29 years ago, my brother said a prayer that changed his life.  He had put his quarter in the little church house bank and made a simple request.  I guess he figured that it was kind of like a toll booth-- may a toll and get a prayer answered.  When he got out of Sunday School, he told my mom that he had prayed for a little sister.  Russell says that he smacked Keith on the back of the head :)  What they didn't know, is that in 9 months (give or take) Keith's prayer would be answered.  Although my parents decided to not know what sex the baby was, Keith knew he was going to have that little sister. 

Lord,
Grant me the wisdom and peace that only you can bring. I want to be the friend that _____ needs right now. I want to be what you want me to be. Help me to cast aside my selfish thoughts, my plan does not matter. Your will, your plan, is the greatest plan that anyone could hope for. Help _____ to understand your will and that you have a plan for them also. Surround _____ with your love and help them to feel you with them, everyday, in every situation. Lord, I pray that you will help to calm fears, and ease the pain. I pray that _____ understands that everyone stumbles and that there are those that love them ready to catch them and lift them up. You have something amazing in store for them. Help the anxiety and worry disappear so that they are able to worship and serve you.

Miranda

"Why, oh God, do I worry about things when I know that your plan is so much better than anything I could imagine? Why do I give my problems up to you, only to turn around and take them back, thinking that I can do a much better job. What things could I possibly do better than you, Father. Prepare my heart for your will and help me to have a submissive mind and soul. For you know the plans that you have laid before me. You know what is best. You have laid out a life for me, with all the blessings you have prepared for me. I give it all to you Lord. I give you my future, all the dreams I have can be accomplished only with your help. I give you my family and friends, Lord. I give you my issue of marriage and relationships. For you know the guy that is perfect for me. Whether I am not ready or it is he, I know that when the time is right, he will walk through the door and everything will be right. It is all in your timing, Lord. I am so thankful for the many blessings you have given me. For the my friends and family, for my education and school, for my new friendships and the chance to make many more. I thank you for the chance to lead a wonderful group of singles through the path that You have laid for them. I lift them up and pray that you will shower them with the many blessings they deserve. Lift my spirit today Lord, that I will see Your hand in all that crosses my path, no matter the tears or laughter. I lay down my worries, Lord, and pick up the cross. I pick up my cross and follow you, the one that brings everlasting life."

I have had a crappy day today. I woke up with my brain full of things that I have decided are important enough to worry about....wrong! There is nothing that is actually important enough to worry about. A lot of the things that I am worrying about I have NO control over, so why should I worry about it. I have given things up to God, and then have decided to take them back, thinking that He is not doing the job that I want. He wasn't being fast enough, or getting the results that I wanted...I want...I want. That is all that I have been talking about. Why are things not going my way, what i want to happen, who i want to date, what i want or don't want to do... It is not about me, at all. Have you ever had one of those days? Where you just know that you could do a better job than anyone else in your own life? Has it ever turned out for the best? Do you ever wonder if it could be better if God has been in control? I am the director of a wonderful group of singles. I wonder what God was thinking, putting me in charge. Did he know that I don't have everything worked out? That when ones asks a question, I may not answer the way they need it? Self doubt is creeping in and putting a blanket over my light.

Dear God,
Thank you for being my father in heaven. I am thankful for the men that you placed in my life. My earthly father(s), brothers, uncles and friends. What an incredible bunch of Godly men. Thank you for the life you have blessed me with and the time that I was able to spend with my grandfather. Thank you for the gift of friendship with my best friend and the incredible impact she has had on my life. Thank you for the two most wonderful "sisters" and the love and devotion they have for you and my brothers. I believe (although I might be bias) that I have the two best brothers that anyone could ask for. One's love and devotion to you is inspiring and the other one has love just as strong although he may not be as open about it.
Thank you for a strong mother that has my best interest at heart. We may not see eye to eye, but I would not be who I am without her.
Thank you for the gift of music and the ability to glorify You with it. It is exciting to be able to perform a piece of music and hear it go through the rafters and into the heavens.
Thank you for the ability to draw and to use this gift to show my faith. It is wonderful to sit with a piece of paper, listen to music, and just draw. It almost always ends up being some sort of symbol of my faith.
Thank you for my passion of teaching children. They are the future of this world, and I am honored that You have allowed me to be able to work with them. I know that through them, I am able to change the place where I live.
Thank you for all of my hardships. Without these, I would not be who I am. I would have never become the strong, independent woman that I am today. Without the trials, I would not have come to realize what an important part of my life you and your love is.
Thank you for the opportunity to attend such a wonderful school and receive and education that will be vital to me continuing what you have planned for me.
Thank you for loving me so much that you have provided for me through everything. You know my heart and know what is best for me, even when I may not see it. You know which path I am to walk down and who I am to meet. You know where I will go and what I am to do. You love with out conditions and will never fail me.
Thank you~
Your Loving Daughter

I have decided to make an effort to be incredibly honest on this blog, to the point of humiliation and embarrassment to myself. I promise not to embarrass anyone else but myself, and will NEVER put someone down or single them out. I feel however that some of the things that I am going through may be able to help others in my situation, as embarrassing as it may be. I firmly believe that everything that is happening in my life has or will happen to someone else. As a Christian, single girl, it is important for us to stick together and support each other, through the good, bad and ugly :)

I have been going through a lot of woe is me time. Woe is me that my grandfather died, and woe is me that I am one of the only ones of my friends/family without a special someone. Woe is me that I have not graduated yet and woe is me that I still live at home. Are all these things bad? No! Are they things that bother me no matter what others say? YES! But all of these things are not major issues...they all have a common thread. They all have to deal with the fact that I want something to come easy to me, for once in my life. It is hard being the one that sits back and waits...seeing everyone else get married, receive that dream job or apartment. It is hard to answer the questions at family gatherings and friends' parties. It is frustrating to think that something is going one way, and then realizing that in a second, they are going another. It is hard to be "just a friend".
Does this mean that I should throw a temper tantrum and curl in a ball? I wish...but I keep trudging along. Sitting through class and doing my best on everything; going on many first dates, or no dates at all. Keeping the peace with my parents until graduation day and I can finally move. I realize that in my heart is where I keep the things that are vital to my existence... God, my family (no matter how much they drive me crazy) and my hopes and dreams.
Why is it that when a friend is going through a trial, we give advice. I catch myself telling people what I would do, or that they should do this... Can't someone just tell me.."you know, that sucks, and I am so sorry that you are going through this" I realize that you are glad that you aren't dating anymore. I know that God has that someone special for me and that it is His timing, not mine. I know that my grandfather is looking down at me and watching over me. I know to keep God in the middle of everything. I also realize that all of these fears are normal and many people have them.

Yet, I enjoy hearing the stories of those that are past this stage in their life. It is comforting to know that it sucked for them as well, but that they made it through. It is almost like those chick flick movies where the girl always ends up with her true love, no matter what obstacles she goes through. It gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling.

God has given me a lot of trials this past year. Some big (the passing of my grandfather), some small (singing a solo in church), and some medium sized (getting through the semester of school) He has pulled me through all of them and I am still standing, still kicking. So I continue to stay strong, to be a friend, help my best friend plan her incredible wedding, and to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ. Will I make it? Yes. Will it be easy? No. But if God made it easy for me then why would I need to lean on Him? Why would I constantly pray to Him about things?