Ungrateful

While waking up this morning, I did my usual. Woke up, walked like a zombie to my coffee maker, then decided to wash the few things that were in the sink. I turned the water over to hot and nothing came out...so either I decide not to do the dishes or wash the dishes in cold water. At this point I started ranting in my head about how this is the second time the pipes have frozen and left me without hot water in the past few weeks and I am so over this ridiculously cold weather but then the Lord knocked my off my complaining pedestal real fast....

1 in 6 people do not have access to clean water.
One in six.

I have water, I have tons of water. It is just cold at the moment. By tonight, the pipe will be unfrozen and I can go back to having my nice, clean, endless amount of warm (and cold) water. Man, am I so ungrateful.
In the past four days I have had a pipe bust and spill a few feet of water right under my feet and I've had to wash dishes in cold water but I still have water.
The Lord made it very clear to me this morning that I am so ungrateful. We say that we are blessed but do we really think about how blessed we really are? I don't.
I never thank the Lord for the things I am so used to having that I do not even think twice about. I ask Him why He does things in my life that I question at the moment but I NEVER say thank you for the water, house, bed, and shower that I have daily....
I am so thankful that the He stopped me today and broke my heart for the people who die every day from not having access to clean water.


Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
-Ephesians 5:20

Spring Break 2013, Atlantic City

This past week, 40 students and staff members from The Well packed up and drove to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Before the trip, I was a little nervous, even questioning whether I should go or not. But now, two days after returning home, I am so thankful I had the chance to go and my heart has been forever changed.

When we got to Atlantic City we were split into three teams. My team, team 3 (aka team awesome) went to a home that was damaged in super storm Sandy. This family had to be the sweetest family in New Jersey! Mel, his mom, and his 7 year old son lived in this home and there was mold growing and they needed help, so we got to help them for an entire week! The above picture is what it looked like after the first day. Before the first day, the family had walls/floors and furniture in this space

 

I was taught how to use a staple gun. 

 

I also was taught how to take out tile...

And how to use a drill...

and how to saw!

The boys taking a break, with Mel!

We also had the opportunity to write truth on the base boards of the house before covering them up with instillation and flooring. Now Mel's houses' foundation is built on God's word!

& we got to record our height on the boards of the house also! :)

 

There was also plenty of laughter while working, such as being on an island then giving a gondola tour which was delayed because of an iceberg!

oh & playing a very exciting game of 

pterodactyl! 

On our off day, we went into Atlantic City, went shopping, and went to the beach!! Above is a picture with Aimee Stone, who was my Class '13 leader, now we both lead Class '16 and share a great love for Christ. I love the laughter we always have, the awkward stories, and I just love her!!! 

GROUP PICTURE! 40 crazy people who love Jesus!!!

These are two wonderful ladies in my Class '16 group. Lauren and Rachel have been such a blessing to lead. They want to know the Lord more & more everyday and the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to share His truth with them!!!

Debbie and I. This girl is crazy wonderful and just like me!!! :)

Samantha McNeill started pouring into me three years ago and still does to this day. I admire her for her love for Christ and how He is truly the center of her life. Thankful for such a great role model who never gives up on me. I love this lady so much!

...I am a fatty. Wonderful breakfast!

Love these ladies!!!!!

Mel's mom made us lunch on the last day there. This is a Puerto Rican dish and was delicious. It was extremely sweet of her to go out of her way to feed strangers who took over her house for a week!

Mel and his son are in the center of this picture. Thankful for such a great team and thankful for the chance to share Christ to this family through helping rebuild their house. Praying the Lord continues to finish their home and show His great love to this sweet family who has left a mark on my heart!

Peaks of 2012

Happy 2013! 

This year I am going to try to cook more & blog more, we will see how that goes!

Now that 2012 has come and gone, I want to share with whoever reads this, the peaks I had last year! 

1.1.12 My 21st birthday cruise with my parents.

Riding a horse IN the ocean (one of the top experiences in my life.)

Meeting Paige and Alex. These girls have become like sisters to me! Love them both, so much!

 

Being a bridesmaid in my childhood best friends' wedding. Mariah is very dear to me and I am so glad I got to be a part of her special day!

Beach trip with my sweet niece. I miss this 7 year old SO much!

Ziplining through the Antigua Rainforest!

Parasailing in the Bahama's!

 Skydiving with my brother on his birthday, one of the BEST experience's of my life. 

Golfing for the first time in the Ray Family Reunion. 

Visiting the world's largest Treehouse!

Visitng Nashville for the very first time and with Paige, Alex, and our mom's! 

Being a part of Class '16. So thankful for God giving me the opportunity to reach out to freshman girls who want to know Jesus more! The leaders and staff of The Well are my role models. So thankful for The Well and Class '16!

Camping out at Buffalo Wild Wings with Ethan, Ashley, Heather, and Aimee! So much fun! And free wings for a year! 

 Getting to go to the Country Music Awards (CMA) with my mom! Once in a lifetime experience!

Visitng the beach with my mom and grandmother. We do this every year and this year was just as crazy as every other but it was a peak of my year!

Meeting Allie, a freshman who did not know Jesus before this year. I had the opportunity to lead her to Jesus and help her grow, which has helped me grow in my faith....

....and watching Allie proclaim her love for Jesus by being baptized at The Well. So humbled.

Receiving news that I am graduating in May! 

And lastly, being accepted to the Master's in Counseling Program at Milligan College on 12.12.12! 

This year was full of adventures and peaks, I hope 2013 is no different! 

Mountain Dew Cake!!!

I am the kind of person who finds a million amazing recipes, but I never actually cook them! Usually because it requires flour, egg whites, or something else ridiculous! Well, one of my friends at work has been asking for a Mountain Dew Cake. So a few days ago I went on Pinterest and found a recipe that sounded pretty simple and good, and now my cake is cooling!!!!!! (I do not cook a lot so this exciting for me!) :)

Here is where I got the recipe and mine is identical to this one, even the pictures look the same! Hopefully, everyone at work will enjoy this treat tonight!

http://cookiesandcups.com/mountain-dew-cake/

Have a good Friday!

Our beautiful God.

The cross showcases the beautiful kindness of God as His wondrous love releases sinners from their bondage and guilt through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus. -Matt Chandler

We deserve His wrath, but He refuses to give us what we deserve. He gives us unconditional love that never fails.

Random Picture of the Day.

This week has been a rough week and reading Matt Chandler's Explicit Gospel took me away from my hectic life for a few minutes. I think it is important for us to remind ourselves everyday that what Christ did on the cross paid our bill, and we do not deserve it but our God loves us SO much He sacrificed His son. Thankful. 

Bad Day, Great God.

Today was the big day. The day that I took the GRE. I had a feeling I would not do great but I was hoping for the opposite...well I did not do great. So now I am paying a tutor and taking it again over Christmas break, oh what a joy! Taking the GRE today really pushed me to look into different schools, instead of just looking at the one I am extremely interested in. I am also reminded that the Lord has plans for me that are different than my own and I need to back up a minute and realize that. After having a breakdown and having an awesome friend help me realize how blessed I am, I came home to my sweet nephew who I have not hung out with in forever, which reminded me even more of how truly blessed I am. Thank you Lord for the great friends and family you have blessed me with!

Kolton Layne. <3

Papers & GRE

Currently, I have a 13 page article about Autism in front of me, and I am trying to do a 4 page review on it. Reading this article reminds me of how blessed I am, kids who have Autism, Down Syndrome, or any other disorder struggle every day and I take my life for granted, my heart breaks for these sweet kids and adults battling these disorders....

Random pretty picture for the day.

Today was WING day! :)
Every Thursday, my friends Aimee, Ashley, Heather, & I get wings, since we have FREE WRINGS FOR A YEAR. And last Thursday & this Thursday were just a hoot, the Lord reminds me I have some pretty amazing friends! Aimee is such a good sport, too. She just chauffer's us around and deal with our silly conversations and comments! Ashley brings out the 5 year old in me and it is just a laugh fest, so thankful for these girls!

In 10 days, I will be taking the biggest test in my life so far, the GRE, over the next 10 days I am going to put something I learn from my book on here in hopes I will remember better. :)

What I learned: FOIL is the best way to solve (4x+7)(3x+2) kind of problems. First terms multiplied (4x*3x)=12x2 Outside Terms: 4x*2=8x Inside terms: 7*3x=21x Last terms: 7*2=14, combine like terms! 12x2 + 29x + 14 (I THINK THAT'S RIGHT!)




Have a wonderful Thursday, remember to be thankful!

"You rose and conquered the grave!"