Beckham who?

What an amazing time I'm having with my family here. Friday we took a drive to Mt Bonnell and enjoyed the day in this beautiful city the day after a record cold day on Wednesday. Texas weather is nuts!On Friday night my sis-in-law joined me for our church's Women of Destiny meeting. The topic was friendships and chocolate. We had a great time. Our biggest turn out so far 29 women. It was fun and wild, I ended up with my undergarments laid out across a chair.... (more on that in another blog) I tell you, I am surrounded by amazing women!

Saturday we had a record breaking # of volunteers come out to the Adopt-A-Block Outreach. The beautiful thing about is that everyone was  out with their kids- serving as families. It was a beautiful day so we were able to meet outside and it was just a sweet sweet day at AAB. There was something uniquely sweet about the whole feel of everything going on and all the families that came to serve meshed with the families that came to receive. As we opened the doors, 5 kids came running to us, I jokingly said to them "where are you guys going" and one of the girls answered me saying and giggling "in there with you guys, we've been waiting"! Talk about melting  my heart! How precious is it that they feel loved by all of the volunteers enough to "wait" for us to come out! Ohhhh gosh...... I LOVE AAB!

Saturday afternoon, we were able to go watch my nephews at their soccer tournament. These guys ROCK! I may be partial to them but all I can say is "BECKHAM WHO?" Whatev! That Beckham has nothing on these guys. They are so fun..... I had a very sentimental moment with my youngest nephew, Ryan. 

Ryan and I were sitting by the sidelines and I looked at him and said, "Ryan I am happy that you guys are here with me" and he said "yeah, and Im glad they have funnel cake here" :) how funny is that!

They are off to Laser tag and since I am still trying to kick this cold I can not hang any more tonight so I stayed home. Tomorrow we have our last class before the BIG conference. It is going to be amazing.

-> Please continue to pray for the conference on Saturday 2/7

-> we are also needing clothing donations so please pray for that as well. Kids clothes of all sizes!

Talk to you soon!

Blessings

-missa

Random update this week

So Scott and I have been going fishing alot! Last weekend we thought (hoped) we would get to go again so we packed the cooler and bought worms on Friday night. We went to bed hopeful of all the fish we would catch the next morning. Saturday rolled around and I woke up to this:

THATS RIGHT PEOPLE! An invasion of worms. The worms escaped their package and were all over my kitchen table and kitchen floor. It was so disgusting!

On the other hand, I recently discovered a guilty-pleasure! 

I am not a fan of Hot Chocolate but, man-0-man: I LOVE this stuff, it's the Land O' Lakes brand Hot chocolate and it is sooo good. I make it - add some whip cream and sprinkle some coco on top.... YUM YUM YUM..... enjoy in moderation!As I have stated over and over, I LOVE living in Austin. Since we were not able to go fishing (it was freezing) we took advantage of the down time and decided to run some errands and ended up hiking a small trail to see this view.... BEAUTIFUL! What a cutie huh!

Of course we have to take the self -portrait pic from a strange angle etc. etc.

It was freezing! Maybe this is where my cold began..... 

Now, you guys know that I have been praying about a mission trip to either africa or Prague. It just so happens that I got an email this week letting me know that the Africa trip has been cancelled so, please help me pray about the Prague trip. It will be at the end of June beginning of July and I am really wanting to go- now, help me pray about what HE wants for me! Thnx!And last but not least, I am slowly getting over my cold- thanks for your prayers! My family is going to be here in an hour so, I better get dinner started :) its gonna be awesome having them here!

 -Blessings,

Missa

coming soon...

Hello All,

Just wanted to let you know that I have not forgot about my blog :0

I may not get to post till Thursday so, dont give up on me plzzzzz.

just some things to pray for the taylors about for the next few days;

• We are in the middle of crunch time in our prep for the Higher Standards "The Core" purity conference
  
• I am preaching in youth on Wednesday
  
• We are preparing material for a parent meeting and discipleship classes on Sunday morning with youth.
  
• Meeting on Tuesday night.
  
• I've been at the church late this week helping a teenager with a special project.
  
• I have family coming in this weekend (pray they get good weather for the games) Im so excited to have them here. I need to clean my house :)
  
• Scott is having an audit at work this week
  
• Womens meeting on Friday night (it's gonna be fun)
  
• Adopt-A-Block on Saturday 
  
• And then of course, this will be the last Sunday session we have before the conference so we will be leading into some of the heavier material.
  
• Sunday morning meeting with Parents
• we need to take down our christmas lights from the house :) yes, they are still up and if you ask me to, I will turn them on for you 

Though this is a typical week in the Taylor home (minus the family coming in) we are both attempting to do it all while sick!!! ugh.

Please dont think I am complaining. I love my life of ministry, just needing some extra prayers this week.

Prayers are very much appreciated.

Love you- talk to you soon!

FYI ; random

Just some random junk about me:

I love God!

I adore my husband!

I enjoy cooking and baking.

I LOVE to travel. .... I will go anywhere. Anytime. Packing my suitcase is exciting to me.

I am NOT a movie watcher.

I enjoy eating ice cream only in the winter (I dont touch it in any other season).

I like to read...

I dont understand why people are rude.

Photography is my hobby.

LOVE LOVE LOVE worship music.

Im reading 3 different books right now.

I have one of my cameras on me at all times

When I finish my meal I spread out a napkin over it.

I have a white blanket that I will not share with anyone- it was a gift from rachel

I have homeless friends

I have the cutest nieces and nephews.

I like to ride on roller coasters

mmmm and cotton candy!

Before I die I want to visit Machu Picchu.

I love to wear my pink stripped socks.

I like the color red.

I love cheese

I cant wait to have children

My favorite drink is a caramel macchiato and a white mocha

mmmm. I love white chocolate macademia nut cookies.

A homeless man changed my life

I like to go fishing

I wish I could sing and dance. 

I love to sit at barnes and noble and thumb through books with a coffee.

i love my macbook and my ipod

I want to spend 2 weeks in hawaii.

my favorite stores are best buy, office depot and mardel.

I am a silly girl stuck in an aging body :)

If I say "I'll pray for you"I really do -> saying that to someone is not something you take lightly

My friends would say the best thing about me is : my chocolate cake

I like to do anonymous gift giving.

I am afraid of June bugs (aka peanut bugs) 

June bugs and cows make me cry- I am that scared of them!

I like to sit outside and drink coffee on a cool day

I love when the people I love get their victory

I hate when people I love are hurt.

I love handbags and scarves

If I could be anywhere right now I would be in: ITALY

I know the address of my dream house

I spend about an hour every morning acting silly (thats why I like to wake up early)

My goal in life is to be DEBT free

My husband promised me fresh flowers in his vows on 8/4/01-I almost ALWAYS have them.

I love go to the theatre for musicals and symphonies

i had a dream to see the broadway production of "the Lion king" and saw fulfilled it in 2007!

I have taken over 1,000 pictures since Jan 1, 09

My dream is to backpack through Europe with my husband for a month- I bought my backpack for this trip 5 years ago :)

113 days till I pack my suitcase again for Roatan.....

Did I mention I adore my husband.

Thanks all I can think of for now!

-missa

Hope is now!

Good Morning Everyone,

Just wanted to share this with you this morning:

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.

Psa 27:13-14

Each of us have dreams, each of us have hope in seeing that dream come to pass and sometimes it tarries. No matter how big or small. No matter how long you have been waiting, let this be your confession today- let this truth root in your heart and tell the LORD:

I AM CONFIDENT in YOU.

YOU ARE MY HOPE!

I WILL TAKE HEART

I WILL BE STRONG,

I WILL WAIT ON YOU

I WILL CHOOSE TO SEE YOUR GOODNESS EVERYDAY!

What a honor it is to serve a God that knows my heart and has good things in my now and in my future. You see- hope, promise, dreams and purpose are not something that are only for the future.... 

Hope is not "someday"! HOPE IS NOW!

HE IS THE ONLY TRUE HOPE! I will not place my hope in a man- I will not hope in a thing, I wont even place it in my abilities - MY HOPE IS ONLY IN THE LORD!

So as I wait on some of my dreams to come true I will be praying that yours come to pass as well!

We will wait together. But, as we wait I want to encourage you to rejoice today in the dreams that surround you, in the dreams that you are living! And please dont ever be afraid to DREAM BIG! For me, there are no Small Dreams- Only BIG DREAMS.

And I pray that today you find a renewed sense of faith and a stirred up HOPE for NOW!

Blessings,

Missa

I was reminded of this song so I logged back into add it:
ENJOY! Hope Now by Addison Road:

3 Fat chicks and ME!

Hello All,

Yesterday afternoon I was searching the net for some healthy recipes (lets face it, hispanics are not the healthiest cooks in the world) and I came across this website called 3 fat chicks!

Check it out, some of the recipes I would not touch with a ten-foot pole but some of them sound really good so, as I try some of these recipes I will pass on the good ones to you if you are interested. Let me know.

I am doing well on my "healthier me-healthier us" pursuit. We just started our 3rd week and boy-o-boy am I grateful for a non-picky husband. He will eat anything (almost). I am thanking the Lord for that right now because he likes healthy food. What a blessing!

My workouts are going well. I am alternating weights and cardio one on each day with the weekends off (we go for a hike or bike or jog). I am feeling great and Im starting to notice slimming in my frame (PRAISE THE LORD)  :)    Girls you know what a great feeling that is!

Thanks for your prayers as I continue in this pursuit and learn DISCIPLINE this year in all areas of my life.

Anyways, check out the recipe website if you get a chance: Each recipe gives some nutritional info and calorie count etc.

www.3fatchicks.com/diet-recipes  (isnt that a great name)

Have a healthy tuesday, if you know of any healthy recipe websites, please share!

-missa

Weekend Rap-Up; fish, books, naps my favorite weekend

This was an amazing weekend!Pastor has been preaching a series about family values. Now being that we are an outreach church we usually have outreaches and events planned on the weekends so, family time is something that is hard to come by sometimes and with this series we will start scheduling weekends with no events.... and through that promote family time and the strengthening of the family unit.This weekend was our first "FAMILY FIRST" weekend of the year and WOW!!!! It was amazing!

A WHOLE WEEKEND!!!! Scott and I had a date  night on F

riday night and ended it with a shopping trip to one of my favorite places ever: Mardel (thanks santa for the gift card). I bought some CD's and a book Ive been wanting for a while:

I wanted to also get the Facedown book but, could not find it anywhere.

Then on Saturday we packed a lunch, our fishing rods and some hot chocolate and headed out to, what has become our "happy place", Beaushner (sp) State Park. This park is just outside of smithville- a few miles from Bastrop..... this is a picture of what you see as you enter the town, it speaks volumes....... doesnt this say "HAPPY PLACE!"

We spent the day fishing and relaxing!

I guess we did more relaxing then fishing :0

Then on Sunday we continued our series on "PURITY" it was an amazing morning as Nichole and I worked with the girls. We have an amazing group of kids and each of them is going to do something great with their lives. I just know it. Scott and I spent the entire evening at home relaxing... I am in LOVE with FAMILY FIRST weekends!

Hope you had a great one too!

-missa

FAMILY TIME!!! I'm gonna get mine!

This is going to be an ALL FAMILY focused weekend!

Scott and I are gonna have FUN!!!

yay

Have a great FAMILY FIRST weekend everyone!

-missa

Desire without Discipline = Dead Dreams

Desire without Discipline = Dead Dreams

So, since the beginning of the year I have made a decision to get myself in shape. I started this at the end of last year and did great from July - october and then Nov and Dec hit and with the busyness of the holiday I got off track! I could not seem to make things work for me since we were very rarely home. Eating right went out the door and working out seemed a distant dream.

With the new year came new hope and a restored desire to be disciplined and Just do it!

I got back on my eating regiment and started working out again. I am 2 weeks in and doing well. I've been working out daily. I alternate cardio one day and weights another. I actually do my weight program to a DVD, I didnt think I would but, I like it.

Today I ran 2 miles on my treadmill and I am so proud of myself as I have never been able to run that distance before so, I am encourage to continue in being disciplined and dreaming of a thinner -HEALTHIER me!

I made a decision at the end of the year to BE DISCIPLINED in all of my commitments but, I also made  a commitment to take time for myself. I realized that I could not continue to live and do only for others I needed time and to do for myself as well. Things that make me happy, things like photography, coffee dates with friends and working out. YES. you heard me right! I love to work out.... I used to love to do it when I lived in Lubbock, it was refreshing and it was my "me" time. I used to get a rush from it and today I am happy to say that I got off the treadmill with a BUZZ and the feeling of that workout RUSH I missed so much.

I pray that you are also fully commited to and disciplined in all of the decisions you made for 2009! 

I'll pray for you, please pray for me as I continue onto a healthier me (us, scott is at it too)!

Blessings!

-missa

BTW, I have a favorite snack:::: oh my!

+  = MY FAVORITE SNACK!!! so so so YUMMY!

Slice the apples, smear it through the cheese and eat! YUM (Also sold in bite size portions)

Weekend Rap-up. Community, Lattes, Dishwasher and NO SEX!

Did the NO SEX title get you..... be patient, I'll get to that!

Hello All,

As mentioned last week, Scott and I took the AAB ministry back on and this Saturday was the official "transition" and it was amazing! I absolutely LOVE adopt-a-block. I always have enjoyed this ministry. It is an amazing eye-opener to the needs in our city and also just an amazing way to love on others. Besides that, we have the most amazing volunteers- they are the cream of the crop... think about it, these are the ones who want to make a difference in the lives of others and see change brought to this city. They are the ones that drive into Austin to volunteer at 9am on a Saturday! That in itself speaks volumes..... they love the Lord that is obvious.... and we love them and thank God for each of them!

I mean... look at these faces, it would make anyone want to come and love them no matter what time or day:

Each time we are at Thurmond Heights we do a craft with the kids. Each craft has a faith message and has scriptures.

The craft we did this week was about how talking to God is called prayer and we can PRAY ANTIME! The kids loved it. The video is of scott and the kids playing. (they love him out there, you'll see why)

So aab is going to be amazing this year. I can feel it! AAB is open to anyone who would like to come volunteer so, if you are ever wanting to come and volunteer we would love to have you!

On another note Saturday afternoon we were going to go fishing but, it was cold and windy so we found somewhere to have coffee and strolled up this wonderful place: great food, great coffee, great environment!

The Upper Crust Bakery off of Burnet

Its funny how in marriage you take on each others likings: Scott was never a coffee drinker or a coffee house buff and now, I think I may be turning him (he likes the relaxing environments). He is so cute!  okay.... so its not coffee but, I distracted him with this huge slice of apple pie!

People! before I let you go I would like to tell all of you to never take your appliances for granted! Our dishwasher broke a few weeks before christmas and I was fine handwashing for a few weeks but, after our repair guys didnt show for 5 appts we decided we better take a different approach (It was molding) sooooo gross.... anyways, we ended up purchasing another one and man, it is sweet! It is quiet and is making my life so much easier again..... appreciate your appliances today!

Most of you know, we are doing another Higher Standards conference with our teenagers. 

Higher Standards  is our purity conference and it amazes me how youth today cringe at the thought of saying no to sex.... boy, are times different!

Anyways, we doing seperate boy/girl classes on Sundays so that we can tackle topics pertaining to their gender. Each of these topics will lead us into the conference. successful abstinence (no sex before marriage) is a product of holy living so we are talking about Living Pure! We are teaching these teenagers truth according to the Word of God on the topic of Sex. Not what the health class teaches and definitely not what their friends are teaching each other. We are in a partnership with our parents to challenge this generation to Higher Standards of living! 

The theme of the conference is "The Core". Dont forget to pray for Scott and I and Jeff and Nichole as we lay the ground work the next couple weeks.

This years conference is going to be amazing!!!

If I get a chance I will post the promo video scott made for it!

Have a great day!

-missa

Annoucement....

okay everyone.... Sorry for the extremely long cliff hanger. From the time I mentioned I had big news to today has been nearly a week. I was receiving emails reminding me/ threatening me ... j/k...since I had not yet released the announcement. People wanted to know. Sorry everyone, I just had to be sure all was in order before making it official:

Scott and I are.............

taking back  up the ministry of Adopt-A-Block!!!!!

yup. AAB is our baby again..... i am so excited because last year when we stepped down from it it was the hardest decision to make. I absolutely love what AAB is about! Tomorrow (sat. 10th) will be our first official day back on the job. We will hold a meeting with all of the volunteers after the AAB outreach so, please pray for us as the announcement is made. I am so honored and humbled by the Lord choosing us! Loving us! Trusting us with his precious name and his precious people! Wow.

I am so excited as this time around we will have the freedom to run with it. To make this ministry all that it has the potential to be; but most of all- it can be all that the Lord is calling it to be.... We are going to work to get corporate sponsors, increase in donations for food, clothing, non-perishables, make a mission trip to LA again and expand to different areas of the city.

It will be a slow start from now till march as we ............. well never mind. 

We ask that you please help us pray as we seek the Lord in how to honor him in all that he is calling is to with AAB. 

Pastor has said he feels this is the year of open doors and I truly believe that with all my heart!

OPEN DOORS!!! not only in our lives but, the Lord is going to open doors of ministry to tell of his Truth to the hurting and the broken. There are going to be open doors for the Word of God this year and open doors to new relationships with others.

He is going to open doors and I am going to be obedient to walk through them when he calls me!

Have a great day all- sorry for the LONG cliff hanger and thanks for your new prayers

-missa

Wow

I have my camera with me at all times and yesterday on my way to a dinner date I took this picture.... I just thought is was such a gorgeous sunset. Minus I-45 and all the cars :0 hehe!

I have lots to share once I get a chance to sit and really type.

Love ya'll

-missa

No ordinary day

Hello all- As you know we (hillside Christian center) have been undergoing a name change and this morning we pulled up to the sign being put up on the building and making it official.

Introducing.....

Kingdom Point Ministries

It is a new day for Hillside and we are so excited to see what 2009 has in store for us.

Pastor went over portions of the church vision this morning and announced the official change to KPM (kingdom point) this morning. In sharing what the Lord has laid on his heart for us for this year he reflected on all that the Lord did through HCC in 2008 and it is amazing to see what the Lord did through this ministry .... needless to say, I have high expectations for 2009! He is after all the the giver of good promises so according to Eph 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory to the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Its gonna get even better people!

By the way everyone.... I have good news. Scott and I secured our vacation date and location today... I am so excited about it and I hate to admit this (being that we are just coming off holiday breaks) but, I counted how many days till then.... and have started a mental countdown.

I love Roatan and can't wait to go back. YAY!!!!

Be blessed everyone!

-missa

6 fish and an answered prayer

Today Scott and I went to

This park is really neat and so green (even in January). They call this place the Lost Pines because the park is in the center of a big area of pine trees. As we drove through it we were reminded of driving to Yosemite National Park in california- for a brief moment we escaped Texas. It is a really pretty place with lots of hike and bike trails and 2 lakes for fishing.

Scott and I together caught a total of 6 fish.

2 Perch

1 Catfish

1 Rainbow trout

2 Sunfish

At one point scott and I both were reeling in fish at the same time. 

It was so much fun to sit and relax and just enjoy nature and time with my hubby. 

Here is a pic of one of our catches......... see how big it was but..........

See how big  it was suppose to be!!!!

On another note, this past few days I have really been seeking the Lords direction for something in my life. I have obsessively been thinking and praying and waiting anxiously for an answer from the Lord. Today I received the long awaited answer I was needing from him and I am so excited to be taking on this big new adventure........Its gonna be exciting. I can not give any specifics yet but ask that you please pray for Scott and I as we step into this with full force!

More about our new venture coming soon!!!

Have a wonderful day!

-missa

In love with 09'

Yesterday I was felling bad (sick) so I was home all day and asleep by 9pm so, I missed all of the new years eve festivities. Today I woke up feeling great so since Scott and I were both off of work we decided to go fishing!!!!

We looked for a place not too far from where we live and Scott found this little gem:

McKinney State Park (30 minutes from Round Rock and 15 minutes from downtown).

My favorite times in life are often time the simplest times and my husband is always right beside me!!!

My favorite memories are the ones that he and I make together - quiet times when we hang out, talk and just enjoy the great friendship that we have. Today we got to enjoy all of the benefits of down time. We got to mckinney state park and:

->we started out fishing (didnt catch anything)

->had a picnic lunch

->then we hiked for a while

->and we ended the evening sitting at the falls in the sunset.

It was another perfect day with my wonderful husband whom I adore!!!!

If this is any indication of how the new year is going to be I am already 2009's biggest fan!

Hope you enjoyed the pics- it is really neat place. There is a section for camping, hiking, biking, fishing and just hanging out! A great place for the family and only $4 for all day. You dont have to have a fishing license since it is a state park.

Have a wonderful day!

-missa

Happy 2009

HAPPY - NEW - YEAR!!!!

Friends and family, I believe this is going to be the best year yet for us and for you.

May it be a blessed, healthy and prosperous year for you and yours!!

Love all of you!

-missa

I was reading this scripture this morning, If you get a chance check it out!. It is a great declaration for the new year.

Deuteronomy 30:6-14

Wow! God is so good!