"Ding, dong the bells are gonna chime!"

The past few days have been a flurry of phone calls, tissue paper flowers, and details, details, details. My kindred spirit, Taryn, is getting married next weekend, and I have the honor of being her maid of honor. Sometimes weddings seem overwhelming and crazy, but whenever I step back and think about her wedding, I smile at the beauty of it. A lovely wedding is appropriate for them.

As the bride she will wear white not merely because that is the tradition, but because she is truly pure--not perfect, but pure by the grace of Jesus.
As a couple they will enjoy their honeymoon in complete fullness. For that I am both proud and joyful.
When I stand beside her that day, I will smile with confidence that even if they face difficulties, they will overcome them, for this marriage is not contingent merely upon happiness, but on holiness, and from that holiness will bring joy unending.

Here's to Tim and Taryn, who desire God more than wealth, fame, or one another.

I decided this week to continue with this blog. No, I am not training for a marathon, or even planning on training for one. However, this last month I joined the YMCA and have enjoyed running again as well as Zumba and kickboxing. Alas, a few of my injuries remain (in the hip area), but the Lord has blessed me with the ability to exercise with minimal pain.

Much has happened in my life since I last posted, but more than anything, I am learning to trust Jesus with my heart, which I have not always done. So many times like a selfish and scared child I grabbed it from Him, ran to a corner and curled up in a ball yelling, "No! No! You can't have it!" And in the end I am the one who bruises it because I refused to let go--like a child squeezing, quite literally, the life out of a caterpiller or lightning bug because he "loves it."

Oh, how little I know and how faithful He is. Today I am learning to trust Him.

Zach, Gretchen, Licia, and Lori--you all are my heroes.

My daddy and me--feeling the emotions of being done

                                                               I ran the marathon!
                                Thank you all for your support!
                                     More pictures to come...

Praise Jesus for His tender love towards us!

 One step at a time, He leads us if we follow.

This is why I run

When I first met Jeffy, he looked like this...

But after two weeks of food and love from

Real Hope for Haiti...

Look at those sweet dimples! Praise God for His miracles, and let's help those who are being the hands and feet of Jesus.

To sponsor me:

Checks can be made out to

"Real Hope for Haiti"-write "Audrey Ann" in the memo and send to

Real Hope for Haiti

PO Box 23

Elwood, IN 46036

Online giving can be done at http://www.haitirescuecenter.com/

Please email me with the donated amount, so that I can have an idea how much I raised. Thank you so much!

audreyannsanders@yahoo.com 

His love will never let us go! Let's help others know that love!

My valiant Prince of Peace

Sometimes I become frantic about situations and issues in my life, and I try to take them over myself. You know what results? A mess. A major mess.

My prayer:

May my ears hear what You desire me to hear.
May my heart ache for and take delight in what You deem.
May my eyes notice and view what You want.
May my mouth speak your word.
May my inmost being yearn for You alone, the Living God.

The word "peace" is often underestimated. We see it as meaning "let's all get along," "wars are evil," or "a fuzzy feeling that makes us feel a sort of euphoria." But really, peace can come through a battle. The Lord Jesus is the Prince of Peace. When a battle is waging in my heart, and I am struck with deep sadness, the Prince may not carry me out of it right away, but He will lead me, and fight for me. Peace is not the absence of suffering, but the assurance that the Lord truly does know best, that He will be victorious, and that I am never alone.

spring

Isn't it beautiful that God brings different seasons to us?

As much as I complain about snow, what a miraculous and joyous occasion when the sun returns and green appears. There is a song by Nichole Nordeman that I wish I wrote called, "Every Season."I have the lyrics below, or you could listen to it here.

"Every Season" Nichole Nordeman

Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

At one time in my life, I did not fully understand when people talked about life as a journey or a road. But now I do. It winds and curves and there are hills, so many hills. But at the end of the day, when the sun is setting in a beautiful display of pinks and oranges, I can smile and truly know my soul is at rest. There is so much I do not know. There are so many fears. But the Maker and Sustainer of the universe holds me. So I can run, walk, and rest on that road in peace.