Ah, the college life

See that beautiful lady I'm hugging? That's the best Mama in the world. She has done more for me than I thought humanly possible. She has shown me the love of Christ and pointed me to Him daily. Thanks, Mama♥.

Well, today I am setting off into a whole new world - college. I am signing up for all my classes at ICC. Part of me wants to say, "This is the beginning of the END!" But I know that as the door of childhood closes and this door of adulthood opens, the Lord will guide me, grow me and strengthen me to know and follow Him. We serve Christ! That wonderful Savior! This verse has really been on my mind:

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." ~ Colossians 3:1-4

We often get distracted by the world and do not see that our goal should be to bring glory to God. Oh that my heart will always be set on things above. I pray that the Lord will remind me of this verse all throughout my college life.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah! Zip-A-Dee-A!

"There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye,
An' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky.

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Everything's going my way."

"Walking in sunlight all of my journey
Over the mountains, through the deep vale
Jesus has said, "I'll never forsake thee"
Promise divine that never can fail

Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight
Flooding my soul with glory divine
Hallelujah, I am rejoicing
Singing His praises, Jesus is mine"

 "Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your blessings,
See what God has done
Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done."

Sometimes it feels like this world is spinning faster
Than it did in the old days
So naturally we have more natural disasters
From the strain of a fast pace

Sunday was the day of rest
Now its one more day for progress
And we can't slow down
Cause more is best
It's all an endless process

Well I miss Mayberry
Sitting on the porch drinking ice cold Cherry --- Coke
Where everything is black & white
Picking on a Six String
Where people pass by and you call them by their first name
Watching the clouds roll by
bye bye

Out my window

Today I drove Ben and Will to the Duley's. On the way there the sun was setting and the yellow rays streaked in my car windows. We were listening to Kirsten Getty and I just truly felt the presence of the Lord. It was such a sweet time to worship Him. This was the song I dwelt upon:
"Jesus, Draw me ever nearer
as I labor through the storm
You have called me to this passage
and I'll follow, though i'm worn
May this journey bring the blessing
May i rise on wings of faith
and at the end of my hearts testing
with your likeness let me wake
Jesus, guide me through the tempest
keep my spirit stayed and sure
when the midnight meets the morning
let me love you even more
May this journey bring the blessing
May i rise on wings of faith
and at the end of my hearts testing
with your likeness let me wake
Let the treasures of the triumph
form within me as i go
and at the end of this long passage
let me leave them at your throne
May this journey bring the blessing
may i rise on wings of faith
and at the end of my hearts testing
with your likeness let me wake"

The Christ Child

“In summer days, like you and me
He played about the door,
Or gathered, when the father toiled,
The shavings from the floor.
Sometimes He lay upon the grass
The same as you and I,
And saw the hawks above Him pass
Like specks against the sky;
Or clinging to the gate, He watched
The stranger passing by.
And when the sun at break of day
Crept in upon His hair
I think it must have left a ray
Of unseen glory there --
A kiss of love on that little brow,
For the thorns that it must wear.”
--A. B. Paine

A Paper I Wrote For School

    The beauty of the setting sun fills the world with  a glow as the sun blinks its eye for a night rest. The colored skies cause me to think of summer days of watching the stars appear. At this time of day, the sky performs the day's finale as the colors appear and yellow beams of sun hug to the last minutes of day. The sight of such a time will be described here.
     The billowy white clouds fill the sky, as the bright sun begins to slowly drift towards the earth. The hot summer day is stifling and birds perching in the willow tree call to the moon and ask it to rise and cool the earth. The long shadows begin to fall from the trees, the houses and the tiny creatures that roam the fields. The skies fade from a light cheerful blue, to a hazy purple. The clouds turn into puffs and take on a bright orange color. The trees that line the sky grow darker and darker as the sun falls lower. The colors of the clouds change to a mellow yellow and the sky is painted a rosy pink. Suddenly in the far east a single star can be seen, peeking through the sheet of light. It's tiny point of light seems to promise the chilly night air is soon approaching. Gradually the birds cease their chirping, the shadows become darkness and all that is left of the sun is a faint yellowy, green glow. Suddenly thousands of little stars begin to blink open their eyes. A cool dew falls and covers the grass and the leaves. The moon rises in the east and shines it's early yellow glow. The gray clouds create a hallo that seems to announce that night has now fallen on the earth.  As the crickets start in to their symphony of chirps, the cool breezes of the night rustle the through the trees.
     During the early evening hours of a summer day, the earth is filled with people splashing in pools, watering and hoeing in their gardens and ending their days with exercise. The heat from the summer sun makes a deep blue pool look all the more exciting. The dark cool earth and the crisp green tomato leaves beg for a drink from the hose as the gardener hoes her potatoes. A girl laces up a pair of running shoes and jogs off with the sunshine raining down on her head. Then as the sun begins to set, the laughter subsides and the wet haired swimmers race to the fire pit.  The smell of roasting hotdogs and the hamburger grill makes many tummies rumble with hunger.  As the cool breezes of night settle in, the crackle of the fire seems to join in song with the cicadas. With the moon rising in the sky, the tiny poppy flowers fold their petals and go to sleep. The stars begin to twinkle in the sky and the hushed singing of campfire songs fills the air. Dew falls and the long tailed possum with her babies creep out of their home in the ground. The world is ready for night time. The classic look, melancholy sounds and sweet smells of a summer sunset display a beauty that only the loving and powerful hands of our God can create.
     The joy that this picture brings is refreshing. The water-colored painted sky is a beauty that no man can recreate. This description could never explain the awe found in witnessing a sunset.

On the Mountain

Last weekend our cross-country team traveled up to Chattanooga, TN and stayed at Fort Bluff Camp. The cool breezes, colorful trees, and high altitudes were amazing. I love the mountains!

Just walking around the camp, awed me. The mountain's beauty sang of God's glory. The people there call it The Mountain. "I hope you enjoy staying on the mountain. Or - While you are on the mountain-''. It was a good time where Christ was honored. People praised God, not man. I loved staying there.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands." ~ Psalms 19:1

My sweet friends were such an encouragement. I am blessed.

The night before the race, we ate with the other runners and heard a guest speaker. His message, though very convicting, was a great blessing to hear. He talked about our sinful state. He addressed very clearly what it means to be ''dead to sin''. He told of Christ's salvation and of our purpose in life. It was a great reminder and I pray the Lord used it in many hearts.

Lovely friends.. ♥

 Here we go lining up. This was my last race. My last XC meet. I must say that I was very sad and many tears were shed. When you run a cross country meet, you not only have the pressure of your own conscience, but the accountability of your coach and team-mates urging you to go on. I will miss that and I will miss the love that I shared with the team.

 Go Spartans!

Devin's wedding

 

Sometimes I think the things that make life so beautiful are the things we can't see. God's love, kind words, friendship, laughter... Devin's wedding was filled with those things. Christ's joy lit up many faces and His love was poured out through the Word. I feel so blessed to know Devin and Justin. Their courtship has been such a joy to watch. Christ truly seems to be the center of their marriage and they both, I know, rely on Him. What a great example for the young people around them. 

The morning of, the bridesmaids gathered to get ready and spend our last girly time with "single" Devin.

Wedding Toms:

  Here Kat, the Maid of Honor, and I are singing, "Goin' to the Chapel" to the bride. Our harmony sounded pretty good, if I do say so myself. ;)

The bouquets were so pretty. This picture was taken just before.  

The Groom and his men...Waiting.

Rachel and I. (and Kaelan in the background!)

The ring....well, kinda. It was Joseph's ring to carry on the pillow. In actuality, it was a remake of the ring from Lord of the Rings! Ha.

This last picture was taken at the reception. It was so beautiful. Devin had a lovely fall-ish feeling and the pumpkins and popcorn added the perfect touch.

The wedding was such a great picture of Christ and His bride.  (Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Congrats Devin and Justin! May the Lord bless your marriage and future family. 

Right now

Right now is a perfect time. My life is filled with young, girlish dreams, piano keys, early morning jogs, giggle-filled sleepovers, Gileskirk notes, worn Bible pages, pumpkin spiced lattes and the whinnies of a tall white horse. I have little worries and much love surrounding me. The small things in life are my big things. Ancient hymns, the steam off my coffee and handwritten letters the things I delight in.

 But it is all soon to change. Senior-ism has begun to wear on me. The adult life is creeping up on me and the line from Peter Pan rolls over in my mind - "All children, except one, grow up.” Of course my true childhood days ended long ago, but just now I am beginning to realize it. Sometimes I wish I could find Peter Pan and travel to the Neverland I once believed in.  To relive all my disney, fairytale moments, but as I get older and taller (well hopefully not too much taller) I realize that youth is just like all of life, brief as the wind. 

Time passes and all is gone. I will blink and gray hair will begin to shade by face. Sometimes it seems like time is a curse, ruining all that is good. I want to freeze and remain exactly where I am. But time isn't a curse, it's a mighty force that God has created. Time does not just push me on towards old age, it pulls me towards my Savior. With every passing minute, I am closer to seeing my Savior face to face. 

So instead of constantly looking to the past, however delightful it may seem, I will move on. Slowly and sentimentally, I will make the next turn in life. College, jobs, cars and apartments seem terrifying, but God's goodness and wisdom reigns over all. The whole of my life is in His hands. I have no reason to fear. As my world begins to change I will trust in Him, for He is faithful. 

Goodbye Peter, it's time for me to grow up. 

Looking back

I recently went back and looked at my old blog. As I looked back, I saw how different life seemed then. Just is that short amount of time, since then - so mauch has changed. The Lord has made great changes in my heart, as well as changes around me. On Father's Day this year, I made my Daddy a card with some very old pictures on it - pictures from before Ben was born. Daddy was throwing my tiny self into the air. (yes, believe it or not, I was once tiny) I remember how I trusted him. How I knew I was safe whenever he heald me in his strong, loving arms. I see even at that age, the Lord was pointing me to Himself. In God's strong arms are where we find sure safety. There, we find fulfilling love. Only in those Arms can we trust, truly. I am so thankful for my Daddy. He is the best ever, but even more, I am thankful for a Savior, in whose arms I may abide.

This Summer

Summer is here, things should be slowing down and the days should be getting longer and warmer. But, the ACT is this Saturday and we have several trips planned. I will be very busy this summer-to my delight. I recently visited my momma's brother in Starkville, MS. I was privileged greatly, by being allowed to bring my dear friends Margaret and Martha. My family, as is well known, is quite crazy. Momma and her siblings are very amusing together and Uncle Jerry's house was loads of fun. We woke up at the crack of dawn, every morning to run on the Mississippi State University campus. All of the old buildings and passing students awed our trio. Many times our jaws dropped to look up at gorgeous chapels and breathtaking old libraries. Lauren, my cousin Joe's wife, gave us a tour and gave us many historical facts about the college. Running there was so fun. Coming back was delicious, Crispy Cream dough-nuts awaited us. Yumm... Playing Frisbee, swimming, fishing, shooting 22s and sitting around laughing, was many of our daily habits. One of the joys of our time, was sipping coffee in the morning, talking about our Savior and softly singing hymns in harmony. Praising the Lord with others, warms your heart. I'm so thankful for this.

Life in the Light

The Lord has been so kind to me. I am living in the Light. Praise to the Lord for His goodness. His blessings are unmeasurable. May He be given all the glory.

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~ John 8:12

My recent picture editing,

Stormy, as I have said in the past, is a great horse. Broken, but ignorant - Young, but gentle. Beauty is another grand virtue we share. Ha! Just kidding. I got compared to her recently... I'm still not sure that was a good thing. ;)

Usually photography isn't my thing. Not that I dislike doing it or that I dislike admiring other's work, I just don't seem to have that inner photographer's eye. Occasionally though, I grab the camera and snap a view pics. I love black and white pictures of horses and had loads of fun editing these.

This first one is obviously of me and Stormy. ( I might also add, Catherine took this picture. I only edited it)








This was a cool angle. The blooming tree added to the greatness. ( I took this picture)
















I love this one. Isn't John cute? (picture taken by C.J.S.)








A lot has been going on around here. This long, tall, sally, has greatly enjoyed her spring break. I was so happy to get it. I refuse to believe it's almost over! This week-end I spent the night at some friends of ours. One of the young Moms had a ''get together'' for some of the teenaged girls. We giggled and played games, ate pizza and ice cream, but we also heard a great testimony from our hostess. She told of how the Lord is enough. One of the main struggles, young ladies have with with submitting and serving Christ is: tthe fear of losing freedoms, the fear of losing friends and even fearing rejection from God. Those were some of the trials I had, before I was converted. Through the talk, I realised that so often do I, even as a Christian, fail to make the right choice or say the right thing, for some of those same reasons. I fear my friends may laugh or I may lose freedoms I now have. But no. Christ is enough. Even if we lose all our friends, He is faithful. He is the perfect friend. Even now, I need to be remained of that. He is enough. The things of this world will disappoint us, but He is always Faithful. Praise to the Lord!