Shades of Grace

Sitting To Type....

2012-02-24T17:42:00.002-08:00

The scary truth is, I wanted You to serve me...
I never thought it outright, but the complaints that build in my mind make an altar to self where I find I play the martyr.
Why do I give myself center stage, creating a three act tragedy?
If I could let the flood lights fade, and disappear into the gray, maybe my tired eyes would finally start seeing.
But I can't quite let it go...
I can't quite let it go.

When I find myself wondering why things are.
Why I gave up my dreams to pursue Yours, and even those are withheld. I strive and I pant; I play dead. Nothing seems to bring about this change.
And then I remember,
When I think You are laughing, tricking my heart, it's really You who saves me...
You save me.

I hear the way it will be...
Options and opportunities can't stay open, my heart is already closed.
But my heart doesn't matter. Thank You, my God, that my heart doesn't matter.
And when I pour it out, with no form or poem, You give it grace.
You give it grace....

I will let it go, because I know....

You save me.

Monday Smiles: Double Check, No Highway Option

2012-02-20T18:04:00.000-08:00

Yep. Forget "my way or the highway". There is no highway option without double checking, Spell-check actually misses so much. You MUST use it....or run the risk of really, I mean REALLY, putting your foot in it. Like I almost did last week....

*warblerly memory music*
I was just typing along, getting over a day of painting and attempting to say "Surely there should be a law against inhaling this many fumes", when, as I was about to hit the "post button", I happened to look back. And I saw that what I was about to share with almost 300 people was the following:
"Surely there should be a law against inhaling this man fumes"
Talk embarrassing! So for me.....It's always double check. There is no highway option.

Randomness.....and Valentine's!

2012-02-16T20:01:00.002-08:00

Courtesy of my webcam (ewwww k!)

This randomly came the day after Valentine's Day with my name on it.....no joke.
I have no subscription to it or anything.

I almost thought it was some well meaning relative who decided to use my desire to travel to get me out of the house................which would be too funny. But then remembered that I've had a few "free offers" for various random things of late and this must have been the best option (really don't care to read PEOPLE).

Other than that life around here has been the usual unusual it has been for the past three weeks.
Painting.
Tons of painting.
Shelves.
Tons of shelves.
I told mom she better love those shelves. She said she did! I told her she better love them every day of her life. Of course I was joking....sort of.

My brain is all noodle-y. I blame that on the paint fumes and my sister who had us watch some type of Alice and Wonderland. I read both books, loved Lewis Caroll (brilliant writer), but it really gets to your sanity. And so I find myself singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat and praying that I don't go insane.

In other news, I think spring is coming.

Hope and I hope to set the garage sell date for the first or second weekend in March...if the weather looks nice. I think we will have loads of junk...*cough*...I mean stuff, to sell.
Ya...............that's about it.

The other week I discovered a song which I fell in love with, despite myself and despite itself.

I have died everyday waiting for you.

When you wait, you have to learn to die. Being 23 has taught me that, at least. The secret of many good things in this life is dying...

For my country lovin' friends out there, I discovered this song Tuesday, if you like the tearjerkers.
For those of you waiting for someday, someday is soon.
<3

I hope you had a great week, celebrating all those people in your life who love you and whom you love. <3

Monday Smiles: Not So Romantic After All...

2012-02-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

We all wish there was a simple way to understand the weaker sex....
none more than males in a romantic relationship.

Yes. Yes you have.....

Ladies, Observe:
To the right of your screen you have the appropriate response...
To the left you have the perfect candidate for a brain-transplant...
(sorry, not trying to hate here...just please let's all think before we call something romantic)

Ok, enough with the sarcasm. That was just the precursor. Here's your REAL Monday Smile:

Don't know who G. H. Jackson is, but he's got it right here.
Have a great week! <3

What We've Been Up To....

2012-02-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

We have been tearing down walls....

If you can call paneling with no Sheetrock or insulation "walls".

All that is happening in my brother's room.

And we are ripping down ceilings.
All that is happening in the back part of the house, the addition from before our time.

She looks quite desperate...

We've had some amazing friends help us with the manual labor.
Of course, that was all last week. This week we are leaving it to the pros as they put up our Sheetrock and make it all liveable again....while we try surviving in the front part of the house, lined with furniture and boxes and all sorts of lose items.
We are blessed to finally get this all taken care of.
Watch for "Before and After" photos. =)

Charles Dickens

2012-02-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

Today is a grand day!
Not only is it beautiful and warm, but today I discovered (via a friend and fellow Dicken's enthusiast) that it is Charles Dicken's birthday. Born 1812, He would be 200 years old today.
Check out google.com to see what they did! <3 it!

Ironically, I just finished reading Dicken's Bleak House yesterday...I think it's my all time favorite.

I actually have purposely dragged it out for a year. Because I couldn't stand the thought of it being over. I already knew the ending, so I didn't have that suspense to make me rush through it...most of the time.

I may have to read The Tale of Two Cities over again (which one of my besties bought for me back in November <3). Or maybe I'll go for one I haven't read, like Martin Chuzzlewit or Nicholas Nickleby....or maybe I should try a different classical author...or maybe not.
Just in case you haven't figured it out already, I love Dickens.
So, Happy birthday Dickens!

Do You Remember?

2012-02-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

Do you remember those days when it would rain?
There was nothing as exhilarating as summer rain. Do you remember?

We would run about like little wild things, barefoot so we could feel the wet.

We could be anything.
We could be anywhere.....anywhere but here.
Days of staring through windowpanes saw us making plans of greatness...where would we all be in another ten or twenty years? Some where fantastic, we just knew it.

But life could wait. We were in no hurry.....
And when it got late we would find adventure in empty rooms. Because it's fun to be scared, and it's fun to be scary...but because we were safe.

The old and messy places where the best. They had more than personality, they had ability to take dustiness and create different worlds.
We didn't have a wardrobe, but we did have a piece of country and woods......aren't they the same?

Aspire After God, Oh My Soul!

2012-02-01T21:40:00.000-08:00

...From fear of adversity free,
I find even sorrow made sweet;
Because 'tis assigned me by Thee.
Transported I see Thee display

Thy riches and glory divine;
I have only my life to repay,
Take what I would gladly resign.
Thy will is the treasure I seek,
For Thou art as faithful as strong;...

Oh, finish what love has begun!
Destroy what is sinful and frail,
And dwell in the soul Thou hast won!
Dear theme of my wonder and praise,
I cry, who is worthy as Thou?
I can only be silent and gaze!
'Tis all that is left to me now.
Oh, glory in which I am lost,
Too deep for the plummet of thought;
On an ocean of Deity tossed,
I am swallowed, I sink into nought.
Yet, lost and absorbed as I seem,
I chant to the praise of my King;
And, though overwhelmed by the theme,
Am happy whenever I sing.
~ Wm. Cowper
Aspirations of the Soul After God

The Paint Job (A Bathroom Story)

2012-02-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

Yikes! That sounded different that I meant it to be....

I may or may not have told you that in the beginning of January Hope and I painted my parents bathroom.

It was one of those projects that happened to be a long time coming....like a really loooooong time.

We did it when my parents and Cara went to Texas for the weekend (with the duel purpose of visiting grandparents and picking up puppies. Oh-so-cute and yet oh-so-deadly. I call them the little piranha dogs.)

The wallpaper is so old that it was about to become the fad again. Regardless, it's hideous and had to go. But it really couldn't go...exactly. Whoever added on to the original house took a lot of shortcuts. One of which was skipping the step in which the Sheetrock is properly prepared for wallpaper. This makes it impossible to remove the wallpaper without replacing the Sheetrock. Oh well, we figured we could work with that!
Paint over it!

Doing it while they were gone eliminated a lot of stress.
First of all, they weren't there to need the bathroom.

Second of all, they weren't there to remind us we had other duties. Such as laundry and cooking healthy meals.

We survived...dirty underwear and take-out never hurt anyone...Actually, that's not true.

And thirdly, they weren't there to have multiple strokes when we tore the wallpaper...
Please recall that the wallpaper is not supposed to come off.

We tore it in three places, to be exact.
Whoever put up the towel and toilet paper racks must have had a mortal fear of them fall off the wall (Probably thinking that the toilet paper would roll away from their grasp)....Because it wasn't enough to screw them in with half-foot long screws (slight exaggeration here), but they used some sticky-puddy-like stuff on the back of the racks to firmly secure it to the wallpaper, so that they would never separate!
At least they could rest from their fears of the toilet paper running away.

Which is a very proper fear, I might add.

It would be an understatement to say that I freaked out.
Hope was not able to properly freak out with me because she was trapped on the phone trying to sort out a lot of stuff with our cellphone provider into the wee hours of the night.
Pause for thought: Why do we refer to them as wee? They're just as big as the others....
That's your million dollar question of the day.

Back to wallpaper...
Like I said, I was a little...perturbed by this event. Thankfully we have some friends who have not only remodeled a house, but are currently in the process of building one (#2 in their home building adventures) who had the perfect solution for us.
So, after a late night trip to Wal Mart for spackling and wallpaper glue (which turned into go to another town for the glue because Wally World didn't carry it...) We called it a day and finished the evening hanging out with our youngest brother.

The actual painting process only took a day. That's two coats of primer and two of the wall color (We wanted to be certain that hideous wallpaper would never show it's face again).
Not to mention sanding the spackling smooth to correct our wallpaper catastrophe.
Note to self: ditch the painter's tape.
It actually doesn't work, and only causes problems.

The final result?
After Photos:

Wall Color: Melon Popsicle

Inside the Shelves: Creamy Beige

My parents have displayed good taste in NOT putting up the old towel holders.
They got some really suave looking ones from Lowes.
Best of all, they attached them properly -no silly puddy involved.
I like.

Monday Smiles: British

2012-01-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

I am one of those Americans who finds British humor to be....well, terribly good humor.
I am also one of those Americans who loves watching the previews as much as the movie.
Do these to facts have a similarity, you ask?
Why, yes they do (bonus points to you for asking!).

I've seen this clip a thousand times at the start of some of my favorite BBC DVDs, and it never fails to make me laugh....or in the very least, smile.

The Last Week of January

2012-01-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

Much ado up at the big house!
Ok, that's a lie....we don't have a BIG house, though it does have five bedrooms...so maybe it is...
A lot of stuff has been going on. A lot of ordinary, mundane, boring stuff...which I actually find fun! Yeah, that's probably just me.

Monday my nephew turned 4 or my niece turned 2. So we celebrated by going to Sonic.

Nephew went as Captain America, and Niece went as herself. Ice cream for the kiddos and mozzarella stick for me. "The kiddos" include Aunt Cara and Uncle Reed. ;)

We've been enjoying GORGEOUS weather! So beautiful and warm that I actually wore a T-shirt and shorts to clean off our back patio. I didn't even get cold when I used the hose to spray it down. But then the sun dropped all too quickly. That happens in the winter, I guess.
As of Wednesday we've had someone working out our house. The back part of the house (being the master bedroom, laundry room, Reed's room and a hallway) was added on to the original house, and all the ceiling of that part MUST be replaced. All that will start next week, currently he is working on a few things on the outside of our house. Things will be looking ship-shape before too long.
I've also started to have some terrible bread cravings. It's been too long since I baked and ate fresh bread! I must admit, it was my friends' fault...Hope and I went to their house Wednesday morning and the smell of fresh bread FILLED their house. It was....heaven. Sigh. So I've been trying to squeeze in some of that as well.
And there you have it! Our life in a week. =)

URGENT!

2012-01-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

EXTREMELY URGENT!
PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ....

Kinda got your attention there, huh? Kinda dramatic there, huh? Yep, yep, it's all good.
I'm just here to tell you my cellphone is on the blink. I got the cheapest and least smart phone I could find, and then over the pass 23 months I've dropped it on concrete, tile, extra, lost it multiple times and left it outside over night.
So this should come as no surprise.
To be honest, it still works. It makes it's lovely "dingle-ling" noises and so I can receive calls and hear when a text comes in. But the screen is completely blank. So I can't make calls (unless I know the number by heart....which I don't) or read and send texts.
So why I am telling you all this. Well, this is one of my only ways to let some of you who text me that I'm NOT ignoring you. I'll keep you posted. If it doesn't decided to get over itself and work by the end of the week I am sure I'll be in the market for a new one.....we'll see.
Ciao!
Why am I telling you all this?

Monday Smiles: Signs

2012-01-22T19:56:00.000-08:00

There are many signs that we pass by every day, and hardly think twice about it. But when you stop and really look at them, they are.......well, very comical.
Or maybe that's just me.

No indeed! We can't have that!
We'd much rather you crawl all the way up to our store on your belly....

Now, is this "Vote [for] Bubba",
or "Vote, Bubba!" ?
Only in the sticks....

"Beware of the Penguins."

To Remember....

2012-01-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

“Being a Christan is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.....We must not.....assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God.”

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
~

Monday Smiles: Blow Away

2012-01-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

Monday Smiles has been...on the fritz. Apparently when I schedule a post it doesn't always post...and I don't realize it until days later. Must fix that problem.....

Anyway I shall share something that makes me smile.
A friend shared it with me and now I want my own wings! Though that would be a rather interesting dilimna since I'm also afraid of heights....Id' that means I'd be afraid of myself. Which would be both an oddly powerful feeling and strangely stressful. But I don't have to worry about that presently.

The One I Want...

2012-01-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

When I was younger I didn't think too much about what type of guy I'd get serious about. I didn't think much about guys. Period. Other than thinking their life was much easier and much more exciting than mine.
When I got a little older -scratch that, much older- I actually thought about it (a little) because I was advised too by people who I respect. Namely my parents.

That's when I decided I'd marry a Goliath...
..or Fezzik, or the great Hulk, or whatever giant that comes to hand.
Not that I was thinking in physical size. I was thinking that he must be simply amazing.
The noble chivalry of Mr. Darcy, the swashbuckling daring of Captain Jack Aubry, the fight for justice of Batman, the wit of Shakespeare's Benedick, the heart of David -a man after God's own heart.
At least I had something right.

But a man after God's own heart isn't always in the forefront, and isn't always obvious. And so, before I meet the one I want I figured I should set myself straight. (I mean, how awkward would that be if I actually knew the guy...or how easy. Just put down his personality type. Check!)

The love of God, and the love for God, must burn in his heart....which isn't always the most love-showy of people as we often suspect. God's Word first and foremost in directing his ways, so he can wash me with it. He must have kindness and loyalty...and many other godly virtues. But....

He also must be imperfect.
Because he'll have an imperfect wife.

And maybe he won't have to have all that daring adventure pint up inside, or save the world, or even a penny to his name. Maybe he'll have the wisdom to understand that the most ordinary things are the most important. Maybe he won't whisk me off to travel the world, but that he shows me the wonders in the mundane. Maybe he won't have something to say to always make me laugh or make everything alright, but his heart would be mine. Maybe he'll view our children just as important a trust as the orphans of some far off and romantic country. Maybe he won't be giant. Maybe he'll be very small....small in the eyes of the world, small in that he'd rather pursue God's fame than his own. Maybe he won't fit my "list", and maybe I won't fit his.
Maybe he'll fail at so many things, maybe he'll lose heart on occasion, maybe he will know the secret of God's strength being perfected in weakness. Maybe...
Maybe the one I want isn't a Prince Charming, maybe I just want a simple man.

A simple man.

Not A Fan....

2012-01-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

FREE movie.

Yep, folks! I said FREE! As in, you don't have to pay to watch it. That kind of free. ^_^

Just paste this link into your URL and wam-O!

http://www.notafan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83

Note: you will only get to view the whole film if you click the facebook "like" button below it.

Orignally a friend shared this and I thought, 'that sounds good, maybe I'll get around to watching it later.' Which I realized meant 'never', because 'later' never comes. So I started it up, just to get it loaded for 'later', hoping the act of getting it buffered would mean I would get to it that night. But too late. I was sucked into it. I decided to watch it while I worked on a secret project, *shhh!* and it was.................very convicting.
Here's something it helped me understand:

"When we attempt to follow Jesus without dying to ourselves, we soon find that we are frustrated with our own failures; that we are tired of trying.

See, following Jesus isn't about trying every day, it's about dying every day."

For 2012

2012-01-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Over a week has passed since the new year has begun. So? I'm a little slow with the game.
Actually, it is my custom (as of 2011. Haha!) to spend the first week of the new year praying about what goals the Lord would have me set for that particular year.
Not that I go find someplace to hole up in and fast and pray all day....which would be cool. Maybe not the fasting part though....Because that week is the week we do our bi-annual room swap.
Cara now has her own room to enjoy and bask in, while Hope and I are still squeezing ourselves into a room together.
FYI: Furniture does not fit into a hope chest.
It's actually not that bad, because we have a large room. We just have large stuff too.
*notice how I strategically digress from the point....what's the point again?*

Back to new years. I have my list! *cough* Though I am sure it will get added to and adjusted during the year.
I started with making a list of priorities [Yikes. Have too many of those, I just can't stand to let go of things...]. I actually feel guilty about some of them...they may find their way to the waste basket after time.

Top Priorities of 2012 [and life in general]:

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

~ 2 Corinthians 11:3

[don't over complicate things. Don't go beyond the simplicity and purity of being devote to Christ]

Relationship with Christ
Family
Church family
People
Prayer
Memorizing Verses
Writing
Piano

Not so broad, but there it is.

For Personal Improvement:

Finish Russian 1
Memorize a Classical piano piece.
Learn to glissando.
Paint a room in my parents house.
Make exercise a regular routine again.
Complete a writing goal (not trying to be overly secretive here. As strange as it may sound -me having a blog and all- writing is one of my shy-est points.)
Make a book-list and read all books in said book list (more to come on that. I am sure I will share!)

Bible Goals:

Memorize 104 verses.
Learn more about prayer and increase my prayer life.
Develop an attitude of continual gratitude. (this one fits in Personal Improvement as well)
Read daily (I am doing the 10 list. I love it! Though I admit that I do take rabbit trails, which he doesn't advise, and keep a notebook to write in)

Word for 2012:
And then, I have a word for the year. This year I did a lot of praying about it. I had an original thought about what to focus on, but during my week the Lord strongly pinpointed some areas in which I NEED to change.

So, to be honest, I don't have a word for 2012.

But I have this:

Sincere Words

Cease Complaining and Arguing

"Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Corinthians 5:8
That bit about the feast can be confusing out of context, but basically I've been changed. The old is gone, I should put on the new and do everything (and speak!) out of sincerity and truth.

"It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman" Proverbs 21:19
(note: this one does not say "wife" it says "woman". Marriage is not the only thing that qualifies you to be contentious. Our hearts qualify us.)
Most of us are familiar with Philippians 2:14 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing;" (and most of us have our mothers to thank for that), but we forget the important part. We forget the why. Which is in verse 15: " so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,"

Not His Stomach [Winner of the Most Awkward Blog Post Title]

2012-01-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

Updated.
Because only I would publish a post that was not finished instead of saving it.

I have food on my mind.
This is not abnormal for a Thursday night [hint: I cook on Thursday nights].
I tried a new, but common, recipe called Picadillo. With a name like that, of course I had to try it!
I liked it, though I thought it tasted................ordinary. My dad thought it tasted "different"; code for "not my favorite, but I'll eat it and compliment you anyway", -which is actually quiet sweet. I did a side of salad (and butter beans, but that's neither here nor there) because one of my brothers requested it.
The two college guys have become very health conscious of late. Which is good, not only for their bodies, but because one of them is strongly considering kinesiology as a major and no one wants a physical therapist who diets on doughnuts and the like.
I would be that therapist.
All this has led me to an important discovery over the past week. It actually has been slowly dawning on me since.....awhile.

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is farce.

I have operated for years under this proverb. With so much love poured into brownies and cookies and cakes I had no desire to bake, who needed words? Too late I realized God gave me brothers who ate to survive, not vice-versa. After wrapping my head around this conundrum I am more prepared to show my affection in a more palatable way. It makes sense, really. Who would keep a heart in a place where it would be such an impediment (who that is, besides me)?
I think each one of us has a little Italian grandmother inside that shouts, "Eat! EAT!" at our subjects.
She's our womanly nature to nurture on steroids.
We want them to eat it.
Let me try again:
We want them to eat it.
We want them to want to eat it. It's just part of our nature.

So, more accurate would be, "The way to a woman's heart is through her food".
After all, someone who has spent at least on hour over the stove can not readily dislike a person who compliments her efforts.

FYI: Best cake ever!
Not that I'm a major cake-eater....but this takes the cake!
Ok, I'll admit. Too many cliches in one sentence.

Your Eyes

2012-01-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

You hear everything I say to You, You know everything I don't want You to.
Your love washes over me; You see my secrets, You know my heart.

You look at me and see straight through. I try to cover it up, but it will never do.
All these complicated things, they just scatter. And suddenly I see....

I am just a piece of

glass.

2011 Resolutions in A Nutshell..

2012-01-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

....more or less....
Here is a rundown of the goals I set in 2011...and how I fared. *Cringe*

Bible Goals:

Memorize a set number of verses. Ok, lets see how that one went....um, nope. Not so well. 18 verses shy.....

Study two particular topics that I am undecided on. Ok, not so good either. One topic down! Other topic....still in my notebook. I'd say halfway there....BUT there were other rabbit holes I was busy falling down into. Good ones. Let's talk about bitterness, how words can hurt or heal, and prayer. Beautiful things, and I'm just at the tip of the iceberg with them.

Next category....ouch.

Learning/Knowledge

Complete levels one AND two of Russian. *Falls face-first into mud* No, not really......

Vegetable and fruit gardening. YES! Finally! Three blueberry bushes,we will see how well they last the winter. Basil that took OFF! And lemon balm, and a few other things, such as vegetables, which I forget.....

Photography (Getting into the nuts and bolts of it all, and expanding at what I already know). Yes, I am now shooting in manual...*Very happy face*

Nutrition. Since this was not specified....I'm going to check it off. Yes, I do know more about nutrition this year. And have made some personal choices because of it....farewell high-fructose sugar! I loved thee well!

Home:

Garden improvement. I did make new beds for my blueberry bushes and I kept up the beds I already had. So I'll check yes.

Cooking. Well, I did cook.......

Cattle Business. Yes. Not perfected, but a yes.

Personal Improvement

Piano. Thanks to my piano teacher! I learned Tchaikovsky!

Exercise faithfully. A definite No. I did pretty bad on that one this year.

Sew, girl, sew! I'm undecided on this one....I finished my first apron done with my own pattern, and started two others (aprons, not patterns). But the sewing machine broke and then.....well. I will say I got a rather crafty bug and did a lot of fabric flowers....

But looking back over my list, I got things done...but the low priority things. Funny how that happens....
And now, the Big one:

Compassion

How did that one go?

Well, I can't say for sure.....it is definitely a change only God can work in me, I'll say that. And He does work, and is working in me. I think this one can only be answered by my family and friends who have to live with me.....

Monday Smiles: New Year's Resolutions.....

2012-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

So, my scheduled post didn't appear on Monday....I'm not sure what happened, but here it is.

Here are a few New Year Resolutions that I found....humorous. =)

Just for today, I will not sit in my living room all day in my nightdress. Instead, I will move my computer into the bedroom.
I will no longer waste my time reliving the past, instead I will spend it worrying about the future.
I will not bore my boss by with the same excuse for taking leaves. I will think of some more excuses.
I will do less laundry and use more deodorant.
I will avoid taking a bath whenever possible and conserve more water.
I resolve to work with neglected children -- my own.
I will stop sending e-mail, Instant Messages and be on the phone at the same time with the same person.
I will spend less than one hour a day on the Internet. This, of course, will be hard to estimate since I'm not a clock watcher.
I will read the manual... just as soon as I can find it.
I will think of a password other than "password."

The Best of 2011

2011-12-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

Kicking off the New Year the right way! Dinner and fireworks with dear friends.....also the zipline. =)

My favorite photography opportunity to date.........Sweet 16 Birthday party!

Snow in the south!

Sweetest couple in the world got married.

Late nights of hysterical laughter with good friends.

Hanging with my photo-shoot buddy.

Twister!

San Antonio, Texas

Spring College Football Game

The very traumatic tornadoes in the spring.....for us it just meant power outage. We were very blessed.

My little sis turned 21....and we pulled off a surprise birthday party!
Ha! Take that, sister who always reads my mind! =)

First EVER MHEA Film Festival.

Meeting new friends and seeing old-new friends again!

I discovered Brie and Brioche Packages!
<3

Nights at Sonic with friends.

Barbeques for the summer!

Driving in the car with Henry.
He has yet to propose.....

Completed an apron of my own design
(I know, not that big a deal. But I will take what I can get).

First time to participate in a honey harvest.

Summer days and doggy baths......Enjoying sweet evenings on the Patio with my cat and Bible.

Trying to Pizza toss....and making pizzas that resemble Abe Lincoln.

Potlucks at church.

Walks with the dogs.

Fourth of July.

Memphis

Car washes

Sister road trip

Time with the sweetest hearts three girls could ever have!
We miss them!

First time on a boat!

Visiting Grandparents....,

New cousins! Apparently cousin Reed is the BOMB.

Reed's Senior year.

Spectating

Rainy day picnics on the living room floor

That girl from up north came for a week!!! <3

We had fun!

Guitar recital.
Teacher: Hope
Students: Friends and a brother.

Making sweet harmony!

Making friends with a sweet and special woman who opened not only her home but her heart to us.
<3

So blessed to be able to join my sweet friend on her very special day! One of the godliest couples I know!

Christmas traditions

Family games

Spending time with my nephew and niece. I love them so much and already miss them (Yes, I just saw them this morning!).

Christmas with my dad's side of the family.

I have the best mother E.V.E.R.

Christmas Day!

2011-12-29T13:17:00.000-08:00

Decorated Gingerbread...things.
Much harder than I remembered....

To remember the ultimate sacrifice made on a tree.
The Light of the world died to save us.

We give gifts to honor His.

Christmas morning started as usual for us. We all slept in (remember, the youngest of us happens to be 17) and then made a breakfast that turned into brunch....because we all slept in. Did I mention, we all slept in? My brother and his family arrived around 10:00 and waited around on us until we were finally ready to eat. After which we sllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooowly made our way to the living room where my dad read some verses on why we choose to celebrate the day. Very special stuff. And then....

Can we open our presents, mommy?

I love presents!
I love watching people open them .I love trying to show them how much I love them!

Oh look! Cara received a present from Picasso!
Cubism!

Looks like Matt got a light-saber (read: Flashlight stick thing) from his sensible son.
Looks like our little superhero is getting his dad all geared up!

What's so funny?

Gasp! More superheroes!
Irene, darling, congratulations! The place is practically crawling with them!
(No, I don't know how a Hello Dolly quote made it's way here but it did.....)

The real question is:
is she Super-Girl, or Monkey Woman?
(Personally, I believe her secret identity is the most SUPER)

Now, I few of you may be wondering why you really don't get to see my adorable nephew and niece...
(actually, there's no "may be" about it! Of course you're wondering!)
I kinda hoped that by now you would have caught on to what every super-hero fan knows.
Secret Identities.
Yep, there ya go!

So my sis-n-law is really beautiful.
Guys stand back! She's already taken, and her hubby has a light-saber!

Uncle Charles/Chuck/Chaz/etc was the real superhero

because he opened those hard-to-release presents and assembled toys!

This photo has a strong resemblance of photos taken of him during his childhood days.
Don't tell him I told you that.

Nobody think!
Opps! Just did.

More plaid! Just what he wanted!!!
Seriously. I'm serious.

After all that we cooked up a huge dinner! Really, it seemed HUGE when we were cooking it, but then somehow it was smaller when we were actually eating it. At any rate, I stopped taking photos so I could help with it all.
Merry Christmas!

The Wrapping Paper Battles: WIN!

2011-12-24T15:37:00.000-08:00

I should have posted this earlier so it would be more of a help.....but I didn't do my wrapping until tonight.
So, if you are like me, and are furiously wrapping presents of Christmas Eve....here is a DIY that will make your presents look not only thoughtful, but like you did them under NO stress. =)

http://pinterest.com/pin/185492078371962724/

Caution: Wrapping paper tears really easy. So I kinda butchered one or two. It's not like string, so just be really gentle with it.
I like to change it up a bit...so I printed off some old sheet music and did a topper for my musical sister (actually, I have two of them, but this is just for one of them....)

Merry Christmas!!!

Still, Still, Still

2011-12-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

It is thanks to my piano teacher that I have had ample time to think about this song for the past two months. It happens to be one of her favorites. I know the medley by heart, and now the words penetrate it.

The lyrics are simple enough, just a lullaby really.

Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.

Dream; dream, dream, of the joyous day to come?
Not to be cynical here, but our Savior's life here on earth didn't seem like a very easy one.
And then there was the cross.Joy in the cross, really? If you're in the "religious" crowd, you're probably tired of hearing this, but.....the cross is the most horrific thing imaginable. But maybe the joy wasn't in the cross. Maybe....

Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
~Hebrews 12:2

From the moment He stepped foot into this tattered, groaning world, He was here to save us. And saving us, reconciling man to God, was that joy. That is what He endured for. He endured it for us.

Still; Still, Still....

Monday Smiles: When Life Gets Busy...

2011-12-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

Muchiness

2011-12-15T21:57:00.000-08:00

"You used to be much more....
muchier.
You've lost your muchness."
~The Mad Hatter

I feel like I've lost my muchness.
Sigh.
I know I used to have it around here somewhere. You know, that sparkling personality, dazzling humor, bravery of a lion, beauty of a princess.........actually, nope, never had that.
But I do feel like I've lost....something.......

Where is it?

Somewhere other than here.

I want to get it back. But it so hard to get back something when you don't know what it is you've lost or where it is you've lost it.
It's almost like I've lost a little bit of something of childhood. Something I should want to keep, while struggling and striving against the immaturity that is growing in my generation. Having faith like a child; yet no longer reasoning like a child.

So, what happened to life being grand? And why do I think it will be. When I get a brand new life.
Because people don't get brand new lives...not like that. We have the same family, the same clothes in our closest. And while there are changes, there is no do-over where we get something different.

Life is here and life is now.

And the changes (when they are God changing me) are good things. Yes, we actually do get brand new life, but that of a different sort. And we find ourselves holding to the promises that we will become much more....muchier, and much less of that other stuff we can afford to lose.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

So, maybe I've lost something. But maybe I'm gaining something....

I was like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
Isaac Newton

Ewwy-Gooey Chocolateness [and other whatnots]

2011-12-15T16:10:00.000-08:00

I bet you've been wondering what I've been up to.......Ok, so you actually have a life and don't find my blog posts as necessary as your lifeblood. I'm fine with that. But, regardless of whether you've been wondering or not....

I tried this awesome recipe!!!!

So, pinterest is actually useful for other things besides drooling over food and planning non-existent weddings....
But honestly, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love that site!
This recipe that I found was really, really, simple! You do your basic chocolate chip cookie dough recipe, then make tiny s'mores out of Graham cracker quarters, Hershey's chocolate, and marshmallows (the marshmallow must be cut in half and placed side-by side so it doesn't expand too much). Place a ball of dough on each side of the finished S'more and commence to wrap it around until it's surrounded. It sounds more complicated that it really is.
These cookies tend to come out rather large, so don't be startled.
Really, I wasn't....I was pleasantly surprised. =)

I am enjoying NEW music.
As in new artists and songs. I will be sharing soon...

Currently, I am supposed to be playing a game with the sibs, since the bros are DONE with their finals! That's done, D.U.N!!!
YAy! Time to celebrate.....here I go!!!

Let It Begin!

2011-12-12T18:14:00.000-08:00

This weekend has been one of those weekends. And now it's Monday. Hello week!
This morning I felt like this:

AAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Yeah, that and like pulling my hair out.
When i should have been more like this:

Did you hear that? Nothing. Exactly. I should have rolled with the punches....but even now my heart rate starts to accelerate when I think of all the things I was trying to get done today, and how much I didn't.
Ok, let's not talk about that.
The weekend started out rough. As we were loading up the catering van I missed the sidewalk. Which wouldn't have been a big deal, except for the fact that I was pushing a tower of glasses with a bus tub of bowls and silverware on top.
Yeah. Big crash.
I actually was surprised at the number of things I didn't brake....my catastrophe made me a little late getting home. I barely made it in time to clean up and change before headed out with a friend to a Christmas party.
Yes, this made the day much better.
Because there were amazing people there,

and hilarious games,

And I haven't even mentioned the food....
But alas, I decided to go with a leap of faith when it came to my photos and I tried something new. Which flopped rather nicely. If I do say so myself....But I had a lovely friend who rode with me to and from the festivity and who allowed me to be quite the Chatty Cathy.

Yesterday we got our tree and decorated it. We did away with our age-old tradition of cutting our own tree from our own (or our uncle's) land. The reason being, my older sister is allergic to Cedar. My dad is allergic to pine. So we got a fir.

And a small one at that.
Reed and I applied the lights, while someone else commandeered my camera.

They forget the auto-focus is broken, but I like this one.
Then we all put the ornaments on.

Why yes, I could use a little more of that, please.

Dear Alice......

2011-12-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

source

Source

The Battle of Yesterday, The War of Today

2011-12-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

Contentment and complacency war on the battleground of the heart.
The fight is fierce and thick, and the lines are blurred.
The distinction between friend and foe often is made after it's too late to save. We press on with our weapons of defense and our weapons of attack.

The heart is rocky and rigid, treacherous and full of caverns. Yet we are counseled to trust in it, to believe in it, to follow it's broken terrain.
God grant us the presence of mind to cry out, through the eerie silence that encompasses the war in our soul, for wisdom! Grant us that we seek His Words. They alone will pierce through all bone and marrow to the battleground; dividing soul and spirit; revealing the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Complacency is vengeful in its attempts to usurp contentment, it will not retreat until it has dealt the final blow....
But the true martyr is joy.
If complacency should gain the upper hand and the battle cease to wage, there may be peace...bur really, not even that.
Joy no longer found, discipline now lost, it moves on to devour greener pastures. Often making its appearance the most unlike that of its true self.
For contentment is often mistook by the outside eye as complacency.
And complacency, being devoid of contentment, cannot bear to endure the same testing under which contentment held us up.

Should contentment win, stay ever watchful, ever wakeful, ever doing.
This is the warning to my heart, to my soul. I cannot take too much heed to it. And I cannot neglect the Words of Life. The Words that, when active, cast complacency far away.

Thanksgiving

2011-12-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

I feel like a few words should be said on the subject, because I don't have any photos to use in place of a 1,000. Absolutely none. Which is a true pity...
Wednesday my mom's brother and his family got in....actually, most of his family. The oldest son is across the country and another wasn't able to make it last minute. We really missed him.
But we had 4 other cousins, between 3-10 years old, to be thankful with. =) They are at the ages that visiting a farm is not yet a bore. We visited the cows multiple times, pet the bull, rode horses, and played with the dogs and cats constantly. The dogs found doggy-heaven. Henry (the cute, adorable, and very intelligent Cocker spaniel) went into withdrawal when the kids left on Sunday. He was the most popular dog and so had a girl hanging onto him at all times, always ready to proclaim how cute and smart he was.
Thanksgiving day we kept things simple, but stuffed ourselves as usual. My dad was sick that day, so it was a bummer that he had chicken noodle soup in lieu of turkey. Thursday night we played the traditional game of Risk, which I traditionally lose.
Friday night we enjoyed a mild evening around the firepit roasting s'mores and telling stories. I was actually fortunate to find myself inserted into one story by the seven year old....
"There was a princess named....*insert long pause as she tries to remember my name*....K---! And her prince wouldn't come! So she...." Wow, this kid is perceptive! ;)
Saturday the plan was to take the stadium by storm to watch the College football game. A game long awaited as the two rival schools were to play, and as my uncle is a staunch fan of the other school. But it it was rainy and some people got colds, so only Reed, Hope, 10 yr old cousin, and I went. We were able to get a few friends to go with us as well, which was really awesome. We won. Big time. So it was a good game, even if a tad boring.
We drove home, listening to Christmas music and singing in our best Alvin and the Chipmunks voices. Because we are awesome that way.
And then Sunday they left us. Very sad.

Thanksgiving, we had so much to be thankful for. Today, we still have so much to be thankful for.

Monday Smiles: Post Thanksgiving Laughs

2011-11-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

This should have been last weeks Monday Smiles, but as I as on the road between my house and sunny Florida it really didn't happen. Just like the week before that. And the week before that. I hope I had some good excuses somewhere for those....While I think those up, enjoy:

The 32 Rules of Thanksgiving Touch Football
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204531404577050370294096452.html?fb_ref=wsj

A friend shared this...Thanks, Sherry!

2011-11-13T21:19:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day kinda became almost a whole weekend deal down here. And really, why not? Saturday morning four of us headed down the small town L-ville to watch the Parade.

My Veteran is seriously the most handsome out of the group!

Reed, watching and waiting.
Cody, finding awkward places to be in my photos.
Both of our lots, aye buddy?

Why guys can find it acceptable to talk over trash cans I'll never know.
I do know that they now need a hygiene wipe.

"Six more of us and maybe we can reach his boot...."

They finally appear! Squad car leading the way.

These are awesome!
But so untouchable I won't even bother putting them on my bucket list....

High school band.

This is the bus that carried the Veterans who weren't able to march.
My Vet is inside.

And the moment we all have been waiting for!

Braver men have yet to be seen.

Our group of six.

My Veteran, dead center.
Yeah, I love him.

The presenting of the wreath.

A solemn moment.

I may be gone for awhile....a long while. This weekend we have a wedding in FL to be at *SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* And then next week is Thanksgiving week and we have family coming in....so excuse me if I fall off the face of the planet.

The Autumn Poet Sings

2011-11-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

Besides the Autumn poets sing
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the Haze --

A few incisive Mornings --
A few Ascetic Eves --
Gone -- Mr. Bryant's "Golden Rod" --
And Mr. Thomson's "sheaves."

Still, is the bustle in the Brook --
Sealed are the spicy valves --
Mesmeric fingers softly touch
The Eyes of many Elves --

Perhaps a squirrel may remain --
My sentiments to share --
Grant me, Oh Lord, a sunny mind --
Thy windy will to bear!
~ Emily Dickinson

On A Sunday

2011-11-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

I thought that hanging with my friend who lives states/miles/days away was a pretty amazing way to transition from being an even to an odd (which I am odd at heart, so it was fairly easy), but I was wrong.
I am speaking of that day one normally refers to as a birthday.
Sunday morning I was surprised by a sweet lady who made chocolate birthday cupcakes for the whole church and gave me a special verse.

Cupcakes that reflect the Verse.

After church everyone had so much fun visiting that we all finally decided to go out to eat so we could have more time fellow-shipping and all that good stuff.
It happened to be a Mexican restaurant, so I shouldn't have been surprised when I was presented with a Sombrero.

FYI, some restaurants find it extremely appropriate to stuff whip cream on/up/over your nose after singing a song which you can't understand because it's in Spanish.
We girls with the long noses....I guess they give an extra helping to us. ;)

I also got so many texts and messages to wish me a happy birthday and even a phone call! I felt so loved! Also, this sweet girl (who I have never met physically but have come into contact during the beginning of the summer) completely wowed me by doing me a special photo with a birthday message on it. She pegged me with the photo and she touched my heart with her words. Thank you, sweet girl who Loves God. =)

The thing is, I didn't know how much I really needed all that. How refreshing it was! I think it was even more so because I wasn't expecting it and it all flowed from a natural love that mirrors that of our Savior.
Thank you, everyone, who truly shared the love of Christ with me!

So, 23 hasn't been bad at all!
The Lord knows my days, and He holds the plans He has for me.
I just get to rest in that knowledge and let it be, so I can focus on following and serving Him.

Last Days of the Double Two's [also known as: The Van T. Visit]

2011-11-07T21:26:00.000-08:00

Turning 23 has been.........anything but subtle. Subtle was what I expected it to be, but it was more like BOOM-WAMMY!
October the 28 (which happened to be Christine's 23rd birthday) we picked up some friends from the airport. Thus began my last 9 days of 22. Spending them with one of my oldest friends was definitely the way to go!
There was a camp-out (we actually didn't spend the nights there, though we did spend the days),
and there was my brother's last football game.

Apparently some of the spectators are confused. ;)

But at least they are happy.

Long walks. Because we had a lot of visiting to catch up on.

Let me introduce you to my friend, Rachel.
She's one of them foreigners from up north...

Here on out she will be referred to as Raquel or Pookie.
The reasons are known by her alone...and perhaps Cara.

Yes, I do like taking photos of just about everything....yep, basically everything.

Cara. Need I say more?

Chatting whilst leaning against a Ford truck.
It's a country girl thing.

Of course we went shopping....and had lunch at Olive Garden.
Because Italian is the bomb, and we all know it.

Then we went to Bible study.

Awkwardly enough, this is the only [decent] photo I have of our Bible Study.
I swear they weren't sleeping during it! Just while our leader was preparing an amazing I-forgot-the-name-but-it's-to-die-for cake. Yes, our Bible Study Leader is pretty much IT!
I love her (and not just for her cake)!

We decided to have a picnic with Christine...which we did inside her house.
It just so happens that whenever we plan a picnic for her the day turns out to be rainy.
I think it's her.

Four of the five happy picnic-ers!

Me and my Pookie.

My two not-real-but-might-as-well-be sisters. =)

Not that this is an awkward pose or anything............

BAM-CHOO!
We may have or may have not watched Thor and Captain America......
and I may or may not be catching my nephew's super-hero bug.

Ok, I need your votes here. Which photo do you like better? The one on top or the one on bottom?

Some of us are huggers, and others of us just stand awkwardly with your arms around us...
I single myself out.

Charge the blockhouse!!!!
Well, you know, I had to put one embarrassing photo of myself to appease the masses.

The flower of friendship....

Yeah, they think it's cheesy too.

The whole group!

Miss Gorgeous-Hair.

The wind beneath my wings....er....hair?

Christine, Christine (in a sing-song voice. How could I resist?).

Tiffy-Lou and Raquel.

They kinda hit it off...in their own wacky way.

The two-some turns three-some....

And then a four-some.

This pretty much depicts the week.
Lack of sleep +Life long friends + Chocolate = Unlimited Fun.

Aww! Such friends!

The adorable Van T. couple.
Tory pretty much spent the whole week hunting.
Hence the lack of Tory-photos.

Besides all this, we did much more that remained uncaptured by photo.
Such as girl movie night. Super hero movies. Frozen yogurt (also known as brain-freeze this time of year). The movie Courageous.....and more.

Monday Smiles: Rend Collective Experiment

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

This just makes me smile.
It's nothing really deep though, but that's ok.

Amazing colors. Amazing cinematography.
*Happy smile*

Miss Potter

2011-10-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

I watched this movie tonight, just because I wanted too.
This sweet story has beautiful imagery, and I love going beyond the pages of some of my favorite children's book.

"There's something delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite tell where they will take you. Mine took me here, where I belong."
~ Miss Potter

The story of Miss Potter is an enchanting one. A thirty-something year old woman, living with her parents and bored by the dull life of society, Beatrix Potter's true joy is spending time with her friends -the animals she paints.

After 7 years of selling her watercolor paintings for name cards and such she finally has an opportunity to get a book published.

Published with the help newbie Norman Warne, that is.
Norman's brothers hope to sniffle his urge to join in the family business by handing Miss Potter's book for his first assignment.
The book ironical turns into a best seller.
Sorry brothers, better luck next time!

"I must warn you, Miss Potter, I am more than prepared to like you!"
~ Milly Warne
Norman and Beatrix form a strange friendship, first from the tie of being the ones no one expects to succeed, and then from mutual enjoyment of each others company. Norman's mother and sister insist on meeting Beatrix after getting a "peak" at her book.
Milly, Norman's spinster sister, and Beatrix hit it off right away. It is good to see Beatrix gaining real friends.

These women form a special bond, deepened by of their situation as single women.
I think one of my favorite scenes is when Beatrix asks Milly's approval before she accepts an offer of marriage.

Milly: "You have a chance for happiness, and you're worrying about me? I wouldn't worry about you if, if someone came along who loved me and whom I loved,
I would trample my mother!..."
Beatrix:"...But what about all the blessings of being alone?"
Milly: "Hogwash! What else is a woman on her own supposed to say?
You have a chance to be loved. Take it."

The story of Beatrix Potter is actually an amazing one.
One of how life changes so quickly.
Life, with unsuspected joy just around the corner and unheralded loss.

Make sure you have a box of tissues near by.

...and a cup of tea.

Stories don't always end where their authors intended. But there is joy in following them, wherever they take us.
~ Miss Potter

Camp D

2011-10-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

So, this was written on the 17th, and now that I finally have my computer back.......

Well, the big "Guess What?!" was that we spent the weekend at Camp Dixon!

But, judging from the rapid drop on my stats, you all (most of you, anyway) already knew that. And I got to see many of your beautiful faces there! The ones I didn't, I missed...and the other ones that I didn't and never have...........hey, maybe one day I'll see your beautiful faces too. =)
But away with the ado! Here is Camp Dixon in full!!!....
....actually, let me rephrase that...
Here is Camp Dixon in a few photos that can't encompass everything that "was happenin'".

Two favorite things about camping:
#1 Personall, extended, time with my Savior and His Words. *LOVE!*
#2. my sister playing her guitar. *I will cry when she moves on*

Learning some new songs so she can accompany Mr. E. on Sunday
(wow, "Mr. E." I don't like the sound of that....it brings on thoughts in the general direction of the Eltons....Sorry, Mr. E. I will try to come up with something better....)

Here at Camp D you hang with people you've know you're whole life...

...and people you've just met.
It's a grand place!

Saturday morning: races 8:00 A.M.

The beautiful Cara and Tiffy-Lou

-not their real names, as you can tell. I just LOVE calling people other names....it's a gift.;) though not original-
[wo]manning the table where you sign up and later turn in your slips so that you can get the PRIZE!

First race is the 1 mile run for the cuties (read: 8 and younger).
Seeing as I didn't qualify (and would have come in last if I did), I took photos.
Sar-ee (new name! yes!): personal motivator.
(got to get me one of those!)

Beautiful spectators. Love these gals!

After the 1 mile, there was the 5K which was open to all ages.
Seeing as I did qualify, I sat out and took photos.
=D

Mamie (still working on a creative name here....), checking out her time.

*GASP* Is Cara cheating?!

More lovelies, waiting to cheer on the runners.

Katey (I love the way she spells it so I won't bother with a creative name), who was a walker, decided to join the runners (and placed 3rd in her group! yay!).

This guy is a little Einstein.....and also a marine, because he decided he'd do the 5K without training.
And he did amazingly!
*kills over*

Kids, having fun. Now why didn't I think of that?

Proof that I was there.........vaguely.
Yeah.

Bethy-Bee and Joyful-Joyful

The award to those who traveled the longest distance goes to the beautiful folks from sunny FL!
These girls are just amazing!

Ok, there are too many Sarah's around so I'm changing your name to Carrie Underwood...
#gorgousgirl

Watch out, I may kill for her hair!

"SAND!!!"
I just had to throw in a little of Russel in there, please forgive me!

Kayak!
I've never done. On my to-do list.
My to-do list never gets done.
Hmmm...
That explains everything....

It's so sweet to see little girls partaking in the purest form of friendship....

...it takes me back.

I want to take her home as my own personal model!
She was so sweet and complient and had the most awesomeest little-girl things to say!

More kayaking.....indeed.

Have to have a picture of the bro....only one I really got of him where he wasn't in motion...

....except for this one....yeah, he's becoming a sweet-tea addict.
But back to the original program...

And what is a camp-out without S'mores?
p.s. that's a trick question.

"FIRE!"
I know, terrible photo. But, I can't punish this awesome moment for that.
It must be seen!

"I have means to making you talk...
tell me, where are your rebel friends now?!"

I have no caption for this one...except:
FEED ME!

YUM!

This is possibly my favorite photo from Camp D.
This is what it's about.

Phil Wickham

2011-10-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

So, I told you about my computer crashing but I didn't tell you something else that happened in connection to it........I was saving it for this post. =)

Actually, it really didn't happen in connection to my computer crashing...but I connect the two and I think you'll see why. =)

So go back to last post. I'm working hard on my computer, finishing up a few things and them BAMB (remember, we're southern here), it shuts down. At first I can't believe that something is really wrong, but after the second try I realize that something really IS wrong. -wow, that was a repetitive sentence!- But when panic was about to hit, God reminded me of His mercy. I mean really, a few days before this happened I had just thought about how amazing it was that my computer was still running. So I had to come to terms with God's grace (story of my life and I LOVE it!).
Not five minutes after this "canceled panic attack" (I kid you not) my mother walks in the room to inform me that a lovely couple from our church wanted to bless us by bringing us to the concert on Saturday night. The Phil Wickham concert. The concert that I had been kinda waiting for since I heard he was coming. The concert that (prepare for another flashback), the night before, I had just resigned myself to not going to. Yeah, that concert.
To say this offer blessed my socks off would be an understatement.

And so, yes, we went to a Phil Wickham concert Saturday night, and then enjoyed spur-of-the-moment hospitality from the previous said couple and their family as they opened up their home (and ice-cream!) to us afterward. It was a completely packed, blessed, and very late night!

Also, Hope bought a CD and got it autographed. *excitement!*

We were truly blessed!

Monday Smiles: Psalm 63

2011-10-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

Psalm 63:1-8
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
⁴ So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
⁵ My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

⁶ When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
⁷ For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
⁸ My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
~~~~
This is such a beautiful Psalm! It makes my day every time I read it! It is also such a sweet reminder, as it comes after Psalm 62, of the reason we wait after God -because His lovingkindness is better than life- .

My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
Psalm 62:5

I Love Technology..........

2011-10-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight?
Al Boliska

So, I was almost done with my post on our keep-you-on-pins-and-needles weekend....really, I was writing my last caption and about to edit my last two photos when BAMB! (that's southerrrrrnnnn for 'BAM') It happened! My laptop crashed.
I figured I had accidentally unplugged it (yes, the battery died long ago), but after turning it back on, it showed shut off again.
Seriously? Today of all days??
Well, that's what I thought yesterday....I've been over 24 hours without the thing.
Back to the story.
I had backed it up the other week (miracle in its self!) and was able to back up what remained before it died again. Yeah, God is good, even with the small things!
He's really helped me have the right attitude about it all. I've been so blessed that I've had it for a little over three years and with no major problems. This is another miracle, knowing me and technology.
Today I brought it to the doctor (ouch! my wallet just shrunk!) and it will be relatively cheap to fix....I say relatively because it's their cheapest repair, but also will take up my gas money for a certain trip I was saving for.........don't worry, I've still found a way to go!
I'm just waiting by the phone for them to call me to tell me I can pick up my baby.....little green baby.

All this to say, there will be no photos until it returns. *sadness*
Yes, sadness and boring. What's a post without a photo?

Monday Smiles: Tim Hawkins

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

This one is a head nod to K and C with the last name of B. *nods head*.
Thanks for sharing this one with me, I still get laughs from it! =)

Guess!

2011-10-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Guess where I'm going this weekend? Guess, just guess!
Hopefully I will be posting photos of it soon, so you can share in all the...............um, I don't want to spoil the surprise. =) Of course, most of my readers already now about this (Hi mom!) and hopefully I will be seeing a lot of them there....yeah. So not that much of a surprise. But since I'm disappearing for the weekend I thought I wouldn't leave you hanging.

And yes, I did only write this post so that I can use my awesome "letsjustputyouonpinsandneedlesshallwe?" category. =)

"Grace and what?!"

2011-10-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

I think it's about time to 'splain some things around here.

This is all about the header. Reading it may be confusing, or it may appear as if my theology is all out of whack.

Lemme simplify:

Shades of Grace is the title of my blog. Because it seems to be the title of my life.
Grace is what Christ did on the cross for me so that I stand before God with all my sins erased. And grace is what shades every day of my life. Grace is not one dimensional, it's like a diamond with multiple surfaces. When you look into it you can hardly tell how many angles it possesses. That is a beautiful thing.

Life on the Windy Side of Care is the description of my blog. Not particularly because it's the description of my life though. The phrase happens to come for Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing (yes, I wish I had thought of it). Because it's a nice place to rest my feet for awhile and because I want it to be a nice place for you to rest your feet. It has absolutely nothing to do with how I view grace. It most certainly does not describe grace.
But both belong here.
Because graces covers my whole life. I need it to cover my whole life, I want it to cover my whole life.
And care, occasionally, need blowing away by the wind...if only for awhile.

Monday Smiles: Autumn

2011-10-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Yay, people!
It's Autumn....well, has been for awhile now... But now it's actually supposed to start feeling it (in terms of weather and such). I love Autumn. Best time of year! And October is my favoritest of all months!
So, be happy! =D

Open to Hear Your Thoughts....

2011-10-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

My brother posted something on facebook that I thought was pretty...deep. [I know! I know! Isn't facebook supposed to be a way to waste your time being shallow? ;) ]

I like to shy away from topics that would bring conflict. Like to like keep this blog at a place of building up and encouraging...and laughter. Like it says in the description, on the windy side of care. Because our world is full of cares, we don't need to create more.
BUT I think the guy and the video explains the "issue" very well, and what he verbalizes touches on a topic I was discussing with someone earlier this week. So it's timely for me.

Like my brother said to his friends, "What do you guys think?" I'd really like to know.

Picture Fall....

2011-10-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

(source: http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-photo-checklist-free-download.html)

My mother sent me this really neat Fall Photo Checklist.
It has 50 different ideas for photos that you should get during the Autumn months. Some of the ideas are really neat! Some of them I doubt I'll do....but it's good to have something to turn to get the creative juices going. =)

Monday Smiles: Ain't That The Truth!

2011-10-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

~

~

Grace To Die

2011-09-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

I used to wonder where You went when I needed You the most,
But now I see that it was never You, it was always me....

Why is it that I'm so hard to find? Why do I hide myself amongst the leaves, hoping that You won't see me and my shame? When I know You already do?

Why do I refuse to drink, when my throat is so parched? Why to I run to a salty sea, when all I need is Your cup? I spit the ocean water out and yet refuse to drink what You offer so freely.
I think, I need time for me, I want more for me.
And what I cannot simply see is that You give me every day of my life, and You give me more.

It's this decreasing and dying, this small concept of waging war with my own flesh-nature. I tire, I quit.
I cannot rise up and fight until another dawn. I cannot.

But You can.
You can.
As I sit here, slowly dying, slowly colliding, You give me life. You give me Your words. You give me water. You give me Your life.
I drink from You, You never run dry.
I can only give myself to You because You first gave Yourself for me. And You won't give me up without a fight.

So here I am reminded:

"I need time to die
I need grace"

Monday Smiles: Wedding Madness!

2011-09-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

We have a lot of weddings coming up. *YAY!*
It's all too much! We are so excited for all the special couples! Being far away from one of our good friends, Cara related "The Story" to us. And I celebrated by having ginger ale in a soda fountain glass with a straw. Yes, I am pathetic.

So, that said, it is not surprise that I have found several adorable quotes about matrimony and love....but then I found those quotes that I really, really like! Haha! So, here I am to share them with you:

It's so great to find that one special person you want

to annoy for the rest of your life.
~Rita Rudner

“If I stand here, I can see the Little Red Haired girl when she comes out of her house... Of course, if she sees me peeking around this tree, she'll think I'm the dumbest person in the world... But if I don't peek around the tree, I'll never see her... Which means I probably AM the dumbest person in the world... which explains why I'm standing in a batch of poison oak.”
― Charles M. Schulz

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
~Author Unknown

And last, but not least, the quote I will probably have stamped onto the back of my wedding invitations should I ever have the opportunity to send any. =)

"This is so romantic. Things like this just don't happen to gals with big noses."
-Peppermint Patty

The Rose Colored Glass

2011-09-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

"Back then, when a pickup was a pickup, and as tough as an ol' pine-knot."
~ Grandpa P.

Actually, it was more of a "golden hue" than rose colored glasses (to go back to the title of this post).
It's a mindset prevalent amongst people of all generations and all nations (everyone else is exempt).
Ok, so basically everyone in the history of the entire world.
The mindset of the "good ol' days". Remember those? Everything was better back then! The world was simpler, the sun brighter, coke cokier (true story).
Can we just rewind to when life was good? Can't we just stay with the pure beauty of it? Can't we just stay young forever?
Like I've always said," after 20, it all goes down hill".
Things get complex, the world a shade dark, the ozone a layer thinner (Ok, that last one: pretty sure that's not a true story).

Well, I have news for you:
It's always been that way. Ba-ha!

Ok, for the sake of some of the poor bubbles I may or may not have just busted, I shall have a moment of silence.....................................

Now, on with the program.

These problems that we face, they're not new. Yes, different forms. I mean, I doubt your great-grandmother had to deal with raging jealousy over Natalie Portman's awesome hair and skin tone (see Kenneth Branagh's Thor!), but she knew what that little green monster was. And maybe the little green monster's name was Debbie-Across-the-Street.
Yes, everything seemed perfect and simple in June Carpenter's world of aprons and classy high-heels, but it wasn't. Times weren't easier. Times weren't better. So here's my advice:

Stop operating with that mindset. Nobody wants a Johnny Raincloud tagging along.

How do I know this? Well, the wisest, richest, and one of most kingliest of kings of ages past said these words and he bears listening to:

'Do not say, "Why is it that former days were better than these?"
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.'~Ecc 7:10

They had the same problems, the same issues, the same sinful nature (ouch!). True story. It's wasn't all pixie dust and fairytales. In fact it wasn't that way at all.
But let's go beyond our heart issues to those situations that we have, let's say, less control over.

Situations.
You know, those things in life that come up and usually involve more than ourselves.
Come on, you know what I mean. Sometimes they can be zero fun and tons of hard work. Often we wonder if it's worth it. And is it?
Yesp. [That is "yes" with a lisp, or "yep" with a hiss. Your preference....]
And let me tell you why.
Scratch that. Let Solomon:
"The end of a matter is better than its beginning...."

So, if you are about to embark on something difficult, if your life just isn't what you hoped it would be, if you are afraid to walk by faith.....remember this:

When God works, when He sets a path before you, when He calls you and you follow....sure, it will be hard at times, and it may get lots worse before it gets better, but it will get better. That's the main thing. The end of that race is better than when you started off. The finish line might not be what you expected, or even prayed, for it to be. But I will promise you that it is Better. Even if it's not counted that in human terms.

[Yes, that last part may have sucked the joy right out of your day....I have a strange way of motivation, but it's the only way I know, so..............who's ready for supper?]

On A Saturday Morning

2011-09-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

On a Saturday morning, not so early, the roads are lonely.
And on the back roads, my shortcut, a ten minute drive easily becomes a fifteen minute drive when asphalt meets gravel. It is just me and music for now, my Bible and muffins sitting on the seat beside me.

Would I believe you when you would say
Your hand will guide my every way?
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day?

It is early, but not so early. And still the fog hangs heavy above the earth. It's white shroud hangs before me with the morning sun, wrapping the world in a most brilliant light. It is so thick I can hardly see.

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see.
Because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me.

The road stretches ahead of me into the brilliant white light, beside me are green fields, so tranquil and so alone. My mind is alone too. And when it is alone it wanders to the deep recesses of itself, and to the farther corners of the world. Sometimes it flirts with the questions of "What if?". Sometimes it wants to be alone, most often it shouldn't.

Help me to win my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years.
With one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do.

The scene of beautiful radiance seems almost surreal. As I drive closer into it, the fog hardly shrinks back, it appears as if I am about to drive off the edge of the world.....into something beautiful.

Hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith).
Well hallelujah, hallelu
(I will walk by faith).
Hallelujah, hallelu,
hallelujah, hallelu.

The glory of it surrounds me. I am reminded, "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.... And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body." [Romans 8:19;22-23]
And I am reminded that it will come to pass.

Hallelujah, hallelu,
hallelujah, hallelu.

Monday Smiles

2011-09-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

As promised, there is something new this Monday......

Introducing.....Monday Smiles!

Now I realize, to keep with alliteration, I should have picked another "m" word to go with Monday. But Monday Mouth didn't have the same ring to it....

So, what is Monday Smiles all about?
I've noticed how most people don't like Mondays. The being of another work week and all that.
Me? I love them. Love them to death (Yes, I realize that statement will more likely come back to haunt me)!!!
And so, I want you to like them too. This is were 'Monday Smiles' fits in.
On Mondays I will post something that makes me smile.
Now, this could be something cute, sweet, hilarious, or even a little bit crazy. I would like to post something that makes you smile, but I don't know everyone of my dear readers so that makes it difficult to do.....so you'll have to stick with 'me' for the most part, though I may see something that makes me think of a particular reader and post it. Think of it as my Monday Smile to you personally. =)
These cute/sweet/hilarious/crazy/etc things may take many forms: photos, quotes, anecdotes, videos, etc. The World is our stage!

Of course, while I will attempt to makes these weekly postings, I reserve the right to miss some weeks. Say if I'm on vacation, my computer goes kaput, or I am just to lazy to knuckle down and write one out over the weekend (yes, these will be pre-scheduled posts. Mondays aren't very feasible, being my blitz-the-world-starting-with-the-home day.).

So be on the watch out for Mondays!

New For Mondays....

2011-09-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

Something NEW is coming to Shades of Grace!
And it's a surprise!
Wait for it...wait for it...
No, it's not a bird, a plane, or superman...and it's definitely not aliens, Sweetie!
It comes on Monday! See you then!

9/11

2011-09-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!...

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner

in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free

and the home of the brave!
-The Star Spangled Banner

verses 3 and 4

The Day The Towers Fell

2011-09-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

The 10 year anniversary will be here tomorrow.
They say it was the day time stood still. They say that everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news.
Do you?

I remember walking into the kitchen and seeing my mom and oldest brother standing in front of the TV. The first plane had just crashed. I knew something terrible had just happened.
I was 12, in two shorts months I was going to be entering the scary world of teenage-hood. I already had enough problems coming at me. Looking back, I see those problems were so small.
I was scared. I wasn't sure what it meant. What would happen? I really didn't know what the world trade centers were (I kinda zoned out during the boring building stuff during school. I was more of the pyramids and Eiffel tower type), but suddenly my tiny world just got blown into gargantuan proportion.
That night I recorded the days events in my journal.
Tonight, ten years latter, I pulled out the old journal to see how that day was like to my very confused 12 year old self.
Very confused:

"The terrorist have hit. This morning they crashed into the world trading center in New York. They did it with two planes. We know that one plane was hijacked. A lady called from the plane saying they used a "knife-like weapon".
A hour later the pentagon was on fire. We don't know how it happened, just that it was terrorist that did it.
The World Trading Center fell down (both buildings), bringing another building down with it. Mom said that there probably wasn't anyone in the other building.
Some people say it was 'Dan' something or other and we might go to war with Afghanistan (for harboring him). "

I had never heard of the name of Osama bin Laden, and all I hooked onto was the "Ben", which I somehow remembered as something like "Dan". I had such a fiery patriotism for my country, romanticizing about the Revolutionary war and how I wished I could have been a part of it. But suddenly being confronted with a war was very real, and very frightening. I had no concept of how it would be like. I didn't even know if there would be more attacks. I suddenly was fearful for my father and brother and our home. What would war mean? I still don't know what it means.
But I do know that there have been 10 years worth of men and women bleeding to protect us from that day repeating itself. There has been 10 years worth of healing and rebuilding, of choosing to hope. Of standing up and standing strong.
Today, I honor the victims of 9/11, and I honor those who responded to the call.

Day 30: A Motto or Philosophy

2011-09-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have many, but the one that I keep coming back to is:

Trust in the Lord with {ALL} your

Heart

And do not lean on your OWN understanding.

In {ALL} your ways ACKNOWLEDGE Him,
And He will {make} your paths
Straight.

~ Proverbs 3:5-6

The lady I babysit for actually wrote this verse in a card for me when I graduated. It's one of those verses that we all know growing up in the Church, so at first I thought "How sweet...." but then as I read that verse and the note she wrote under it I realized that was exactly what I needed. I need that verse because it was one that I would have to cling to. It became a basic philosophy for me. Clear cut, but difficult to walk out. To TRUST God and not myself, to hold His wisdom as higher, and to never deny Him. He would take care of the rest.

Of course I have other Motto's and philosophies.....one recent one is something my sister shared with me in regards to being a Christian in our modern day society.
"You have to LEARN to stick out like a sore thumb."

Beautiful imagery, huh? Yeah, I thought so too.

And here is a Martin Luther quote that has somewhat become my motto:

"Next to faith THIS is
the highest art-
to be content with the calling
in which God has placed you."
~ Martin Luther

Day 29: Hopes, Dreams and Plans You Have for the Next 365 Days

2011-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Definitely to eat the world's largest sundae.
Yep....ok, not really, I just have to break the tension that gathers in my mind from that weighty question.

My Hopes:
I hope for others to know the life they can have in Christ.
I hope for tough circumstances to change for the ones I love.
I hope to build relationships.
I hope to love Christ even more.
I hope to keep hoping.

My Dreams:
I dream to have a picnic beside a river in France.
I dream to see the world through my lens.
I dream to write words that matter.
I dream to ride a Ferris-wheel.
I dream to change.

My Plans:
I plan to lean on Christ.
I plan to trust Him more.
I plan to keep focused on Him.
I plan to show my faith by my works.
I plan to love. I plan but God directs my steps.

Day 28: A Scar You Have and It's Story

2011-09-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

Underneath my chin, there's a little white line of a scar. And this is it's story.

Sometime before the tender age of 5 I took a bath.
Not that it was a singular event....I actually seemed to have spent a lot of the time in a bathtub. Apparently we were filthy kids. But that's not the point.
Being something of a dancing prodigy *cough, cough* I was showcasing my talent.
My dear mother told me to sit back down, I guess there was some strange rule about not standing in the bathtub....don't ask me how showering worked. I, being the angel that I am, obeyed....that is until the dear mother left the room.
The dancing commenced once more and, believe it or not, water and soap turned out to be a slippery combination.

Chin, meet bathtub wall.
The mystery of the strange rule is solved, the story of the little scar under my chin is told.

Day 27: A Physical Feature You Love

2011-08-31T19:46:00.000-07:00

So I am going to be honest and go with my favorite, even though it's probably everyone's and very obvious....
Eyes.

Yep! Oh wait, I think my favorite is actually smiles....yep, definitely smiles. But not necessarily mouths....that would be awkward to have a post of a gazillion mouths. So I'm sticking with eyes. Because I love eyes as stand alone. =)
This is kinda weird because I have a thing with not making eye contact...That's why I hardly know the eye color of people I know....it's something I should work on.

My youngest brother has some pretty awesome eyes. They're the kind that change with what he wears.
I wish I had chameleon eyes!!!!
He is a good sport and let me get a close up....which is rather brave!

And I have two brothers and sisters with beautiful hazel eyes:

But I have to say that baby eyes are the best!

She has such beautiful long lashes. <3
I am jealous.

Day 26: A Childhood Memory

2011-08-23T17:25:00.001-07:00

It's dark, it's rainy, it's eerily quiet,....it's dark.
The long, wet, green grass waves as we make our way through. One, two, three, four, five. We are all safe....for now.
Was that rustle from an inescapable terror? No, it is the wind.
Was that thunder? No, it is it in the distance.
Fear grips every heart. One, two, three, four, five. The fear is sufficient distraction...until the last one in line hears something else rustle nearby.
"RUN!"
One, two, three, four, five. Fleeing through the grass, over massive fallen trees, through the thick hanging vines, over flowing water. But it is getting closer, it is fast.
Screams! The terror can not be held inside, we no longer run in the same direction. One, two, of us run toward the open field of long waving grass.
One, two, three of us stay in the shelter of the woods, "Stay away from the long grass!!!" he shouts the warning, stopping everyone momentarily.
One, two, three, four, five, we all see it.
It's long reptilian tail waves as it sizes us up. It's eyes, with slit-like pupils, melt the bravest heart. There is no escape. We must run!
Run!
Scream! Oh no, it has Charles. It is eating Charles alive! One, two, three, four....
Wait! We must stop and save him!
We attack the dinosaur, but stones and sticks do not deter it. There is nothing left to do but protest.
"You can't eat a little boy! That's too sad! Eat a grown up....but not a woman. The children and women must be safe!"
The dinosaur vomits up Charles and falls over. We take the head start.
One, two, three, four, five. Run!
Sweat beads our faces, we are not safe.
It is behind us. It screeches out. It will...
..."Get out of the rain before you are struck by lightning!" the voice of reason comes from a house that has been strategically camouflaged by imagination.
In an instant our tropical rainforest disappears and we find ourselves in a muddy backyard, grown men and women change back into children, everyone takes on their natural appearance, the reptilian terror melts into the tiniest boy of all with big eyes and a large cheesy smile. We say goodbye to our version of a delightful rainy afternoon and return to the warm, cozy, boring house.

If you laughed, then you probably identify with this whole scenario.
If you were seriously confused (aside from my method of writing), you have my sincere condolences.
This is what a childhood summer was for us.

Where The Alligators and Sharks Do Battle...

2011-08-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

...according to T., that is.
The sad thing is, being from up-north-in-the-south, we almost had to decide whether we believed him or not. But of course alligators and sharks were not seen. Only a dolphin, a manatee, and sea birds. Where were we going?
To Marco Beach! Via boat!
Spending almost the whole day on a boat or in the ocean, you couldn't have expected me to shoot, could you? Because I didn't...or I did, but not many photos.

The boat ride was really fun! Wind-in-your-hair type of fun!

Hope and I rode in the back of the boat for the majority of the ride.
Sunburns; that's why.

Jessi being DJ with her ipod. =)

She is happy!
(of course she's that way by nature....)

Style tip for all you curly-head girls who want bangs.
It's all good and fine...until they get wet.
Don't worry though, you'll get used to being called Shirley Temple...eventually.
;)

The front of the boat was a BLAST!!! I could live there!
Actually, I'd probably die there, when you consider food and water and skin cancer....

After a day at the beach we went back to the house for dinner. Then we had ice cream and a walk. We had too much fun.

I didn't take my camera, so here is a poor substitute. It was the only one I had of all of them.

[Don't hate me for this! ;)]

Sunday was our last day and I didn't get photos of our activities. Church was great, truly encouraging! The teaching was on Titus 2. We had lunch at this great Italian place (no, my heart did not stop, but it almost did!). Here's a photo of courtesy of my phone. =)

After Italian, five of us went to see The Help, and then directly to ice-skating. Evelyn and T. had a meeting they had to be at, so we missed them for those activities. =(

That evening we made sure to get group photos. Of course all of those are on my sister's camera, but I did get this darling photo of the affection Hope and Gaby have for each other....=D

The next day was "good-bye" day. I don't like "good-bye" days, they should be prohibited by law. But they aren't and so we had to go through it. There was much sadness to be leaving, but happiness to see the family again. =)

Her smile makes me smile. =)

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”
– Miriam Beard

The Compound:

2011-08-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

Warning: Photo-heavy post!
Ye be warned!

Ok, that is a bit dramatic. But I just couldn't help myself!!!!

The rundown for our Friday in FL was basically, wake up late, have fun, go downtown to have fun eating real sushi, have fun watching Cara swallow raw fish, have fun in a shop downtown, and then have fun at the compound doing all sorts of fun stuff. Yep, that was basically our Friday.
=)

This wasn't the store we visited, but the doorway was so awesome I had to get a photo for my mom, who is a Wind In The Willows fan. Not that she rotates....that was weird, I have no idea why that sort of fan came to mind....

Then we went to the Compound. Don't ask me why we called it that, because it's somebody's home.

Lemurs!!!!!

These animal eat fig newtons.

Of course I was jealous!

Awwww! Cute monkey...That is, until they try ripping your face off!

Ok, more drama there. I was actually pretty chill with them despite the fact that monkeys have always made me feel uncomfortable....

Jessi, me is not a monkey!

...but I will take the fig newton. =)

They also were given suckers.

They let us get inside the cage with the babies (read: non-violent monkeys....yet) so they could climb on us.
I got my turn before the suckers were doled out. Hehe, no sucker-hair for me!
Of course, we fixed that when we went riding on the gator and carts....

...but first we visit the Wallaby, such a cutie!

They kinda left us in the dirt. Look at that little smile!
But we got back at them....

By stalling out and casing a traffic jam! Ha!

"He said to just hit it....whatever 'it' is..."

Leaving for backup, he takes such care of his beloved!
Actually, he really does, but this photo was too funny not to include. =)

Mad driving skills makes it difficult to focus.

Aww, baby peacocks with their mommy!

Evelyn coming to tell us there is PIZZA!

Beautiful sisters!

Me <3 Them

I wish I had more photos, but I was having too much fun to remember to take them!

Special thanks goes out to B. who gave us a great time at the Compound! =)

Incredibly, I have no pictures to share of our friendly guide, like I said, I didn't take many. =(

Sanibel Island

2011-08-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

The first day's event was Sanibel Beach, which was quiet beautiful.

We had a good hour drive (more or less) to it, so we had plenty of time to catch up on talking!
It was such a blessing!!!

The beach was lined with seashells. Be still my beating heart, there is more to come. ...

Where is Gaby hiding??? *sigh*
We had a picnic of sandwiches, cherries, and root beer out of glass bottles.
I felt like Anne Shirley, who thought it was so romantic to be at a picnic eating ice-cream and lemonade. =)

And to top it off, we had our said picnic next to TWO sea turtle nests.

We couldn't see the eggs of course, but it was a really cool thing to do anyway.

She's so cute! I just wanted to pack her up and bring her home with me, along with her two sisters!
<3

Ah-ha! Gaby!!! =D She's my fellow shutterbug.

Walking on the beach = awesomeness.

We ("we' being Gaby) found a lot of creepy-crawlies, including hermit crabs (above) and a live sand-dollar!

Investigating a dead fish.
I <3 These Girls!

The lighthouse that we FINALLY found!
My first lighthouse to see in person, there's something off my bucket list! =)

Of course there was Mario Kart.
I proved myself to be feared greatly..*cough*

Road Trip = !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have been informed that I need to write about Florida. And I agree. It was an epic trip. Thinking about it, just a week ago we were holding cute baby monkeys (while steering clear of the jealous female adult who wanted to rip our faces off...ok, that was exaggerated...just a little...), roaring around on gators (the John Deere kind), and watching Cara eat real sushi for the first time...Like I said, an epic trip.

I love road trips. I ADORE road trips. I love the pure pleasure of riding through the countryside, it just thrills me!
So having a sister road trip? I was over the moon! Of course, having AAA and the right to bear arms helped with feeling safe and secure. =)

Alabama was pretty beautiful to drive through. Despite being a sworn enemy of Roll Tide I could actually live there...

I know it looks like the house is going to fall of the earth, but that's just the way things go down here. ;)

We stopped at the FL welcome center to get a group photo and a map.

That's trusty Ol' Loretta in the background

(Loretta as in Loretta Lynn, because she's a Lincoln...after the Josh Turner song.

It'll make sense when you hear it.

my sisters like country).

Once we got close to our destination we began to notice a concerning sign that kept popping up...

And there is a sign near their neighborhood pond begging people "Don't feed the Alligators".
It was pretty humorous.

That's our road trip down, next up, Sanibel Beach! =)

Not A Shifting Purpose

2011-08-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Today I had the opportunity to sit ambiguously at our local college campus. There were swarms of college kids where I was waiting to be picked up. I Waited for two hours. My fault. Long story.

Needless to say, I had a long time to sit and think and listen. I had brought books, but after the first hour I decided to be on the look-out and so they were no good to me. I spent the time mainly wondering about the people passing by, praying about little things, and wondering some more. They, for the most part, walked on by the odd girl with the crazy hair and conspicuous outfit -both products of getting in late last night from Florida.

Ideally they all know who they want to BE when they "grow up".

Me too.

I had forgotten that I knew, but I do. If you asked me what I want to do with my life, providing that God leads me in those areas, I could tell you several things. But I probably won't, I'm too shy. It's too awkward. It's not an acceptable answer for a women of this world or for a women "wholly devoted" to God, simply because it's too...boring.

They are pursuing that "dream". Each semester brings them closer to attaining it.

I Wait.

Continually walking the line, finding the balance, of doing and keeping it all in surrender. I can prepare for it, but I must set my heart on Someone greater.

I Change. I must change.
I shift focus back continually. Because I do know what I want to "be", how I want to live out life in this mortal coil. But when it's gone I will still have something greater. I can trust Him, even when I feel like I am passing through life, spinning my wheels. And this is why:

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD,
‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah55:8-9
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
"Nor are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

To Sunshine and To Florida!!!!

2011-08-09T13:24:00.000-07:00

I'm putting the 30 Day Challenge on hold for at least a week. My sisters and I are leaving in the wee hours of the morning for a trip to to visit friends in Florida! We should be back around next Monday, so don't expect to hear from me until then -my computer is not invited on this girls trip!
See you in a few sunburns!

Cute orange shoes: courtesy of Cato's. $4. Yes, I am pleased. =)

Day 25: A Recipe

2011-08-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

Cherry Limeade:

Of course it would have to be something that really isn't good for you!!....What if you made your own lemon juice and gathered your own cherries??? Well, it was worth a try anyway.
Here's the recipe:

1 Glass Limeade (I like the all natural Simply Limeade, but does it really matter?)
1 Splash of cherry juice from your jar of maraschino cherries.
2-3 Cherries.

Yes, it really is as simple as one, two, three.Enjoy one cup of refreshing summer! =)

Day 24: A Movie No One Would Expect You to Love

2011-08-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

When I asked my sisters what movie they wouldn't expect me to love one answered to choose something in the chick-flick genre, and the other one said sci-fi.
Seeing as I have shown obvious tendencies toward BBC drama and Jane Austin-ish movies, I went with the latter suggestion. And so we have

Serenity

A quick disclaimer: apparently there is a TV series from this movie called "Firefly" I have never seen it and my personal sci-fi buff told me it's not even worth it. Please do not get Serenity and Firefly confused, because while I LOVE serenity I have no idea about firefly. =)

The cast is PERFECT. Ok, not really. A lot of them actually have major issues. But just look at those faces! There's not a doubt that Serenity has it's own brand of hilarious humor. I like that.
Being Sci-fi, Serenity takes place in the great outer-space. One of the unique things about it is that it takes on the flavor of an old western (if old westerns had cannibals in them). But these cowboys aren't the ones with badges and fighting for justice.

check out those goggles! =D

These are the outlaws, led by their captain, the dry humored and audacious Malcolm Reynolds.They are on the run from a totalitarian regime.As you can imagine, being outlaws, morals aren't exactly their strong suit. The first officer, Zoe, and physician, Simon, serve as the crews moral compasses. On board also is Simon's little sister, River, who doesn't seem quiet right in the head - the after effects of being experimented on. Simon shows a true, sacrificial love for his sister that is quiet touching. A strong theme in the movie is love. True love, not the butterflies-the-stomach type of love (which there is some of that too).

Like most sci-fi movies, Serenity can be a little bizarre.
The thing about Serenity that reeled me in was the script. Remind me to hire those script-writers if ever I direct my own film...

Another thing to remember is that there is this amazing thing out there called clear-play...I'd suggest that with this movie for the sake of the kiddos. There's some frightening thematically elements (though they didn't bother me), adult conversations, and language. Of course there would be language. Sigh. Check out Kids-in-mind for a review to know what I mean.

"This is the captain. We have a little problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and then - explode."

Day 23: A Way In Which You Want To Be Remembered

2011-08-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well isn't this a happy topic?

I'd like to be remembered as the one who made you laugh.
As the one who truly cared and listened.
As the one who wasn't the best.
As the one who, for no reason at all, was madly loved and pursued by her Savior.
As the one who, as far as humanly possible, was almost as equally in love with Him.
As the one who took that leap of faith- who actually lived by faith.
As the one who reminded you how awesome our God truly is.
As the one who made you see that no matter how far you go, He still loves you.
As the one who had the most real and personal relationship with the God of the universe.
As the one who lived and walked by His Word.
.....As the one who made you laugh....

Great aspirations. So much impossibilities to work toward! But who said anything was impossible?
And still...the more I think on this the more I am convinced that I don't want you to remember me....at least, not much. I want you to remember Christ. To see Christ. To know Christ.
That's how I want you to remember me.

Girls, Wake Up and Smell the Peanut Butter!!!

2011-08-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

That should probably be "fabric softener" or something along the clothing line, but peanut butter just came to mind. Probably because my sister uses it as her key ingredient in all things dessert. Also my "adopted" (but not really) brother and his wife brought us a bottle of old fashion peanut butter from Tennessee. It is, in a word, addictive. But that's not the point...at all.

I'm thinking about all of the girls out there who have to slog through clothes stores trying to find something decent to wear. Something that doesn't cost so much it needs a down payment, and that actually consists of more than one foot of see-through fabric. I'm exaggerating here....kinda.
It gets you down, ya know? I mean, lets just forgo the torture and humiliation and wear burlap sacks with a hole cut out for our head, right? Don't even bother with cutting out armholes, might as well leave those in because you're going to have some major itching going on.
Going through stores can be wearying. Especially for girls like me, who don't sport a more womanly figure and have to shop in the juniors section more often than not ("Excuse me, does this come in an extra large?"). The junior section can be surprisingly raunchy. I mean, these are our little-girls-turning-women here that we are dressing! What are we thinking? I'm not trying to go on a tirade here, but sometimes I just get so dang sick and tired of it all!!! Can you just help me out here?

But today what I want to say is this:
WAKE UP!
Stop hiding! We have it so good. Just think here with me. We have a wide, wide, wider-than-the-deep-blue (almost) selection of clothing here. We have stuff to work with, even though it's not fun. Dressing modestly and appropriate is a lot of work. I mean, burlap bags may be uncomfortable, but it's definitely the lazy gal's way out. Let me remind you that you are represent Christ here. Not burlap. Not the '60's.
Another thing is, tunic shirts (read: longer) are IN. Layering is IN. Take hold of the opportunity! Send the message that yes, we do value modesty and we will buy products that help us preserve our dignity. Let's not cop out. Let's fight this battle.
So What Am I Saying Here?
Well, other than having a ton of fun with fonts and colors...
I am not encouraging a free-for-all shopping spree. Let's be wise. Let's be content. Let's be modest. But let's also not be self-righteous. Let's not let what we wear (or what we don't) cause us to become pious and better-than-thou. I'm simply saying, don't get so stuck on how hard it is. From one girl who doesn't like to shop to a slew of girls who love it, hate it, and are in between. Let's see our situation as it is. Let's not give anyone occasion to speak ill of the name of Christ.
Let's keep fighting.

Day 22: A Website

2011-07-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

PICNIK

I love this FREE (unless you sign up for premium) photo-editing site because I'd rather spend more time on the other side of the lens rather than the other side of the screen.
Yes, that may be hard to believe, considering I'm a blogger.
This site has the simple little things I need, like cropping and adjusting exposure, but it also has some fun effects and an assortment of fonts for putting text on photos. And it's e.a.s.y. Yeah, you heard me!

This is a sample of what you can do with adjusting exposure/contrast and adding text.....

And this is an sample of some of the really neat and weird effects available! =)

INFRARED!

Memphis Tennesse

2011-07-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

Last Friday my fun[ny] sisters and I jumped into our [cough...parents...cough] car with our overnight bags and headed to that great city.
Not as tourists, but as friends.
That is to say, we went up there to visit a friend who is completely a two month residency up there. =)

Her roommates were gracious and let us crash at their apartment for the night. After staying up late chatting (of course!) we went to sleep and then hit the world...er, Memphis...bright and early the next day.
Make that bright but not early. =)
We went to Target, which was an event as we don't have one around our area, and Christine talked me into buying this cute, casual dress. Yeah, she totally twisted my arm there. It helped that it was really cute and on clearance. Ok, actually, she wanted me to get it, but as they say "the lady must be willing".....do they actually say that?
After that we ran to the apartment to change into more comfortable shoes before going to the Dixon Garden.

Cute, ain't she?
(Ok, what animal is perching on my shoulder? I think it's time for a hair cut...)

Entering the garden....

There was a really pretty greenhouse...I want one!!!

There's my pretty lil' sister! She escaped the other photo...

There was this cool gazebo kinda tucked away.
It inspired us to do the "I am 16 Going on 17" dance routine, but it was too small.

I think it passed inspection...

We were trying to decided if the fox was jumping over a sun, a hedgehog, or a sawmill blade.
We went with the sawmill blade.

I could insert something cheesy, like "A rose for a rose"...
Opps, I guess I just did.

For lunch we went to this really cute place called "La Baguette".

Cara and I split a totally awesome veggie pizza
(well, yes, they didn't have sausage so we had to settle).
I will not say that we split it in half...but I'm pretty sure she got at least one piece...though I cannot prove it.

Christine and Hope went healthy and had homemade chicken pitas....

...but they made up for it by getting heavenly pastries.

After that we all ended up accidentally falling asleep, which we conveniently called "napping".
And then we got whipped by Christine, which we conveniently called "playing a game" (You've been Sentence -great game!).

Supper we ate at a brilliant local cafe.

My lovelies!

"This is my friend Hope, she's a coffee-aholic and she's scaring me."

So we all had a great time, eating, and talking, and driving around. Too bad it was just one day.

Day 21: Something You Know You Do Differently Than Most People

2011-07-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm....different.
Do you mean something other than having been home-schooled, not dating casually, living at home with my parents at 22 (living, not sponging), and using a fingernail clippers on my toenails?

Ok, ok! How about....uh, I'm coming up with nothing....I'll enlist the help of my sister. Yep, she's coming up with nothing as well.
I got one! When I hand-wash dishes I prefer the water to be basically boiling. Yep. Definitely need to eliminate those germs. Who needs those finger-nerves anyway?

Yes, this is yet another post full of [almost] useless information.

Day 20: A Hobby of Yours

2011-07-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Here's an obvious one:

(photo by my lovely sister, Hope)

Day 19: A Talent of Yours

2011-07-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

I have a wealth of talents I could choose from (not! Actually, I should say, I have the talent of ordinariness). But the one I shall select for this day's challenge will be a talent no one else possesses. A talent that causes the most gorgeous of women to turn green....though not particularly with envy.

My Talent:

I can fit TWO left feet

(being my own, how cool is that?!)

in my mouth TOGETHER at one time.

Ha ha! Beat that!

Day 18: A Time When You Felt Passionate and Alive

2011-07-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

I would have thought that this post would be about a time I traveled, or did something amazing, or found my life's calling. But it's not.

I'd have to go back to my senior in high school.
It was a terrible year, for many reasons. Not only did I have a heavy school load, but my mom suddenly decided that home economics was important....who would have thought? I had to grit my teeth and do a lot of things I really didn't like. My social life was a little on stand-by. My sister was in her freshman year in college so I also had big shoes to fill. But the cherry to top it all was learning to lay down my dreams and embrace God's plan.

But I was so passionate and alive! I laughed, all the time. For no reason. I enjoyed life. I had a truer life than I had experienced before. I could really feel passionate about things that matter, really mattered.
It doesn't make sense...but then again, maybe it does.

Day 17: An Art Piece

2011-07-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

I was going to cheat and choose a photograph (photography is art!), but then I thought it would be too hard to narrow it down...and i do want to prove that I can appreciate art....so long as it doesn't look like an ape painted it.

So here is my "Piece of Art"

The Arbour
E. Phillips Fox (1865-1915)

This is a beautiful oil painting (er, a copy of said oil painting) that has always been in our house...as long as I remember. It has gone through several moves with us, three states. I've always liked looking at it. Of course, I didn't know it was called "The Arbour" (not arbor, arbour)or that it was an oil painting until today....
I always liked this one, mainly because the simplicity of it. It's just a family, sitting down for tea. I always pretended that was my mom and dad with my older brother and sister. I have no idea who that blond lady would be....sometimes I thought it could be me, later on. Which is strange, because we usually pick our favorites to be ourselves and Blond Lady was definitely not my favorite. For the petty reason that she was not wearing white, nor had a cute ribbon, nor had a parasol.

The Girl In The Yellow Dress

2011-07-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

I miss this girl in the yellow dress....

She left for Memphis for the summer. I didn't like her leaving me. But I am so excited by the way she is follow God. And she has one of the most deepest loves for God that I know. I admire her for that. She challenges me to live by the first commandment, not by the law. Sometimes I get too focused that way.
Did I say that I miss her? Her and her funny ways, her cute faces, and her yellow dress.

She's my wacky photo-shoot partner, she always has tons of cute ideas and is just the person to get my creative juices flowing.
And guess what?
I'm going to see my girl in the yellow dress this weekend!
I am super-stoked! That deserves a few more exclamation marks....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There, that's better.
After Cara gets off work tomorrow the three of us musketeer-ettes are jumping in the car and heading to the great metropolis. We'll be back Saturday night, but a day is still a day and we will have tons of fun! It's going to be the b.o.m.b.!

Day 16: A Song That Makes You Cry

2011-07-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

I confess I have been dreading this post since the start of this challenge. It's such a hard post! Why not ask me for a song that makes me laugh?
I cry at the drop of a hat at a lot of things, but movies and songs are not in that category. So songs don't make me cry....only when they touch a chord in my personal life with my Savior, and those are not songs that make me cry every time. It has more to do with the amazing God who reaches down to touch my heart. It sounds sappy, I know, but I promise I'm not one of those Christians who live by what they feel.

There are only 2 songs that make me cry, or want to cry. And it seems like a no-win situation. Because there is a reason these make me cry and that is because these are just really, really sad songs.

I don't want to make you sad.

Like I said, no win.

I heard this song two years ago. It was written by David Cook for his brother, Adam. It gets you because we all will, some day, find ourselves in those places of watching pain. It's so much harder to take.
I hate to see family and loved ones suffer, whether it's from physical pain or pain that is much deeper. My heart cries out that I'm here, that I will be permanent. Though I know this is not always true, I am mortal, I will disappoint, the laws of physics apply to me.
So I pray that they find the comfort of the One who truly is permanent.

Before I Kick The Bucket....

2011-07-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

I shall make a list.
Surprised? I didn't think so.

My bucket list, I hold with an open hand. Because, really, how seriously can you take something named after a bucket?

My List of Buckets....

1. Sunrise Photo-Shoot

2. Make Real Tiramisu...and eat it.

3. See a Midnight Movie

4. Get a Passport

5. Get a Stamp in Said Passport

6.Finish Dicken's Bleak House

7. Visit Lady Liberty

8. Eat Ice Cream out of the Container, All of IT

(just not all at once....or maybe so)

9. Visit Every State in the U.S.

10.Make Ravioli or Tortellini

11. Visit the Home of a Founding Father
(ok, done that already, but do it again)

12. Sail in a boat...or ship

13. Go to a Drive-In Movie

14. Write Something for My Kids

15. Visit a For-Real Archeology Dig.

Day 15: A Person You Admire

2011-07-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Oh the people I could choose.
But today I will show my history-buff (read: lover) side.

William Wilberforce

He's the man.

Wilberforce's live in a nutshell:

Born and raised in Hull (briefly interrupted by living with nonconformist relatives in London until the age of 12), young Wilberforce's pastor happened to be the former slave-trader John Newton.
He attended Cambridge, where he was more of a social guy the one who studied, and met his life-long friend -the hard-studying William Pitt (who was also a pretty cool dude).
After Cambridge Wilberforce and Pitt (trying not to confuse you with their shared first names) go into politics and earn their way into the House of Commons. Wilberforce is quickly known for his talent as an orator and his tenacious ability to verbally shred his opponents. Ouch. He does not suffer fools.

After 4 years in the House of Commons Wilberforce decides to tour Europe, choosing Isaac Milner as a traveling companion. Milner was a "great conversationalist for this long trip....but on the subject of religion [Milner] was strangely serious, it was the only topic in which he was serious." (via The Better Hour, documentary currently streaming live on Netflix...get it while you can!;] ) He told Wilberforce, "I am no match for you in this running fire, but if you actually want to have a conversation on this let me know and I'll be glad to do it."

On this journey they read The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul and Wilberforce started to change. He started rising early and reading the Bible, and he regretted his past. He underwent a full conversion, and resolved to completely commit the rest of his life and work to God. He was strongly considering leaving the House to pursue life as a minister, but between Pitt stepping in and a visit with Newton he is persuaded that being in the House he can do God's work.

And so he tackles the long and tedious task of fighting for the absolution of the slave trade, finally winning in 1807, 23 years after his conversion. Brave man.

Of course there is so much more to his story, and though this is a rather long nutshell, it's a nutshell.

Here are some characteristics of Wilberforce's that I admire and want to gain:
Wholly surrendered to God
Determination

A heart of compassion

Going against the flow

Well spoken

Endurance through severe physical pain and countless losses

Steadfast

A firm Goal

A family man

Deeply rooted in God's Word

Stunning ability with words.
And much more.

And in the extreme case you haven't seen the movie that came out a few years back...SEE. IT.

It's called Amazing Grace.

Day 14: A Vacation You Would Like To Take.

2011-07-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Waves crash against the shore, the sky is dark and wild, and yet beyond that you can see a sun rising with a fierce fire. The sea foams and moves with the tide, you are alone. Quiet alone. Just you and the sea air....
...And your Bible along with His undeniable presence that promises to be with you wherever you go.
When the tide is gone it leaves the beach scattered with perfect shells, gems of the sea. Up the path is a beautiful rustic garden, wild yet fair, crowding up to a cottage that may look however it chooses, just so long as it has many, many windows. Windows to let in the light, to let in the life.Perhaps inside are loved ones, perhaps they are happy to be there.
Beyond the cottage there is much countryside to explore....somewhere along the New England coast...or Scottish coast. Both very different, and very beautiful.
Not far is a town, a beautiful, old, full-of-historical-richness-and-beauty town. In the harbor there is a replica of an 18th century frigate. One day it will weigh anchor, a day of nothing but the sea and experiencing first hand the life of John Paul Jones. Other days there is aimless walks about the old part of town. And other days there is none of the town to see at all. But there is everyday laughter, discussions, conversations, and a general love of what really maters.

Day 13: A Guilty Pleasure

2011-07-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

I am one of those people who like the safety net of a schedule or regimen, so stuff like staying in my pj's all day? Not appealing.
But I do have guilty pleasures.....call me crazy, but a guilty pleasure of mine is...

Buying Sheet Music.
Most girls like getting new clothes, shoes, more music to download to their ipods, chocolates, or flowers. I just happen to adore music.
The familiar rush many feel when at the mall I get by stepping into a small, old, music store loaded with goodies from John Williams to Chris Daughtry. Heart melts.

I know that I shouldn't, that I have a million other books and songs right next to the piano, but there is nothing quiet like getting a fresh, new piece to play -or make mince-meat of, as is sometimes the case. It's like getting a fresh start, another adventure, a new song.

Day 12: A Song that You Want Played at Your Wedding (or Was Played)

2011-07-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

I think that this is a very unfair question to ask those of us who aren't married or planning our own wedding (read: engaged or soon will be). For one thing, it's more personal than a question like "what color scheme would you like". It just doesn't make much sense to be planning out a wedding when the other half is non-existent.
I know, I know, I'm being too analytical.
I don't know what song(s) I'll have at my wedding (though I think having a solo cellist would be superb!...hint, hint to the older sister), this song is pretty nice. Besides being beautiful it says a lot about commitment.

I think this is a pretty beautiful song as well......