To Live Like You Were Dying

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I sat down and watched this video today. God made my heart soft so it is easy to say that I didn't make it through the video until I broke down in tears. But, I had to share because this story is so rich and good.

Zach Sobiech has such an amazing testimony. Today he inspired me to really live and to really love. I feel like in a sense that I already do those things and I do but not in the way that I would if I only had a few months to live. His perspective on cancer and death is unlike any I have ever heard. 

This video touched and blessed me today and I hope it does the same for you. Zach and his family inspired me and I am so glad that he was able to achieve a lot of his dreams before he passed just a few days ago on May 20, 2013.

I would also like to remind you of a few ways you can help the victims of  this week's tornadoes here in Oklahoma. I have a list on my blog that you can look at here.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

Oklahoma {Home}

I can't think about anything else today. My heart breaks for my state and for all of the families who lost their homes and loved ones. The storms were north of us and our family who lives in Moore and the surrounding areas are all ok. Every time I think of those sweet babies in the schools my eyes fill with tears.

I can't imagine what their parents feel like. 

Out of all of this tragedy, it is amazing to see a state & country come together.
I am so proud that I live here and can call Oklahoma my home.

Although Moore was hit worse than any other place, there are still rural areas that were hit on May 19th that also need your help as well!

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Ways You Can Help

Salvation Army-Supporters are encouraged to give online here or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). You can also text the word "STORM" to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone. 

Red Cross-People who would like to make a donation can support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter, and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting their web page here, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Texting is very easy and will be applied to your next cell phone bill.

Samaritan's Purse-Samaritan's Purse has deployed a team to Moore, Oklahoma and will respond to the current needs in any way they can.

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma-The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, in partnership with Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, is asking that the public support all rescue, recovery, and disaster relief efforts with donations of cash to your favorite responding charity. Financial donations will allow disaster relief agencies to purchase whatever items are deemed necessary without resulting in the additional burden of securing warehouse space and volunteers to work donated product. To make a tax deductibile donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, go to www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 604-7111 or text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts.

Feeding America-Feeding America will deliver truckloads of food, water, and supplies to impacted areas through its network of more than 200 food banks and 61,000 agencies. The organization's food banks will also set up additional drop off sites.

All of the information on ways you can help above were found and shared from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.

Additional Ways

The Ashcraft Bunch: Starting today, proceeds from all ad space that is purchased on my blog will go directly to purchase household items for these victims. You will still get all of the benefits of promoting your blog as well as making a difference in their current state of life. You can purchase your ad space here.

Lovelady Baptist Church: For local blog readers, tonight my church is having a drop off from 6-9PM for household items. If you would love to donate but are unable to make the drop off, let me know and I can pick up the items from you!

Hello Apparel: Donate $15 to the Red Cross by purchasing a tank from Hello that comes with free shipping! Support Oklahoma! You can purchase your tank top here.

Also, I have a Virginia Blogger who is teaming up with me to purchase gift cards for these victims. Here is her status on that below:

OK friends! Back when I was in the blogging world, I met this amazing woman, Kenzie Ashcraft and we've stayed connected ever since. She lives in Oklahoma, so I contacted her to see how we can help from here in Virginia!

I will be collecting gift cards (or money to purchase gift cards) to send directly to Kenzie and her church, who will be delivering them directly to the victims of yesterday's tornadoes. Good ideas for stores are Walmart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond - places where they will be able to buy back some items that they lost - or even a Visa gift card that could be used anywhere.

If you would like to help or contribute, please shoot me an email or a message!

answindell@ymail.com

Every little bit of effort helps! If you would also like to contribute with purchasing the gift cards, send me an email!

 Continue to pray for peace and comfort for these families. 

God bless, Oklahoma. 

#PrayforOklahoma {Update On Us+Donations}

I am sure most of you have been watching or hearing about the devastation our state has been going through over the past two days. My heart breaks into pieces about all of the fatalities and missing adults and children. If you can do anything, please pray for these families and people who have lost loved ones as well as everything they have. Also, if you would like to donate to the Red Cross, the picture below has a number you can text that will directly charge your phone bill.

If you are a blog follower of mine that lives near our area, our church is donating household items from 6-9PM tomorrow. You can drop them off at the church or if you are unable to deliver but would like to donate I can drive and pick up the items from you. Anything helps! All items will be taken to affected families in various areas that were hit by the tornadoes.

We have heard from our families who live in Moore and near the city and everyone is ok and accounted for! We do have some distant family who lost their home so please be in prayer for them. 

"Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted. I will rebuild you with stones..." Isaiah 54:11

Another Busy Weekend

Graduation and wedding season has officially begun. Zack and I counted it up this weekend and we have been invited to 6 weddings and 7 graduations so far for this year. Woah.

Friday
We went to my cousin's high school graduation. I can't believe she is going off to college now and I am going to miss her so much. She is going to Nashville to play college basketball which is so exciting! I had good intentions for the graduation. I brought my good camera and had it all ready before she walked across the stage only to realize that I had forgot the battery which was charging at home. Fail.

Total Uncle photo bomb and horrible quality of photos. I still have the iPhone 3 camera which explains that problem.

Then we went to eat graduation dinner with the family.

Oh, I also had successful curling wand usage on Friday night. Too bad Oklahoma weather and its humidity glory doesn't appreciate a good hair day.

Later that night Zack went to a bachelor party while Paisley and I got to have some lazy girl time in front of the TV. We watched Definitely, Maybe for the first time and I felt like I wasted a good chunk of my life. It was funny but I wasn't a fan and didn't care for the ending.

Saturday

We got to celebrate and witness our good friends get married. The wedding was beautiful and so was the bride! SO happy for you, Trevor and Chelsea!!!:::::::Chelsea also got accepted into the nursing program with me so we'll be seeing even more of each other. So excited to have more married friends! :)  

Sunday

Zack and I were lazy all day which was nice since we have been going nonstop for weeks. We watched the weather all day since tornadoes were lashing through our state. I cleaned out the cellar and had it ready just in case we had to go. Oklahoma life, people.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. It looks like we are in for another round of tornadoes today unfortunately. So please be saying some prayers that they decided to stay in the sky. Our county (arrow pointing at below) is in the middle of its path of warning so I am hoping and praying it stays away from us. I've lived here all my life and still cannot get used to this junk. 

In other news, I am sending out my #CaraBox today and I am also featured on my friend, Mandi's blog!

How was your weekend? 

The Letter I Have Been Waiting For + This Week's Recap

To say I have been anxiously waiting for this letter and the news it bears would be an understatement. But, now that it is finally here, I can breath and say that........

I AM OFFICIALLY A NURSING STUDENT!!!!

I am so stinking excited about it and cannot wait to start this journey on July 15th!

It is coming up quickly and now I am really stressing about trying to get our house finished before we start something else. But, it wouldn't be normal for us to not have one million things going on at once since that is how The Ashcraft's roll. 

With that said, blogging will have to go on the back burner when this starts. I am not saying that I won't be blogging but it will be slowing down because you basically sell your soul when you sign up and get accepted for it. Scary right? For the time being I will be working on A TON of scheduled posts for when I am off to school so I will have some content for you all. It will be like I never left. :) 

This is going to be a really tough year for Zack and I but I know we can get through it and the reward will be worth it all. Pray for us and for our sanity.

Also, big thank yous and hugs to all who prayed for me while I applied and awaited this letter. I pretty much bit off all of my nails while driving to the mailbox. If you know me well enough, you know that patience and waiting for a life changing decision do not go hand and hand with my personality. Words cannot express how irritable I was this past month. {Zack, thank you so much for putting up with me babe. I know calming my nerves and letting me know that it is going to be ok every single night wasn't all that fun and easy peasy.}

God is faithful. He knows our needs better than we do and he knows our heart's desires. Yes, I do want a good job but I also have a heart for people. I want to make a difference. I want to show people compassion and love when they need it most. I am so thankful He has helped me get to where I can learn how to help others in a way that I have never known. 

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Tonight I am going to watch my sweet cousin graduate highschool and tomorrow Zack and I are going to watch our good friends get married! Fun weekend for us!

This week's recap:

Sunday: A Year Full of Motherhood 

Monday: A Review on Renting Textbooks

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A Super Funny Video

Tuesday: My Mother's Day re-cap

Wednesday: $50.00 Visa Giveaway {You still have a chance to enter!)

Thursday: A House Update

What are your plans for the weekend?