Happy Birthday Jonathan and JT!

Happy Birthday to Justin Timberlake and Jonathan Holmes. Jonathan is a dear friend of mine. He worked with me the last 3 years but moved to OH with his wife this last summer. I have never met anyone like Jonathan (he is so knowledgable, has many talents and has a love for Celine Dion like none other) and he's a friend who I've grown to appreciate and respect. He is wise beyond years and his friendship has been missed this year. (can't wait to see you in a few weeks.)
JT (My Love): Cry me a River....i wish i could see you today on your birthday but you're Gone. Aint nobody love you like i love you. This Senorita will Take it From Here.

I'm in Alexndria, VA this morning. I am here on the East Coast with my co-worker (and friend)Pete. He was coming out to meet with some different agencies and Regent University. I decided to tag along and here we are. It's cold here. I'm not looking forward to that. I'll try to keep everyone updated.

*Today I'm thankful for having a travel companion. I'm so used to taking these trips alone and it's nice to get to travel with someone.

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!?!

Would you rather have a severe ear infection 3 weeks out of every month for the rest of your life or be married to a man (or be a man) who nurses instead of you (and in public) all 3 of your children?
* Death is not an option.
Before you answer you may need to read what could be reality: http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/miscarticles/milkmen.html

(seriously people...who could make this stuff up?!?!)
(Mom you can stop shaking your head at me)


*Today I'm thankful for the time I had with Julie Gebhard last night. I always love our time and find it fun, uplifting and encouraging. I love you and I'll take second place anytime!

Trusting God...

The past 6 months I've been really thinking, praying, reading, and meditating on what it means to trust in God. I believe and know what the Word says but going through difficult times is when I begin to really question what that means. I am a person who says they trust God and believe He has the best for me but I wonder if I really live like I trust Him. It's so much easier for me to obey God than it is to trust Him. I'm going through the book "Trusting God" with one of the girls from the college. It's such a great book and one that I have read over and over the last few months.
I'm thankful that I'm mindful of these things. I have seen how God has rewarded me and encouraged my heart during difficult times. He does have the best for me and His strength is perfect for me. I can't do it on my own yet He has always sustained me and drawn me to Him. I'm so grateful for this because it's something I don't deserve.
Hebrews 12:11 "No discipline seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yeilds the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

This verse has become true for me. I'm not totally sure what it actually looks like to live like I trust in God, yet, I have seen God's faithfulness to me through trials which He has brought me, and because I have seen the work He has done to sanctify me I want to rejoice and be thankful for these trials as it has drawn me to Him. God in His love always wills what's best for us. (which generally isn't what I think is best for me!)

Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you."

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Today is my momma's birthday! HOLLA Girl!! I wish I could spend the day with her to love on her and let her know I love her and appreciate her. This picture is fom a month ago when my mom and dad were out visiting. Kel and I took my mom out for her birthday to celebrate early.

Mom, I love you! Thank you for being a hard faithful worker. Thank you for loving me, caring for me and wanting nothing but the best for me. Thanks for being my biggest fan and always being available to me. I love you so much!



*Today I'm thankful for the girls in my book club. I loved our time together last night. Thanks for encouraging, listening, and sharing. I love you girls!

Person of the Week: Stacey Delzell (Happy Birthday!)

I love this girl! Stacey is one of my favortie friends back in Iowa. I got to know Stacey about 7 years ago. She married my good friend Chad and we hit it off from the beginning. When I was living back in Iowa I spent much time with Stacey, Chad and our friend Chris. They became my little family.

I've been out in California for almost 6 years and Stacey has been such a great faithful friend. We have kept in contact and when I go home she's always one person I want to spend time with.

Stacey, I love you! I wish I could be there on your birthday! Thank you for being such a great friend and keeping in touch with me. You're always so thoughtful of me wanting the best for me and always calling to see how I am. I'm thankful for our easy loving friendship. You are one of those friends where I can go two months without talking and then when we do talk it's so easy. Thanks for sharing your life with me. You are a forever friend and I love you much!

I got to spend the day with Jenny and Olivia on Saturday. It was so fun getting to know my friends daughter. I soon became Aunt Hollie. She was so good and would look at me smiling and laughing. She loves me! We went to one of our favorite spots here in California, "The Grove". We ate at Marmalde Cafe and did a little shopping. It was such a fun day being with these two!



*Today I'm thankful for the sunshine that we had yesterday!

My Girls...

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love these girls! The last 3-4 years of my life have been spent with Tricia,Jenny and Jen. They have been my closest confidants, traveling buddies, body bootcamp companions and we are the concert queens. I look at them and know that God gave them to me as a gift.

Jenny (picture above) got married over a year ago and moved to Yakima, WA. We still talk weekly and never miss a beat with eachother. She brought her daughter Olivia down for a few weeks and Grandma babysat last night so we could all go out and have a little reunion. It was so sweet. I love you girls and love it that you are in my life!

*Today I am thankful for Jenny's husband Brian. That he allowed her to come down and spend time with her family and friends while he's working hard up North! Holla Brian!

It seems like the rain is never ending. Last night I braved the cold and torrential downpour to meet up with two beloved friends. Maryann and Lamey encompass what a true friend looks like. They are so much fun, they love God, we have a great time together. I can show them the good and bad and they love me either way. They are two who are constantly pursuing me, loving me, and are faithful to me in so many areas. They are a HUGE blessing in my life. I've had two different people tell me this week that they have noticed that I have great friends who love me and that is so true. I have thought about that a lot lately and God has immensly blessed me in my friendships. I am abundantly rich!

*Today I'm thankful that I arrived at work safely considering the flooding in Placerita Canyon.

More Favorites....

First of all I want to say that I love the rain conditionally. I love the rain when I can stay at home in my comfy clothes and big blanket around me (not so much when I have to go to work). Last night Tricia and I spent the evening eating grilled cheese sandys and tomato soup, reading, surfing the net, and chatting. This has not happened in a LONG time. It was a sweet time to be snuggled at home while it was nasty outside. We were supposed to meet up with our friend Jenny down in LA but not one of us wanted to brave the traffic and weather. (Soon Jen... we love you!)

I wanted to share a favorite with you. I have no idea how to put a song on a blog so i thought I would give you the name and you could look it up on itunes. The song is "My Life, My Love, My All" by Kirk Franklin. I just love the song. Every time I hear it I tear up and love the words and power of the song. It rocks in my eyes. The lyrics are as follow....download it people!

My hands were made
To worship you
My heart, my King
It beats for you

[Pre-Chorus:]
Oh Lamb
So true
I surrender to you

[Chorus:]
My life
(I give)
My love
(I give)
My all
(All)

[Verse 2:]
Your touch
Your kiss
Your grace
To me
Is deeper
Than my soul can see
My purpose it changed
When I called out your name

My Life, My Love, My All

[Bridge:]
My past has been erased
With just one touch from you
My clouds
My rain
My pain
Has changed
Your blood has made me new

Oh Lamb so true
I surrender to you.
My Life, My Love, My All.

And When
This world
Has come
to end
And paradise
With you Begins
(and this is what He'll say)
Well done
you'll say
When I see your face

My Life, My Love, My All
Jesus you are: My Life, My Love, My All

*Today I am thankful for good health. I rejoice that overall I am healthy and don't have major health issues. IT's a blessing!!!

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!?!?!

Would you rather be extremly(noticably)hairy or not be able to grow toenails or fingernails? Death is not an option.

*Today I'm thankful for my boss Mark Tatlock. He is a great Godly man who supports, encourages and pursues me! I'm thankful!

Considering Others...

A few weeks ago I was looking over a book by CJ Mahaney's wife and there was a chapter on "Considering People". This got me thinking about my friends. I have been blest with an abundance of great friends. I can't even begin to tell you what an important part some of my friends have played in my life. I have many different groups of friends and consider myself very blest when it comes to the friend department. The trouble I've experienced is managing my time in order to pursue my different friendships. This has caused me to evaluate what's really important and where I should be putting my time. This is hard as there are so many wonderful people in my life and not enough free time to spend with all those I love and cherish. The following have been some things that I've thought through and considered after reading through this book (dont know the name of the book!)

1. When it comes to relationships we tend to be more passive than intentional and purposeful. I want to have purpose in all my relationships! I think this past year has been a time of great growth and encourgement in a lot of my relationships. I want to continue this and be thoughtful in these things. I don't want my emotions and feelings to dictate the way I go about relationships.I want my friendships to be like the one found in Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another." or Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." We all need friends who spur us on towards godliness.

2. I also need friends who can mentor. I need to invest more in the girls at the college and spur them on to be Godly women. There are so many wonderful things that come from these relationships and I have learned a lot from some of the girls that I meet with. Titus 2:3-5 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

3. Friends who need the Lord. Colossians 4:5-6 " Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone".

I don't think I will ever master this. Ecclesiastes 3 talks about how there is a season for everything. Changing seasons mean changing relationships. This tends to be the hard part for me. I need to contintually evaluate my time and where I'm spending my time and not only look at how I walk but with whom I walk.

*Today I am thankful for friends that sharpen me as iron sharpens iron.

Changes...

Today is a bitter sweet day for me at work. Our beloved Shannon will leaving us today and be moving up North with her husband Adam. I hired Shannon three years ago and we have become quite close since that time. It's been fun to see her grow and become a more Godly woman in that time. She is patient, kind, and loving and will be missed. (She was a hard worker too!)

Shannon and Adam will have an amazing ministry up North. That is one area where they both have been a great example of what it means to serve and love the body of Christ. I have learned by their example and Walnut Creek will be blest to have Adam on staff and Shannon serving along side him.

I've hired a guy named Luke to replace her. Luke comes from OH and will be a nice fit on our team. Luke is driven, engaging, intelligent, and funny. He has a heart for the Lord. We are excited to have Luke and see what the Lord is going to do in His life.

*Today I am thankful for the rain.

Person of the Week: Matt Elliott

I'm posting the person of the week a day early because I wanted to honor my brother in law on his birthday which is today. I couldn't think of a better person to honor this week as Matt is one of my favorites. I couldn't ask for a better brother in law and am so thankful the Lord brought him into our family. I can't imagine there being anyone better for my sister than Matt. He is Godly, caring, loving, patient and a great dad.

The following are reasons why I love my brother in law: 1.He's a hard worker. 2.He is a man of character. 3. He is always looking out for me and wants nothing but the best for me. 4.He helps me do the "man" things that I need help with. 5.He lets me take Ivy when I want. 6.He loves me. 7.He is my game playing bro!

Matt, I love you! I am so thankful for you and am honored to call you my brother. Thank you for encouraging me, helping me, your Godly advice, and wanting the best for me. You are a blessing to me!

Saturdays....

I heart Saturdays although they go by way too fast. I slept in until 9:15 this morning which is totally out of character for me. I haven't been feeling well and I guess I needed the rest. Tricia and I worked out, ran errands and after that I had no energy. I'm dragging so a night in is just what I need.

*Today I'm thankful for the smell in my house. I love it! (I know that's a weird thing to be thankful for but it's the little things people!)

This has become my new favorite coffee! IT is so good. I've had the regular, decaf and the Cinnamon spice and they are all tasty. When I have company over I always offer coffee so they can experience this little treasure. As I sit here typing I'm enjoying a little cup of dunkin. Check it out... you can now purchase it at most grocery stores and even Wal-mart.

I also wanted to share a verse that encouraged me this morning.

Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out!"

I rest in the fact that God has me in this place for this day and I praise Him for it. He will faithfully guide me throughout life to just where He wants me to be a I seek to do His will! I truly take comfort in that.

*Today I am thankful for my new Kirk Franklin Cd (thanks Gary for finding it and hooking the sista up!)

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!?!

Would you rather have a third arm or six fingers on each hand? Death is not an option.



*Today I am thankful for the gift of JOY. (hence the name Happy Hollie)

I Heart Southern California...

Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

It has been so beautiful here the past few days. It's mid-January and I've been walking around in a t-shirt and jeans. You can't beat the weather. I've been trying to get disciplined to work out more regularly. For years I would go to the gym every morning and be there at 5 AM but the last 4 months it's been rather sporadic. It's been killing me to go to the gym when it's so nice out so I've been getting outdoors and getting some exercise. There are some large hills in the area where I live. I took this picture yesterday when I made it to the top of this huge mountain by my house. (Ok maybe it's not a mountain but my rents were impressed when I showed them when they were visiting.)The picture does not do justice to what I actually see. There is beauty all around and I'm reminded daily of God's greatness and love for us in looking at His creation.

*Today I'm thankful for the beauty all around me.

Person of the Week: Mayah Gorsh

Mayah is my lovely little neice. She is almost five years old and is so cute. She has the sweetest little voice and she likes to tease me. It's hard with her living in Iowa and I wish I could see her more than I do. Her mom does a great job reminding her who I am and I love the time we do get to see oneanother. It's been fun watching her grow and she is becoming quite smart.
Mayah loves to sing and loves her friends at church. My brother's family came out last April for a family vacation and we had a blast all being together. I've been missing them a lot the past month and wanted my little Mai-ti to know how much her Aunt loves her!

These are a few of my Favorite things...

Sometimes it's just hard to blog. I dont really have a problem finding things to say it's more of a matter of "Do I really want to share THAT?" I've decided that on slow blogging days I'm going to share a few of my favorites. Today I will share two things that I love. I was fortunate to actually enjoy both of these things this morning.
The first: STARBUCKS. My favorite starbucks drink is a grande, non-fat, sugar-free Vanilla latte extra hot. Yummy. I havent had one in a long time and today it just hit the spot.

Another favorite thing of mine is pedicures. I love the relaxation of it. It is definelty more enjoyable when you do it with a friend. This morning my dear friend Heidi Keller and I went on a walk (it was good girl!), headed out for a latte and then got a little pampering at the Pedi place. All of this while enjoying fellowship with a great friend.

PEOPLE it is 73 degrees today! I'm loving it. Tricia and I are headed out now to enjoy it. Hope everyone is having a blessed day today!
*Today I'm thankful for my cute toes.

My Brother...Kyle

I just wanted everyone to know that I LOVE my brother.

Last night the girls in my office and I decided to spend the evening together before our beloved Shannon moves up North. We have been together the last three years and have all grown quite close. We went out for dinner and then the girls came over and we had a little slumber party at my house. It was so fun just being together. We are all so different yet have a love and bond for one another that most people will never experience with their co-workers.
These girls have become more than my co-workers but my friends and family. They have encouraged me as their boss and friend and I'm so grateful that I was given the best TEAM ever.

*Today I'm thankful for the girls in Admissions!!!

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!

Would you rather give up the sense of touch or sight and why?

Yesterday my staff took me out to lunch for my birthday. I choose Juana Iguana because i love their avocado burritos. Yummy! :) They bought me my favorite perfume (which I just ran out of) and they gave me a gift certificate to The Grove to do a little shopping. They spoil me! What a blessing they are in my life. Not many people can say they love those they work with. They have become my family and I consider them one of life's biggest blessings to me.

*Today I am thankful for a good nights sleep!

I have been going through a book called 31 Days of Praise. Every day it gives us different things to be thankful for and praise God for. I have been going through a trial in my life and today brought me much encouragement and I wanted to share it with you.

"I praise you for Your soverignty over the broad events of my life and over the details. With You nothing is accidential, nothing is incidental, and no experience is wasted. You hold in Your own power my breath of life and all my destiny. And every trial that You allow to happen is a platform on which You reveal Yourself, showing Your love and power, both to me and others looking on. Thank You that I can move into the future nondefensively, with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead, for You hold the future and You will always be with me, even to my old age...and through all eternity."

Jeremiah 10:6 "There is none like you, O Lord, Thoug art great, and great is Thy name in might."

What an encouragement this was to me. Nothing happens in our lives that is outside of His soverign will. Because He loves us He takes us through these trials to grow us closer to Him. This really encourages me and even though life is hard I'm thankful for those times because it's in those times when I truly grow to love Jesus more.

*Today I'm thankful for the cross.

Person of the Week: Krista Voda

Krista and I are old school. We became best friends in kindergarten and have been together ever since. We used to live next to eachother back in Iowa and would walk around school holding hands. People would often ask us if we were sisters. We went to school together through college and my fondest memories growing up were those with those with Voda. (Her name is Krista Voda but everyone calls her Voda)

Voda is one of those friends that I can go a month without talking too but when we talk we pick up rigt where we left off. We have so many funny stories together. Some highlights would be: making up dance routines and performing them for our friends (we can still do a mean dance routine to Tootsie Roll), sneaking in the gym to watch the boys basketball practice, many road trips with Pepsi and cheese logs, performing Bon Jovi songs to anyone who would listen, double dates and making up code words for eachother.

Voda now lives in Pittsburg and works for Fox Sports. She is a sportsanchor and mainly covers Nascar but also covers some college and NFL football games. You may have just seen her providing sideline coverage for the Cotton Bowl.

Voda thanks for being such a great faithful friend. You are one that I turn to when I need someone to make me laugh and lift me up. I miss you and am glad we got to spend the day together this week. You are my oldest and dearest friend and I love you!

I was compelled to write a little follow up post regarding my birthday. I have never felt so loved! I started out the morning with waking up to coffee with Tricia. She has been gone the last three weeks so it's so nice to have her back home. She then took me to Glen Ivy for a spa day. We got a massage, sat in the hot tub and sauna and had a little relaxation together. It was nice.

By noon I had received over 15 phone calls, numerous emails and the afternoon brought many more. We went home and Tricia let me listen to "my music" and I busted out a few moves. (Holla fo JT!) Tonight some of my closest friends took me to dinner at Sicily. It was such a special time. (I also made myself a birthday CD and asked Tricia to pretend she liked the songs so I could really enjoy it which she gladly did....thanks girl...love you!) There have been a few times over the past few weeks where I have been overcome with gratitude for the friends the Lord has blest me with. Today was a day of love and encouragement for me.

*Today I am thankful for the grace the Lord has shown me.

A Mid-Life Crisis?!?!?

I remember when I used to love my birthday. I have always thought birthdays were special and have found it a great time to remind those you love why you love and care for them (although I believe this should be done on a regular basis). It's only the first few hours of my birthday and I have already received lots of love from those I cherish.

This birthday has been a hard one for me. I think about my life and feel so blest. I look at my job, my house, my FRIENDS (who are the best!) and I have more than most. Yet my human sinful self looks at the things I don't have that I think I want.This is where my struggle has been the past few weeks. The great news is that God has been faithful and has shown me his promises that have comforted me daily the past few weeks.

God was again faithful in reminding me of a sermon our Beloved pastor shared with us a few weeks back. I want to share the main points of it with you as this encouraged me at a much needed time.
Ways to Survive a Mid-Life Crisis:
Savor the Moment:
Ecclesiastes: 5:18 Life is full of sin, sadness, and disappointment. As a result of this man struggles. Joy is a gift and an act of grace from God to man. Savor each moment He gives us (the good and the bad.) Enjoy your life while fearing God.
Never let circumstances rob us of our joy.
*Commit yourself to be a connoisseur of circumstance. Never allow hardships to rob you of your joy.
Seize the Day:
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 The best thing I can do through all trials is to enjoy life because it is fleeting. View life rightly. See your years as the motivation to live your life fully in the present. Don't call to mind the past or future as this makes you not live in the here and now but in the expectations of what you don't have. It's living in the world of unrealized dreams.
Seek the Lord:
All good things come from God. All around us are testimonies to God's goodness. Seek these things and be joyful. Seek Him= Fear God.

So today I choose to rejoice and thank the Lord for His PERFECT will for my life. He makes no mistakes and through all the trials of my life I am thankful. Ecc. 7:3 "Sorrow is better than laughter. For by a sad countenance the heart is made better." This verse is true for me today. My heart is being made better because I choose to trust in the Lord. There is NO crisis (mid-life or other) with Christ!

*Today I am thankful for my friends who love me and are praying for me. I feel it.

Thought I'd share some fun pictures of the familiy. The first one is a picture of Kelli, mom and I. We were bored and having fun with my camera. The second one was Ivy giving me a little birthday kiss. I had just opened my birthday present from her which was a coffee mug with a picture of her and I on it and a Starbucks card! (holla!) The last one is a picture of Ivy at In and Out. I LOVE that photo of her. The rents just took off to go back to Iowa. Love you mom and pops!

Would You Rather Wednesday?

Would you rather work in a job you hate the rest of your life but make enough money to buy what you want or work in a job you love but barely get by?

*Today I am grateful for my bedroom dresser that I just painted green. I love it. (picture below)

New Years Resolutions

A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day. The most popular resolution is always "Lose Weight". I've been thinking about what I want to Resolve for this new year. I don't want this to be a New Years Resolution but a reformation of life.

I have been looking over Jonathan Edwards Resolutions and to be quiet honest it's very intimidating. He tried mastering 70 and I look at them and think if I could master 2 or 3 I would be doing rather good. Bottom line is I want to live my life to bring honor and glory to God. In order to do that I have taken the following resolutions that I hope to be reviewing on a daily basis to make me mindful of what my ultimate goal is.

1. Time spent in the Word and prayer daily.
2. To live with all my might (don't waste time).
3. To live in such a way that the Lord can say "Well done good and faithful servant".
4. Listen more talk less.
5. Exhibit humility.

This is also the time of year that I reflect on the past year and see where I'm at. I can defintely say I am in a much better place than a year ago. I'm stronger, more faithful, more trusting, and have experinced God in a more personal way. This has been a good, challenging and a hard year for me but I have clung to God's promises.

I hope that your New Years Resolutions are more than commitments for the new year; I hope they are reformations for life.

*Today I am thankful that the Lord has given me another year.