HEADED TO GUATEMALA!!!

Today I leave for Guatemala to do VBS at an orphanage. I'm SUPER EXCITED to see what the Lord will do in Guatemala!!! Please pray for safety, team unity, and boldness to share Christ's love with the people of Guatemala! I will get back on July 6th and can't wait to share pics and stories about what the Lord did while I was there! Please pray!!!

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY 4OTH BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! Today one of my really good friends, Amy, turned the BIG 40! Last night we celebrated her b-day by throwing her a surprise party at Mimi's Cafe. She really was surprised and had no clue! Amy and I became really close friends about a year ago. I lead a small group Bible study for the L.I.T. program and her daughter is a part of my group of 6th grade girls. God brought us together at the L.I.T Mission Trip last summer and we have been close friends ever since. She is such a godly woman, great mother, and good friend. I feel truly blessed to have her in my life! Happy Birthday Amy! May God bring many blessings your way this year!!!

UPDATE ON MY GRANDPA...

Several of you have asked for an update on my grandpa...THANKS for all your prayers! Howard has been moved out of the hospital, not due to the fact that he is really any better, just the fact that the hospital really can't do anymore for him. He has been moved to a Skilled Nursing Home. He is still on antibiotics(which has helped to clear some of the fluid in his lungs)and hopefully he can regain some of his strength and muscle. Please continue to lift him up in prayer! Thanks for all your prayers!!

GUATEMALA...THANKS!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayer and/or financial support! I leave in 7 days to go on my mission trip to Guatemala. I leave June 28 and return July 6. I am VERY EXCITED about what the Lord has in store for my team, the orphans and caretakers, and myself while in Guatemala!!

Financially, the Lord has answered my prayers in abundance! God is so FAITHFUL! As I prepare for and then participate in this mission trip, I covet prayers. I cannot minister effectively without your prayer support during this time.

Here are my prayer request concerning my involvement with this mission project:
God will continue to prepare and equip me to serve Him, the people of Guatemala, and the members of my team.
God will fill me with a boldness to share His love with the people of Guatemala and the members of my team.
God will prepare the hearts of the children and other people I come in contact with in Guatemala.
Unity for our team.
Safety in travel.
Physical, mental, and emotional strength.
Personal relationships with team members and children.
Spiritual growth
Positive attitudes
Wisdom
That we become vessels of Christ's love for the children to see and understand.
Overall ministry of Buckner Orphan Care International.

THANK YOU so much for all your prayers! I look forward to sharing with you all that the Lord will do in Guatemala!

In Christ,
Amanda

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Dinner, A Movie, and a Concert!

This past Thursday night, I went with a group of friends to Stars Under the Stars. Every Thursday night for the next couple of weeks in Sundance Square you can watch a movie under the stars on a warm summer night for FREE! YES, I said for FREE!! It was the perfect night to be outside(once the sun set),there was a nice cool breeze. We got to watch Ghostbusters! I haven't seen this movie in such a long time, but growing up it was a favorite among my sis and I. Who you gonna call!
Apryl, Andrew, and I eating at Cabo Grande before the movie...muy excelente!

Fun times with friends in Sundance Square!

I'm such a dork...we got our pic taken with these guys who were dressed up as Ghostbusters!


This past Friday night, I went with a group of friends, to Concerts in the Garden.
I have been wanting to go and do this ever since I moved to Ft. Worth-it was so worth the wait! The Ft. Worth Symphony and Orchestra performed chart-topping tunes by the Beatles at the Botanic Garden. It was a great night to be outside under the stars as well. They ended the night with an AWESOME grand finale fireworks show!

Picnic+Friends+Concert+Fireworks=Fun Times!

Jennifer,Abigail, Julie, and I...we met at BSF-we were in small group together and have become such great friends!

Wow...the fireworks were AMAZING!

PSALM 18

As my trip to Guatemala(leave the 28th)gets closer, it seems like the enemy has been attacking me(the past couple of days)in a couple of different areas in my life. It's funny how that works-usually the enemy comes at us the hardest when we are trying to do God's will. I also think that God is trying to teach me something right now(really not sure as to what that is yet)but I'm trying to be still and quiet before Him. Anyway, as I opened up the word this morning God brought me to these verses to meditate on and they brought me such comfort and hope. May they do the same for you!

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
vs. 1-3
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
vs. 30-36

MY LITTLE ROLLY POLLY!

While I was in Duncan this weekend I also got to spend some quality time with two of my favorite people...my bf Teri and her precious baby girl Abbigail! My little rolly polly has gotten so big!! Her Beeda thinks that she is the most precious, beautiful little baby girl in the whole world(E-Carly is the cutest toddler and Ames-Simon is the cutest baby boy in the world)! But, here's some EXCITING news-Teri and I created Abbigail this really cute blog page(thanks E for showing me how to do this)! You all should so check out her page(see link on my side bar Teri, Chris,and Abbigail). The only problem is that she has it blocked because she doesn't want any WEIRD people checking out Abbigail, but she so wants all my friends to be able to check it out so if you would like an invite to view her page, please let me know. She has already posted a couple of new posts. I am so PROUD of you Teri and had so much fun with you and Abbigail this weekend! WAY TO GO YOU!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD!

Here's a pic of my dad, sister, and I. Notice we had to take it with the Lionel coin holder(dad's request)!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD! Dad you are the GREATEST!!! Thanks for always being here for me, supporting me in ALL that I do, encouraging me, and loving me with an unconditional love! I love you daddy!!!

We celebrated Father's Day on Saturday night. Charity and Ryan came over for dinner and we ate ribs and brisket and stuffed ourselves until we were miserable-yummo! Once again my sister and Ryan won the BEST Father's Day gift award. They got my dad this really cool Lionel(my dad's a BIG fan of Lionel train-anything)coin holder. You drop your change down this long tube and railroad lights start flashing and it makes a loud train whistle sound. My dad LOVED IT and for the rest of the night every time he walked by it he dropped money into it so he could hear the train whistle(my poor mom). Afterwards we headed to the show to see Indiana Jones. It's okay, but I'm really not a big fan of the Indiana Jones movies. But YAY for you if you are-my dad sure is!
The family with the #1 Father's Day gift: the Lionel coin holder!


Friday night, Charity, Ryan, and I headed to the Simmons Center to play some disc golf. I had so much fun playing with them, but still have NO skills! I did play a little better...I think? ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT I HAD FUN PLAYING AND I SURE DID!=)
Here' a pic of the three of us...we has so much fun being silly!

Here's a pic of Ryan(my brother-in-law)throwing...look at that form!

Here's a cute pic of my sis kissing Ryan...look at his FACE...hahaha

The sky in "BIG D"...I took this pic as we were leaving and thought that is was COOL!

PROMISES OF GOD!

As I was in the Word today, God really used these verses to bring hope and encouragement to my soul. May they do the same for you. What great promises!
As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all mankind will see God's salvation."
Luke 3:4-6

INTRODUCING MR. AND MRS. ARANDA!

Yesterday afternoon in Lawton OK at 2:00, my college roommate and bf got MARRIED!!! Amber and I lived together all 4 years of college and are like sisters. The week before Memorial Day Amber calls me and tells me the good news that she's getting married and asks me what my plans look like in August because most likely that's when the wedding will be. Then, the weekend of Memorial Day she calls me and asks me what my plans are for June 8th...WHAT!...yes, she had about 14 days to plan this baby! The wedding was beautiful! It was small and included immediate family, grandparents, bridesmaids(3 of us), and groomsmen(2). It was perfect and really nice because we got to spend tons of time together! This really makes me think long and hard about having a small wedding someday(hopefully soon, Lord). Congrats Josh and Amber! I love you guys! May the Lord bless you as you start this new journey together!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!

School's out for the summer...EXCEPT for the fact that I'm teaching summer school...but that doesn't really count! I LOVE TEACHING PERIOD, but summer school is my favorite because it's only half a day and I get to work with a smaller number of students, plus the pay is really good. Where can I find a job like that during the regular school year, if you hear of one let me know!

I can't believe that I've completed my sixth year of teaching! Time sure flies bye...it seems like just yesterday I was starting my first year of teaching(thank goodness I survived my first two years). As I reflect on this year, I am so thankful that I had such a wonderful class;however, this year was one of the most challenging years of my teaching profession so far! I was faced with the challenge of having an autistic child in my classroom. I've never had to face this kind of challenge before and boy did Ms. Bailey learn A LOT! I LOVE WORKING WITH CHILDREN and this is one of the many reasons why: my students taught me how to truly love and accept all children. Even on the days I got frustrated with my "little friend", it was my students who showed and taught me how to love him any way. As a class we truly grew to love him and he grew to love us, too! Even though this year was challenging and hard I feel like it has taught me so many things and I believe that I am a better teacher from this experience so I wouldn't trade it for anything! This class and this "little friend" will always hold a special place in my heart!

ANOTHER UPDATE:PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY!

Here's the most recent update on my grandpa for those of you who are praying-THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS! My mom and dad spent the afternoon in Ardmore today and Howard is still doing about the same. He is hooked up to an oxygen machine to help him with his breathing. The doctors say that he will not get any better and are not really sure how much longer he has to live. We are praying for the Lord's perfect timing and are trying to trust in that timing! Our prayers are that God will totally heal him and he can return back to his some what active style of living or that God will take him to a better place-free from all suffering and pain. Howard is a godly man and loves the Lord with all his heart!

From this point on I probably won't update unless something changes. Thanks for all your prayers and please continue to pray for my grandpa, Howard!