Samantha

Dear Samantha,
       Happy Birthday!!!! You made it to 13 years old! Not sure how you did it, but you did. Life will get harder, but I will be there to help you. I draw the line at anything that will get me in trouble. You have grown so much in the last year! Trust in the Lord, Pray without stopping, do not burn the house down, and listen to Mom and Dad. Now click here to open your present!
                                                                          Happy Birthday! with love,
                                                                                                Nathalie

Mom!

No it is not the one day we set a side to honor our mothers, but rather it is my mom's birthday. Since I am miles away and am a poor college student, I mean we are always told it is the thought that counts right? So mom, instead of getting you something you may not use or need, or giving you food, I am giving you this: Mom click here to open your gift! Happy Birthday!!!!

Lessons and Reasons

       Through out life we learn lessons and we we give reasons. This year I learned a lot, and as I sit here at what marks the halfway point in my summer I look back at the lessons I learned and the reasons I gave. So far this summer alone I learned not to be the person nobody wants to work with, smile, reach out to co workers and try not to sound like a know-it-all. I learned never be afraid to ask for help, specially went removing hot heave pans from the oven, hurt pride is better than a burned arm. I learned to love those around me, let them get in and steal my heart then to pour my self out for them no matter how hard it is. I learned how to butcher salmon fillets, how to remove the skin without ripping the fish to shreds. I learned that you can make three kids really happy by showing them how to draw a sidewalk chalk house and give each of them their own room to decorate the way they want and not to be concerned with a bit of chalk dust on the clothes. I learned that I need to be loader in the kitchen and not to worry about messing up so much. I learned that as a guest you it is okay to impose on your host and hostess, a bit. I learned how to make pretzel bites and a bunch of different pastries. The ultimate reason I give when people ask why I am doing all this is I want to open my own bakery. The immediate reason I have for doing all this is so that I can fill a requirement for the Culinary Arts degree I am working towards.
    Through all this God was teaching me again and again to trust Him. He orchestrated my paths and  my days to make sure I was safe when it seemed like I might not be. He would put a verse or a song  in my head, to encourage me when I was down. As Sovereign over the Universe He worked it so that when I needed a word of an encouragement from a friend, either the friend would be there to give it or it would pop up on my Facebook feed. I know for a fact that if I was not leaning on His everlasting arms this summer would have been a whole lot harder. The reason God did all this for me, the reason He dose anything for anyone is the same reason He sent His only son to die on the cross for my sins, He loves me. John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I look forward to how God will continue to show his love for me!

Daddy,

Daddy,

       Today is Fathers day, but you already know that. What you may not know is how much you how much of an impact on my life. You taught me how to do work right, even if it took me a while to learn that lesson. You taught me how to take care of my self when I get hurt, how to fix a shelf and work with wood. You showed me how to love others even when it is hard. My whole life you showed me love, from spending time with me when you were busy to driving 6 hours to visit meat school. Thank you Dad for all that you have done for me and me sisters working long hours so that way we could eat and have a home. All young girls want to marry a man just like their Dads and I am no different. I wish to marry a man that is a lot like you.
                                                           Love,
                                                                 Nathalie
http://skitguys.com/videos/item/dad-taught-us 

Thank you Mom

Dear Mom,
       Thank you, I do not say it enough. Something else I do not say enough is I love you. Mom, you have given so much to me. You gave your time to me and your love. Some how no matter how down I am feeling you can always cheerer me up. You know when I need encouragement, or the hard cold facts. You taught to love God, care for others, to put the needs of others before my own, how to silently witness to those how are not open to the gospel. You taught me how to work hard at my school work, the importance of keeping my word no matter how hard, to put school work before fun. You taught me that it is okay to cry, laugh, love and fail sometimes, how to dress appropriately, how to stand firm in what I believe and to hold true to my standers. You taught me that importance of family, friends, and kids.
    You gave up so much for me. You gave up getting a big back deck so that I could follow God's will. You gave up the vacation you plan so that I could go to college. You gave up many nights of sleep to care for me and to make sure I was safe. You gave up evenings and sat in the cold so that I could learn how to train my dog.
     You instilled in me the value of honesty, modesty, hard work, and a good book. You constantly remind me to love God above anything else, and to trust him. You showed me how to honor others peoples time with being on time. You ingrained in me the the necessity of family, trust and responsibility. Happy Mothers day!!
                                                                                           with love your daughter
                                                                                                              Nathalie        

One year done!!

.....annnnd Done! Finished my first year at BJU!! I learned a lot and had a ton of fun. Now it is time for pictures!

 

  Snow days!! In February

 Society- pin the hat on the duck.

 Society- hiking

 Society- planning (this photo was taken in January!!)

 Year book photo

 Co-workers

Wednesday night deaf ministry  

And a short video I made

Answers

"When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window" Maria from The Sound of Music 

God is so Good Attributed to Velna Ledin

God is so good,

God is so good,

God is so good,

He’s so good to me!

God answers prayer,

God answers prayer,

God answers prayer

He’s so good to me!

He cares for me,

He cares for me,

He cares for me,

He’s so good to me!

" If God answers "Yes" He is increasing your faith. If "Wait" He is increasing your patience. If "No" He has something better for you." Nicky Gumbel 

"A ship in motion is easier to turn then a ship standing still." Sam Smith (If he got it from somewhere else I do not know)

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Some times when I pray I want God to answer MY way and not HIS way. The Lord showed me this this past week. All week long I have trying to figure out my schedule for next semester, trying to figure out how many credits I could take with out killing my self. Trying cut down on the the number of semesters it would take me to finish a BS in Business after getting my AS in Culinary Arts. I have been praying that God would give me the courage to take 20 credits next semester. I prayed that God would show me what he wanted me to do but in reality what I wanted was God to show me the way to do what I wanted. God used a wise woman in my life to make me see that I need to trust His plan and not try to force my own plan. God then used that same women to help steer my choices as she has done my whole life. This change in my plans is good, it  makes my short time at BJU all the more sweeter. I will trust in the one who holds my future and the one who is writing my part in HIStory.