Perceptions!

At church today the message was about honoring God with our bodies. Our pastor talked about how the world views beauty and the messages we all are bombarded with day after day that make us all feel that we need to be "perfect". The video below is a Dove ad that they played during the service today...I had never seen it before, so maybe you haven't either. Check it out--its pretty cool!

This is a message that we all need to remind ourselves and the young women growing up in this world. We all compare ourselves to others....even when it subconsciously. I know I've done it, but today's message was just a wonderful reminder of how God created us in HIS image and in HIS eyes we are already "perfect"!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139:14

Weekend with Braden!

What a fun weekend! Our 2 year old nephew Braden came to visit us all by himself this weekend! Josh & I were really looking forward to spoiling him and I prayed all week that he wouldn't cry and would have lots of fun! Well....God answered my prayers! He was WONDERFUL! I mean not one cry, not one tear, no tantrum, no fits, nothing but smiles and laughs and fun! We started the weekend out by taking him to Gatti Town in Frisco were we played games and rode the train and had pizza. Then we came home and Maggie and him ran around outside for an hour, then it was bath time and bed time (he was all tuckered out and slept all night). Saturday Uncle Josh let him wear his PJ's to the donut shop and then we all got dressed and went to feed the ducks and play at the playground! Then we went to play with cousins Cade & Landry where Braden leared he LOVES to play the drums and then had lunch with them at Snuffers! Finally we went to to the petstore to see all the animals and then to the bookstore to buy a new book! He was asleep before we even got out of Lewisville as we headed to take him back!

We had so much fun with him and are so blessed that Jessica & Chris let us share some time with their sweet little boy! Here a just a few of the MANY pics I took this weekend!


Feeding the ducks with Josh

Fun at the park

Loving on Aunt Kisha

Looking a fish with Uncle Josh

Our cute photo booth session

Playing games!

Riding the carousel

Shivering after a bubble bath!

Uncle Josh & Braden in their almost matching shirts!

Proud Sister!

Well, for those of you who might not know, my brother is now in Chiropractic School. Yes, he too has a white coat now and is joining me and mom in the health care profession! He started ~2 weeks ago and is already studying hard! I am really excited for him and know that he has a lot of work in store for the next few years, but I am REALLY proud of him. He is going to do wonderfully!

This is a pic from his White Coat Ceremony!

The Shack

Well, I don't mean to make this blog all about the books I've been reading but I had to post something about this one. Josh and I both just read a book called The Skack. Its a Christian novel that's been on the bestseller list for a while and we had heard it was good. Well....its amazing!

Here is the premise from the cover....Mackenzie Allen Philips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in this midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change his life forever.

The book is totally fiction and I have read reviews of people that take it much to literal...its not the Bible nor was it meant to be, but for me it was an amazing reminder of how much I am loved by God. I cried many times, mostly out of shear amazment at how much God takes care of us, loves us and is with us even when we are not drawing near to Him! This is a book I will get out and read again when I go through struggles in life. Whether you are stronger in your faith than you've even been or are going through a difficult time really trusting God....this is a wonderful place to lose yourself and be reminded of how much God truly loves you. It made me really think about things and it sparked much discussion between Josh and I. I wish Josh and I would have bought 2 copies and read them at the same time so we could have discussed it as we read it, but I read it and then Josh did and it was killing me that I had to wait for him to read it before we could talk. Its a quick and easy read and you can find the book anywhere...I was at Wal Mart yesterday and they had TONS of copies. If you read it, let me know what you think!

Fall is is the air!!

Today was my favorite kind of day!! It was sunny and beautiful and breezy and it actually felt like fall! (Which living in Texas is a season we don't really experience much of). Since it was so nice out, we decided to take Maggie to the dog park after church today along with my brother and his wife and their 2 dogs. We haven't taken Maggie to a dog park all summer because it was so hot she didn't want to be outside, but today we all just enjoyed the breeze and watching the dogs play. The cool air and sun gave me a new kind of energy and made for a wonderful end to the weekend! Hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!!

Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 is both mine and Josh's favorite Bible verse. So many times I find myself back at this verse for encouragement, strength, hope and so much more. Recently Josh stumbled upon a website that makes and sells Christian jewelery (www.c28.com if you're interested). We noticed they had both male and female rings with the verse engraved on the outside and decided to get matching rings in order that we might be reminded of that verse often during our days. Well, the rings came in yesterday and we LOVE them! It was great to feel and see the Word of God everytime I looked at my hands today!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

About Me...Just for Fun!

What time is it? 5:22pm
What's your full name Kisha Renea Long
What are you most afraid of Losing someone I love
What is the most recent movie that you have seen in a theatre House Bunny (it was actually very funny)
Place of birth Plainview, TX
Favorite food Mexican food!
What's your natural hair color Dirty Blonde...that's why I have to "enhance it" with hi-lights!
How old are you today 26
Ever been skinny dipping No
Love someone so much it made you cry Yes
Been in a car accident Yes
Croutons or bacon bits Croutons
Favorite day of the week Friday
Favorite restaurant Abuelo's
Favorite Flower Gerber Daisy
Favorite sport to watch I hate watching sports on TV
Favorite drink Diet Dr. Pepper (with vanilla if its from Sonic)
Favorite ice cream Cookies and Cream
What color is your bedroom carpet Tan
How many times did you fail your driver's test 0
What do you do when you are bored Vacuum and Play on the computer
Bedtime 10ish
Favorite TV shows Jon & Kate plus 8, Dancing with the Starts, Grey's Anatomy, Project Runway and Lipstick Jungle (I know I have too many favorites)
Last person you went out to eat with Josh and Jennie and Kyle Jones (after church today)
What are your favorite colors Black and Red
How many tattoos do you have 0
How many pets do you have 1 (Maggie Dog)
What do you want to Do before you die A lot, bust mostly be a good Christian wife, mom, friend, etc
Have you ever been to Hawaii No
Have you been to countries outside the U.S. Yes
Time this survey ended 5:31

The Art of Loving Dogs!

Its funny....Josh and I both grew up having dogs, but neither one of us ever remember being "dog people"....that is until NOW!! We got Maggie (our adorable dog) a little over a year ago and we love her so much most people think we're crazy! She totally transformed us into "dog people"! She has so much personality its almost like she is a person sometimes (and if you know us you know that we kind of treat her like one).

Well, Josh was playing on the internet and found a review of a new novel called "The Art of Racing in the Rain" which is a book written by a dog about his life as he recalls it from his death bed. The reviews were wonderful and so last weekend we went out and purchased the book. I have to say that if you've ever loved dogs you should read it! It made me laugh and cry and made me want to curl up and love on my sweet dog even more! So....if you've got some extra time READ IT!