Great Friends!!!

So as I am gearing up to head to college later this year, I am drawn to thinking of the great people that I have met in my life here. I have been spending a lot of time with my friends that I will be sad to say goodbye to later this year... here are some pictures....



Not in order: Katie Belanger, Annie Kallberg, Kaitlyn Spore, Jillian Stanley, Jessica Richards, and I at Disneyland...



Katie, Jessica, me, and Annie...



Katie, Jill, Kaitlyn, Annie, Jessica, and I...


Me, Katie, and Jill...



Victor, Brent, Troy and Jack...


Jill and I...


And us again...



Mommy, me, Julie, Donna, Terry, and Jenna...

These are just some of the amazing people that have touched my life here in California...

Love M.C.

Back By Popular Demand...

More Winter Formal pictures!!! (Sorry they are blurry again)


Jessica and I

Kaitlyn and I

Me being retarded about getting the boutineer on....

Kristin, Annie, and I






Those are mostly it...

MC

Winter Formal!!

Hey Friends!

Well last week was my last Winter Formal. I went with a pretty cool guy, Jack Waller. My friends are pretty cool and here are some pictures. (some of them are blurry)



Here are some of the guys....



My parents and I...



Jack and I



The Girls...

There are some more if you want to see more let me know (or if you have a facebook they are on my profile)... I had tons of fun...

MC

It's easier to die for a belief than to live for it...

If someone asked you what you would die for, what would be your answer? Maybe your family or your closest friends, the gospel or your faith, or maybe your passion or purpose in life. Whatever you thought of I am sure you could find at least one thing...

Now, I want to preface this that I didn't think of this on my own.. I just finished reading Donald Miller's book Blue Like Jazz and this is a point that he makes that really had an impact on me.

Now with those ideas or beliefs that you would die for in your head, don't you think that it is much harder to live for them? To live everyday for your passion, for your family, for your God. This is an excerpt from the book:

"Tony asked me one time if there was anything I would die for. I had to think about it for a long time, even after thinking about it for a couple of days I had a short list. In the end there weren't very many principles I would die for. I would die for the gospel because I think it is the only revolutionary idea known to man. I would die for Penny, for Laura and Tony. I would die for Rick. Andrew would say that dying for something is easy because it is associated with glory. Living for something, Andrew would say, is the hard thing. Living for something extends beyond fashion, glory, or recognition. We live for what we believe..."

He goes on to explain that if that is true and we really live for what we believe, then most of us don't believe in honorable principles. He says that his life would show that he believes he is the most important person because he cares more about himself and lives for himself rather than for others.

Does this ring a bell for anyone else? I know it did for me... I had never thought of life that way. That the way you live really gives insight to what you believe and what is important to you. So I started examining my life and realized I was in the same boat as Donald Miller, I don't live what I believe or what I am willing to die for. I live, too often, for myself. How can I change that except through the Lord's help?

It goes back to my life verse John 10:10. "...I have come to give life in all its fullness." If one is really going to live life in all its fullness, that is not a life devoted to self service, but the service of others. We know this because Jesus lived life for others and he has had the best, fullest life imaginable.

As we begin and end each day, I want to challenge you, because it is my challenge to myself to live a full life, a life that you can be proud of because it is motivated by your beliefs and principles. Take action and do something!! Always remember it is not what you would die for, it is what you are living for!

M.C.

Iowa Caucus - Huckabee Speech

All of you should watch this speech! It is worth your time to see how genuine he is. Once again congrats Huckabee!!

Happy New Year and Congrats!!!

Hey Folks!!

Happy New Year!!! Last year was a huge year for me and my family and I thank God for keeping us safe and healthy. I hope the transitions and huge steps that will occur next year in 2008 will also bring joy and happiness to everyone.
On another optimistic note, congrats to Mike Huckabee for winning the Republican Iowa Caucus... This dark horse campaign caught my eye when Huckabee was polling only 4% and I watched him rise to being a contender. It will be a hard road but hopefully he will pull through. I Like Mike!!



Happy New Year!! Mackensey

Merry Christmas!

Hola Familia y Amigos,

Merry Christmas! Wow we find ourselves once again at the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. 2007 was packed full of good memories, huge transitions, and exciting events. I want all of you to know how much I love you and how I wish that next year will be even better than the last for you and your family.

I know this time can be hectic and crazy, but take time to think about what Christmas really means to you. Make this season more than just another commercialized Hallmark holiday. Whether you celebrate your beliefs or just celebrate life and your family remember, even though it is cliche, this season is not about getting. Try and think of something you can do to make a difference in the upcoming year, whether it be in your local neighborhoods, in our country, or in the world.

I know that we all hear messages of how giving means more than receiving, but let's live out that message this year. Make sacrifices and give of yourself without getting anything in return. This was just one of my thoughts and I hope you can all take it to heart. Christmas is not about us it is about others. I love each and every one of you and once again wish you a Merry Christmas!

Love, Mackensey