live your life.
each day, we get closer and closer to death.
yet every moment, we live like we have all of eternity to right the mistakes we've made.
don't you understand?
everything can be gone in the next moment.
let everything go, don't take anything for granted.
sleepless nights have been wasted worrying about this life,
but all it is is a waiting room.
live each day and don't take anything for granted.
live your life.

after thanksgiving

Have you ever thought about what it would like not to have anything at all? No food, no clothes, no water, no house, not even a bed; nothing at all. Every year at Thanksgiving I start to think about this. I know it all sounds sort of cliche, but seriously, what would that be like? As americans, that's not something we necessarily ponder or even have the need to think about very much. Don't get me wrong, their are many struggling families in the united states, however I don't really think it's to the degree that millions in other countries are experiencing right now. As people who typically get what we want (to some degree anyway) we are so incredibly spoiled. We all take things for granted in so many ways. And in me saying all of this, I hope i'm not being rude or offending anyway, but I truly believe we all do that someway or another. We don't understand what it's like not to have. We take so many for things for granted and it's something we don't even realize. We have to remember to be thankful for every single thing God has given each and everyone of us.

you have to read this!

A Baby Changes Everything
By: Faith Hill

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring
On her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything (x2)

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she Keep his trust
A baby changes everything (x2)

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything (x2)

And she cries and she cries O she cries

Shepherds own they got their...
Star shines down...

Choir of Angels say
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything (x2) everything, everything, every day
Hallelujah x4

My whole life is turned around
I was lost and now I'm found
A baby changes everything (x2)

too long

I haven't had time to update my blog in a while. For those few of you that do read my blog, I apologize. (: It's been a crazy month. I've been super busy writing an article for my hs paper; it's about pornography. Wanna read it? Check it out.


In today’s world, the internet is a great tool that is used in a number of ways, most of which are beneficial; however, there are some things on the internet that should not be seen.
Twenty years ago, pornography was a bit more difficult to get a hold of. You actually had to go out and buy the magazine or rent the video. But now, thousands of pornographic sites are just a click away, free of charge.
According to familysafemedia.com, in the United States, the average American boy sees pornography before the age of 11. These are young children that we are putting into consideration here, not just 18-year-olds and up. That is not to say that adults viewing pornography is socially acceptable, however, these 11- year- olds are still children. Most of them have not even hit puberty yet.
According to safefamilies.org, in the United States, $13.3 billion was made in 2006 and $97 billion worldwide in total pornographic sales. But that was not just in 2006, that is how it is every year.
In an article in New York Times Magazine, “Naked Capitalists: There’s No Business like Porn Business”, author Frank Rich, says “Porn is no longer a sideshow to the mainstream, it is the mainstream.”
I think pornography is something that needs to be taken care of. It has become such a normal, accepted thing throughout our society, and although most don’t struggle with pornography addiction necessarily, it is definitely a problem with some Americans.
In a study done by familysafemedia.com in 2006, they found that over 4.2 million pornographic websites were in existence. It was reported that $4.9 billion is made in internet pornography sales each year.
While some watch pornography from time to time, some are addicted to it. Organizations have been created to help those who seek need, such as Integrity Online, XXXChurch and Covenant Eyes.
XXXChurch is an online based community of people that was created to help and encourage people to find resources and seek freedom of pornography addiction.
Some may even wonder why people even enjoy pornography in the first place.
“We all want gratification,” PJ Szabo, an intern for XXXChurch, said. “We all want it in a way that will be quick and painless. The problem is that anything that treats sex as a commodity results in pain. Porn through the internet is easy to access and easy to hide. So it's easy but not painless to look at porn. So why keep looking at it? All of which are fueled by a self gratification; whether that is through physical pleasure or of a desire to gain knowledge about sex before you encounter it.”
People don’t realize that viewing pornography really can cause emotional pain and possibly problems in future relationships.
Not only is the amount of people viewing pornography increasing in general, but so is the amount of teenagers viewing pornography. In a study done by healthymind.com in 2003, it was reported that 90% of 8 to 16-year-olds have viewed pornography.
“Teenagers are becoming more aware of sex as a way of pleasing yourself and meeting our own agendas”, Szabo said. “This isn't an accurate view of sex because sex is not currency, a class in school or a merit badge that you earn every time you "advance" in this world.”
With XXXChurch becoming more popular throughout both the Christian and secular communities, the organization wants people to know who they are and why they were created.
“XXXChurch is making a huge difference in the industry because it inserts the love of Jesus into people's lives just by being there,” Szabo said. “It's difficult to meet someone in the industry who hasn't at least questioned XXXChurch or thought about it. XXXChurch exists to get people to think about Christ in their lives, and if we can get into their lives at a porn show we can get Jesus into their lives even in the smallest way of a Bible on their coffee table.”
Keeping that in mind, a fact found on familysafemedia.com states that 47% of Christian men admit that pornography is a problem in their home.
Organizations such as XXXChurch were designed to help that number go down. Pornography is just going to get worse, and it is a problem. It is slowly becoming an addiction.
Pornography is affecting teenagers more and more each and every day. They think that it is appropriate to be watching it, when it’s not even something that some people consider to be morally right. I don’t think people realize how degrading it really is.
“I think porn will continue to grow and gain new fans every year”, Szabo said. “As it becomes easier to be disconnected physically from each other we will become more isolated and lose the connections in our life that hold us to the morality we profess and need to constantly be wrestling with.”

Homecoming Week 2008!

We had homecoming a couple weeks ago at my high school. It was so outrageously fun. But then again, I am schools spirited, so I may have had a little bit more fun than others. It happened like three or four weeks ago, but better late than ever(:
Pictures!

Mexico

In August, I was a bridesmaid in a wedding in Cancun, Mexico. I know a lot of you really wanted to see pictures, so i'll put them on here(: It was really quite an amazing trip. I think I want to go back.

heart

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it`s burning bright for You
It`s everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There`s nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father`s hands

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

I`m gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire




This is my hearts desire.

Pornography

This week in my english class, we were given our first major assignment- a persuasive essay. We were then given a list of around twenty five to thirty things, varying everything from abortion to women's rights to the war in Iraq to same sex marriages. As you can see, some of them were some very controversial issues. One particular topic on the list struck my interest immediately. Pornography. I am the only one writing about it in all four classes that my teacher teaches. That seemed strange to me. You would think something so incredibly prominant for boys and even girls for that matter around my age would be more popular. But to my suprise, that was not the case.

As i've been doing research on both sides of Pornography this week, i've learned a few things. Did you know that the industry brings in ten to fifteen billion dollars a year? Although that doesn't strike me as very surprising, it's definitely a large number. Did you know that an average american boy sees pornography by the time he turns eleven? Did you know that are more than 4.2 million pornographic pages on the internet? Obviously, this industry is huge. I found a quote on the internet from a writer of the New York Times Magazine and this is what he said: Porn is "no longer a sideshow to the mainstream...it is the mainstream," he said.

The thing that makes me angry about pornography when it comes to Christians, is that some Christians see absolutely no problem in it. How can they believe that? It's something that I feel I will never fully be able to grasp. God says it right in the Bible, and unlike some things that can tend to be somewhat confusing in the Bible, this is not one of them. It is so incredibly clear. I feel as if I may be a bit opinionated on the subject, however, i've seen first hand what pornography can do to relationships, and it is not something you would ever want to witness.

In the past year or so as i've matured in just my outlook on life, that is definitely something i've learned. Those who don't have Christ will do anything they please, whenever they please, to whoever they please. Those who do have Christ would like to do those things, but they have Christ within them and have the choice. But our world is still filled with sin, and nothing but.

For any guys out there that struggle with this, whether you are Christians or not, i’m sorry if this has in any way offended you. But this what I believe to be the truth and what my passionate opinion on the topic is.

summer vaca!

Our family, along with two others, went on a vacation over the week of July 12th through the 18th. We camped (in fact, we really roughed it :) at Lightner Campground in Durango, CO. All of us had a ton of fun and really had a good time just getting to relax and hang out with one another. Here are some pictures!

summacamp! (some deep stuff yo)

To say to least, camp was pretty amazing. God taught me things and opened my heart in ways that I didn't think He could; but then again, who am I to underestimate our King? The whole experience was completely and totally mind blowing. It's crazy to me how you can go into a thing like summer camp totally ready for fun, but walking out with a totally different perspective on things that are so crucially important. God taught me so many things during this trip, but a few things really stuck out to me.

I have a little brother and a little sister. Now, you have to know, Kyle, my little brother, and I don't exactly get along. Like at all. Maybe sometimes, but most of the time, we're arguing. There's a verse in the bible- Ephesians 4:29, and it goes like this "Do not use any foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those around you." I can honestly say that when it comes to my relationship with Kyle, I am rarely what you would call encouaraging. A week before I left for camp, Kyle and I were having this heated debate about something probably really stupid, & my Dad walks in and he says, "Do you realize what you guys are saying to one another? Those things that you are saying, they're evil!" That hit me hard. Because me saying those things, it was just something that kind of flew out of my mouth either in rage or annoyance, and at camp, God showed me that He put my brother in my life for a reason. That no matter how annoying, rude, or annoying Kyle may be, that's he's my brother. Their is absolutely no excuse for me whatsoever for me to be screaming at him all the time and for me being the way I tend to be with him. This is what I wrote in my notebook on the last day of camp when we were having our quiet time- "My brother: I need to Love him. Thank God that he is in my life. Turn the cheek." Honestly, that is something I can say I don't do with him very often. This is raw stuff, and even though probably a few people are going to read this, it's still personal stuff and things that God has shown me over the past few weeks. I was living in sin in my relationship with my brother, and please don't get me wrong- I still am sometimes, but I can definitely say that since i've gotten home from camp, my relationship with him has truly gotten better. No, i'm not saying that now that i've had this absolutely magnificent experience at camp that everything is going to be better, but my eyes have been opened to the fact that my actions and the things that I say could affect my relationship with him in the future drastically and is already affecting our realtionship now.

Walking into camp, I knew that God was going to speak to me. It was something that was clearly obvious to me for whatever reason from the beginning. Our speaker, Skip Ast, who is the pastor at my church, West Valley Church, was pretty amazing. That man truly has a gift given from God, in that he translates the word of God so incredibly well. It's something that I enjoyed quite immensely at camp. One his points during one of his messages was that we have to have a "Radical Committment" to the Lord. Going into camp, I believed I was passionate for Jesus Christ, however, in order to be passionate about Jesus, you have to be in his word consistently. Although this may make me sound completely idiotic, that was something I honestly didn't quite have down. I was not in God's word everyday, maybe only once or twice a week. That had to change, and I knew that in my heart. I think the reason I had never been consistently in God's word was because I didn't necessarily have a set devotion. And that is no way an excuse, but after camp, things changed. Again, i'm not saying that things are suddently going to be better, but things are changing to the better.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." John 15:1-14.
We have to bear fruit. And in order to that, we must have a relationship with Him.

hopefully the first of many...

hey guys[: now I may not be a mother or a wife who can put a bunch of cute little pictures of their three month old baby [Brandy. :)] but their's still always a lot going in my life. I'm not exactly sure what to write about now, but i'll come up with something eventually. I'll keep you posted.

taylor.