For the Beauty of the earth

I'm in Gatlinburg!
It is gorgeous. At least the wilderness is.
As for the main drag downtown? It makes me shudder.
So tourist-y...But it is not all thorns. There are gems to be found among the rough.
Such as...
 the artisan store.  I appreciated the workmanship. Intricate carvings, handwoven cloths, jewelry, and last but not least, the pottery. [I want to take some pottery classes now.] There were some über cool mugs there. The only drawback was the price. With the price they were asking ($30 or so), I'd be hard-pressed to actually use the mugs. Perhaps they were just there to be displayed.
[I have a thing for mugs.]
Another store called The Honeypot had soy candles that smelled heavenly. I ended up with a coffee cup filled with a soywax candle that smells like roasted espresso. There was no choice. I had to buy it. [I hope it doesn't encourage me to drink more coffee...]
In many stores there were moccasins. I tried on a groovy pair, and came close to buying them. Not so close on the fringe coat that coordinated...

We are staying in a spacious rental house that has a lovely view.
Standing out on the deck, gazing out at the beauty, you get a sense of grandeur.
I can never decide. Mountains or Beach? Both have redeeming qualities.

We hiked out to a waterfall on Monday.

Swam in the cool pool, warmed up in our hot tub, took pictures, played pool...it's been a nice stay so far.
I also got to finish one of my books. The Oath by Peretti. Oh boy, that guy is a good writer. He keeps you interested. It is a difficult task to put one of his books down.

Tomorrow we're going on a long hike. I'm looking forward to it. Better make sure the camera batteries are charged.
But now it is hot tub time. Everything's cooling off, so it will feel lovely to soak in the warmness. We walked an extensive amount today around downtown. I think our three mile walk today was more exhausting than a 10 mile hike in the woods would have been...

take me home, country roads...

...my Mimi said that song would make her cry for homesickness.
It's high time that I come home "fer a spell"
Although my hometown is far from "country"...

I feel like I haven't been home but a week this summer. That one week was an outreach, so I wasn't really home at my house.

It has been a grand summer, for the most part.

the cliffs notes version of my summer:

• The SAT (what a way to kick it off!)
• Housesitting and dogsitting. That helped alleviate the stress of the SAT. 
• Serving in MTYC's kitchen
• counseling at MTYC for the middle girls 
• the SPORT camp outreach! 
• Cooking at HCBC
• counseling at MTYC for the little girls
• a week with my grandparents (on my mom's side) 
• a week in Hilton Head! 
• Back to my mom's parent's house
• My Grandaddy Henline's funeral
• A week with my grandparents on the other side

and now...
a few days here at home and I'm off again!

Well, this summer has been exceptional. I have learned much. Many lessons that I will be able to glean wisdom from in the upcoming years.

On another note: I'm glad that I know the Meaning of Life. Otherwise, I would be SO despairingly depressed. I would be in the absolute pits. Not knowing is a terrible feeling...

To Be Spoilt

Ahh, a week at Grandad and Gram's.
I have been utterly spoiled.
I'm now useless and good for nothing... it's a wonderful feeling.

One Shot.

Life is an interesting experience.
You only get one shot at it.
At any point it can be over.
Life is fragile.

Have you ever sat back and watched humanity?
Sitting on a bench in a busy thoroughfare; be it at the mall, downtown, in a restaurant, at the museum...  you get a look at humans.
We are so complex. Every person has their own story.
 They have their own tragedy, personal crisis, joyful moments...
It is easy for me to get wrapped up in what's directly affecting me, my own thoughts and introspective-ness.
I forget that what I do could be influencing or changing someone else's life.  I may be people-watching, but I'm sure that there's people watching me.
I am an example to others.
I'm called to be a light; am I shining? hmmm
It's something to think about.


Today I was reading different topics in the Bible.
I read about wisdom, generosity, and perseverance.
Then, I read a well-known passage, and it struck me in a new way (Matthew 5: 38-42, Jesus speaking):

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

Say whaaaat? It's been awhile since I've read the passage.
It sounds like a scary proposition, not resisting an evil person. Does that make me a doormat? Am I to be a super-pushover??
But further down in the passage, Jesus continues the thought (Matthew 6:25-27):

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

This seems to be my theme for this season of my life. God has got me in His hands. He will provide. What immense comfort there is in this thought!
I continued to read, and found this wonderful correlation in Romans 8

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.



What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, I don't have to worry about being a pushover.  I have God-confidence. He is mighty to save, and (this is reverberating over and over for me) He is in control. He will give the ability to show such humility and servant-hood.

He has a plan.

Home, home, home...

So good to be home after a month away! 


The beach was FABULOUS. Every day was perfect. 
God is so very good! 
My cup of blessing? 
Overflowing. 
To have such sweet loving friends as Britt, AL, and Ms. Debbie. :) 


So, I know I could take up lots of space listing blessings...
I've done it before (on paper) and...wow, just wow. 
It'll lift your spirits. 


So: home. 
I forced myself to unpack yesterday, going against my lazy grain. Really, it wasn't so bad. 
I dread unpacking. And packing. 
Packing in general. 
It is in such times when you must make hard decisions. (The blue blouse or the green one?...why can't I just have both? I know, I know...because that makes for a full suitcase...) 
It was nice packing to the beach.  I was already packed. 
See, the week before I was at my grandparents, and the week before that I was at camp, and the week before that I was cooking in another camp kitchen...
My clothes had been washed of course, but I was packed with a VERY FULL suitcase. I was used to living out of it. 


At camp, you go through clothes like nobody's business. (I don't go through nobody's business usually, but...) 
At camp, you wear crazy stuff that you wouldn't really wear anywhere else (a t-shirt with tofu fighting? really?)


But that was what I had to work with for my wardrobe. 


I was home for about 45 minutes before heading out to HHI. Just enough time to grab a few good books, a beach towel, and a few other beach-y items. 
Turns out I had PLENTY of stuff...


Anyways, today I played guitar for the Sunday school classes. 
The kids in there need some pumping up. Give me a few more Sundays, and they will be crazy...
maybe the teachers don't want that. 
hehehe 
I have PLENTY of silly songs up my sleeve...


Today I went running.
It's been a while since I've gotten to go. 
endorphins. Runner's high.
Mmmmmmmm.


It wasn't a long run, just 3 miles, but a start nonetheless. 
I've been staying active this summer. Things like biking, hiking, swimming, cooking (it's more active than you'd think!), doing stunts and falling down are all great; still, nothing like a good run. It gives you time to think. 
This run was great. I kept having Bible verses pop into my head. How cool and comforting. 

Then, to top off the night, Daddy bought some avocados! 
I have MISSED guacamole all summer. Poor, poor me. 
It's a super addicting something-or-other. My favorite. 
Not really a dip. I have my own secret recipe for it. (I've tweaked it recently. Shhhhh. Don't tell!)


Then, to make it an even better night, we watched Dr. Who. 
I am getting into Dr. Who. At first, I thought it was cheesy, silly, etc. 
Nope. It's a really riveting and interesting show... 


It was a very nice night indeed. 
Now I'll pop off to bed. I felt like blogging something, even it it is all rather rambly and not terribly cohesive. 
It's so annoying. I'll get going on an idea, and then have another great thought come forward. I'll want to write about that too. Next thing I know, my post is waaayyyy long. 


I need to stop following so many bunny trails. 


My sisters and I are going to make a video soon. 
We have to come up with (or narrow down) our theme for the video. 
If you have an idea, do comment. 
We love satire and goofiness. Nothing too serious. 


.....Argh, bunny trail! 


Alright. It is my bedtime. It SHOULD be my bedtime. 
Goodnight, reader! 

HHI

well, hh-hhii-i.
I've developed a stutter.
It's annoying, but...
no, not really. I'm in Hilton Head with some GREAT friends. This has been an awesome week, and I have A LOT to blog about. But guess what?
I'm on vacation.
It's lovely and not boring at all. There is SO so so so much to do!

• Sandcastles.
• Shopping. (I have a tie-dye sarong! soooo cool :) ) 
• Skim-boarding.
• Sashaying and skipping down the walkways in flowing skirts. And losing a flip flop to the harbor when I inevitably slipped....
• Snoozing by the pool.
• Splashing through rain puddles on bikes. It is FUN STUFF!! 
• Standing in the waves
• Surveying the landscape (there is so much to absorb with the eye. It almost overwhelms you! The beauty of the spanish moss, the picturesque beaches...) 
• Sitting and watching girly movies. 
• Snacking on salads. 
• Sipping coffee.
• Skittering away from alligators (haven't had to try it yet, but...I'm prepared) 
• Singing in the rain. Singing anytime really. 

S.... uhhh, I can't keep the s thing up much longer... and we are headed out soon!
Hope that you, dear reader, are having a wonderful summer too!