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

Crazy 8!

Crazy 8! A little modified
For DarDar
8 Things I Look Forward To When Coming Back To The States
1. Visiting the Fam and Friends
2. Paneras
3. Getting to see all of my little nieces and nephews
4. Mexican Food
5. A dryer
6. Greenery
7. Target
8. Driving

8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Played with Guy
2. Chatted with Corrie
3. Taught English Level 1a
4. Bought some students some coffee
5. Ate yummy Enchiladas
6. Listen to Craig mumble in the taxi
7. Watched some of Braveheart
8. Went to bed

8 Things I Wish I Could Do
1. Draw, Paint, Create
2. Play the piano again
3. Play the mandolin
4. Play a sport with some ability
5. Own and fly a private jet
6. Own a small business
7. ADOPT-this will happen
8. Act in a movie or be the voice of a cartoon character

8 Shows I Watch
1. 24
2. 30 Rock
3. the Office
4. Lost
5. the Simpsons

the best of Jordan

here's a slideshow that exemplifies our best times in jordan, favorite scenery, and good friends.

peeps and poops

We took a Easter vacation to a southern city of Jordan called Aqaba. A GREAT place to relax and let the tension of the city roll away. The Red Sea sits there a beautiful blue color and invites you to enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the world. Here's a picture of some of the crew that came with us. It was great to spend some time wrapping things up here with some of our favorite peeps and poops.

Visiting the Citadel

Craig and I visited one of Amman's historical sites with the new short term team from Norway!! Beside are pictures of afternoon (far right, part of the dead sea scrolls) and below a little bit of info.


"The Hill of the Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) in the middle of Amman was occupied as early as the Neolithic period, and fortified during the Bronze Age (1800 BC). The ruins on the hill today are Roman through early Islamic. The name "Amman" comes from "Rabbath Ammon," or "Great City of the Ammonites," who settled in the region some time after 1200 BC. The Bible records that King David captured the city in the early 10th century BC; Uriah the Hittite, husband of King David's paramour Bathsheba, was killed here after the king ordered him to the front line of battle." ---http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/jordan/amman/citadel.html

Mensef

My favorite Jordanian dish is mensef. I might even go as far to say it is my favorite dish in all the Arab world and that's saying alot. Mensef is the traditional Jordanian meal. It is served at weddings, parties, and funerals and unlike anything I've ever tasted. The rice is served on a huge platter and the meat placed on top. Along with that, the yogurt, in a big stovetop pan is on the side. With a ladel you pour as much yogurt as you want onto your section of the platter. The real Jordanian eats with his hands but me, with a spoon. One recipe includes yogurt made from stone, white yogurt, rice, onion, saffron, chicken or lamb, and toasted almonds. Basically you all the above except almonds until it's done. The yogurt from stone gives it a earthy, creamy taste but that doesn't even get close to describing it. I guess you will just have to make a trip out here to know for yourself.

pictures of our trip to antalya turkey

the was first a temple, then a church, then a mosque, then a church, then a mosque, then burnt



the old city


me and craigel



the only harbor into Antalya



set of stairs that most likely the apostle paul walked up as he entered the city


b-e-a-uuuuuuuuuutiful water



pebble beach


view from the apartment we stayed at, 10th floor with a very nice Welsh couple

Umm Zaytuna

A friend of ours took us on a day trip outside of Amman the other weekend. We ended up in a little village called Umm Zaytuna. This little village is on a mountain where on a good clear day you could see the Dead Sea. It was so beautiful, looking down in the valley and seeing the desert. I think the desert is beautiful because of the exposed land. There is nothing to cover up the flaws, it's vulnerable. Anywho, on the mountain it was slightly green and a few flowers were blooming. We enjoyed ourselves so much, hiking around and having a picnic. We came across a little cave that is a stable. I was nervous to walk in it as first but nothing scary was there. It was really cool to see because I'm sure it's exactly like the stable Jesus was born it, down to the smell, and mountains much the same as the ones the multitude of angels appeared and sang at. I felt the story come alive in those few minutes in that humble cave. What a reminder of what Jesus did for us! Really cool!!!

Fat people unite

The other day I was reading the Jordan Times newspaper, in which there was an article saying that about 80% of Jordanians are overweight or obese. This is about the same percentage as Americans. Yeeha, fatness loves company!
As the article progressed, they gave out a few hypothesis' of why Jordanians are becoming so fat (change of diet, lifestyle, etc.). What I found curious was what one professor gave as a solution to the problem, he said "All Arabs need to do is eat and live like they used to." Seriously, this is your solution! Let's just go back and live nomadic desert lifestyles, herd goats your whole life. Set your people back a hundred years, instead of educating them on nutrition and fitness.
I just found this whole thing silly, and realized that I could probably be some expert in this field of health...if only I wasn't so fat.

www.marcosuarez.com

Hey Friends,
One of my friends is quite an artist. And I want to suggest you all go and check him out at www.marcosuarez.com

a nickname for craig

We had some friends over for dinner last night. Loads of fun! Our friends are a family of four, Rob and Lia and their kids Levi (3) and Koen (1). The kids ran around the house like crazy and dived off our couch onto the bean bags. Craig made calzones which were absolutely delicious. Toward the end of the night, Levi was becoming even more comfortable with Craig, tickling him and wanting to poke his belly. We found this very funny b/c Levi began calling Craig "belly guy." What a great name!! We'll add it to the list: hotpants, crack, craigers, craigel, bantalone harr, (he wants me to add stud muffin) and now BELLY GUY!
Below is a picture of Levi. Cute!

I went to a wedding a few months ago and thought I'd put some pictures of the event.