Read Angie's Thoughts

Each year I sit down and do a list of 100 things I'm thankful for. Here goes... 1) My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves me more than I'll ever know 2) My health 3) Ryan Joe McClelland - the boy I get to spend most of my days with 4) My dad - love him! 5) My brother Bryan - this being friends as adults thing isn't so bad... 6) My brother Mark 7) My (might as well be) sister-in-law Kris 8) My niece Lilly 9) My best friend Cassey - God has allowed us to restore a friendship this past year and it's been such a blessing 10) My nephew Noah - love how he calls me Auntie Angie 11) My niece Sydni 12) My best friend Amy - distance hasn't stopped us from being friends and I look forward to seeing where God sends her family in the coming months 13) My nephew Peyton 14) My niece Lola 15) My niece Clara 16) My Maggie - the best dog a girl could ask for 17) My cats Lola and Frankie - they keep life interesting! 18) Ryan's mom Kristen

At this time two years ago, I was without a job and waiting to see what God had in store. I had been done with my job at Trinity for a few months and after a summer and fall of looking for a job, I was frustrated with God and wondered what in the world He was doing. I remember even telling Him at one point, "If you took me away from Trinity - a job I LOVED - just so I can be a cashier at Walmart, we're going to have some problems!" In April when I knew my job at Trinity was coming to an end, I was confident that God had something even better in store for me. I clung to that hope in the months to come but by November, I was starting to wonder. One afternoon I was doing some odd jobs for a pet-sitting client when she called to tell me about a job possibility. A family at her church was looking for a nanny for their 18 month old. I was excited until she mentioned that I would be working two weeks on, two weeks off as the husband worked in the oil field. Immediately I

Throughout my life, God has blessed me with many women who have, in their own ways, stood in the gap when I needed a mom and my own wasn't there. Women old enough to be my grandma and women young enough to be my sister...they've all played a special part in guiding, nurturing and loving me the way a mom should. One such lady is fighting a battle with incurable cancer and unfortunately, the cancer is winning. She has stopped treatments and will be spending her final days at home and with her family. I've not been able to stop the tears from falling since I heard this news. I once heard a person say this woman has more compassion in the tip of her pinkie finger than most people have in their entire beings. I couldn't agree more. I keep pleading with God, telling Him there are so many others here on earth that need her love, her encouragement, her gentle spirit. She has a husband that needs her companionship, children that need her guidance, grandchildren that need her s

Recently I was driving home from work listening to KLOV, which is the norm for the end of my work day, and suddenly the sounds of Christmas songs filled my car as they promoted a series of Christmas concerts featuring Christian artist. Immediately my heart sunk in my chest and I felt the all too familiar sense of sadness wash over me. It's here, I realized...The Holidays. For me, the true reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ. I am more in awe every year at the idea of God sending His son as a baby to a young woman who only wanted to do His will. But Christmas is also about family, gifts, joy, get-togethers, parties, etc. I'm willing to bet most people would declare this time of the year as their favorite. For many others, myself included, it is all of that mixed with a whole lot of sadness and heartache. The holiday season is often a time of depression and loneliness for me and countless others. Don't get me wrong. I love spending the time with my fa