tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75802164547017990272024-03-05T17:53:11.178-05:00Keep Moving Forward“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things..." - Walt DisneyHeather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-431786174898588462011-03-10T15:37:00.000-05:002011-03-10T15:37:08.966-05:001 Corinthians 13 for Families<center style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 Corinthians 13 for Families </span></center><center style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i>by John Coblentz </i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Though we visit much and keep up-to-date on all our family news, near and far, if we do not love one another enough to be trustworthy and respectful of one another's reputation, our relationships are shallow and empty. And though we are talented and used extensively in our local church, and though we run a successful family business and are highly looked up to in the community, if we do not have peace and harmony in our home life, we are nothing. And though we are known for the donations we have made to church projects, and though we have family members in voluntary service, and though we may have a long Christian history on both sides of the family line, if we hold grudges and build barriers between family members, our good deeds profit us nothing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love causes us to be patient with younger ones who are just learning and who do things slowly and imperfectly, as well as with older ones who are losing their abilities. It causes us to share our possessions, our time, and our hearts. It makes us sensitive to the feelings of other family members.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not make messes for others to clean up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not demand to have its own way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not put others down.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not tease unmercifully.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not argue or beg when a wish is denied.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not belittle. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not use unkind names.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not compare family members unfavorably.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not purposely irritate.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not blame, tattle, or falsely accuse.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not use others' possessions without asking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not pout.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not use crude language.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not say, "I told you so" when right.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Does not make excuses when wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Is not loud, harsh, and abrasive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Is not boastful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">• Says, "Thank you," and "Please."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love does not go on and on in describing how wrong a child was in misbehavior, nor does it look for faults in a companion. It finds no delight in criticism, accusation, or complaining about either the present or the past failures of family members. Rather, love delights in finding a job well done, giving a compliment, expressing gratitude. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love looks for opportunities to encourage.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Love bears responsibilities wisely and injustices quietly. It does its share and then looks for ways to help others, rather than parking on a recliner and grumping if more is asked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love trusts family members to do right rather than expecting them to do wrong. When a family member fails, love is there to help, encourage, and pray. And when failure is regular -- when a family member chooses a wrong path -- love fixes its hope-filled eyes on God to bring about change in His time, rather than attempting to force change on an unwilling heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love keeps going. It refuses to give up, quit, or turn back. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Love's commitment is absolute and final. It refuses even to think of divorce or unfaithfulness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Love goes out to each family member freely without requiring a certain level of performance to earn it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There will sometimes be a shortage of money; sometimes memory will fail; at times, we may overlook trials or blessings in one another's lives.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> But this will be only because we live in a condition of limitation and have only limited resources.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Love itself will never purposely overlook needs. Through the years, love in a family will grow, commitments will deepen, marriage bonds will strengthen.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">When I was a child, love made me feel secure, wanted, needed, and safe. When I became a man, I desired the same for my children and for my grandchildren.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> And as I grow older, I realize how little I know, and how much in life is out of my control -- where my children's paths will lead, what will happen when I am gone. But now I know, too, that it is not control that will make my world safe. It is love. By one thing only do I want to be known -- that is by my love, that each one of my family members can feel it, hear it, and experience it intensely.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There is faith -- that is good. There is hope -- that is even better. And there is LOVE -- it is the greatest. </span></center> <span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-35352873818229435102011-01-27T14:45:00.000-05:002011-01-27T14:45:04.168-05:00Great Thought!!!!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Heard this thought on the radio today...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"God's ultimate goal is not to make you a better you or even the best "you" you can be; His ultimate goal is to transform your life so that you become more like Christ and LESS like you.".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I love this!</span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-73945043679176671032010-11-16T13:16:00.000-05:002010-11-16T13:16:39.473-05:00The Little Bean<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's offical! We are 8 weeks pregnant :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ94_XmRggZtuGyAZtFnSo33CjlU8D-AMBuXgkgC5Gag-wNx86qj4aAqSCcVuH2JDVuo1EdxT_tReLdwdJI9yAIvvaYUFqCQycfi0UkvbCj697OxdzedIs5ZbhyrqoKAGNP5CU1Fq3f98/s1600/photosonogram.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ94_XmRggZtuGyAZtFnSo33CjlU8D-AMBuXgkgC5Gag-wNx86qj4aAqSCcVuH2JDVuo1EdxT_tReLdwdJI9yAIvvaYUFqCQycfi0UkvbCj697OxdzedIs5ZbhyrqoKAGNP5CU1Fq3f98/s320/photosonogram.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-34462726310814028152010-09-16T11:28:00.004-04:002010-09-16T11:30:21.244-04:00More and Less of Me<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Every day I receive a devotional from the Proverbs 31 Woman Ministries. Some days speak louder than others, and today's was no exception. I felt like God had the world's largest megaphone pointed directly into my ear when I read this. After this week's Ladies Bible Study (where we are studying <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Me-Myself-Lies-Thought-Closet-Makeover/dp/1415866449">Me, Myself, and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild</a>), the truths shared in the devotion below just echoed what God has been speaking into my heart.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #c14d1e; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://lists.proverbs31.org/lt/t_go.php?i=649&e=MTczODg3&l=-http--proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2010/09/nothing-more-and-nothing-less.html">Nothing More and Nothing Less</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://lists.proverbs31.org/lt/t_go.php?i=649&e=MTczODg3&l=-http--www.proverbs31.org/speakingministry/speakerteam/RachelOlsen.php"><strong><span style="color: #c14d1e; font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rachel Olsen</span></span></strong></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find</span> yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matthew 5:5 (MSG)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lord, how can I become content with just who I am, nothing more and nothing less? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm certainly prone to want to be more, or less, than I am. To be smarter, prettier, funnier, fitter. To be more productive, perky and high energy. And then also to be lower key, calmer, more level-headed and focused. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I want to have better self-awareness, and yet I want to be less concerned about what others think of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I want to be a better cook, to sing beautifully and to keep the house neat without so much perceived effort. And did I mention fuller, thicker hair would be nice too? I want to be a better writer – one that's both highly creative and meticulously organized. And I want fewer propensities to run late, slack off or procrastinate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, I want to be both more and less of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jesus shushes my endless listing of the things I want to change about myself – to improve about myself so I can have what I'm sure would be a better life. He asks me instead to humbly make peace with it all. To lay down my notions of a better woman and a better life by letting Him be the judge of that. To simply take what I'm given and offer it back to Him, in service and surrender. Willingly assuming that I am enough – I have what it takes to live a great life. One that pleases God, others and self. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today's key verse is among several in the Bible that fuels a core conviction I hold: When I stop striving to create a life for myself, I find the life God creates for me. This, my friend, is a powerful truth, a divine secret. His life for me begins precisely where mine ends. My life ends in my sin and striving and begins again in God's grace and power. His empowering indwelling affords me everything I truly need and nothing I truly don't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Do you too long to be content with just who you are in Christ – nothing more and nothing less? Jesus addresses us both in Matthew 23:11-12, ""Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." (MSG) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Amazingly, God's grace humbles a woman without degrading her, and His favor lifts her up without inflating her. The life she finds in Him makes her the proud owner of everything money can't buy – a life of contentment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Dear Lord, help me to quiet my critical, striving spirit today and gratefully accept who I am and where I'm at in this moment. For You are here, ready to invisibly empower my life to count for plenty right where I am. Help me also to seek and hold your definition of "plenty" – nothing more and nothing less. In Jesus' Name, Amen.</em></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-74930455277615978022010-08-09T22:19:00.000-04:002010-08-09T22:19:14.341-04:00The Way I Was Made<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I just finished reading Chris Tomlin's book, "The Way I Was Made." It's one that I looked at, thumbed through, and then put back on the shelf many, many times, but never took the time to read. It is a quick read, but is so dense with truth that once I finally decided to give it a go, it took me 2 weeks to read it, as I would read a chapter, go back, re-read a page or two, think about it while I was driving or cleaning, and then go back and read some more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There were several stories and challenges in this book that grabbed my heart, but this one far surpasses them all...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">From the chapter, "Spirit Overflow"</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One night before a concert, I got an interesting call from my friend Neil. In typical Neil fashion, he shot right past the pleasantries.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"Chris," he said in his raspy voice, "what would it look like if competence was not a fruit of the Spirit?"</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">That caught me off guard. I mentally reshuffled that well-known list of gifts in Galatians. Nope, no competence there.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"Neil, my friend," I said a little too proudly, "competence isn't a fruit of the Spirit."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Neil didn't even hesitate. "But we sure act and teach people like it is," he replied.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I've never forgotten that. I've always felt the pressure to have the right answer, to never be tired, to always be on -- platform ready. Can you relate? And yes, I desperately need the fruits of the Holy Spirit - "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control" (Galatians 5:22-23). But I think I'm one of those guys who, somewhere along the way, added "competence" to the list. And I think a lot of people in the audience can feel hindered for the same reason. They just don't feel good enough to worship God well.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The more I've lived with it, the more I believe Neil was right. You don't have to have it all together to be a worshiper of God. None of us do. Not one. By grace we all approach the throne of God. We live and breathe in the righteousness and mercy of Jesus.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I want everyone to know this truth.</span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-14951844580336927972010-06-01T22:07:00.002-04:002010-06-01T22:09:03.889-04:002 Songs I'm Diggin' Right Now<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I keep hearing 2 songs on J933.com and everytime I hear them, I am reminded of how GOOD God is. I wanted to share them both and hopefully encourage someone with how they have impacted my life recently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The first one is "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes. John is my very best friend, my teammate, my family (I love that!), and the love of my life. There is no way that I could have gone through ANY of the events of the past 4 years if I had not had John by my side. I am so thankful for God's goodness in giving me John at the PERFECT time. God keeps showing me that He has put us together in order to make a difference in the world AND in each other's lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This year has been personally challenging to me and has brought several things to the surface that I do not want to admit are present in my life. While I have been wrestling with these issues and asking God to do His transforming work in me, He has gently reminded me of the treasure that He has given me in my husband, and that he is worth all of the hard work of dealing with the junk in my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This song reminds me of my amazing husband, John, and reminds me of the gift that he is to me. I love you, sweetheart!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><object height="344" style="background-image: url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/h7M7cJ4DydQ/hqdefault.jpg);" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h7M7cJ4DydQ&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h7M7cJ4DydQ&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The second song is entitled, "I Have to Believe" by Rita Springer. I literally catch my breath every time I hear this song because it forces me to take a hard, honest look into my heart and really ask myself if I believe all of the things I say that I believe. Even as I have walked through the past 6 months, I am so thankful that I can say with confidence that I DO BELIEVE every word that He has spoken, every promise He has given me, and every truth He has given me in His Word. Has it been easy? Not at all. There have been lots of moments over the past 6 months that I had no other choice BUT to believe - and I cannot tell you how incredible this journey has been.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the only video on YouTube of this song is horribly cheesy, so the lyrics will just have to suffice :) It's a powerful song - I hope you'll check it out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to believe that He sees my darkness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to believe that He knows my pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to lift up my hands to worship</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Worship His name</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to declare that He is my refuge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to deny that I am alone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to lift up my eyes to the mountains </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s where my help comes from</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He said that He’s forever faithful</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He said that He’s forever true</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He said that He can move mountains</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And if He can move mountains</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He can move my mountain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He can move Your mountain, too</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to stand tall when the wind blows me over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to stand strong when I’m weak and afraid</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to grab hold, hold of the garments</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Garments of praise</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to sing praise when the hour is midnight</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He unlocks the chains that bind up my soul</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My sin and my shame, He has forgiven, and made me whole</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He said that He’s forever faithful</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He said that He’s forever true</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He said that He can move mountains</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And if He can move mountains</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He can move my mountain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He can move Your mountain, too</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to believe...</span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-39188118130303811322010-01-07T15:33:00.010-05:002010-01-07T16:46:02.927-05:00The Last 3 Months...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm fairly certain that the people who read this blog (or read it as a note on Facebook) already know exactly what has happened in my life over the past 3 months, but since I have lots of free time on my hands and since it's probably healthy for me to get these thoughts out of my head/heart and written/typed out, here goes...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">At the end of September/beginning of October, my working-from-home job turned into the job from hell - trust me, working from home sounds great and does have a few perks, but it is not for me. Thankfully, God blessed me with the most incredible opportunity at the most perfect time, and by the second week of October, I was working in an office with a gorgeous lake view!! The job could not be more perfect for me, but more than that, my boss could not be more amazing! This is the 3rd time I have worked for him and going to work is more like going to an old friend's house for 9 hours a day. As an added bonus, John was super-excited to get his alone time back when he is home and has been relieved to not have to carry so much of the financial burden on his own anymore.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">In November, John and I took our first BIG vacation and went away for about 2 weeks. We spent Thanksgiving in Atlanta and the following week, we traveled to Asheville, NC and spent 4 full days at the Biltmore Estate. We stayed at the Inn, I went to the spa, John spent a morning shooting clay pigeons, we toured the house (twice!), the Winery (3x!), plus toured the farm, did a lot of shopping and eating, and even braved the gorgeous hiking trails. It was the most amazing vacation ever! We were worried that after 2 weeks we would be sick of each other, but actually, we came back and were closer than ever! We realized that we have never spent that much time together before - crazy, huh????</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">On our way back from NC, we received a phone call that my grandmother was not doing very well and that we should get down to see her as soon as possible. We drove down to see her on my birthday and by then, she was in hospice. I am very close to my grandmother and she had not been sick for very long, so it was very difficult. The next morning, she went home to Heaven. Selfishly, I wanted her to stay around for a longer time, but for her sake, I am thankful that she did not have to suffer for very long and is now healed and whole.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">After 4 straight week of traveling (for vacation and then for the memorial service), John and I finally started getting ready for Christmas. On December 21st, we received an early Christmas present - a positive home pregnancy test!! We have been wanting to start our family since June, and we could not have been happier! We told our families and friends and couldn't seem to talk about anything else except for "the baby." Unfortunately, our excitement was short-lived. The day after Christmas, I woke up in excruciating pain and after dealing with it off and on all day, I ended up in the ER that night and was told that I needed to have emergency surgery. I was bleeding internally due to an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and without surgery, I could lose my life. John was in Orlando on a trip (thankfully he was close) and ended up renting a car (all they had was a red Camaro - Thank You, Lord) and made it to Memorial Miramar in 2 hours. He was the first face I remember seeing when I woke up in the recovery room. After a day in the hospital and (going on) my second week of bedrest, I'm feeling better (physically). The doctor said there was no permanent damage to anything and we should be able to try again in 3-4 months. There are still a lot of tears and still an enormous sense of loss, but God has been so gracious to us. Our families have surrounded us with love and support, as well as groceries, meals, Starbucks, treats, and even a clean house! Our friends have been amazing - our small group has fed us just about every day and we have been encouraged and prayed for by so many people. And I have to say that my sweet husband has been phenomenal. No one will really know just how heartbroken he is, and that's mainly because he has been so focused on taking care of me and not worrying about himself. He's done things that I know he didn't think he'd be doing until I was 88 - and never complained once! I'm so thankful that he is the one that God chose to walk through this life with me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So what now? Well, our new church plant launches on Sunday, January 17th at Fox Trail Elementary (on Nob Hill and 595). There's a preview service this Sunday - can't wait to start!! And there's also at least 6 baby showers in my future - yes, <strong><em>6</em></strong> of my friends/family members are expecting - so exciting to watch God breathe life into our new church <strong>and</strong> into the lives of 6 families that we love dearly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">As far as 2010 goes, I'm looking forward to meeting 6 little boys/girls - one all the way from Taiwan!! I'm also hoping for a trip to Disney with my hubby, improving my Wii skills and my cooking skills, watching my weight go back down, and spending more time reading my Bible instead of books about it. What are you looking forward to in 2010???</span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-63296960523352833782009-09-30T12:02:00.004-04:002009-09-30T12:29:17.215-04:0030 Reasons Why I Love My Husband<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQWRndjUDz9qU5okJVnCGbCRuQdPTyaAGqxnkHuDyPf70q3pNPp7nTKbwODgoLmvauJfP1Li1h3LsRAbNeR1fb4KhH4PtrRWA7bn8IJcv0Pkal_16XkiXYH5zdNRyGxJEedVMIMROz08/s1600-h/lovehusband.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQWRndjUDz9qU5okJVnCGbCRuQdPTyaAGqxnkHuDyPf70q3pNPp7nTKbwODgoLmvauJfP1Li1h3LsRAbNeR1fb4KhH4PtrRWA7bn8IJcv0Pkal_16XkiXYH5zdNRyGxJEedVMIMROz08/s320/lovehusband.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387294207883994226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >As part of the book, The Love Dare, I wrote down a list of 30 reasons why I love my hubby.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Why this may seem like a very newlywed thing to do, I'd encourage everyone - even those who have been married forever - to try it! To make it even better, I posted one reason every day in September on my Facebook for John's 30th birthday :) Of course, my math skills are pathetic, so I actually had 31 reasons on Facebook! Here they are, in no particular order:</span><br /><br /><ol style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><li>He is one hard-working man!</li><li>He takes GREAT care of me.</li><li>He loves our families.</li><li>He strives to be a godly man.</li><li>He makes me want to be a better me and brings out the best in me. He has a lot more confidence in me than I do!<br /></li><li>He provides for all my needs and protects me.</li><li>He makes me laugh and laughs with me - and never makes me feel stupid for finding humor in even the simplest thing.</li><li>He is a great singer and loves music almost as much as I do.</li><li>He always asks for help when he needs it.</li><li>He usually has a good reason for everything he does.</li><li>He is the most honest person I know and walks with integrity.</li><li>He wants to make me happy (and does!)</li><li>He still makes my heart melt.</li><li>He LOVES to serve.</li><li>He is my best friend.</li><li>He's always willing to do anything I ask - like drying dishes or grilling steaks when it is 90+ degrees outside.</li><li>He is my favorite person to be with anywhere!!</li><li>He'll eat anything I make.</li><li>He is usually open to doing anything I want to do - trying a new restaurant, going shopping, even going to Sephora!</li><li>Everyone who knows him - or even meets him for the first time - loves him!</li><li>He is a social butterfly.</li><li>He is VERY generous!</li><li>He is one handsome man!</li><li>He is going to be a fantastic Daddy!</li><li>He isn't afraid to try anything: flying, fire fighting, hunting, FFDO program, gardening, etc.</li><li>He always remembers to use the spray after using our shared bathroom :)</li><li>He doesn't care if the house, car, bedroom, etc. is messy, but he knows I do, so he tries to keep things tidy :)</li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He values our time together.</li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He serves me in BIG and small ways.</li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">No one else "gets" me like he does and no one else forgives me as quickly as he does.</li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">He loves me for me - in spite of popular opinion when we met, he loved me for me right from the start and helped me to see myself the way he sees me.</li></ol><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Joh<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">n is hands-down the best gift God has ever given to me - besides the gift of salvation, of course!!!</span> I love you, sweetheart!!</span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-56404363256005044632009-09-22T12:50:00.013-04:002009-09-22T13:57:45.244-04:00Outdoor World and Me<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >About 2 weeks ago, John and I made a trip to Outdoor World so that he could look at rifles. For those of you that know me well, you already know that: 1) I hate guns, and 2) I am not a frequent shopper at Outdoor World. Within 5 minutes of standing at the gun counter with John, he knew that I would not be an asset to his purchase, so he suggested that I walk around the store while he looked at guns. I gladly left the gun counter and proceeded to entertain myself by taking the following photos of items I will never purchase at Outdoor World as well as items that prove why I am not a fan of Outdoor World, camping, hunting, or roughing it :) I hope you enjoy the following photos as much as I enjoyed taking them :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">P.S. - I heart my iPhone :) <span style="font-style: italic;">(which I am sure is proof that I am not cut out for Outdoor World!)</span></span></span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMri4Rlnslpt4I9JnNZR-A5fHE9iaIxLwwd1I7961GNnNd7ahJdFofyI-a0wOXJgIbyy1LXzpY8pQOZUz_ryp7ooKITp0cPvRTxLA_RuIxhbUHOd7z5aEFhfpLG6aqwaLsTnzVag6RONk/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+063.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMri4Rlnslpt4I9JnNZR-A5fHE9iaIxLwwd1I7961GNnNd7ahJdFofyI-a0wOXJgIbyy1LXzpY8pQOZUz_ryp7ooKITp0cPvRTxLA_RuIxhbUHOd7z5aEFhfpLG6aqwaLsTnzVag6RONk/s320/Heather's+iPhone+063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384336055558408434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Okay, at first glance I thought, "Cool - I have a Crock Pot, too!" But upon closer inspection, I realized that this is a camouflaged print Crock Pot - something I hope I never have!!!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ96OoUnKCK5-2Sdq1dDRDVpxUHaOXIXOe4fhvYDcUeTP_ZftZMlRWsisV4rEBIqENQKiPyn6xDoW46iHDe7EhMXMNSWjooso6MAtebZRCurqqqzv7DHBe-tBu1VHYT0nWmZNQJvX06M/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+061.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ96OoUnKCK5-2Sdq1dDRDVpxUHaOXIXOe4fhvYDcUeTP_ZftZMlRWsisV4rEBIqENQKiPyn6xDoW46iHDe7EhMXMNSWjooso6MAtebZRCurqqqzv7DHBe-tBu1VHYT0nWmZNQJvX06M/s320/Heather's+iPhone+061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384336045769133250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >If I am ever forced to be outside when the weather is below 50 degrees, I pray that no one throws this plastic tarp at me and tries to call it a blanket. Look how miserable the guy is!! He doesn't look happy at all!!!</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > But he does kinda looks like Joel McHale, which makes me laugh :)</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3-U4lydHzDTIm3wOy4qSBZkI8QgnwGdbrPn3nPPezARAtzOKpJlMHVHQvJlZsMc9YTSt3mIuGBmc_TJIP6Z_ajmqI3snu-8whXhug0KCG4IztUhjPrqGZOVCL8QwzJ0tJFKC6PQFpoI/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+047.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3-U4lydHzDTIm3wOy4qSBZkI8QgnwGdbrPn3nPPezARAtzOKpJlMHVHQvJlZsMc9YTSt3mIuGBmc_TJIP6Z_ajmqI3snu-8whXhug0KCG4IztUhjPrqGZOVCL8QwzJ0tJFKC6PQFpoI/s320/Heather's+iPhone+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384336033325389250" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As an owner of 3 chickens, I can totally believe that turkeys would be fooled by fake birds, but the thing that cracks me up about these decoys is their name....The Love Triangle!! Or as they say in France, Triangle D'amour!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecdDw5jyE2t-vnwnnNXSSkLPRH9ov91xv78WuFIdZhIqC0JO8Hm1QKcijWVO732g1-uTa1WqAShbj7S7kLHKRpkHQRHuYDZoPGSn-4IC20RAIBQhyphenhypheng2NHAxLCsILTuK40hsZujXJ8akM/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+035.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecdDw5jyE2t-vnwnnNXSSkLPRH9ov91xv78WuFIdZhIqC0JO8Hm1QKcijWVO732g1-uTa1WqAShbj7S7kLHKRpkHQRHuYDZoPGSn-4IC20RAIBQhyphenhypheng2NHAxLCsILTuK40hsZujXJ8akM/s320/Heather's+iPhone+035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384335685547325090" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Does this really require an explanation?</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > Again, one more reason I will never go hunting!</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFnLbFH7OLQt2zvEAMQvZnjbIkkAPF572T9zjPn0mCtq1IQNuvz5pzFmi2DLoOAyHSUv7wrCITuo_3EchhFfUDKIGPAjg8O4Qa-5TOohDPxYSqJ6vwVxGyrf6nsvUs4CAdddw4vjV9os/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+023.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFnLbFH7OLQt2zvEAMQvZnjbIkkAPF572T9zjPn0mCtq1IQNuvz5pzFmi2DLoOAyHSUv7wrCITuo_3EchhFfUDKIGPAjg8O4Qa-5TOohDPxYSqJ6vwVxGyrf6nsvUs4CAdddw4vjV9os/s320/Heather's+iPhone+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384335675660197970" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I pray that no one ever buys this toy for my kids - I guess I should also pray that they never ask me to buy this for them! And yes, there was a </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Hunter Ann - and they come with carcasses!</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi-ucCDdJSfr49-Cdu1IKeJnbUNQ9xtq-6YsQdjWCHdxewrrSusE0i8SqWWzcSeZXiC8baCLwF-XpThCcqZygsoI-iZL0OmAUNw_ePgGcvuFURNnrEvIEBVPZHRlmr5RdmLbgBn3bUuc/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi-ucCDdJSfr49-Cdu1IKeJnbUNQ9xtq-6YsQdjWCHdxewrrSusE0i8SqWWzcSeZXiC8baCLwF-XpThCcqZygsoI-iZL0OmAUNw_ePgGcvuFURNnrEvIEBVPZHRlmr5RdmLbgBn3bUuc/s320/Heather's+iPhone+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384335668537155394" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >This is a DVD series that they sell at Outdoor World - please note the title of this particular episode...Buckmen 13: Fear the Beard!!</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLWraGckyoi79t5ESzyEyq4ouLsrycDwoeQUHWZBtb3S5w1-fxZ4-Uwn82IPYlHm7RGp8wO9aswzG_dex65QxfKntv5pJ9OJyAm1Mt7H5034G0i169se9lltMz3M0P6kl4aMq4douDS4/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+014.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLWraGckyoi79t5ESzyEyq4ouLsrycDwoeQUHWZBtb3S5w1-fxZ4-Uwn82IPYlHm7RGp8wO9aswzG_dex65QxfKntv5pJ9OJyAm1Mt7H5034G0i169se9lltMz3M0P6kl4aMq4douDS4/s320/Heather's+iPhone+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384335664619608338" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Never, ever, ever, ever!!!</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivy228h13loQYEF3Z3kLbUpptWfB8MyAbpqEKyBlGVtZnhIvwi-OHzrxjK-437JjIak1cj7-fn_wqZRWlgOMHrlXm74bi0cmuCbO-boWgMU1yx1sSlAtf9Bhe69iufMdYwUyxFOsw_WdY/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+010.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivy228h13loQYEF3Z3kLbUpptWfB8MyAbpqEKyBlGVtZnhIvwi-OHzrxjK-437JjIak1cj7-fn_wqZRWlgOMHrlXm74bi0cmuCbO-boWgMU1yx1sSlAtf9Bhe69iufMdYwUyxFOsw_WdY/s320/Heather's+iPhone+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384335654848636434" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">If I have to bring my own hot shower, then count me out!! Besides, it looks like you just have to shower out in front of God and Mother Nature and any other tree hugging hippie that happens to be wandering around the woods - and I am positive that there is not enough hot water in this little box for a decent hot shower!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrZ-OCFQMcNQ6xyZUPbX1ycqg6zFKQ-kG1kCZMugoiD-TNXQZ59UGGPahCKuP4qzuE-Crxpze39E4MH23QhZ5N1l8tzhoQDzRiuKjwPRZbFmJALzPwCAkeMl3-ejP2bHT73lgAvkzJ8U/s1600-h/Heather's+iPhone+048.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrZ-OCFQMcNQ6xyZUPbX1ycqg6zFKQ-kG1kCZMugoiD-TNXQZ59UGGPahCKuP4qzuE-Crxpze39E4MH23QhZ5N1l8tzhoQDzRiuKjwPRZbFmJALzPwCAkeMl3-ejP2bHT73lgAvkzJ8U/s320/Heather's+iPhone+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384336036906977298" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >This is the #1 reason I don't belong in Outdoor World...can you imagine walking into my house and seeing this furniture???</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >John eventually caught up with me after all the fun I had,</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > but I think he had a lot more fun than I did - he is now the proud owner of a new Marlin rifle :)</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > And no, I won't be learning how to shoot it or learning how to prepare wild boar!</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-48647517507623654592009-09-08T16:48:00.002-04:002009-09-08T17:34:30.398-04:00The Swirls Inside My Brain Today<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Today is Day 4 of John's 4-day trip, and by Day 4, I start talking to myself, the chickens, the news anchors on Fox News, the vacuum cleaner - anyone who will listen - because the thoughts swirling in my head for the previous 3 days are ripe and ready to come out to anyone who will listen - even a chicken!! Thankfully, I have this little blog on which to dump out the contents of my brain and see if I am still making sense after 3 days with little to no human contact :)<br /><br />John's birthday was yesterday (September 7th) and in honor of his 30th birthday, I have written a list of 30 random reasons why I love him and am posting one reason each day on Facebook for the whole month of September (and it just so happens that there are 30 days in September, so bonus!). I had written a list of 20 a while back as part of the journey of reading The Love Dare, so adding 10 more reasons was not so difficult :) I was looking over the list on Saturday to choose which reason I would post for that day when I came across this reason: "he loves me for me." My mind instantly re-wound back to a day when I was working in a church office and was called in to review a letter to the staff that was to be sent out the following day. I began to check the letter for grammatical and spelling errors and was surprised to find that my name was in the letter. As I read on, I realized that my name was classified among a list of "miracles" that God had performed that year in our church...the miracle related to me being that someone actually wanted to marry me. I laughed it off and acted like it didn't bother me, but inside I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach.<br /><br />Now I will be the very first to admit that it <span style="font-weight: bold;">was</span> a miracle that John wanted to marry me - at that time, especially!! I was ultra-high-strung and ultra-rigid in my work, and was super-protective of my stuff and my "territory." John somehow broke through my intense work persona to find the real me hidden underneath all of that defensive exterior. It absolutely crushed me to realize that while he loved me for me, there weren't that many other people in my world that did - and that simple letter delivered that reality to my door!<br /><br />Since that time, God has used so many circumstances and people and has broken through my defenses and turned my heart into clay and molded it to be a lot more flexible (Praise God!) and a lot less protective and threatened. I don't worry so much anymore about what people think of me or what they think I am worth, but I am definitely a lot more concerned that people see God in me - not me trying to be like God, but actually seeing God's transforming power in me! God has used so many people (John, primarily) to gently show me what I am worth and where my worth comes from - and it's not from a job title or how many pats on the back I get or even the size or brand of my jeans.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">So thankful, Father, for Your love, protection, and power in my life!</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span></span></div>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-76879397772520560512009-09-04T13:31:00.003-04:002009-09-04T13:36:07.752-04:00What's In Your Garden???<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">While I was working inside this afternoon, the front door flew open and my sweet hubby came running in, jumping all around and making gross faces. "Did you walk through a spider web while you were working in the garden?" I asked. "Nope," he replied, "Snake in the bushes." Alas, the gross thing is no longer with us...definitely NOT a garden snake!<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVPx2MNLEQivilCakgpw-DN-nU5WRy4NNZDEM93W_VceegWylq0_gF5fS7AFoz-VGfHF4Tg4PP_q8AwzFGpjsp5cqbUuTaYAVt6JL2HX_Mcp8ZCLnSQCxEhk6w146LQpCc1cQXw69gnw/s1600-h/Gross+Snake+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVPx2MNLEQivilCakgpw-DN-nU5WRy4NNZDEM93W_VceegWylq0_gF5fS7AFoz-VGfHF4Tg4PP_q8AwzFGpjsp5cqbUuTaYAVt6JL2HX_Mcp8ZCLnSQCxEhk6w146LQpCc1cQXw69gnw/s320/Gross+Snake+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377666970684999074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWucFZnbvTmv0TuO5aOLn1_uj9bZ036Rar6nzI1N55_UBmyaMFDyIwpttEkGgerHscZEUJ3Dkffd907LZOCxXEgTpBjS-IEn9iqVel5jfZuqtiWmHEd-ouCean2rmyvDZwJoRmWbqPk1k/s1600-h/Gross+Snake+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWucFZnbvTmv0TuO5aOLn1_uj9bZ036Rar6nzI1N55_UBmyaMFDyIwpttEkGgerHscZEUJ3Dkffd907LZOCxXEgTpBjS-IEn9iqVel5jfZuqtiWmHEd-ouCean2rmyvDZwJoRmWbqPk1k/s320/Gross+Snake+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377666981169764978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP5dppVizQYHga2nY6UlIJLIzbx2C3djGLR0pxVuGci-ei01CEUghBwW1f-maxMFtemECgY-yhuFLO2qxzaR4Xy5-oPR_57FoTg3Z1H1j-5iSdcE_St2CyU2uKQzbzUj6KmlaAiSEyRY/s1600-h/Gross+Snake+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP5dppVizQYHga2nY6UlIJLIzbx2C3djGLR0pxVuGci-ei01CEUghBwW1f-maxMFtemECgY-yhuFLO2qxzaR4Xy5-oPR_57FoTg3Z1H1j-5iSdcE_St2CyU2uKQzbzUj6KmlaAiSEyRY/s320/Gross+Snake+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377666997809716450" border="0" /></a>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-21348454774508041552009-09-02T16:07:00.001-04:002009-09-02T16:08:54.364-04:00Crossway Church!!!!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Here is a <a href="http://tinyurl.com/legh5z">link</a> to the bio The Church Planting Network posted on their website about Jon and Melissa and Crossway Church! Check it out!!!!</span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-2242772931529443782009-08-31T11:46:00.002-04:002009-08-31T12:01:48.281-04:00John's Surprise 30th Birthday Party!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Since April, I have been planning a surprise 30th birthday party for my sweet hubby. With the help of our family and friends, we successfully shocked John with a Cuban-themed party with over 50 of his friends and family members this past Friday night!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">John is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I thank God for him every day! It was so awesome to make this night all about him and to celebrate all that God has done in his life over the past 30 years! I am so blessed that I get to spend the next 30+ years with him!!</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhiVDF-kusG_JTp52cWl1nybwUWb1HriWRW_s89juxhS8QovmHgDTslkmXQmHFNgtbNAEyKrfnBr3xn91Va0ve2hKmjLY7OuP_6fH9_hCTFPEH0riTIWO4knyFG2NchXD_-aWgQIFpw0/s1600-h/John's+Surprise+Party+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhiVDF-kusG_JTp52cWl1nybwUWb1HriWRW_s89juxhS8QovmHgDTslkmXQmHFNgtbNAEyKrfnBr3xn91Va0ve2hKmjLY7OuP_6fH9_hCTFPEH0riTIWO4knyFG2NchXD_-aWgQIFpw0/s320/John's+Surprise+Party+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376156903187440098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Enjoying the lake view at my in-laws' AMAZING house!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwWrOKRWnv3aINBsNd8RYo8tr9QrRNJt9cOGMB0lyMCKuk-EZOX6yqxf0sIP4ieMxeoMRQ1gvAs6jUF2IlehPAUrXh4zM7vrwm21RZF03tJ1RIaEja5wxzCSZ1sWJcqeUKQggidDjZ78/s1600-h/Bryan's+Camera+257.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwWrOKRWnv3aINBsNd8RYo8tr9QrRNJt9cOGMB0lyMCKuk-EZOX6yqxf0sIP4ieMxeoMRQ1gvAs6jUF2IlehPAUrXh4zM7vrwm21RZF03tJ1RIaEja5wxzCSZ1sWJcqeUKQggidDjZ78/s320/Bryan's+Camera+257.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376156894376038994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The AWESOME Cuban cigar roller :)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K_KsQMzijRFJBmGQoyjqoNVMnihaAFzFWuSR3uNPDdUQf0Iw0fZeyb0p_d0CzexBzoslQSEpiL2jjXhHXTz5P6ymBTeyGoWCYDfLCg1V1v5R_RvYQNCuSjqVY_ItRAbvLj7bOFInUdo/s1600-h/Bryan's+Camera+320.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K_KsQMzijRFJBmGQoyjqoNVMnihaAFzFWuSR3uNPDdUQf0Iw0fZeyb0p_d0CzexBzoslQSEpiL2jjXhHXTz5P6ymBTeyGoWCYDfLCg1V1v5R_RvYQNCuSjqVY_ItRAbvLj7bOFInUdo/s320/Bryan's+Camera+320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376156886461806834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Our friends waiting patiently for John to arrive!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6T8ybzS8JfaObK-NVz5kqyDvdUhrvALg4ESOSddtmTEOm-YieYfr397Cod7oko1ugaCGPFyhEAwE3H9CuuhrTkO3qj33jPNrxt-nYFzPoh5bPJznEdBZrcMehSQA-Ixjg0ZIKbecd8s/s1600-h/Bryan's+Camera+405.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6T8ybzS8JfaObK-NVz5kqyDvdUhrvALg4ESOSddtmTEOm-YieYfr397Cod7oko1ugaCGPFyhEAwE3H9CuuhrTkO3qj33jPNrxt-nYFzPoh5bPJznEdBZrcMehSQA-Ixjg0ZIKbecd8s/s320/Bryan's+Camera+405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376156880164954770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Enjoying Cuban cigars :)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qAUq5DedHAg105Nsr0qZY1okK8rk4VTDVHEAB6a3iJgx26X3-N11ck5WyPRjNrO3MERfp3Fu0MCqybO5kF1vwToWYs_Dk9xaQDnbcL3XFcK5g7JQVClAbyi3TRvesnyFq2GRe277-LQ/s1600-h/Bryan's+Camera+417.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qAUq5DedHAg105Nsr0qZY1okK8rk4VTDVHEAB6a3iJgx26X3-N11ck5WyPRjNrO3MERfp3Fu0MCqybO5kF1vwToWYs_Dk9xaQDnbcL3XFcK5g7JQVClAbyi3TRvesnyFq2GRe277-LQ/s320/Bryan's+Camera+417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376156870936367298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Blowing out the candles :)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbX-gRqUKUUliaBLz3r3QPqTyslfMNbqyV4FD32xPzqfyYTStarLALTnJuN-G46WEAxNlLsdYK3WVK0ZfKQYFmrDtrmqYfG9SlwczC13HrRn2ESfRNjADHSiBjudZRJX0zO03xri2Tlc/s1600-h/Bryan's+Camera+388.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbX-gRqUKUUliaBLz3r3QPqTyslfMNbqyV4FD32xPzqfyYTStarLALTnJuN-G46WEAxNlLsdYK3WVK0ZfKQYFmrDtrmqYfG9SlwczC13HrRn2ESfRNjADHSiBjudZRJX0zO03xri2Tlc/s320/Bryan's+Camera+388.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376155653194930002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">All of the guys :)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5CBTauTjuPZ5Kvp0yi71TiRLJwxwIXNFHIfj_t_ss8U2rkEYWvMIeLGi24KxlktJfRwZtFs1KluhrX9wDkoHLlyyoGPu1QPPAiIPaqArAmG59FtBe312PgrsbJjmK3imb1eHo27e2Hw/s1600-h/Bryan's+Camera+456.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5CBTauTjuPZ5Kvp0yi71TiRLJwxwIXNFHIfj_t_ss8U2rkEYWvMIeLGi24KxlktJfRwZtFs1KluhrX9wDkoHLlyyoGPu1QPPAiIPaqArAmG59FtBe312PgrsbJjmK3imb1eHo27e2Hw/s320/Bryan's+Camera+456.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376155652665480770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">What's a party without a little karaoke??<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukylYcTHmlGKGotejmG4-QwN5qgZf_2Ypyn2YXLoWsvgW195AoE3acJ6PzQKAID6jbMJWWdKOhUDvjl83aQtXMe5HN48bPHVWueltQrbW9Pez9wuEwgUt5lNkcgQuUfOiSxBdLEhqna8/s1600-h/John's+Surprise+Party+016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukylYcTHmlGKGotejmG4-QwN5qgZf_2Ypyn2YXLoWsvgW195AoE3acJ6PzQKAID6jbMJWWdKOhUDvjl83aQtXMe5HN48bPHVWueltQrbW9Pez9wuEwgUt5lNkcgQuUfOiSxBdLEhqna8/s320/John's+Surprise+Party+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376155633003335442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I LOVE my girls!!!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMHKot2m5db3qMcB40dAtHLY8HYdBorBk5ywCP0P24wLNC75uKioup5LEqPmPMivJ-L3EyURRn5TrF1B3gnEsCiDW6-mVD3tOT2W6kaqoiqpCppUJAdhExA9vvojTrtNOHHnb97QhMZ8/s1600-h/P8280062.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMHKot2m5db3qMcB40dAtHLY8HYdBorBk5ywCP0P24wLNC75uKioup5LEqPmPMivJ-L3EyURRn5TrF1B3gnEsCiDW6-mVD3tOT2W6kaqoiqpCppUJAdhExA9vvojTrtNOHHnb97QhMZ8/s320/P8280062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376155643985397666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">And I love this man even more!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLmBIwRgR0OOBU6Xaf29RyFa_IFMy35t9G67glJAMUzdRxKHzi3JEwnZO22kIIMhQaF8mbtkQUEmoOpQY0mhGt5T9MSIy0hZX4-zI5h2gZINrjGpat9WNTC0X9yDh2AVrYqCeKEgXa2U/s1600-h/John's+Surprise+Party+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLmBIwRgR0OOBU6Xaf29RyFa_IFMy35t9G67glJAMUzdRxKHzi3JEwnZO22kIIMhQaF8mbtkQUEmoOpQY0mhGt5T9MSIy0hZX4-zI5h2gZINrjGpat9WNTC0X9yDh2AVrYqCeKEgXa2U/s320/John's+Surprise+Party+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376155623186471490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Happy 30th Birthday, John! I love you so much!!!!</span></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-1945697717817642922009-08-10T16:10:00.003-04:002009-08-10T16:17:12.621-04:00Family Vacation<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">John and I just returned from a fabulous weekend vacation with my family to Fort Myers Beach. Other than a quick trip to the ER Friday night (J</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ohn caught a catfish and then was caught by the catfish!) it was a very relaxing and stress-free weekend!!<br /><br />Here are some photos from our weekend...Enjoy!!<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhNzWoWTHlKwovguOOnGYmbqwtduQnQs_h3rxuA8CnxXDau3xbxg00K5g_omsVLFU62Ag2rnq0ouwoKLHJpmmQEY_pUBgic0Ur0j4jQXwDpvQpuZNvfTUdoENwLUg7K_HQyiWapBzJnE/s1600-h/Ft+Myers+2009+027.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhNzWoWTHlKwovguOOnGYmbqwtduQnQs_h3rxuA8CnxXDau3xbxg00K5g_omsVLFU62Ag2rnq0ouwoKLHJpmmQEY_pUBgic0Ur0j4jQXwDpvQpuZNvfTUdoENwLUg7K_HQyiWapBzJnE/s320/Ft+Myers+2009+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368431410639000434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBuGpUU4QEqpCrXxRIYJ74IFV_X199gejng1b6EQLC6QrM9UFJbk-Cm-EYHJ3YLqMpWeFkoywFqHw_xC5N8M86dFUE4hlPGx99oM0X-A21KsZImTXLMvj-d13Gtjh2l5IAPE9rngoW0A/s1600-h/Ft+Myers+2009+031.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBuGpUU4QEqpCrXxRIYJ74IFV_X199gejng1b6EQLC6QrM9UFJbk-Cm-EYHJ3YLqMpWeFkoywFqHw_xC5N8M86dFUE4hlPGx99oM0X-A21KsZImTXLMvj-d13Gtjh2l5IAPE9rngoW0A/s320/Ft+Myers+2009+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368431405988448546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK2qHchvNYj9l_w56EC3z3lXNKP7RaAMU95p-p6fHp_z_hXUFud6l15KYyNJp5StkC-OANUTTUJKCFhozDUWCbI4eoU0q-UMvJYDEgUV_CLsz2uCdXXv-T_Ypfj6R4P71wwChvoJ0eng/s1600-h/Ft+Myers+2009+020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK2qHchvNYj9l_w56EC3z3lXNKP7RaAMU95p-p6fHp_z_hXUFud6l15KYyNJp5StkC-OANUTTUJKCFhozDUWCbI4eoU0q-UMvJYDEgUV_CLsz2uCdXXv-T_Ypfj6R4P71wwChvoJ0eng/s320/Ft+Myers+2009+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368431394422063362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBAull2Z7N1Zm1BaZMsq3mcad6KgJbMOV4dW46kD69jOnE7ur4LP_kfec4-uQCLdeYyhb6Puc_SOxMPYYixWdpf9-qicy_lHlb8JLeM7RKw8PwGJTYLg9L92K-EWdZHhPDPM_ITLkzTw/s1600-h/Ft+Myers+2009+018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBAull2Z7N1Zm1BaZMsq3mcad6KgJbMOV4dW46kD69jOnE7ur4LP_kfec4-uQCLdeYyhb6Puc_SOxMPYYixWdpf9-qicy_lHlb8JLeM7RKw8PwGJTYLg9L92K-EWdZHhPDPM_ITLkzTw/s320/Ft+Myers+2009+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368431388891823666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXU0taP9BMGWpXRAO_eJeqJfdIFZ20FRIkaSTOWtxPchHAojMFufc6WG1W90z3IQgP5J-guVHa-eUzz7Hv-HBBH0UVHwvhPmJtNODKCvstQmVrfbBxaDNhoF1YUpk1DwgMR9YYAEyNHo/s1600-h/Ft+Myers+2009+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXU0taP9BMGWpXRAO_eJeqJfdIFZ20FRIkaSTOWtxPchHAojMFufc6WG1W90z3IQgP5J-guVHa-eUzz7Hv-HBBH0UVHwvhPmJtNODKCvstQmVrfbBxaDNhoF1YUpk1DwgMR9YYAEyNHo/s320/Ft+Myers+2009+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368431382988754498" border="0" /></a>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-49939374859562218052009-07-24T14:28:00.002-04:002009-07-24T14:54:54.969-04:00Paid In Full!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKAHjh8d2Xz5Sucnw7CiTomxbu_eklgnEwszjE6N59xzcoDQqNXqKkfgde3ZIenu7XCU79VctMYxBxohw-Z87Py1-ZKgHkfe-ddExFP1843CbUI7Pg5vt3Z0q2ntXR45kyvIMYWTnQN8/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKAHjh8d2Xz5Sucnw7CiTomxbu_eklgnEwszjE6N59xzcoDQqNXqKkfgde3ZIenu7XCU79VctMYxBxohw-Z87Py1-ZKgHkfe-ddExFP1843CbUI7Pg5vt3Z0q2ntXR45kyvIMYWTnQN8/s320/scan0001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362095587652320690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />This week I received the above notice informing me that my student loan has been PAID IN FULL!!! I felt just as fabulous as I did the day I walked across the stage at FAU and received my degree - it was the same feeling of accomplishment and relief all wrapped up in one amazing package!!!! Even though my degree has hung on the wall for the past 10 years doing absolutely nothing for my bank account, my self esteem, or my marketability, it still reminds me that God allowed me to start AND finish my degree while at the same time working full time in Student Ministry. Although my degree probably isn't worth as much as the beautiful frame my mom chose for it, it reminds me of all that God taught me and did in me and through me during that time. There were SEVERAL times I just wanted to quit and focus on ministry - there were also several times I went days without sleep so that I could work AND go to school. It was extremely challenging, but with the support of my mom and several friends, I finished. I am so thankful that I didn't quit or lose focus to spend more time on my job - now that the job I planned on having forever is history and my time in full-time ministry has come to an end, it makes me glad that I didn't give up on my dream of graduating from college - and with honors, I might add :)<br /><br />Not to overspiritualize this post, but when I got this notice, my first thought was of another debt of mine that has been paid in full, but this debt was one that I did nothing to repay, nor could I ever repay...My past mistakes have been erased, my life has been rescued, and my f<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">uture is secure - I don't deserve it, I didn't have to earn it, and the One who paid it was happy to do so because of His incredible love for me. My student loan "paid in full" letter now sits on my desk as a reminder of all that God has done for me and reminds me of one of my favorite passages...</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Psalm 116:12 (NIV); "How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?" </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></span></span></div>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-43671020152410227362009-07-10T13:07:00.002-04:002009-07-10T13:20:29.170-04:00BIG Announcement!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://storylinepr.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/megaphone.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 348px;" src="http://storylinepr.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/megaphone.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am so excited to share some BIG news with the 3 of you who read my blog :)<br /><br />Our dear friends, <a href="http://www.elswickadoption.com/">Jon and Melissa Elswick</a>, are going to be planting a church in February 2010 and have asked John and I to be a part of the Launch Team. We have been praying through this leap of faith with Jon and Melissa and have total faith in the dream that God has placed in their hearts. We're thrilled to have been a part of <a href="http://www.westpines.org/">West Pines Community Churc</a>h for the past 10 months and have been blown away by their support and excitement for <a href="http://www.crosswaychurch.net/blog/">Crossway Church</a>! It is such a blessing to be a part of a church that believes in building the Kingdom instead of building their own kingdom. While we are sad to leave numerous friendships and areas of service we have fell in love with at WPCC, we can't wait to see what God has in store for us and for the community at Crossway Church!<br /><br />Check out the new website and the blog for Crossway Church and please keep Jon and Melissa in your prayers. Not only are they about to launch a new church, but they are also preparing their hearts and home for a little one from Korea! Their passion for Christ, His Gospel, and His creation inspires me each time I am around them and I hope you'll join me in praying for this fabulous couple!<br /></span></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-28013302789950822472009-06-29T09:48:00.006-04:002009-07-10T13:21:20.915-04:00The Great Elswick Adoption Yard Sale<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our amazing friends, <a href="http://www.elswickadoption.com/">Jon and Melissa Elswick</a>, are in the process of adopting a precious baby from Korea. Because the cost of international adoption is so expensive, they are coming up with several creative ways to raise money for Baby Elswick. One of their ideas is coming to fruition on </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Saturday, July 18th</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> in the form of a Yard Sale.</span></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >If you have items to donate or if you would like to come to the Yard Sale and do a little shopping, please visit </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.elswickadoption.com/">their blog</a></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > for all of the details about the Yard Sale.</span><br /></p><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">James 1:27 (ESV);</span> "</span>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."</span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-10195748112653676332009-06-16T11:23:00.005-04:002009-06-16T12:01:15.811-04:00Another Crazy Dream<a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.abc.com/livefromla/images/2008/02/14/wifeswap.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 259px;" src="http://blogs.abc.com/livefromla/images/2008/02/14/wifeswap.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br />Last night</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, I had another crazy dream, and it has been on my mind all morning!!!! In my dream, I was "forced" (not sure why or how) to switch husbands and families and ended up with a guy that I dated in college and his 3 kids (that I am pretty sure do not exist). At first, I was a tiny bit intrigued at the thought of getting to see what my life would have been like if I had hung on to this guy, but the longer the dream went on, the more I found myself asking everyone in my dream where John was and if I could PLEASE go back home to him. Everyone kept telling me that I really wanted to be with the new guy, but I was begging to get back to John. The thought of not being with John and having to start all over again was sickening!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course, it was only a dream and I am definitely not going to be submitting an application to "Wife Swap" any time soon, but it has been on my mind all morning. How many of us start to think how much "better" life would be with someone else when times get a little tough with our spouse?? How many of us still hang on to the thought of someone else besides our spouse paying us a compliment or paying even the slightest bit of attention to us? How quickly do we entertain the idea of someone new??<br /><br />At the same time, how many single ladies settle for so much less than God's best simply out of fear, loneliness, or the lie that they cannot do any better than the loser they think they are "stuck" with only to find themselves in a less-than-God's-best marriage while they unfairly compare their marriage to everyone else's?? No, I'm not advocating leaving your spouse if they are not a Christian or are not doing the things they should - what I AM advocating is being extremely discerning and listening to all of the warning signs BEFORE that person becomes your spouse. Once you are husband and wife, there are so many new struggles and temptations that come along, and you don't want to set yourself up for disaster by ignoring the warning signs before you say "I do." <span style="font-style: italic;">(As someone who often settled for dating guys I KNEW were not God's best for me, I know what fear and loneliness can do to your brain!! It's DANGEROUS!!!)</span><br /><br />I heard this story last week and it has stuck with me as I have thought about discernment...<br /><br />There was an old man sitting on his porch watching the rain fall. Pretty soon the water was coming over the porch and into the house.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The old man was still sitting there when a rescue boat came and the people on board said, "You can't stay here - you have to come with us."</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The old man replied, "No, God will save me." So the boat left. A little while later the water was up to the second floor, and another rescue boat came, and again told the old man he had to come with them.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The old man again replied, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> An hour later the water was up to the roof and a third rescue boat approached the old man, and tried to get him to come with them.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Again the old man refused to leave stating that, "God will grant a miracle & save me." So the boat left him again.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Soon after, the man drowns and goes to heaven, and when he sees God he asks Him, "Why didn't You save me? I thought You would grant me a miracle and You have let me down."</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> God replied, "You idiot, I don't know what you're complaining about. I sent three boats after you!!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Whether you are choosing a date, a spouse, a job, or even entertaining the idea of someone new (other than your spouse), look for God's rescue boats - they are everywhere!!! If you're having trouble recognizing them, ask a trusted friend if they see any circling around you. You may be surprised at the number of warning signs God is sending your way!</span>!!Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-54070171337417182882009-06-14T21:59:00.008-04:002009-06-16T11:22:51.542-04:00WPCC Missions Team<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.rhinocarhire.com/images/CountryImages/400x500/Guatemala-View.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.rhinocarhire.com/images/CountryImages/400x500/Guatemala-View.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JOHNOR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoBodyText2, li.MsoBodyText2, div.MsoBodyText2 {margin-right:0in; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The <a href="http://www.westpines.org/">WPCC</a> Missions Team left today for Guatemala and will be traveling June 14th-20th. I am so excited for them and for all that they are going to witness and experience while working alongside <a href="http://www.compassion.com/default.htm">Compassion International</a>. I had the awesome privilege of helping the Care Ministry Team to collect supplies for the missions trip and seeing the team off at church this morning. Hopefully John and I will be able to be a part of the next trip!!!</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">You can follow the team by clicking on this link: <a href="http://www.mattmashburn.blogspot.com/">WPCC Guatemala Missions Team</a>
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<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Please join me this week in praying for each of the mission team members by name!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Robey Barnes<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Rebekah Barnes<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">William Elmore<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sheila Englund<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cera Gomez<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Matt Mashburn<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Christine Sherlock<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Nicole Torres</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Danny Vendrell</span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Letty Vendrell</span></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"> </div><div> </div> Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-19393248937830937382009-05-16T15:36:00.003-04:002009-05-16T16:04:50.030-04:00Completely Random<ul><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I am so incredibly thankful for West Pines Community Church. I have never felt as challenged, as encouraged, or as healthy as I feel at WPCC. I have made some amazing friendships and have been able to get involved and serve in ways that complement my gifts and passions without feeling like I am under a microscope or not doing it the "right" way. I love their commitment to keeping the main thing the main thing and their unwavering belief that our job is to be obedient; God's job is to foster growth and results.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I am horrified and saddened by the new Britney Spears' song, "If You Seek Amy." I wonder if she just sits around thinking of new ways to be shocking and disgusting - she's a mom of 2 young boys - it makes me sad that she is so wrapped up in herself and keeping her image "trendy" and shocking. It must be exhausting to keep that up all of the time.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Speaking of music (if you can classify Britney Spears as music), I have found that people either LOVE or HATE the new Black Eyed Peas song. There's no in between.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It is summer in South Florida which means that pretty soon we will be able to tell that it is 3 PM without looking at a clock. When the thunder and lightning are simultaneous and you can't see past the hood of your car because of the sheet of rain in front of you, it's 3 PM. (As long as I am not driving in it, I love it!!!!)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">My niece, Jordan, is the coolest girl in the whole world. She is graduating from K5 in 2 weeks and yes, I will definitely cry at her graduation.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I have recently been asked to lead the Care Ministry Team at WPCC and I could not be more excited!! I have so many ideas for our 1st meeting on May 31st, some of which involve the church's upcoming missions trip to Guatemala...more to come later!!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I am planning some BIG surprises for my hubby...more to come on that later, too!!!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I love re-connecting with long lost friends on Facebook, but it seems like everything I know about my long lost friends AND even my close friends is stuff that I have found out on Facebook and not from actually speaking to any of my people. It's kinda sad and really has challenged me to spend less time on Facebook and more time WITH my friends and family.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I just finished reading "Unlikely Angel" by Ashley Smith - the girl who was held hostage in her apartment just outside of Atlanta by an escaped prisoner and used "The Purpose Dr<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">iven Life" to minister to him. Yes, I'm a little late - it happened a LONG time ago - but what an amazing story!! Check it out!!!</span></span></li><li style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Colossians 2:18-19 (MSG); "Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they are. They're completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as He nourishes us."</li></ul>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-20515455487211681692009-05-08T12:04:00.002-04:002009-05-08T12:25:21.528-04:00Nightmare!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/20/2049/C8N4D00Z/i-wake-up-screaming.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 359px; height: 450px;" src="http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/20/2049/C8N4D00Z/i-wake-up-screaming.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I have very vivid and realistic dreams - so real that many times I will think that what happened in my dream is actually real and will go through an entire day believing what I dreamed to be true. I have also been known to talk, laugh, and even walk in my sleep. I once woke up at the top of the stairs in my townhouse - have no idea what I was doing or where I was going - I'm just glad I woke up when I did!!<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Most of the time, I can explain why I had a dream about something - something that was said during the day or something that I saw - it's usually very logical. I have recurring dreams about being back at my old job (and wondering the ENTIRE time what in the world I am doing back there and trying so hard to get out and get away from the people there!), being back in college (usually something like I have a final for a class I forgot I signed up for), and having all of my teeth fall out (yeah, I have no idea where this one comes from).<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As real and as "explain-able" as most of my dreams are, my nightmares are even more realistic, but usually not logical or rational. Most of the time, I wake up right before the really bad thing happens and I am able to go right back to sleep without any trouble. Unfortunately, the nightmare I had last night did not fall into this category...<br /><br />I was dreaming that I was at a water park with some former students from student ministry (don't ask me why), and in my dream, I woke up and was in my room - so I thought I was really awake and had stopped dreaming. When I opened my eyes, there was a man standing over my bed (I am getting the creeps just typing this) and he was bent over and looking right into my face. I started screaming at the top of my lungs and threw myself over on John's side of the bed. By this time, I actually DID wake up, but didn't really have any distinction between waking up in the dream and waking up in real life. I was lying extremely close to John and couldn't move the lower part of my body. Poor John got up and was visibly shaken - apparently, everything EXCEPT for the man in my dream had been true and I scared the crap out of my poor husband (who not only had to get up at 5 AM to go and fly, but also sleeps with his gun close to the bed).<br /><br />It took both of us a couple of hours to calm down enough to go back to sleep, and by the time we did, it was time to get up and go to the airport. Before we left, I asked John to check all of the rooms and closets just to be sure that it was a dream - and being the amazing hubby he is, he did just that!<br /><br />I hate being scared (especially since I am alone so often) and I hate the feeling of something unknown having the power to control me and my emotions - and more importantly, having control over my sleep!!<br /><br />So, are your dreams realistic or crazy?? Have you ever had an experience like mine??<br /></span></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-38859967895556979462009-03-30T13:27:00.003-04:002009-03-30T13:47:15.604-04:00Easter Is Coming!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b3Ec3l_ZbjKPgE046RtwoC9_Kcgx04MJlyKg2heLCr_ODetm2UpkWa5m95olH3cuq5Nd-3GtnnpVWRvRqoxKNFN_yRy4GgoP-dnE0L8XcX7cmHu4JJNzmXQKfOTYyE8GYEsPemTeZKs/s1600-h/chocolate_easter_bunnies.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8b3Ec3l_ZbjKPgE046RtwoC9_Kcgx04MJlyKg2heLCr_ODetm2UpkWa5m95olH3cuq5Nd-3GtnnpVWRvRqoxKNFN_yRy4GgoP-dnE0L8XcX7cmHu4JJNzmXQKfOTYyE8GYEsPemTeZKs/s320/chocolate_easter_bunnies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319033778474460546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Easter is right around the corner - hard to believe, right?? It seems like we just put all of the Christmas decorations away!! I love Easter!! It is the holiday that reminds us just how powerful our God is and to what lengths He went (and continues to go) in order to bring us back to Him. I love that it doesn't get as much hype and commercialization as Christmas - it really helps me to focus on exactly what happened on the Cross and then 3 days later at the empty tomb.<br /><br />While Easter is the most reverent holiday that Christians celebrate, it is also celebrated by society with a focus on Easter eggs, Easter baskets, and Easter candy. While I love to celebrate what my Savior did for me by participating in Communion, observing Good Friday, and thanking God like crazy at the Easter celebration service, there is a smaller part of me that appreciates the good folks at Cadbury for choosing to make the most amazing candy ever for Easter - </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Cadbury Creme Eggs and Cadbury Mini Eggs!! Some people would even go so far as to say that Easter has the best candy of ANY holiday! Some people like Peeps (I hate marshmallows, so no Peeps for me!) and John REALLY likes the Reeses Peanut Butter Egg - he says it has the perfect ratio of peanut butter to chocolate - and then of course, there is the infamous Chocolate Bunny that begs the question, do you start with the ears or the tail?<br /><br />Where are you celebrating Easter this year?? I'd love to invite you to celebrate with us at <a href="http://www.westpines.org/">West Pines Community Church</a>!! Just click the link for all of the information. It's going to be an amazing time of worship and celebrating what God has done - ALL of the focus will be on Him!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">After you decide where you'll be celebrating, what Easter candy will you and your "peeps" be munching on????</span><br /></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-30630333313406457882009-03-16T09:00:00.007-04:002009-03-16T10:22:56.343-04:00Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mailorderexpress.com/shop/prdpics/129979.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.mailorderexpress.com/shop/prdpics/129979.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">John and I are going to a wedding on Friday and I couldn't be more excited! I'm totally looking forward to seeing the bride and her family, who I have known since I was 8 and were an integral part of my life and my spiritual growth. There will be people there that I haven't seen in years as well as some of my dearest friends. Of course, it's also going to be a gorgeous and romantic event and I can't wait to see how the couple's personalities are reflected in the details of the wedding and both receptions.<br /><br />My wedding day was the most incredible day of my life. I remember it like it was yesterday! I remember feeling so overwhelmed that there was this amazing guy standing in front of me who wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and then there were 300 people all around me who came out to support us and show us how much they loved us. I cried harder than I have ever cried in my life during our first dance, simply because I was so overwhelmed with thankfulness for God's abundant blessings.<br /><br />Recently, John and I have experienced some "bumps" in our marriage and while sharing these with a couple Christian girlfriends recently, I was amazed to find that I'm not alone in this. Although my friends and I love our husbands more than anything on earth and while we have all given our lives to Christ and are actively pursuing Him in every area of our lives, our marriages are not immune from experiencing problems. Last week, I picked up a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310242827/bookstorenow600-20">Sacred Marriage</a> by Gary Thomas and have been amazed at the truths in it. Between the book and some amazing advice from an unbelievably sweet and caring Christian friend, I've come to realize that while I tend to point out all of the areas in which John can improve as a man and as a husband, I've REALLY missed the mark as a woman and as a wife. Instead of focusing on myself and the areas in which I need to improve, I've wasted all my time and energy focusing on the person I can't change, and he doesn't really deserve to be judged by his imperfect wife!<br /><br />While praying about this last night, I had a thought that helped me to wrap my head around how I can change my focus, so I want to share it with you so that I can make more sense of it as I get it out in writing... I truly believe that we as girls really sabotage our marriage as soon as the engagement ring is put on our finger. How??? The wedding. How many weddings have you been to where it was all about the groom? How many reality shows are on TV that show Groom-zillas? How many magazines feature hundreds and hundreds of pages of tuxedos and cuff links and shiny black shoes? None, because we are told by everyone on earth that the wedding is all about the bride, and so we start planning for this day thinking that not only does this one amazing day revolve completely around us, but so does every day after the wedding. This amazing man who truly wants you to have a perfect wedding day <span style="font-style: italic;">(and who really doesn't care too much about the color of the flowers or the chair bows or whether or not the ribbon on the programs is thick enough)</span> ends up being treated like a stagehand during the wedding planning and then after the wedding, this man who wants nothing more than to make you happy continues to be treated as a slave - someone whose only purpose is to keep you entertained, give you everything you want, not have too strong of an opinion about anything, and not argue when you ask for something - just like he was treated during the wedding planning. Now I am sure none of us would admit that we acted this way and maybe some of us gave our husbands a little more respect during the wedding planning, but I really believe that this theory still has some merit in most marriages.<br /><br />I want my husband to know that no one respects him more than I do. I want him to be confident that I will follow him no matter where he asks me to go. I want him to never hesitate to share something with me out of fear of what my response will be. I want him to always choose me when there is a choice between being with me or doing something else, not out of obligation, but because he truly enjoys my company. I want him to be free to be himself and know that I am behind him, encouraging him to be exactly who God has created him to be. And I am sure that none of this will happen if I expect his whole world to revolve around me and my desires.<br /><br />My prayer is that I will be so focused on my relationship with Christ and on my role as becoming a wife that treats her husband the way Jesus calls me to treat him that I can honestly say that I don't have the time or the energy or even the awareness to point out his shortcomings. I know it will be tempting to sneak a glance at what he could do better, but I know where that will take us, and I have no desire to live that way any longer!!! He gave me everything I asked for when we were planning our wedding - now it's my turn to bend to his desires as we share a life together!<br /></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-36367151459575739662009-03-09T12:43:00.003-04:002009-03-09T12:49:22.396-04:00Support Diabetes Research!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the largest research & support organization for helping to find a cure for Diabetes and helping support those who live with Diabetes on a daily basis. My dear friend, <a href="http://www.melissaelswick.blogspot.com/">Melissa</a>, was diagnosed on April 1, 1997 and has participated in their "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Walk To Cure Diabetes</span></span>" for many years! I am walking this year to show my support for my friend and my family members who have Diabetes.<br /><br />If you would like to support my sweet friend, you can do so by signing up to walk OR by giving a small donation :)<br /><br /></span><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">(Information about the walk location)</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a target="_blank" href="http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=walk.walk&eventID=4583&chapterid=4132">http://walk.jdrf.org/index.</a><a target="_blank" href="http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=walk.walk&eventID=4583&chapterid=4132">cfm?fuseaction=walk.walk&</a><a target="_blank" href="http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=walk.walk&eventID=4583&chapterid=4132">eventID=4583&chapterid=4132</a></span></div> <div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">(To donate and/or register to walk with ELSWICK TEAM ROCKS)<br /> </span></div><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:18;" ><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" target="_blank" href="http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87302530">http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87302530</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Thanks for anything you can do!!</span></span><br /></span></span></span>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7580216454701799027.post-24112102684068609902009-03-08T15:35:00.005-04:002009-03-09T12:48:38.868-04:00Chickens, Inspired By...Chickens!!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I saw "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX8nswnUKU">Kittens, Inspired By...Kittens!</a>" I thought, "This is something my niece, Jordan, would do."<br /><br />Well....<br /><br /><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqEOwxg4URe83DmA3qiq2k2d4smda9pMOM8qiFJi6UyMsqXmgWexCzUKfcU3ololt7JeAEKfRjgIS1WifSvQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Heather Orrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810074734534854276noreply@blogger.com1