Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me.....good ole' Rocky Top.....whaaaaooo Rocky Top Tennessee!

This weekend was fun! Although the big orange let us down...it's still great to be a Tennessee Vol!!! The football game was fun. It was my first time going to a game at Neyland Stadium. My mom and dad and grandma and I all sat in the same section. If you notice in the picture of my mom and I my dad's bunny ears are up!! Ha..ha...
So yes this weekend was full of excitement! I met up with everyone in Gatlinburg and we ate dinner at the one and only Apple Barn. I don't really like that place. I think in my mind it is better than it actually is. I feel like I always am looking forward to eating there but then leave thinking "hmm....that wasn't that good." I mean don' t get me wrong...the apple butter stuff and little bread things are good. But for the rest of the food it's ehhh okay. Friday night around 12:30PM my dad, mom, kelsey and I went to the best arcade EVER!! The jukebox one! If you've ever been to Gatlinburg you know which one I'm talking about! It wouldn't be a trip to Gatlinburg if we didn't do the late night arcade run!!
Saturday morning we went and ate breakfast at the Old Mill...a great place that we found a while back on a camping adventure to Gatlinburg...so now we go there every visit. Then after breakfast we hit the outlet malls before loading up and heading to K-town! Let me just tell you the venture to knoxville was just that an adventure, as is EVERYTHING with my family! We ALL, as in 10 of us, packed into the Tahoe and headed to the game. It's more of a bonding experience if we are all together in one car!! Overall it was a good family weekend of fun in Gatlinburg and Knoxville!

Am I foolish enough accoding to the world??

THE METHOD OF MISSIONS This is today's entry from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers "Go ye therefore, and teach (disciple) all nations." Matthew 28:19 Jesus Christ did not say - Go and save souls (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but - "Go and teach," i.e., disciple, "all nations," and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples came back from their first mission they were filled with joy because the devils were subject to them, and Jesus said - Don't rejoice in successful service; the great secret of joy is that you are rightly related to Me. The great essential of the missionary is that he remains true to the call of God, and realizes that his one purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. There is a passion for souls that does not spring from God, but from the desire to make converts to our point of view. The challenge to the missionary does not come on the line that people are difficult to get saved, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, that there is a wadge of callous indifference; but along the line of his own personal relationship to Jesus Christ. "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" Our Lord puts that question steadily, it faces us in every individual case we meet. The one great challenge is - Do I know my Risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling Spirit? Am I wise enough in God's sight, and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what Jesus Christ has said, or am I abandoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a missionary, viz., boundless confidence in Christ Jesus? If I take up any other method I depart altogether from the methods laid down by Our Lord - "All power is given unto Me . . , therefore go ye."

Colossians 1:28-29 (New International Version)

28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Colossians 1:28-29 (The Message)

26-29This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.

Colossians 4:5-6 (New International Version)

5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6 (The Message)

5-6Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

TGIF!! (remember on abc TGIF...i don't really remember the show line up...but i think family matters was in there somewhere)

Today I am meeting up with my family, which consists of my mom and dad, aunt and uncle, cousins kelsey and chloe, and grandparents....for a fun time in Gatlinburg. And then Saturday we are going to knoxville to go to the UT/Bama game.....
Then back to Asheville for church...which i anticipate each week! I love sunday mornings!

Today I also got a job at Starbucks! I am a barista now! I'm excited!

I feel like listing 10 things that I love or guess things that make my heart excited and happy!
1. sweet gifts from Jesus/when He is like here you go...this is just for you! He takes my breath away sometimes!

2. Dancing and singing and jumping and spinning around with little kids for Jesus! It is so freeing. B/c my lack of rhythm doesn't matter in the eyes of Jesus nor little kids!

3. Laughing until tears come out of my eyes and my stomach hurts....laughing uncontrollably but at appropriate times....b/c most of the time the uncontrollable laughter comes at inappropriate times!

4. Notes/letters of encouragement from friends.

5. God giving me words of encouragement for notes for friends.

6. Spending time with my cousin Kelsey! which i am going to get to do this weekend!

7. Giving and receiving hugs where i can just feel Jesus in my heart!

8. For instance last night i was like...okay i am for real going to India!! so thinking about India and getting really pumped about it! I love being in other countries! It's so fun!

9. Also last night I was thinking about my journey with Jesus so far.....wow it's been a ride!!! JESUS is so so so good! He is faithful! I love him! He has my heart and I am safe in him. Safe to be myself!

10. Seeing students and people get it......get Jesus....and being like okay I'm following Him. It's not gonna be easy and i don't know what the heck to do but I am HIS! It is so good to be here in Asheville and meeting and building relationships/community with people who are like okay Jesus it's you and me! I LOVE IT!!!! JESUS, I LOVE HIM!!!

11. one last thing.....i love all of my little girls or shall i say girls b/c they aren't so little some of them.....but my girls who Jesus has put in my life that I get to be friends with and love and just be a big sister too! They make my heart really happy and excited!!

Time waster....

10 WHAT'S:

1. What was the first thing you thought about when you woke up?
I could sleep forever in my bed....it's so comfortable.

2. What did you do last night?
Nothing too exciting...watched an episode of the office.

3. What is the most important part of your life?
Loving Jesus with all of my heart soul mind and strength and loving others.


4. What would you rather be doing right now?
Sitting in a room with all of my friends and family who I love.....having a huge party with them!

5. What did you last cry over?
A friend

6. What always makes you feel better when you're upset?
Usually crying about it and venting to someone...


7. What's the most important thing you look for in a significant other?
Jesus' love


8. What are you worried about?
Anatomy and Physiology lab

9. What are you looking forward to most in this week?
Going to Gatlinburg and Knoxville and meeting up with the family!


10. What are you thinking about right now?
how I am kind of wasting time but it's okay...and that tomorrow is Thursday.....and the next day is Friday and I just love Fridays b/c it's that means the weekend!!


NINE HAVE YOU’S:

1. Have you ever won anything?
Umm as far as contests i don't think so...but sports games...like basketball...tennis....yes


2. Have you ever had a broken heart?
yes

3. Have you ever been out of the country?
Yes i have
Fiji
Vanuatu
Africa
Rome
Greece
Turkey
4. Have you ever done something outrageously dumb?
umm yeah....all the time

5. Have you ever been back stabbed by a friend?
i don't think so

6. Have you ever had the cops called on you?
ha...ha.....um i must say yes....my family and I were in destin for spring break and let me just tell you we were getting pretty wild with a friendly game of SPOONS!!! and i guess someone below us complained and said it sounded like we were having a huge party. So we recieved a knock at the door and it was a cop......we were all sitting around the table with cards and spoons. It was pretty funny. Apparently the moving around on the tile floor sounds really loud...aka like a mad party.

7. Have you ever dated someone younger than you?
nope


8. Have you ever read an entire book in one day?
yeah

9. Have you ever sang to someone personally?
umm yeah nothing too serious

SEVEN WHEN’S:

1. When was your last shower?
like 45 minutes ago

2. When did you last see your mom?
about 3 weeks ago

3. When was your last time you saw your dad?
about 3 weeks ago

4. When did you last dress up?
wow.....it's been awhile...

5. When was the last time you cried?
yesterday

6. When did you last go to the movies and with who?
it was a while back to see The Rocker with my friend krista

7. When did you last listen to music?
right now

SIX WHERE’S:

1. Where does your best friend(s) live?
Nashville, Birmingham, Memphis, Tuscaloosa, Knoxville

2. Where did you last go?
To my friend Alicia's house

3. Where did you last hang out?
At my house...watching heroes
4. Where do you go to school?
umm presently AB Tech

5. Where is your favorite place to be?
On the lake...

6. Where did you sleep last night?
In my bed....which is so soft...I LOVE IT

FIVE DO'S/DOES:

1. Do you like someone right now?
I don't know

2. Do they like you too?
I don't know

3. Do you ever wish you were someone else?
no not really

4. Do you know the muffin man?
uhh heck yes

5. Does the future scare you?
no

**FOUR WHY’S:

1. Why are you best friends with your best friends?
B/c they listen to me and i listen to them....and they get me and know me!

2. Why did you start your blog?
B/c my friend did it and i wanted to do one too.

3. Why did your parents give you the name you have?
My mom liked the name Brittney and then she told my dad he could pick the middle name...so he wanted Michelle b/c that is my mom's name...sweet i know!


4. Why are you doing this survey?
i don't know...just wanted to....it is kind of taking me back to junior high days when the surveys like this was where it was at!

**THREE IF’S:

1. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Teleportation

2. If you could go back in time and change one thing, would you?
yeah

3. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring one thing what would it be?
for real my bible

**TWO WOULD-YOU-EVER’S:

1. Would you ever get back together with any of your ex’s if they asked you?
no BECAUSE i don't have any ex's!


2. Would you ever shave your head to save someone you love?
Heck yes....i think it would be cool to have a shaved head just for fun....who knows maybe one day i will shave my head


**ONE WISH:

1. What would it be?
That air fare was free!

Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!

So last night I was thinking and praying about what it would look like for lost teenage girls...who are caught up in everything but Jesus to let go of it all and experience true life in JESUS. I was reading my Bible in the book of Acts at Pentecost and umm 3 thousand souls were added to the Kingdom of Heaven in one gathering.
Here is just a little of the scripture from Acts 2

Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?"

Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."

He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!"(Acts 2 37-41The Message)

In my mind and my heart I ponder and dream about the sight of multitudes of young girls whose hearts are broken and wounded by the enemy radically experiencing healing through Jesus Christ. The message that Paul was preaching the "Get out while you can: get out of this sick and stupid culture" I want express to girls here in Asheville. I imagine girls who feel so alone and trapped in their sin...openly repenting and allowing the Light into the darkest part of their lives.

When one girl gets enough courage to speak out and share her secret struggles with sin then another girl begins to get really nervous because in her heart she is feeling and thinking "holy crap....i struggle with the same thing....I thought I was the only one..."then that girl gets enough courage to repent of her sin. And it is a huge domino effect of girls experiencing FREEDOM from darkness and secret lives of sin! It is the simple but oh so powerful message of :"Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven." Turning from our sin and repenting and turning to JESUS.

Jesus I pray that your light would somehow get to the darkest places in the schools of Asheville. That girls who laugh at the thought of you would begin to question and wonder about you Jesus. May girls somehow experience your satisfying unfailing unconditional love. Jesus rescue lost hearts.

get body smart while listening to pandora

The Skeletal System...it is kind of crazy that every single human living on earth has pretty much the same skeletal system. I mean there are those who have different things going on...like maybe missing something...or a deformity...or something but we all have the same bones...connected to each other and everything. It's kind of crazy that we all have these bodies that we depend on daily but do not really have any clue as to how the anatomy and physiology of the human body works. Or at least I sure as heck didn't but you know what...by taking one simple(well not too simple) class I am learning or have the opportunity to learn how this body of mine works. It is pretty amazing. My best friend Lacy who is a nursing major told me that all of this gets easier as you keep looking at it and going over it. You know what she is right. It is by no means easy...but I am beginning to see how everything within our body builds on each other. Anyways...i will stop rambling on and on...i just figured i would take a little break from the all night er I am pulling to make up for my habitual procrastination when it comes to studying....also i want to give a shout out to a helpful website I have spent the past several hours on....www.getbodysmart.com

yeah....thanks to the creators of that site whoever you are....i am getting body smart...that's for sure...

also one more shout out to a wonderful website....www.pandora.com(thank you pandora for providing me with great music to go along with the skeletal system...)

for those of you that do not know what pandora.com is...well it is a website that has a radio thing that creates a play list for you. All you do is type in an artist or song and then Pandora plays songs and artist similar to the one you typed in.....it is pretty sweet!! i enjoy it.

can i also just put in a sigh of relief...b/c i clicked on the back arrow and really thought i lost this post...but thankfully it was saved as a draft....so i didn't loose it. i really hate when you spend time typing out something....such as a blog...or an email and then it disapears.....kind of frusrtrating huh....okay well this break has been long enough...back to studying....my lab practical is at 8:30 in the morning and it's a little after 1 right now.....so a little over 6 hours....till test time....ohh the joys of school....but for real today i was like aww i kind of like this.....

India...sweet India

So I will be going to India January 4th-21st 2009!!! I am going with 5 other individuals and can NOT wait. It is a very short trip only two weeks but I believe it is going to be an incredible experience. I am excited to see this part of the world. I knew God was going to take me to India sometime in the future b/c this past summer two of my best friends spent their summer break in India. I could have gone with them but it was not the right time for me. When I decided not to go with them, I felt the Lord telling me, "it's okay, you will be going there sometime in the future."
So that time is coming up in less than 3 months! I love other countries! It is such an exciting time. I love all of the unfamiliar sights, sounds, tastes, modes of transportation,...i guess really the whole unfamiliar way of living.
Something I have realized through traveling in other countries and meeting new friends. Is that we all have the same heart. No matter what nation or part of the world you live in deep down you were created to love and be loved. It is so beautiful to look past the differences and see into people's hearts. I mean isn't that what Jesus has done for each of us? He loved and loves us before we even knew/know Him. So whether it's in Asheville or India I long to love people as Jesus loves me.