The time has arrived. I seriously can't believe it's actually here. Oh, of course I knew it'd come...just not this SOON. Yesterday, we had our last luncheon and our last 7:07 worship. For the past 3 years, my little world has revolved around the BSU. God has used it as an outlet for me to grow, to learn, to be loved and encouraged, and to make the best memories anyone could ever ask for. It is my prayer that in some tiny way my life has made an impact. I am so thankful for 3 years, not just 2.
To all my fellow BSUers, you will forever hold a piece of my heart. Thank you for each and every memory. Crazy late nights. Cram sessions. Sonic runs. WalMart. Connection groups. Docks. I could go on for days.
End of the year BSU dinner. 2008-2009 Leadership And...these precious girls have just captured my heart.
We have until next Thursday. Don't worry, maaaaany more fun times are to come. :)
April 27th. Yes, that is today. It's officially a month until I hop on a plane to Tahoe City, California. This whole "missions journey" I've been waiting on the one month point to get here, and well....IT'S HERE! It is my prayer that God will just take and use me. I don't have much to offer, and well, I'm still in awe that He chose me! Goodness. He really did choose me. Such a sweet thought.
The next few pictures are from this weekend. Happy 3 months old sweet baby! You are growing up entirely too fast, and it is such a complete blessing to watch. Little McGee!! New favorite teddy :)
haha, you are sooooo cute!!! :) Please don't grow up too fast while I'm in California!!
We have our end of the year BSU dinner tomorrow night. I can't believe it's time. Goodness gracious. This school year really is almost over.
It's official. I'm a Mississippi State Bulldog! :) I registered for my classes today, and I couldn't be more excited. I can not believe I'm going to "big girl" college in just a few months. I can't wait to live with Whit again. Along with Chris and Jake beside us. Fun times are coming our way, for sure.
Speaking of which, Whit got us a little kitty. Her name is Flower. She was so camera shy at first (unlike her mothers), but she's warming up to getting her picture taken. She is going to be such a diva!
My little man, Payton, is going to be 3 months on Sunday. Yes, that's right! Where is time going? My goodness! I went to see him today and I just loved on him. He's so precious in every way. :)
On another note. One of my precious kin folks went to be with Jesus today. Kay is her name. Kay was in her sixties, and mentally challenged. Kay had the biggest heart. When I was a little girl, I'd go over to see Kay and she'd always play with my hair. Ever since then, every time I've ever seen Kay she's played with my hair. Kay was recently diagnosed with cancer and it took over her body super fast. She went to be with Jesus today, and my heart is overwhelmed by that thought. Kay closed her eyes one last time and when she opened them she was with her Creator. Perfect. She is absolutely perfect. No more being handicapped. No more sickness, or pain. No more feeding tubes. She is made new. Oh what a sweet thought.
I ask you to say a prayer for Kay's mama, Aunt Margaret. She's dedicated her entire life to taking care of Kay. For sixty years she's been at Kay's side, and now she's gone. Yes, she is with her maker...but as we all know in death there is still pain. Margaret is such an inspiration. She has set such an example of what real love is and should be. Say a prayer for her, please.
I only have 7 days of school left at ICC...I'm soaking up every minute. 33 days until Lake Tahoe.
Is this real? Can school really be over in two weeks? Why don't I do more? Are we too different? Is my life pleasing you? What are you thinking? Why now? Am I really getting on a plane in 38 days? Did you really choose me? Are things different now? Where is this going? When people look do they see you or me?
I know this is unusual, and random. But some days, actually most days, I'm just that. These are questions that run through my head. I rarely ever have the answer. However, I'm thankful that my sweet Savior holds all the answers. When I have questions about my life, my future, my everything...He gently reminds me, "It's all taken care of." For this I am thankful.
I do know one thing. He's a McGee if I've ever seen one :)
This could possibly be my new favorite picture. I love her so much.
My little cousin, Madison, spent the night with me this past Thursday night. And of course we had a blast, like always. We drew pictures, made a photo album, jammed out to Hannah Montana and Elvis songs :), etc. And to end the night we curled up on the couch and watched Steel Magnolias. She has been such a complete joy in my life for 10 years now. She's got more spunk than any child I've ever known. I often wish for a fraction of her energy. :) Here lately, I've been stopping to watch and marvel at the young lady she is becoming. 10 years old, a 4th..soon to be 5th grader, and a new big sister...time, please slow down. It seems like yesterday she was scooting on her booty across the floor to me...simply because she was too lazy to crawl. :) I can't help but think of how God is going use her one day. She is so bubbly, full of personality, and she lights up a room with her presence. I can't put into words how much I love this little lady. I can't wait for the day of when she accepts Christ as her Savior. I've been praying for that, and I won't stop.
I love you more. Always. :) Time, please slow down.
She is, without a doubt, one of the people I will miss most this summer.
1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”
(remember to pause music @ bottom)
There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—OUR SINS! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him. He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, He took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true. Still, it's what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life. Isaiah 53
All this for you and me. And...I know He'd do it all over again, today, if need be. I'm humbled. I will never be deserving of the price He paid for MY sins.
I seriously can not believe April is HERE. Wow, only 4 more weeks of school. 10 days of class (for me) to be exact!!! 52 days from now I'll be in Lake Tahoe, California for TWO WHOLE months. Wow...Let me let that sink in please.
This past week has been ever so busy. Tuesday, my little cousin Payton went to get his TWO MONTH shots. He was such a big boy. He got 4 shots and cried for maybe 15 seconds. Trooper, I tell ya. He's growing like a little weed, and I can't get over it.
Also, Tuesday night our college Sunday school class and the senior adult Sunday school class went out for what we like to call "Mystery Tuesday." Every 5th Tuesday of the month we get together and go out. We had a ball. We went to eat in Oxford, and we had a surprise guest speaker, Philip Jackson. He is an art professor at Ole Miss, and let me just say he did an awesome job. He has a precious family. Two sweet little girls, one of whom has down syndrome. Completely touched my heart. Just another moment from God confirming His calling in my life. Afterwards, we went back to the church for bingo and dessert. We laughed till our sides hurt. When I prayed to dismiss everyone I said..."God thanks for the ollldd peo...I mean senior citizens." Everyone burst into laughter, thank goodness. They haven't let me live it down yet. So thankful for those Godly role models in my life.
The annual Leadership Training Conference was this past weekend in Clinton, MS. All the summer missionaries went down on Thursday to Camp Garaywa and everyone else came down Friday afternoon. Saturday was the commissioning service for all the missionaries. Mississippi is sending out 215 missionaries. WOW! That's the most we've ever sent out, and MS is sending more than any other state. Whoo! :) Go God! I, of all people, got chosen to speak at the commissioning service. It was such an honor, seriously. I was so nervous, but I knew that my sweet mama, daddy, and others were praying me through. I felt them. I'm so thankful that God has seen fit to use me. Unworthy, unclean, and He wants to use me. He doesn't need me, He chooses me. I'm so humbled by that fact. Such a great weekend.
ICC is sending out 16 summer missionaries. Please pray. 7 North American. 9 Overseas.
Jim Futral and I became fast friends Saturday.:) Such a Godly, sweet man...so glad I got to meet him.
And to finish out the weekend, I got to keep my sweet Payton while Mimi had softball practice. Check out his tiny shoes....:) He's starting to grin from ear to ear, and I'm looooving every second of it.
O precious sight, my Savior stands, Dying for me with outstretched hands. O precious sight, I love to gaze, Remembering salvation’s day, Remembering salvation’s day. Though my eyes linger on this scene, May passing time and years not steal The power with which it impacts me, The freshness of its mystery, The freshness of its mystery.
May I never lose the wonder, The wonder of the cross. May I see it like the first time Standing as a sinner lost, Undone by mercy and left speechless, Watching wide eyed at the cost. May I never lose the wonder, The wonder of the cross.
Behold the God-man crucified, The perfect sinless sacrifice. As blood ran down those nails and wood, History was split in two, yes, History was split in two. Behold the empty wooden tree, His body gone, alive and free. We sing with everlasting joy, For sin and death have been destroyed, yes, Sin and death have been destroyed.
My prayer. May I never lose the wonder. Oh, keep it fresh on my mind at all times, Father. May I never take for granted the blood shed for me. I know you'd do it all again today if need be, and I praise you for that. You are so good.
