Here I am!

So it's taken me a little longer than I had hoped to get this post up! Well, I'm not going to give excuses but just dive on into the deep blue of updating you! *smile*

Over the past month, things have been very very busy around here. I've really enjoyed getting to travel some! The third weekend in August, I made my very first "solo" flight to Indy for the W.I.T. Conference (Whatever It Takes) being held in conjunction with IBLP. There were over 200 people in attendance listening to several different sessions covering several topics, by Paul & Jenny Speed. Those topics ranged from the Christian's testimony, being open and broken about sin, listening to God's voice, and to marriage. I met some very nice girls while there and hope to continue building those relationships. I also spent a little time with my grandparents before heading back home.


Then, over Labor Day weekend, my family and I traveled out to visit with my grandparents. Our family hadn't been back there since Thanksgiving, so, it was good to be in the Hoosier State again. *smile* (A little sidenote here, I really like Indiana! Very quiet and pretty...one of the very few places I've visited and could actually say I wouldn't mind living there.) Anyways...one of the highlights of our trip was that we got to go to a college football game. (Insider info here, my little brother, Thatch, absolutely LOVES football!!)

This past weekend brought the marriage of two very dear people. Ab had the very special privilege of being one of the back-up photographers at the wedding. Once she gets her pictures up I'll give you the link.

In just two days we'll be packing our bags again for yet another wedding! This time our little 15 passenger van will take us to the great state of Texas!! I've been very psyched about this trip! I'm so looking forward to traveling to some places I'm not very familiar with. Several years ago, my brother and I went down there with my grandparents...but we only passed through a couple of the places we're going. So - I'm looking forward to it!!

Below are some pictures from my time at the conference and our visit to my grandparents' place.

Some of my friends. L~R: Anna, Bailey, Brooke and Beth During one of our breaks

All my roommates! L~R: me, Sara, Lauren, Amy and Joy

My roommate and fellow blogging friend, Sara

My roommate, Joy

One of my teammates, Jessica

Grandma, me, Grandpa

The Indianapolis Airport - SO cool!

After my family picked me up from the airport, we ate at a local pizza place. A man making different balloon figurines created this for me. He was pretty good!

Abby and Tanner

The Family

Dad, Mom and Ab

Molly-girl and me

"The Tan-Man"

Ab & Thatch during dinner

Dad - our designated driver!

"Oh, goody-goody - a post!!"

Enkay, well, maybe not a great post...but still a post! *smile* Since I haven't finished my new post yet, (and since I might possibly re-write the one I do have!) this will have to suffice for the moment.

I hope you get a kick out of this! It's pretty cute.

"Sacred Singles ~ Christian Speed Dating" ;-)

Hopefully my *real* post will be up before long, until then - enjoy!

Comfort

"I have been through the valley of weeping,
The valley of sorrow and pain;
But the 'God of all comfort' was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain.

As the earth needs the clouds and sunshine,
Our souls need both sorrow and joy;
So He places us oft in the furnace,
The dross from the gold to destroy.

When he leads thro' some valley of trouble
His omnipotent hand we trace;
For the trials and sorrows He sends us,
Are part of His lessons in grace.

Oft we shrink from the purging and pruning,
Forgetting the Husbandman knows
That the deeper the cutting and paring,
The richer the cluster that grows.

Well He knows that affliction is needed;
He has a wise purpose in view,
And in the dark valley He whispers,
'Hereafter Thou'lt know what I do.'

As we travel thro' life's shadow'd valley,
Fresh springs of His love ever rise;
And we learn that our sorrows and losses,
Are blessings just sent in disguise.

So we'll follow wherever He leadeth,
Let the path be dreary or bright;
For we've proved that our God can give comfort;
Our God can give songs in the night."

Streams in the Desert

Our 4th of July Celebration!

Here are those pictures that I told you were coming! *smile* To celebrate the 4th this year, we had several families over to our new home and enjoyed a cookout, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and then topped the night off with a small fireworks display. We were hoping and praying that the rainy weather would keep away - and thankfully it did! Our family enjoyed the day and hope our guests did, too!

Abigail & Molly
Darrick - enjoying a sweet ride on the tire swing

Thatcher

Volleyball - way to dive for that ball!

My brother Griff with his wife, Bek, and little girl, Chloe

L-R: Gabriel, Ab, Darrick, Jonathan, and Craig

Emma Rose

Molly

Mom & Mrs. S.

Caleb & Christine - such a happy couple!

L-R: Bethanie, Cassie, me, Alyssa, Karie, and Sherilyn

Lindsey & Bre

A couple of *cool* guys

Isaiah, Griff, and Bek

Darrick & Abby

Justin - being Justin

He had two ropes with flames on the end...

FIREWORKS

When...

When I don’t think I can make it, He holds me up…


“…Thy right hand upholds me.” ~ Psalm 63:8


When I am insecure, He is my Rock…

“He only is my Rock…” ~ Psalm 62:2


When I am troubled, or sad, He is my Refuge…

“My refuge is in God…” ~ Psalm 62:7


When I need correction or direction, He is my Shepherd…

“The LORD is my Shepherd…” ~ Psalm 23:1


When I need some place to go, He is my Shelter…

“For Thou hast been a shelter for me…” ~ Psalm 61:3


When I need help not to be worried, to not think about things, or be bothered about something, He helps me…

“Because Thou hast been my help…” ~ Psalm 63:7


When I am saddened and hurt, He is my Comforter…

“I, even I, am He that comforts you…” ~ Isaiah 51:12


When I need might, He is my Strength…

“…He is their strength…” ~ Psalm 37:39


When I need to rest, He is my Resting Place…

“Rest in the LORD…” ~ Psalm 37:7


When I am concerned about the direction in my life, He orders my steps…

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” ~ Psalm 37:23


When I don’t see this or that as being good or think God isn’t good, He is…

“O taste and see that the LORD is good…” ~ Psalm 34:8


When I don’t think He hears, He does…

“The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them…” ~ Psalm 34:17

When I feel alone, He is with me...

"Fear thou not, for I am with thee..." ~Isaiah 41:10

Our little Chloe girl!

Here's a recent picture of my little niece enjoying a day at the pool! She's almost 7 months old.

Happy 4th of July!

*more pictures to follow of our holiday weekend*

Tea with you!

Hello my blogging friends!

So much has been going on lately! Between packing, moving, settling, cleaning, graduations, the Basic Seminar, soccer, volleyball, CHEF conference, Father's Day, life still goes on. (It has to fit in there somewhere, right?!) Yes, all of the above has been our lives for the past month. It's definitely been a whirlwind, but we know that things will eventually slow down....a little bit.

So, I'm just going to have "tea with you" to give you a small run-down of the things which have occurred in our lives.

As all of you are aware, my family recently moved into a new rental house located on some acreage out in the country (yet close to city life!). We have really noticed a lot of wildlife around us. So far, we've seen snakes, deer (they like to greet us sometimes when we get home), foxes, a coyote, a resident cat, a Crane, an assortment of strange insects, and turkeys. In short--country! We've also had the...ah-hem...*pleasure* of discovering lots of poison ivy around here. I believe Thatch is the only one to have really experienced the excitement of some of those red dots. Within this next week, we are going to try to buckle down and get some more things accomplished around here. For instance: pictures hung on the wall, more boxes unpacked, finding a place for all that misceallaneous stuff, along with some outside work like killing those pesky weeds.

Between packing, moving and settling in, we have also been trying to move the rest of our belongings from our other home and preparing it for the new tenants. This, of course, includes: cleaning, minor repairs, mulching and carpet cleaning. And, to my mom's great delight...we can finally say, "WE'RE FINISHED!!"

I also mentioned that we attended the Basic Seminar. If any of you are unfamiliar with Dr. Bill Gothard or IBLP (Institue in Basic Life Principles), you may visit their website via the provided link. My siblings and I, my brother & sister-in-law, along with several friends attended the Seminar locally. It was great! I have attended two other Basic Seminar's during the course of my life, but neither one of them made the impression that this one did. First, when you're 12 years old, you really haven't lived much life. Secondly, the last time I attended, it just didn't sink in. Now, I actually came away excited about some things. I enjoyed learning some "new things", and I hope that I will strive to apply all that I was able to hear.

Between graduations & receptions, volleyball & soccer, we recently traveled over to the CHEF home school conference in St. Louis, Missouri. We make it an annual trip. The list of speakers for this year's conference included: Doug Phillips, Norm Wakefield and Voddie Baucham. Strangely, I never attended any of Mr. Baucham's sessions. However, I did have the privilege of hearing him speak last year, so I know he was good--even without going to his sessions this year!

Well, thanks for reading! Until next time, adieu!

Some pictures from our move!

Okay, I'm finally posting some pictures! Here are some from our recent move. We had perfect weather and wonderful workers! Thank you all!

Boxes, boxes, boxes!

Loading up
Dad & Thatch

Ab & Dad

Me & Erin

Dr. G.

Mrs. G.

Paul

Nathaniel

Jack

Mary~Kate

David...and little friend *smile*

Jesse with quite the catch! *wink*

Tan-Man

Lunch break!

Stephen...fun times

Yes....ALL of that is ours!!

Miss Molly

Ab enjoying her refreshing drink

We tried our best to keep a secret....but looks like it's out now! *smile*

After a long day's work

Why Dost Thou Worry Thyself?

"This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing"

Isaiah 28:12

Why dost thou worry thyself? What use can thy fretting serve? Thou art on board a vessel which thou couldst not steer even if the great Captain put thee at the helm, of which thou couldst not so much as reef a sail, yet thou worriest as if thou wert captain and helmsman. Oh, be quiet; God is Master!

Dost thou think that all this din and hurly-burly that is abroad betokens that God has left His throne?

No, man, His coursers rush furiously on, and His chariot is the storm; but there is a bit between their jaws, and He holds the reins, and guides them as He wills! Jehovah is Master yet; believe it; peace be unto thee! be not afraid. --C. H. Spurgeon

"Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
The storms are raging on God's deep--
God's deep, not thine; be still and sleep.

"Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
God's hands shall still the tempter's sweep--
God's hands, not thine; be still and sleep.

"Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
God's love is strong while night hours creep--
God's love, not thine; be still and sleep.

"Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
God's heaven will comfort those who weep--
God's heaven, not thine; be still and sleep."

I entreat you, give no place to despondency. This is a dangerous temptation--a refined, not a gross temptation of the adversary. Melancholy contracts and withers the heart, and renders it unfit to receive the impressions of grace. It magnifies and gives a false coloring to objects, and thus renders your burdens too heavy to bear. God's designs regarding you, and His methods of bringing about these designs, are infinitely wise. --Madame Guyon

~Streams in the Desert~

You need to check this out!

Piano & cello rendition of "Love Story" performed by Jon Schmidt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys

Where in the world am I, anyway?

Hello my friends!

I think my post title basically says it all! Talk about being neglectful...is there a blogging award for that?! Yes, in case you have wondered as to where I've been (and if I was ever coming back!), I am writing now to give you some sort of clue that I am still here. I think the biggest excuse I have is that I keep putting it off! (So lame, huh?!)

Even though this is not a *real* post, I will give you just a small glimpse into my life, right now.

Lately, besides the norm and getting over sickness, we have been packing for the upcoming move into our new home. Fortunately, we will be able to move over boxes and our belongings in gradual stages. The agenda this week includes: packing at our present house, giving the future house a thorough cleaning, mowing the yard, and removing wallpaper in the dining room there.

*An interesting side note. When we went over to get the keys from the renter, we discovered that the riding lawn mower, which he was going to allow us to use, had been stolen!

Today, Mom & I stopped over at Lowe's to look at paint prices and swatches. We have both decided that there are waaayyyy too many options - so many different hues! On a fun note, I may have found a certain brown color for one of the walls in my new bedroom! I'm still considering the option of painting the other three walls another color since I'm a little uneasy about going so very dark.

See...I told you it would be a small glimpse! *smile* But, hopefully before too long, I will be posting a *real* post! I have yet to get the answers for my mom's birthday quiz, and two more birthdays have since taken place and I haven't even BEGUN to work on those! Oh well....hopefully soon!