HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

Happy Memorial Day to everyone. I have been such a slacker lately with keeping up with my blog. So much has been going on! Thankfully, I have been very productive lately, continuing to get ready for our wedding day and working on school stuff!

I wanted to take a moment today to remember the men and women that have fought for our freedom. If you live in the US, you know that Freedom IS NOT Free! Many people have sacrified years of their lives and even their own life for our freedom. This does not go unnoticed by me and none of us should take it for granted.

I especially am thankful for my United States Marine Veteran, Brian J. Miller! Brian proudly served 5 years in the Marine Corp and fought in Afghanistan shortly after September 11th. I am forever thankful for his service and all those that served before him and continue to serve now.

So, enjoy your BBQ's and enjoy friends and families, but we should all take the time to remember those who have come before us for our Freedom and those that continue to fight, even on this very day. We should always Remember and lift them up in prayer as often as we can.

Blessings & Love to each of you!

Be Still

Our meditation for our first Spiritual Formations class was taken from Psalm 46, the verse is "Be Still and Know that I am God."

This is a powerful verse to meditate on. To really consider being "still" and knowing that God is who He says He is. As I meditated on this verse, I was overwhelmed with an understanding that I need to be still more often before God. For when I am still in front of Him, this is when I gain a softer peace and understanding about His will for my life.

The new semester has only just begun, but I am already feeling a bit overwhelmed with due dates and financial issues and wedding planning and family goals for the future, etc., etc. If only we could all be a little more still in front of the Lord.

This reminds me of my new favorite song :) it is called "Back in His arms again" by Mark Schultz. To "be still and know that I am God" always places me right back in His arms again.

I pray that each of you that read this have a moment this week to simply "Be still and know that [He is] God" Psalm 46

Love to all!

Finally Done...for now!

It is late and it has been a long day, so I am going to bed soon. I just wanted to post a quick note to say that I am finally done with my first semester at Regent University! I love this school so much. I finished my final exam for my College Algebra class today. Although math has always been my toughest subject, I do believe that I passed the class and I did well throughout. My grades on my tests and quizzes were 100's and 90's throughout the class. I didn't do as well as I would have liked on the final, but at least it is done and I certainly prayed my way through this class. I am glad God got me through it and now I am done, woo-hoo!

I have continued to build so many relationships with people on campus and in my classes. I am excited about where God is going to take those relationships as I continue on here, there are so many awesome people that I am praying for and that are praying for me.

Tomorrow Brian gets off work at 12pm (noon) and we are heading to Richmond to meet up with my mom and then we are on a airplane headed to cold (yet sunny) Rochester, New York! :) The high is only 60 there this weekend, a little different from my 92 degrees here at the beach the other day! :) I am blessed, none-the-less. On Saturday we are attending a bridal shower in honor of me and Brian and I could not feel more blessed! I can't wait to see all my family and Brian's family and friends.

I will try to write this weekend, and if you don't hear from me, I will be back in full swing on Monday! Summer classes begin on Monday, I get no break from school. It is okay though, I feel so blessed to be right where I am at. I have no complaints. I am loved, I am in love, and I have so very happy about that!

Blessings to all that read this,
Karen :)

Small Problems

I HATE ANTS!!! Can someone please tell me why God created these little creatures? Seriously, what is their purpose?

It all started when I walked into my closet this morning to get clothes out in order to get dressed, the first thing I did was pull the chain that is connected to the light bulb in the ceiling. The next thing I know, I have ants raining down on my head - eeewww...

I looked up to find ants crawling out of the hole of the light socket - many many ants in my closet....

My first reaction was to run to my computer and immediately start typing in bold CAPITAL letters to Brian, telling him that I needed his help, I told him my closet was infested with ants and they were falling on my head. After about 5 lines of bold, all caps typing, and no response from my Knight in shining Armor that was to save me (not really sure how I thought he was to save me, with him at work and me all the way in Chesapeake)...So, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Brian, I guess, assuming that I would need it at some point, bought me a can of "bug killer" - so I went in and just started shooting - they all died on contact, but I am not sure how long that is going to last, and to be honest I haven't gone back in there since! I figured I would wait for my "knight" to show up later tonight and take care of it. Seems like investing in an ant-eater for my closet would work, either that or a trip to Walmart to get some ant traps, I assume my "knight" is going to suggest the latter!

Then, my friend Jenny called to tell me that her hot water tank broke while she was at work today and her bottom floor of her apartment was mildly flooded. :( What is the dealio today? Instantly my ant problem didn't seem all that big of a deal - I prayed for Jenny and offered her to come over here. God has a way of always showing us that things could be worse....

But, I still despise ants and even though I took a shower right after the whole ordeal, I still have felt itchy all day, like they are crawling all over me....ugh...I wish Brian would hurry up and get here....

Memories

Today marks the one year anniversary of Daniel and I vacationing in Emerald Island, NC for a week long beach get-away. It was one of the most peaceful times in my life, ever!

Some may find it strange that I would post pictures of me and Daniel on a blog that is for Brian and I, but I am confident when I say that Brian doesn't mind sharing a little space with fond memories of Daniel.

I approach this day, not with sad thoughts, but with happy memories. The week that Daniel and I spent at the beach last year was the very last time that him and I spent time ALONE (Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the Realtor and friends that provided the house and set this all up. And the money that family provided for us to be able to get away for a little while - my heart is forever blessed because of those people). Once we returned from this vacation, we were surrounded by friends and family, hospice nurses, hospital beds, and the list goes on and on. I will, until the day I go home to be with Jesus, treasure the time that Daniel and I got to spend during this week of paradise. I believe this week was actually our week of saying "Goodbye" to one another in a private, loving, God-Filled surrounding.

During this week in North Carolina, Daniel was still walking on his own, still bathing himself, and still pretty much self-sufficient. It was amazing! I remember....eating great meals, seeing the sights, enjoying the beach, sitting on the porch - where Daniel read, read, and then read some more, feeding the birds, and even getting up early to watch Daniel's last sunrise here on earth. It was wonderful - no wheelchair, no cane, no chemo, and NO Seizures - God was so good to us that week and always!

I hope and pray that each of you that read this and that love Daniel as much as I do, you can remember wonderful memories that you have of him as well. As I prepare for my new life with Brian, I thank God everyday that I have found true love and that I am being blessed with Brian becoming my husband. I thank God for Brian being the man of God that he is and having the ability to understand that my life is not typical for a 27 year old, but my past does not define my future and loving Daniel has only made me a better woman. Daniel provided me with the ability to love Brian now as my husband, even more than I already had in friendship.

If there is one thing I could leave you with today, it would be the understanding that God is so amazing. He never leaves us or forsakes us, and when we are down, He picks us up and renews our strength. I pray daily for each of you and your relationships with the Lord, may you each know that same feeling of Peace and Love that He has for each of you.

I love you all!
Karen :)

I thought I would end this post with some memories of Daniel's writing from one year ago...

"It is around ten pm and we just got home from an excellent dinner and a walk on a nearby pier. Blink. It is now sat. evening I was falling asleep at the computer so I gave up after the first sentence. Anyway Karen and I had a great evening....I will just say it was an awesome time. Very relaxing.

1.) Thank You God for Karen my beautiful bride who takes care of me daily and nightly. Who seems to at times have the forethought of a master chess player.

2.) Thank You God for time spent with cousins that you don't get to see enough and for family that truly loves you by showing you. Thank you everyone, I Love You All.

3.) Thank You God for the small "roses" in my life...like being able to say I Love You to people and not see it in their eyes that if I left tonight they would know that I really do and it isn't just talk.

I LOVE YOU ALL,

Daniel"

“Life gives us brief moments with another...but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a life time...” ~Author Unknown~

By the way....

Where in the world did the month of April go? I totally missed it and so did my blogging...sorry about that. I will really try and be better. Can't believe that I am only 1 month and 28 days away from my wedding date - Amazingly awesome.

Not only that, but God is really working in so many areas of my life...more to come from me in the days ahead.

Love to all!

Posting Pictures...

I am sorry to admit that I just don't know how to post pictures on this thing. Am I just lacking in that department of my "blogging brain"? If anyone can help me, please do share! :)

Blessings to all!