24 years ago today...

I got on my knees in my room and asked Jesus into my heart.

 

May 4, 1989 will always be a memorable day for me.  I was six years old.  (Yes, that does indeed make me 30...for all you mathematicians out there. :)  My mom came in to pray with me and tuck me in as she always did.  But this day was different.  The first boy had been born into the White family (my mom's side).  I was the first grandchild.  The second, my cousin, Molly, came 14 months later.  Since my mom only has sisters, getting a boy in the family was a pretty big deal.

 

As Mom and I talked, I was so excited to hear about the arrival of my new cousin.  Our conversation soon turned to the Lord as we prepared to say our usual bedtime prayers.  I don't remember much of the conversation, but I do remember that being the first moment I realized that not everyone believed in Jesus like I did.  In that moment, my mom explained to me that we were all born into sin and that we have to pray and ask Jesus to be our Savior.  I already believed that Jesus was the only way...that He was born of a Virgin, died on the cross and rose again three days later...but that night I trusted Him personally and I've never looked back.

 

I've always been thankful that I was saved so young.  I'm so grateful I'll never have to know what might've been...how I might have handled tough times had I not known the Lord.  The flip side of that is that because I was saved so young and did not experience much of my life without a Savior, there have been times when I know I have taken my salvation for granted. 

 

On this day...the anniversary of my second birth...I am fully aware of what Jesus did for ME.  My desire is to be a better testimony of it. 

 

 

Me and my amazing cousin, Luke.



Survey from Kelley

Well, I promised some fun posts...I thought this was a good place to start!  Kelley posted this one on her blog and I really enjoyed reading her answers, so I hi-jacked it for myself! :)

WHAT TIME TO YOU GET UP?  It varies. Typically around 7-7:30 AM.

IF YOU COULD EAT LUNCH WITH ONE FAMOUS PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE?  Corrie Ten Boom.  Her spirit inspires and convicts me.  How spoiled I am...

"No pit is so deep that He is not deeper still."

GOLD OR SILVER?  White Gold.

YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?  Anyone that knows me knows this..."Road to Avonlea" :)

 



WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?  Sometimes I'm not hungry AT ALL in the mornings, but I always try to eat something...usually it's peanut butter toast "Heather Alltop-style" (with cinnamon and honey) and a cup of coffee. :)

CAN YOU TOUCH YOUR NOSE WITH YOUR TONGUE?  Nope. Not even close. (I just tried. I'm a dork.)

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?  Missionaries. 

Excuse my lame photography. Just a quick shot of missionary prayer cards. :)



WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME?  Kathrin. It's supposed to be Kathryn (with a "y"), but my dad didn't spell it right at the hospital.  I've thought about changing it, but I go back and forth.  Reasons to Change -- 1) Andy and I have considered using the name if we ever have a little girl and I like the "y" spelling. 2) It would actually match my 2 namesakes.   Reasons to Keep -- 1) It's unique. 2) It's mine.  Any thoughts/comments/suggestions?

BEACH, CITY, OR COUNTRY?  Country...but I love the beach, too...

FAVORITE ICE CREAM?  These days, I'm loving Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino.

 

 

BUTTER, PLAIN, OR SALTED POPCORN?  Butterrrrrr.

FAVORITE CAR?  Okay...I have yet to find my favorite  car.  I've never particularly been a "car person".  I love anything that's dependable and gets me from A to B.

FAVORITE SANDWICH FILLING?  Chicken Salad.

WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE?  Rudeness or Arrogance.

FAVORITE FLOWER?  Hydrangeas, in any color...I love big bunches of them!

(Photo found online - This is NOT my house!)



FIZZY OR STILL WATER AS A DRINK?  Still? I thought this was kind of a weird question.

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM?  "Builder Beige".

HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING?  5 - House, Car, My mom's house, Andy's parents' house,  and a Fire Safe Box that I keep important papers in.

WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO?  Prince Edward Island, Canada.

 

Dalvay by the Sea - a.k.a. "The White Sands Hotel"

 

The beach at Dalvay.

 

Running down the dunes...I've wanted to do THIS my whole life!





CAN YOU JUGGLE?  No. I'm not that coordinated.

FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK?  Any full day I get with my husband without anything pressing.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR GUMMY BEAR?  Red.

CANDY?  Yes! Sour Patch Kids. :)

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SONG SANG ABOUT/FOR YOU?  Yes.

WHERE DO YOU SING THE MOST - CAR, SHOWER, OR OTHER?  Definitely the car.

WHAT DO YOU SMELL LIKE?  Laundry, I guess...

WHAT'S IN YOUR POCKET?  No pockets today!

ANYTHING IN YOUR MOUTH?  At the moment, no...

EVER HURT YOURSELF PLAYING WII?  I guess I'm sorta boring...I've never actually played Wii!

DO YOU HAVE FRECKLES?  Yes.  When I was little, I hated them until a lady I knew told me they were "angel kisses".  Then, I didn't mind them so much.

HOW MANY LANGUAGES CAN YOU SAY "HELLO" IN?  3.

CAN YOU DO THE ALPHABET IN SIGN LANGUAGE?  Give or take a couple letters, yes. :)

WHAT CAN YOU HEAR RIGHT NOW?  Just my computer.

EVER BEEN OVERSEAS?  No, but someday...

ARE YOU CLOSE TO YOUR SIBLINGS?  I don't actually have blood-siblings.  I have 2 step-sisters that live in Kentucky.  I don't see them often, but they're awesome.  And I have a sister-in-law that I love to death.  I would definitely say we're close. :)

Rachel Leftwich-Squared...and my niece, Emma.



 

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?  Babysitting. I don't remember how old I was, but I couldn't drive yet.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME TO?  Mom.

WHAT MAKES YOU THE MOST HAPPY?  Him.

 



To Blog or Not to Blog...

Okay, I totally intend to keep blogging...I've just questioned how to continue.

 

When I initially started, I had fears about how open and honest to be because I didn't want my blog to just be a a Facebook replacement or be THAT girl...who wants everyone to know that their life is "just so hard".  The heart behind it really is to share what God is doing in my heart.

 

My last post was intensely personal.  While I do consider myself an open book, I don't go around saying, "Hi. My name is Rachel and I really want children but it's been a struggle for me." -- It's not all that's going on in my life.  It doesn't define me.  I do want to continue to share that particular journey, because I am continually wrecked by God's love and mercy and faithfulness - which is, at the end of the day, why I write...why I do anything! However, this is NOT an "infertility blog"!!  It is not my desire to write about every detail of my path to parenthood, nor do I think people necessarily want to know those details.  I'm sure the ones that are out there are a blessing to those ladies who really need that...but that's not what I intend to do here. 

While we're on the subject...I'm not sure I like that word..."infertility".  I think it's prematurely diagnosed WAY too often, as I have seen countless couples whose doctors tell them they'll never conceive go on to have perfectly happy, healthy families.  I praise the Lord I have never been in that position, but even so, I do not accept the worldly terminology. It puts so much emphasis on man...man's ability or lack thereof.  Couldn't it simply be that the Creator of the universe, the Name above all names, has a perfect will for every one of us...and that, perhaps, His perfect time just doesn't look like what we think it should?  The problem with man is that we are spoiled.  If we don't get what we want when we want it, we think there must be a quick fix...a diagnosis that will explain everything.  Sometimes, our Father is just calling us to trust Him more.

The truth is that everyone endures a season of waiting at some point in life.  It is your choice how you will handle yours.  Will you murmur and complain or will you allow this season to cleanse you, increase your faith and deepen your walk?  I'm choosing the latter, but I cannot even make that choice in my own strength.  I couldn't make it 5 minutes on my own.  I am desperate for Jesus at every turn.

I also don't intend to be so heavy all the time.  I'll post fun stuff, too, I promise. :)

Also...to my non-Cornerstone followers...3 of our young men have made their way to PNG for a mission trip and will be gone just short of a month.  Please pray for them and their families back home who are sure to be missing them!  (You can also follow their adventures on their blog, here.)  I happen to think our church has the most amazing young people (Is that what we call you guys?) on the planet.  Their faith and commitment humble and challenge me continually.

That's all for now!  It's good to be back.

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time..."

{Ecclesiastes 3:11}

 

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."

{Romans 8:28}