memories.

i have been messing around on dad's computer this afternoon because it was been less than enjoyable weather today. looking through the photo's brought back some great memories from the past. my family has been so blessed to go on many adventures and trips together over the years.

a couple of my friends from auburn went on their own adventure this summer to jackson hole wyomming to work and live. i am immensely jealous of their opportunity to be in the amazing west and live in the mountains. my favorite.

so i was looking through pictures of my own adventures out west and i found where i wish i was.

then i found some other random pictures on the computer that i had no clue we even had.

this is also where i wish i was this summer. working. this is in silverton, CO. i love it there. we take a train there and it is positively picturesque.

or here...

the chicago "magnificent mile" at night.

all these pictures were taken by my camera or by mom's. so be impressed.

but this is what i have for you today. i just am kinda anxious to get out of montgomery and auburn. kinda ready for a change of scenery for a while. even the beach will be soooo welcome. even if it is just over a couple days.

anyways. more later!

48 years.

my dad has been alive for 48 years today. that is a really long time. but you would not think he is a day over 40. he is such a great man.

today i want to dedicate this post to him. just because it is his day of birth.

my dad and i are so much alike. we are very close. not like your normal father and daughter combo. we talk about everything. we enjoy doing many things together and i could not be blessed any further than to have this man as my father.

he is such a fantastic husband to my mom. he is a marvelous example of the kind of man i want to spend my life with. my dad is a coach. not only to his students, but to his children. he encourages me in countless ways. honestly, i could not ask for a better encourager than my dad.

he has touched so many people's lives. coach bethea is the greatest. if you play a sport, you want to play for him. he may be strict and have some rules, but he is building warriors for Christ and young people who are living their lives pleasing to the Lord.

so happy birthday dad! you are amazing.

dad and his girls.

but tomorrow is looking like some rain. i am praying that the Lord holds off the rain until tomorrow night. i need sun and the pool. badly.

but i sleepy.

alas i leave you now. goodnight blog world. until tomorrow. . .

sunshine.

i have been successful at neglecting my blog this week. this is inexcusable and i am terribly sorry. i apologized in my last post, but this time i will not let this happen again. now my eager readers can have their meaning for living back. i know it has been rough without me. but never fear. i am still present.

it has been an enjoyable week of school. it is true, summer in auburn is laid back. my two classes are going to be interesting. gosh my world lit teacher, prof. h, is hilarious. honestly one of the craziest women i have ever come into contact with.

prof h walked into the class the first day and exploded into questions. she beckoned to us as her "lovers of learning". she called the females the ladies of grace and virtue and the males she called her chivalric gentlemen. her teaching style is extreme engagement. we are involved in every aspect of the class. i suffer from a sleeping disorder, and i have not come close to being sleepy yet. it is going to be a great class. it's actually pretty interesting.

living in the 36 house has been great. camilla and i have had some very real bonding around the table and the pool. it has been nice to live in a house instead of a tiny dorm. my favorite part is when i can sit on the swing in the front yard and watch the sun set. it is incredibly beautiful and the smells are great. summer trees that bloom, people riding bikes, kids running in the park sprinklers. love it. i want to be a kid again

with kool-aide stain on my mouth, dirty feet and a bathing suit with a bow in my hair.

i have also been slacking with the pictures. gosh i do not know what has gotten into me. i have been busy and trying to stay busy in auburn. i joined this website called mapmyrun.com and it is extremely helpful. if you are a runner or you are aspiring to become a runner, this will help you. it maps out routes for you and can tell you how far you've run. i had heard about it, but thanks to travis, i finally did it.

well this is a lame blog post. i have a couple great pictures to make up for my lack of this past week.

last weekend hunter graduated. and after graduation there was a great band at the reception. i caught them dancing. and their one year is tomorrow. so happy anniversary to them!

these are the cupcakes mom and i made for emily's birthday. she LOVES sunflowers. so we made these!!

well i have had a busy day. tomorrow mom and i are making lunch for the family to celebrate dad's birthday. he is getting old. expect better pictures.

oh read romans 8 tonight. it is powerful.

sorry.

sorry. i haven't blogged in a couple days. it has been a little busy around the house lately. and i don't have a picture that i took from today because i moved back to auburn this morning.

i am living in the 361 Mafia house on gay street. appropriately named because it is on 361 south gay... so 36 mafia... you get it.

anyways. i am living with some awesome girls and i am looking forward to getting to know them better since they are all graduating or very close to it. they are all very cool people and i am so lucky that i am getting to live here this summer.

my lovely 10 day summer ends tonight. unfortunately. i am comfortable in this house, but it a little weir that i will be starting school in the morning. but i am glad that i will have stuff going on and people to meet. should be a fun summer it hope.

yesterday melanie came over to eat lunch with me. i had really missed her so much. she has always been such a fantastic friend and i love her dearly. she knows me so well and is so eager to hear all about my life and is actually interested in it. she is such a strong woman of faith and such an encourager. i am so glad that she and i are still so close.

well here are a couple pictures from the other day when i was out pooling [which is a new term for laying out//swimming]. enjoy!

i think i am going to head to sleep. i have class in the morning. yay.

yippee.

well here is a piece of scripture i read today. it's 1 COR. 13:12-

"for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.

now i know in part; then i shall know fully,

even as if i have known all along."

i love this verse. i had to read it a couple of times, but i think that it is talking about how in the end God is going to reveal things to us that we did not know, and it will be as though we have always known them. i just thought that was awesome and wanted to share.

anywho.

more on my journey later.

goodnight.

Yours is the kingdom

Yours is the power

Yours is glory

F O R E V E R

the name above ALL other names

hello blog world. i am sleepy today and do not have much to blog about so i think i will stick with the photo of the day.

i said that i would talk about my backpack, but it is a funny and drawn out story, and i am not feeling funny, imaginative, or creative right now. i know you are all devastated my dearest three readers. but if you remain faithful, i will do as i have promised.

oh today in church, pastor quoted 1peter 4:8 [one of my favorite verses]. it says that "love covers a multitude of mistakes". i love that verse. it's so true. Jesus' love covers ALL of our mistakes. and our love [in the form of forgiveness] covers the mistakes of others.

just like that a lot.

this is my photo of the day! i did not take it today [sorry], but it is so sassy i had to.

enjoy.

until tomorrow!

YOU ARE STRONGER/

you are stronger/

sin is broken/

YOU have saved me/

CHRIST IS RISEN/

JESUS YOU ARE LORD OF ALL

know us by our love.

went to troy today with fran to a wedding. sara's sister got married in downtown troy at the first baptist church. it was a beautiful ceremony. wonderful music. great flowers. all the works. i definitely cried a little... not shocking.

sara and her brother sam sang a song during communion. it was positively marvelous. sara and sam did very well, but the lyrics of the song were what got me. not surprising that it was by christy nockels. it talks about our responsibility as christians to love. and that we are to be remembered and known by our love.

it just made me think, am i known for my love? my love and compassion on others? my love for the Lord? my passion for life and learning everything i can about Him? i want to be known for my love. the love of Christ that shines through me.

just a cool thought.

also, speaking of weddings... my cousin chris is engaged!! just found out tonight! so excited for him and his fiance emily. they are such a sweet couple and i cannot wait to see how awesome they will be together for the work of the Lord. oh it is so lovely.

the play was so great that i managed to take over 700 pictures. i went through and picked out 140 or so pictures and put them on facebook. you can look at them there if you'd like. one day... i will have a flicker sight... just not enough time right now.

i got a backpack today. not sure if i have told the story of my stolen backpack on here, but i think that would be a good story for tomorrow. so stay tuned....

here is my picture for today! my sister is so amazingly talented and beautiful. i captured her last night...

well i think i am off to bed.

i have had a semi productive day. and need sleep... naturally.

"we were made for kindness
We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us...
We will come reaching, with a song of healing...
And they will know us by our love!"

extapa.

the group met tonight after the play at extapa and it was great to see everyone and remember the old days of high school.

the king and i was fantastic. two nights in a row i enjoyed it both times. ruth and david did exceedingly well casting the roles of the play. i loved it. and i even choked up a couple times. it was incredible. truly.

you can expect pictures sometime this weekend. i took over six hundred pictures the last two nights. so i have some editing and such to go through. i am excited about getting them to the people. they deserve it.

i got some bad news a little while ago. one of my dearest friends had a family member pass away very unexpectedly. it broke my heart. i remember what it feels like to loose someone you are so close and connected to. my heart goes out to their family. and i am reminded of the peace that our Father provides. i could not imagine facing such a massive trial in my life with out the comfort from our Lord. my thoughts go out to you tonight. my heart is with you when i am not.

so here is picture three. . .

i am off to sleep. good night all.

remember that the Lord is the great comforter. His love conquers all. His love never fails. He is bigger than our failures and larger than our accomplishments. God is love. He is peace. He is joy.