I am happy that I am Christian. I am happy to be in the light, and I want everyone to be in it with me. I don't know how anyone could completely reject it before they ever gave it a chance. I promise you, if you did give it a chance it would change your life, as it changed mine.

I am not perfect by any means, and I do not think I am any better than anyone in this world. I want to love everyone like Christ loves me. I want to serve those around me. I want to serve the ones who need to be served and the ones who don't need to be served. I want to do good. Jesus says that some people will hate me in this world. In the past year, I have had a good long taste of that. I hate it. I really do. Mostly because it makes me cry. Secretly.

I don't want them to like me just to please me. Especially if they are of this world. They're really nice to my face, but say nasty things about me behind my back. I don't care about that. I care about how it all began. They rejected Christ, and that is in every way bad. I don't say this in a light manner. I know that I have shown them the bread of life, and what did they do? They took it out of my hands, chewed it up, and spit it in my face. I'm not a people pleaser, so when I tell you the Truth, i'm not going to lie to you and tell you that it's all fine and okay with what you're doing.

I don't know, i guess I'm just really hurt by everything that has gone on recently. I've lost too many people I love and really care for to the lies they have been tempted by and chose to believe in. People that I really wanted to see do well. People who were on the right path, and just turned around and walked the other way. People who gave up. But the Lord says

¹³"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7

and

³⁴ “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.³⁵ ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶ Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ ^{³⁷ “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. ³⁸ If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. ³⁹ If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." -Matthew 10}

Still, I pray all the time for these people. I know they don't care or appreciate it, but I hate the the thought that Jesus came with a sword to divide me, one of the believers, and the people I love so much but don't believe. There is still time and hope. I have faith that God will do an amazing and mighty work in their hearts. Whatever the outcome may be, all knees will bend and glorify Him! I'm glad that my knees will do that willfully!

Happy birthday Aneya!

My bachelorette party was fun. At some point while bowling, I looked over and saw these underage girls all chatting, unaware of the previously emptied alcohol glasses in front of them. Shortly thereafter the group moved to a different location. Classic.

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Update:

I posted a blog earlier, and I realized that it was the first time I'd updated this thing in about a month now. I don't have any pictures to share my experiences in the past month. Well, I suppose I do. They're just on my phone.

Since my nephew has been born, my brother got in a crazy car accident, rolled three times, and by the grace of God he survived without a scratch. I stopped biting my nails. I'm not going cold turkey though. "Bite no more" is getting me through this lengthy 3 month process. On September 5th my life was almost completed when Blindside came to the stage at Freedom fest.

I found a few pictures for this one. I have NEVER seen Cliffs Amusement Park so packed.

They honestly put on the best show I have ever seen. I love that all of their lyrics are about how big of a role Jesus plays in their life, and how much of a role He should play in our lives.

About 14 days after this glorious day I kept the Blindside going and walked down the aisle to their song "Shekina" to marry my wonderful Husband, Kelly Bransford. Oh yeah, I have a [bad] picture for this one too.

We have now been happily married for 11 days, and Jethro (our dog) isn't living the separated parent lifestyle any more. Poor dog, it must have been rough on him.

Anyway, maybe I'll update more. Well, they'll be pointless from here on out. Maybe. I did get two crock pots as a wedding gift so maybe I'll make some interesting stuff and post a few pictures.

daycare is expensive.

jaydyn nathaniel christian-sandlin

Aw, Jethro. He's kind of a bad dog, but I still love him. I donLt know what Kelly has been teaching him lately, but he doesn't listen to me.

only in albuquerque can you be driving to work and see at least 3 of these every morning.

i'm so excited that i don't even know what to do with my life. hp6 is tonight!!!!

bear canyon. heidi has never been up here without chris. let the tradition continue.

braving the rapid ride with Bekah... at night.

it's a good day. we recieved our first letter from the child we sponsor in India, Nikhil! He speaks Marathi and loves Jesus!

flossing together.

jubilee fest '09. just praising God!

i'm just looking at my ring and realizing that i'm engaged.....whoa!

i'm so excited for him!

playday at daycare. 4 boys equals no good. everyone is soaked except for amber... so far.

Kind of hard to see, but i found mat pirolo's glasses on my bed. i might keep them.

My least favorite part of pre-marital counseling is the homework.

We love Jethro. Today we went to the bosque and introduced him to the rio grande! He's getting so big!

I love the rainy season. I'm happy it's back.

Gina graduated and her bestfriends were there to cheer her on! That a girl!

...and it begins!

30minutes in, same game.

the most intrnse game of checkers i have ever played

2 Timothy 3-4 to quench my spiritual thirst and my water to quench my bodily thirst.

In May of last year I spent a bit of money and flew myself up to Spokane, WA for a reunion to a side of the family that I hadn't met. It was probably the best few hundred dollars I have ever spent, and since the end of it last year I have been waiting, dreaming, daydreaming, drawing pictures, and writing songs about the reunion this year. Unfortunately finances will not allow me to go this year, and it made me sad when I got this invitation in the mail. I RSVP'd today and I am just so sad that I can't go, but I'm even more sad that my family can't meet Kelly, and that Kelly can't meet my family. They're a bunch of wonderful people. I will miss them this year. 

iced coffee to make it through the day. i owe my day to perry.

the weekend 2009 is here! our girls are awesome and so is running for the cause!

Oh my gosh! i was standing RIGHT next to Poema at the phil wickham and charlie hall concert!

it never fails. the week before the weekend for the past three years in a row i've had to fight off a severe head cold. to hell with the devil!

Jethro is growing up. i appreciate him. he is always in a good mood and he calms me down when i'm having a rough day. he has the funniest personality. i just felt like dedicating another blog to mine and kelly's dog. he's part of God's fabulous creation.

the line for the drive thru is wrapped around the building, the parking lot is full, the cafe is full, and i just received the best service i have ever received. mmm chick-fil-a!

Do you Krave it?

On Monday, I decided that it would be a fantastic idea to go to the Casino and learn how to play the slot machines. I took 20 dollars and intended on losing it. Since this is not the point of the story I will not go into details. I lost the money. All of it. And also the phone my younger brother had given me 1 day before that got stolen right out of my purse. I love casinos... NOT! So I'm out of a phone again, and I just tried to stay content. Kelly and I talked about me getting on his plan so we'd only have one bill to pay, and it'd be cheaper for the both of us. Great idea! So today, the love of my life went to the Verizon Wireless store without my knowledge and bought me the best phone they have so far. The Motorola Krave ZN4 touch screen phone is AMAZING! I've had it for a few hours, and I'm just so impressed. I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never own an iPhone, and I'm far over it. This is just to exciting for me! And my bill is only $55 a month. More updates later, when my phone is actually posting to the blog.

New phone, new number. Message me for that information. Or MySpace or Facebook me!

P.S. Kelly is amazing. In every way.

Baskin Robbins

I brought kelly a york peppermint patty baskin robbins treat today. He's been a good boy.

Kelly

The leasing consultant.

This is the funniest picture ever.

Why? Because this is a picture of two 8 year olds playing on their cell phones during morning outside play time.

Just so you know

I won't lie. He brings me so much joy.

Fire!

Controlled burning at the millers. We're wondering how long it takes before the fire department shows up.

This is a little late...

Jethro is a very good dog. Kelly and I adopted him from the animal shelter about 3 weeks ago. He's 4 months old, house trained, amazing around people... Actually he's a little snobby around people but it's ok.  And actually he's only house trained at my house. At  Kelly's house he pee'd three times within an hour on his CARPET. Oh yeah, Kelly got an apartment... But that's not important right now. Jethro is a playful autralian shepard mix that likes to take walks, eat shoes, rugs, socks, people food, pictures, grass, and sometimes raw hide dog bones. He's not afraid of fire or tumbleweeds, but he is afraid of Seven, who is the miniature pinscher that lives here as well, and sometimes Ivan, the other dog that also lives here. He's a free living, fun loving dog. He's our first kid. We're trying to get him to stop eating grass though. He enjoys eating it and then throwing it up. Within the first week he had done it at least once every day,and then he came down with something called kennel cough, and we weren't allowed to give him exercise or any sort of fun for the next week. Sad. Now he's a happy puppy who can enjoy the outdoors. I'm sorry. This blog should have ended 5 sentences ago.

:(

Why must secrets be kept from me when everyone else already knows? I always find out in the worst and most depressing sort of ways. It makes me feel like a whole bunch of my friends aren't legitimate. That's great news. And that was sarcastic.

Do yourself a favor

and check them out.

you won't regret it.

We're

We're on airplane heading home!

Somewhere

Somewhere in arizona!

This weekend Kelly's family is moving to Arizona. We're the lucky ones that get to help them move, but we're the even luckier ones who get to drive the entire way in the 26ft Uhaul that they rented this Saturday at 4am. I am excited, because I like road trips. We also get to fly back the following day... On a plane! Oh yes, we fly on planes. Anyway, I say this so I can tell you that a few days ago kelly and I purchased a mini webcam so we can Skype with his family. Jillian, Christian and Aneya, who are also going have a webcam too, so there will be plenty of Skyping for us. Please let us know if you are in the loop of Skyping too! Our screen name is michelle.and.kelly or something like that. You'll find us. 

    Kelly bought me a new journal to write in. 

 I am overwhelmed with joy. I don't have to limit

myself to what I write or how long it is anymore because I don't fear running out of room! Oh, happy day! Speaking of happy days, I am way amped for The Weekend. My excitement is almost uncontainable.

 Last but not least... Beef. It's what's for dinner.

You know you're from New Mexico when...

I stole this from a Facebook friend, and I thought it was quite necessary... and pretty hilarious!

You don't think it's weird that everybody stares at you when you walk into the Frontier.
(For you out-of-towners, it's a cafe right across from UNM)

You snicker whenever someone from out of state tries to pronounce your last name.

You've had a school day cancelled because there was half an inch of snow on the ground.

You know what an Arroyo is.

Your high school's name was a Spanish word (La Cueva, Eldorado, Sandia, Manzano...)

You still call the "Flying Star" the "Double Rainbow" and it's still the best place to get dessert in the world!

There is a kachina somewhere in your home or yard.

You believe that bags of sand with a candle in them are perfectly acceptable Christmas decorations.

You have license plates on your walls, but not on your car.

Most restaurants you go to begin with El or Los.

You remember when Santa Fe was not like San Francisco.

You hated Texans until the Californians moved in.

You price-shop for tortillas.

You have an extra freezer just for green chile.

You think a red light is merely a suggestion.

You believe using a turn signal is a sign of weakness

You don't make eye contact with other drivers because you can't tell how well armed they are just by looking.

You think six tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful front lawn.

You have to sign a waiver to buy hot coffee at a drive-up window.

You ran for state legislature so you can speed legally.

You have read a book while driving from Albuquerque to Las Vegas.

You know they don't skate at the Ice House and the Newsstand doesn't sell newspapers.

You think Sadies was better when it was in the bowling alley and the Owl Bar was better before they put in the turn-off.

You have used aluminum foil and duct tape to repair your air conditioner.

You can't control your car on wet pavement.

There is a piece of a UFO displayed in your home.

You wish you had invested in the orange barrel business.

You just got your fifth DWI and got elected to the state legislature in the same week.

Your swamp cooler got knocked off your roof by a dust devil.

You have been on TV more than three times telling about how your neighbor was shot or about your alien abduction.

You can actually hear the Taos hum.

All your out-of-state friends and relatives visit in October

You know Vegas is a town in the northeastern part of the state.

You are afraid to drive through Mora and Espanola.

You iron your jeans to dress up.

You don't see anything wrong with drive-up window liquor sales.

Your other vehicle is also a pick-up truck.

Two of your cousins are in Santa Fe, one in the legislature and the other in the state pen.

You know the punch line to at least one Espanola joke.

Your car is missing a fender or bumper (or a turn signal and aligned headlights).

You have driven to an Indian Casino at 3 a.m. because you were hungry.

You know the response to the question "red or green?"

You're relieved when the pavement ends because the dirt road has fewer pot- holes.

You can correctly pronounce Tesuque, Cerrillos, and Pojoaque, and know the Organ Mountains are not a phallic symbol!

You have been told by at least one out-of-state vendor they are going to charge you extra for international shipping.

You expect to pay more if your house is made of mud.

You can order your Big Mac with green chile.

You see nothing odd when, in the conversations of the people in line around you at the grocery store, every other word of each sentence alternates between Spanish and English.

You associate bridges with mud, not water.

You know you will run into at least three cousins whenever you shop at Wal-Mart, Sam's or Home Depot.

Tumbleweeds and various cacti in your yard are not weeds. They are your lawn.

If you travel anywhere, no matter if just to run to the gas station, you must bring along a bottle of water and some moisturizer.

Trailers are not referred to as trailers. They are houses. Double-wide trailers are real houses.

A package of white flour tortillas is the exact same thing as a loaf of bread. You don't need to write it on your shopping list; it's a given.

At any gathering, regardless of size, green chile stew, tortillas, and huge mounds of shredded cheese are mandatory.

Prosperity can be readily determined by the number of horses you own.

A rattlesnake is an occasional hiking hazard. No need to freak out.

I want to be a professional blogger someday soon. I think that requires a camera (which I left in Nevada) and some thought-effort into what I'm saying. I don't even know if that makes sense.

Tonight is not that night.

Are

Are you serious?