Summer Pics (Part 2)

I know that Summer is almost over, but it's taken me a little while to get around to posting the second part of pictures from this busy season.
But, I'm doing it now! :)

berries in our backyard

I found this picture on my camera...maybe Dresden and Megan were doing a little photo shoot? :D

 

This one's a bit blurry, but Dresden and Megan put a bib on Phoebe and said it was a shirt. Poor Phoebe! :D

silly girl!

in the car

Last week, Mom, Dresden and I went to Build-a-Bear so that Dresden could spend some money she had earned.

Here she is "warming her horse's heart". :)

in the "fluff bath"

cute little superhero outfits!!!

Little lightsabers!

for you, Keely---Iron Man. ;)  (sorry, I just had to!)

:)

Dresden and her new horse, Lyla.

It was fun to be able to do something with just Dresden. She was very excited to finally be getting a Build-a-...Horse? :)

Yes, I'm kind of obsessed with taking pictures of the sky...

About a week ago, my friend Rachel and I did a photo shoot with some of our little friends during the lunch break of a busy day at the CC church, watching the kids while the tutors were in a meeting. We had lots of fun!

 

beautiful Rachel

Anna and Rachel

Noah was so much fun! (I love, love, LOVE this picture!)

Anna, Rachel and Noah

Leah, Rachel and Noah

Leah, me and Noah

friends.

That's it! You're probably thinking, finally! :)

We've had a busy and exciting Summer, and it's hard to believe it's coming to an end! We start school next Monday, and I am (somewhat) looking forward to getting back into a routine. I'm excited for what this new school year holds for us!

Have a great week and God bless! :)

A Poem

                                             

                                               Morning

 She looks to the East,

 the sun's soft light caressing her face like warm, friendly fingers.

She opens her arms,

closes her eyes

and breathes deeply of the crisp morning air.

The wind stirs and blows the hair from her face.

She sits down on the soft carpet of grass, slightly wet form dew.

Everything is still.

Everything is quiet.

Everything is peaceful. 

                  ~Alley Caroline

Sweet, Simple Life

//ice cream sandwiches (Thanks, Dennises!)//

//playful laughter//

//warm smiles//

//hugs//

//being crazy with Dresden//

//drinking hot tea in my favorite mug//

//writing//

 //learning part of Psalm 139 to a song//

//pictures//

//sweet birthday cards and letters//

//a gift from a dear friend//

//trying my hand at writing poetry//

//discussing baby names//

//last piece of birthday cake//

//quiet early mornings//

//drawing and writing with chalk//

//fond memories//

//songs//

//green smoothies//

 //friends//

//family//

//sweet, simple life//

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ~Romans 5:8

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." -Psalm 85:15

Fourteen.

me. :)

{taken from spiritual journal}

Today is my fourteenth birthday. Fourteen. Am I really that old? In some ways, I feel like I should only be nine or ten, and it's hard to believe that I am entering my second year as a teenager already. 

I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with another year of life, of health.

Sometimes, when I think about how often I am unkind to my siblings, prideful and impatient, I am aware of just how undeserving I am of God's grace and forgiveness. And yet He so willingly gives it to me and loves me unconditionally. I feel so...thankful to be one of His children!

Thank You, Lord, for the blessings You graciously give me. Thank You for Your unfailing love for me. Thank You for another year of life, and grow me to be more and more like Yourself with every year.

True.

The Everyday

bed head

got ya, Liam!

 

Hello! :)

Megan snuggling with Phoebe

Who Reads?

I've been wondering lately: who reads my blog? Who gets enjoyment from visiting my little corner of the web?  

I'm just curious. I want to know if my blog is worth reading; is it benefiting the ones who read it? Is it encouraging others?


I have also been thinking about all that I write about here, and have decided that I want this blog to focus on the Lord even more.

I want to write about my family and about the things that God is teaching me. I want to encourage others in my writing and, most importantly, bring glory to God.

So, I will try my best to blog about things that have a specific focus, that focus being to capture the many blessings that the Lord has given me and to keep a record of my walk with Him during these teen years.



 I hope that you all enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing in it!

It's Over... :(

The Kids of Bristol Town is over. *sniff, sniff*

We had three great shows and a great audience at every one. Each show was better than the last, and God helped us to use the talents He has given us to tell the story of George Mueller to the best of our abilities.

 It was such a fun week and I pray that The Kids of Bristol Town worked in the hearts of the ones who watched it and maybe even brought some to Christ.

Greenleaf is such an encouraging, down-to-earth, fun, safe environment, and I didn't feel criticized or anything during my time there, which is big to me because it is easy, no matter what situation you are in, for people to 'tear down' instead of 'build up'.

One of the things that I loved about Greenleaf was that the focus was truly on God. We sang praise songs and prayed before each show. We gave each other high fives after every scene and just encouraged one another. You could really just sense that the whole cast wanted to bring glory and honor to God while they were on the stage. It was so awesome to be a part of such a great, Christian cast!

 Dresden was even able to be in the show, (she played my child) and it was fun having her hang out with us.

There was a cast party at Greenleaf yesterday afternoon, which was a lot of fun. It was great to reward ourselves for working so hard over the past week by eating snacks, laughing and performing 'bloopers' of some of the scenes on the stage.


Even though I'm sad the show is over, I am looking forward to doing more with Greenelaf over the years!

Dresden and I each got a bouquet of roses from our grandparents! These pretty flowers make me smile. 

Busyness.

-Yes, I have been petty busy lately. The main reason is because I have been at several hours of rehearsal for The Kids of Bristol Town this week. It is starting to come together, and I am so excited to perform it in two (!) days. I have made several friends, laughed a lot and acted my heart out. :) The stage crew, director and the cast are just great and I look forward to each rehearsal...I will be kind of sad when this whole experience is over.

It's a very fun show, and I think the audience will enjoy it!

Being in this show, I am more exposed to George Mueller and his life, beliefs and how strong his faith in God was.

Here is a quote by George Mueller:

"If the Lord fails me at this time, it will be the first time."

So, even though I play a character who doesn't exactly embrace George Mueller and his new ideas (I am an aristocratic woman in his church), I still have enjoyed learning about him.  :)

-Today is 'Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day.' It's a day where people can support Chick-Fil-A for speaking out against homosexuality by giving them lots of business, and we are going to eat there this afternoon before my play practice. Let me just say here that I very much applaud Chick-Fil-A for standing up for what is right. I know that they have been persecuted by people who don't think that the sin of homosexuality is really a sin and are speaking out against this great restaurant.

Sometimes I am just so saddened by how sinful we all are...too blind to see what is clearly right in front of our faces.

-And lastly, I ask you, readers, to pray for me. Please pray that I will will continue to draw closer to the Lord, and that I would do everything I do, whether it's acting on a stage or folding laundry, for His glory.
I appreciate your prayers! :)


Have a blessed week!