august

August is slipping away. How is it that I started out so strong with blogging this year, and then as life began to "slow down" I stopped? I think maybe because as I get older, the less I feel the need to share my thoughts and life online. As time marches on, I do think about this blog and have the desire to keep posting, keep writing, keep updating. But life is changing, and as my priorities have shifted, this blog isn't anywhere close to the top anymore. If you still enjoy reading, I do thank you. I will keep posting, but clearly, just not as frequently and I won't make any promises of how often. 

I think one of the reasons I've slowed down is a simple lesson that time has taught me. Once you've said something - especially on the internet - it cannot be taken back. Once a picture is shared, it can't be unseen. I'm not really ashamed or embarrassed by anything I've ever shared on here, I just know that I want to stay guarded in this world that knows no boundaries. There have been enough times in my life that I look back on and cringe. I don't want to put those moments in a place where they cannot be erased. Once words leave your mouth - or fingers, in this case - they can only be forgiven, rarely are they forgotten.

The months of June, July, and August have fallen through my fingers like grains of sand. One moment I had a tight grip, the next they were gone entirely. I have been overwhelmed by God's grace and goodness. At the age of 24, I have begun to experience things that force me to look to Christ and pay more attention to Him than the circumstances around me. I feel as if these days my main request is for wisdom, while last year I had a bucketful of questions I couldn't even find words for. God can pull us out of our confusion and place us in peace if only we can adjust our focus on Him. I'm still trying, still learning, and a lot of the time it's still a struggle. Trust is simple, really, if we can just only let go of our own weak grasp on control.

On Father's Day, we were given a tangible gift that represented the answer to a specific prayer prayed for so many years. In February, 2018, my oldest brother Stephen and his wife Tara will add a little baby to our family!

July included the wedding of a close friend, and lots of swim days with my niece and nephews. August came and brought with it my friend Faith's sweet baby Judah and a huge creek baptism for our church. Jackson was baptized with several others that day, and who cares that all of us on the bank were hot and sweaty? There's such a sweetness about an old fashioned creek baptizing.

Monday was the day of the great solar eclipse, and we just so happened to live right in the path of totality. As long as I live, I will never forget that day. The photos below were all taken within a few minutes of each other, and the bottom one was around 1:28pm. Two minutes later, it was bright and hot again, but for those two minutes the crickets chirped, stars and lightening bugs came out, and we were surrounded by a 360° sunset. As goosebumps covered my arms I stood in awe of God's creation. How sweet that in a world such as ours, He still stuns the world with the evidence of His existence. How sad that some refuse to see it.

I suppose we're in the "dog days of summer", but as it cools off and September approaches with it's structure and schedules, I hope each of you enjoy it. Thank you for reading even though it's silent on here so often and my writing style refuses to stay the same. I really do appreciate it!

summer

Hello, readers, I'm finally getting around to posting again. My life has been an assortment of chaos and calm these past few weeks, but I seem to always remember the chaos more. Time is flying by! I can't believe we're already ankle deep in July.

I don't really have much to write about this week. We're in the middle of Music School and when I sit still and just think for too long I start to fall asleep. For summertime, I believe pictures and updates will have to suffice on here! I've come to realize there's a lot more of you reading than I originally thought. It's flattering and daunting all at the same time, but thank you so much for reading! 

Back at the end of June we had a baby shower for my friend Faith. It was so good to see her and celebrate her baby boy. Judah is due to arrive in just a few weeks!

This is Cowlick, a baby calf my sister-in-law is bottle feeding. Jace got to give her the first bottle with my mom's help!

 

We've had so. much. rain. The Fourth of July was cloudy and wet, but it cleared up enough that evening to sit outside and enjoy our neighbor's fireworks. I'm tired of the rain, but rainbows never will get old.

Green beans, green beans, green beans. We had a "garden" meal last week with fresh green beans, fried squash, tomatoes, and new potatoes all from this year's garden. I don't enjoy picking the produce, but I do enjoy "putting it up" and eating it!

I am fully aware that this is a "piddly" post, but I kind of want to put something up every now and then so I don't end up just forgetting about it. I hope you're all having a lovely summer! I'm heading out soon to enjoy this 90° day!

things i love thursday

Hello again, everyone! It's been a minute since I posted, so let me catch you up to speed real quick...

Since May 18, we've had two weddings, my mom took a trip to Paris with my oldest brother and sister-in-law, VBS, Jr. Camp, Youth Camp (all back to back!), my cousins and siblings and I spent a day at my grandparents' "spring cleaning", and a lot of other things got done that we just squeezed in somehow. Don't get me wrong, I love it, I just realized as I looked for my Proverb to read yesterday that it was the 21st....of JUNE. So that was a startling revelation.

youth camp 2017

So let's get into some of my favorite things over the last few weeks.

First, HAPPY SUMMER! Yesterday was the first day of summer, and let me tell you, I did not miss out on it! I wished all of my friends a happy day and generally just enjoyed the fact that even though it's felt like summer for the past month, now it's officially my favorite season!

pool days with the kids - Lena Rae swims without a ring float now, the three older boys can do handstands and flips and a gazillion other tricks, and Dougy Mac just jumps in and knows there'll always be someone to catch him. Warm skin, dripping hair, juice boxes...it's lovely.

fresh fruit - seasonal fruit will always be my favorite. Strawberry season came and went too quickly, but now there's watermelon and cantaloupe to chow down on!

"Grandparent's Day" - we didn't do this on the actual holiday, but the last Saturday in May several of my grandparent's grandkids met at their house to do some work for them. They never ask for anything, but it's been a hard year and we wanted to help out if we could. Since we're all adults, our schedules aren't great at matching up, so as many as could spent a Saturday morning washing windows, mowing, detailing their car, cutting wood, etc...whatever they needed! We ended with a big lunch and homemade ice cream. So far, it's probably been my favorite day of this year.

15 out of 22  (including "cousin-in-laws"), and 6 out of 8 "greats"!

Other things include...

Dougy's little laugh when he talks in his one word sentences - it sounds something like this: "Boys. Swim. Huh." | Lena Rae: "Kelley, when I get big like you, will you get me a phone like yours?" | simple pleasures - y'all know I love the little things, but it was raining today and this afternoon I made a bowl of spicy ramen to eat while I read a book and it was so nice | Bible trivia on Wednesday nights | VBS with the 2's and 3's | experiencing Youth Camp with 5 cousins there - 3 from my dad's side and 2 from my mom's! | new quotes

duck-duck-goose with 2 year olds - they're so little and huggable!

I remember these 2 cousins being born - now they're 14 and almost 16!

It seems like every year I find a quote that kind of runs around in my mind and becomes my non-spiritual motto for that year. Here's 2017's quote:

I hope you all have a great weekend, and that your summer is just beautiful. Thank you for reading!

a matter of time

I have so many things I want to write about, but can never seem to land on a topic long enough to come up with anything. I think it's because I've learned over the past year that a lot of the things that seem to constantly be on my mind also cast a shadow over my spirit and are simply things out of my control that are better pushed to the side of my thoughts. Things that only time will resolve and reveal, and I just need to wait.

I feel like I write too much about the topic of waiting, but that's the season of life I'm in right now. A lot of areas in my life cause me to practice this. Waiting for approval to finish a job, waiting on information to complete a list, waiting for healing, waiting on the Lord...waiting.

Right now there are a couple of things I want to grasp in my hands and fix, to make better, change, or finish. But in these situations, that's completely and entirely impossible. I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that it's not that my hands are tied behind my back and I'm completely helpless - because that's exactly how it feels - but it's a matter of faith, of total surrender to the Lord's will and timing. It's trusting Him to finish the job as He sees fit, and in the timing He's ordained.

Faith still doesn't always come natural to me. I'm someone who naturally wants to get things done and take action. It's one of the few things I inherited from my mom - Ladies' Meeting at 6:30? Our dishes are prepared and on a warming tray at 3:00. She calls herself a Martha, and I feel the same way so often. When you're naturally bent in that direction, sitting with empty hands and a troubled heart makes you feel so helpless.

Waiting. I asked my dad about it a few months ago, talked to him about how I knew it was simple enough, but didn't understand why God required so very much of it for some people, why even in it's simplicity it can be so hard. He reminded me that waiting can be another word for serving - like when you're at a restaurant, the job of your waiter is to serve you. Perhaps that's what God wants more of from me, from others - service. Wholeheartedly for Him. It's a lesson in patience, in service, in surrender.

Just a matter of time. I can flip back in the pages of my life and see things that have come to fruition quietly. Things that used to be such a big deal to me, but somewhere over the years they became smaller in my mind until they were resolved, and I didn't even notice. One day I'll look back on today, on the burdens that are so heavy for me, and realize God had a perfect plan. Yes, these burdens truly are bigger, more life-changing, and yet, however badly I resist, they are inevitable. I'll look back and see change and heartache, but I'll also see grace. 

If God can show me grace through the lonely days, through the difficult changes, surely I can be gracious in my service towards Him. It's just a matter of time until He reveals the reasons, shows us the full picture.

A Mendicant of God

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne

And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.

I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart

I cried, "But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.

This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me."

He said, "My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee."

I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,

As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,

He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

-Martha Snell Nicholson

things i love thursday

"God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don't have now we don't need now."

-ELISABETH ELLIOT

Summer Summer Summer Summer!!!!

Tennessee has come through and delivered the perfect "spring" weather (as far as I'm concerned)! 60° mornings and 85° afternoons. Warm, breezy (is this called "balmy"?) evenings with the scent of honeysuckle wafting around. I can admit that the weather greatly affects my mood.

Last night the teacher I normally help was out of town so I had the class on my own. I read a character story, but since it was fairly short I tacked on an animal story about a pack rat that was discontent. We talked about contentment for awhile, and I really enjoyed listening to their perspective. Contentment has been a thought on my mind for awhile, and last night I decided I really need to spend more time focusing on the people and things I love rather than comparison and impatience.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm a bubbly, lighthearted person because I'm pretty sure if you asked my family, they would tell you I lean towards being more of a pessimist than an optimist! But the past few weeks have been busy, warm, and glorious, and I am thrilled about it. Here are some things I've been loving.

honeysuckle infused sunsets | Dougy kisses | afternoons in the sunshine | cleaning out the pool (y'all ever burnt the inside of your elbow? try not to) | books | "Yard Sale-ing" with my friend | baking | shopping (online and in store! I've turned over a new leaf) | coffee with hazelnut creamer | park picnics & slip-n-side with the kids (I get to hold the water hose and give them an icy spray!) | a new thermos (it made my day, being an adult is so weird) | ice cream cones | churches that feel like a second home-church and an extra family (talking about Ridge Road!) | sleeping babies | Alabama & family reunions - we always come home with chocolate oatmeal cookies from Aunt Julie and almond bark candy from Aunt Pam - it's kind of nice when your dad's the "little brother" of ten people! | home

Are your windows open? Are you getting fresh air? Have you colored a coloring page lately? All of these things lift my perspective so much, I hope you have a chance to experience them soon! Last night one of the last things one of the kids said was, "Miss Kelley, you are so neat, you like coloring with us!" The yellow crayon I was using for the flowers is the same one I would have used to color in my spirit when she told me that. Do something with some children, they make everything a little more colorful!

20 minutes after taking this picture the 3 littles were sacked out! I just love their white hair :)

Have a beautiful weekend, friends!

patience

My dad was preaching at a church a couple of hours from home recently, and since it wasn't far away we all loaded up and went. Usually him preaching at a different church means we may hear a sermon we've heard before, but that's ok, even the same outline is completely different from church to church.

This particular time he gave a bit of his testimony and the history of Cornerstone. Now, this doesn't change, but I could listen to it over and over again. When he first came to the town we live in now, he was still in the convention. After his trial sermon, and older lady shook his hand and told him she'd been praying for him for twenty years. Since he'd only just met her, this was a bit confusing. After looking at her a bit confused, she said, "You don't understand, I've been praying for a Bible believing pastor for twenty years." That would have been around the time my dad was eight years old - the age he was when his abusive, alcoholic father passed away. This lady may have been praying for a pastor, but that pastor turned out to be my dad - and those twenty years in his life had involved several major car accidents, the way too early death of his mother, suicidal thoughts, salvation, the call to preach, marriage, college, seminary...you see where I'm going.

Due to a stand on the KJV and a few other issues, a few years later, my dad was asked to resign that church. He handed in his resignation, and when he and my mom got to the parsonage there was a group of people waiting for him. They wanted to start a church. An independent, King James only, Baptist church. Mrs. Hailey, our valiant prayer warrior, was part of that group. They first met in a tent, then a community church building that was falling apart, and then in '94 they moved into the newly built building we're still in debt free.

Today, Cornerstone has been going strong for 25.5 years. We've expanded our sanctuary 3 times, built a gym, a Missions House, a residents house, and a Sunday School building. We're at full capacity - and to be honest, we're probably beyond that but the only way to get more room will be an entirely new building for a bigger sanctuary. I don't say any of this boastfully because God has a different time frame for every person and every church, but I say it to illustrate the great power there is in fervent and heartfelt prayer.

Now, I've heard that story my entire life. I'm 24 and our church was established one year before I was born. I don't remember Mrs. Hailey but I've seen her prayer journal and my mom wears her ring. For some reason, sitting in that church that night, the twenty years she'd spent praying stood out to me. Twenty years is a long time. I wonder if God had given her any signs that her prayer would eventually be answered or if her faith was strong enough that she didn't need one. Growing up hearing about her, I feel confident it was the latter.

She isn't around today, she didn't get to see that our biggest "problem" is our growth - and how can that be considered a problem? People have moved from states away to attend Cornerstone...and all of the credit goes to God, but what if she had given up? There have been things I've prayed about for going on five years, and I feel like my answer must be a "no" because I've seen no progress, but what about Mrs. Hailey? The fruit of her prayers continues to produce more fruit. I think, if she could see Cornerstone Baptist Church today, she would be utterly delighted.

She prayed, and God had a plan. She had patience, and God provided in due time. 

This is a time a great turmoil and great opportunity in America. It's a time for action, but there's never a moment we can give up praying. When I think it's a lost cause, I remember Mrs. Hailey. Twenty years of prayers for the same thing. Can I be as faithful?

God may not answer our prayers in our time frame, and I've told Him a time or two how much that frustrates me, but His plan is much more complex than we can see. Our prayers may be helping someone we've never met. We may not get to witness the fruit of our prayers in our lifetime, but I sure am grateful for Mrs. Hailey. Without her prayers my life would probably be entirely different. I feel like there's a generation of people in our church my age and younger who are the products of her and seventy-something other people who stepped out on faith and prayer into the power of God. How can I not hope to do the same for a future generation?

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

EPHESIANS 3:20-21

making lemonade

My PawPaw is well known for loving lemon flavored anything. He's also famous for his dislike of chocolate, but he passed on the "lemon love" to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

A couple of months ago on his 85th birthday the dessert table was covered in lemon cake, lemon meringue pie, lemon cookies, and a gallon of sweetly tart iced lemonade sat to the side. One of his gifts was a yellow basket filled with more lemon snacks than I had ever seen. 

But although I could carry on about my PawPaw or my family or my favorite lemon treats for awhile, that's not really what's on my mind.

A package came into the mail today and I noticed the return address was from a long time family friend of ours. Whenever I think of this lady, I'm encouraged to be better. I always remember my mom describing her at a ladies' meeting several years ago as someone who'd been handed some lemons and was making lemonade.

I know we've all heard this saying, but I'll be honest and admit that the few tiny little lemons that have come my way haven't been made into lemonade right off the bat. I puckered up and sucked the bitterness for awhile, even though I much prefer a little sugar and water added.

The thing is, it's up to us to add the sweetness. To hold the lemons in our hands, whether we expected to receive them or not, and make a decision about what to do with them. God has given us the things we need to sweeten them up, and He's given us the free will to make that choice.

I know so many people who have made gallon after gallon of lemonade, I know people who are currently making a few batches. But there are also those who display their lemons and announce how terrible they are, holding onto them and protecting their bitter flavor. They carelessly squeeze out the juice, infecting others with the bitterness.

Everyone wants to be friends with the person offering free lemonade. It's a classic favorite! It just cannot be made authentically without a few sour lemons. 

I don't have any more metaphoric examples to give right off the top of my head, although I'm sure there are so many. This was just a thought I had on my mind today and I wanted to share it. 

The sun is supposed to come back out tomorrow so I think I'll make a batch of lemonade for my nephews and niece. I hope you each have a lovely weekend with just the right amount of sweetness!

one last chance to play with the moon sand

currently

Hello, everyone! I have to confess that I don't have much to say today. I have several drafts of articles a few sentences long each, but lately that's as far as I can get. Maybe soon I'll break past the barrier of writers block, but for now, here's a list of things I'm currently enjoying!

 

baking

Chocolate chip cookies! They're one of my favorite things to bake because they're so simple and one batch makes a lot of cookies. I made them for the children we take care of during our first or second couples' class, and then the next, and then the next...this past week I walked in and one of them asked if I'd brought the cookies. I wanted so badly to create some kind of tradition - something a little special to look forward to, and that question made my day. One of the ladies who used to watch us when I was little always brought cinnamon graham crackers, and I always looked forward to being in her group! 

back road drives

There are so many back roads in my area that I absolutely love, and there are two in particular that I frequently take time out of my day to drive down. Sometimes on my way home from work on Fridays I pass my house to get gas from the little station down the road. On the way back I don't stay on the highway, but I take a right and wind my way down roads covered with leafy branches, through sprawling fields of tobacco or soy beans, past thriving farms and dilapidated barns and homes. These roads all connect and make their way around the back of our house in a large loop. My windows will all be down and if the music isn't blasting, then I'm enjoying the sound of crunching gravel while I dream of fixing up the old houses and wondering what it was like when the family lived there, children growing up and learning how to farm.

So many houses around here sit empty and begin to decay because the owners (usually children who grew up in them) have moved on but refuse to let anyone else live in them. This particular one is my favorite and has been untouched for many, many years.

listening

One of the wonderful things about working with children is being able to listen to their sweet conversations. I love asking questions and hearing what they come up with to answer. A bridal shower this past Sunday was particularly confusing for a couple of little girls, while a spider in his house was big news for one of the boys. A little boy Lena's age has learned that if he picks on her, he'll get a reaction. From the outside watching, it was so funny to see him do something to irritate her, and her turn around in her little bossy way to get onto him while he just grinned over at us adults. My favorite age to work with are 2/3's, but I solo taught the 8/9's this past Wednesday and had such a good time with it! I don't believe I ever said I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, but the more opportunities I have to do it, the more I understand why our current teachers have been doing it for 20+ years!

"Kelley! Jace just said a nice thing to me. I asked if I could play with his ball and he said not right now. He told me I can when he's done playing with it with Jackson. He is a nice boy!"

 - Lena Rae last week when I told her to ask nicely after crying about it in my lap for a few minutes

a gift from Jackson

windows open

My morning routine lately has been to turn off my alarm, procrastinate for a few minutes, brush my teeth, open my blinds and windows, and start my devotions. It's been so lovely (on the days it isn't raining) and this morning it was nearly 70 degrees at 8:15! I love it! I also got Whispers of Hope by Beth Moore in the mail to start in April - I'm excited to have an actual devotional to go through again, and I'll have to let you know how I like it! That devotional and Mrs. Kennedy and Me are on my reading lists for April and I'm excited to begin them. I seem to do more reading in the spring and summer than fall and winter, which is a little backwards I think.

"antique-ing" 

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to drive 45 minutes or an hour to a different town and stop at their square. We park and walk down the streets going into the antique stores and finding a little cafe to eat at. My dad browses the tools, books, and art, Amie looks for old white dishes and aprons, my mom searches out crocks, pottery, and unique kitchen gadgets, and I hunt for vintage Pyrex, Tupperware, colanders and anything made of copper. The day either has a break or ends with a meal that usually includes cole slaw on someone's plate, fries on mine, and sweet tea. We don't always leave with packages, but more than anything, it's a chance to inhale a bit of the past and get some dust on our fingers. I was happy with this pitcher that I found last Thursday! I didn't even know Pyrex made them.

It's so hard to believe this week will end with April beginning, but I sure am looking forward to it! It's been quite the week, and I have fun plans for next Monday. I'm ready for some May flowers, so let's bring on the April showers! I hope each of you has a fresh start to the new month! Thanks for always reading. I'll be back in a week or two!

P.S. Since April 1 isn't on a Thursday this year, you don't have to worry about an April Fool's Day prank from me! :)

 

things i love thursday

Have I mentioned before how much I love Longfellow?

Happy Thursday, everyone! I hope you've all had a great week - I myself am so happy we're past the mid-week hump and only have one more day until the weekend. It's been good, just long...and COLD! We had a little Spring teaser for a few days last week, but then the temps did a nose dive and it was 17 degrees when I woke up this morning. That's too cold for March in Tennessee, y'all. This weather has been unexpected and unwelcomed, but the forecast shows a rise back to the 70's over the weekend and Monday is the first day of Spring!

I sounded like a weather man just then.

First of all, two weeks ago I had a couple of my friends over for a brunch. We've called it the "brunch that nearly turned into lunch" because we traveled from the kitchen...to the living room...to their cars and conversation kept cropping up and it's so hard to say goodbye when you know it will be weeks or months before you're all together again. As we spent the morning catching up, it was like a battery re-charge. I sat there thinking "this is what's been missing", and it was such a sweet time. On a side note, my friend Faith is expecting a little boy! That's the third boy in a row for my little group of friends, and I cannot. wait. to meet him! (This is also the first boy for her family!)

Last week, our church took a group to the Master Clubs Regional Competition and I was surprised to see another friend that moved to KY when she got married a few years ago. I hadn't seen her since early December so even though it was a quick conversation because we both had commitments elsewhere, it was nice to see her and to bump into each other a few times throughout the day.

On the work side of life, something that's small but a relief to me is having our greeting card display filled up and organized. I've put this job off for a couple of weeks because it really wasn't that bad, but I knew once I tackled it I would have to organize everything. Sure enough, I headed up the stairs, got started...and an hour later every card had a slot, the correct number of envelopes, and the re-fill boxes were completely organized and labeled. I also got a huge tract order in the mail so now we're good for at least a couple of months! You know I can't post a TILT without mentioning some kind of organizing story. Sometimes I think about the little highlights in my week and know it must sound pretty lame to everyone else, but for me, it was a part of my week that I unexpectedly enjoyed.

Slowly but surely, the sickness is tapering off. I've heard of a few people getting a fresh dose of the flu (round #3 or #4), but it's not the majority anymore. Hopefully it will stay contained and everyone can be healthy for Spring! Thankfully none of my family has had anything - I've been using Thieves oil and taking vitamin C almost religiously!

And since the sweet joys of life are so often found in the little things...

giving babies sink bubble baths | shopping for summer clothes for Lena Rae since she has no big sisters and girl clothes are the most fun | aloe plants | party planning | fresh salsa | Wednesday night class shenanigans | Tanner's ability to make even us grown ups laugh (his sense of humor is way beyond a five-year-old. A bad thing at times, but so entertaining.) | progress - however slow - in sign class | the kids dipping their broccoli in ranch - snow on trees! | trips to the library | antique stores | surprise lunches with church friends in restaurants (this happened twice in one week) | early bedtimes | sunshine at 7pm | cooking - I made shrimp for the first time this week and I'm still thinking about it! (the recipe said it served four, but my dad was out of town and it only served three ;) )

I'd already dug in before I thought to take a picture

I hope this weekend exceeds your expectations and that your days are full of joy! What are some things you love this happy Thursday?

paths

The Road Less Traveled

By Robert Frost

 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Every person's life follows a path. Sometimes, we come to forks in the road and agonize over which new path to take. The Lord allows us to make these decisions because He wants us to use our free will to choose Him. Sometimes, when we can't see far enough down the road, it's hard to know if we're choosing the right path. In order to keep going forward though, a decision has to be made.

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

We make the best decision we know to make, and then we notice, sometimes with envy, that the path someone else's life is taking looks so much smoother. I don't know why this is - why there are those whose paths are rocky and uphill with storms every day, while others have a shady, paved road with only the occasional rain shower. I don't know why God requires different battles for different people, why He answers some prayers right away and asks others to remain in the waiting room. All I know is that His will is perfect, and there's a reason your path is bumpier - or smoother - than others.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

The past is a hard thing to overcome. Whether you have a good past, or a bad past, it's difficult to let go and move away from. As doors close in our lives, some of them will never re-open. And sometimes, it feels like door after door closes in front of you and while you're praising God in the "hallway", that hallway keeps getting longer and longer.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Our roads will have pain along the way. Sometimes, it'll feel drawn out and never ending, but keep traveling the path God has put you on - as tempting as the smooth way looks, the reward at the end is not as great. In God's system, the least shall become the greatest, so don't judge someone's path that seems smoother than yours - God has a different plan for them. Bloom where you're planted, and trust that the desires of your heart may be just far enough around the bend that you can't see them yet.

"And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great." -Luke 9:47-48

"I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does."

 - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

this february week

Thursday it came to my mind several times that I needed to post something. However, even if I'd had something prepared (which I didn't), I'm not sure when I would have posted it. It was just one of those days! It's been a busy week and now, late Saturday evening, each task and event has finally been marked off of the list. 

I truly enjoy being busy. Right now I'd really like a nap but I much prefer busy over bored! 

Here are a few photos I've snapped since last Thursday...

This was the game I mentioned between our original ball team and our current ball team. The current team won, but those of us "Era 2013" cheered our hearts out! It was just as much - if not more - fun than we had anticipated, even though we felt older than our actual age as we went out to eat afterwards and were yawning at 8:30. My dad coached both teams and refereed the game!

Last night was our annual Sweetheart Banquet at church. Due to sickness our crowd was down, and the sign-up sheet kept getting names marked off. Schools are shut down in our town and the surrounding areas for over a week due to the sickness, and I'm hoping it'll taper off soon. Some people are on their second round though, so we can only pray! 

I had the children's group ages 2-4, and we had so much fun! I approached it with a "party" mindset, and even though our group of 16 went down to 8, we had a really good time. I made moon sand, which they could have played with for hours! 8 parts flour to one part baby oil - it smelled good and cleaned up amazingly!

When I told them we were going to do a craft, 3 year old Lena Rae said "If we're doing a craft I'm gonna need help!" We colored while glue dried, played with moon sand and balloons, they read a book, and we had cookies at the end. As 3 year old Dean kept telling us, it was all "too funny". This is one of my favorite age groups to work with!

Our craft - "trees" made out of cutting out their hand shape with hearts glued on for leaves!

Last night we ate supper with a new family in our church. Their youngest son kept saying "watch, Belay!" With the K and L's in my name I've been called a lot of things - Teddy, Keyyey, and Olley. "Belay" is a new one though, and when he finally started putting the "Miss" in front of it it turned into "Be-Kelley". I don't mind! I love all the names they come up with to call me.

This afternoon we had a birthday party for my PawPaw. He'll turn 85 on the 24th and I get emotional thinking about how blessed we've been to have him with us this long. I sat across from him today at lunch and I don't think he said more than five words, but that's PawPaw. Last fall gave us a pretty big scare, and I no longer take a single second I'm with him for granted. 9 out of 17 grandkids were able to make it today, and all 8 great-grandchildren were there.

One of my favorite pictures of PawPaw - taken on a family trip to Gatlinburg when he was 83!

That's all for today, y'all. I'm sorry it was such an uneventful post and that it's two days late. Maybe next week will be better, but real life will always come first! I hope you have a beautiful Sunday! Thanks for reading.

20 questions

It's days like today that I question why I set a weekly blogging goal. For the past month, I've been able to come up with things - even if it was simply a "currently" or TILT - that I enjoyed writing about and wanted to post. Today, however, we're in the second half of a nice, slow-paced week. There hasn't been as much going on as usual (except a stomach bug I'm trying to stay far away from) and it's been so nice. Since I don't have much going on to share and I haven't done much writing lately, I thought I'd do another survey/questionnaire since I haven't done one of those in about 3 years and I've changed quite a bit in that time span!

1. What is your favorite cereal? Honestly, I hardly ever eat cereal! If I do, it's a splurge or dessert, and I love any peanut butter cereal. So bad for you, but so good!
2. If you could bring someone famous back from the grave, who would you choose? This one is so hard. I have so many questions for Mary, the mother of Jesus. I'd like to talk to John for a good long while, too.
3. What is your favorite potato chip flavor?  Ruffles' sour cream and cheddar (this has not changed!)
4. What makes you really sleep? White noise. Put me on a plane and turn on the engines and I'm gone.
5. What one thing annoys you most at a restaurant?  Loud talkers. I get it, I've got several close friends and we can be noisy, but at a restaurant...well...no one else thinks you're as funny as you do. Especially me, Queen of Corny Jokes. ("They named a street after Chuck Norris once but they had to change it because no one crosses Chuck Norris and lives." - 2 big brothers can be thanked for my love of Chuck Norris jokes!)
6. How do you like to relax? Read a book, watch a movie, take a drive...anything that gives my mind a rest as well as my body.
7. If fat, calories, cholesterol, etc were not an issue, what would you feast on? All the Italian foods. I'm making pepperoni chicken tonight, y'all.
8.  Aside from lettuce, what are your two favorite salad ingredients? Cottage cheese and grilled chicken.
9. What profession have you always admired? Surgeons. (fun fact, when I was about 21 or 22 I did all the research on how long it would take me if I decided to become a surgeon. Late 30's was pushing it and that dream died a quick death! haha)
10.  When someone has bad breath do you tell them or try and ignore it?  I try to ignore it unless it's family and then I describe it to them in detail!
11. List 5 things you want really want to do 1 - Visit the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile in Oklahoma | 2 - Go to the Biltmore with my friends | 3 - visit Italy with somebody | 4 - get married | 5 - become a mom
12. What's something you keep telling yourself you're going to do but keep putting it off? list stuff on eBay
13. In conversations, do you tend to listen or talk more?  Depends on who I'm with. But I think it's about 50/50
14. Type of music you like most? guitar instrumentals
15. What's your personal style? I'd say classic and comfortable? I'm don't accessorize very much and I'm not super trendy anymore.
16. What was the last thing you bought?  lavender oil
17. What time is bed time?  Around 10pm, give or take 30 minutes here and there
18. Do you believe in love at first sight? My parents have a love-at-first-sight story, but I think if it does happen, it's very rare for it to be real and lasting.
19. Your dream vacation?  Anywhere warm. Hawaii, Bora Bora, Fiji, Italy, Greece...I've recently researched the Maldives and now I really, really want to go there, too!
20. Last musical you saw?  "Fiddler on the Roof" on Broadway! "If I were a rich man, daidle deedle daidle daidle daidle deedle daidle dumb..." LOVED IT!

I hope that wasn't too much of a cop-out for a blog post! I always enjoy reading these, and they're a lot of fun to fill out! I hope everyone has a nice, restful weekend. Our original ball team - the one with my close friends on it - is playing the current ball team tomorrow and we're all really looking forward to it. There's a lot of nostalgia involved, and I keep telling myself you don't cry at ballgames! (haha) We get to have a little piece of our teenage years back though and it should be a lot of fun!!

I feel like I blinked and five years went by.