Hiking on the Fourth

Yesterday we went hiking at Hanging Rock State Park, though we did not go up the hanging rock trail. We went on a less traveled hike and had the trail mostly to ourselves. 

A really special girl came with us. :) She makes me smile.

 Hannah got to come this time!

If you ever go hiking with my family, you would realize there are at least two groups: the risk takers and the ones who don't even go close to the edge of the rocks.  Can you tell which category the girls below fall in?

 Family picture!

 After hiking I went over to Tara's house and we had a party. I was dead tired, though, so sometimes I'd zone out and sometimes I'd start laughing hysterically at who-knows-what. We had dinner and fireworks (I got to light some! Woop!) and Tara did a few jumps on her dirt bike. I was trying to get a good picture of this but it was really too dark. It would have been cool if you could see her whole silhouette against the beautiful sunset, but oh well...

I am thankful for our independence, and hope it stays a while longer.

A Trip to Florida

Mom, Hannah, and I just got back from Florida where we volunteered at The Gospel Coalition's Women's Conference. That is a mouthful! On our way down we passed this horrible accident. 

 We stopped off at St. Simon's Island so we could walk on the beach. It was a beautiful yet very hot day.

 I do not have many pictures of the conference. But one evening we had a terrible storm. The wind was fierce and it blew the rain in every direction. But after it all settled down, God sent His rainbow to remind us of His promises. As I was thinking about this, I suddenly had another thought: we should not only remember the "good" promises He made like He will never again send a flood over the whole earth, and He will protect us, and provide for everything we need. Those are good, and we should remember them. But we also need to be reminded that God will keep His promise to punish those who do not put their trust in Jesus Christ. This is a sobering thought. Makes me want to be more bold to share my faith.

I love this lady's hat!

 This auditorium sat 4,000 people and was almost full.

 Saturday was the Getty concert. Kristyn has a gorgeous voice.

Our volunteer shirts are very soft.

 There was an ice cream shop within walking distance from where we were staying. I convinced my traveling buddies to go with me. ;)

 On the way home we stopped at Jekyll Island.

 This is the Horton house.

 There was a random deer hanging out at this house...

Can you see him?

 Mom was the only one who wanted to swim. She grew up at the beach so I think she misses it sometimes. She had so much fun in there!

 It was soooo bright that I had to go under the stairs to get shade.

 The moss covered trees took my breath away!

I am too tired to write more.... Thankful to be home again!

Aletheia Springs

I was at Aletheia Springs for a week and got a few good pictures. The moon one night was so gorgeous!

I met this dear girl last summer and I was so excited to be able to see her again!

Oh, and then there was that... Yeah, I'm just glad no one was hurt. Besides the poor cars involved. Baby Bella (Hannah named her, just so you know) will be needing an operation but should live through it. We are thanking God for protection through this. And for people who came at just the right time to help us.

Fathers Day

Today is one day out of the year that we put special attention on Fathers. I have the best father a girl could ask for. He wanted to go hiking so we went to Hanging Rock State Park. It was a perfect day to be hiking.

19 and Stuff

On Sunday I turned um 19. Yeah, that's too old for me. I spent the evening and night with a really special girl. We had a blast!

 We had a family celebration today and I made an Oreo cake, with help from my sisters and Mom. 

 My Dad walked in the door with flowers. "Happy Birthday!" he said. It was one of the best gifts I got!

 The necklace in the picture below came from Haiti. Mom got it for me. It also it one of my favorite gifts!

 

Elisabeth loves these little things called Goetze's Caramel Creams. I tried them and found I don't like them. At all. So when I saw her card, I laughed out loud! On one side it says:

Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get Goetze's

And on the other:

Understanding

Should I eat another Caramel Cream, or not?

Elisabeth also made a recording of a long pause.... and then a "Happy Birthday!" and made it go off in another room while I was opening gifts. It was so funny to see her one room and yet her voice was in another room!

 This cake was soooo good!

A while back a friend and I got artsy together and made some pretty neat things. I thought I'd share. I made the frame and she made the bottle.

 I think the bottle is really cool.

 Hannah found a wounded bird. We tried to help it, but it hopped out of its cage while we were gone yesterday and we haven't seen it since. oh well. It's probably dead now....