My Grandma

I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate my grandma ("Grammy"). She is SO amazing! I got to spend an evening with her last week, and it was so enjoyable. Grammy never turns down a meal (especially if it is at Olive Garden). I appreciate her love for food.

She is such a faithful, faithful woman - faithful to her family and faithful to God. And she loves God and His Word SO stinkin' much! Everytime I see her she tells me about a scripture she has been studying. And she constantly reminds me how good God is and how he always takes care of her. Her life and her testimony are inspiring.

I'm Off!

Well, Robbie and I are off to Joshua at Hume Lake Christian Camps. Hopefully there will be snow!

Christmas with the Conrad's (and Nicole)

Thanks to my new digital camera (thank you, Dad) ... I have lots of photos to share with you. Here are a few from Christmas. More to come!

Nicole's "Excited" Face


Our Fifth Attempt at a Picture Together


My Dad and His Brother, David


My Mom (After Realizing the Flash Would Hurt Her Eyes)


Sophisticated Siblings

Merry Christmas!!
(more photos to come)

Check out this 30 second re-enactment of
It's a Wonderful Life courtesy of Jon Owens!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Pastors Casey and Paige!
Although, I don't think you can produce anything cuter than Cali ...



Congratulations Jared and Deidre!



And last but not least, congratulations to Brandon and Belinda!

West Side Story

West Side Story is possibly one of the best films ever created!

I have a week full of finals and it is the perfect background noise while I'm studying (I've already watched it twice in two days!). It’s like listening to a favorite CD WITH visuals ... when I get bored I just glance over at the screen and watch the Jets battle the Sharks, watch Tony hold his new love, watch Maria dream of marriage, or watch a group of Puerto Ricans dance the Mambo in a school gym. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

By Grace

"For BY GRACE you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast."
- Ephesians 2:8 & 9 (NKJV)


Not by MY striving, MY effort, MY diligence, MY prayers, MY sacrafices
Not of MYSELF ... Not by MY works ...


"For it is by free GRACE (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved
(delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation)
through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves
[of your own doing, it came not through your own striving],
but it is the gift of God; not because of works [not the fulfillment
of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast.
[It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do,
so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
- Ephesians 2:8 & 9 (AMP)