CHECK IT OUT

The website is up and running.  There are still things to be added, but it's up now and can be viewed.

Enjoy

www.phelanphotography.net

just a few things...

Let's see here....

I am jobless at the moment.  

I've been looking for employment for several weeks now, and still nothing.  

As I was feeling a bit discouraged on Tuesday of this past week, the Lord again, showed me a promise.  It came in the form of a rainbow in the BLUE SKY.  There were wispy clouds in the sky, and there it was, a small piece of rainbow... see it?

Next:

I was washing dishes the other day and I began thinking about the story of Mary and Martha and then I compared those women to Laci and me.  Well folks, I'm Martha.  Yep, it just came to me.  I am so focused on making things look good, occupied with making sure everything is in it's place, constantly staying busy, just to make sure things get completed.  And I thought about Mary.  She sat at Jesus' feet.  She wanted to spend time with the Savior, and while Martha wanted that same thing, she was wrapped up doing instead of just being and enjoying.  I want to be a Mary.  Laci is more like Mary. If we were to have dinner with Jesus, she would definitely be sitting at His feet listening to Him, while I would be in the kitchen cleaning up after the meal, putting things away, and doing everything BUT just sitting at His feet.  I am learning.  I want to be more like Mary.

Last:

Saturday I woke up and my car battery was DEAD.  *side note: I tend to have car issues.* Laci and I try to jump my car.  NOTHING.  There was a man passing by walking his dog so I asked him if he could check and make sure we were doing it correctly.  It DID look right to me, but I just had to make sure.  It was positioned correctly, it was just that my battery was too dead to receive a charge.  He left us for a moment, then came back with this brilliant charge box thing.  It worked.  Laci and I go to Pep Boys (great place by the way) to get my battery, and her oil changed.  We are there for maybe 45 minutes, and we literally talked with EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE PEOPLE THERE.  We know the employees by name, the customers conversed with us and made the time go quickly.  Later on that day, we go to Big Daddy's for dinner, and our waiter would not leave us alone. He came to our table, trying to make conversation, propping his elbows on our table, and loving our new friendship.  Laci was praying every time he would pass by that he would keep on walking.  It was rather humorous!  

Oh what a nice day.

Ephesus is great.  I really love my church.  The worship.  The message.  The people.  The passion.  It's amazing and I am so blessed.  Check it out... www.ephesuschurch.tv

parker and leyton photo shoot

the niece again

Noelle turns one in 1 month!  Crazy huh?  I can't believe she will already be 1.  here are some pictures deana just sent me... she is soooo cute. enjoy the pictures

fear

I am going to try and be really candid in this post because this is something that I am finding myself dealing with lately, and I feel the more open and honest I am about it, it might not affect me so much in the future.

I have decided that fear is a very real intense feeling, that occurs for me at times when I am facing the unknown and the what ifs.  Here lately, I have been overwhelmed with fear.  Fear of not succeeding, fear of not making a difference in someone's life, fear of what's going on in the world, fear of flying, and things like that.  This feeling is something new for me.  I am not one who gives in to these feelings, and I actually don't experience them often and I am not sure why here in the past couple weeks the feelings have overwhelmed me so much, they have resulted in a small panic attack. 

I really feel that we need to be praying for our nation right now.  Praying for protection, for people to come to know the Lord, for the Election, for our current President.  Even if you don't like him, he has been placed in an authority position, and it is Biblical to pray for those placed in leadership over you. For this moment in time, President Bush is the leader of our Country.  Pray that the Lord works in and through him, giving him clarity in thought and decision making.  Pray for our economy. Pray for our troops, those people in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The children who live in a constant state of fear every day.  Pray for the moms who are raising their children to love the Lord and those who aren't.  Our world seems to be spinning out of control.  This is where my thoughts have been lately.  Overwhelmed with the way things are, forgetting to acknowledge the One who holds the future.  

I know God is faithful.  I know He loves His people.  He is sovereign, just, merciful, gracious and loving.  He is forgiving and welcoming.  He is all-knowing and all-powerful.  

Pray with me please.  Our nation needs our prayers. 

"Fear not for I have redeemed you,

I have called you by name and you are Mine."

Isaiah 43

because my roommate is cool...

I decided to copy and past her survey.  if you want to be cool too, comment back with these questions copied and pasted with your answers filled in! it will be so fun. promise

1. What time is it?
9:02
2. Name that appears on your birth certificate:
Amanda Marie Phelan
3. Nickname:
mandaphe, manda, mand
4. Parents Names:
Tim and Lynne
5. Siblings:
Jonathan, Ken, Susan
5. Number of candles that will appear on your next birthday cake:
26 on the 26th… my golden birthday!
6. Date that you will blow them out:
May 26th
7. Pets:
none. would like a dog, but too much work and not interested in my house smelling like a dog
8. Eye Color:
hazel or brown depending on the clothing
9. Hair Color:
red
10. Tattoos:
nope
11. How much do you love your job?
don’t really have one at the moment
12. Favorite Color:
green and orange
13. Hometown:
Waynesville, NC
14. Current residence:
Charlotte, NC
15. Favorite food:
really depends on the mood… but i love pizza
16. Been to Africa:
no……..someday though
17. Been toilet papering:
once… my youth pastor’s house for his birthday
18. Loved somebody so much it made you cry:
yes
19. Ever been in a car accident:
yes, one. thanks mr. ratcliffe. my only one ever and it totaled my car. fantastic
20. Croutons or bacon bits:
croutons
21. Sprite or 7up?
sprite
22. Favorite movie:
Uptown Girls, Finding Forester, Pride and Prejudice
23. Favorite day of the week:
Saturday
24. Favorite word or phrase or action:
Seriously or I mean
25. Favorite toothpaste:
colgate total
26. Favorite restaurants:
Big Daddy’s, East Blvd. bar and Grill…local faves
27. Favorite Song:
definitely can’t pick just one… i love music
28. Favorite pop:
sprite or dr. pepper
29. Favorite sport to watch:
Football and basketball
30. Preferred type of ice cream:
ben and jerry’s half baked… love this
31. Favorite Sesame Street Character:
Big Bird… so cheerful and calming
32. Disney or Warner Bros:
Disney
33. Favorite Fast Food Restaurant:
not sure i have one as of late… qdoba if it’s considered fast food…?
34. When was your last hospital visit:
last year sometime. nothing major
35. What color is your bedroom carpet:
beige… wish it was hard woods!
36. How many times did you fail your driver’s test:
zero
37. Who is the last person you got e-mail from before this:
some person telling me about a mortgage job… not interested
38. Have you ever been convicted of a crime:
not telling  haha… that would be a negative
39. What store would you choose to max out your credit card:
probably target… so much goodness in there
40. What do you do most often when you are bored:
nap, read, catch up on shows
41. Name the person that you are friends with that lives the farthest away:
my cousins are my friends and they live in philly and ct… boo
42. Most annoying thing people ask me:
is your hair color real
43. Bedtime:
whenever i get sleepy
44. Who will respond the quickest:
don’t know
45. Who is the person that is least likely to respond:
don’t care….these were always my least favorite questions on these things.
46. Favorite all time TV show:
full house, dawson’s creek and 7th heaven
47. Last person you went out to dinner with: Deidre, Leyton, and Parker

48. Last movie you saw: Nights in Rodanthe and Maid of Honor

49. Last book you read: The Thrill of the Chast

50. Dream Car: don’t have one really

51. Time when you finished: 9:17