Do Blondes Have More Fun?

Go to people.com click on styles, then makeover, upload a pic and have fun trying new looks. It's so fun and looks real. Ha! Which one do you like best? Personally I prefer the last one. :)

How about bob cut?
Or Ariel?

Sporting spikey and short


The best one yet!

Adoption, TGC, Religions

Yesterday at church had me so pumped up at the end of it.
First off, worshipping God with other believers did something to my soul. During the time I thought about people who don't know church and how incredibly weird and scary we are to them but if they only knew who God is and what He did, they'd join in too.
Anywho, the sermon was about the prophet Jonah and first few verses of his book. God said go to Nineveh and preach. Jonah didn't want to go, not of fear or bad timing but b/c he didn't want those people to receive God's mercy. He wanted them to go to hell. Then our pastor confessed he at times is prejudice against other people groups, religions, etc. That He often is a Jonah. God convicted him last week and he really did a number on his heart, getting that junk out. He pointed out on stage that Christians often despise Muslims because of terrorist fears but it's not right and that God loves all religions and peoples. Jesus died for them all. Wow!
After that, we worshipped again and in moving with the Holy Spirit we repented individually for our sin and we then prayed for God to reveal himself to the Hindus down the road. Wowzers!!
Lastly, they interviewed two women who under God's calling have opened an Adoption Fundraising Center, where they interview their applicants, chose one, and raise the funds needed for the adoption. Cool, huh! Our paster then asked if you was adopted, have adopted, or want to in the future to come to the front and receive prayer. Craig wasn't with me but did that stop me? No, I went up by myself. Again, WOW!!!
Man, I'm still SO pumped up!!!!!!!!!

A Blessings Blog

Hey Friends,
Lately, I've been so grateful and in awe of the God I serve. He always always always provides for us and this season in Greenville is no different.

We felt for the months of July through December we should pursue jobs in the city of Greenville to help our supporters provide for our move to Turkey. With such gratefulness, God brought Firestone and Glam Clothing Co. to us and we were hired.




The grand opening of Glam was August 1. Here I am with the Glam staff.








Craig in his Firestone uniform.















Wow, now we are employed but how to get where we need to be. Praise God, he provided a Ford Explorer for us and Craig drives that to Firestone. I, which I LOVE doing is, ride my brother's bike to Glam. It's a 15 min ride and I really enjoy the activity it gives. God knows me inside and out and knew that would bring me great joy! Another provision it has not rained on me, not once is several months. Go God!


Another gift of God that we never take for granted, our families. The Stubbs and the Branches are the best. I love spending time with them and believe I have the BEST family in the world.


The Branch Clan in June!












The newest Branch addition, Payton Jane.





















My brother, Paul, and I in Pisgah national forest where the family went camping for a a few days.





















Goofing around with Rose's birthday presents.

I love songs!!!

Often when I come across a new song and I like it. I listen to it over and over and over again until it's memorized and Craig can't stand it anymore. :) Nothing moves me like music. Normally, there's something about them that speaks to me or makes me think of people I love or will love. I have been making a list of songs that I plan on singing to my future children (Lord willing).





Here's a few;
Chiquitita by Abba (for my girls)
Waitin on a Sunny Day by Bruce (for my girls)
Family Man by AP (for my boys)
Godspeed (Sweet dreams) by Dixie Chicks (for my boys)
Annie's Song by John Denver (for my Craigel)
If I Had Me Million by Pat Green (to me from Craig)

Forgiveness

The past couple of weeks God has been teaching me a lesson of forgiving and asking for forgiveness. What was reiterated to me was the power of forgiveness. Whether you are religious or not, you have to admit the power of letting a grudge and bitterness go and forgiving the offender. It's wild and maybe painful, the release you feel and what you can accomplish with that. And to be forgiven is something so...there are no words. I know many of you think, 'well, what does Lisa know of being forgiven. She's so sweet." In the words of Andrew Peterson, "so you think i'm not a dirty rotten scoundrel through and through, well, lady, I've got news for you" and that news God reminded me of at church through Isaiah 53 (1, 3-6, 11)
Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?
He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, is was our pain he carried-our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him-our sins. He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way and God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong on him.
Our of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Sometimes I really feel there is a blackness in my soul that's really pretty horrible and hurts others. Thank God, he put that blackness on Jesus and Jesus took it knowing he would be glad. I'm free!!

Hanging with those Crazy Branches

I love love love spending time with my in-laws. I enjoy visiting Pagaosa Springs and seeking the Rocky Mountains. This year we went for two weeks in June and it was jam packed filled with BBQ s, rafting, hiking, frisbee, and more. Mike and Berkey are the best at hospitality. They are truly hostesses with the mostesses. This year what stuck out the most was entertaining two little princesses. My nieces, Madeline and Addison are 3 years old and love Disney princesses. Berkey is a great seamstress and sowed two dresses, a Belle and a Cinderella. The girls were thrilled and knew that they were cute. Let me say, they are cute.
The Branches, like my family, sacrifice time spent with us because of the calling on our lives. It is a privilege to go into the world and tell people about Jesus, a blessing truly but giving up holidays, birthdays, and etc with our families is the hardest part. The Branches do so with such grace and support. We are so blessed!!!
Anywho, enough of that, here are some pictures from our trip.


before hiking 4 mile falls

the Branch clan (top row from l to r)Jenny, me, Craig, Coe, and Addy (bottom same)Madeline, Bill, Julie, Berkey, Jackson, and Mike

rafting on the San Juan

Cinderella and Belle

Since We've Been Back

we arrived in greenville, sc.
below is a picture of my cousins and long time friends Sarah



went to orlando and charleston
here is picture of me strawberry picking and crystal being a picky picker.





arrived back in g'ville and visited with my brother, sister-in-law and our niece and nephew.



and enjoying our time here in SC