyone of you, who would like to come. Liberty Baptist in Gun Barrel City, across from Vetoni's restaurant. Sunday School starts at 10:00 & service at 10:55. Lunch will be served directly after morning service & then there will be special singing to follow. We would love for you to join us. Good night & I'm out!

What Is Nap Time?

Do you know how long it has been since I have had a nap? Well, me neither! I was so looking forward to one today, when.......

Now, I really did think that I was gonna get to take a nap. It was 3:00 & everything that I needed to do for the day had already been done. Danny was home, playing on the computer. Hunter was done with all of his schoolwork & was playing the Wii. So I headed off to the bed. **Now, back to the phone ringing.**

Stacie: Hey, Tonya, do you think Danny will wanna bowl for Todd tonight? (Yes, this really was the 1st words she said to me.)

Tonya: Why, what's wrong?

Stacie: Well, Todd just had a seizure. Don't know how bad it is or if there is any injuries or not. I am on my way home now.

Tonya: Uuummmm..... well, I think we would rather be with ya'll, than bowl.

Stacie: Dad is calling I will call you right back.

A 15 second phone call.... just changed MY plans for the afternoon. You see, we didn't have ANY plans! For once, we were gonna do NOTHING! Now, today, I thought, I don't wanna sit at home & do nothing! I have been doing nothing all week. It's Friday & I wanna do something! But by 3:00p I had came to terms with the fact that we were not gonna do anything... & I was OK with that.

God had other plans!

I will tell you, this is NOT the 1st thing that went through my mind. All I could think about was.... what now?

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**Let's rewind a few years.... Todd has battled with seizures since he was a child. About 4 or 5 years ago, he had brain surgery to "fix" the problem. It helped somewhat. He was dealing with seizures on a daily basis... many, everyday! Today was the first one he has had in over 4 months! Praise the Lord!!!!!**

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It really can be such a "scary" place to be. I have never had anyone in my life go through this, so I had no idea what to expect. Now, I know he has had them in the past & everything would be OK... but what is the damage? Does this "rewind" time? Does he have to go to the Dr? I was so worried & to think of what was going through Stacie's mind.... I can not imagine!

She calls back.....

Stacie: They are transporting him to the ER.

Tonya: In Gun Barrel?

Stacie: Yeah, I don't know what's going on. That's all I know.

Tonya: Ok, we are headed your way.

The rest of the evening was spent with them in the ER & then back at their house for dinner. Todd is OK. He looks as if he got into a fight with a baseball bat & lost, but Praise Jesus, there are not internal injuries! The upped his meds til he can get in with his Dr. & that's it. Please, add them to your prayer list. Todd, Stacie & Logan Bostic. Thank you!

I'll end with this... I love my friends. No matter who you are, where you are, how long it has been since we last seen each other or if we talk everyday.... I love you!

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. ~Proverbs 18:24

I LOVE MY FRIENDS!

I WILL STICK WITH IT

Tonight's workout (day 2 of Boot Camp) really has me worn out! I have LOTS to blog about, however, I do NOT have the strength to do so.

We did sign the papers on the van today. It looks like I might be taking a trip to Ohio sometime next week. We will see.... more on this later.

I weighed in & actually gained 0.4lbs. It's ok tho.... I am not gonna beat myself up over it.

We signed Hunter up for basketball. I do not have details on this, but I do know that he will be doing the Cici's Pizza fundraiser to pay for it, for any of you that are interesed.

This is me tonight... I feel aweful!!!!!!! I WILL STICK WITH IT tho.... Gotta keep tellin myself that.... I WILL STICK WITH IT, I WILL STICK WITH IT, I WILL STICK WITH IT. Ok, I'm O~U~T! Good Night!

Good Times

I was OK this morning... my underarms were still sore & my arms were heavy but this evening, my legs are killing me!!!! At one point tonight, I told someone, I am just one solid pain. I can't tell if there is a beginning & end to where the pain is.... I just hurt ALL OVER! It's all good, tho! I WILL be back in the gym tomorrow evening. I think we may even commit to a 6 month membership. I am super excited! I am gonna get into shape! So much in life is happeneing for the 1st time..... God really is still working on me! :-)

After church this evening, for the first time in MONTHS, the young adults went to eat ice cream together. It was really nice.... I miss the time that we used to spend together. Fellowship is something that I really enjoy & need! & we haven't had much of it lately. Everyone has just been really busy with life, & sometimes, I think that we get so wrapped up in our own little box that we forget what is going on outside of it.

I have also, in the last few days, found a few friends from my childhood. Some I have chatted with, some I haven't even said hello to yet. The memories that go along with those names, tho.... I can not believe there are so many people in my past, that I don't even think about & until this week, I have not thought about in many years! My first kiss, hanging with the girls in Girl Scouts, singing @ a nursing home together, chasing boys on the playground, then fighting over the boys we were chasing.... OMGoodnes.... I sure miss being a kid! No worries, No cares, No PROBLEMS! **A quick shout out to Kristi Tarpley, Westley Bell, Karen McDaniel, Tennile Beard, Danny Walker, Dawn Degman, Annie Degman, Stacy Degman (which btw tomorrow is Annie & Stacy's Birthday), Page Abney, Susan Ottoberry, Krissy Luker, Waylon Wittenberg, Steven Magee, Brandon Canady & Lacee Roberts.** (I know there is more but I am working on these first.) I haven't found/caught up with all of them, but I am searching & hoping that I touch base with each of them personally with in the next few weeks.

Til tomorrow, I'm out!

He's Still Working On Me

Well, my friends, today has been another fun filled, busy day.....

I was supposed to sign papers on the van today, however, it had to be put off until Thursday for various reasons... but by this time next week, our Kia Sedona will be on its way to Texas! :-)

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We had our 2nd lesson in art today. We are learning to paint with acrylic paints. We started on our 1st masterpiece! & it's on a canvas. Me.... I'm painting a real painting???? It blows my mind! Hunter & I both are so much more talented than I could have ever imagined!

(There is gonna be a bird sitting on the branch, that is why there is a hole there & I will be adding more leaves to mine, I just paint a little slower than Hunter does.)

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Tonight, Danny & I started our workout @ Complete Fitness in Kemp. Boot Camp.... That's what it is call & you know what.... rightfully so!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt like I was in boot camp.... It was great tho. I pushed myself & I am so glad. :-) Tomorrow I probably will not be as happy. I am sore.... very sore!!! Even my underarms hurt. Yes, my underarms.... who would have thunk??? Certainly NOT ME! I didn't know that my underarms even had feelings..... much less that they could hurt!

In the end tho, it will ALL be worth it. I am looking forward to what God is doing my life & the life of my family & my friends. I pray that Jesus molds me, shapes me & makes me into what He wants me to be. He IS the potter & I AM the clay.....

He's Still Working On Me

There really outta be a sign upon my heart, don't judge me yet, there's an unfinished part, But I'll be perfect just according to His Plans, fashioned by the Master's Loving Hands! He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the Moon & the Stars, the Sun & the Earth & Jupiter & Mars. How loving & precious I must be.... He's still working on me! In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see make me wonder why He never gave up on me but He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray, remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay. ~Joel Hemphill