My bday wasn't over!!!

The last post I published was on Monday....I had no idea what was in store for me!!

Monday afternoon Daddy and I went to District Court, and had my last name changed.  Now I don't have my bio last name starring me in the face.

When Daddy got home he told me it was time to go driving.  I don't have my license yet...I will probably be getting it late April early May.  Now let me explain something to you...Daddy never takes me driving before dinner.  Why?  Let me just say that when he get's hungry he starts getting a lil' cranky :P  Anyway...Daddy and I left at about 5:15 and drove all over!  I had no clue what was going on, but Daddy didn't lead on to anything!

Meanwhile, back at home, Momma, Syd, and Ian were decorating the house with party decorations.  Early that morning, Momma had started preparing dinner early.  Not thinking straight, I thought she was getting ahead so we could have a full night of family time.  Nope...I was wrong...

...at 5:45 all of our church family started arriving at our house.  However, driving past our house, you would have never guessed that we had probably 20-25 guests at our house.  Well...the cars would give it away!  Oh no...the families parked at the local Burger King, so it wouldn't be evident that we had guests!

At 6:15 (Daddy and I were late) we got to our house.  When I opened the door, everyone inside yelled "SURPRISE"!  I kid you not, I must have experienced a mini heart-attack in our doorway.  I was speechless!  Not to mention was I...well surprised and sort of startled.  Sadly no pictures were taken...sorry :(

I was told that Monday night was indeed the end!  Needless to say, I had the best 18th birthday in the world!  I also enjoyed seeing my friend Morgan for the last time until this coming Wednesday, due to her leaving for KY so she could see her man :D

Sorry there were no pictures to post from the surprise party!  I hope y'all have a great Friday!!!!

Love from,
Alisha

xoxoxox  

Birthday blessings

Surprises...I absolutely love surprises!  Now I will admit, I may try to find out what it is, but I love the feeling you get when you are getting closer to finding out what it is :D  April 5th I celebrated my 18th birthday, which was the most memorable day of my life!  I hope you all enjoy all the pictures I've posted :P

April 3: We went to church, and had the most incredible service ever!  Preacher felt led to allow everyone give testimony of what the Lord has been doing in their lives.  Our unintended revival service was 2 hours and 15 minutes of nothing but lifting the Lord up in praises and thanksgiving.  At the end, everyone was crying, hugging each other, telling them how much they loved the other person.  While my friend played "Amazing Grace" during the altar call, I became a blood-bought child of the LORD!

April 4: I spent all day cleaning my very messy room...Mom said it needed to be done before the next day.  After that, Momma, lil' D, Sydney and I went to the mall after picking Ian up from school.  While we were there, we three ladies got our Bibles inscribed.  Then we went to Bath & Body Works...Ian loved it there (the only reason he loved it, was because he was able to put on some of the cologne Momma bought for Daddy).  Then Sydney and I were dropped off at the library, we were asked to do the puppet show :D  When that was over, it was back home to finish up my room!

Now it's time for the pictures to speak for themselves :D  Enjoy!!

 Yes...this lil' man was wearing my sunglasses :P

 Sydney...she is such a beautiful young lady!

Me, Sydney, and lil' D on our way to Pigeon Forge, TN

(for those of you wondering...we had no clue where we were going)

We finally arrived in Pigeon Forge...the three of us were so surprised.  We were even more surprised when we turned into the parking lot of the....

Dixie Stampede...that's right my parents had bought tickets to this awesome dinner theater!!

More pictures from the Dixie Stampede:

Me and Momma...I don't know why people say we look alike :P

The host of that night's show

The show really got Syd's attention...it was full of horses.  In case you were wondering, Sydney is a true horse fanatic :P

What we had for dinner...it was yummy!

The end of the show...the song Dolly Parton sung was beautiful

Outside of the Dixie Stampede:

 Me and my hero...I love him so much!

We wore our church sweatshirts while we were in Pigeon Forge.  It is truly amazing at how people respond to somebody wearing a long skirt and scripture on their back.

The next day was just as exciting as the day before!  We all went to Wonder Works (which sort of like a children's museum) and then we went to Marble Slab Creamery!

We went to IHop for breakfast...

...well, everyone except for me...I had lunch :P

Yes...this house is indeed upside down...you aren't just seeing things :P

 I love this girl!  And no, it may seem like she's choking me, but she was just giving me a hug around the neck :P  No choking was allowed on my 18th bday!

 All of us tried out the bed of nails...Daddy, Momma, Sydney and lil' D said it hurt.  It didn't hurt...even my friend said that it felt uncomfortable to him, I agree!

 CREEPY... :P

 Lil' D loved the bubble room...as you can tell :P

 And after this outing...our sweet indulgence :D

Mine was birthday cake ice cream (appropriate for the occasion) with Heath Bar and Reeses Pieces

If you haven't been to Marble Slab Creamery before, I encourage you to go...it is yummy!

Well...there you have it...as you can see my 18th birthday was fabulous :D

Love from,
Alisha

xoxoxox

I will never be the same

I grew up going to church, and like most children, I knew the song “Jesus Loves Me” – I even went to a Christian daycare.  Although I had grown up hearing about God and Jesus, I didn't know that I was a sinner damned to Hell.  My mother became a Christian in 1997, but as a new Christian she didn't know exactly how to live out her faith (God was slowly working on her).

When I was eight years old, my mother led both me and my dad to the Lord.  I truly believe that I became a part of the family of God that night.  However, as a young child, I believed that the Christian walk was going to be a bed of roses.  I have always had an evangelistic heart – I began witnessing to everyone (I was even sent to the principles office for witnessing on the playground).  At eight and a half years old I gave a piece of my heart to my good friend, only to have him break my childish heart a few days later.

At nine years old, God led me to trusting Him with my heart.  December 27, 2009 I vowed to remain pure until the Lord brought the right man into my life.  I went to all of my friends and told them about the decision I had made.  Instead of encouragement, I heard “Alisha you're crazy!”, but I didn't let that phase me.  I kept on keeping my heart pure – and still am.

When I was thirteen, the Christian walk became an extremely bumpy path for me.  We had been living in TX for a year, when my parents told me that I wasn't able to go to the young group until I was fourteen.  I got mad at God and my parents, and decided that I could live my life better without God.  Finally fourteen rolled around and I was able to go to the youth group.  One night, the pastor's son asked me out on a date.  Out of spite for my parents, and without hesitation, I told him “yes”.  Surprised to hear that I had accepted, he told me that it was an April Fools joke, which really bothered me.  God was trying to pull me closer to Him by giving me an uneasy feeling about this youth group.  Heeding this feeling, I stopped going, and thankfully God led us to a different church.

At the age of fifteen, I got myself into some trouble and even contemplated hurting myself.  I was choosing to follow the crowd, and not follow the Word of God.  I was allowing my past mistakes to control me.  I was in a secret relationship, listened to music that wasn't glorifying to God, talking like the world, and simply not living my faith out.  

When I turned sixteen, I couldn't hide my miserable life any longer.  I told my parents what I had been doing, and they were extremely disappointed in me.  Hearing them say “We're extremely disappointed in you” was heartbreaking, but it caused me to think of how I had disappointed my Heavenly Father.  I had walked around calling myself a Christian, while living like the rest of the world.  My parents prayed with me, asking God to change my heart, and if I wasn't truly saved – to save me.  I knew I was truly saved, but I wanted life done with me in the driver's seat.

From then on, I really dove into the Word and started getting my life back on track.  I still made silly mistakes, but I finally realized that I had victory over them!  I realized that they didn't have to consume me, and that I didn't have to beat myself up over them.  I knew that I didn't have to let my past control me, and that I had been forgiven.

When we moved to Virginia, we started to attend a small Baptist church.  Two nights before my eighteenth birthday, the pastor felt the Spirit leading him to allow the congregation to give praises, thanksgiving, apologize to people – it was a wonderful impromptu revival service.  Four nights ago (April 3, 2013) I surrendered my life to God.  That night I realized the following:

Yes I became a Child of God at eight years old – and was baptized two months later.  I had made mistakes that I regret (even to this day).  What I was missing in my walk with God was complete surrender!  I needed to get out of the driver seat and allow God to take the wheel of my life.  Until I surrendered control, my life wouldn't be in line to God's will.

Now at the age of eighteen, I am so thankful that I have not only given Him full control, but I have given Him my dreams/desires.  Once I surrendered my dreams/desires to God, He has opened doors for me that I honestly never thought would be opened (oh me of little faith).

While I regret the mistakes I made in my past, I know God will use them to touch other peoples lives.  I am thankful that while I decided to live life my way, I never lost sight of what my Savior did for me!

What I'm up to lately

Lately I've been up to:

1. Learning Carelton Forrester's redition of "Amazing Grace"
2. Getting ready to get my license in 2 weeks
3. Figuring out what I'm doing for my bday (it's a surprise...Momma and Daddy wont tell me)
4. Texting my good friend who lives 8 hours away
5. Trying  to get school done so I can take my bday off
6. Writing friends who live to far for us to meet one another
7. Having fun with my new Android Tablet :D
8. Memorizing 1 John
9. Trying to loose weight before our church camp meeting that's taking place May 20-24 (please pray for me!!!)
10. Trying to learn how to be content with being single in this season of my life!
11. Reading Malachi, Zephaniah, Proverbs, Psalms
12. I just finished the book of Ruth
13. Reading "Do Hard Things" and "The Vow"
14. Volunteering at the local library
15. Giving an interest I have in a certain someone to the Lord...(I encourage every young lady to do this...if you don't, your interest will consume everything you do)
16. Taking a break from photography [place gasp here]
17. Playing my heart out on the piano
18. Taking one day at a time

What have you been up to?  Leave a comment and let me know ;)

Love from,
Alisha

xoxoxoxox