God's plan; God's love

    Tonight I write with a heavy heart. I write because my brain is going about 90 miles per hour in every different direction. I write because it's 1:19 a.m. and I can't sleep. I write because I have a lot on my heart and I don't know any other way that I can get it off, I have tried everything... So, I thought maybe typing it out will do the trick.
       My heart is heavy for my dear sister and her family. I can't imagine what they are going through. I am literally at a loss of what to do because I can't do anything. I have prayed, thought about, sent text messages, sent song lyrics, sent bible verses but literally that feels like nothing. I wish so bad I could just make a wish and POOF I would be half way across the country in Minnesota with my sister Emily and her family. But, that isn't reality, so here I am in Georgia trying to comfort my family. From Georgia I send love. From Georgia I send prayers. From Georgia I send thoughts! I wish I could send hugs, and hand holdings! I love you Em!
     

    Tonight as I sit here in front of my computer and type all of my random thoughts down I can't stop thinking about God's plan. I can't stop thinking about what His plan is for my life, my fiance's life, our family's life, and just His plan for everything in life. I keep thinking how marvelous He is. He is with us through everything in life. His plans for our lives go far beyond what we can comprehend. His plan is what is amazing. He tells us that He will NEVER forsake us. He tells us that He will NEVER leave us. So, when trials come, when pain is near, when sorrow is in our lives, HE is there CARRYING us. His plan is so great, that He uses the sorrow and pain in our lives to touch others lives. He gives us trials and seasons to go through so that we can rely on Him; so that we can show others that God is so real, so alive, and so faithful. Though we may never understand His plan, we must trust and hold on to Him. If anyone knows about how hard it is to trust, it's me. Many times I wish that I could just know why things happen or why I am suppose to do the things He would have me do, or why sorrow and pain have to come into our lives, but as soon as I start opening my eyes, and looking to Him; He reveals exactly why things happen the way that they do. He shows me that though pain comes, His joy comes in the morning. He never ceases to amaze me with His plan. He gave me His life, so that I could be free, so that all of my chains would be broken, so that I could worship Him all my life FREELY, so that I could live eternally with MY Savior. He knows my plan, and how my life is suppose to play out, and I just have to rely on Him, put my trust in Him, and live my life serving Him to the best of my ability. God's plan for His children is so beyond awesome. We as His children may never understand His plan, but that is why it isn't our plan... because we would mess it up. We have the Perfect Sinless King in control. I can't even think about planning my life the way I would have it, because I am imperfect and sinful and would mess everything up. So, even though it's hard I am constantly reminding myself that GOD is in control! HE is ALWAYS near, and ALWAYS listens! HE knows our hearts, and loves us so deeply and endlessly.       I love the verse in Jeremiah... It's so cliche but it's so true. "`11 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." It's so beautiful. He tells us HE knows the plans, the plans that help us grow and plans that don't harm us, He gives us hope and He gives us a future. He tells us that if we just pray to Him he will listen to our cries. He tells us that if we just seek Him with all of our heart that we will find Him!  It's just that He wants us to trust Him with all of our lives, to live our lives for His glory, because He deserves way more than I could ever give Him! His plan is Immaculate. WE just have to put our faith in him! 

     I have been thinking so much lately about God's GRACE. His Grace is so beyond anything I ever in a million years deserve. His grace is deeper than the ocean, is further than the East is from the West, and I am so unworthy of it, but He gives it to me daily. God's grace is so amazing. "He breaks the power of sin and darkness!" His love goes beyond anything we as humans could ever comprehend.   I get so frustrated because I am literally at loss of words for the first time in my entire life because I can't describe God's love and grace for us! IT'S UNFAILING. IT'S PERFECT. His love washes away our sin because HIS son DIED FOR US! JESUS WAS PERFECT AND DIED BECAUSE I AM IMPERFECT. and no my caps lock button works fine I want you to think that I am yelling that at you because YOU need to understand it just like I do!!! HE CONQUERED THE GRAVE! It's AMAZING GRACE, because you don't deserve the love that God gives us and I DEFIANTLY DON'T DESERVE IT, because I know I fail and sin EVERY DAY! BUT that DOESN'T matter because He LOVES us ANYWAY! Even though we fail daily HE LOVES US ANYWAY! His grace is so beautiful because without it I'd be doomed, but because He want's me to live eternally with Him, He gives me Grace EVERYDAY! He is so wonderful. I am so blessed to be able to worship THE God that loves me even when I fail. I am so Thankful for a God that loves me. 

         I pray that if you don't know the GOD I worship and serve I pray that you would just open your eyes to His grace. He loves you more than anyone could ever tell you! 

    But, that is all my rambling for the night.

    until next time- 
 Mrs. soon-to-be Matthew Steele

The thoughts filling my brain

As of this morning I realized I haven't blogged anything in a long while.

              As Matthew and I sat on the couch this morning, eating our breakfast and watching my current addiction (Gossip Girl) I realized how amazingly blessed I am, I have a man who will sit with  me and watch GG. Not only does he sit there and watch it, he does NOT complain,  AND he listens to me fan girl over Chuck Bass... If any of my fellow GG addicts are reading this you know all about Chuck Bass. I realized this morning as I had my dose of GG, I had found my Chuck Bass, but it is someone who loves me far more than any Chuck Bass could ever love Blair. (If it was reality). It's so cheesy, I know but it's just the truth. I looked over to Matthew this morning and said " I need to write a crucial message to my ladies tonight to make sure that they find their Chuck Bass."

              So ladies, these are fundamental requirements for your man to end up being as wonderful as mine... His heart needs to be so in love with the Lord. When his heart is for the Lord, it will show by his actions, his words, his feelings, his emotions(most of the time), and his love for people, you, and his family. His humor, well it is a bit dry, but he can crack jokes all day. Make sure he can make you laugh even when you are crying, because trust me, when sad tears go to happy tears it is the best feeling.EVER. His power of making everything seem okay. That is a big one, because if you are like me in anyway you will stress over the littlest things, that don't really matter at all. That is where he comes in. He will hug you and tell you everything is going to be okay and then give you an example as to why it will be okay, but, as he does that he won't make you feel as if you are dumb for being stressed, just comforted. His patience. As long as you are as stubborn and hard headed as I am patience will be a key for him to have. It will never run out. No matter how many breakdowns, stupid moments when you have to be right, or even being bad at driving his patience never runs out. He simply asks what can I do. His "little things". What little things he does for you make sure you do your best to do for him! Whether it is him opening your car door (EVERYTIME), giving you a foot rub after you have worked on your feet for 12 hours, sending you a picture of the sky line at mid-night and the caption reading "I love you more than all the lights in the city". Those are my little things.  My list of fundamental requirements for your man to turn out like mine could go on forever but I know most of you wouldn't like that so I will try to close this section out... but to recap 

1. his heart.( make sure it's lost in The Lord)

2. his humor

3. his super power of making everything okay

4. his patience

5. his "little things"

If some of you didn't catch that...Those are MY favorite things about  Matthew. But not only those things, he does so much more for me than I could ever put into words. He loves more than I could ever deserve. I am forever grateful, thankful, and blessed to have Matthew as my strong hold, my lifeline, and I will always feel so undeserving of someone so wonderful. I LOVE YOU MATTHEW. 

          To my ladies, find someone who loves you so deeply that you can feel it, and make sure you love them to the point that it hurts to love them. Make sure that you try your very hardest to do everything in your power to make sure you love them the best that you can EVERYDAY. 

           As Matthew and I have started our lives together these past 2 years, I have grown to love him more and more, and this distance thing just keeps getting harder and harder... it's something that is so hard to explain the feelings I have about it. It is super hard right now, because being who I am I get anxious and excited and nervous because Matthew moves down here in exactly 3 months from today! December 30th can not get here fast enough... December 30 to me means no more plane tickets, no more car rides to see Matthew, no more waiting weeks upon weeks to hug him, no more feeling as if my heart is 800 miles away.. ALL of that stops... I can not express my excitement enough!!                 

After December 30th I will have a new date to look forward to... AUGUST 1st! Well, I am already looking forward to that one but it will be even more real. August 1st I will be marrying my best friend, my true love, my whole heart and we will be starting a brand new chapter to our lives... I am so extremely excited about that!    This new chapter comes with new beginnings, adventures, fun times, and hard times... I feel as if I am at a hard time at the moment just for the simple fact that there is so much to do between now and August 1st and I am at a loss of where to begin... Matthew and I have a wedding to plan, a home to find, ( but I am 95% sure we have found it.) We will most likely be living in the house I grew up in which is in Villa Rica, Georgia. I feel so blessed to say that, that house will be our first house together. It gives me so much joy in my heart. Anyway... back to there is so much to do... not only do we have to get a house, we need financial stabling jobs. We will have bills, insurance, food, and everyday necessities that we will have to be taken care of. With all of these new beginnings I am learning what it means to fully rely on God and to have a childlike faith. I have learned so well these past few months that God answers prayers faster than I could ever know. So with all of this stressing I find myself often asking God for strength and peace for Matthew and I from now until forever. I am finding he provides peace in a multitude of ways. He gives me peace and strength by using Matthew to comfort me, and let me know we are in this together. The good Lord gives me peace and strength by using my parents to show me support when it feels as if Matthew and I are sometimes alone on this journey in December with finding a place to live, or how to move him down, my parents have been my rock through that. They have told me countless times about how they will do everything that they can to help us. God has given me friends who support Matthew and I in our decision making and pray for me when I ask and even when I don't. It is always such a wonderful feeling and such good encouragement when you have someone tell you that they pray for you every morning and every night. So throughout my stress of life I have God giving me peace through people who don't even know God is using them in that way. I am learning to always remember God is where I have to look for peace. God is always faithful.

       

             UGANDA... We are still planning on going to Uganda next fall, we still have a lot of money to raise for it, but we know that God will provide if it is in His will. Uganda is a very special place for us. It will be where we adopt from. God has laid that on both of our hearts and I find so much of my joy thinking, praying and meditating on our son, our mission to Uganda, and just the thought of getting to touch someones life all the way in Uganda. Matthew and I would love if you would just to continue praying for us, for our hearts to be prepared for our trip next fall and for us to be able to raise the money to go. If you would like to donate please contact me at 770-355-8452 or kellishadrix9523@gmail,com  . we thank you in advance! 

      God is my peace giver. He is my Lord. He is my Friend. In him I find joy, strength, patience, love. If you need to find yourself, find who you need to be, I challenge you to read 1 Peter. 

     Rejoice in the grief and in the trials. I am finding myself reminding myself of that often.

  

     Remember my brothers and sisters WE were redeemed by the PRECIOUS BLOOD of Jesus Christ, NOT silver or gold.

     Also, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. We as Christ follower have to go reach the world! That is OUR job! If that means I have to take a shower by using a bucket of water then that is what I am going to do! If it means I have to travel to the -30 degree weather than that is what I am going to do. If it means I am going to have to give up spending money on clothes, shoes, my wants then that is what I am going to do! It is MY job to go and tell the good news of MY Savior! My True King! I want God to set a fire down in me that the whole world might know my LORD! I challenge you brothers and sisters to let God set a fire down in your soul! 

      I pray you can't sleep, eat, or even think about anything else other than setting the world on fire with GOD! I pray you would have a desire to GO and TELL! Because it is OUR job!

         until the next time, I am praying for God to take over your hearts! I am learning to fully rely on God, I am surrendered to my King! 

--Kelli Soon-to-be Steele

God's Great People

Well, it's been a while. a lot has happened between April and now... I am not really sure where to begin.
    I guess to just pick up where I left off... Matthew and I are still planning on going to Uganda next fall, sort of like our 'Honeymoon', it's not really your everyday honeymoon to go somewhere on a mission trip, but we both feel as if it is what we are called to do.  This may come as a surprise to some but Matthew and I are planning to adopt a little boy from Uganda. It will most certainly be in the very far far future, but we have a name for our little boy: Issac Jacob. There is a story behind the name... Back in April when we had the Uganda Childrens Choir sing at our church there was a little boy there named Issac. When he was just a baby he had a pot of beans spilled onto his head and it severely burned him, he almost died. But he asked me a very wise question for such a young child, He looked at me and asked "Kel, do you like your father being a preacher?" I honestly didn't know how to reply, so I simply said "sometimes yes, and sometimes no." Well, did he not do anything but surprise me, he replied with "I love that my Father is a preacher. Not my earthly father, well because I don't know him, but my Heavenly Father."  To think that this young child who would have every reason that there is to not know God the way we do, loves Him more than many of us "Christians" could ever comprehend.  That is where Issac came from, a little boy who has no idea how much he is loved even by me.      Jacob came from my brother. He has been my best friend my whole life. He has been there for me, supported me, loved me, fought with me, but he has always been my friend. I love him more than words, I would want nothing less but to give my child the name of my wonderful brother, and Honor him. If you would like I know Matthew and I would love if you would just pray for us and Issac Jacob.

     Now, to get to the title of this blog... God's Great People.    In the bible, God uses a lot of different people to help, teach, reach, love, and serve. Well,  He has blessed me more than I deserve, because He has given me a lot of His great people! As Matthew and I have started planning our wedding, and getting ready for the big day...which is only a year a way come August 1st, I have found that there are so many of God's people that want to help me, support me, love me, and teach me.
       I really need to start off by saying a huge THANK YOU to Matthew, because not only do we have a wedding going on, we have a life that we are living, and it has not been easy, it has been very emotionally and mentally draining, it has tested the both of us very much, but I know that I could not have made it this far without him and the support and encouragement he has been giving me the past few months. He has stayed up with me night after night from reason like how I didn't know what shoes my bridesmaids are going to wear, to having just a simple bad day, to just having good laughs, and sometimes good cries... He has been there to give me strength in the hard times, and I hope that I am his strength when he needs me, So, I love you my sweet Matthew.

     God gave me a mother and a father who love me unconditionally, through everything that has happened and will happen. They have been there to encourage me through the storms, they have been there to give advice when I need it most. and most importantly they tell me they love me about 50 times a day, and I couldn't do anything without them. They are my teachers in rough situations, my help when I don't know what to do. God, truly gave me two of His most greatest people when He let me be the daughter of such an amazing couple. They are my backbone, and I couldn't have made it this far in life without them... Literally.  I love my parents more than words could ever express.
     Well next I will have to say, God gave me some of the best friends I could ever ask for, I truly believe that they are angels. They have all shared with me a different part of my life, and they all hold such special places in my heart. I will start by introducing you to my best friend of about 8 years now, Lindsey Caroline Sewell. She will be my MOH in our wedding next year. She is such a wonderful friend but not only friend but a wonderful person. She is so full of life, adventure, love, and laughter. I would've had no friends in middle school if it hadn't of been for her helping me through being the "new" kid. She was there through my very most awkward stages of life... I don't think they are over yet... but we may not see each other near enough but, when we do, it is like we haven't missed a thing. She is so supportive with everything I have planned, and is such a loving person. She is my secret keeper. My best friend bracelet wearing best friend. I am so happy that is is my MOH. I wouldn't want anyone else to be. I have much much love in my heart for my Linz.      

    Now, for 2 of my bridesmaids... Caitlin and Lane. They are both such beautiful girls. They are very different but I love them so much. Lane has been my friend for going on about 3 years now. She is honestly the sweetest person I have ever met. She has been such a wonderful friend for me. I believe God gave me her to keep my head on straight. We always have the best time together. I know that if I ever needed anything she would be there...Well, unless it was the middle of the night... She'd be asleep. but that morning she would be there! haha... I love love love you Laney!      Caitlin.. She is my advice giver, my own personal magic 8 ball. She is always there to listen to anything that I may have going on. She is there to hug my when it has just been a bad day, she is my lets eat until we are sick and watch movies all day girl. We have been friends for just a little over a year now, but it feels like a life time. She encourages me, and teaches me so much. I couldn't have asked God for a better friend. God put her in my life at the exact right time. She is my C! and I love HER!
    One of God's greatest people is the Wonderful Stephanie Dickinson. She has been like a second mother to me for about 8 or 9 years now.  When I describe Steph, I would say she is one of the hardest working ladies I know. She is the best advice giver I have ever met.  Not only is she my other mother, she is much more than that... She is my friend. We always have the best time together whether we are watering her plants, or just sitting around talking. I like to call her my wedding planner... but she's not, I just wish I had the creative part of her brain! God blessed me much more than I deserved when He sent my family to Waco because little did I know then, I would have one of the most cherished relationships I could ever dream of. I love you Steph, I am so thankful for what you do for me! how you encourage, teach, love, care, and support me.
     Last but most certainly not least, the lovely Miss. Emily Steele(almost).    God has given me such a deep love for this pretty lady. She is my sister. We have such an understanding for each other now. God gave us a huge mile stone but with His help we over came it. I wouldn't change a thing about our testimony. I feel as if it is a challenge for someone. I know that with everything that has happened I love Emily more than she will ever know. She is such a strong woman of God, and loves people, and loves to serve God by serving people.  My heart for her is so big.  We are now able to just have heart to heart conversations that last for about two days, and just love each other more because of our understanding of each other.  We are in each others shoes some days and just know exactly what different things make us feel like.  I love you Em!

  These people are my heart. They are my encouragement, support, laughter, love, my best friends. I know that God has given me these people now to help me through all the storms and trials of this life. They will never know how grateful I am for each of them. God has taught me so much through these people and how to love with these people. I am forever grateful for them. These people are God's Great People.       I am sorry if this post does not flow directly how it should but I really tried. I have been working on it since about last Wednesday and I am just now writing the last sentence... I've had less than 10 minutes per day working on it, so again I apologize if it doesn't flow like it should.
       

      Well, for now keep on Loving
                        -Kelli  Steele.(almost)

Our Calling to Uganda

Dear friends and family,

God has called us to go on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa. This is something we have been in constant prayer about for a while now. It's something very dear to our hearts, and we hope it is to yours too. We are planning to go spring or fall of 2015. The trip is looking to cost about $3,000 per person ($6,000 total for both of us to go). We are opening a savings account solely for this trip. Until then, if you would like to support us you can mail either of us a donation. Both of or addresses will be at the bottom. Anything helps us go. If you decide to sponsor us, please put in the memo or in a note, "Uganda Missions". We ask that you would be in constant prayer with and for us as we plan to go share the love of Christ with the people of Uganda and help with the Helping Hands Foreign Mission. The Helping Hands Foreign Mission is a ministry to help the orphans and the widows. As some of you may know we are planning to adopt in the far future; but as for now, this is our calling to help with the orphans of Uganda.

     Thank you in advance for all of the prayers and support.

   With love,
       The future Matthew and Kelli Steele.

http://helpinghandsmissions.org/

Matthew Steele
135 Dowrick Dr
Martinsburg PA, 16662

Kelli Shadrix(Steele)
157 Laurel Creek Court
Carrollton, GA 30117

Patience, Learning, and God

I normally say "Patience is a virtue, a virtue I don't have." That statement is true in a sense, but at the same time I know that I have some. I was not born with this patience, oh, NO, NO, NO...I prayed for patience... I advise you to never do that unless you are ready for the challenges and mountains that God has in store for you. When you do pray for the patience, just remember that it is a Fruit of The Spirit!  When I first prayed for God to "give" it to me, He probably was like "Oh my beautiful daughter, you don't know what you have asked for."  (side note: I truly believe God talks like that, and I also believe He calls all of His Children beautiful.) Well, He first gave me the challenge of leaving all of my "friends" at Bremen, which was a lot harder than I ever expected, I found that I really only had about 3 true friends there. That challenge made me realize that I could do anything, but I HAD to have God in the center of my life to overcome the heartaches of life.  Then, He gave me the highest mountain I've had to face yet... My Fiance lives about 800 miles away from me! That's where MOST of my patience has come from. It has taught me that life moves fast! For me, at this time, that is GOOD news! It means I am one day closer to marrying my best friend! This is a very hard journey for me, it very often test my patience, and test my endurance but God is on my side and it makes everything a LOT better. As time moves on I find myself thinking about this wonderful challenge, and the gift of time God has granted Me. I always end up rambling... Back to patience. This incredible Journey in my life is the main source of my patience, and I would not trade it for the world. The learning part of this blog is that I can't let the little things in life bother me like I normally do. It's not worth it. I can't let someone take my joy just because they copy me, say something that I don't agree with, or do something I have no control over. I have learned to "let things roll"... which to me means not let people know when something bothers me, now I just have to learn to not let it bother me... I know that I can do that, but it's one of my weakest points, but I know that I can do it! I have an awesome best friend who always encourages me, and I have a God that has the highest POWER, and knows the weak points He has to get you through, because He is ALWAYS carrying me. 

  

     With that, I just need to take a moment to brag on my King. He is the King of Kings. He loves like no one could ever comprehend. He lives IN ME!  He Knows the UNKNOWN! I believe that, is the amazing thing... HE knows what I am going to do before I EVER do it! It amazes me the GRACE He gave us!  His grace is deeper than ANY ocean! His love is higher than the sky, and His power can not be tamed! He CREATED the STARS for us to see, and SUNSETS for us to watch!  His beauty is far out of this universe!  THAT IS MY GOD! please check out this link!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffzB_HK9sNU&feature=youtu.be 

  

      Until later, 

           KSS

Blessings From Above

This is a long one, but it's only because I am so blessed! Once you read it the pictures are mainly at the end!        
     As my dad always says, "I have to be God's favorite."  Well, he is WRONG,  I know because I AM God's favorite. God has blessed me in so many ways, has given me such a wonderful life, and has put people in my life that I am so thankful for. I could thank God everyday, every hour, every second, and it still wouldn't be enough to show how truly thankful I actually am.
       
        My first blessing He gave to me was my biological family. He has blessed me with the most loving, compassionate family. My family may be a little crazy, and hard to handle sometimes, but I wouldn't trade them for the whole world. He gave me a Dad, a Mom, and a Jakey Boy.
        My dad: He is the most Godly man I have ever met. He is totally on fire for the Lord. He has centered his life around spreading the Word of God, and his desire is for the whole world to know his God! When ever I think about a song that would be a song that would describe my dad I always think of the song by Britt Nicole, Set The World On Fire, it is such a wonderful song. My dad is the first man I have always loved. God gave him a special gift to love the unlovable, and help the helpless. That's what he strives to do! Love is something that my daddy, and my momma sure have been good at showing me. That takes me to the next person in my family.
        My sweet sweet momma: She is the most loving, and giving lady you will ever meet. She gives of her time, money, and love. I have such a special love for my mom. We may fight, but it's only because we are so much alike. I always hope that one day I can be a lady just like her. She enjoys the little things in this life, and also loves the Lord. She has been a wonderful help mate to my daddy. She has had to sacrifice so much of the things she would love to do for the things that The Lord has called my daddy to do. I hope to be able to encourage my husband the way she does my dad. Her love for me never ceases to amaze me. No matter how bad I really mess up she is always going to love me!
         My Jakey Boy:  He is one of a kind. We have come along way in our relationship. We have a good  6 years between us, so it was hard getting along when we were young, but as we have matured and gotten older he has become my best friend. I know that if I ever needed him, he would be there for me! He is a very strong willed man!  He can do whatever he puts his mind to! I have just recently in the past few months met someone who is almost just like him(except the girl version) and her name is Emily, You will hear about her later! My brother, loves the Lord, and has such a caring heart for his loved ones! You are such a big blessing to me! I love you my Jakey Boy!
                                      My family has encouraged me so much and I know that if it weren't for them I wouldn't be who I am today, and I would not be able to do the things I do! Ex. Be in the relationship that I am in. Which leads me to what I like to say is almost my biggest blessing.

           My relationship with my fiance. Matthew is my rock. God truly always knows what He is doing. He blessed me with a man far beyond my dreams. Matthew is a gentle, loving, caring man. He loves me so good. It is a love that I have never felt before in my whole life. It's a love that I can feel. Well, the only down side of this whole relationship is, the fact that for now he lives 800 miles away from me. Man, it's a killer, somedays are a lot harder than others, but everyday is hard.  I honestly don't think I would change anything about it though. We have been together for a while now, and this past December he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! Well, obviously I couldn't say no to that!
So, here I am engaged and ready to be married! Matthew, is my rock, he is my sunshine on the cloudy days, he is the only man I want to be with for the rest of my life. I love this man with all of my heart. I always tell him that I do not know what I would do without him, and man, is that true! He helps me, encourages me, loves me far more than I ever thought possible. He is my best friend and I can not wait to spend the rest of my life with him!    We have big plans for our future together. Our special day is August 1, 2015, so we have a while but I wouldn't want it any other way. In the future, we plan to adopt, we don't know where God wants us to adopt from but we both know that He is faithful and will show us where exactly he wants us to! We know that God already has our precious baby picked out for us! We pray for our child every night together and it is so awesome to be able to have a man that will pray with you! SO, we have a life full of adventure, learning, and loving ahead of us!
 And now it is time for my Non-biological family. Just because they are not my blood family does NOT mean I love them ANY less than my biological family!  Well, Matthew's family is quite larger than mine. We have two brothers and two sisters! Well, now 3 sisters! Also the Mom and Dad!
  Well the Rents. They are just such loving and caring people. They have truly from day one accepted me as there own child. They love me so good, and care for me so much!
        Mr.Mitch, he is one of a kind. The man has jokes, for sure!  He is so good to me! I have been there for 2 Valentines days in a row, and I have woken up with a present! I have never seen someone work so hard to provide for their family like he does. He works long days so that his kids can have their momma at home. I admire him far more than I could ever tell him!
         Mother: Also known as Mrs. Cherie.... But we call her mother! She is just incredible. She encourages Matthew and I so much! She loves me as if I were her own(which I am, obviously) She is always willing to listen to any problem and help the best that she can! Her hugs, they are incredible, I could just hug her all day long! She has taught me to love even when it's the hardest, and that family is the most important! She has also taught me to look past the little things people may do because we each have our own "little things" that we do! She is such a wonderful mother to us! She loves us so good. I am so proud to be able to call her mother! I am so ready for her to only live about 4 hours away from me, that way I can see her ALL the time! I love you so much mother!
           Mitchell: The oldest of us kids! He is so talented in so many ways! He is part of a worship band at Crosspoint, in Nashville, TN. He moved down to Nashville this past August to go to school at Belmont. He one busy man. He juggles so many things at once and I have no idea how he does it! He is so good at what he does and puts forth such wonderful effort at all of it. This past October, he and I drove all the way to Pennsylvania together. It was a long car ride, but we made the best of it! We bonded on that trip, and I know that he is such a good man that loves the Lord. It is such a blessing to me that he lives so close, partly because I can drive up to see him when I want(or he can come see me), and also because HE MET EMILY!
             Emily: She is such a blessing to me, for sure! She is the newest member of our wonderful family! She was very intimidating at first because of her outgoing personality, but honestly she doesn't know it but she is teaching me that it IS okay to be loud sometimes, and it IS okay to always just be you, NO MATTER WHAT!  Her and Mitchell just got engaged this past Sunday, and it was the cutest thing in the world!
I am so happy that she is "going to be my sister for real now!" That's what she told me on my voicemail when Mitchell popped the big question! Emily is such a wonderful lady, and honestly I don't know think I could have asked for a better sister or friend! She is just a woman that loves the Lord, and is listening to what He wants to do! I am so proud for Mitchell to have a woman like Emily! I love you SISTER!
        Now, we have Christian: Christian..... Well, he is my friend! That is honestly one of the best ways to describe him! He is so neat! There is honestly NEVER a dull moment when we are all hanging out together! Christian can make a joke out of any situation! I love Christian SO much! He is so fun to hang out with and I would not change a single thing about our relationship that we have! I know that the Lord is going to use Christian in such a mighty way! He is already using him! Christian is the master of swag for sure! I don;t know what I would have done without him these past times that I have been up there and Matthew has had to work! I love you Chrish!
           Gracie Lou! Well, she is her own person, and is very dependable. I know at first she was sorta scared to open up to me because of what other girls or people had done. But, I think I finally won her over! I love Gracie far more than she will ever comprehend. She is more that just a little sister,she is my friend. She is such a goofy kid!  I miss her more each day! I am so ready for her to come stay with me! I am so blessed to be able to have her there to paint our nails, have candle pow-wows, and just be our weird selves together! I love her so much!
            Last, but not least, Faith: The life of the party!  She is a miniature, Chinese version of Emily! They are so much a like! Faith, is such a blessing to not only me, but to anyone who meets her. She lights up a whole room. She is so funny, and is always getting into some sort of mess! I do not know if I would be able to know the things I do now, about whether God would have me to adopt if it hadn't of been for her!  My favorite part of the day is when I get to put her to bed when I am there and hear this precious child say her prayers at night. She is the most caring 7 year old you will ever meet! My life would be so different without her!    
                                 Now that all those blessings are out of the way... My BIGGEST blessing is
 GOD'S LOVE FOR ME!
He never cease to amaze me with the love that he has for me!
Now that you have read all of that, here are some wonderful pictures of all these wonderful people in my life!
                             Well, I was just kidding.... Speaking of blessings, tonight I had such a wonderful surprise from TWO of these incredible blessings! Mitchell and Emily were on the way home from Florida to Nashville... and well, what did they do? They stopped to see ME! I was at work, just doing my thing and I look up from making drinks and there they stand. It didn't occur to me it was them, and so I looked back over and let out a HUGE, SUPER high-pitched "OMGGGG!!!!" They were standing in Giovanni's! I ran over to hug them both so tight! And might I add Emily, your hugs are SO good! I got off work 30 minutes early and I took them to the bar... the SteakNShake bar! We had the best time! I was so happy to see them! I am planning a trip to go see them soon, hopefully when Matthew is down!  That was my biggest blessing for today!

       Okay, Now you can have pictures!



Those are tonights pictures of Mitchell, Emily, and I



























Well, for now keep on loving.
-Kelli Bell