89 days

Who cares how many days it is until Christmas?! We're taking our pictures tonight to order the Christmas Cards. Can you tell we're newlyweds? :D

it always works out

Last Wednesday (a week and a day ago) I went to something at our church called GroupLink. During multiple quiet times with God in the past few months I felt that He was urging me to lead a small group. So when I went to the Associate Pastor about this he said something along the lines of "Well GroupLink is coming up." And anyway, there I was with no one in attendance seeming interested in driving to Hixson to attend our group. I love my husband very much but the two of us alone wasn't what I had in my for a small group... I mean that's a SMALL group. :) But Dale (the Associate Pastor again) told me not to lose heart, that none of the people from our area that wanted a small group could actually come to GroupLink and he would give me their e-mails, etc to contact them and make it happen. Maybe because I can be a "Debbie Downer," or maybe because I was scared, I was convinced that I had read something wrong and that a small group wasn't happening after all. When I finally got the e-mails (yesterday afternoon), I e-mailed everyone in our area, which was like 10 people, and most of them are siked and ready for a small group!!! Seriously, Praise God because I have missed being in a small group for like 2 years and I want to go where the Lord takes me. I am Mrs. Play-it-safe and I don't want to be. I've never been afraid of the challenge to lead. Look at my track record, I have always been a leader in some form or fashion.... but I was afraid of jumping in with a group of people I don't know in the slightest. And I want more than anything to let go of my fears and follow His path for me. So anyway, my point in this really long mess is to say how excited I am about having more friends, new friends, that I can build up and grow with. And, God knew I was sad, that I felt like a loser with no buddies at my table and He knew I needed the reassurance in time that I was doing as He asked.... who cares if I had to wait for it?! haha

Praise the Lord!!! :D

Blessings,
Cass <><

Auburn

I don't care how trivial it may seem... I am so ticked that Auburn lost the game tonight against LSU. This game could have easily been theirs and it really bothers me that they messed up such an important game. By losing tonight they have essentially eliminated their chances at the SEC Championship and are not going to be in the top 10 ranking anymore. It really bothers me... I'm so worked up right now its ridiculous!

The Currys

When I married Gary, I married into a large, loving family. One segment of this family are the Currys (his aunt, uncle, and two cousins). They are a wonderful picture of the American dream and honestly some of the nicest people I've ever met. The kids have excellent manners but far more important to me are their fun and enthusiastic personalities. These kids are not born, they are made, and they are being brought up by extraordinary parents. I say all of that to say this: they have had a horrible heartbreaking event today that also breaks my heart. The Currys prayerfully followed a calling to adopt a 15 year-old boy from Ukraine. They've spent two months away from their children, untold amounts of money living in a horrible flat and on who knows what else, only to be shutdown today. Today was their court day and there was nothing joyful about it. The young man they intended to adopt, simply wanted his freedom and what can you say to that?! He turned 16 last weekend, which makes him a legal adult in Ukraine, and if he doesn't want to come, then he has no one to make him. It just breaks my heart to imagine the joys that he could have if he had only allowed himself to accept this gift from them. It makes me think of people that won't accept God's love, His grace. They simply cannot allow themselves to fathom a happy, fulfilling life. That is how I see his situation now.... that he will be so miserable and poor and lonely forever because he couldn't accept this new and amazing life they offered him. Please pray for the Currys broken hearts and for a safe travel home.

If you are interested to see all of their story, they wrote a blog along the way: Another Curry Kid

Much love and many blessings my friends,
Cassie

I'm bad, I'm bad, you know....

I'm working and blogging, how bad am I? :)

Anyway, I wanted to post something that's really important to me, something that I'd like others to pray with me about. A dear friend of mine, which will remain nameless, is having medical problems. She is in her late 20s and has not yet had a child but has been told by her physicians that she needs to have one of her ovaries removed. She really wants children but she and hubby aren't sure that they're ready yet. Of course she can still conceive with only one ovary but the other nice little variable is that her husband had testicular cancer 8ish years ago and lost one of his testicles. So in terms of making a baby, their chances with one ovary and one testicle are obviously limited. I'm writing to ask that others pray for her to make the "right" decision and that she feels confident in God that whatever she decides (have the surgery now or try for a baby first), God will bless them. All of this aside, she's just not feeling well; the ovary is very problematic and I hate to see her in pain constantly. She's afraid and I want her to go to the Lord with this and know that He will make all things ok. Thanks for your prayers friends.

Much love and many blessings,
Cassie

Sometimes I'm a hypocrite

I was just complaining yesterday on Facebook about how everyone keeps posting way too many political links but I'm going to post something here today. I justify posting the link with this: the young man in the video is my cousin's friend and it was e-mailed to me by my cousin (a U.S. Marine currently serving in Iraq) who asked me to pass it on to others. Hope you all enjoy it, I found it to be very moving.

Much love and many blessings,
Cass

We're moving

Yes that's right, Gary and I are moving away from Chattanooga. Don't get too excited yet, we can't move until next summer. I really love Chattanooga but we both feel that God is leading us away from here, away from the comforts of familiarity and family. We both came to the conclusion that God has other plans for us around the time we got married and actually got the courage to tell each other about it a few months later. (He was afraid I wouldn't want to move away because I've lived here most of my life and I was afraid of approaching him about the situation because I know how close he is to his family.) Anyway, we are moving.... at the earliest, June, and if not then, at least by January 2010. We will continue to pray about this but truly hope to find His direction as soon as possible to do our research and planning. :D

I have to say, I'm scared by this prospect but also completely excited and hopeful. We will go wherever the Lord takes us but I have to admit, I'm hoping for some sand and water nearby! :D

Oh no, I'm dishing on politics now, yikes!

I just wanted to say a quick word about politics. When I voted in the 2004 elections, I voted for Bush and here's why: he was the lesser of the two evils..... its sad but true. However, this year I will be voting for McCain, and for the right reasons. On top of the fact that I think he's the best candidate and I really like him, I really don't like Obama. Yes that may sound like a contradiction to my previous post but it isn't. I'm stating that on top of truly loving one candidate, I have MAJOR issues with the other one. Though I won't go into it on here, I can safely say I believe Obama is the anti-Christ. Last thing: thank God for the people that are not ranting and raving about McCain's running mate choice (and I feel sorry for those that can't accept the two candidates and their running mates- get over it, the decisions have been made). I intent to remain positive no matter what... hoping and praying that EVERYONE makes the choice that will allow them to sleep well at night and that no one will attack me for my beliefs. :D

Birthday Celebrations and Other Musings

Last Friday was my 24th birthday. Let me just say, I love birthdays! I'm sure my sentiment will change eventually but for now I still think they rock. I care far less about the presents I receive than I care about who I spend my time with. And how could you not like ice cream cake?! :D This will probably be the most freakish thing you'll ever hear from me but I'm SO glad that year twenty-three is over. I have an odd obsession with numbers and with the exception of the 29, I hate odd numbers. So, that being said, I'm very happy about 24. Being the planner that I am, I've planned a lot of wonderful things to happen by and during year 24.... and I'm well on my way! Want to know something completely moronic? I nearly rescheduled my wedding to the fall of this year because I wanted to be 24! Haha, I know that's a bit ridiculous, that's why we went with April anyway. Silly me...