{Cow Appreciation Day}

Today is Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A!! 

Dress like a cow and get free food!! 

More info here.

4th of July Travelings...

This past weekend my family and I headed down to land of the ducks, guineas, horse, llamas, zebra ...ok we went to my oldest sisters house in NC to spend the 4th of July with them. 

{ Happy Belated Independence Day!!! }

We got down there Thursday morning and did some running and then went to there midweek service. 

Friday morning we started our day of events with one of the most painful events for me...

senior pictures.

Anna kept asking me if it was painful for me to smile for the camera and I kept replying with a very confident "yes!" 

I like to be on the other side of the camera,so this was hard.

Anyways...here's a few.

 I have been warned that this is only the beginning of pictures. I am supposed to return again in the fall for more. This time was kinda a last minute thing. 

Banana puddin' that I made

We went over to friends from the church down there. We had lots and lots of food. We ate around a campfire and then sang some songs about our Nation. After that we played volleyball.

writing stars 

"July 4" 

Anna and I making a heart for our dear sister,Olivia.

These are some first attempt pictures at capteruing sparklers on camera. Anna's turned out better,but I'm using the excuse that she had a tripod and I didn't!! :) After we were done with the sparklers,some of us younger folks played kick-the-can til it was time to go. 

This is a pile of stuff that we got on Saturday. The guys went kayaking and caneoing with some of the other guys from church,so mom,Anna,and I went shopping. We went everywhere-from multiple thrift stores,to World Market,the mall,and Rite-Aid. We all got a good bit of stuff,and I think we enjoyed ourselves!! :) We spent enough time shopping for a year,I think!! 

This is why we went to World Market. Olivia thought I'd like this measuring cup set,and after looking it up Anna said they had a World Market store down there,so we went in so I could get one for my ever-expanding hope chest.

 It's pretty neat. It's glass measuring cups that turn into a mason jar. It's multi-functional--measuring cups and decoration! 

Sunday was our last day down there,we went to church,relaxed in the afternoon,and went back to church that evening. After the evening service some of us played our instruments together,others sang,and the rest of them listened. It was a great time of fellowship. 

We left this morning and headed home. 

Another summer trip off the list... 

Home for awhile before packing up again.

{traveling}

I just got back from a week of camp yesterday. It was a good week of activity,fellowship,and preaching. 

The beginning of camp,was the beginning of many summer adventures...

I leave for North Carolina in 6 days,where I'll be for 5 days. 

Upon returning I will be home for 6 days before I help at VBS,pack,and house sit for half a week.

I leave for Texas in the middle of the week and when I get to Texas,I'll leave my bags packed, because the day after arriving down there I'll head to New Mexico on a missions trip. 

After the mission trip in New Mexico,back to Texas I will return for two weeks,serving the Lord during missions trips to Mexico.

August 9th will be the day I head home. At this point it will be the end of summer travels for me,unless things change. 

I'm hoping that each trip draws me closer to my Saviour and changes me more and more into the image of Jesus Christ.

I'm thankful for the opportunity I have to go places and serve.

I don't deserve any of it,but folks...

I serve a good God,who does good things.

From this point on til the end of summer I'll be keeping my suitcase nearby!! 

{A Hidden Letter}

My mom and I went yard saling and thrift shopping last weekend. I picked up a few things for myself,and some stuff for other people. 

{collection of things I got}

Notice the two books by James Stewart. I have a friend who likes his books, so I picked them up for him. 

I didn't really look that much into them when I first found them and bought them,but when I came home and started looking at them,I noticed something hidden in the one book...

It was a letter from Mr. James S. Stewart himself,the author of these books.

It was sent on December 16th,1948...

from the University of Edinburgh where he was taking courses...

{I did enjoy the old words like "cordially" }

It was definitely not something I was expecting to find in a book that I picked up from a yard sale for a few cents,but it was definitely interesting! You never know what you'll find at a yard sale!! 

**to my sisters...I am saving the letter until you can look at it before I give it to the person for whom I bought these books. 

{Camera}

peonies from grandma's house in a mason jar on my desk...two of my favorite things. 

This past week I decided I was going to buy myself a camera. 

I asked my dad for his wisdom and we both went out camera shopping.

I ended up getting a Canon Rebel T3 with two lenses.

Wow! I'm impressed!! 

There is definitely a lot to learn,but I'm learning slowly. 

I've enjoyed playing around with it...