Break

I'm home :-)
Now it's time to debrief what's happened in these last few months and press in to hear God's voice. I'll be home until about January 10th...this is going to be fabulous :-)

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!! And please know how thankful I am for each and every one of you! God bless!!! :-)

~Anna

Beauty at its Finest

The last few days we've been staying in Hilton Head, SC. All of us girls were staying in a beach house...fabulous. This morning I woke up at 6:40 and headed out to the beach with Tabetha (team member) to watch the sunrise and have some quiet time. It was Marvelous. The waves were crashing against the shore, the sea breeze was blowing, my toes were in the sand, I had my Bible and journal in hand...it was a wonderful way to start my day :-) It was a breathtaking scene, and I couldn't be more happy about waking up before the sun :-)

My grandma got me a little book about Psalm 23 and I've been slowly reading my way through it as it segments the Psalm verse by verse and line by line. Today's line: "He leads me beside quiet waters..." Yeah...I'd say that was quite appropriate for my morning :-) I love it when God works things out like that.

Looking out across the ocean, watching the pelicans diving to get fish, and just soaking in the new morning sun I was reminded of the beauty and power of God. In my opinion, the ocean is one of God's creations that really embodies the majesty, mystery and awe of Him. I was rendered speechless when I was out there this morning...it was wonderful haha. I mean, how often do I get to see the sunrise on the beach? Not very often. So I am incredible thankful for that blessing from my Creator :-)

Another thought...God is the Creator of all of that; the birds, the sun, the water, the sand, all of it. And it is so beautiful. He's also our Creator...so what does that say about you and me? :-) *sigh*

I went out to the beach to lay out these last couple days, and yesterday morning Missy and I ran on the beach. Every time we were out there we saw dolphins :-) It was so fun! At one point one of the dolphins jumped completely out of the water, it was awesome! Just a few smiles from Heaven :-)

Welp...we're on the bus (surprise surprise haha) on our way to Crossville, TN. It's going to be a long drive...about 10hrs at least. But it gives me good time to do things like this. I hope y'all are enjoying my posts. Thanks again, so much, for joining me in my journey!

~Anna

Florida

Ah yes, the Sunshine State. It has treated me well thus far. Tuesday and Wednesday we had amazing shows in Palm Coast and Merritt Island, with several rings purchased and many committments made for Christ. God is Good! Amen?! :-)
Today we had a relaxing afternoon at Cocoa Beach, and now we're on our way to Orlando. Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow, but I know I just want to take lots of pictures! haha It's my first time in FL so I'm allowed, right? haha ;-)
We have 3 shows left before we head home for a while. I know I said this in my last post but I'm gonna say it again...it's hard to believe the fall 'semester' of tour is almost over. I can honestly say I felt nearly every emotion while on tour these last 3 1/2 months. But in all those emotions and situations, lessons have been learned and I can tell I've grown in many ways. And with it being Thanksgiving and all, I'm inspired to think about how thankful I am for where I'm at right now. God took me out of my miserable situation at college to bring to a place where I could listen to Him, grow in Him, and learn from Him. I never thought I would be doing anything like this at this point in my life. And when I pause and think about where I was a year ago, how I felt, and then where I am now...? Amazing. And it was all by God's hand. That very thought makes me speechless and I can only utter thanks and praise to my heavenly Father who knew what I needed better than I did...and here I am. Praise be to God the Father, the Author and Protector of our Faith.
Now I ask you, what are you thankful for? Where were you a year ago? Where are you now? What has God done for you in the last week, month, year? You might be thinking, "Anna, these questions are asked all the time, I'm tired of answering them." But when these seemingly cliche questions were asked before, did you answer with the same kind of answer? Family, friends, life, etc. Not that it's wrong to be thankful for those things, but I want to challenge you to really dig deeper than just the surface, book answers.
So I ask you again...What can you thank God for today?

God bless!! See y'all in just 11 short days :-)

Final Stretch

Yep, that's right, we are off for our final two and a half weeks on the road before coming home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. It's hard to believe this much time has gone by already. It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that we started training. It's weird to think there are only 6 shows and 18 days left...wow...time flies, doesn't it?
I have learned so much already, and I'm so thankful for this experience (even on the days when it's been emotional and frustrating...).

With only 2 1/2 weeks left in this first half, the thing that's really been on my heart lately has been the question "What's next?" About 3 weeks ago I went back to GCC to see my friends and spend a couple days there. I didn't see it as this when I decided to go, but while I was there, I realized that it was giving me a glimpse of what it would be if I tried to go back. I had a strange feeling when I was there...like I didn't belong anymore, and except for my friends obviously, I didn't fit. It was weird being there with no other purpose than to see my friends again. After just being on that campus again, I see how difficult it would be for me to go back; it would be a difficult door to reopen. So with that being said, and after thinking and praying about it, I really think that my time as a student at GCC is over, my time there is done and now I can look forward to the next opportunity God has for me. Now...this was a hard thing for me to realize, because my friends are still there. But God has given me such a peace about this decision and i praise Him for speaking to me on this matter, and I also praise Him for friends that are going to last even though I'm not there anymore.
Now, I'm praying for continued guidance on What's Next. I'm trying to take it one day at a time and simply pray that God would show me what to pursue, within SRT as well as after SRT. If it's one thing I ask, it would be that y'all would join me that very prayer. Like I keep saying, God is faithful, and I know that He will lead me everyday if only I let Him. I trust in Him, and by taking it one day at a time, I truly believe He will reveal to me in His time what His plan and purpose is for my life.

Thank you for your prayers, your support, and encouragement. God bless you all!

In Christ,
~Daughter of the King :-)

21 Years and 3 Days

So...I turned 21 on Saturday October 23. It's hard to believe that I'm 21 years old...I feel the need to have some deep meaningful reflection on what my life has looked like in those 21 years. It's crazy to me that it was 3 years ago that I was in high school, childhood memories seem farther away all the time, and it seems like just yesterday I was climbing up on my stool, clapping my hands, and saying "Everybody! Listen to me!" and then proceed to sing all of my Bible school songs while everyone watched.
I remember in high school, I was always so ready to grow up and get out of there. And I always heard people tell me not to grow up too fast, but to enjoy each segment in life as they come. In my life I have always looked forward to the next step with anticipation. Finally it was senior year and I was that much closer to getting out of there, and let me tell ya, I was so ready to leave high school and head to college. Then after only 2 years of college, I decided I needed something different, I didn't want to 'do school' anymore. So here I am, 21 years old and touring with Silver Ring Thing and seeing things I never thought I would see.
In reflecting on my 21 years of existence I can genuinely say that I have learned the most in the last 2 1/2 years. I will also say that decisions only get more important and more difficult as you get older. I like being older though, and being more responsible. I can feel myself being readied for the future and I can see the ways in which I have grown and matured in just the last 2 1/2 months with SRT. It's amazing what God will do in our lives when we decide to step out in faith, go against the grain, and follow Him into something you never thought possible. He has moved in powerful ways in my life already since I chose to leave college and my comfort zone.
So...21 years. I feel older, I feel more like an adult. Now, I cannot say they've been easy or perfect, but what can I say about my 21 years?
I can say that God was faithful even when I wasn't. God continues to pour out His love and grace even when I most certainly do not deserve it. I see God's blessings everyday in various ways: when looking at His creation, reading an encouraging note from a friend, talking to my parents on the phone, or when I think about how thankful I am that I'm not in college taking classes everyday but I'm on the road gaining real world experience ;-) But seriously, I serve an amazing God, and I would be incredibly lost and miserable without Him. To God be the all the glory! And I can definitely say that while I am enjoying this time in my life right now, but I am also looking forward, with anticipation, to whatever it is that God says is the next step in my life.

~Jeremiah 29:11~

Home

Ahhhh :-) It was so good to be home this weekend and now to be spending time with friends from college. I am so thankful for this time and that I was able to take off from work and join up with friends and family. This weekend was amazing, for a number of reasons.
My parents came down and picked me up on Thursday afternoon and took me home. Then Scott, Tiffany, and baby Colton arrived very late that night. I was then awakened the next morning by a strange noise coming in the door to my room. I kind of panicked because I didn't know where I was, and then I realized that sound was none other than the precious cooing of my nephew Colton Charles :-) Yep...best morning ever!
Friday evening I got to see my brothers play football at MHS; it was great to see them play!
Saturday was family day; and a perfect one at that. Sarah and Nate came down from Erie, my Gramma and Great Gramma came, my aunt, uncle, and cousin came as well. We ate great food, played a hard core game of wiffle ball in the back yard, rode the four-wheelers, had a campfire, played ping-pong, talked, laughed, and took pictures. It was a fabulous day...exactly what I needed.
Sunday morning I had to say goodbye to Scott, Tiffany, and Colton as they were headed back toward Maryland. I went to our show in Cranberry Twp, which was incredible! There were over 1100 people in attendance! Praise the Lord! It was a day I will never forget. God moved in BIG and amazing ways that night! :-D
When the show was over and everything was packed up, I left with my good friends Becca Yuhas and Rachel Perry for Grove City College. It was a weird feeling coming back on campus and not having anything to do but see people. Yesterday and today have been great to catch up with good friends, receive some warm welcomes and big hugs, and visit with a couple amazing professors. I have missed these people so much! Praise the Lord for good friends and good conversation! I have been blessed :-)

After being here for just this little bit, I feel even more confident in my decision to leave and head out with SRT. Although SRT has been difficult in a variety of ways, I still know that God brought me here, and I have already learned so much since being on tour. I miss the people of GCC and my friends very very much, but I am still confident that God led me out in order to lead me to SRT.
Now...as far as going back to school is concerned, I am still very undecided. I am trying very hard to be soft in God's hands and sensitive to His guidance and His call. Please join with me in my prayer to hear His voice on this matter. I want only to do what God calls me to do and in His timing as well. I know this is going to take some time and a lot of patience, but I want to be faithful to my Creator.

Again, I can't thank y'all enough for your prayers. God bless!

In Christ,
~Anna

Homeward Bound

That's right everyone! We are en route to Pittsburgh, PA after 2 months of being on the road! I can hardly believe it's been 2 months already...it flew by! It's been an up and down 2 months, and I sure have learned a lot, but I know that God has even more to teach me...and to fine tune it all too haha.
Soon I'll be with my family, meeting and holding my nephew for the first time, and getting some much needed R&R down on the farm :-) I am a mere 12 hours from Pittsburgh, and a couple of days before I see them all...I am so excited! :-D
We had a couple of shows this week, both were great successes! It's amazing how even when things seem to be going wrong, or stuff isn't working properly, God is still working and in big ways too. Sometimes we get lost in the small frustrations of life and forget to look past them at the big things God is doing. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't care, it just means that we have to trust that God really does have it all under control and will work out for His Glory :-)
Not gonna lie...there have been some seriously rough times during these last 2 months, and there were some days where I just didn't want to do it anymore. And I'm not going to sit here and act like I was faithful the entire time or fully trusted God the whole time, because there definitely days where I tried to do it on my own. At the end of those days, stuff never works out. But on the days when I really let it all go and gave it all to God, there was a sense of relief and victory.
Now...I know it's only been 2 months...I still have 8 more to go! And there are going to be good days and bad, smooth sailing and hitting rock bottom, but through it all, it's about reminding myself that I am here for a purpose. But to be honest, I do struggle with that...knowing my purpose. So, if anything, please pray that I stay confident and that I will be patient as God slowly reveals his plan.
Wow...that was a lot of honesty in one blog. haha

Thank you all for your prayers and for your support these last 2 months. Y'all are awesome! I guess I can only ask that you would continue to be as supportive for the next 8 :-)

Love in Christ
~Anna

Autumn :-)

Ahhh...my favorite time of year :-) The leaves are changing colors, the air is cool, the sun is warm. I love everything about it: sights, smells, food, everything. Honestly, I don't think there's one thing that I don't like about fall.
The changing of the seasons always intrigues me. Each season holds its own unique design. There are positives about every season, like there are certain activities that can only be done in specific seasons, and there are also negatives, usually about the weather. And everyone has a favorite season, too. Some people like a season because of the activities that are available, other people like a season because of the weather, and still others like it because of the kinds of clothing there is to wear. But...every season is necessary. Now here's an easy biology lesson for you ;-) In terms of plant life, every season is necessary in the growth process.
Ok, so most of you probably know where I'm going with this, so don't check out yet. Not only are there seasons in nature and in the physical that we experience year round, we have seasons in our lives just like the ones around us.
Now, please keep in mind, that all of this is not totally my own, I listened to a Midday Connection podcast with Mark Buchanon on his new book, which deals with the seasons of life. However, there are some of my own thoughts in here too haha. I'll do my best to give credit where it's due haha but here's the link to the podcast if you'd like to listen to it...it's excellent!
www.moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramDetail.aspx?id=58270

Alright so I just want to touch on a few things that really hit home with me. To start, Buchanon was talking about the winter season in our lives. He relates it, obviously, to the physical winter season. He talks about how he grows trees, and if he doesn't cut them way back right before winter, then they don't produce any fruit in the spring. He said that even though the tree looks so ugly during the winter, on the inside it's preparing for its new growth in the spring. Now, in life, Buchanon says it's pretty much the same thing. God takes our lives and prunes out what's dead and what needs gotten rid of, then it'll seem like a period of dormancy for us. A time when we question ourselves and wonder what happened to the person that used to be so strong and passionate. We wrestle with ourselves on the inside and try to understand who we are and where we are. But that time of being pruned and feeling dormant is necessary for growth in the future. God doesn't tell us that those times are going to be easy, but He does promise to be with us no matter what. In Buchanon's own words, "There's nothing like a winter to sober us up and bring us to our senses and bring us down to the things that are absolutely essential in our life with one another and our life with God." Seriously...there is nothing like a winter season. He also talks about how winter grows faith, and basically it's impossible to truly make it through the winter seasons with out faith.

Alright, so this is just a snippit of what Buchanon talks about in that podcast. He also goes into what causes winter, how to make it through the season, and basically breaks it down even more than what I just gave you. I definitely encourage you all to check out this podcast and open yourself to what's being said. We're all in different seasons in our lives, which season are you currently experiencing? I was able to take so much from this teaching, God really spoke to me. I sincerely hope that you, too, are able to apply this powerful teaching in your own life.
Isaiah 40:31

God bless! :-)
~Anna

On the Road Again...

Yep...here I am again, on the bus for a 7 hour drive from Chicago to Wisconsin. It is a gorgeous day here in Illinois: sunshine, blue skies, and a cool autumn breeze :-) I love fall in the north! haha Honestly, I wish I wasn't on this bus so I could take a walk or just sit outside and read.
We're headed to Meford, WI for a show tomorrow, then we're gonna have a couple days off in Milwaukee, then another show on sunday in Whitewater, WI. Then we'll be heading to Indiana. From what I've heard, we've been getting a lot of opposition from one of our shows in Wisconsin, so please be praying about that and that hearts and minds would be opened and prepared for what's going to happen in these next few days.
Another prayer request. One of the girls on the team, Tabetha, just heard that one of her best friends from home was a in a bad car accident this morning. She doesn't know all the details, but she does know that the girl, Nikki, is in critical condition. She is a strong woman of God and was in the process of planning a mission trip to Africa. So if you could keep Nikki in your prayers, that would be great, thank you so much!

Alright, well, I'm going to get back to sitting on the bus ;-) haha Love y'all!

Days Off

Ahh...it's amazing what 2 days off can do for a person haha. Thursday we hung out in Arkansas and went out on Lake Thunderbird at the invitation of one of our hosts who owns a boat. We did some water sports and did a lot of tubing, too. It was a blast! We're all still pretty sore, but we had a great time, so it was definitely worth it. And it was a beautiful day for it too...a perfect way to take the day off and to enjoy God's creation.
Yesterday we spent the day in downtown Memphis, TN, which was a lot of fun as well! We got to hear some incredible blues bands; awesome talent in Memphis! There was this one band called The Will Tucker Band, the lead singer/guitarist was 16 years old! And he had an amazing voice! There was this other band, and the woman that sang was phenomenal! She had a huge range and a very soulful sound, which I love, and she was just super super talented. So anyway, yeah, had the privilege of hearing some really talented people yesterday. Then we went to karaoke in the evening, where there was also some talent...but not quite so incredible haha! Needless to say, we had a very fun-filled day yesterday. Also got to do a little shopping :-)

Today we're headed to Frankfort, KY where we have a show tomorrow evening. It's gonna be a long drive...about 8 or 9 hours I think. So...plenty of time to watch movies, listen to music, talk to my parents, and take a nap haha...oh, and blog of course lol.

So this morning in my devotions I was reading Psalm 139, which is a go-to passage for me, but today it was because my little daily women's devotional talked about speaking respectfully to ourselves. It talked about needing to be an encourager of yourself rather than your worst critic, which I can tend to be at times :-/ So, to remind myself of who I am, I went to Psalm 139. I would encourage y'all to read it in The Message; it's a different version of the Bible that kind of breaks it down into common language today. So anyway, it was just a great reminder of how truly well the Father knows me, knows each and every one of us. He knows more about us thatn anyone can or ever will...how crazy is that?! And then to top that off, in light of Him knowing everything about us, He still loves us! God still loves me in spite of all my failures, faults, and flaws. Praise the Lord. Oh How He Loves!! :-D
Just wanted to share a little something that was on my heart today. I hope the amazing Love of the Father encourages you as much as it has encouraged me today :-)

In Him
~Anna

Clarity

Hey everyone! :-)

I have a prayer request. This is the biggest thing that I need prayer for as of right now.
This whole experience has a lot to do with discovering my purpose and discovering what it is God has planned for me. So, my prayer is that God will give me clarity and direction as far as what He has for me and where He wants me to go. I pray that He will give me confirmation in my heart on the things that are to come and the things that are part of His Master plan. I want the desires of my heart to reflect God's desires for my life. I understand that all the answers to my life questions may not come to me all at once and I'll all of a sudden know exactly what I'm doing for the rest of my life. My prayer is for direction, guidance and clarity on the things that of God and not just of myself.
Please, if you could be praying these things with me that would be awesome! Thank y'all so much for all your support and prayer! I know I've said that a bunch of times, but I'm serious, I really appreciate it!

God bless!!
:-)

Ian

Now you might be wondering why I titled this post "Ian," but I'll get to that :-)
Last night we had a show in Corsicana, TX. It was a rather stressful night for everyone, and registration was insane. Being out with registration for the majority of the show, I don't really get to see what's going on inside with the show. If anything, I see the people that leave, or those that left the show but are just hanging out in the hallway or something being rowdy and kinda disrespectful. Needless to say, those kinds of things are discouraging, and because last night was already rather stressful, I was having a rough night.
At one point in the night, I just hung my head and thought "God where are you? You are so big, much bigger than all these distractions. Please show up in this place and change lives; give me some hope to hold on to in order to know that this night was worth it."
God gave me hope in the form of a young man named Ian.
There was a group of 5 guys hanging out after the show, and someone told Missy and I that they wanted rings but didn't have the money. So in order to make sure they were for real, we called them over and started to talk to them a little bit. Missy asked them if they were ready to make a commitment to God to wait until marriage to have sex. Two of them said yes right away, another one was like "whoa...to God?" and left. The final 2 were sort fo him-hawing and saying how hard it would be to wait and they didn't know if they could do that. Missy proceded to tell them that it is difficult, but it is so worth the wait. She was super encouraging and told them how she knew they could do it, but they had to decide for themselves what they wanted to do.
Then I started talking, and as some of you already know, when I get talking it's hard for me to stop...haha. But this time it was different, I could feel the Holy Spirit using me and speaking through me, so I knew I had to talk.
I started to tell him about how this commitment isn't something to take lightly, it's not an easy commitment to make and it's one that takes a heart change. I referred to the starting over story within our show, and he expressed how much that hit home for him. And I could hear and see the sincerity in him...another reason why I felt compelled to keep going. I came right out and told him that this commitment is not possible without being saved and having god by your side. I spoke again of second chances, about how God could restore him, and about God's true and real forgiveness. Slowly as I was talking, one by one, his friends left, but not him. He stayed there. He listened. I knew he was listening, even though he had his tough-guy face and never really looked at me, and more importantly, I knew God was working on his heart. And that is why I couldn't stop. I wasn't going to to pressure him into doing something he wasn't ready to do, but I wasn't going to give up either.
After about 5 or 10 minutes of just talking to him about heart change, being for real, being committed, and most importantly, doing it all with God as his Savior and his source of strength, I asked him that one question that everybody wants to get to in the witnessing process. I asked him if he was ready to ask Jesus into his heart and if he wanted to be saved. I put it in perspective for him, though, by saying that it would mean going to school the next day and looking his buddies in the eye and telling what he did the night before. Saying "Dude, I'm waiting. And I'm not doing it alone because I've been saved and I now have Jesus by my side."
His answer - "Yes" with a smile on his face :-)
WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO! And you guessed it, this young man's name is Ian! As of September 15, 2010 Ian is a saved young man who is wearing an SRT ring saying he is going to wait for his future wife. And i am privileged to say that I was able to lead him in the prayer of salvation; what an honor! Praise the Lord for moments like these where He uses us to further His Kingdom, even when we are so unqualified for the job.
God is so good! He showed up in an amazing way last night in Corsicana, TX! Along with Ian, about 275 others committed themselves to Christ! And more than 200 people purchased rings as a symbol of their commitment to wait! AWESOME!

So if y'all could be praying for our new brother in Christ, Ian, that would be amazing! He's in a tough community with his buddies and it's not going to be an easy thing for him to commit to this. Pray for confidence in the face of adversity and opposition, courage in times of temptation, and strength to stand up for his decision.

Thank y'all so much for your prayers and for reading this blog. I pray that my story about Ian has touched you and made your heart smile just as mine is. And that you would be rejoicing just as the angels in heaven are rejoicing over those that once were lost, but are now found in Jesus Christ :-)

Love in Christ
~Anna

Rest

Wow...what a crazy weekend!! We had a show on Saturday night, finished at 9, then tore down and drove to 2 1/2 hours to a hotel, got there around 3:30, woke up at 7:30, drove to the next venue, had a show Sunday night, then went to a hotel, and finally got to sleep in this morning. Yep...crazy. haha
BUT all is well and I feel more rested than I did all weekend. God is good and He provides us rest in times when we feel so restless, Praise the Lord! In our weakness, He is strong. In those times when we absolutely cannot get through a day unless we rely on His strength, it's amazing what He'll do.
The entire team was exhausted yesterday and running on about 4 hours of sleep. Yet we pulled off an amazing show, lives were changed, and my heart was smiling :-) and all of it was by God's mighty hand. Amen! God does amazing stuff, if only we'll let go and let Him move. God is so good! :-)

Alright...I'm tired and it's bedtime for me.
Love y'all!! :-)

In Every Season

All of my life

In every season

You are still God

And I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship

My heart's cry is to know and feel this statement every day of my life. No matter what the circumstances are, I want to have a Reason to Sing. To be, as Paul was, content in every circumstance because of my heavenly Father, my Savior, my Lord. Because He gives me strength to face each day, I want to face the days with faith, hope, and courage. In Every Season, God is there. We say at Christmas time that 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season'. Well let me tell you...Jesus is the Reason for Every Season! And I will ever praise Him for His constant watch over me. Even when I feel confused and frustrated, God is still there, every moment of every day. Amen!

So I'm at the Carenet Conference; a big conference for pregnancy centers, and abstinence and purity movements. It is pretty awesome to see hundreds, probably thousands, of men and women here who have a heart for saving the lives of babies all over the world from abortions. What a powerful ministry! These people are so passionate about this movement and this issue. Awesome!

On Tuesday September 7, 2010 at 10:32pm, my sister-in-law gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Colton Charles McCurdy. That's right, I'm an AUNT!! And I am sooo excited! I wish I could be there, but when I can finally see him and hold him, I'm gonna be greedy and not let anyone else hold him! haha But as I think about his life, and in light of the conference I'm at, it baffles me why anyone would want to take life away from someone. It makes me sad to think that beautiful babies don't ge the chance to breathe their first breath, or take their first step, or say their first word. Wow...something to think about, isn't it? Praise the Lord for the new life of Colton Charles McCurdy, for he is indeed a gift from God! :-)

In Christ,

~Anna

Texas!

I'm in Texas now! There's big trucks everywhere! haha It's really nice here...hot, but very nice. We're staying in host homes and just kinda chillin' for a couple days here in the suburbs of Houston. It's nice to have a couple lazy days...but I start to get anxious after a while haha.
Today we went to a community pool with our host family. They have 3 kids, ages 4, 3, and 1...yeah...crazy! haha It was a lot of fun though, nice to get some sunshine. The pool was like a miniature water park, with slides and diving boards and 4 different pools to swim in. It was really nice.
Next week we have the Carenet Conference, which is a huge pregnancy center conference here in Texas. We help with all the technical stuff, so we're there all week. It starts on Tuesday and ends on Saturday. Then we have a show Saturday evening, so that should be fun. We also have another show in San Antonio on the 12th and another in Corsicana, TX on the 15th. So yeah, we're here in TX for a while. It's pretty down here though :-)
So...I have a prayer request. For some reason I've been getting headaches lately, and along with them comes nausea, light-headedness, and dizziness. I'm not sure what's causing all of this because I'm drinking lots of water and I think I'm eating pretty good, or at least I'm trying to. But if y'all could be praying about this that would be great. Thank you!

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and your support. God bless y'all!! :-)

One day at a time...

Story of my life...
Right now, I feel like the only thing I can do is take things one day at a time. Sometimes I have really good days, and other times my days are rather up and down. It's on days like those that I have to remind myself that God is faithful. He will provide all my needs and He will complete the work He has started in me. It's just a matter of taking it one day at a time; waking up each morning, listening for His voice, yielding to His call, and choosing to follow Him wherever it may be.
Yeah...it's one of those easier said than done kinda deals. But...God never said it would be simple, but He did promise that He would never leave us nor forsake us...and that's one heck of a promise to cling to!

Prayer Request:
That I will be disciplined enough to make sure I'm getting my quiet time with the Lord each day and that God will give me the grace to complete the task He has for me, even on the days when things just seem terrible.

Thank y'all!

Gladiator Games

Yesterday we participated and volunteered in the Knoxville Leadership Foundation's Gladiator Games. They were a bunch of events that about 28 teams of 2-4 people participated in. The events included kayaking, swimming, basketball, sprint, shot put, 1-mile run, obstacle course, football throw and kick. It was quite an eventful morning. I am super sore now though!! haha

Welp...now I'm about to do some crunches with Missy. So, I'm going to be even more sore tomorrow! lol Oh well...I need it! :-) Most of the time I feel like all I do is eat and sit, since we're on the bus travelling so much. I need all the exercise I can get! haha

Sinners

A few of us from the team went to a praise and worship event tonight called The Walk. I am so glad I went. It was like a mini church service. A band led worship at the beginning, about 3 songs, then a man came up and spoke for a little while. It was only about an hour long, but it was a powerful hour!
He talked about Luke 15, where Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son. He talked about how Jesus was attracted to screwed up, messed up people, and they were attracted him. The Pharisees in this chapter are upset with Jesus because he sits and eats with 'sinners.' Jesus then goes into the parables and basically says, "If you lose something, do you not leave behind what's safe and secure and search with all your might to find it?" Answer being? Yes.
Sometimes, most of the time, it is necessary to focus so much on what is lost that we almost forget what is safe and secure. Now, that's not to say that we stop feeding the saved and forget about the commitments made, but we cannot forget about the lost. We, as christians, must focus on the lost, and finding them for Christ. Amen?
The parable of the prodigal son is a famous one, and for good reason too. That son essentially disowned his father, squandered all his possessions, became lower than servants, and went running back to daddy. And instead of getting what he deserved, the son was welcomed home with wide open arms, clothes, and a huge celebration because "this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." What?! Jesus is telling us here that it doesn't matter what we've done, what our past consists of. The moment we turn back toward our Heavenly Father, the second we look back at him, he is waiting there with OPEN arms and wants to forgive us for the things we've done. This passage is beautiful because of the reminder of the Love of the Father. A reminder of how Deep and Long and Wide is the Love of God. Amen!!

Alright y'all...that was just a snippet of what I heard tonight and I thought I'd share it with you.

Goodnight! :-)

God is Good!

God is so good! We had a show just the other night in Murfreesboro, TN. Over 900 people attended this event. Over 180 people made commitments for Christ! Over 300 people put on rings and made commitments to purity. Those are some awesome numbers! And that is all God's work right there, all of it done by Him and for Him. I just feel so privileged to be here...

Today we travelled to Knoxville, TN where we're going to stay until Sunday to help out with the Knoxville Leadership Foundation. Gonna be a pretty chill week, we don't have another show until next Wednesday, 9/1. Looking forward to relaxing and doing some bonding with the team :-)

So, in my devotional I read something titled "Unafraid to Fail." The verse used was Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
I love this verse. It seems so simple, yet it is so incredibly powerful! We are told not to be afraid because the Lord has got our back! This goes back to the verse, too, about 'if God is for us, who shall be against us?' What an amazing thing to think about and try to wrap our minds around...the omnipotent, omniscient God is with me, with you, wherever we go. Now, if that doesn't put your mind at ease, I'm not sure what will ;-)
We cannot be afraid to go about our daily lives and screw up every once in a while. It's going to happen...it's inevitable. Setbacks will happen, troubles will come, the waters will rise, but the Lord my God is with me wherever I go, so why should I be afraid? Why should you be afraid? Oh wait...we SHOULD NOT be afraid!! Amen!

Just a little somethin' that was on my heart :-)
Love y'all!
~Anna

Tennessee!

Last night we had a show in Hohenwald, TN...otherwise known as Hole In The Wall, TN lol. It was an awesome place though! The people there are just so friendly and welcoming, I loved every minute of my stay there! My host home was wonderful...I was introduce to some real southern hospitality and it was well received ;-) It was such a fabulous little town, not too much goin' on, but it was one of those places where everyone knows everyone else and they all pull together to make one big family. I am really enjoying my time in Tennessee!
Today, we're heading into Nashville, TN to chill downtown for the afternoon and evening. Oh my lands...I am so pumped! So stinkin' excited! I have always wanted to go there and I'm finally almost there! haha Maybe I'll see some country stars ;-) That would be awesome! But we'll see.
God is so good. This last week He has really shown me His love and grace each and every day and I am so thankful. His mercies are new each day. Like manna, I just gather up what I need for the day; not too much and not too little. God provides! Praise the Lord for good christian people, wonderful experiences and strength for every day.

On the Road

Shortly after 7 this morning we had the bus loaded up, the bus and truck gased up, and we were on the road. Thus beginning a 2 month stretch of travelling, doing shows, and not being in PA. I'm gonna miss her while I'm gone! ;-)
This last week has been kind of difficult for various reasons. Please be praying for confidence, courage, and strength for me as I go through these next couple months. Pray for patience, that I will trust God in this time and not try to rush things.
We have a show tomorrow in Hohenwald, TN. Then we have another show on Monday in Murfreesboro, TN. Pray for the hearts of those who will attend the show, that some may be totally changed for Jesus and that true committments will be made to Christ and made to wait. And pray for us as we unload and load equipment, put on the show, and shine Jesus' light to those around us. We are doing God's work, so y'all better believe the devil is on the prowl, looking for anyone who's feeling vulnerable. He doesn't want us to make an impact for the kingdom, but we serve a God who so much bigger than any trick the devil will try to pull. Amen?! Praise the Lord!
If God is for us, who can be against us?!

Until I write again... :-)
~Anna

Millersburg, PA

Last night we had our first show at David's Community Bible Church in Millersburg, PA. It was a great show! There were nearly 200 people in attendance, with about 47 people making commitments to Christ and about 94 people made commitments to purity and bought rings. Talk about awesome!! God is soooo good!
This has been a fun weekend! I feel so honored to be a part of something like this :-) Thank you so all of you who support me and have sent me out!
We're headed back to Pittsburgh now, then we leave next Thursday for Tennessee. When we leave we'll be gone for 2 straight months...crazy! New for me, but it should be fun! :-)

Prayer Requests
- Safety in travels
- Prepared hearts and minds for the tour team and for those we're going to reach
- Continued bonding with the team

Love you all!! Thank you so much for joining me in my journey through this blog. I hope you're enjoying it. Comments are welcome! ;-) Let me know if there's something you'd like to know that I haven't shared :-)

~Anna
~Anna

3&4

Wow...training days are over for the week. And I get to sleep in tomorrow!!! I am so pumped for that! :-D
Yesterday was a rough day. Today was a good day. Yesterday I was just really doubting myself, my abilities, my decision to be here. But today...all that was different. I was much more myself today, and things just went so much better. I could definitely feel the prayers and God's peace just reigning down on me and filling me up. Praise the Lord!
I was reminded a couple of days ago by a fellow team member of God's awesomeness. He was sharing his testimony with the team, and he talked about his struggles and areas of weakness. He said that God has taught him in the last few years that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. AWESOME! How cool is that?! Even in our weaknesses and in our struggles God's power and strength is perfect, and can do incredible things in us in spite of our screw ups. So, I just thought I'd share that, since it was such a good reminder for me I thought I'd pass it on :-)

~Anna

Day One & Two

Crazy! Hard to believe that I'm here and day 2 is already over...what?! The days have been pretty long though, so I'm pretty tired...but I'm holding out on the energy drink epidemic that's going on with the team...everyone drinks energy drinks! Red Bull, Rockstar, Starbucks...I'm trying to hold out for as long as I can without giving in haha :-)
So far we've just been learning how everything goes together, like the set and stuff and the flow of things. So, I don't really have much to tell, b/c we're just training haha.
But...there are some things that I would like to ask y'all to be praying about...

- Safety during training (lots of large, heavy equipment)
- Bonding with the other team members
- Courage, Confidence, Strength, Hope

Thank you so much!

Love
~Anna

Tomorrow

Wow...hard to believe that the week is almost over and I leave in the morning to head down to Pittsburgh. It's been a fun last week though! I finally finished up my packing tonight, I just have to load up a few other things tomorrow morning, and I'll be ready to go.
My feelings right now? Excited. Anxious. Nervous. Curious. Excited. (oh wait...I said that already lol) Surprisingly I am pretty calm considering I head down to Pittsburgh tomorrow, but I know that has nothing to do with me. I serve a God of peace and He sure has given me a healthy dose of it this week! Praise the Lord!
I know He is doing a mighty work in me, and will see it on to completion. I feel so blessed to have been chosen to be a part of this awesome ministry and such a once in a lifetime adventure! Thank you to all of you who have chosen to support me and become a part of this journey as well. I pray that God will bless each one of you, and that you will know the incredible love of our heavenly father.
Ya know...that just made me think of something. I was talking with a good friend recently, and we got onto the subject of God's love; how amazing it is. And I realized something during that conversation that will stick with me forever. We talk about God's love as being amazing, indescribable, incredible, and unconditional. The one that hit me the most is the word 'unconditional'. There isn't even one thing that could make God love us any less. Praise be to the One who loves us UNCONDITIONALLY, with no exceptions. He just does. Wow...kinda makes me speechless :-) and I don't mind that one bit. Praise Jesus!!! :-D

Alright...I'm done. Oh by the way...did I mention I'm excited? ;-)

4 days...

Update on Sarah's wedding...
BEAUTIFUL!!! It was awesome! Sarah was gorgeous, the ceremony was wonderful, the reception was a blast and there was love spilling out of everywhere the whole time! :-D We had such a great time! It was super hard to say goodbye, though, when they left. I won't see them for at least 2 months...probably longer, which really stinks. But I know they're having an awesome time together and I guess I'll be ok without my sister for a little bit...haha.

Alright, so...I'm down to 4 days left and I still have most if not all of my packing to do, haha. Packing kinda stresses me out, but I'm going to try to have fun with it. I have to pack for like 3 1/2 months in one suitcase! How in the world am I going to do this?! LOL haha, I'll be fine, no worries...lol.

I can't believe I'm down to my last week in Cochranton, PA...crazy! I've done quite a bit so far, though. Boating, tubing, shopping, Cochranton fair, met with some great friends, heard an awesome testimony from a wonderful friend, and now just hangin' out at home with my dog Callie. Now...it's time to pack. Wish me luck!! Honestly...please pray for that! :-)

ALM

Wedding!

It's my sister's wedding eve! I can hardly believe tomorrow is the day...crazy! So exciting! God is so Good!!!!
There has been so much going on this week in the way of wedding details, so it's been pretty busy. And in the midst of wedding details, I'm still trying to get myself prepared for my upcoming adventure. I'm about a week away from the next 10 months of my life...an adventure that God has invited me to be a part of.
It's hard to split my time and make sure I'm giving enough time to each event that's going on. But thankfully, God is keeping me calm. I still have my moments of anxiousness and nervousness, but I just keep taking it one day at a time, praying that God will grant me peace through all the craziness. And He is so good! He knows my heart...and He knows just how I feel and knows exactly how to take care of me and what I need. Praise the Lord!

Prayer Requests:
- Beautiful weather for the wedding tomorrow and that everything goes smoothly :-D
- That God would continue to keep me at peace with everything and confident in what I'm doing
- Preparation of my heart and mind for what's about to come

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers! God bless! Love you all! :-)

3 1/2 weeks away...

I can't believe it's already July 5th...where has the summer gone?! It's been a great summer so far though! It's just hard to believe that the day is drawing near when I will be heading out to tour with Silver Ring Thing for 10 months.

This is just a brief test run of my blog...there will be more to come! :-)