In a Nutshell

My life has been busy recently.

Not too crazy.  But busy nonetheless.

My sister, Samantha, celebrated her birthday last week on the same day my parents celebrated their wedding anniversary.  My brother, Joshua, opened all of his birthday presents yesterday because we will be out west for his birthday.

Love you, birthday kiddoes!

I've been busy packing, cleaning, shopping, organizing...  all the stuff that comes with going on a trip.  My dear friend of eleven years, Emily, will be changing her last name on Saturday by marrying her prince.  My family will be on the road travelling Tuesday and Wednesday...  in our brand new 15-passenger van which we've named "The Ark".  No... not because we act like a bunch of animals inside of it... though it can get pretty loud.  ;-)

This is a very surreal time for me.  Seeing my best friend from forever step into a new phase in her life is so exciting... yet change isn't easy.  I'm so glad to see my friend so happy and in love, but I will miss the "old days" of just being two girls with no worries.  Congrats, Brandon and Emily!  You're quite a guy, Brandon.  *sigh*  Take care of my friend, Mister!  ;-)  Oh Em, love you SO much.  Time flies, doesn't it?

On a lighter, less emotional, note...  I'm so excited to be going out west again.  I went last summer and fell in love with the mountains, low humidity, and just general gorgeousness of it!  My sisters have never been to Colorado, so I can't wait to see their eyes when they look out a bedroom window to see mountains every morning!  So beautiful...

We'll be spending about two weeks on vacation (including travel), so I'm not sure if I'll be blogging or not in that time.  My treasured laptop will be going with me... but I have no clue how busy I'll be.  A LOT will be happening over the next couple weeks.  In fact, when I get back to Indiana, I will have some news to share with you all.  Haha... I have a secret! 


So, besides all the crazy getting-ready-for-the-trip stuff, I have had some time for a project.  I ran a booth last summer at our town's festival and did really well selling jewelry and other accessories.  This year I'm adding a couple new things, one of which are these little button hairclips.

I LOVED making these!!!  I want to make more to give as little gifts...  I actually couldn't make myself sell all of them.  I kept this one:

I really love greens, so this one won first place and made it into my personal collection of hairclips... and I got all of these buttons at the little antique store down the road.  *drool*  

Well, to wrap this up, I'll share the passage that my pastor preached on this morning.

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

But the wicked are not so,

But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the wicked will perish.

~Psalm 1

Pastor Dan preached this sermon as a challenge and encouragement to a young man from our church youth group who finished highschool this year and will be heading off into the college world in the fall.  What a challenge he made it to the rest of our church too.  I know that I can find myself walking in the counsel of the wicked in the little habits of my everyday life.  What a jolt to hear from the pulpit, "Your habits become your identity!".  The little things I allow into my life now will, sooner or later, take control.  As my dear friend and pastor said, "Don't mess with sin!  Flee from it like a scared, screaming little girl.  It will destroy you!"

Its so hard because the sin of this world isn't always the glaring, blaring, obvious sin that we know to keep clear of.  Sin can be so subtle, so seemingly innocent.  No wonder we are told that the blessed, happy man is the one who delights himself in God Word, firmly rooting himself in the truth like a tree next to a stream. 

I'm so thankful for a God who is forgiving; Who sees my weakness and is there to help me and not condemn me now that I am His child, washed in the blood of His Son.  There is none like Him.  Amen and amen. 

Well, my friends, I will try to post pictures and keep you updated while on my trip, but, if not, I'll just have lots of pictures and news to share when I get back!

God bless!