A Fun Evening

We had a "fun night" at church last night, complete with huge bouncey houses, a slide, burgers and hotdogs (think Costco's polish dogs), face painting and more.
It was great fun, ended with "Predators of the Heart", a show done by a guy who has a bunch of predatory animals: wolves, cougars, snakes, birds of prey, and more. It was amazing, and he ties a christian message into it which makes it even cooler.
Liam had a blast and it was definitely fun for me too!

Starbucks Girl Picture

Starbucks Girl

So, I had my first day of actual training at Starbucks today. It was great fun mixed with alot of boring reading. I now know how to make just about any Frappiccino you could ask for, as well as brew the coffee/tea, and make iced cofee/tea!!! I can pretty much run a register too, although there are a few things that are still tricky for me, like ringing up a triple tall, non-fat, raspberry decaf espresso no whip or the like, LOL. But, I think I am doing pretty good for my first day. Props to my training girl, Vanessa, who was AWESOME! I also got to finally meet my manager, which was cool. She seems nice (time will tell). So, yeah. I forgot to get a picture of me in uniform before I took it all off, but I will try to get one soon!

Shuckin' Corn

I've always really liked shucking corn. It was one of those childhood activities that have really stuck with me.

So, when we were visiting my parents awhile back, and mom asked me to shuck the corn, I immediately grabbed a chair and called Liam over.

He loved it. There were only 3 ears, and I let him shuck them all. He wanted to shuck more and was very disappointed that there were none left!

The legacy has been passed down! Sweet!

best friends

I've known her since I was 8 or 9. That's 16 years! We've been through ALOT together and I love her very much!

thoughts....

Writing on the last page of a journal I've been keeping since November has really made me introspective this afternoon. Alot has happened in life over the last 8 or 9 months. There was been joy and sorrow, pain and peace, laughter and tears.
Alot of the things that happened, I would never have wished for before hand, but I know that they stand to teach me important lessons and draw me closer to the Lord....and I know that it all HAS drawn me closer.
I do not yet know how to choose contentment in all circumstances, but even in the midst of darkness, disappointments, frustrations and trials, I have learned to trust that God has a plan and it is perfect (although I will probably have to go on learning, as it is a lifetime lesson, not a quick one). He loves me, and those around me, and the pain we feel brings Him pain, even when He can see the outcome of it all.
I think one of the most profound things I've written in the last months, one of the things that has helped me gain peace about, if not fully accept or even understand, the yucky stuff, was this:
"At this point, all I can do is look to my Savior and sob, "why?"And, in the midst of the ever increasing darkness and in the midst of my heart breaking ever more, I feel His love surround me and comfort me and I know His heart is breaking too. Because, this isn't what He wanted to have happen either."
He did not create us for pain and sorrow. He created us for love, for life, and for Himself. And through the work of Jesus on the cross, we can regain a piece of the life He made for us before sin entered the world, and the hope of eternity with Him in glory!

More National Forrest Park Pictures....

Beauty in the eye of the beholder....

We went to the national forrest a few weeks back (for some reason I wasn't able to load pictures on here until now). It was a beautiful afternoon and I got so many beautiful pictures.