My Baptism...

Dear Diary,

So I accepted Christ back into my life again on February 2, 2008 and was baptised a week later on February 10, 2008. When I knew I was going to be baptised...I told alot of people so they can come to the service if they wanted to witness it because it was a very special time for me. The one person though that I feared telling was my mother. I was not sure what she would say because I was baptised as a baby in the methodist church, I was baptised into a cult(LA Church Of Christ), was baptised at my old church(but I really at that time didn't understand what a relationship with Christ was and never accepted him), and now being baptised at Knott Ave. I prayed on it and God told me when the right time was to tell her and it went better then I thought. So I was sooooooo happy to have my mom come and see my baptism.

On the day of my baptism....I was going to be baptised by Pastor Dan but due to a unforseen circumstance...that didn't happen. I really wanted Pastor Dan to baptise me because he knew more about me and he was the one who talked to me my very first time when I came to Knott Ave. He knew my fears and some about my past so it meant alot to me that he took the time to talk with me that day. So, I had to make a decision that morning to either wait to be baptised by Pastor Dan a week later or be baptised that morning by Pastor Mike Hammontre. I was trying to decide what to do but I knew that I didn't want to wait another week to be baptised. I said a little prayer and God really urged me to be baptised that morning because it was what He commands for us to do after accepting Him and that was the most important. So I took that step of faith and was baptised by Mike.

There were 4 other baptisms that same day and I was the last to get baptised. I remember stepping down into the baptismal and I was very nervous but happy on the inside. I remember repeating after Mike my pledge...I started to feel really emotional and even started tearing like I was getting ready to cry. I felt as though I was on the cross just as Christ was because I was thinking about my sinful life and if I hadn't accepted Him into my heart then I would truly be dead. Then Mike immersed me in the water and as I was being pushed down back first under the water...I really felt like and actually visualized in my mind being wrapped in a sheet laying in the tomb just as Christ did. Then when I came up out of the water...I felt resurrected just as Christ did. I kid you not....I don't know if any of you have ever experienced anything like that but I totally feel like Christ wanted me to know and see exactly what He went through. It was just so beautiful that I really understood the meaning of having a relationship with Christ and what baptism meant or like what it symbolised because I never really knew before. I have Pastor Dan Harper to thank for that....so Dan...THANK YOU!!!

~*Kelly*~

One Of My First Experiences With God...

Dear Diary,

So lately I have been having this problem at work with one of the managers and Friday was the worst of it. I'm a very sensative person and I cry when I'm stressed or just need to cry to let it all out. That's what happened on Friday after I left work. I came home and just cried to get it all out but through it all I kept beating myself up saying I am a bad employee, I can't do anything right, I hate myself, never should have been born,ect. It was through a message that I received from Tiffany Harper and the book I've been reading that was given to me by her husband, Dan...I realize that I am God's Creation and He loves me so much. But still the situation at work upsets me because I was asking God "why you are letting this happen if you love me so much? Why are you letting me hurt this way?" But God spoke to me tonight when I was doing one of the lessons in the book "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren...I believe that God has given me an answer on why this situation happened...this is from part of a poem that is in the book by Russell Kelfer....

No, that trauma you faced was not easy,
And God wept that it hurt you so,
But it was allowed to shape your heart,
So that into His likeness you'd grow.

I leave you with this part of the poem to ponder....

~*Kelly*~

My Arms Ache...Let Me Tell You Why...

Dear Diary,

I just popped another 800 milligram motrin because my arms ache and hurt-even as I type this entry. I started training a week ago for the special olympics because I have mild very mild autism so I qualify for SO. I am training for swimming. It hurts when your out of shape and overweight some. I hope to compete in a couple months though and be able to win a medal at my first meet would be so cool! It was my third time tonight swimming and working with the coach. I see improvement everytime and enjoying it very much. It's just my arms ache and stuff. That will subside I think as I get stronger and more strength in the water. Anyway, I wanted to share this with you. Pray that God gives me strength and energy to get through practices and for once to be successful at a sport.

Thanks For Reading...

~*Kelly*~

My Very First Entry...

Dear Diary,

This is my very first entry! I'm excited about my new blog here!

Now that I have my new blog...let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Kelly and I'm 34 years old. I live in California and I like California but I would love to live in a place that is more tropical because I love the beach and swimming! Speaking of swimming...I am a athlete in swimming for the Special Olympics Of Long Beach. I do qualify as an athlete because I have very mild autism. Although alot of autism cases are severe...they say I'm on the higher end of the spectrum meaning that I have a very high intelligence level. Most people do not know that I have autism unless I tell them I do...that's how mild it is.

As for my family...I have my mom and my brother. My mom lives near me and my brother lives in northern California. My dad passed away in 2002 due to complications and cancer. Since my dad has passed...my mom, my brother, and myself try to plan a vacation every year. It's a chance for us to spend some time together as a family because we all get busy in everyday life.

My brother Jamie(as I call him) or Jim(as his friends call him) is older then me. He co-owns a shipping company with a friend of his..so my brother works long hours and even goes in on Sat. too when they are closed! I guess as co-owner...the work never stops! My mother is retired but she(and my dad) did own and operate a preschool/daycare center since I was 2 years old. I grew up in that place. I got to work with children and that gave me experience to be able to work with them in the future.

I have worked with all ages of kids for a number of years and not just at my parent's business but at other preschools/daycare programs as well. After that amount of time working with kids...I was getting "burned out" and in the summer of 1999...I quit the school I was working at. I took some time off and went on vacation. Then I got a job at Petco in Dec. '00 but didn't actually start the job until Jan. '01. I was trained as a cashier and I worked for Petco until the time my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I felt I couldn't work and try to deal with the medical issues my dad was having...so I quit Petco in Sept. '01. Then after a long break...I returned to Petco in May '02 and having been working for them ever since.

There is one other thing I haven't told you about myself....I love to scrapbook!!! It's my favorite hobby. Gives me a chance to relax and play with papers, stickers, stamps, ect. It's creative therapy for me. I feel like a child again in kindergarden...it's fun!!!

God Bless,

~*Kelly*~