Twelve Days 'till Graduation

Graduation is fast approaching and I couldn't be more excited.  Since I'm graduating in December, I thought it was only appropriate to make up an accounting/graduation version of the popular Christmas song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. 

Twelve Days 'till Graduation 

(Sung to the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas)

Twelve days 'till graduation, my professors gave to me: 

Twelve graduate classess,

Eleven calculators calculating,

Ten generally accepted accounting principles, 

Nine accountants dancing, 

Eight tax collectors a milkin ya,  

Seven students a studying, 

Six accountants a laying, 

Five long years

Four CPA sections,

Three French Hens, 

Two diplomias hangin...

and an auditor in a Deloitte tree 

It's not black and white.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stand: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all." -The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag 

"In God we trust."  

-The Official National Motto of the United States of America 

I believe in God. A God who shows mercy and grace for His people.  I believe God loves.  He protects.  He forgives.  He saves. 

My faith rests in a God that is more powerful than humanly imaginable.  My trust rests with a God who created this earth, formed the land and the seas, and who created man and woman.  He is a sovereign God. He will protect His people.  

The United States of America, a country founded on many Christian beliefs, has elected a new president who arguably has many liberal beliefs, far from those this nation was founded on.  A change is needed for our country, but it doesn't come from a new president or any other man or woman.  The president term lasts for four years, God is forever. 

It is God who is in control, not a president.  Nothing happens that is not allowed by God, who has the ultimate plan.  God is mighty and powerful.  He is God. 

God Bless America. 

Happy Halloween!!

Bratwurst and I won first place in a costume contest in College Station at the Brazos Valley Wiener Fest.  Obviously, he was a Hot Dog (his name came in handy) and I was the Grill Master.  We had so much fun! 

Bratwurst got so many compliments on the costume.  It was a great find at my favorite store, Target, for only $9.99!! 

I'm an accountant, therefore I like numbers.

I'm graduating in exactly 56 days, not that I am counting.  This semester, 12 is my favorite number. I'm graduating on 12/12.  I love numbers.  I'm an accountant, loving numbers is a prerequisite.  I love the meaning of numbers. As an Aggie, I'm a part of the 12th Man, which means I stand at football games, the whole game, just in case they need me to come in a play.  This season, it appears they need a lot of help, but I'm pretty sure they need someone a little better at football than me.  

Since 12 is such an important number in my life this semester, I decided to find some significant meanings of the number.  

-Twelve is a perfect number. It is completed and whole. 

- Twelve is a product of 3, which is a perfectly Divine and heavenly number, and 4, which is an "earthly number". 

- Israel had twelve named sons in the Bible, which made the 12 tribes of Israel.  

-Twelve disciples/apostles of Jesus 

- Jesus was twelve when he first appeared in public and spoke his first recorded words. 

-The 12th chapter of the bible starts with God calling Abram to come out of the land that he was living in a go where God would tell him. 

-The number twelve is used 189 times in the Bible.  (I didn't personally count that, I'm taking someone else's word on that.) 

I'm excited about finally graduating college.  I'm more excited about seeing how God is going to use me now.  I pray that I can have the strength and the courage to be like Abram, to be willing to listen to God and go where he tells me.  

Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy

Beth Moore is an amazing woman of God, she has a heart for His Word and tells His story beautifully.  Her passion for Christ is evident in her many books and bible studies.  

This semester, my bible study group is embarking on a new journey together, the study of the Book of Daniel.  

The Book of Daniel is set in 605 B.C. in the city of Babylon, not much different than the American culture today.  The ancient culture valued beauty, royals, riches, popularity, and self-centered ideals.  However, Daniel "holds his place in Scripture because he was one of the few" who resisted society's pressures and held strong to his beliefs.  

God warns us in Scripture about resisting the temptation and falling for worldly things; He instructs His children to not be taken captive by the world.  "God is faithful to keep His Word even when it is a warning". 

We must be like Daniel and avoid being held captive by this world, for our true treasure is in Heaven. 

Weathering the Storm

This weekend, as Ike hit the Texas coast, I took comfort knowing that my God is bigger than any storm.  

It is important to have proper protection during the storm.  

Bratwurst, in his yellow rain slicker during a rain storm to keep his beautiful fur coat dry. 

During the storms of life, what is your protection? 

Psalm 107:28-30 (NIV)

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.

The winds and the rain of your storms and struggles may be strong, but God is so much stronger. 

It is my favorite season!

As a native Texan, I don't know much about seasons since we really don't experience the traditional seasons like fall, winter, spring and summer, but only two instead, really hot and comfortable. But, more importantly, this time of year only means one thing...FOOTBALL SEASON!! As a native Texan, I'm a Dallas Cowboys fan by birth and after paying for two degrees and spending numerous hours studying, I'm a Texas Aggie fan by the Grace of God! I grew up in the 90s watching the Cowboys in their glory years, winning Super bowls. I wanted to marry Troy Aikman, I was 8 and his number was 8 it was meant to be. Now, I'm a Tony Romo fan...he's hot, what can I say? I'm an accountant, he could use my help 'managing' his $67 million.

A Saturday in Aggieland during football season is crazy! The tailgates are over the top, the traditions are one of a kind and the team...well, its a rebuilding year. I still yell proud and thank God that I only have to stand one more year. Next year, I can pay to sit!

Thanksgiving Day is my favorite Dallas Cowboys game. My family has been to the last two Thanksgiving Day Games and we had so much fun There is no better way to celebrate an American holiday than smelling thousands of fried turkeys in a parking lot and watching the Cowboys play! You know you're in Texas when one year it was 80 degrees and we complained it was 'hot' and the next year it was snowing.

Thank God it is Football Season!!