june & july 2015 recap

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

I'm combining these months because they ran into each other creating such a blur that it just seems like putting them together is the thing to do. It was a couple of really hot and humid months weather wise, but we were too busy to stop and take too much notice. 

Saturday, June 6, my Sunday School class got together and hiked to a waterfall near us. It was a beautiful day, and we went early enough to beat the heat. Our teachers brought sandwich stuff and we ate after the hike. It was a really fun way to kick off summer!

The following Monday we started things off with a bang with our combined VBS and Jr. Camp week. Monday through Friday I was in charge of making sure the 2&3 year olds got to their places. Assembly, class, activities, crafts, and lunch. It was a fun week learning about D.L. Moody, Fanny Crosby, Billy Sunday, George Washington Carver, and David Brainard. The theme - obviously - was American Heroes of the Faith, and each classroom and teacher highlighted and focused on one of the above mentioned names. They decorated their rooms, dressed in period clothing, and were as dedicated and involved as you could ever hope a teacher would be. When adults are moved by a lesson for toddlers, you know something good is happening.

the kids even got to do some pottery this year because our newest church member is a pottery missionary!

We took a little breather the Saturday after VBS to do some laundry and pack for Youth Camp. It began Monday morning and ended Friday night. It was such a good year, and my very first as an official, call-me-Miss-Kelley-counselor. I tend to be overly organized and tidy, and I had 6 girls (five thirteen-year-olds and one fifteen-year-old) in my room. It was anything but quiet and tidy, but it was a lot of fun. It was all of their first time at Youth Camp, so I enjoyed helping them get ready, do devotions, talk about the services, and pray together before bed. I found myself channeling my former counselors and I'm so very grateful for the positive and lasting influence they had on me. 

Two of my best friends since childhood were there as well, and it was so much fun experiencing the flip side of camp together!

Two weeks later, and we're getting into Music School. I didn't get to participate in much of it this year because I was helping with some behind-the-scenes work, but I was able to go to the singing at night and learn some of the songs. It was a wonderful year, with well over 300 people attending at night.

Once again, my friends and I experiencing the other side of what we attended for years as children and teens.

Faith, Kaitlyn, & I. the menu? hotdogs for lunch and ziti for supper!

But the cherry on top of our summer was Douglas Mac being born on July 17 weighing 10 pounds and 2 ounces.

he is our favorite part of summer

This post would have been up much sooner, but we took a quick getaway at the beginning of this month and put everything else on hold. I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer, ours has been busy but we're looking forward to a little free time in August!

| JULY SNAPSHOTS |

I hope all of you have a lovely August!

 

seven | seventeen | two thousand fifteen

 Hello, Douglas Mac.

We've been waiting for you. Did you know you're five days late?

You weigh 10 pounds and 2 ounces. You're 22 inches long. 

I hope you don't mind all of the staring, you're just so sweet and cute. And big.

Your big sister thinks you belong to her. You kind of do, but we all feel that way so welcome to our family.

We will try to get you to call me Aunt Kelley, but Jackson told me it's really hard to remember the "aunt". That's ok.

We believe the more the merrier, so you have made us very happy.

the longing for heaven

I mentioned in my last post that I was considering sharing my thoughts on the recent Supreme Court ruling. I had pretty much decided not to, until I was reading today, and a sentence really stood out to me.

But if it were all such as this, where would the longing for heaven be?

There are times, where I live, when it's easy to forget everything that's going on in the rest of the world. When I got online that Friday and saw all the headlines and the rainbow graphics, I was totally surprised and confused. It didn't take a second of reading though before I figured out exactly what had happened...and I couldn't believe that I was reading about America. I couldn't believe that once again, the government had overruled what we'd already voted against (my state, anyway). It was an awful realization, and a terrible feeling. For the rest of the weekend I was ready to charge D.C. and sign any petition sent to me.
 
 And then Sunday came and went, and summer camps began, and while I still discussed it occasionally with my friends, for the most part it got pushed to the back of my mind, more important things taking priority in my thoughts. As they should.

Because no matter how small my town is, no matter that I'm planted in the center of the Bible belt, no matter how fiercely independent the South likes to be, we are not exempt from being infiltrated with the perversion of a filthy world.

As much as I'd love to hide in the hills surrounding me and live the rest of my life in one of the many valleys or hollows in my area, that is not the reality of this life. I wish everything everywhere were as beautiful and serene as certain days in my life are all the time.

But if it were all such as this, where would the longing for heaven be?

The longing for heaven is near. Nearer than before, and I believe closer than ever.

When I spend the day with my nephews and niece, when I walk outside at 7am and it's already nearly 80 degrees, when the sunshine seems to warm me from the inside out. A little heaven coming down to kiss my life.

But if it were all such as this...

Time with family. Laughter with friends. Singing. Reading. 

...where would the longing for heaven be?

I am saddened and disappointed by my country, but I have a deeper sense of desire for the home to come. This is where the longing for heaven is.

long time no see {+ tag questions}

Hello, everyone. I'm so sorry it's been awhile since I've blogged - the "two posts per month" goal that seemed so miniscule and easily surpass-able at the beginning suddenly looked like conquering Mount Everest during the month of June. Junior Camp was the same week as VBS and we had a Saturday and Sunday between that week and our week-long Youth Camp. The Sunday we got back, we sent a group of 12 people over to Moldova for a 10 day missions trip. (Let me tell you, I wish I was there! It's so fun seeing their pictures, and I can. not. wait. to hear their stories!) We're sitting on G waiting on O for the new baby to get here, and next weekend we're going to a tent meeting, which is also tied into the fourth of July. The Monday after that Music School begins. I could go on and on, but I won't bore you with any more of what really is just a normal summer.

There are so many posts I want to write. I'd like to share some of my favorite things about southern summers, I want to write about small town life. My heart broke this morning as I read about the Supreme Court ruling, and I can't decide if I want to share my thoughts on that eventually or not. I want to write about taking a stand, about Christians finding our voices, and I want to write about finding the God lovers in our mixed up world. Of course, it's about time for a June recap and definitely some pictures! But mostly, I just want to enjoy every minute of this life that I can. If I can share some of it with you, BONUS! But if I have to choose between sitting on the porch swing when it cools off in the evenings or sitting in front of my laptop telling you about it...the swing is going to win.

Iris from The Blue Birdhouse nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award (thank you, Iris!) a couple of weeks ago, and I'm just getting around to doing it. I've never been nominated for something like this so I don't know if I'm too late to link up, and I know nothing about this award! (Maybe I'm not worthy of the nomination after all! :/) BUT...y'all know I love answering questions, and Iris asked some fun, specific ones, so I thought I'd include it in this post because I really wanted to do it.

So for a very informal, I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-doing tag, here goes!

1. What was your favorite food as a child? 

I think it was pizza or spaghetti. To be honest I really don't remember, but I think my baby book says spaghetti.

2. What is your favorite indoor or outdoor activity?

Reading, both indoor and outdoor. Is that an activity though? I'll change it to swimming if it's not.

3. If you could learn to do anything what would it be?

THIS QUESTION IS STRESSING ME OUT! Can I just say learn how to do a cartwheel? I can't think of anything big and exciting and it's just too much pressure and I'm 22 and can't turn a cartwheel so I need to learn.

Phew. That was the hardest question I've been asked in awhile. ;)

4. When you have 30 minutes of free time- how do you pass the time?

Check my messages, browse Pinterest, snap one of my friends. If you're surprised I didn't say read, it's because 30 minutes is just enough time to leave me genuinely frustrated when I have to put the book down.

5. What did you do growing up that got you in trouble?

Reading when I was supposed to be doing something else, being mean to Amie or back talking my mom. Other than that I was a pretty decent kid.

6. What do you miss most about being a kid?

Everything. Lack of responsibility, so much free time, tons of sleep, and someone else did my hair.

7. What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?

The Advocate by Randy Singer. I'm not even in the middle of the book yet and I sob about every other page.

8. Which Bible verse helped you through a hard time?

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

9. If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?

Any one of Jesus' miracles.

10. What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?

Around 6 - 8 pm on Friday, late July. 

(Just so happens that's what time it is tonight, which is Friday. I'm not influenced by my circumstances at all.)

(Also it's raining.)

(I like afterthoughts.)

If I was doing this tag like I'm supposed to, I would tag about 5 - 10 more blogs right now and make up 10 questions for them. However, I only have time to keep up with two or three, and the only one that's open to the public is Iris, and I don't know if I'm allowed to tag her back or not. SO, I'm just going to open this up to all of you that are reading this. (ALL. OF. YOU.) And ask you three questions to answer in the comments:

1. What's your favorite thing about summer? It can be an activity, a holiday, a tradition, a food, it doesn't matter!

2. What was your favorite book as a child?

3. What's something you wish you knew how to do? (Don't worry, I would probably wimp out on this question, too.)

Rules: be careful in the comments! Please, please answer the questions (it'll be fun!) but remember that this is the internet - the less personal information about yourself the better!

(Also, I reserve the right to remove comments I disagree with or feel uncomfortable about.)

 

Happy summer!

 

may 2015 recap

Hello, everyone! It's been a minute, so while I sit here waiting for an email to come in, let me update you on what happened around here in May!

The beginning of the month we were in lower Alabama for a missions conference. Every year we try to eat at David's Catfish house - I highly recommend you try it if you're ever near one!

We then drove to another place in Alabama for decoration day. I don't love pictures of headstones or a cemetery, but this is where my dad's parents are buried. We will usually meet everyone at the cemetery, then go our separate ways for church. We then have lunch together with that side of our family.

After that, we jumped into summer with both feet! Swimming, bike riding, Jace's first piano recital, and my parents got our garden planted! I don't have pictures of Mother's Day, but we all got together at our house and Amie and I prepared lunch.

Summer is only getting started, but it's going to be as busy as ever with back to back camps and a new baby due very soon! If my posts become even more few and far between, it's just a side affect of the summer we're going to have.

some more of my favorite pictures from may:

FROM THE BLOG:

A Call to Prayer

Leaving It - sometimes, there's nothing more for us to do.

I hope everyone had a wonderful May, and that y'all will have a very happy June!

What were some of your favorite moments from May?

leaving it

 "Lord...I don't even know how to pray for this. I don't know what to ask, I don't know what to offer. Lord...Lord..."

Pauses. Silence. Broken prayers.

Have you ever been here? You go to pray, you have a designated time, spot, and miraculously it works out that you are alone in the quiet with the Lord. The time you've been waiting for. You get on your knees, still your heart, and...

"Lord..."

Quiet. For the next several moments you listen to your breathing, your heartbeat.

And so many times, words escape you. You have prayed the same prayers over and over until you feel like a broken record. The repetition of your pleas have become monotonous, and honestly, you're just tired of praying for them.

"I know you hear me, Lord. I know you're here."

More silence as you struggle to express the things in your heart that don't want to be described with words.

"Let me make a difference. Don't let this be in vain. Show me what to do. Let my voice be heard."

As I pray for America, I find that I don't know what to say.

"Show mercy, continue to give us grace. Turn the hearts of the leaders to you. Protect my country. Show mercy..."

Over. And over. And over again.

So lately, I've been silent. I've stopped letting words just spill out and I've given them some thought.

"Right now, the voices of the wicked are so loud. They fill the news and make me feel small, weak, and terrified. Let Christians regain their voice. Give us the courage to stand and fight for what's right. The wicked have drowned us out for far to long. Fill us with boldness for you. Fill us with courage, strengthen our voices and our stand. Let us be heard."

I may only pray for 15 minutes. But I will sit in silence for many more than that. I want Him to know that when I stand and go my way, I have left it all in His hands. I gather all the worries and fears and doubts and insecurities in a nice little package and I leave it there before Him.

Sometimes I go and pick a few things back up, but every day, I will gather it again, lay it down, and turn my back.

I will continuously beg for mercy. I will not stop asking for another chance. I will beseech on behalf of my nation.

And then I will leave it with Him.

A Call to Prayer

"And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned."  Nehemiah 1:5-6

A Call to Prayer

A church I'm very familiar with has put out a call for prayer for our nation. A petition for 50,000 American Christians to spend the next five days fasting and praying for the United States of America. At my church last night we were encouraged to commit to at least one day of fasting, and we'll be meeting at church every day to pray. Anonymously, with no one looking around, we had commitments for every day of the fast, and at the end, a few commitments for multiple days.

I believe fasting is very personal, I believe it's between a person and the Lord, and I believe it works. It worked for Nineveh, it can work for America.

Here is the link and information for the petition. Will you join us in the war room of prayer for America?

A Call to Prayer