To 2016 and beyond!

I've been updating and updating my bucket list for the longest time.  I shall do it once more.  Probably not the last time ... but I've simplified it a smidge.  I took away the numbers so that I can update a bit easier ... because, I think, as I get older, my goals in life are gonna change.  Most of these items on my bucket list are dreams.  The ones that I've starred are the ones that are of real importance to me.  (Notice they are all of my most recently updated items ... I told ya my goals are changing!)  Beyond them, if I accomplish nothing else in this life, I am good to go.  I've also taken away the items on my list that I've already completed ... no need to dwell in the past but look to the future ... and even better, the present!  So here's to now ... 2016 ... and beyond!

Go hiking in New Zealand!!!

Learn the Quick Step

Read through the Bible in my favorite translations - NIV, ESV, and NASB

Homeschool my kids (at least for a time) :)

Take a BBF trip to the Bosom Buddies Cottages in Nova Scotia with Emily!!!

Visit all 50 states!

Go Hot Air-Ballooning

Ride a jet ski

Go to the Iowa-80 truck stop ... the largest truck stop in the world!!!

Write a book ... yes, that's right - a BOOK!

Have a picnic on the grassy hills of Ireland

Go on a cruise

Find out more about my heritage

Read through the Bible in a year

Learn the dance to "Thriller"

Take a road trip to see Pastor Mike and Shelley

Get out of debt

"Give like no one else"

*Master an attitude of grace and an attitude of gratitude to the best of my ability this side of Heaven

*Be a prayer warrior

*Leave a Godly legacy for my children and grandchildren

*Raise my children to know and love and trust in the Lord to the best of my ability

*Love and serve and honor my husband to the best of my ability

Updated List

I've been rethinking a handful of things on my bucket list.  I'm changing over time, and some things are just not in the cards while other things are becoming more important.  So here's a bit of a revised list.  Perhaps I'll get around to catching up on the stories of each checked off item.  We shall see. :)

#1 - Go hiking in New Zealand!!!

#2 - Learn the Quick Step

#3 - Read through the Bible in my favorite translations - NIV, ESV, NASB, and NLT

#4 - Learn to swing dance (CHECK!)

#5 - Marry an oober godly guy! (CCCHHHEEECKKK!!!!! ... As of September 15, 2012!!!) Yippeee!!!!

#6 - Homeschool my kids (at least for a time) :)

#7 - Take a 3-day solitude trip! (CHECK!)

#8 - Visit our sponsored kids

#9 - Take a BBF trip to the Bosom Buddies Cottages in Nova Scotia with Emily!!!

#10 - Be a waitress (CHECK!)

#11 - Visit all 50 states!

#12 - Go to a Gaither Vocal Band concert (CHECK!)

#13 - Go Hot Air-Ballooning

#14 - Ride a jet ski

#15 - Have a quiet time with Jesus in front of the Appalachian Mountains (CHECK!)

#16 - Stand outside in a lightning storm!!! (CHECK!)

#17 - Make a nature calendar with the photos I've taken (CHECK!)

#18 - Get FLOOR seat tickets to a Gaither Vocal Band Concert!!! (CHECK!)

#19 - Visit Big Sky, Montana

#20 - Eat some New York Pizza

#21 - Go to the Iowa-80 truck stop ... the largest truck stop in the world!!!

#22 - Write a book ... yes, that's right - a BOOK!

#23 - Visit Juliet's house in Verona, Italy

#24 - Go to London, England :)

#25 - Read all of the Twilight Saga (CHECK!)

#26 - Buy a drink at the SoZo Cafe' in Jasper, Indiana (CHECK! ... Well, as a super sweet date before we got married, Darrell took me to Jasper for a yummy beverage, but the SoZo Cafe' was closed down.  I was so bummed!  But we drove all the way there ... we are totally checking it off the list!) :D

#27 - Listen to the wind blowing through the columns at the Parthenon in Greece

#28 - Go to Sitka, Alaska

#29 - Stay on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine

#30 - Visit an Indian Reservation

#31 - Do something BIG - something out of your comfort zone (CHECK!  For me, physical intimacy in marriage was a HUGE hurdle.  Without going into details ... it is amazing and so worth the emotional struggles I had with it!) ;)

#32 - Have a picnic on the grassy hills of Ireland

#33 - Gain an eternal perspective - Colossians 3:2

#34 - Go on a cruise

#35 - Learn to truly accept who I am

#36 - Find out more about my heritage

#37 - Get a manicure (CHECK!)

#38 - Take a fourth trip to Bogalusa, Louisiana

#39 - Visit all the mountain ranges in the U.S.

#40 - Rent a cabin by the lake for a couple of days

#41 - Spend an afternoon on the beach of each of the Great Lakes

#42 - Drive 1-81 - Northern New York State to New Orleans or vice versa

#43 - Learn the Quick Step

#44 - Visit Sherwood Baptist Church - church that put on Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and Courageous

#45 - Read the book, Christy (CHECK!)

#46 - Visit "Cutter Gap," Tennessee (CHECK!)

#47 - Ride on a train (CHECK! ... As part of our SoZo Cafe' adventure, Darrell took me for a train ride just so I could check this off my bucket list!)

#48 - Discover a dead hero ... in other words, read some biographies

#49 - Read through the Bible in a year

#50 - Believe without seeing (John 20:29)

#51 - Learn the dance to "Thriller"

#52 - Take a road trip to see Pastor Mike and Shelley

#53 - Learn to give myself grace

#54 - Get out of debt

#55 - "Give like no one else"

#56 - Learn to eat the Daniel Plan Plate the right way

#57 - Become truly healthy ... physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually

My Oober Godly Guy :)

So the most recent "check" off my bucket list is probably the most incredible of all the "checks"!!!  Yep, I GOT MARRIED!!!!  I married the most amazing man in the world ... Darrell Floyd Thompson III! :D  I met him a few years ago when a couple from my church tried to get me together with his roommate.  Needless to say, things didn't work out with the roommate (a wonderful guy who is now married to a wonderful girl named Meg).  I lost touch with Darrell when things didn't work out with his roommate, but we reconnected on Facebook in mid-January of last year, started dating ("officially-officially") on March 16th; he proposed on May 21st ... and we were married on September 15, 2012.  It's crazy and amazing to think we just hit our 9-month mark as a married couple.  9 months of learning and loving.

My Darrell is an incredible man!  I am so thankful for his tender heart and strong convictions.  I love his passion and integrity and love for the Lord.  I am so proud of the way he constantly strives to please God and be the best man he can be.  He is the most patient, perfect man for me.  We get to work in youth ministry together, grow together in the Lord, play video games (which I'm not very good at!), watch Lost, play softball on the church softball team, go to our 20somethings Bible study (which we love!) ... all together.  I am learning so much about being selfless, about unconditional love, about open communication ... being married to my Darrell is such a gift from the Lord ... after my salvation, my Darrell is the greatest gift of my life!

God is so faithful.  And what an awesome thing to check off my list!  Wahoo!  I got to marry an oober godly guy!  Thank you, Jesus!!! :D

The Most Recent List :)

MICAL'S BUCKET LIST .... It's been quite a while since I posted about my bucket list, so I thought I would post my most recent list and add a post or two about what I've recently checked off my list. :D

#1 - Go hiking in New Zealand!!!

#2 - Run a mini marathon

#3 - Read through the Bible in my favorite translations - NIV, ESV, and NASB

#4 - Learn to play barre chords on my guitar

#5 - Learn to swing dance (CHECK!)

#6 - Marry an oober godly guy! (CCCHHHEEECKKK!!!!! ... As of September 15, 2012!!!) Yippeee!!!!

#7 - Homeschool my kids :)

#8 - Take a 3-day solitude trip! (CHECK!)

#9 - Visit my sponsored child in Bolivia

#10 - Read all of Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis

#11 - Take a BBF trip to the Bosom Buddies Cottages in Nova Scotia with Emily!!!

#12 - Be a waitress (CHECK!)

#13 - Visit all 50 states!

#14 - Go to a Gaither Vocal Band concert (CHECK!)

#15 - Go Hot Air-Ballooning

#16 - Ride a jet ski

#17 - Get some Bible training

#18 - Have a quiet time with Jesus in front of the Appalachian Mountains (CHECK!)

#19 - Be a summer camp counselor

#20 - Stand outside in a lightning storm!!! (CHECK!)

#21 - Make a nature calendar with the photos I've taken (CHECK!)

#22 - Get FLOOR seat tickets to a Gaither Vocal Band Concert!!! (CHECK!)

#23 - Visit Big Sky, Montana

#24 - Eat some New York Pizza

#25 - Go to the Iowa-80 truck stop ... the largest truck stop in the world!!!

#26 - Go to Europe with Hannah Baker!!!

#27 - Write a book ... yes, that's right - a BOOK!

#28 - Visit Juliet's house in Verona, Italy

#29 - Go to London, England :)

#30 - Pass the Praxis!!!!!

#31 - Become a school teacher

#32 - Read all of the Twilight Saga (CHECK!)

#33 - Buy a drink at the SoZo cafe' in Jasper, Indiana (CHECK!)

#34 - Listen to the wind blowing through the columns at the Parthenon in Greece

#35 - Go to Sitka, Alaska

#36 - Stay on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine

#37 - Go to Loocachooca, Arizona to visit the Navajo reservation there

#38 - Do something BIG - something out of your comfort zone (CHECK!)

#39 - Have a picnic on the grassy hills of Ireland

#40 - Gain an eternal perspective - Colossians 3:2

#41 - Go on a cruise

#42 - Learn to truly accept who I am

#43 - Record a CD in Uncle Mike's music studio

#44 - Find out more about my heritage

#45 - Collect as many different colors of crocs that I can!

#46 - Get a manicure (CHECK!)

#47 - Take a fourth trip to Bogalusa, Louisiana

#48 - Visit all the mountain ranges in the U.S.

#49 - Rent a cabin by the lake for a couple of days

#50 - Spend an afternoon on the beach of each of the Great Lakes

#51 - Drive 1-81 - Northern New York State to New Orleans or vice versa

#52 - Take on a food challenge (Man vs. Food)

#53 - Learn the Quick Step

#54 - Eat a cake truffle

#55 - Visit Sherwood Baptist Church - church that put on Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and Courageous

#56 - Read the book, Christy (CHECK!)

#57 - Visit "Cutter Gap," Tennessee (CHECK!)

#58 - Ride on a train (CHECK!)

#59 - Discover a dead hero ... in other words, read some biographies

#60 - Find a modern-day hero for myself (CHECK!)

#61 - BE a hero!

#62 - Read through the Bible in a year

#63 - Believe without seeing (John 20:29)

#64 - Read Desiring God, A Hunger for God, and Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

#65 - Learn the dance to "Thriller"

#66 - Go see a Tim Tebow game LIVE!

#67 - Take a road trip to see Pastor Mike and Shelley

#68 - Learn to give myself grace

#69 - Get out of debt

#70 - "Give like no one else"

Home Sweet Home :)

"Back Home in Indiana" ... ha! I don't know that song. Tiff always sung it when we rolled across the Indiana state line on our way home from Pastor Mike and Shelley's. I tried to sing along with her, but I never knew the words.

Indiana definitely is my home! Gosh, I love this place. The wide open spaces, the changing seasons - yep, we get all FOUR here - love it!, my town, Calvary, and my house. So many good things about Indiana. ... Now, I'm pretty sentimental, so I have a feeling that no matter where I lived growing up, I would've loved it completely the way I love Indiana, the way my town, the way I love my house. But ... God put me here. And so I love it!

And so Indiana was the easiest state to fill for my "50 States Adventure" - it's my home, my refuge, my most treasured place. Too many stories to tell ... so I will just say ...

I love my home in Indiana. :)

Crosses, Rest Stops, and Youth Conferences

My three favorite things about Illinois ...

#1 - The huge, white cross you pass as you drive through Effingham.

#2 - The Rend Lake rest stop as you head south on I-57 ... it's the prettiest rest stop I've seen so far. I love rest stops! :)

#3 - SoZo went to the Christ in Youth summer conference a couple of summers while I was still in youth group. CIY was one of my all-time favorite events in youth group. Getting to hang out with the Common Ground churches, being with Pastor Mike and Shelley for an entire week, and lots of great Jesus time. Lots of good memories from those conferences.

Biked it; Liked it!

Yep, it's still 2011 ... I can say "last year" still.
Last year, Hannah and I took a CCF SLU trip to Mackinac Island. CCF SLU means Cookie Cutter Friend Single Ladies Unite ... just in case you were wondering. :D We thought we were gonna make CCF SLU into an annual event, but alas, 2011 is over in about 2 hours ... don't think we're gonna make it. But anyways ... we planned a trip to the beautiful northern tip of Michigan. We stayed in Mackinaw City for 3 nights. And during that time, we took the ferry to Mackinac Island, rode our bikes around the Island (8 miles - biked it, and liked it! - I've even got a t-shirt to prove it), and visited a bunch of the cute shops - got me a deck of cards just for kicks! On day two of the trip, we stayed on Michigan's side ... walked along the beach, rode our bikes around town, went out to eat, relaxed. And one day three, we headed home - 9-hour drive. It was one of the coolest things I've done. It was awesome spending so much time with Hannah ... and between the ferry ride, ice cream stops, and getting a cute guy's phone number, it was a super fun trip!

Mammoth Cave and the Cutest Kids Ever

A few years back ... I think it was November of 2008 when I went with the Nilsens and the Beards to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Ben was planning one of his trips again ... and thankfully, he invited me along. We camped out in the cold, fall air. Actually, the guys camped out. The girls got a hotel room. Yeah ... we wimped out. ;) And then we went on a cave tour the next day. I had a ton of fun chatting with Ben and hanging out with Barrett, Mason, Corinne, and Silas - some of the cutest kids you'll ever meet! We had a ton of fun, and I was so grateful for a weekend with some really great people from my second church family - Grace Fellowship. :)

Treasured Tennessee Trips

Tennessee.
Wow! I'm sure I have a bunch of stories for this place ...

Our girls trip in the summer of 2007 - Justine, Tiff, Mags, and I went to see Maggie's grandma and her friend, Leona, in Newport. Swimming in her grandma's pool, a trip to the Beehive (a really cool store full of knick knacks - I bought my first pair of crocs there that summer!), climbing the Chimneys (big ol' boulders in the mountains), shopping in Gatlinburg, lots of good food, late night ice cream sundaes, and a great road trip.

Our family Christmas (2010 and 2011) - spent the weekend with my aunt and uncle and cousins ... a cabin in the Smokies ... movie and Japanese on Christmas Day ... trip into Gatlinburg.

Trips to see Emily and Barry in Nashville - picture outings, movies, going out to eat, exploring Nashville, getting to hang out with my BBF after long absenses.

My trip to Cutter Gap - found Leonora Whitiker Wood's mission (the Christy Mission) and church where she served the Appalachian children in the early 1900s.

Lots of good stories :)

Sweet Boga :)

Just a few pictures of my amazing trip to a little town in Louisiana called Bogalusa. My THIRD trip to this awesome little town! ... Pastor Marcus, sweet scent of the papermill (right ...), Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church, people still struggling from Hurricane Katrina, amazing team members .... a home away from home. An amazing trip! Amazing people! Amazing place! Amazing God at work!!!!

We did work projects around homes in Bogalusa every summer we were there (2006, 2007, and 2009). One year, my group had to move a pile of house ... yes, it wasn't a house; it was a PILE of house. Hurricane Katrina had completely collapsed the house 2 years earlier, and the town clean up crew won't move "trash" unless it is by the side of the road. So believe it or not, my team picked up an entire house and moved it 20 feet to the side of the road.

In 2009, our entire trip team went to the "home" of Mr. Barry ... a Bogalusa man who wandered the streets in search of whatever he could find. We were supposed to help him "tidy things up" a bit. When we arrived, we drove our vans back onto a dirt trail ... all kinds of weeds and trees growing up over everywhere and everything. We eventually parked and walked to Mr. Barry's "house." ... He lived on a concrete slab. He owned two fold out chairs - one for his clothes and one for sleeping in. He had a collection of Starbucks bottles, a plastic light saber, a bunch of tin cans, and a few other knick knacks he found during his travels around town. He wasn't home, so we picked up all the trash we saw laying around, being careful not to throw away anything that he might cherish. We took brooms and swept off his concrete slab. We set up a tent for him and left him a new pair of shoes. ... At one point during the clean up, I was overcome with emotion. I couldn't believe someone actually lived like this. No real possessions. No roof over his head, much less a house! No food. And the heat?! How unbearable! I tried to hold back the tears and keep working. But by the time, we got to the vans to head back, I was sobbing. I took away a great lesson in thankfulness that day, and I still pray for Mr. Barry every time I think about him.

Bogalusa is an incredible place, and I was so privileged to share it with such incredible people - Pastor Mike and Shelley and Jeremy and the teenagers at Calvary and Grace Fellowship and Hendricks Community Bible Church and Fellowship Church ... and Pastor Marcus and his family! Such sweet memories!

Dogs and Bears, oh my!

When I was about 6 years old, my dad, mom, Wes, and I went to Colorado for a family vacation. We used to go on family vacations a lot more regularly when I was growing up. They were always a ton of fun. Most of the time, we went to Florida ... but that year, we went to the mountains of Colorado. We stayed at a camp of some sort ... cabins, dining hall, huge dogs the size of bears, and actual bears ... ya know ... Colorado stuff.

I don't remember much about the trip. But the two things I do remember were the huge dogs and the bears.
When you're 6, a big dog is practically a bear. And I was scared to death of these dogs! This camp had to have nearly a dozen dogs runnin' around all the time. And they were huge! I was scared every time I walked out of our cabin. Maybe that's why I'm so afraid of dogs (and really any animal) to this day. Actually, I doubt it. I'm just a big baby.
And the bears ... I didn't actually see a bear, mind you. But I could have! Hahaha! Actually, I only vividly remember my mom and I sleeping in our big van one night during the trip because the other families staying in our cabin were loud and obnoxious ... and I tossed and turned all night, afraid a bear would push in the button on the door handle, open the door, and eat us alive! It's one of those memories that you recall so easily - it's like it happened yesterday.

I think I rode my first and only horse at that camp too, but I don't remember that ... just have a picture around the house somewhere proving the fact.

Trip to Cutter Gap

These pictures are from my trip to "Cutter Gap", TN ... the place where Leonora Whitacker Wood served as a teacher in a backwoods mission ... she taught and ministered to the children of the Appalachian Mountains in the early 1900s. Her story is depicted in Catherine Marshall's book, Christy. I LOVE the story and service that Christy (Leanora) did then - I would LOVE to do something similar. So I traveled to the Appalachian Mountains to find the site where she worked and lived. I found it! I talked to a man related to one of the characters in the book. I walked on the same ground that Leonora did! I saw and drove through the same incredible mountains she got to see everyday she woke up to serve her kids. It was an awesome trip ... and a little scary in parts. I knocked off a few of my bucket list items too. Yes!!!! :D

Ohio Thanksgivings

I'm sure I've been to Ohio several times ... for a variety of reasons. Book conventions ... just passing through on my way to another state ... but I think my favorite memories were family Thanksgivings at Wayne and Kathy's house. Those were always my favorite family get-togethers too. I'm not sure why. It was probably because I liked traveling a bit to get there - made it feel more special. And Wayne and Kathy live on a farm ... so we'd always get to see the farm animals. And I'd get to watch my uncles and second cousins shoot their guns. Haha! That sounds funny to me for some reason. They'd shoot discs into the air and then shoot 'em with their big guns. Makes me laugh. And we'd go on hayrides and sometimes play football in the yard. And there were pretty sunsets. Lots of good times. I wish we still had our family Thanksgiving there every year. It always felt more like a family ... there was a closeness there. I miss that ...

Sweet Missouri Memories :)

Missouri Memories ... *big sigh*

I've been to Missouri a handful of times, but the only two things I've done in Missouri are eat at Lambert's Cafe' in Sikeston and visit Pastor Mike and Shelley in Poplar Bluff ... while they still lived there.

Lambert's is a pretty cool place. They have giant mugs that they serve their drinks in ... I bought one, and I use it all the time. But I think my brother stole it and took it to Evansville with him ... he is always stealing my stuff. *Rolling of the eyes* I sure hope he didn't lose it! Man. Lambert's is also cool because they throw rolls at you from across the room! So fun! You just raise your hand or yell "roll over here" or something, and they throw one to you. And they have pretty good aim too. They have yummy sweet tea and chicken and dumplings.

And going to Pastor Mike and Shelley's was always fun. Now that they live 27 hours away, I don't get to see them as often, but the 6-hour drive to Poplar Bluff was a trek I made a couple times a year. Such good times! It was always good to see my second family. Shelley and I would always go out just the two of us at least once every time I saw them. She'd often make me one of my favorites - her yummy chocolate caramel cake ... and she'd always have lots of sweet tea for me! And her red beans and rice ... gosh, I miss that meal. I'd always play princesses or color princesses and watch princess movies with Anna. I'd get to talk with the boys. Pastor Mike and I would always talk about SoZo. And I'd usually get to see the beautiful Tori. And visit Fellowship ... and sometimes, go to their youth group meetings. I miss those guys so much. I can't wait to visit them in Arizona someday ... see their new home and church and hear Pastor Mike preach from the pulpit. Yeah, man. That's gonna be great.

I sure am thankful for my trips to Missouri. :)

Aren't you jealous? ;)

Recently, I've been adding lots of things to my bucket list. I went to Alex and Brett Harris' Rebelution conference with my youth group, and they encouraged us to read some books by dead people. Biographies. So I put that on my bucket list. But I also put "find a modern-day hero for myself" on the list. And I decided that my dad, mom, and brother are my "modern-day heroes." And here's why ...

They each possess qualities that I really admire and want in myself.

My dad - my dad is the most steadfast person I've ever met. Steadfast means "firm in purpose, fixed in direction, firm in faith, unwavering." Now don't you see why my dad is steadfast? :) He really is. He is so steady ... he never wavers. He may get a little too excited about politics sometimes, but really, that's about all that gets him worked up. He trusts God. He knows God's got it. And he shows it by his unwavering faith, steady, confident demeanor, and his ability to just take life in stride. I am so unsteady. I don't role with life; I stumble through it and worry about it. So I really admire my dad's consistency and constant stability. And not only that, but he is so generous. He gives of himself all the time - whether doing mountains of dishes at The Porch on his day off work or paying for Wes and my college education or handing me a $20 bill when I've had a rough day or going to work day after day for more than 30 years to provide for his family or (you get where I'm going, right?). My dad is a giver, for sure! I want to give and give and give just like him!

My mom - my mom is the most hard-working person I know. She is one who perseveres. I've seen her struggle in her faith big-time over the past several years. I've seen her discouraged. I've watched her feel defeated. But through all her trials, she has pushed through. And in the past year, I have seen such growth in her. She may not know it, but she is reaping what she has sown. Maybe not in the way she wants sometimes. But being able to say "Praise the Lord" when you drop a whole apple crisp on the floor or when you have one customer and 3 staff members to pay on top of all your other bills or when your garage floods for the 100th time or when a raccoon tears up all the ducts under your store and wastes a whole winter's worth of heat or when (you get the point, I hope) ... being able to praise God in the midst of all that is a HUGE testimony of God's work and her faith. I think part of faith is not giving up. Faith is believing without seeing, sure ... but I think it also has to do with persevering. And my mom's perseverance has been a huge testimony in my life. I want to persevere the way she does. I wanna be able to say "praise the Lord!" even when things don't go my way.

My brother - And Wes. He is a character, isn't he? Gosh, I love that guy. He cracks me up! I love my brother's charisma, positive outlook on life, and his determination. I want to see the world the way Wes does ... he doesn't get down easily 'cause he's too busy learning from the situation, brainstorming ways to make it better, and ready to tell the world about what he's figured out! :) He wants to live an abundant life in Christ - he's passionate about that pursuit! He reaches for the stars, and when he fails (he only does that occasionally, of course) ;) ... he figures out what he can learn from it, picks himself back up, and tries again. He's not afraid to think big and take steps to live big! ... I'm a big wimp. I'm afraid to fail, afraid to disappoint someone, afraid to try a lot of stuff. So I really admire Wes' ability to go all out every time and go all the harder when he doesn't quite make it.

I am so incredibly blessed to not only have a God-fearing family but a family who really goes after Jesus in their everyday lives! It's probably the greatest blessing a person can have apart from their own salvation, which I have too. :) Incredible. Incredible. God is so good to me! Aren't you jealous? ;)

Mmm ... God's creation is amazing!

I finally made a calendar using the pictures I've taken. Sadly, the ink in my printer is all janked up, so the pictures didn't come out very well. Oh, well. ... I wish I were a better photographer 'cause I love to take pictures ... especially of nature. But my hands are shaky, and I don't have the patience to save up and buy a nice camera or learn how to use one. So I'll just have to settle for mediocre photography. And thankfully, God brings out His masterpieces on a regular basis ... so if I don't catch one perfectly, I can see it again another day. Not the same sunset or same snow fall or same mountains ... but still good stuff. :)
Here are some of the pictures I used for my calendar ...

My Mountain Devo :)

I took a trip into the mountains recently ... I drove pretty far up into the Appalachian mountains ... farther than I've ever been before. Heck! I've never really being INTO the mountains before - ANY mountains ... especially, alone. So it was quite a trip! Some of my adventures that day were awesome ... even scary. I'll have to tell you about 'em when I blog about my "Cutter Gap" trip. And I sat down for my "quiet time in front of the Appalachian Mountains" toward to the end of my trip. So my heart was racing a little ... I was a bit wiped out from being on the edge of my seat all day (in amazement and awe) and driving all day on curvy, mountain roads. These pictures are of my mountain view at my devo spot ... and a picture of me leaning up against my car, basking in God's word and the beauty of His creation. I honestly don't remember much about my devotional that day ... I was ready to head back down the mountain - it had been an exciting day. But I do remember this ...

"Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:23-26

How could you forget that, right? Man, this is good stuff. This is not only my favorite Psalm but one of my all-time favorite passages of Scripture. Powerful, powerful stuff. And to read it surrounded by that view? Oh! It was good. I remember standing up in the middle of that field, surrounded by the beautiful Appalachians, just hugging my Bible ... thanking God for such a sight ... and for His love and faithfulness. We serve a great God!!!!

If you haven't already, drive up to Lake Michigan, catch a train to the mountains of Tennessee, fly to Florida's beaches, walk next door to your friendly, neighborhood, Indiana cornfield, and sit and do your devotions. Soak up God's beauty. It really is awesome. :)

Robbed in Texas

The summer after my freshman year in high school, my family and I joined a group from our church on a mission trip to the Texas-Mexico border. Our church supports a couple missionaries there - John and Margie Lezotte. I think that's how you spell their last name - it's close, at least. We went there to do mostly puppet ministry (from what I can remember), but also share our testimonies ... put on a Vacation Bible School type deal for various churches and schools just over the border. I can't remember what part of Mexico, or I would tell you. It's crazy to say this, but it's been 10 years since that trip ... a whole decade since I was a freshman in high school. Wow.

Anyway ...
We spent a good deal of time in Texas as well. We stayed in some houses that John and Margie have on their property. One day, while we were out on our missions projects, the house my family was staying in was ROBBED! If you've ever been robbed, you know how violating it feels. It was weird ... and kind of eerie. Everyone was okay (probably 'cause we weren't there when it happened) - that's important - but Wes and I did have a few of our things stolen. Wes had his backpack stolen, and the robbers took my purse, which had $70 in it. Bummer. I think I remember the exact amount because John persisted in paying me back the money. It was kind of a weird experience. If you ever stay in a desert area near the Texas/Mexico border, you might not wanna leave your purse laying on your bed, full of money ... even if your doors are locked. Not too smart on my part.

GVB on the FLOOR!!!

After I went to my first Gaither Vocal Band concert and sat a mile from the stage, I knew I had to go again ... but get closer seats - FLOOR seats. And I did, buddy ... I did. One night earlier this year, I piled in my car and drove to Indiana Wesleyan University for another marvelous GVB concert. It was awesome! The drive was short enough that I could go to the concert and get back home in one night - no hotel costs. My ticket was half the price of the previous concert I was at. My floor seats were 3 rows from the stage. And it was ALL Gaither Vocal Band - ALL David, Wes, Michael, Mark, and Bill. Wahoo! No Homecoming crew to hog the night. Man. And they were so good! I nearly cried several times 'cause the harmonies and the lyrics were so amazing. If you've never been to a GVB concert, you need to go. Put it on YOUR bucket list! Seriously. Heck! Just go youtube "Because He Lives Gaither Vocal Band" or "Sinner Saved By Grace Gaither Vocal Band" right now.

Really good stuff.
I heart Southern Gospel music! :D

Team Jacob is no more ... for me anyway

So my friend, Maggie, and any of you readers who are apart of "Team Edward" will be happy to hear that I have officially switched over to Team Edward from Team Jacob.

But what's funny is I arrived at this conclusion after reading a totally unrelated book --- Christy. Hahaha! ... I don't know if you know the Christy story - Catherine Marshall's book about her mother - a young woman who went to the back woods of Tennessee to teach impoverished children in the early 1900s. Well, the book (and her real-life story) presents Christy with a choice between two men - a young preacher (David) and an older doctor (Neil). I see lots of similarities between Jacob and David and lots of similarities between Edward and Neil. I recently finished reading Christy, and I found that my original choice (David) is lacking - a lot. I'm so bummed 'cause he is not as cool in the book as he is in the TV series. And the same goes for Jacob - he's not as great in the books as he is in the movies. I will say I still like David and Jacob. But ... I think I've officially switched to "Team Neil" and Team Edward.

The more mature, more together, more selfless guy needs to be with the girl. And I think that's who I want for ME as well. And they win in the end anyway.

Hahaha! All of that to say ... I am for Team Edward, and my friend, Maggie, is thrilled. Just don't tell my friend, Hannah. ;)