A lesson God has been revealing to me over the past weeks is to live in the moment. So many times I have caught myself thinking about what happened yesterday,last week, years ago. The past can not change no matter how hard I think about it. No matter how sorry I am. I can never go back.

This is a thought that saddens me but at the same time is so relieving. I have learned. I have grown up. I have put my trust in a Savior that has wiped away my past.

When I don’t think about the past I can find myself thinking about what is going on tomorrow,the fun that this weekend will bring. Yes, it is good to prepare for the future and to look forward to things! But where am I living if I dwell on the past and look forward to the future?

What if this moment right now is my last? Did I live this moment out? Did I glorify God in the way I spend my time? I can’t say anything about the past…it is over and gone…but right here right now I can say in my future I will live for every moment. It could be all I have.

So the question is are you living out this moment?

God Bless!

-Celeste

Today I am 15 days away from my 17th birthday. My 17th birthday is something I have been looking forward to all year. Not only am I turning 17 but I am finally a Senior in High school! Today is also the day I got my drivers licence. This is the day I have been looking forward to since I took that permit picture 2 years ago. I am having a great day needless to say…

Something I have learned today is patience. I waited almost 17 years to get to this day. The day were  I am driving and considered a Sr. I have prayed and hoped for this day for what seems like forever.

So today I learned that patience is what I needed these past 16 years. Patience and trust in God that this day would come. This day has been amazing in so many ways and I think it is because I waited for it for so long.

The day I wait for the most is the day I will see my Savior face-to-face.

I know you get it have patience and  that my day was great.

I just wanted to remind you patience is vital. It is not fun. It is actually quite boring. It is wonderful because when the wait is over…you just might be driving home!

Hey everyone!

It has been such a long time since my last post that you probably thought I fell into a dark hole somewhere! Luckily, that is not the case! I have been really busy lately with the time consuming thing called school! I am taking summer classes at my local community college and it is draining my life away…haha not really it just seems that way!

I will also be leaving my beautiful sunny FL in just 4 weeks for a 6 week trip to see my dad. This leaves me with the mixed feeling summer always brings, but I know God is with me even when I am thousands of miles from home!

 Well I am actually suppose to be studying for a test so I promise to post soon!

-Celeste

There are moments in time that seem to go on and on, moments that fly by, moments that impact our lives, and moments that are a faint memory. Then there is the moment that we pass on from this world. The moment when we have to live with our FOREVER.

Forever is well…. forever! It never ends and won’t go away. It can haunt us or bring us joy. What is your forever going to look like? Will it be streets of gold or fiery heat?  Will it bring you pain or take every pain away? Can you say if you had to leave right now, right here ,you would be seeing the hevenly streets?

 Living in the now and for the now is the popular thing. It can be fun to sin, be selfish and uncaring. This fun just like this world will pass away. Only God knows the day and the hour. It is our forever that we have to live with not his or hers..YOURS…MINE.

 FOREVER.

Today is the beginning of my favorite month of the year!

Why is it my favorite? 

 1) This month is a reminder to me of the amazing way Jesus humbled himself and came into this world as a baby. He could have come as a king but  instead came as a baby born in a stable.

2) The smell of pine trees, cookies, candy canes, hot cocoa and winter air reminds me that God cares so much He made these things for us to enjoy!

3) The family time that is spent in December fills my heart with joy! We don’t have a cold winter, but the putting up of the tree, the lights, and baking of thousands of cookies and breads brings us together in a way that no other month does.

4) The music that fills the air is what I hope heaven will sound like! We have a musical family and so from the piano, guitar and 8 voices comes the sound of Christmas everyday, all day long!

5)The chance to give gifts to the people I love. There is nothing like giving a gift and seeing the joyful expression on the face of the one who opens it!

These are only a few of my favorite things…

So with this post I say bring on December!

Merry Christmas!

-Celeste

“Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
all day long an attacker oppresses me;
 my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many attack me proudly.
 When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?

 All day long they injure my cause; 
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
 They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.
 For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

 You have kept count of my tossings; 
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
 Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”

 I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
 For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.”

Psalm 56 (ESV)

As I embark on another page of my life being turned I want to thank a friend of mine for reminding me to trust God. I am extremely nervous, scared, and excited about my first day of community college tomorrow. I am going to be on campus with out my mom and family going to 2 classes.( I know I sound like a baby but this is big for me!) It is a big change for me as I have been totally home schooled for the past 4 years.  Earlier I found myself calling my friend Alli after her first day of cc and she reminded me to”trust in God even with this small thing.”  I realized that in the mist of the anticipation and nervousness I had forgot to trust God.  

  If David in Ps.56 can trust God in the mist of trials so much greater than my going to school then why can’t I lay the fist day of cc down at God’s feet and trust Him to take care of me? I need to trust that He will be with me even when my family’s not, He will be there in the mist of whatever trails going to a public college will bring my way. I need to trust Him with it all.

  So today I pass on the reminder to you my friend, no matter how life-changing or how small the page you are turning is trust God!God Bless!

-Celeste

Well I have a praise report! My Grandma is recovering and is going to be fine for now! She will have to by on oxygen but will get to be out of he hospital! Thank you all so much for your prayers!

God Bless!

                                                 The Race  

I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Will my treasure stand or will it crumble?

 

I hear the sound of people crying.

Don’t they know I am not really dying?

                                 

                                   I feel the air take my breath away.

I know I was not meant to stay.

 

I hear a voice calling out to me.

I can see that Judgment Tree.

 

I feel someone take my hand.

He is leading me to the Promised Land.

 

I can hear the sound of the angels rejoice.

I now join them with my voice.

 

Now all I see is my Saviors face.

I know I have finally completed the race.

 

I wrote this poem a while ago. I know this is not the best poem but this is from my heart. My life is to be a pleasing in God’s sight so that one day I can finish this race and stand face to face with my Savior. What a glorious day that will be. 

 My grandma is currently in the hospital and not doing well. She will get to see God before I do. I pray that she is not suffering right now and that she knows God is with her. I might not have known her as well as my other grandparents but without her I would not  be here right now typing this. God has known that this day would come since the moment the earth was created. My grandma is going to a place with out pain, suffering or hardship. A place where you are not loved conditionally but unconditionally. I thank God for her life and pray she can finally be at peace. She will soon complete her race and see God face to face.  I love you Grandma D.

1. How many candles on your last birthday cake?
  There were 15 but coming up soon I am going to have 16 candles!

2. How many siblings do you have?
  Well I have 8 but don’t live with them all at the same time.

3. How many first cousins do you have?
  I have 8  first cousins and only 2 are blood related!

4. Name five smells you like.
   Orange blossoms(I know it is spring when I can smell them!),Febreze, muffins baking, Christmas trees, winter air.

5. Name the four funniest people you know.
    Brandon, Jamie, Tommy(little kids are so funny!), Angela and Lauren.

6. How many different countries have you lived in?
   One!

7. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
   I would be more patient.

8. Name the friend who has touched you more than any other.

Ohh that is so hard as all my friends are amazing and have challenged me to seek God … the one I have know the longest would be Karyn, so I will say Karyn.

9. Have you ever volunteered your time anywhere?

I have worked VBS for 4 years now and I work in our toddlers Sunday school class. I also have helped with stocking the local food pantry.

10. Do you cry often?

Anyone who knows me would know that yes I do. Not always because I am sad but because I am happy too!

11. Something you are looking forward to?
   I am looking forward school being done and tests being over.

12. A friend you wish you could see again?

Oh any friend I have not seen anyone in like 2 1/2 weeks! I miss you all! There is also a friend that I haven’t seen in 4 years. It would be nice to see Shannon again.

13. How many people have you cooked a home-made meal for?
  I usually do some of the cooking so I would say like 7 meals over the years.

 14. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I hope too be married and have a few kids. I will maybe have gone through college and  become a Dental Hygienist. Then gotten married, had kids, and then stopped working to be home with them. I really don’t know!

 I see myself being where God wants me to be!!

15. Tag five people:
    I tag Angela, Caleb, James, Katrina and Mom!

I am sorry for the 2 weeks without a post or a picture of the week. Last week I was on Spring Break and went up North to see my Dad and his family. This week was IOWA testing andwe are now in Sarasota!(beaches yes!!) We are having fun taking pictures, seeing family and laughing our heads off! I am really sorry I haven’t posted but I will be back to posting again this week!  I hope that you all have a great Spring Break!

God Bless!

-Celeste 

(Oh and if you guys want I can post some pics of this past 2 weeks!)