why

why do we have to do so much this side of heaven.

work work work---school school school

but why. seems pointless in the grand scheme right?

wrong---if you're a believer is Jesus Christ....

I Corinthians 10:31 says,
“So, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (ESV).

God is the reason (not just for the season *wink wink*) but He is the reason for everything...or He should be.

Why do we get married? why do we go to school? why do we watch movies? why do we hang out with friends?-----we are glorifying the Lord....not just in our relationships or our actions BUT in how we spend our time. in the joys we partake in. the things we watch, how we live our lives.

as dr. cochran said---you may be the only Bible your friends/neighbors/guy at blockbuster ever read.

let's take the focus off of ourselves and put it back on God.
He's the one who planned this whole thing out anyways.

ponderings

i really really love my brothers:

got two of 'em.

both younger. however both are taller. guess that's what happens when you get older.

daniel is 15 (16 tomorrow!!!)
and joseph is 18 and a senior in high school! (he is pretty much ready for college)

so i just love watching them grow and learn about life. even though the ways in which we learn are less than fun sometimes. i am just proud and equally prayerful about their hearts and their ambitions.

prayer is so powerful. and i say that not only out of conviction but just like the man in the bible who asked for Jesus' healing---he says: Lord I believe...help my unbelief...Lord prayer is so powerful, help me see that it is powerful.

God is so big and so grand and so awesome. i see it all of the time. but does what i see actually sink deep into my soul?

these are good questions. questions i think we all ask in one form or another.

so as the great meg ryan said---goodnight dear void. hopefully someone is listening and if not...at least i am and the big man most def is.

love love

hallow hallow

so my cousin lauren damron brenkle

has inspired me to jump back into the blog world.

with facebook. email. work. school. i always found blogging a little narcissistic....

"hey i'm going to write all about me, me, me. then all of my friends who are bored
or have unfulfilled lives can read my blog and waste away their day reading about mine..."

this seemed a natural outlook when i was traveling in france....because people were asking, "what are you up to?" so i would
proceed their questions by blogging. but in the real world...who wants to blog???

oh how warped was my view.

yes people do waste their days on facebook, email and looking at blogs BUT that is not the point.

the point is expression and communication.

i want to express my days to the world and if i'm the only one who ever reads it...so be it.
but i also want to communicate and if my friends and family (one such lauren) also do this
THEN instead of a narcissistic past time i have joined in with a throng of people just wanting
to stay in touch and share ideas.

great concept if you ask me.

so here are my thoughts to the world. hopefully you do not disapprove of them.
and if you do then your loss.

with love and grace to you, from the great state of arkansas!
;)

carol

castles castles everywhere

I was extremely excited about visiting the Loire Valley—who doesn’t like castles. My excitement was increased when our tour guide turned out to be the most wonderfully entertaining and one of the most knowledgeable women in the Loire Valley. She was just perfect for our group.
I loved that she told us about the people of the castles and châteaux, because when you simply hear about the buildings or the furniture or the artwork your mind begins to run together but when you hear about the people that is when the stories come alive.
The people and the history of Europe have always fascinated me. I particularly love imagining life as it would have been for the people of the middle Ages, and it was awesome to hear about some of the very people that have always interested me—Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
With this background of people and history I was able to really appreciate the castles more. I was able to imagine all of the work and the life that was conducted in these huge homes.
My favorite castle was probably Chiverny—Francois I huge hunting lodge. I loved it because of its grandeur and the intricate design that you could look at forever but held a certain harmony that pleased your eye at the same time. The winding stairs were particularly wonderful (however I do not see how plays were held on them).
The entire Loire Valley holds a sort of mystery and amazing since of the past it just makes your heart come alive with imagination and the beauty pleases your senses and leaves you breath taken.
I <3 the Loire Valley.