Always and Forever

Just listened to this song for the first time. I first heard about it by reading 'Loving' by Karen Kingsbury. Its such a beautiful song... not just about a love between a man and woman, but the kind of love we should have for the Lord.

Love,
Manda

London 2012

The Olympics are officially here!!

 //via google images//

And yes, I am back from the fam's vaca in northern Michigan! We had a great time, and hopefully pics are to come soon. So, all day yesterday we were glued to the TV watching sports event after sports event. We cheered on Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in their "match" last night.

 //via google images//

  Ryan won, of course. But never fear, Phelps fans, because Michael still has 13-some events to go. :)

Today is women's gymanstics, and ohmyword, I am soo excited to finally watch Gabby Douglas and Jordan Weiber and the rest of the team compete!! Shawn Johnson is going to be there too, cheering on her girls. I'm rooting for Gabby and Jordan the most.

//via google images//

//via google images//

Are you a fan of the Olympics?

What is your favorite event?

New Design

Just a quick li'l shoutout to my awesome friend Jocee for the wonderful design + header!! :) You're the best, Joc.

Love,
Manda

Notice

I am leaving on vacation with the fam tomorrow, so I will be gone for a week, so no posts will be coming cuz we'll be in the boonies! :) Sorry, its prolly too late for guest posters, but if you would like to guest post sometime in the future, just tell me! :) Thanks.

via weheartit

Love,
Manda

Introducing: Kevin + Kellie

David Henrie and Selena Gomez play my characters Kevin and Kellie.

Inspiration is wonderful!

Preview

Here are just a few pictures, a preview, of the week Mack was here! :) More pics are still to come, promise. Like, we took so many I can't share them all, but I'll do the bestest ones.

 

Oh yeah, and I just watched 'Mirror, Mirror' last night and then this morning with my sisters. Its a great chick-flick! Since I'm such a huge fan of chick-flicks, I really really loved it. (Princess Diaries, What a Girl Wants, etc.)

Love,
Manda

MOTIVATED

So, I've been getting stoked for the London Olympics, which are only NINE days away! After watching the Today Show this morning and seeing a clip on Gabby Douglas working out, I went on YouTube and have been watching a million videos (mostly of Shawn Johnson for Nike) of different exercises to get me in shape. :) Here are just a few:

What do you do for exercise?   Are you a fan of the Olympics?   *leave a comment in my box and tell! :)* Love, Manda

Thank You

to my readers.

I love you guys!

Thank you for all the encouraging, lovely comments you've ever left on my blog.

And thanks for just being there for me.

Love,
Manda

I Can't Say No When...

Orders from Headquarters, I guess. Better go pack my bags.

 

//all pics via weheartit//

Someday, London, I'll shall visit you. I promise we'll get to meet someday.

#inmydreams

#bucketlist

Rambles

Drinking a strawberry-banana smoothie

via me

Remembering when I was young.

 via me

Listening to favorite movie soundtracks

Wearing my hair in a messy bun

via pinterest

Watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

  via google images

And just plain loving life. Thank you Jesus, for this beautiful day!! 

To God be the glory, forever and ever,

 Amen.

 

Departure

Glenn Dustin, bass singer for the southern gospel quartet Legacy Five, is leaving the group. I am so sad. Glenn has been my most favorite bass singer besides George Younce for years. I will miss him as a part of the group. :/

//Glenn and I at the Jubilee 2 Live Taping in Nashville, TN//

//the guys: Scott H., Glenn, Scott F., Gus and Trey//

^ ^ //a wonderful song that showcases Glenn's God-given talent//  

I always hate it when my favorite groups either break up or someone leaves and a replacement comes. I know I will have to get used to the fact that Glenn's not coming back, but it will be hard. You will be missed dearly, Glenn.

Love,

Manda

Blessed

This post is for Grandma. This post is actually just spur-of-the-moment, but I wanted to share with you how much my Grandma means to me. She is my dad's mom, and is amazing. I love her sooo much!!! <3 She is my role model. Also, we share not only our faith in Jesus Christ, but our height. We both happen to be only 4'11'' - and quite proud of that fact!!! I am very very close to Grandma. I can tell her anything. She is a wonderful woman of God, and, along with her husband, my Grandpa, they have showed me what it is to love God completely and live completely for Him.

I LOVE YOU GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!!

xoxo,
Manda

Reflection

This morning in Sunday School, we started reading 1 Peter. Actually, we read thru the whole book. We all went around the room, each person reading one verse, until we got to the end. Then our teacher Adam (who is pretty cool. :)) gave us a few minutes to look thru all five chapters and pick out something that stood out to us. It could be a verse, or a short passage... whatever. Just something.

Ch. 1, vs. 7 stuck out to me:

"that the genuiness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

This is what I long for. I must say I've never truly been tested, I have yet to 'go thru the fire'. But when I do, my prayer is that I praise God for what He is doing in my life, and what He will do in the future.
I have been rereading the 'Bailey Flanigan Series' by Karen Kingsbury ("Leaving, Learning, Longing, Loving") and the main character, Bailey, has made me think more of my relationship with Jesus. The joy of Jesus just flows from her! How strong is my relationship with Jesus? I must say it isn't very strong. :/ I am striving to do better tho, because Bailey, and also Kelsey, Karen's daughter, have become role models for me. Kelsey is always shouting out encouragement and Bible verses on her Twitter. 

So, friends, would you please pray for me? The battle I'm in against things I worship instead of the Lord is really hard, and I am weak. But I know He is strong, and I know I am not the only one fighting.

"Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." 1 Peter 5:9

Love,
Manda

SONSHINE: Team Spirit

Here is my amazing youth group who is always put in charge of Sonshine, with the help of Pastor Andrew and Mrs. R. :)

 

I love you guys!! 

SONSHINE FOREVER!!!!!

Love,
Manda