Day 10

I am thankful for all the things that are challenging me to look at my faith with Active and open eyes! It is tiring to be constantly struggling through hard questions but SO worth it because God is victorious still.

Day 9

I am thankful that the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been revealed to me. I am thankful for my God and his unending love and kindness that have led me to repentance. I am thankful that I can live by the same power that rose Christ from the dead. I am just overwhelmed with my God today and just how wonderful He is. I love him so much.

Day 6, 7, 8

So I failed over the weekend at keeping up with my Thankfulness.

Day 6: I am SO incredibly thankful for my school (California Baptist University). I am thankful to have an education that is rooted in Biblical truth. I am thankful for a Christian community. I am thankful for my job in the Office of Spiritual Life. Basically, I am so thankful for these past three and a half years and how God has used CBU to help me grow in my faith.

Day 7: I am thankful for the times when God forces me to slow down and just rest. It has been a hard journey learning how to not be so fast paced and crazed all the time, but the result has been wonderful. God is working on giving me that gentle and quiet spirit that our society pushes us farther and farther away from each day. I am thankful that God knows when I need a break.

Day 8: I am thankful for Lauren Spencer. I am so grateful to be one of her Bridesmaids and be a part of her big day. I am thankful for her friendship and all that she has taught me about being a selfless woman as she takes care of Elias. She has grown so much in the past year and it has been a huge blessing to see God working in her life. I just love her and our time that we get to spend together.

(Please excuse my slacker-ness. It will not happen again. Well, actually I can't make any promises)

"Your Christians are so unlike your Christ"

I had an interesting talk with a friend last night. It was helpful to “talk out” so many things that have been on my mind, and yet, it has only led to more thoughts and contemplations. I am not opposed to thinking but I am certainly getting annoyed with thoughts that endlessly circle through my brain with no end in sight.

The conversation was about Christianity and Christians.

The two don’t seem to coincide as nicely as one would like.

Gandhi probably said it best when he stated, “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Now, when I claim Christ as my savior I am well aware that I will never be just like Christ. It’s something called Imperfection, and I am a walking billboard for it.

People say Christianity is "just a crutch" for the weak... well, i would have to say that Christianity is an entire body stretcher that I, the weakest of all sinners, must rest upon to find salvation in Christ.

The problem lies in the fact that Christians are the some of the gnarliest hypocrites walking around this little planet. I think the hypocrisy comes from the fact that the church is getting so privatized and we are afraid to be REAL with the world around us. We are well aware that we are FAR from perfect, but we are called to be Holy as Christ was Holy. We are called to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. We are claiming some pretty epic things when we claim the name of Christ and we simply can’t live up to them… in our own power.

This little blogger rant could go on and on and on but I will spare everyone from the journey into the depths of my mind and conclude with this:

I am learning to separate my faith in Christ from my faith in Christians. That might sound strange but I can often find myself blaming my lack of faith in certain areas on Christians instead of the true source of my faith, the scriptures and the life of Christ.

I’d like to hear your thoughts, if you have any, on this topic.

The endless circle continues in my brain as I try to figure out this whole “living by Faith” thing.

Day 5

Today I am especially thankful for Bradyn Brown,

one of my lovely roommates.

She is 20 today so it only seems appropriate to show her a little thanks :)

I am thankful for her sweet spirit that can calm me down whenever I am stressing out

or don't know what to do about a problem.

She has a deep love for her savior Jesus Christ and

it radiates in everything that she says and does.

I had the blessing of traveling with her (and rooming with her) in Uganda

this summer and learning more about God's heart for the Nations.

She didn't judge me as I hallucinated on Malaria medicine

and she was a great encouragement on the days

when we were learning so much in Africa.

I simply love her.

Happy Birthday Brady Bunch.

I am thankful for YOU.

Day 4

Today is the anniversary of Kristallnacht,

"the Night of Broken Glass"...

when the series of attacks against Jews

happened throughout Nazi Germany

(on November 9-10 1938).

On this day I am thankful for those who

stand up for what they believe in.

I am thankful for people who are willing

to get out of their comfort zone to be a voice for the voiceless.

Proverbs 31:8-9

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the cause of the poor and needy."

Day 3

Today I am thankful for those little things that I so often

take for granted.

This includes (but is not limited to):

running water, my bed, food,

education, my car, medicines,

my very own Bible, electricity, warmth,

the freedom to worship God as loudly and publicly as i so desire,

two jobs (very part time and minimum wage- but JOBS nonetheless),

school supplies, books, laptop,

and the grace that covers my sin.

Day 2

I am thankful that I have a God that I can trust despite any circumstances or fear that I might have. I don't have to worry about my inadequacies that out number my strengths. I can fully rely on the same power that rose Christ from the dead.

This gives me great peace

and a thankful heart.

18 days of Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is 18 days away and it is never to early to start working on having a thankful heart. I hope to continue with the thankfulness long after Turkey Day.

Day 1:

I am thankful for family.

I am so glad that we have generations to learn life wisdom from

and share fun stories with.

Project: Domestication Part 2

The Domestication of Kristina Osborne- Part 2

The Red Velvet Cake Balls

Taken from Bakerella.com

The messy and surprisingly fun part :)

I am getting more comfortable with baking.

Looks like Project: Domestication is starting to work!

There is still much to learn!!!

The Sights of Fall

Fall Festivities :)

Pumpkin Patch with Luis

Halloween Night

Trick Or Treating! (but mostly treating)

The inspiration of our costumes!

(House idea was stolen but turned out really cute!)

Carl and the House from Pixar's UP

The Tele-marketer and the Elder

Tele-marketer meets the Dancing old man from the 6 flags commercial.

A moment of pure confusion and excitement :)

Adam the drunken biker man

Dexter and his victim

The Elder finds Luis the House as the perfect opportunity

to knock on the door and share some info!

Cutest little Jack-o-Lantern ever.

Just do it!

People people....

We have an important election tomorrow. SO VOTE!

You have a right to vote... just do it.

You have the freedom to vote... just do it.

You have the intelligence to vote... just do it.

You have a faith to defend in this State... just do it.

I strongly believe that we need to take advantage of the fact that anyone

even cares what we think and vote while we have the right!

Educate yourselves... and JUST DO IT!

An easy way to get educated.

http://www.votesmart.org/voteeasy/