The weekend I went through a half tank of gas....

Is it bad that I was busier in the 2 days of this weekend than I was for the 5 days at camp?

Thats bad....

& I'm exhausted.  Especially because I'm now doing Monday on less than 3 hours sleep.

God help me. Seriously. I dont know how I'm going to get through the day.

Coffee... lots of coffee.. that's the answer...

Anyhooo......

Friday actually wasn't too bad....I went to the grocery & Ricky met me & we stopped for dinner on the way home.  & Ricky fell asleep as soon as he got home & I just took it easy & ended up knocking out about 10:30.

The rest of the weekend was going to be so busy & scheduled almost hour by hour so I'm glad I got some rest.

Saturday, I got up & had a morning 5k with my buddy Nathalie... we did a race a few months back & when we saw there was another one in the series, we knew we had to do it.

I loved getting out & running since I hadn't ran in nearly over a month.

It felt good... & I blame it solely on the weather. It was absolutely PERFECT. Cool, breezy, sunny.  Just lovely.  It made the 3.10 miles go by really fast.

I got home in time to do a few errands, cleaning & a little bit of reading & a lot of watching our poor little blind boy...

I spy my big cheesy smile

& then it was time to pack up my camera bags & head out for a photo session.

I loved seeing this young man again & his family.  He was in my youth group at my previous church & he's such a good kid. (I'm sure he'd hate me calling him "kid"... he's a Senior now after all)  He's so respectful & just all around good people... like his momma & dad.  & I'm now going to add "photogenic" to that list.  He was so easy to work with & took direction really well.

 I cant wait to get all his pictures edited up.

I ran to pick up some dinner afterwards & then headed home to eat, shower & get the pictures uploaded... & before I knew it, it was after 11....

Sunday, I woke up & headed to church.

Kingdom Worker Sunday Vibes

We're not having regular MSM but there is still MSM Remix - which is basically the usual services except they dont expect leaders to be there. Leaders get the summer off... so I dont HAVE to be there, but my girls are texting me & talking about being there so I knew that they wanted me there, I'll be there.

& I'm so glad I went.  These girls just make my day so much brighter.

I had 3 hours from church to be at our JOY bible study so I ended up running over to the pet store to find some new dog food for our poor Bruno who is having such issues with his skin allergies.

& I picked up some lunch for Ricky & I & headed home to eat quick...

I got to run over to our neighbors & hold their baby turkeys .... ahhhhh.... & then I had to put away all the cute little baby birds & say goodbye to the cutest little raccon they captured that was trying to eat their chickens (YUCK!1 I gave him a stern talking on becoming a vegetarian. It'll make his life easie) & got back in my car & head down to Bible study...

I'm telling you - this weekend was go go go & GO... I literally used a half tank of gas between Friday to Sunday evening.  & for reference sake, I can usually drive from my house to nearly the Tennessee border on a half tank of gas... so yeahhhh... lots of driving.

But I was so happy to be with some of my Joysters. Not everyone made it but I always say that its exactly as it should be because we had a new young lady join us & sometimes I think big crowds would be intimidating... so I think it was nice it was a smaller group for her sake. & I was so thrilled to see every lady there.  Especially ones I hadn't seen in awhile & one I wasn't sure was going to come back... when she walked back in, I was just so thankful to see her again.

All the toys... I cant believe there's not a baby or two. or three running through this picture

Time is always FLYING by when we're together... next thing I know, its been nearly 3 & a half hours... you know what they say... something about getting laughing & crying women together?  Is that not a saying?  I need a new saying around that.

I ended up getting home around 7:30 & time to feed the dogs, do those stupid adult things like writing out bills & then back to editing....

I'm beat...

which is funny because our Bible Study is about slowing down & breathing & find rest in God's Sabbath.  Think I need this study?... or more importantly, think I need to apply what I'm learning?
yyyeaahhhhhh....

God's got a lot to teach me on this because I'm pretty sure I'm going to have these same weekends at least till August.  Geez.

How was your weekend?

Are yours always busy or always chilled out?

Friday Favorites

Favorite Food

Healthy Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge!!!!!!

(Click Picture for recipe)

I'm for anything that says "Healthy" & "Fudge" together

Favorite House Tips



I love this blog & love this little simple reminder on how to clean rooms
I need little reminders... almost a check list to keep my life in order.


Favorite Reminder

Favorite Books for Summer

Favorite Beauty & the Beast


Best college graduation cap EVER!!!

Favorite Peencha

Favorite Video



I literally laughed till I couldnt see through the tears.....

Favorite Funnies

... when I saw my dad on Father's Day





... what I have to remind my dogs of every Friday night




... when all the kids are trying to explain Snapchat to me




... me at 4:00pm today




Happy Weekend Y'all!!!!

Thankful Thursday #130

This week I am Thankful For:

{numbers go with One Thousand Gifts Journal / just ignore}

406 / Changing Bunk Beds.
I am SOOOO thankful that one of the sweet girls let me have the bottom bunk.  I would have just slept on the floor otherwise.  Someone should have videoed me just TRYING to get up on the top bunk of the bed. We'd go viral, for sure!

407 / Quiet morning time.
I did enjoy getting up a little bit earlier before the kids found their energy.  This little retreat area was just down the path from our front door of our dorm. It was just so beautiful in the morning light.

 408 / My girls.
It was just so wonderful spending time with all my girls.  They are such special young ladies & I am so lucky & blessed to know them & to have the opportunity to try & help steer them onto straighter paths as they grow up

409 / Back up
I have been in situations where misunderstandings can happen & no one has your back. That hurts. Especially when its people you consider friends that dont stand up for you.  So when I had someone stand up for me in a big way this past week, it just comforted my heart so much.  There's nothing better than having someone stand up for you & putting their own word on your character because they believe in it.

411 / Final session.
The last session of camp was truly full of the Holy Spirit moving in my girls.  So much emotion was happening & I know they left with a renewed sense of closeness to God.

412 / Future Nurse in our dorm
With all the sickness happening, I was so blessed for the young lady that is going to school to be a nurse. She was on top the game handling situations no one else wanted to deal with...... Puke.Yes, I'm talking about puke.haha... but also she was on top of our dehydration problem. She had to leave to go to school at night & she brought back bottles of water for all the girls in our dorm.  She was just amazing having with us.

Here is is fixing another leader's foot that had something stuck in it :) 

414 / Getting to know the High School Girls
I just loved getting to talk to the HSM girls that I got to room with.  They are incredible! Simply incredible. How they lead the middle school girls & the wisdom they already know &share with these younger girls.  I am impressed every time I get to know more about these girls.... & love they accepted the "old gal" in with them this week.

The games were Christmas theme & the girls added to the fun with Ugly Christmas Sweaters

415 / Baptisms.
There really is nothing like watching all of these people get baptized.  They did each one individually & each one made me equally smile AND tear up.

416 / GIRL POWER
So funny note - guys, you may not appreciate this one.... but during camp, it seemed like it was contagious to start your period. All the girls everywhere were starting. & then we actually had 3 girls in our dorm that started for the very first time.  Remember when you started for the first time? It's a mark on your life.... but I loved that these girls were surrounded by friends that were like "Cool!"... & being the "dorm mom" I told them, "We're celebrating" haha... & told them we were going to have a "Moon Dance" - which confused them all.  I told them that in days ole, women in families would take their daughters out under the moon & they would celebrate this new phase of life.  I dont know if this is true or I dreamt it but I swore I heard it somewhere before... anyways, I said, We're going to do our own Moon Dance .... so before we went to bed on the last night, I got my wireless speaker, & my Spotify & we got all the girls & danced to Girls Just Want to Have Fun... haha... Tell me that these girls wont remember their first period when they're older?  ... but it was funny because everyone ewas like, "Next year, we're having a dance party EVERY NIGHT'... I agree.  Totally will.

417 / Ricky had me a surprise.
Ricky met me at Panera on my way home & then had to run to Home Depot & I just wanted to get home. I opened the door & he had me a surprise sitting on the counter.  Isnt he the cutest.  (I had surprised him during the week too by having a card sent to him through the mail that let him know I missed him.... we love each other) ;)

418 / Starbucks after 4 days
I get what people say now about good coffee. After drinking the coffee at camp, I just wanted to get Starbucks. It was almost like a detox at camp but as soon as I was behind the wheel of my car, you know the first place I stopped.  It tasted like heaven.

419 / My own shower
Let me tell you.... camp showers just dont cut it. They were so small, I couldnt even bend over to shave my legs. I had to bend them up & then keep my balance. Fun times.  I think I just stood in my own shower at home an extra 10 minutes just because.

422 / Father's Day
Blessed to have an incredible dad in my life.

425 / Lunch outside
We had a small break in the heat & I love eating lunch outside during work.  Let me inhale fresh air instead of stale, stuffy, office air.

What are you thankful for this week?

Confession time....

.... OK... I get it... congrats & all.  But I REALLY REALLY REALLLLLY dont get the whole Beyonce thing. How her having these twins is like the 2nd coming of Jesus.  Why is it such big news?  I mean, it was in the top headlines of the National News.  Really? I mean, I get the world needs some light news, but does it have to be ALL Beyonce ALL the time?  I just dont understand the craze.  Maybe its all just a sign that I'm getting old.

... I honestly could eat a quinoa salad from Panera every single day of my life.

... Speaking of Panera, Ricky made a good point. It's funny they has changed their menu for healthier items & got rid of sweet tea & gotten rid of ketchup because of high fructose corn syrup... yet, they have a whole side of their entry full of sugar filled pastries & cookies. Because those are healthy.

... this is the day that I always dread.  The beginning of summer. & not because it has anything to do with summer. But its the day that the sun starts SETTING 1 minute earlier every day.  NOOOOOOO. I like sunlight. I like sitting outside & reading till nearly 9pm. & I know its awhile before its really dark before 7, but I know its shifting.  I hate so dang much the drives into work when its dark too - that's beyond the worst.  So I'm going to be out enjoying the longest day of the year.

... being away at camp, it was kinda crazy coming home & getting caught up on news. I was so detached from all the latest happenings in anything news related.... & once I saw the news again, I wish I was back at camp totally unplugged.  I get why people avoid the news now.  #ignoranceisbliss

... I get that people like leather seats because they dont stain, but I gotta say, black leather seats + shorts/short skirt/dress = 3rd degree burns waiting to happen. OUCHHHHHHH! I keep a blanket in my front seat all summer long so I can sit down without the need to go to the ER.  That's some dangerous stuff.

... my vertigo has been on a kick for weeks now. ALL THE DIZZY!!!!!.... If I get pulled over & have to walk a line for a alcohol test, I just need to know now whose going to come get me out of jail because I'm totally going to fail.

.... every time Kroger has their Starbucks K-Cups on sale for $6.99, my favorite sales out first. The House Blend. I thought I found one hiding in the back, snagged it up & proudly purchased it... to get home & found it was DECAF.  #whatsthepoint

...I can't believe we have yet to see Guardians of the Galaxy... nor Wonder Woman.  My super hero loving husband is disappointing me.  ... but in all honesty, its my busy weekends that are disappointing him. We cant ever find a time to go. UGH.  He's already told me he's not waiting on me for the new Spiderman.

... & speaking of movies, with Beauty & the Beast on Blu-Ray now, I think this is a conversation that happens every night now

ME: Want to watch a movie?

HUBS:  What do you want to watch?

ME: Beauty & the Beast

HUBS:........... seriously?  Are you going to ask every night?

ME:  So do you want to watch it?

What's something you need to get off your chest today & confess?

DROP / WALK / SPEAK / LIVE

I know I talked a lot about camp yesterday & how much fun it was & all the good side... & bad side... lets not forget all the hurling going on. Total bad side...

But the weekend had a topic we focused on all weekend.

Peter.

When I heard that, I was so excited because I relate to Peter.

Peter, the one who dropped his nets to follow Jesus & wanted to learn all he could from this man who was teaching new truths on God... & the man who turned away from God, heart broken that he did just as he told Jesus he wouldn't do - deny him.  & the man who got to see his friend in a risen body after they witnessed his crucifixion & tell him he loved him.  & the man who Jesus told that His church would be built through him... even after his failures.

I get Peter.  I understand Peter.

So I was excited for the kids to learn about Peter & how his story could tap into their own lives.

Each night, we talked about a word the represented Peter's Story....

DROP / WALK / SPEAK / LIVE

DROP
Peter dropped his nets to go to Jesus.  Left everything behind. His career as a fisherman.  His family. Everything he knew & was comfortable with.  ... & we were reminded how we need to DROP our concerns that hold us back. The things that we dont want to do for Jesus because we may be uncomfortable. The worries that we can come up with. They will always keep us in a place of comfort that isn't helping anyone.  DROP our own nets as fast as we can.....dont let them hold us back.

WALK
We were reminded how in the middle of a storm, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. Took that step of faith to stand on the un-standable, keeping his focus on the One who would give him the power to stand.  .... & we were reminded that in the storms of our life, because there will always be storms, that Peter showed us that its better to be in the middle of a storm WITH Jesus, than safe in the boat without Him.  Jesus will protect us, get us through those rough times - we just have to stay near him & trust in Him until the winds calm down.

SPEAK
We looked at what people were saying about Jesus & Jesus looked at Peter & said, "Who do you say that I am?"... & Peter replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God".  Peter spoke loudly what he knew to be true.  Even if it wasn't something others agreed with.  ... & we were reminded that we need to speak up, voice our belief in Jesus to others. Share His word. Share who He is.  & we took it a step further in our group & I asked the kids "Who would people say YOU are?"... & we got a lot of words - a lot not so flattering. It was eye opening I think for the kids to voice how they thought many saw them.  We want to change that.  We want others to say about us, "Who is so & so?... Oh, they're a Christian.  Oh, they are a Jesus Freak.  Oh, they are a Kingdom Worker.  Oh, they are the kindest, giving, generous, loving person.".

WHO WE SAY JESUS IS... We proclaim it

LIVE
This was a powerful one.  We got to see how Peter failed Jesus. Denied him. 3 times.
Failure at its finest.  But we saw that in the end, Jesus had Peter proclaim that he loved Him... & Peter's world was turned around.  Failure doesnt have to hold us back. Jesus forgives us.  & failures are going to happen.  We asked about failures in our small group & the girls asked me what one of my failures were - & I said, "Are we just talking about today or all time?... because failures DO happen every day. We aren't perfect... but we were reminded that Peter made an impact in God's Kingdom & in our own lives & failures, we are called to be Kingdom Workers. We are to take our own talents & abilities God has given us & we are to LIVE FOR HIM by using these talents & grow the Kingdom of God however we can.  We can take the story of our failures & put an "AND THEN" on it & finish the story in a glorious way!

It was an amazing lesson to take to heart... every single day....every single message

& I love going to these events for Middle School kids because as you can tell, all of these points are things that even the "old folk" like me needs to be reminded of.

It's what makes the Bible so cool ... its timeless... ageless... eternal.