Hello! Long time, no talk!

Whew! It has been a while... Here is my reason for being MIA:

We are in the process of tearing up all of the carpet in our house...

Packing up all of our things, so we can move the furniture.

Getting everything off the floor,

Here is what our game room up stairs looks like tonight.  We are moving the three bedroom sets out there, and then will move it back in when the new carpet is installed.

My dresser is out there, so I have to get dressed in the game room.. haha.. just kidding

The purple room/scrapbook room.

Here is how I am updating my blog! Sitting on the floor-

It's a mess. I'm running out of places to put things.

We leave for San Fran next Wednesday. Carpet is being installed next Tuesday and Wednesday. I worked every day last week, with just enough time to sleep. I got my new camera in the mail last week, and so far no problems with it! We are meeting some friends for coffee tomorrow morning. I have to go get my car registered. And pack up some more.

Be Different.

Last night, while reading my Bible verses for the day, I stumbled across these verses. This is the Message translation. I think that sometimes the Message is easier to understand, but I still love to compare a few versions.

Romans 12:1-2

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

This is my desire. I do want to be different. And I believe I am. It is so important to keep our focus on the true reason we are here on this earth. It is very easy to get caught up in drama, and what feels good to us. What we want out of life, the car we want to drive, the bigger, better house, the perfect body- but at the end of the day, is this what matters? If you read this verse, what does it say?

Fix your attention on God. You will be changed from the inside out.

Um, excuse me, did you read that? Not just some of your attention, All. Of. It.

This is my goal. To not get caught up in the world, but to fix my eyes on Jesus, and him alone. I'd like to challange you to look at this verse that way too!

Roses

Karen surprised me with roses for my graduation. I wanted to save them, so we read online that you should just hang them in a dry, hot place for two weeks. Well, the attic is beyond hot and it's dry, so I just hitched up some yarn on some wire and tied them two of them up there. Since some of the roses were already bad, I just tore the petals off thinking I'd dry those too. I think it worked? The actual roses are a little squishy yet, so I think that means I need to let them go a little longer. I'm not quite sure though! haha... But anyways, Thanks for the roses FAK! I love you.

(you might be a redneck if... :D)

 

Good bye Camera

After being dropped (on accident) while it was in Malaysia, my camera has never recovered. I kept it this long, only because I wanted to have it on display on my memory table at graduation.
I finally ordered a new camera, just the newest model of my old camera. I received it last Saturday, turned it on, charged the battery and the next morning it froze. Like black screen, the lens was stuck out and it wouldn't turn on. So we sent it back, and now I'm waiting for a new one to arrive. But they have to receive the one I sent back first, so it could take up to two weeks. I hope I can get it in time for San Francisco. I need to order new batteries (rechargeable) too, for this camera that I don't have yet. Whew! Did you get all that?

So, dear old camera: You have been very good to me. I took you to Israel and you took 2,700 pictures over there. And hundreds maybe thousands more too in your 2.5 year life. The end.

The Jordan River

Some more of my favorite pictures from Israel. These pictures were taken at the baptism site on the Jordan River. It was so neat to stand in the river where Jesus himself was baptized. Definitely something I will never forget.

Here are all of the kids.

Me in the Jordan river!

There were many being baptized the day we were there. It was pretty cool to see!

This was near the water. You have to pay to use many of the bathrooms in Israel. I decided I didn't want to use them. haha

This is my friend Kennon. I guess his pants got wet in the river. I wish I was as cool as him!

Ms. Jenna

I needed a picture for my senior slide show of my three favorite kiddos. I have been with this family (as a nanny) for three years now. It was such a wonder that we got them all to look at the camera. I am thrilled with how this turned out. I cannot believe that they are three and five now. Where does the time go?

Later on, when big D had to go to a t-ball game, the girls and I had a little photo shoot and I got some great pictures!

Everything

I woke up at 6 this morning.
I don't feel well at all. What a great way to start a Saturday.
It is 143 degrees in Texas and 564% humidity. I do not like it at all.
I am researching plans for out upcoming trip to San Francisco.
I need to wash my car. And write a few thank you notes from graduation.
Did I mention I do not feel well. ughhh.
I am working 4567 hours next week and already praying for my attitude. Babysitting/nannying is a great job, but it comes with stress and drama too.
My sister is all done with driving school and can get her license on August 20th. We've been looking at cars for her. Is she really that old?
My mom just came upstairs to check on me. She is the best.
It is too hot out to even go to the pool.
My dad's a/c in his truck is finicky. It doesn't cool the car anymore. Poor guy. Hopefully he gets it fixed soon.
I need to be better about updating this thing.
I worked 4 different jobs in 46 hours time last week. I am still worn out from that.
thanks for listening.

Graduation

I can't believe that Graduation has come and gone. On June 5th, I had a little ceremony with two other homeschoolers. Both of my grandparents were there, which was so special. I loved that they were able to sit in the second row to support me. My aunt flew down too, so that made it even more special! My favorite sister ever was there too :) We had a fun time for sure. I cannot believe I am officially out of high school for good now.

Thanks for coming guys!