Seasons

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...

This verse seems to be the story of my life right now.
God gives us each different seasons in our lives.
Some good.  Some not so good.  Some expected.  Some very unexpected.
But I've begun to realize that no matter what the seasons are, or how long they last,
God deserves all the Glory and praise.
And even if God orchestrates a new season in our life at a time we didn't have planned,
I know and trust that His will is perfect and I praise Him for that.

So I'm praising God for the past seasons God has given me in my life.
Seasons of singleness, filled with so many wonderful memories that I can't even begin to describe.
And for the new season He has begun to so clearly show me over the past couple months.
Marriage.
A season that involves a lot of change and adjustments,
but I know will be filled with many blessings as past seasons have been.

So with that being said, I'd like to introduce a new member of my life to this blog.
His name is Kirk.

And one of these days...as soon as finals are over with (which I should be studying for right now) and things settle down a little (haha!), I'll do a more in depth post.  But until then, I'd just ask for prayers as we begin this new journey together in life; that no matter what comes our way, we will always put God first, because He is #1.

Oregon

Friends.  Food.  Fellowship.  Fun.
I think that pretty much sums up my weekend on the west coast! 
But in more descriptive terms, here ya go:
(Warning: You may be clueless unless you were there!)

Not attending a jean skirt convention...
Driving a moped over the curb...
Getting caught in the sprocket of a surrey...
Wearing a balloon skirt...
Battling the windy beach...
Not having (or having) a killer sweet camera...
Getting stuck with an X on the bottom of your plate...
Saying "Happy Birthday" to a compliment...
Being "quarantined to the back seat with the luggage...(That was me!)
Having a want-to-be- weanie roast...
Freeze-drying marshmellows...
Having wonderful convos about our spiritual lives...
And just being together!

So many memories were made. 
Ones that only a select few of us would understand, but memories none-the-less.
It was a wonderful refresher.  Spiritually, mentally, and I guess physically as well! ;) (Those Surreys sure were beasts!  Or maybe it was the passengers...)

I'll let the pictures tell the story...they might be easier to understand :)

Hanging out at our cottage Friday night...

Bubble skirts!

My Hostess - Jenna, thanks so much for the amazing weekend!

The clan!

The Surrey...aka beast

X's 3...

Beautiful Coast...

Monday before heading home...

 Thanks again all you Oregonian's for hosting a blessed weekend.  Maybe I'll come back this summer.... :)

single life

Oh the joys and blessings of a single life. 
I have NO complaints. 
Oh the freedom it gives me.
Oh the precious memories I've made.
Packing my bags last minute and traveling for the weekend.
Meeting up with friends from all over the U.S.
Making new friends from all over the U.S.
Random last minute plans with my lovely friends from home.
Scrapping the homework and having fun instead.
Staying out late. 
Spending money for the fun of it.
Going on walks...sometimes in circles in my basement.
Having precious conversations that bring us closer to Christ.
Bonding with one another, and helping each other on this path to Heaven.
Not a care in the world...Ok so maybe that's somewhat of an exaggeration!
Sigh.  I'm soo thankful this is where God has placed me.
Right. Now.


Back a few weekends ago, K, T, Anna, and I traveled to KS to surprise Jodi for her birthday...after much planning, failed plans, and new planning, we dressed up like hooligans and surprised Jodi by jumping on her bed Saturday morning before she woke up.  Loved the reaction! ;)



Dressing up like Goons to surprise the birthday girl!

The birthday Girl w/ T and I...after she survived the surprise attack in bed!

The kind cows who let us milk them...lots of fun, right T?!

The whole crew...after 2 other lovely ladies surprised us all!

The group.  Made for many wonderful memories!  So Precious!

 We were spoiled enough to be able to spend the weekend the next weekend with the KS girls out our way.  Friday K and I took them to B-town, ice skating, and then out to eat.  And you know how K and I's adventures go in B-town...no explanations needed!

Eating at Meat Heads after ice skating :)

Giving the KS girls the experience of a Yogurt bar - TASTY!

Surprising a special friend at work...and Yes, of course she was working! ;)

Then on to OH the same weekend for invite-a-friend...Had the pleasure of traveling with my cousin Kurt...many adventures followed us that weekend as well...cherries and blueberries can give one quite the scare!  Thankfully the owner was a nice man ;) Oh yeah...and learning to drive stick - that was an experience!

Wonderful weekend renewing friendships and creating a few more.  Thanks Leah for the pleasure of allowing me to stay with you! :)

Last weekend my whole family traveled to Cincinnati, OH.  We stayed at a hotel in Indi Thursday night and then went to the Creation Museum on Friday.  Then on to a house for the next 2 nights. 

Creation Museum w/ the Gang

Petting Zoo...this was quite the Camel!

Birthday Girls...They're getting SOOO BIG!!!

Mom got them matching outfits...ADORABLE!

The house had an indoor pool w/ diving board & a hot tub...too bad the pool heater was broken...it was a TAD chilly!

No words needed!

Kitchen

Living room...Sunday Morning

The House

Now another week of school ahead of me and then I'm flying out to OR for Invite-a-friend for the weekend.  :) Maybe one of these days I'll decide to stay home...maybe...

Wishing you many blessings in this Easter Weekend!