* Hello Adam Kristian * Battle * Gift *

Adam Kristian Sorensen

Well my new nephew decided to suprise us all and come about 6 weeks early!!! *hey lil guy...your aunt manda can not WAIT to meet u and hold u and love on u!!!!* He is being a champ so far for being so early. My sis is doing well too. What a blessing and answer to prayer that they are doing as well as they are. I will be headed to TX soon to help out and I am super excited about that!!!

I don't have any other fun news to share...my life here in WV remains to be fairly uneventful. I have rejoined weight watchers about 6 weeks ago. I have had many ups and downs with this area of my life yet I remain encouraged. It's amazing to me how easily I run to food to "fix" things in my life. Why is it that we run from the Lord to other things that just leave us unfulfilled and joyless? I have had some pretty hard months since returning from my trip to the DR and my weight gradually increased. It's hard/frustrating because when I was in the DR I didn't think about food. I experienced this newfound freedom that I never even had a glimpse of before and suddenly all that stayed in the DR and didn't return back to the states with me. Or did it and I am just ignoring it??

I think what it boils down to is that I have chosen to ignore the things the Lord taught me in the DR because I have fooled myself into thinking that "yummy" food will solve all my problems and the worlds. (didn't u know that Krispy Kreme doughnuts WILL bring peace to the earth!?!?!?!) It's ridiculous to place anything above the Lord in your life but I find that it is extremely easy. That makes me sad....I wanna love the Lord so much that I fight off things that try to take His place in my heart. I want to stop distraction aimed at my heart before they head my way...yet I have stopped fighting. (well I had stopped....I have picked up my sword and am ready for battle and have been fighting back for about 2 months) This is a small vicotry, but that's what life is about, right. Small victories every minute, hour, day, month, year...

I am finding that the older I get the more I understand myself and the more I love myself....for who He has made me to be. I love that I have a slow metabolism because that causes me to lean on Him for my daily choices of what I put in my mouth. It's a weakness that is constantly in front of me because I need to eat to survive. I have the joy of experienceing blessings daily as I see small victories with each choice I obey Him in. How COOL is that. I used to get angry about that, but it causes me to trust Him in a way that others miss out on. Yeah...that's cool!

I'm also beginning to enjoy being single...I mean, not that I am not wanting to get married, but I am really trying to view my singleness as the gift He has intended it to be. This is a daily challenge, but I am trusting that He will continue to show me this. I have not "arrived" but again, I am in the fight....I really want to live my life for Him and it's clear that He is asking me to be single cuz, well that's exactly where He has me. Until He chooses to change this then I am trying to trust Him in it. If He decides to not change this area, then I am trusting that He will give me all I need to not endure, but to have complete joy in the path He has designed for me. I'm not gonna lie though....I am still prayin for my prince charming! :)

That's a small update on fun news and my heart....still processing this "Plan B" book and the truths that the Lord is teaching me....more to come on that.

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 a hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

i *heart*....

-March Madness!!!!!
-knowing that i can eat a ton of fruit for ZERO points on weight watchers!
-that my nephew Asher pretends to talk to "Manda" on the phone!
-that I am headed to Austin at the end of May to meet my new lil niece or nephew! (and to hang with Asher. oh and beck and pete) :)
-that my goal chart is getting A LOT of stickers added to it!
-I have the privilege and blessing to pray for all my friends across the world servin and lovin the Lord (I have a "prayer wall" that has your all's pics on it)
-I can laugh A LOT at work....my co-workers are a BLAST!
-ghetto cruiser is indeed still cruising!
-drinking a ton of water a day and feeling healthier after each wise, godly choice i make.
-girl scout cookie season has arrived!!! hellllllllloooooo thin mints!
-that I consider my big sis a close friend. (Beck, we sure have come a long way!)
-I am now paying for my internet.
-I have a savings plan in place to buy a replacement for ghetto cruiser when she decides to depart from my presence.
-the fact that the Lord is changing and transforming me continually.
-there is more daylight!!!!!
-the Biggest Loser!
-Monday nights with my gal pals at Eat n Park
-The Teodoro family!
-that I have women like Dawn Finn in my life to encourage and challenge me.
-I gots lots of friends that are a joy to do life with!
-my purple phone. it's PURPLE people, PURPLE!
-my converse sneakers!
-Scripture that continues to stir hope in me!
-answered prayers
-the group of gals on facebook that challenge me to continue to lose weight and exercise. I WILL win a weekly challenge soon!!!!
-mangos. oh my stars are they YUMMY!
-new music.
-Bruno Mars....his music makes me bust a groove!
-new organizational thingies for my cubicle at work. i LOVE organization!
-the Dominican Republic
-laughter
-frozen cokes!
-the Big Bang Theory!

Plan B....or is it??? (Part 3)

Oh Plan B.....u just sit there and act all powerful. Like u control me or something. Like u r a surprise. Like you are big, bad, and all that and a bag of chips. BUT to the Lord, you my friend, are His Plan A which is perfect!

I have been reading Plan B by Pete Wilson now for several weeks. I actually have stopped about half way through and just have been letting the thoughts stir in my lil brain....work in my lil heart....and process, chew, process, chew etc. Normally when I read a great book I just read and read until it's done cuz I get soooo excited. With what the Lord has been showing me through this book I feel it calls for more time. I am just letting the truths, scriptures, words of encouragement penetrate my heart. this is a good thing.

One of the things the Lord has been showing me is I think it's plan B. HE knows it's HIS plan A. Nothing surprises Him, nothing interferes with His plan, He is sovereign over everything, He is in complete control! He is not surprised at the circumstances in our lives, in fact He allows them all for our good and His glory!!! He uses everything for the good. He reveals Himself in the midst of pain. He bring glory to Himself by being faithful to get us through each and every "Plan B" we face! He is with us. He is guiding us. He is perfect in loving us. He chooses to be gracious. He willingly provides mercy and forgiveness. He lavishes us with healing. He gives us all we need and more to not just endure our circumstances but dance with joy in the midst of them!

Instead of me whining about my Plan B I want to choose to rejoice in the fact that it's His Plan A!