New Blog

I've made a new blog, I posted the link below. Hope you check it out! :)

http://hangingon-alli.blogspot.com/

Hello World-Lady Antebellum

I hope you had a Merry Christmas!!

I heard this song on the radio a couple of days ago. A few parts of the lyrics kind of jumped out at me when I listened to it again.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives and start living with regret. We just need to slow down and remind ourselves why we are living and appreciate life.

Music video by Lady Antebellum performing Hello World. (P) (C) 2010 Capitol Records Nashville. All rights reserved.



Lyrics:

Traffic crawls
Cell Phone Calls
Talk radio screams at me through my tinted window
I see a little girl, rust red minivan
She's got chocolate on her face
Got little hands, and she waves at me, yeah she smiles at me.

Well Hello World
How you been?
Good to see you my old friend
Sometimes I feel, Cold as steel
Broken like I'm never gonna heal
I see a light, a little hope in a little girl, Well HELLO WORLD

Everyday I drive by a little white church,
its got these little white crosses like angels in the yard
Maybe I should stop on in, say a prayer
Maybe talk to God like he is there
Oh I know he's there, Yeah I know he's there

Well Hello World
How you been?
Good to see you my old friend,
Sometimes I feel as Cold as steel
And broken like I'm never gonna heal
I see a light, a little grace, little faith unfurl.
Well Hello World

Sometimes I forget what living's for, And i hear my life through my front door,
and I'll be there,
oh I'm home again
I See my wife, little boy, little girl, Hello World

Hello World
All the empty disappears
I remember why I'm here
Just surrender and believe
I fall down on my knees
Oh Hello World, Hello World, Hello World

Wordless Wednesday: Sonora

Guitar Lessons Learned

It's been almost a year since I taught myself to play piano. Ever since I learned piano, I wanted to learn guitar. My mom has a guitar a friend let her borrow, so my brother could learn to play guitar. So she let me borrow it until I move out into my own place. After about 4 months of it sitting in the corner collecting dust, I picked it up and started teaching myself. It was really, really, really hard. But I kept telling myself that piano was this hard when I started playing, too. After a bunch of flipping pages from "Simple Guitar" by Steve MacKay and so much searching up tutorials on YouTube. I have finally taught myself to play guitar!!

My goal was to start this summer of 2010 and hopefully I would finish by the time I graduate in 2011. Turns out I finished much sooner than 2011. I am so happy I did not give up!!! I have not memorized any songs yet, but I know where almost all the basic chords are at. The barre chords are kind of hard for me, because I am a beginner. And I know how to use the capo.

The capo looks like this:

What is a capo?

Capos are used to change the key and pitch of the open strings of a guitar without having to adjust the strings with the tuning keys.

Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe

Cold days during the fall and winter can get you shivering and running for your covers. There is nothing better than Hot Cocoa to warm your insides!!!!

Hot Cocoa Mix

4 cups of nonfat dry milk powder

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup non-dairy coffee creamer

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate fudge pudding

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. If a finer consistency is desired, you can pour the mix into a blender or food processor and run it through that. Store in an airtight container. Add 1/4 to 1/2 (depending on your cocoa preference) of the mix to an 8 ounce mug of boiling water.

Wordless Wenesday: Christmas Kitty

Pray for Emily

Pray for Emily. I have been reading her blog ever since she put it up. She seems like a nice little girl. Every day I pray for here. Her mom also has a blog, http://emilycancerupdates.blogspot.com/.

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Life In The Country

Kid Rock

I know I haven't kept my blog active lately, but just recently I got my first comment since July. I am suddenly inspired to write on my blog again.

Life in the country? Well, I can't complain!! I actually love it here. Even though it can be stressful at times, its not that bad! The past two days have been spent reading.

I am now reading "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris. I heard of the book off of Alexandra's blog. And wrote it down for momma to get for me. She said she already has the book for my brother and I to read for school.

So excited that fall is here!!! I have been waiting for cooler weather. Now I am waiting patiently for the leaves to change colors.

As I am figuring out what to do with my life, I am constantly reminded of Jeremiah 29:11, and Proverbs 3:5. He keeps reminding me that he has a perfect plan for my life. One that I can't imagine having.

New house, New Beginning

Due to circumstances in our life, my family and I had to move in with my mom's friend Nancy. Even though the move has been difficult for me I have decided to have a good attitude and enjoy it. We spent the past weekend packing, lifting heavy furniture and boxes, and loading and unloading the truck. Nancy's family has been kind enough to split their game room into a small gameroom and two small bedrooms for my brothers and I. After having a large sized bedroom most of my life, I now have a small bedroom. Nancy's husband was kind enough to make me a loft bed due to the size of my room. We managed to squeeze my desk, keyboard, guitar, and bookshelf in my room. And stuck my dresser outside of my door. Since there is no overhead light in my room, mom is having to buy a few lamps for my room. I am hoping to get back to updating my blog.

VBS 2010-Saddle Ridge Ranch

This past week has been spent doing VBS. Our theme this year was "Saddle Ridge Ranch". It was a great experience for many children in our neighborhood. They had a great time doing crafts, music, recreation, snack, and bible study. The teachers had a wonderful time ministering to the children.

The verse this year came from James 1:5...
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." NIV

We also did a couple of contests.

Contest 1: The music teacher had a bag titled "The Good, The Unbad, and The Not Ugly" bag. Each day the children would have to behave and follow all the rules. Then the "trail bosses" would put their names in the bag. And 3 children would win a CD with this year's VBS songs.

Contest 2: The boys and girls were split up into two teams. Boys vs. Girls. Each night they would bring in as much non-perishable food (for our church's food pantry) as possible. And the last night of VBS, if the boys won, the pastor's wife would get pie in the face. If the girls won, the pastor would have pie in the face. A couple of times the boys won. But the pastor's wife and I had faith in our girls. The last night the girls brought in the most cans.

My faith in the Lord has been weak the past couple of weeks. But, the last night of VBS I felt a calling to come back to Him. The one thing I love is that, whenever our walk becomes to far, our God is waiting for us with open arms.

A chorus in a song the children had done spoke to me:

"Whatever I must face
I'll bow my head and pray
For grace to be like Jesus, like Jesus"

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Music Randomness

So, a few weeks ago I have decided I wanted to sing in church. I talked to one of my good friends, and she said she would be able to sing with me. So that day we both wrote down a list of songs we like along with the artist. The next time we saw each other we gave each other our notes. We decided on a song that we are both familiar with. It is called Walk On Water and it is by Britt Nicole.

Our brothers have scouts every Monday night. So, we decided to practice while the boys were doing their own thing. It wasn't until a week and a half ago, that my friend's mom got the split track CD of the song we want to do. This is my very first song I am doing. So the first time we sang the song without Britt, I kept losing my timing. Now I am great on my timing, but I still need to work on my enunciation. Once we have this song down we are going to ask the music director of our church when we can sing it. I am going to try to ask someone to video us singing, so then I can put on here.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Monster-Skillet

Hi there!

I have been learning to play piano since last month or so. I am a big fan of Skillet. The other night I had a dream that I could play "Monster" on my piano. I woke up the next morning to tell my mom and she said that maybe I can, once I get good enough to play piano. I was really surprised when I found this video on You tube:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YixPRz8K4n4&feature=related

As I am

This another poem I wrote...

As I am

He came to me with scars on his wrist
Saying he can't go through this
I said "I can help you."
He said "There is nothing to do."
Trying to lift this pressure of your shoulders
He said "It's over."

Even though it feels like
We're slipping through life
He will help us get by
He will never leave your side
His footprints are left beside yours

Just tell me the person I was going to be, again
Just take me as I am

She came to me with a tear stained-face
Saying she lost her faith
He is calling your name
She says
"I know
He won't let me go
I'll give Him control
I'll let go of my dreams
I'll wait until He shows me
Who He wants me to be."

Can't you see this love that God gives
Even though it feels like you are slipping through His finger tips
He will always catch you
Now I can see without You, I can't make it through

Remind me the person I was going to be, again
Just take me as I am

Heartbeat

This is another poem I wrote.....

Heartbeat

These days are flying by fast
Just want to make this one life last
I want to give everything a chance
I want to make a stand
I want to make a change

Tell me that You love me
One more time
So I could know that this is not a dream
Don't want to feel this pain tonight
When You look through me
You see
My heartbeat

Giving You all that is within
Going to keep on going
Even when I am broken
These tears are falling
Not going to stop following
My dreams
For You are for me

Tell me that You love me
One more time
So I could know that this is not a dream
Don't want to feel this pain tonight
When You look through me
You see
My heartbeat

Forever

As you know in my recent post, Forgiven, I have doubted God. The day after I found Him again, I wrote this poem.

Forever

I thought I was on the right track
Never thought I would slip from Your grip
Never thought I would fall back

But here I am crying out
Soaking my pillow
I feel the urge to shout
"I need You now!"

Now I know that You love me without regrets
And there is nothing I can do to make You love me less
Trying to get out of this mess
I know that You will love me, forever.

Now I've found my way back to You
I give You all my worries, dreams, and fears
I, now, live my life for You
You wipe away my tears

Now I know that You love me without regrets
And there is nothing I can do to make You love me less
Trying to get out of this mess
I know that You will love me, forever.

Show me what I will be
When I grow up
You know my dreams
Never going to give up

Lord, whatever it is
Show me
Never going to get enough of this
Love You give to me

-Alli

Best Blog Award

Dr. T.L. Sanderfer has tagged me. Dr. Sanderfer gave me the "Best Blog Award".

Here are the rules:

To accept the award, you must post it on your blog along with the name of the person who has honored you with the award, and include a link to his/her blog. Then you must choose 15 other blogs that you believe deserve the honor of Best Blog. You must contact each of the bloggers you choose and let them know you have honored them. Include a link to your post, along with the rules, so they will know what to do.

I chose these people to accept this award:

• Alexander-Firmly Fixed On The Father
• Nancy-Southern Blessings
• Miss Zara-Christian Maidens Throughout The World
• Feelin' Feminine
• Ashley-Cowgirl's Dream
• Sarah-The Destiny of One

That is all I could think of.

Friendship

"A friend loveth at all times...." Proverbs 17:17

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Forgiven

It was probably 2-3 months ago that it happened. I started to doubt God, and was wondering if I really was a Believer. I am really attached to my laptop. So at that time I didn't care about anything. Television, reading, music, food, family, life, and my laptop. That is a list of stuff that I enjoy. All I wanted to do was to sit on my bed in the morning and cry until night. I cried to the point my eyes started hurting.

I was so mad at myself that I wanted to punish myself and God so I threw my Bible in the trash. Later that day, my brother went to take the trash out, and the bag was unusually heavy. So Mom went through the trash, and found my Bible but she didn't tell me.

On a Wednesday, Mom decided that I needed to get out of the house. So she and I took the family van to a restaurant. Pulling off our road, Mom turned on a Christian radio station. I started crying because I was hearing about God. While we were eating I asked Mom if I could go to youth group that night so I could talk to my youth pastor. I got to talk to him after the service. He said he had a similar problem. And he prayed for me. That night, while I laid in bed with tears in my eyes, I thought about the journey of the day. I realized that I felt a lot better. I asked God for forgiveness, and told Him He can have complete control of my life. And asked Him to use me to glorify Him.

The next day, I counted my money. I had enough to get a new Bible. So after lunch, I wrote a note to Mom saying that I wanted to get a new Bible. That night I stuck the note on her bedside table.

The next morning she never spoke of the note. So, I was worried that the note might of got knocked off her table. So, I asked about the note. She went to her room, and grabbed my Bible and came to the living room where I was waiting. She said that she was waiting for the right time to give it back to me. She gave it to me. I thanked her and hugged her.

Now thinking back to that main struggle of my life, I know it was test of my faith. I know that my faith in Him is stronger than I could ever imagine.

"...Stop doubting and believe." John 20:27 (NIV)

"Your word, o LORD, is eternal: it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 119:89, 90 (NIV)