Monthly Archives: September 2013

Wheat Free Fruit Pizza

Kristi Burden • 28 September, 2013

Rylie has joined the likes of women from all over who adore the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. She comes on at the exact time that Rylie gets her shots on Mondays and Thursdays. Rylie has forgotten her fish tank friends at the clinic: T-Bob, Bob, Camo, Didi and then Bibi (Didi's love interest ). Since discovering the Pioneer Woman, she hasn't picked up the worn out copy of Green Eggs and Ham or tried to stick her good patient stickers on random strangers. She thinks we should try every recipe we see that the Pioneer Woman makes but this week's fruit pizza recipe, she says, had her drooling.

So today we tried it. And bonus! We made it wheat and gluten-free and it was still "eat every crumb" good.

Everybody was pleased, even Hayden who is in strong opposition to any altered form of bread/pastry product.

Here are a few non-fabulous iPhone pictures.

We've used Betty Crocker Gluten-Free products a few times. The chocolate cake mix (we made cupcakes) are awesome. But how could they not be slathered with chocolate icing. I used two boxes of sugar cookie mix.

It made nine huge cookies. I could have eaten the cookies just fine by themselves. Well, with a tall glass of milk.

Here is the recipe I used for the icing. It's only the three ingredients that I have bordered in pink so neatly for you. I couldn't find the Pioneer Woman's. I was impatient and snapped this screenshot of the first fruit pizza icing I could find. Then I strayed from the recipe anyway. I used powder sugar instead of sugar, because I wanted to.

I didn't realize until I started cutting fruit that I got a lot of red fruit. I don't think it mattered a whole lot except for visual purposes and I'm not usually too worried about that.

Here's the happy camper. I was going to take a picture of the other two, but one had food on their face, and the other was still in pajamas (at 4:30 in the afternoon).

Until next time. The dishes.....and the laundry are calling.

If you have a good wheat free recipe, share it please.

On Bullying; Be an Upstander

Kristi Burden • 28 September, 2013

I have been overwhelmed with grief for what I have seen in the news in the past month. Three young people across the nation, the youngest being a twelve-year-old girl, have ended their lives feeling that they couldn't suffer being bullied any longer. I know that these cases are of an extreme nature, but intimidation and tormenting abound. I feel the utmost urge, if nothing else to teach our children the value of kindness. I want them to be equipped with the knowledge of what God has to say about how we treat others. I want them to be reminded that showing God's love is a big deal, much more so than anything else we do. The following is a devotion that will be done with our pre-teen girls at our God's Girlies Event tomorrow. Read it, or don't, but please pray for the event. Pray that the girls would be open to hearing from God and that they would be willing to be agents of change.

Banishing Bullying

Do you know the lingo?

WORD BANK:

getting help victim bullying

bystander getting directly involved

upstander

-an aggressive intentional act or behavior that is carried out by an individual or group repeatedly over time against a victim who cannot easily defend themself ____________

-the target of bullying ____________

-everyone (in addition to the victim and bully) who is present during a bullying incident or is aware of an incident ____________

-goes against the tide to protect a victim from injustice____________

Bystanders can become upstanders by ____________ or ____________

Chances are you have played more than one of these roles through time. Maybe you have been a victim, bystander and upstander on different occasions. It could be that you have even participated in bullying. It's a good thing that God has something he lovingly says to each of us.

What God has to say to us about bullying

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up...... Ephesians 4:29

Bambi's bud Thumper learned right from his mama, "If you can't say sumpthin' nice, don't say...... nuthin' at all.

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Psalm 34:13

Not only should you keep yourself from saying mean and untrue things, STAY AWAY from others who speak evil and untruth.

Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers, But they delight in the law of the LORD meditating on it day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

Like our parents, He tells us more than once not to be a part, even as a bystander, of bad behavior. He tells us that our attention is better spent reading, thinking about and practicing what he tells us in His word.

Proverbs lists out "6 things God hates and seven things that are detestable. I know I don't want to be a part of anything like that.

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 6:16-19

You're probably thinking I've never busted somebody up to bleeding, but God puts blood-spilling right in the middle of lies, general trouble-making and a mean-spirited plan-making heart. You don't have to physically hurt someone to really hurt them.

And the King will answer them, Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40

Standing up for someone because you know it's what God wants you to do is an act of service to Him. It's a two-fer! You've come to the aid of the person being bullied and you've served God.

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

If you are safe to stand up to someone who is bullying, do so, but remember that there are adults that are nearby who want to help. Be a counselor or go get one.

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:31

I can't think of a single sane person who would want to be bullied or a person who would want to be laughed at or have a crowd staring at them while they are being purposely humiliated. You'd want to be defended if it were you, so help out; be the person you'd want on your side in time of trouble.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another... Colossians 3:12

"Putting on" those characteristics my friends, I PROMISE YOU, is far more important than putting on your favorite jeans.

In all of these tribulations we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:35

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Life isn't always easy. Sometimes we find ourselves in a place where it never seems easy. This world is by no means a perfect place. That's why we do best to remember that God is our guide. He's our salvation; our protector, the one who forever and completely loves us. He will get us through the bad times if we trust in Him. Don't forget that he put people in your life, like your mom and dad and your grandparents or that special aunt or teacher. They're there to help you. But unlike God who knows all, sometimes you have to let them know what you're going through.

You're being prayed for. For the one who has behaved badly time and time again towards another person, Stop! Ask for God's forgiveness and for his help in being more kind. For the ones who stand by and laugh or do nothing at all, be mindful that it's always right to stand up. And for the one who suffers at the hand of people who have no understanding or concern for their actions, hang in there. Hang on to prayer and the words of God. You are loved more than you feel. God will help you through.

My Sunny-Yellow Barstools and Endurance

Kristi Burden • 23 September, 2013

Yellow- "Being the lightest hue of the spectrum, the color psychology of yellow is uplifting and illuminating, offering hope, happiness, cheerfulness, and fun" (empower-yourselfpsychology.com)

I'm a walking contradiction. My last post urged you to be a quitter because "some things are worth letting go". But I met two sunny-yellow bar stools last week that don't fit under that "let-them-go" category.

I have a shopping rule that I use frequently with myself and the kids. When you want something, not need but want it, it's a good idea to walk away from it and keep shopping. If you still want it later and have the money for it, then get it.

I waited for days.

Today I returned to Target to purchase the barstools eager to bring them to their forever home. I checked the price to make sure they were still on sale, one of the factors in my deciding to get them. They were still 25% off. Score!

I rolled my buggy up to the front and made friends with a lady behind me in the check-out line. Eyeing her daffodil yellow toilet and bath rugs I smiled, "Don't you just love yellow?". We chatted happily until I noticed my purchase ringing up at regular price. I assured the clerk that they were on sale to which she checked the sales ad.

To make a long story long, the sales ad didn't show the barstools being on sale. Another nice clerk went back to the chair section and confirmed that they weren't on sale.

I kept my smile and my cool, but I wasn't budging. I was sure the tag had said they were on sale. I asked permission to go look one more time at the tag I'd seen and also to check out some other barstools. The clerk followed. I was right. The tag matching my barstools were on sale.
I got my barstools on sale. The clerks, Target, the sunny lady behind me and I are all still friends. The end.

Almost.

I was so happy I worked up a spiritual application for you, increasing the value of my sunny-yellow barstool purchase.

Though my "sticking with it" was entirely for something fleshly, a mere thing, I was reminded of the importance of endurance concerning spiritual matters. And as I sit typing perched upon my four-legged ray of sunshine a couple of thoughts come to mind.

Sticking with it

1. The finish line doesn't always mean a win. There are those who play poorly before crossing the finish line. If I had made the clerk cry upon a bullying insistence or caused a big disturbance in the check-out line, it wouldn't have been worth the effort. I find myself being the most enduring when it comes to making sure someone knows I'm right. If I hurt someone just in effort to prove my validity, I'm not really accomplishing anything of value. Quit a race that's being run godlessly.

2. Make sure you're in the right race in the first place. Don't destroy yourself on a diet you don't need to be on or stay up until midnight with an aching, hunched back mopping a floor that can wait a day, or a week..... My lately prayer is that God would help me in choosing what I say yes to and in the things I respectfully decline. I need that help.

3. Be mindful that not all races are a short distance. I really envied my friend in Junior High. She ran all of the sprints. She was finished in seconds. I had to run the mile and two-mile. I wasn't fast. I. just. had. to keep......going. It wasn't easy, but that was the race I was meant to run.

4. There are some races you're forced to run. I've mentioned before that a "football" coach was in charge of our track team one Saturday way back when. He signed me up (at a whopping hundred pounds) for the shot-put and the four-hundred meter dash (Did I mention I wasn't fast?) I tried to pretend like I was asleep come time for the first and second call, but I ended up being forced to run a race I didn't want to run. I'm running some of those kinds of races now too.

More important than anything, for your races and the ones your friends face, pray the great words that come from Colossians 1:11

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.

And between your racing, may you find a nice yellow barstool like mine to rest on; a place where you find happiness and hope.

Sometimes it’s About Letting Go • 6 Comments

Kristi Burden • 19 September, 2013

Jason has lost thirty pounds..........(clapping my hands). He has worked so hard. Not only has he worked out at the gym faithfully, sometimes his workouts start at 5:00 AM. (I have several crazy friends who are working out this early too). He's also been committed to eating salads and drinking some awful protein/egg white shakes. Funny thing is, I was the one who mentioned wanting to eat healthy, months back. I've barely lost a pound, but at least I was his inspiration.

He's an oak. And I love him.

He attributes much of his success to the Paleo Diet which is the "Caveman Diet". I decided to try it for a week. I made it Monday and half of Tuesday (by Tuesday I was already so "over it"). I celebrated the cease to my carb-less thirty hours with a giant cookie. I call the Paleo Diet the "Killjoy Diet".

You might say I'm not good at following through with things. One could say I lack self-discipline.

I sit here in my happy place with my sweats on, full of pizza and Coke. I stepped on the scales and they laughed at me in number language. Still, for now, I'm perfectly content.

Sometimes (much of the time) I'm a quitter. I'm a darn good quitter. And that's ok,

Because there are some things worth letting go

like washing the dishes when your son wants to tell you about the trip he plans to take to Thailand someday

and health fads that make you crabby and no healthier

like the job that requires more of you than your family can afford.

Let go of past hurts; only hang on to the good you've learned from them.

Quit trying to make every single meeting on your radar, even if you know there will be people wondering where you were if you miss.

Drop that argument you're determined to win with your twelve-year-old when all reason has been tossed out the window

and quit beating yourself up when you forget your eight year old's note in her lunch, and her drink (.....three times).

You can stop comparing your cooking and seasonal table settings to the cover of "Southern Living" and your wreaths to the ones on Pinterest

Let go of your unattainable dream to have your neighbor's perfectly sculpted yard.

Quit your tired effort to make your husband into the perfect mate and just keep loving him as he is

Stop thinking that your childrens' happiness lies squarely and solely on your shoulders

Quit packing your calendar so tight that the numbered squares on its pages bulge until they're almost circles.

Quit worrying about things

like the weather or your son's Physics grade (You can't control it)

the peeling paint on your house exterior and smudges on the windows and glass door (These things will wait)

It doesn't help to worry

when your children are upset with you (they'll hopefully get over it)

and about that person who without fair reason doesn't like you and never has (Not everyone will)

Quit dwelling on life's injustices (that you can't or don't choose to do anything about)

Stop missing out on life's little joys.

-You'd better recognize them if you'd quit some of the other "stuff".

Life's not always about conquering, winning, enduring mastering.

Sometimes it's about letting go.

Jason is an oak.

Sometimes I'm an oak too.

Other times I'll be a bold leaf,

weightless

who in season releases it's grip and let's go.

Be a quitter.

P.S. To Jason and my friends who are sticking to your ridiculous, I mean rigorous 5 AM workouts, I look up to you and still think you're super cool.

P.S. I Love You • 2 Comments

Kristi Burden • 16 September, 2013

P.S. -postscript /a brief attachment appended to the ending of a message

Rylie is typically pretty devout when it comes to prayer. She starts out something like, "Jesus Christ, Lord...." and then prays long and hard for everyone and everything she can think of. We were surprised when one night the usually long-winded giver of thanks made her prayer short and sweet. She thanked God for me, Hayden, Hallie, Griffin and our food. And then she said amen. Jason, who usually prefers the abridged version of her prayer looked befuddled. Daddy's girl had forgotten to mention him in her talk with God and he'd noticed.

Disappointed he said, "You forgot me!".

Sensing his sorrow I quickly offered,....... "Rylie, God does P.S.'s. So she added on, "And thank you for my Daddy".

God really does allow P.S.'s. In fact I believe he encourages them.

He tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Sometimes we say "Amen"; our "so be it". But it isn't intended to mean "Prayer over" or "The End". Amen isn't a closing meaning "On to the next thing, .....glad I got that obligation out-of-the-way".

If we have any sense whatsoever (and I admit I lack good sense on a regular basis) we know that there isn't a moment that exists when there ISN'T something to be said to God. There's always one more thing; another P.S.

He wants to hear from us.

A father wants to be remembered.

I do try to have somewhat of an organized prayer time. Having prayed in groups, a habitual format I've learned goes something like Praise/Thanks/Repentance/Intercession for self and others. I think a format is dandy. But if it's the only communication I have with God, I'm missing out.

So prayer P.S.'s are in order for any and all occasions

when you notice the first brightly hued leaf signaling Fall's arrival

when you have a loved-one on the road

or you get a phone call that your friend is sick and they don't know what's wrong

when laughter explodes and you realize its healing nature

when you read in the news that another teenager has taken her life or you hear another heart-wrenching story about cyber bullying

when your kid has a big test or has just failed one

or you realize that you were snippy with your husband in the last text you sent

when you think about how thankful you are for your extended family

or a niece gets baptized

when you need grace

when you've received it

I think every day should be chock full of P.S.'s

Often times my P.S. holds the most important and heartfelt communication. In its brevity, it says:

I trust you

I need you

I acknowledge you

Thank you!

Forgive me.

I love you

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

Live Above the World • 2 Comments

Kristi Burden • 14 September, 2013

The Lord is my strength and my shield ; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exhults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength

I've always said if I could choose a time period to live in, I'd choose to live in the pioneer times. I'd be happy in my simplicity with my log cabin and fresh-baked bread. I'd look good in a bun and no make-up. Then again, in the pioneer days there would be no Google to search for the definition of the word 'docent' or 'cicerone'. I wouldn't be able to find a recipe by typing the words 'tomato, feta and avocado' into my phone.

And I wouldn't be able to search for the answer to questions like "Why do birds perch on power lines?".

I actually did that.

The other day I was feeling overwhelmed (surprise, surprise... I stay in a constant state of some degree of overwhelmance /made up word alert/).

As I was racing to the car I spotted a group of birds situated on the line in our backyard. I've seen them there a hundred times.

I envy those birds; their being so stable,

unmoved by all the world hurrying around them

They're unafraid of falling, those birds.

They know.......I mean they really know they have no better place to be than on those heights; it's the place where their grasp is firm.

I jumped in the car and did a quick google search "Why do birds perch on power lines?" hoping that I might find an answer; anticipating that God might have carefully situated nature once more to teach me something.

Here's what I found:

Many birds like a view from the highest vantage point possible...., said Miyoko Chu, director of communications for the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology....

Call me simple-minded, but a bird's eye view is just what I need.

I need a place where I am not overcome by appointments and my unchecked list of obligations.

A place where I can be still, even when I have to keep moving.

I want to be in that place where I can survive things gone wrong

like a sticky kitchen floor from spilled mandarin oranges

or sick kids and one kid that I had a big fat blow out with

A place above difficult circumstances.

I need my own powerline.

I'm glad to be reminded that I have one. God kindly tucked it deep within me so it might be with me wherever I go, whatever may befall me........... Makes me think of a song.

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay

Though some may dwell where these abound

My prayer my aim is higher ground

I want to live above the world

Though Satan's darts at me are hurled

For faith has caught the joyful sound

The song of saints on higher ground

(Higher Ground)

The power to live beyond the mess is within us.

On second thought, the pioneer days didn't have google, power lines or this hymn that's got me humming again. I'll take today... and I'll be thankful for my vantage point.

Birthdays, Bowling and Borders • 3 Comments

Kristi Burden • 8 September, 2013

Well we survived another birthday party. I'm not talking the benign kind; you know where the grandparents come and there's cake with candles and singing and a couple of presents, and then the adults have coffee and visit? I like those kind.

This was another kind. Rylie recently brought it to my attention that she's never had a "friend party". I've found a perfectly good excuse for her to not have one every year.

She's the third kid. I've learned from her older siblings that friend parties can be nightmares.

Pandora's box is always one of the things unwrapped and opened at the parties I've had for the kids. Things have been broken. Stuff has been spilled..... including tears. I remember one party sitting catatonic in the middle of the floor while the children ran around in a circle and threw bits and pieces of wrapping paper in the air in some sort of frightening sacrifice ritual. Another time (a slumber party gone wrong) a sandwich of some sort (slathered in ketchup and ranch, topped with pickles and cheese slices) was built in my underclothes that were heisted from my room. I have a picture of it, but I'll spare you.

(Sigh.) Memories.

Rylie had her "friend party" at Max Bowl Saturday.

I just knew her birthday cake was some sort of bad omen. I'd grabbed it at HEB. I told the lady behind the counter (who did not ask) twice how to spell Rylie's name....... She still spelled it wrong. However she let me know it was no big deal as she scraped off the incorrect letters and squirted nice, thick purple letters to disguise the error. Hours later the icing on two sides of the cake wilted, looking somewhat like a landslide.

But we carried on.

Jason wanted to turn around and go home when we had a hard time finding a parking spot at the bowling alley. I'm pretty sure the inside was crowded too, but I could barely see a thing- except for red and green laser twinkles and whatever fluoresced with the black light.

I was terrified that a kid in my care was going to get lost or snatched. There were a couple of times that a kid would try to wander over to the arcade. I'd bring them back. I guess it's the teacher in me, but I pretty much did a headcount over and over the whole time we were there.

I drew imaginary lines for them at the border of our bowling lanes much like an air traffic controller and told them to stay inside them. I even dangled the $5 arcade cards literally over the heads of the two escapees as an encouragement to stay put. I was a total party pooper.

I hemmed them in.

I do a lot of hemming.

I hem myself in too; tight, like the shirt that I attempted to put on the day before yesterday that got stuck at my shoulders (I love that shirt, but it's too binding). I hem myself in to where there's no freedom, only security with fear of what exists beyond my safe place (Is that really security)?

I have no business hemming really. I can't even sew on a button.

We survived the party, and good news, nobody was hurt and no tears were shed. I've returned to the world where I do my best to control my surroundings; my personal Gilligan's Island. Still, with certainty life will throw me curve balls tomorrow that force me to step outside my safe borders.

On all occasions it does me good to remember that there's a master seamster:

Waiting on texts from your teenager to assure you he's ok

New opportunities; ones you aren't sure you can handle

In the mystery and in the scared-known, we can rest assured:

⁵You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

⁷Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸If I go up to the heavens, you are there;  if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn,  if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰even there your hand will guide me,  your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139

As we run in circles

In our wandering off

and stealing away

Beyond the safely defined borders

Into the unknown

He is there.

An Open Letter to Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Robertson, • 6 Comments

Kristi Burden • 3 September, 2013

It seems lately that letters have become a popular way to express our feelings about public figures. In the past few weeks I've seen letters addressed to Miley Cyrus and her dance partner Robin Thicke which aired grievance toward their lewd public display at the VMA's. I don't keep up with football, but apparently Johhny ("Football") Manziel has committed what ESPN has referred to as "inexcusable antics" and has become the subject of a few "what not to be like" posts. These public letters are addressed to pop icons who will never read the words so carefully typed out. They will be read by those of us who watch from the sidelines, those of us with impressionable children and grandchildren.

These letters use people in the public eye (who we can hardly ignore) to remind us how depraved we are without God as our guide, which is great. But it kind of stinks that it's the undesirable behavior that's getting so much attention. That's why I wanted to write a letter to you.

Dear Sadie,

I'm a huge fan of Duck Dynasty. Living next door to Louisiana, and having been raised in a small-town, I rather feel like you're my neighbor- or someone I'd want to be my neighbor. I love the idea of simple life that focuses on faith and family. I'm thrilled that your family's show has been such a big hit. I've been asked a dozen times which character on the show is my favorite. And I must say that I have a hard time saying because you all play such a special part. God is the coolest when it comes to our design. He purposes each person to bring something special to the "table" of life.

You though Sadie have caught my attention.

I've seen the video of you and your friend Kolby advertising your Monday segment "I am Different". Here's the link for anybody who hasn't:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=85nDCFuiBzA&fulldescription=1&client=mv-google&hl=en&guid=&gl=US

I love it that you're sharing that it's ok to follow God's view of living versus the world's view; the one we find on most reality shows and in everywhere else in the media.

I'm giddy that you're using God's word as one of authority instead of pointing girls to "what guys think or want" or even basing your words on your own opinion (you are famous after all).

I also noticed that you're coming out with your own collection of prom dresses. I love that you're not shying away from purity; you're rather bold with it.

This is SUCH a big deal.

I so admire you sitting on the porch swing (in the video) putting your faith out there, all the while being nervous knowing full well that it may draw criticism from those who think differently than you or simply from those who make a habit of bringing others down.

This is an altogether different thing than standing behind your parent's faith in hopes that the living out of their faith pretty much covers you too.

You're owning your faith. I like that.

There may be young girls out there that think this endeavor, and that your life in general, is easy. Afterall, you have money, fame and good looks to boot. But I know better. Life isn't easy. Life as a believer isn't always easy either, but life as a believer is one filled with hope and promise..

I just want to say that "this thing that you're doing" is worth it. I wish I had lived out my faith more boldly.

So to you and to every other girl out there:

I think I speak for all moms of faith when I say-

I can guarantee you'll not regret teenage years well-lived and God-centered. You will however, regret times when you base your decisions on fickle feelings instead of what you know is right. You will do some of both.

Know that I and thousands of moms are behind you. We're a part of "that cloud of witnesses" and we're on the sidelines cheering you on. We're over the moon excited to hear you talk about your relationship with Christ and of purity instead of things that won't matter next month when the calendar page is flipped.

We're praying for you; praying that God will guide you in your willingness to be a light. We're praying that your desire for Him will continue to grow.

We won't expect you to be perfect. We pray that you'll experience His endless, matchless grace when you do get out of step. We pray that the knowledge of that grace will help you get back into step without your wallowing in guilt or shame.

We pray..

-that on days when you feel ordinary, God would remind you that he has created you wonderfully with unique purpose

and on days when you feel extraordinary and maybe even a little self-absorbed (like we all do) that God would humble and overwhelm you by His greatness.

You have our prayer that in the busyness of life-when you're trying to do everything right- but you just feel tired, that you will remember to "Just be still and know that He is God"

He is God on bad hair days

And He's God on the days when it seems like the whole world is crashing down around you.

We pray that you will be surrounded by Godly influence and that even in your youth, that you'll be one too.

Our prayer is that you will be thankful for a family who has made God their first love. A depth of that knowledge will help you to trust them in tough times when you have disagreements.

Be confident when your plans don't pan out, that the plans God has for you are better than the ones you dreamed for yourself. I personally hope your Monday video views skyrocket.

God tells us in Hebrews 10:24

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works......encouraging one another

There's a lot being "stirred up" these days. I just want to say thank you for what you're stirring up.

We thank you,

Kristi Burden

and a host of cheering fans