Happy New Year 2009!!! What will it hold?

Coming soon...
1. Ryan and Kelly's stylin romantic wedding (wish I could be there)
2 No limits/Innovate (I can't wait to visit all my friends)
3. Travis and Heidi's baby!!!
4. Angel and Joey Ladd's wedding
5. Hmmm who else is pregnant or soon to wed?
6. Revival!!!!
7. Fill in the blank...truth is some things will be unpredictable, crazy, and well just part of life.

BUT...I can't wait to see how it will unfold. I plan on making the best of this year, and I hope you do too!

Love and miss all my pals!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

As we all know today is Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the day we celebrate family, health, and happiness, and the day we celebrate the joy of giving. But what does it mean to me this year and at this time in my life?

Last night I was lying in bed thinking about my life and where I was going. Many things have changed causing, well to be frank, confusion. I would explain, but I will spare you the details. It would only be, well, confusing. Coming here has made me rethink my life, and the things I once called important. So here is a Christmas Revelation and my gift to all.

Why did God create man? Why did He send his own son to die for us? Being alone for the most part has given me time to really ponder these questions in relation to my own life. My whole life I have been surrounded by people. These people have been my family, relatives, friends, co-workers, classmates, and leaders. I have never felt alone. James Wilder once talked to a group of college age young people about loneliness. He explained that there is a difference between loneliness and aloneness. To be honest, I had never felt either, until now. The devil preys on us in these times. On more than one occasion, I have cried myself to sleep feeling bad for myself. I know it sounds pathetic, but unless you have been there it is hard to understand. I would get mad for being so selfish and ungrateful. I have so much, so why was I so empty inside? Then the answer struck me! Now, this is going to sound so simple but just bare with me.

Jesus was my answer! Duh! right? of course He is your answer, Rachel. But just wait a second before you point the finger. My whole life I have called Jesus my best friend, the only one I needed, my strength, and my first love. Words are empty until they are truly tested. Oh yes, I meant them with all my heart, but it has been in the last two months that they have been tested. If Jesus was my everything why the emptiness? Then I realized why I am here in Missoula. Jesus wants me, Rachel to truly allow him to be my everything. The difference between loneliness and aloneness is what you do during that season. Loneliness is feeling bad for yourself and allowing the devil to steal your victory. Aloneness is using the time to be intimate with God. He created us just for that reason. He wanted a friend, someone whom needed him, someone whom he could converse with and share his love with. Imagine a God who's love is perfect and him not being able to share it. Thus, the reason he created man and the reason he sent his son..."For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotton son..." John 3:16.

So on this Christmas day ask yourself this question is Jesus really my everything? Would I be happy if it was just me and him for the rest of my life? If he is not your everything, like me, let him into your life. Don't worry Jesus is a gentleman, he nevers forces anything on us. However, he will never stop pursuing us, his creation. OH how I love Jesus! Thank you for my Revelation and gift. I finally feel free!

Our first new convert! Check it out!

Just an early morning prayer meeting here in Missoula with Eliana! She sure is a crack up!

Real Gingerbread houses and the makings for a fun tradition!

Ok so the other night we decided to make gingerbread houses, but as you can see on Carly's blog it didn't work as planned. So I thought I would find out what went wrong. In my findings, I discovered graham crackers are not the best subsitute for genuine gingerbread. So here is the recipe for the real deal.

Gingerbread House Template
Gingerbread House Recipe
1 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1-1/3 cups molasses

4 eggs

8 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and eggs. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; beat into the molasses mixture. Gradually stir in the remaining flour by hand to form a stiff dough. Divide dough into 2 pieces.3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place pieces 1 inch apart onto parchment-lined cookie sheets. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

ROYAL ICING (a.k.a super glue for ginger bread houses)
3 egg whites
4-5 cups powdered confectioner’s sugar
Directions: beat until nice foamy stiff peaks form.
This recipe decorated 2 houses, generously. Truly, this stuff is amazing! It could double as nail hole filler. I learned that a little ziploc bag is handy for piping the icing if you don’t have the fancy cake decoration bags, couplers and metal tips.

Making Gingerbread houses is a great holiday tradition. It's fun, it's messy, and it's edible. Oh and kids love it! I plan on making this my future family's tradition.

"I hate good-byes"

It has been two wonderful weeks here in Sac town, but in two days I will venture back to cold Missoula. I have mixed emotions. I miss my dad, mammy, and sisters. I know they need me, and their need draws me there. If they didn't need me I would probably just stay in Sac, but there is a work to be done, a family that needs to stick together, and a girl who needs to prepare for her calling. So all of those things bring me back to Missoula, but oh how I will miss everyone.

I had so much fun playing games, eating ice cream, and chatting with friends. I am so blessed to have such GREAT friends. I say great because all of my friends have the desire to please God and that is what makes a person great. James and Emily thank you so much for spending time with me and for allowing me and Steven to come hang out. You guys ROCK! Steven, thank you for everything. You truly made this time extra special! Mom, thank you for cooking, cleaning, and making your home a welcoming place. I love you so much! I am so glad for this time we have spent together. Chris and Terri Jones, thank you for having me in your home and making me feel loved. I love you both so much! OH and Fayruz thank you for being my dear friend whom I can always count on. WEll I hope I didn't forget someone. I am thankful for all my friends. You all are the BEST!

and why did I say all this...move a 1000 miles away, leave all your friends, and then you will understand. It sure does make you more thankful.

My home away from home!!!

Well, what can I say? I am simply happy to be home in Sacramento/Elk Grove. I have missed everyone so much. I especially missed all my dear friends, Steven, Fayruz, Anna, Carly, Emily, and James...oh no I shouldn't have started to name them. The truth is everyone at the Rock is my friend. Oh how I have missed the Rock Church!

Bishop preached an incredible sermon...The Call!!! Boy oh boy have I ever experienced that intense CALL. I thank God every day for pursuing me. I think it my turn to passionately pursue Him like He has me. If I could only fully grasp His love, there would never be one day of doubt, worry, or impatience. How great is His love and how tender are His mercies. They are new and fresh every morning. They are an overflowing channel of blessings, favor, and anointing. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude towards My God, who I love first and foremost, forever, and with everything I have to give. So while I am here in Sac I plan on soaking up every awesome message, all the anointed singing, and every encouraging word from friends because I have a purpose and call to fulfill in Missoula and I need every bit of strength to do it!

Dad and Mammy,

I love and miss you both already! I am here recharging my battery, preparing for this coming year in Missoula and getting ready for the Great Revival coming our way.

Happy Anniversary!!!!

Wow its been eight wonderful years since my daddy married my mammy. She was an answer to my prayers. I prayed for a mommy to take care of my daddy and I got so much more. I got a step-mom who also loved me and my brothers with all her heart. Not only has she taken care of my dad, she has taken a broken man and turned him into the King Tut hahaha. She has allowed him to dream, and now he is living his dream. I am so thankful for their loving marriage. They teach me that even in difficult circumstances marriage can still be a success story. Yes, we have had struggles, but I have seen them overcome great obstacles which have only made there love and resolve stronger. Now, that is true love. And now to see them living their dream is a powerful realization of what it takes to make dreams a reality. Heres how: find a man with a dream and find a woman willing to follow him and you will find two people living in reality! Wow that is powerful.

love you guys so so so much!