Random...but totally worth it.

SO, David <---- Decided to name our Youth Group Band the Steel Potatoes, and it is completely hilarious. We decided that we were going to change it to something that would be totally random and only the band would know what it meant. Well, we did. We like Steel better than any other metal and we LOVE potatoes! so its kinda an inside joke. But Most of the songs we are doing now are kinda being changed to Ghetto Tech. There is one song now that we have totally made amazing! Great Big God. It sounds amazing. Like any rock band would make it sound! haha! We are doing this all for the glory of God. and yeah we still stand there and wonder what the Higgins would think of us now...well, we will have to wait until the Higgins get their butts up here! [which has to be a.s.a.p!] Okay...so that is my new hair color! Yeah it's ALL ONE COLOR! I am so Excited that It is like that now...its pretty much natural...except you can barely see my natural red in it too...I am gonna get Low Lights put in...no highlights this time..! haha! But what going on in my life is soooooooo much right now. God is calling me to work wonders in our Youth Ministry and to help out the new kids and even the adults. I am stepping up and taking full control of everything that God has placed infront of me. I am helping more in the community. Pretty soon I will be doing Horse rides for the handicaped, which will be very rewarding to see so many people with a smile on their faces. But I think I will try Horse rides with Kim on Baron's back first and then I'll take Lydia and see if Lydia likes it...but yeah It should be fun and very entertaning.
Okay, so there is a story behind why I took this picture. Kim's mother saw my dog and was wondering what His name was and Kim thought it was Hercules. so while she was at my house she called Him Hercules and it was completely funny. and I saw this at the fair and I said that I had to stop and take this photo just for her!
[my dog's name is actually Zues]







Anyways, that's all for now...I'lll keep you informed on what God is doing in my life!

Love, Peace and No hair Grease,
Heidi ♥

True Story! No Joke! hehehe!

So there's really not much to say at this point. but in about 4-5 hours I find out if I have a Niece or a Nephew. [it's going to be a niece but you know...got to give it options.]

Yesterday I hung out with Stephanie, Kim, Lydia Sam, and 70's Man[a.k.a Andy] and it was a blast. We made Zucchini Bread and It TASTES AMAZING! and I did Barn Chores. I still smell like Horse...even after showering! ahhhhhhhhhhhh

On Monday while worship team was going on. David and I decided to go back through the years and talk about Pastor Casey, Dara, and Sherry. So David and I talked for an hour [the other bands members were working something out] We were talking about how every time Pastor Casey would go to hit a note in Evermore, He would lift his shoulder and How David is going to carry out that legacy and to see if anyone notices it. ha ha. and I am the only female on Worship team! [thanks guys!] But through the past we started to realize that even after them being gone they were still so close to our hearts. Then the boys wanted food so we raided the kitchen and found pudding. [that the Higgins family had left] Tor made it and He made a huge mess! lol. but it was an all around good time. I could tell that Dave was still a bit hurt by the Higgins leaving [we all are] but we had a blast just standing on stage and making a joyful noise [idk about my voice though it kinda stunk]

On sunday. Well, I said good-bye. But I don't consider it our last good-bye. I love the Higgins family and Sherry is already planning my vacations. But Becky and I decided that we are going down together. But there is gonna be one trip where we are going down in a group..I think the entire youth group is gonna go down together at some point! lol.

I got no sleep Friday Night or Saturday night! haha! YAY BECKY AND I!

Yeah so thats about it.
Love,
Peace,
Hair Grease,
Heidi

Good-bye Higgins Family (and Kippi)

So this is my good-bye post. I hope you all will read this and think of the good times we had.

We can all remember how it started off, the first time we met. I had no clue who any of you were but you all looked amazing. I don't think I really met Dara at first...well, not until youth group that night. but I met Pastor Casey and Sherry. Sherry could never remember my name [maybe that is why I have 20 bagillion nicknames], but it was a fun time.

I remember when I really started to talk to Sherry. It was the day after my cousin had died and I was talking to Her about it and I completely poured my life out to her. and she let me in on her life a little bit. She cried and I cried. yeah good times all around. and now its like everytime that I have a problem I go to her about it and I love it. oh and E-mail is so not from God sherry, it's so from Bill Gates (hehehe).

Pastor Casey and I...well, we never really talked. He always(and still does) tried to hit me. lol. but he is such a great guy. I remember on our way back from War Cry we were racing another church, in our van and they in theirs, but we so totally won! they for-fitted. It was a great time all around. Not to mention the fact that we have numerous serious conversations on our way back from places. Fall Advance was a fun time. Thanks.

And Dara. Where to begin. We started off as complete strangers and never really got close. as time went on Dara and I started getting closer and closer. I remember Lois Rood asking if we had known each other for a very long time and we replied no. that was amazing and I keep that in my heart. I would do anything for her and I will be here for her whenever she needs me. I love her to pieces. I can't wait until she is the Maid-of-Horror in my wedding. hehe! LOVES!

Well, I'll miss you guys so much

"Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving tot he Lord. I am so glad you gave."

Lovem

Heidi

What If?...

i wonder what would happen if we treated our bibles like we treat our cell phones.

what if we carried it around in our purses or pockets etc?

what if we turned back around to get it if we forgot it?

what if we flipped through it several times a day?

what if we used it to receive messages from the text?

what if we treated it like we couldent live without it?

what if we gave it to our friends and family as a gift?

what if we used it as we traveled?

what if we used it in an emergancy?

what if we kept in touch with god like we do our cell phones?

something to make you say hmmmmmmmmmmm........where is my bible

With Christ...

" It doesn't matter if the world is pulling you down, with Christ you have everything."- Nick Jonas (yes one of the Jonas brothers)

Okay, so as I sit here "alone" I have but one thought. Why do we not give Christ everything, if He has given us everything? He has given us a new life, He gave His life for us so that we could live.

John 17:7 "Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you."

2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

Now when I see those 2 verses I see that Everything we are given in our lives is from God. And we need to show that to people. Pastor Casey has stated that we need to be "Donkey's on the edge for God" and he is completely right. We need to step out of our comfort zone and get out there and help people.
There are people right around us that we hide from daily. and we need to show them Christ. Now, I know that I am not the one who should be preaching about stepping out of your comfort zone considering I don't step out of mine that often. but we need to. I need to. If we are called to be more like Christ each day. Then don't you think at least once we should reach out? We can't sit here and get tripped up every ten minutes. In Becky's Sunday School class we were told not to give up. I was jump roping for a demonstration and she tried tripping me and I got frustrated and was ready to give up. But whenever we get frustrated we can't give up. We need to have some practical approaches to getting back on track. Start off slow and let God take control.

With Christ alone can we ever truly find who we are. No highly paid Psych can tell us who we are. Christ Can!

I am not who people think I am

I'm Not Who People Think I Am
Answer by Jim Burns

Q. I put up a happy and perfect front to hide my hurting and sin. And honestly, I think a lot of my youth group friends do the same. How do I start being honest? How do I get over my fear of showing my true self?

A. You're not alone in your struggles. In fact, great heroes of faith have felt the same way you feel. The Apostle Paul wrote, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. … I know that nothing good lives in me. … For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do" (NIV).

Basically, Paul is admitting that he's no good without God. And he's right. The Bible is clear that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We all hurt. We all sin. And like Paul, we hate some of the things we do and we don't understand our actions.

So, what's the easiest way to deal with these faults? We hide them. We cover them up. We dress up and go to church and smile. People ask how we are and we politely say "Fine"—even though we're definitely not fine. Why do we do this? Because we don't want to admit we're not perfect. We don't want to spill our messiness on others. If we do, we think people will judge us and reject us.

But church is the one place we should be able to be real and messy. We all know we're all flawed. We all know we're carrying burdens and secret sins. So let's admit them and help each other. Now, I'm not saying you should stand up in church and announce your sin. Instead, I've found that meeting weekly with a small group of guys helps keep me on the right path. These men hold me accountable to walk closer with God. We are very open and honest with each other. They cheer me on to do good and call me out when I mess up. I know I'm a stronger Christian and better man because of my relationship with these four guys. This type of honesty and vulnerability is not easy. It's hard to be open and real. When my group started meeting, we mainly talked about surface stuff. One day, one guy had a family crisis. As he opened up, it gave each of us the freedom to also open up. We realized we wouldn't be rejected for being real. Now we have a very honest, blunt and unashamedly Christian group.

So my advice to you is to find at least one other person you can be real with and who will accept you for who you are (a sinner saved by grace). In doing so, I believe you'll begin to overcome your fears about being yourself. Most importantly, you'll be following the scriptural advice of Galatians 6:2: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (NIV).

Jim is an author, longtime youth worker and founder of HomeWord, a group seeking to honor God through strong families.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.

Huge Event Just took place! NO JOKE!

Okay, So I have 2 sisters who I havent seen in 11 years. Ashley and Amber were adopted when they were 5 and 4 becuase of abuse problems that their mother (my step mother) was doing. This is HUGE! They were taken away and weren't aloud to see any of us. So years went on with no information on either of them and today I was checking email and it said that Amber wanted to be friends with me...I had no idea who Amber was I havent seen her in 11 years so I looked and she sent me a message saying that she is my sister. and I started to cry. so I talked to her a lot and she is in another foster home and is going through a rough time. But I wold her that I am here for her anytime she needs me! I am loving today!
My sister is going to give me strength through my rough times! Man I miss them so much! I love them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love you Ashley and Amber! Miss you so very much!