God's Handiwork in the Sky

We had the most amazing clouds this evening.
These pictures are taken right from my back yard.
Praise God for this beauty in creation tonight!

Spring in Montana - Breathtaking

This past weekend, I was blessed to go to the mountains for the first time of the season. It's been raining and raining (and raining) here, so the hills are an incredible shade of green. The temperatures were in the 50s during the day, and the nights definitely required the electric blanket I brought along. Here are a few photos help you picture my weekend.

As is tradition this time of year, Dad and I went hunting for morel mushrooms. Normally, we find 2-3, this year we found over 20!

Wildflowers galore...

One of my very favorite experiences involves stumbling upon a field of blue forget-me-not wildflowers. I love finding enough flowers to pick a bouquet. I call it "holding the sky in my hands." I love it! Let me say it again...I love holding the sky in my hands!

Can you see them? Look closely...

Come and visit...I'd love to share the mountains with you.

Anticipating the Resolved Conference

I'm going to the Resolved Conference in a few weeks. This is a 4 day conference geared toward young adults, who gather to hear expository preaching. I'm very much looking forward to the incredible lineup of preachers, all focused on deep, solid, Biblical preaching. I can't wait to be overwelmed with good teaching from the Word of God. (Plus I get to spend time with my dear friends Juli & Justin again!)

The speaker lineup includes: John MacArthur, John Piper, CJ Mahaney, Steve Lawson, Rick Holland & Randy Alcorn.

A description from the Resolved 2008 website:

Resolved is something special. Describing it is easier than defining it. It is a four-day conference, but it is much more than an event. Resolved is a long weekend when you can push pause on the pressures of life and push fast forward on your understanding of God--at the same time...Resolved is hosted by Grace Community Church. Our goals are simple: to equip believers to greater faithfulness to Jesus Christ, to proclaim the gospel to unbelievers, to affirm the Bible's authority over the life of every person, and to point people back to their local churches for growth and accountability.

Here's a trailer for this year's conference...

Guess Where I Went...

Happy Birthday John & Andrew!

My Top 5

My friends Jessica M. and Sarah C. both posted their top 5s and requested the same from me. So here goes...

1. 5 Things I Couldn't Live Without for Under $5 (well, I could, but wouldn't want to)
-Burt's Bees Chapstick
-Starbucks Grande Caramel Macchiato
-Dark Chocolate Milky Way Bar
-Cream Puffs from Costco

2. 5 Favorite Movies (or better put...those I've watched over and over)
-The Power of One (excellent book, by the way)
-Indiana Jones (any of them...can't wait for the new one)
-Princess Bride
-A Bug's Life
-Labyrinth (I loved this as a kid, but watched recently and found it pretty creepy!)

3. 5 Baby Names I Love But Won't Use (Can't say I won't use them...)
-David
-Myles
-Annalyn

-Elizabeth

-John

4. 5 Songs I Could Listen To Over and Over Again
-Before the Throne of God Above
-When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss)
-True Companion (Marc Cohn)
-In Your Eyes (Nichole Nordeman or Peter Gabriel)
-Anything by Josh Turner

5. 5 People Who Have Influenced My Life In A Positive Way
-Jesus
-My Father & Mother
-Juli & Justin M.
-Julie & Todd D.
-Sarah & Jeff C.

6. 5 Things That Stay In My Purse At All Times
-Debit Card
-Lip Gloss
-Keys
-Cell Phone
-Gum

7. 5 Moments That Have Changed My Life Forever
-Becoming a Christian
-Choosing to go to Gonzaga & therefore moving to Spokane
-Interview for internship at the Big T
-Moving back to Billings
-Meeting my niece, Danica

8. 5 Obessions I Have Right Now
-Sudoku
-Creating the perfect foam on my espresso machine
-Learning to use my new camera
-Finding any way to stop coughing
-I can't think of anything else - call me boring

9. 5 Places I Would Like To Go
-Italy
-Michigan (going this weekend!)
-Spokane
-Kauai, Hawaii
-did I already say Italy?

10. 5 People I Would Like To See Their Top Five
-Julie D.
-Colette
-Kristen
-Juli M.
-Katie S.

How do you feel?

Playful like these lambs (hilarious to watch play and jump)...

Or are you feeling tired and sick like me?
I have a lovely cold...again.

Answered Prayers

God answered prayer, again! I don't know why I'm still so surprised by that.

I've been praying for some ministry opportunities, and He's granting them. Specifically I asked for a college woman to start mentoring...one that's F.A.T. (faithful, available, teachable). Don't tell her I called her fat, but God brought just such a young woman my way, and I'm loving meeting with her every Saturday morning. I'm convinced that God uses these relationships to teach me...so much more so than my teaching of her.

I also prayed that I could find an outlet to teach women the Word of God, and to encourage women that studying the Word of God is completely possible for each of us...and so powerful in our lives. Amazingly, God answered again in two ways! The gal I mentioned above is leading her first study, so I'm helping her prepare, and setting a foundation that the Word is the first and foremost place we turn to for truth. And, I've been asked to lead a couple of Sunday School classes at church for adult women. It's only two weeks, but it's so much fun to prepare. We'll be studying the Old Testament Sacrificial System and how powerfully it points to Christ.

Anyway, I thought I'd share this because I'm constantly excited to see God answering prayer, and these ministry opportunities are so exciting!

I'm continuing to pray boldly and specifically...are you?