Townsend, Way Up in the Mountains With My Family!

Wow, so I just got back from one of the most amazing weekends that I have had in a long time! On May 19th my family and I left for Townsend, Tennessee! Of course, the three hour drive was not the greatest, but finally the mountains were in view and I was so excited! Then, on the drive up the mountains to our cabin was a bit intense....but absolutely gorgeous! Finally we arrived at our cabin which was splendid along with an awesome view of the mountains! Our God makes beautiful things for sure! On Sunday we just relaxed and then went down the mountain to have a progressive dinner! So we biked four about five miles to get pizza then hopped in the cars to go get ice cream! Monday we went to Metcalf Bottoms which is a place to have a picnic and enjoy the creek! A very nice day to sit in the sun and read a good book! Tuesday me and some of the girls went down to Townsend to do a little shopping, which of course, was fun! Then that night we went to Cades Cove where we saw quite a few bears! It also rained on us, but eh, it was still fun and beautiful! Wednesday morning a few of us got up pretty early to go ride our bikes around Cades Cove! While this is totally fun, it is quite exhausting! 11 miles up hills can be a little tricky, but always worth it! Then we went and ate and shopped some more! Thursday we went hiking! Hiking is one of my favorite things to do! We went on the Little River Trail and it was about seven miles! It was absolutely stunning! Friday we went tubing! I love to tube and so does my family! We went down the river twice and both times had a blast! Tubing was one of my favorite things we did this past week other than me getting a pretty intense sun burn. Friday night we had an incredible steak dinner and just enjoyed each others company. Not many people go on trips where they go with their whole family and just spend time together, but honestly, I wouldn't want to do it any other way! I got to experience more of Gods beauty this week and got closer to my family! This week was amazing and I'm looking forward to it again next summer!

Mothers Day

Mothers day is quite an odd holiday for me. Seeing that I don't have a mom on earth anymore. She went home to worship with Jesus almost seven years ago. Time flies, even when it goes by without someone you love to share it with. The first few Mothers day were very strange, I was not as sad as I was, angry. For the longest time I resented losing my mom. I clearly thought it was just totally unfair. So the first Mothers day, I just cried, but I was ten. Then the next couple of years I pretended that there was not a Mothers day. But, two years ago my sister and I went to my moms grave site in Clarksville to put flowers on her grave. For some reason that day, my heart healed...a lot. Of course I cried, but some of those tears were tears of joy. I started to realize the beauty of losing a loved one. She might of "died" but she went to live....with Jesus! Which in all honesty, I rather her be there than here. God healed my heart of the wounds her death left me with, and all the memories that haunted me and made me sad on Mothers day. Last Mothers day a really good friend on mines mom died from cancer about a week before. So, instead of mourning of my mother, I mourned with her and encouraged her through the process I was well experienced with. But as good as our God is, He gave me an incredible friend that day! And ever since me and my friend connected through losing our moms, it has been incredible to talk to someone who has and is going through the same thing as me. So tomorrow is Mothers day, and I not only want to remember the beautiful lady I shared Mothers day with every year before she died, but I want to celebrate my Aunt Jami! Of course, this seems odd unless you know my journey. Three years ago I moved in with my aunt, uncle, and three cousins. But now three years later, I consider my cousins brother and sisters, and where it is a little different with my aunt and uncle, they are still really close to me. I know that my aunt never wanted or wants to replace my mom, but she has been the closest thing to it and it has meant so much to! If I didn't have her, I might just be lost. So tomorrow, I will celebrate many things, the memories of my mom and her celebrating Mothers day in heaven with Jesus, expressing thoughts with my friend who lost her mom a year ago, and celebrating my wonderful Aunt Jami! God is good, He is faithful. In times of trouble and when you think your world is going to end, He picks you and does the "impossible".

The Truth, and Only the Truth

Gee, believing the lies that the devil tells us is pretty easy eh? Sometimes, it is way too easy to listen to the negative thoughts that the evil one tells us daily. I sometimes don't even realize I am believing thouse lies until someone tells me. They get so planted in your head that you truly believe it is real. Well, the lies are simply lies, and you learn from Jesus how to distinguish the lies from the truth. The way I had to look at it was what I am hearing a negative or a positive thought? All negativity comes from the evil. I have to work on not letting the lies take captive on my life. That is a really hard concept to learn, also learning to speak against how the devil tries to deceive into our minds. I honestly, was one of the most negative people I have ever met! The negativity and lies just flowed out of me. A lot of that came from what was told to me my whole life by my friends, or just whoever. Then, I moved here to Murfreesboro with new people and my family who knew the truth. It took the longest time for me to even recognize the lies that I was believing. To this day I still have a hard time fighting against all the stuff the devil tries to tell me. But the truth is so good and comes from the Holy One. God tells us to seek the truth, and the truth will set you FREE! He means this and it is such an important concept to realize. I am working everyday on myself just to try to stop believing the lies and focus on the truth. I encourage everyone to accept the truth, and only the truth!

Where You Belong

I'll never quite understand why you had to go.

But sometimes, pain is what makes us grow.

I loved you with everything I had, and when you left,

I felt like I'd never love again.

It was just that bad.

And though you'' never be here anymore,

I'll keep shutting that painful door.

I'll hold onto you for too long,

and then I'll let you go, because

I know where you belong.

Day by day the memories of you made

everything seem okay.

I know you're in a better place,

but I wish you would have stayed.

But moving on is the price I had to pay.

Though you're not here anymore.

I've learned to shut that painful door.

I held onto you for so long, but I finally

let you go because I know where you belong.

Jesus paid it all, so that when you took your fall,

He would pick you up and take you where you belong.

And that took me too long to see, that He has made you free.

Listening and Following Your Heart, or God's?

For the longest time, well really, my whole life, I've done everything for my own benefit. They say to follow your heart and not your mind. I thought that was a really good idea, every time I wanted something, or wanted my own way. When really, I should be following God's heart. He knows all the answers, knows my future, and has incredible plans for me. So, why don't I follow Him instead of myself? I'm not really sure, but what I do know, is that I will be seeking more of His truth and goodness, because the more I learn, the more I want to listen to Him, not my own voice or heart. I want to be more like Jesus, not Kristen! Of course, I want to be the person God made me to be, but He created me to have choices and a mind of my own. I'm tired of telling myself to listen to my heart when something comes up. So, from now on, I rather correct myself, and listen to God, He has all the answers. He is listening waiting to tell you what you need to hear. Even though sometimes, we don't hear what we want to! He knows what is best for us, and we, do not. I encourage you to listen to His voice, find His voice, it is surprising what can happen when you truly listen. But take that chance, His ears are open.