"fun photo day"...

Since seeing the movie Avatar with my friends didn't work out, I decided to have a "fun photo day", just to try out some of the different settings on my camera that I hadn't tried before. Let me tell ya, I had such a fun time! I love taking pics of people, nature, places, etc., but it's kinda nice being your own photographer. At least, it's nice when you, the tri-pod, and the timer on your camera all work together. :)

My friends and I are going to San Simeon tomorrow for some lunch and a hike. I just got a new memory card today, and I also just put the freshly-charged batteries in my camera; I'm ready to go! I hope to get some fun shots of my friends and the awesome surroundings that God has given us. :)

BTW, I got some of my photo ideas from Lisa Leonard (amazing! [sunset shots]) and Samuel Potter (I REALLY want him to do a family photo shoot with us before Sissy and I leave for college [same road where he took his "Aaron and Meghan" photos]). More pics coming soon! :)

getting back into blogging...

OK, I feel REALLY lame for not posting anything Christmasy yet! Ugh, so sad!

Well, to tell ya the truth, this year didn't really feel like Christmas to me. I feel bad for saying that, but it's true. So that's probably why I haven't posted much these past few days, I haven't been in the blogging spirit! I have to find a way to get back into it...maybe just a quick drive to the beach, then in SLO at night with my camera...maybe? :) Anyway, I'll definitely post about New Year's Eve and such. Hope you had a very Merry Christmas! :)

disneyland/dad's 55th birthday!..

I love it when Disneyland celebrates the holidays.
Happy birthday Dad! :)

to simply have faith...

...is a challenge.

Sunday, 12/6/09, 10:18AM: The air became stiff, breathes were stolen away from their owner, and tears started to flow. Ken Peet, family pastor at Grace Church SLO, announced the resignation of my youth pastor, Todd Roughton...No one saw this coming.

Todd had just finished his sermon on the crucifixion, when Ken walked in - Bible in hand - and a sullen disposition posted on his face. Only the juniors and seniors knew that something was up (considering we know Ken, and if Ken is sad, it isn't a good thing). He took a deep breath, and told the youth group the announcement he had been practicing up in his office for hours; and still, it was a challenge. As Todd sat on stage next to Ken, the single, immediate question hung in the air..."Why?". Of course, no one really tells you why a pastor of any kind resigns. They just tell you: 1) It's not from sinning, 2) We've been discussing and addressing the issue for quite some time, and 3) It was a unanimous decision made up ultimately by Todd...Let me tell you...that's. not. enough.

There we sat, motionless, throughout the entire announcement, all thinking the same questions: "Why? How could Todd leave after only two years? What will happen to us? What will happen to them? How are Ashlynn and Jeremy taking it? Was it because of money? The Elders? Us?.....Why God, why?" So many questions we desperately feel the need to answer. It's a horrible nagging feeling in your heart; and that question just keeps repeating: "Why?"

FAITH. LOVE. HOPE. These words are ringing in my head.

~FAITH

• We have to have faith that God will take care of everything. That's right, EVERYTHING. He knows what has, is, and will be happening with the Roughtons and with us. I just need to have faith that God knows what He's doing. It's so easy to say, "Oh yeah, I know that God knows everything; so of course He knows what He's doing!". And yet, we give Him no credit whatsoever. Have faith, TRUE faith.

~LOVE

• Todd, Summer, Ashlynn, and Jeremy. A wonderful family who, right now, has A LOT more questions than we do. Just think for a second. We get to stay here, in our homes; they don't. We will have the same friends, the same jobs; they wont (well, they'll have the same friends, but not the job). We just have to sit back and wait for a new youth pastor to come; they have to go and search for a new church they can call "Home". They need more love than anyone right now, and all I can think about is myself, my worries. Todd, Sum, Ash, and J; I love you guys, and I will definitely be loving you even when you're not in SLO town anymore.

~HOPE

• GOD WILL PROVIDE. He will give us a new youth pastor. He will give the Roughton fam a new home; a new job. He is such a caring, and loving God; I can't believe how much I forget that. He's merciful, compassionate, loving, understanding, gracious, and my Father. He will provide. We just have to have hope in the promises of tomorrow.

For those of us still with many, many questions, I tell you this: never lose faith, never lose love, never lose hope. I pray for peace in the tough times, and wisdom in the tougher times. I pray for strength when I am weak, and tears when I am even weaker. I pray for boldness against the formidable, and openness with those I love. Todd, Summer, Ashlynn, and Jeremy; I love you all, and I pray that the best is yet to come in your lives. :) ~Jeremiah 29:11-13

a day of thanks...

Thank You, God, for the ocean...

Thank You for flowers, and the bumble bees that need them...

Thank You for the gift of life...

Thank You for Dad's that help with the heavy lifting, and the lighter (more emotional) loads...

and Thank You for the food we eat...

Thank You, God, for everything - big and small. :)

just stop, and think...

My small group is going through the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I'm not even halfway through the first chapter, and already I'm feeling SUPER convicted!
There are videos online that you watch follow along with the book. I've watched the first two: "Awe Factor" and "Just Stop And Think". "Just Stop And Think" is the one that got to me the most, because I find that - when I'm alone (especially at the beach) - I do stop and think. Yet, I don't do it nearly often enough.
I don't stop and talk with God nearly as much as I should. I get caught up in the everyday flow and routine without even thinking about how big and amazing God really is. I mean, do you ever just stop and think, "Wow, I'm part of this ity-bity universe; this minuscule planet in amongst all the other planets and galaxies out there, and yet, God still knows who I am. He knows how many hairs are on my head. How many cells are in my body...and that's not even the half of it! He knows my every thought, my every move; what my next move is going to be. He knows my words before the exit my mouth; but He's not too busy to feed the birds in the air and the fish in the sea."
It reminds me of that song, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty. There's NOTHING my God cannot do."....NOTHING.

I'm loving this book. I can't wait to see how God's going to convict me next. :)

swing in my backyard...

...Oh, so much fun! Unfortunately, we had to move inside about halfway through the party due to rain. Although, I think everyone had a lot more fun playing picture phone rather than standing out in the cold, dark rain. :)

at home with the flu...

So, I was super stoked for my swing birthday party on the 13th. Dad and Sissy had painted the deck, Dad and I put up lights in the trees (pics coming soon!), and the music and guest list were all taken care of. Everything was going great, until the 11th, when I came home from school with a fever and who knows what else. I thought, "It's just a cold, I'll be better in time for my party."

Here I am, 5 days later, still sick. Ugh, flu's are the pits. Well, at least I have my baby and a nice pile of chem homework to keep me company. :)

O yeah! I've rescheduled my party for this Friday, so I will have pics of the lights and decor then. :)

late night foster's run...

Oh, so yummy. :)

10/31/09!...

*Grace Church's Downtown People Puzzle!*

*Followed by the Los Osos Harvest Festival...*

*As the sun sets, and the moon arises...

...may the dancing BEGIN!*

A very fun day (and night!)! What did you do on Saturday? :)

footprints...

I've always loved this poem, and this picture just reminds me so much of it. :)


"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most, you would leave me."

The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child. I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

lovely pumpkins...

Pumpkins here, pumpkins there, pumpkins pumpkins everywhere!
Tall ones, short ones, thin ones, stout ones,
Orange ones, yellow ones, pumpkins pumpkins big and small,
Pumpkins just seem to brighten up Fall. :)

backyard picnic...

It was such a nice day yesterday, that I decided to have a backyard picnic with a couple of friends! I made iced coffee, iced tea, lemon bars, and sandwiches in the shape of butterflies (I used an old cookie cutter to cut out the sandwiches). We had such a fun time - I think we need to do it more often. :)

Heartland's Monterey Trip...

My home school group, Heartland Christian Academy, went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium this past Monday. Unfortunately, it wasn't the best trip I've had to the aquarium; but hey, I know I'll be back soon. :)