so long, no hear!

Wow...it has been a while since the last time I posted my thoughts on my blogspot!  

My summer quickly departed, and my teaching year already started...it's hard to believe how fast time goes by!  

This summer has been unexpectedly filled with precious, lifelong memories - unlike other typical summers.  

- going to the beach with my family and my "second" family for the week

- attending Youth for Christ's Summer Institute in Indiana with AMAZING friends for 2 weeks

- visiting my childhood best friends including Holly's new baby in my hometown

- getting my first motorcycle burn after the most adventurous ride on the Harley

- starting to jog every other day and losing 30 pounds

- making wonderful, yet crazy memories with some friends

- moving out of my old apt in the busiest section of a city

- moving into a neat warehouse in the middle of a quiet, small town near the beach

- staying at the beach again with my "second" family for the week

- trying to keep up with my part-time job as a parent advisor

- chilling out with teenagers and leaders at Camp Shocco in Talladega for one week

- having fun with teens at Eagle Rock Camp in Tennessee for one week

- going on a mission trip in Montana with my teenage girl - "what a rough life up there!" 

- trying to decorate my new place and putting a gigantic rug in my new living room

- educating myself how to be more assertive and find more time for myself....

- buying my new MacBook and learning how to become a tech geek (haha!)

- riding on the Harley again and not getting another motorcycle burn 

- going to my good friend's wedding in Elizabethtown, Kentucky

- learning A LOT about how relationships should work... 

  

I'm really thankful for all of these summer memories.  Without them, I'd not be able to learn more about who I am and how I stay connected to God despite changing circumstances.  Also, I learned that if you don't want to take any risk, then you wouldn't be able to experience the real meaning of life on the earth.  Life is always risky.  : )   

My best friend, Mary Beth, sent me some quotes today....

"...the life of a Christian is never about sameness. It's always about change.  That's why we must learn to survive and once again thrive when change involves heartbreaking loss." - Beth Moore

"Throughout life, we will lose to death or changing circumstances people who really loved us.  As dear and as rich their love was, it was not unfailing.  It moved, it died, it changed.  It left wonderful memories...but it left a hole.  Only God's love never fails." - Beth Moore

"Life involves change.  Change involves loss.  Loss involves death of one kind or another." -Beth Moore

"Lord, we love to obey your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. " -Isaiah 26:8

"I'm wiser now...but still stupid." -Suzanne Mattox (one of Mary Beth's favorite quotes!)