Get ready...Get set...

It's here, the moment I have been thinking about for a very long time. The moment when my car if filled with all of my things, and my room is empty. I have prayed that God would prepare my heart for this, and even though it not easy, I know that He has. When I think about my fears, I remember that fear is not of the Lord. When I begin to worry, I remember that worrying is the end of faith.When I think about how inadequate I am, I remember that He is adequate for me. I know that the Lord has equipped me for this moment. I am trusting in His never ending love! As I think about saying good bye to my family, my eyes are filled with tears. The love I have for my family has grow so much over the past 5 months, with all of us being at home. I can't even begin to express to you how much I love Daddy, Mommy, Amber, Chad, Dave, Apryl, Abby, Maggie, and Wynstone :) They are my world, and I love them with all of my heart. As I think about this moment, I take a breath, and praise God for His faithfulness. I praise Him for allowing me to go to college, and for showing me so clearly that this is where He wants me to be. I praise Him for my family, for Ethan, and for all of my wonderful friends. I praise Him for His grace, and I praise Him for His mercy. I praise Him for providing for me, and I praise Him for guiding me. I must always praise Him....We must always praise Him. So get ready...get set...here I go!

How can I thank you enough?

Over the past few weeks some very special people have blessed me with some very needed gifts. I never thought I would get so excited over things like hand soap, dryer sheets, cotton balls, cleaning supplies, a microwave, and note pads (just to name a few). It has been such a blessing to receive the gifts that I have been given. I wanted to say an extra special thank you to the ones you have been so giving! You know you who are! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I love you each dearly, and every time I use what you gave me I will think of you!!

Good bye's...

Over the past week I have begun to say some of my good byes. I have not enjoyed the actual good bye part, but I have had the chance to spend some with people I love dearly. On Friday night Mrs.Jeannie came by the house to spend some time with me, and tell me good bye. I enjoyed hearing some of her college stories, and I also enjoyed showing her all the things I have for my dorm room. Mrs.Jeannie has known me since I was about 4. I am so thankful for all of the years I have known her, and have been able to learn from her!

On Saturday my cousin Rachel came into town to go out to eat! Rachel and I, along with Abby, Apryl, and my other 2 cousins, Jen and Jerry, had a great time eating at Johnny's! Rachel wrote me the sweetest letter, and in it she gave me lots of good advice about things she learned from her 1st year of college!

Today Ethan and I were able to spend a few hours with Bro.Jeff and Mrs.Tessa! We both really enjoyed hearing many of their Kentucky stories, and we now know that no matter what we must be out of Kentucky in 13 years :) Mrs.Tessa, you know exactly what I am talking about! Bro.Jeff and Mrs. Tessa came to Trinity when Ethan and I were going into 9th grade, so they have watched us grow up over the past 4 years! We are so blessed to have them in our life, and the time we spent with them today was so special to both of us!

I can't thank God enough with all of the wonderful people Ethan and I have been able to grow close to! He has given us so many godly people to look up to and learn from! We are sad to say good bye to them, but know that they are praying for us, and are so thankful for the impact they have had on our lives.

Less than I week away....

I am now less than a week away from leaving for college. I am so excited about moving everything into my dorm room, starting classes, meeting new people, singing on Aletheia , and I am looking forward to fall!! I will tell you that I am not looking forward to all my goodbyes. I try not to think about them. I have begun to take some things off my bedroom walls, and put them in boxes. I can hardly walk to my closet, because of all my stuff :) I find myself getting so excited over all the little things...Like dryer sheets, hand soap, cotton balls, a sewing kit, and bandaids! Today is my last day at work before I leave, so next week I will be able to spend my time with my family, and packing! I kept praying that God will keep preparing my heart. I know it's going to be a huge change, but I am ready for it. I am ready for what God is going to teach me, show me, and I am ready for how He is going to use me! I have such a peace about going to Boyce! I know that this is where the Lord wants me! Thank to everyone who is praying for me! I can feel them, and I am so thankful for them! I love you all!

Disney World - July 2008

Last weekend I was able to go down to Disney World with Ethan and part of his sweet family! His family has always done such a great job at making me feel like one of them, and I am so thankful for that! This was my second trip to Disney with his family, and we had a blast! We stayed at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside, and it was beautiful! I have been to Disney many times, but this was my first time at this resort! We spent most of the day on Friday at the resort, and in down town Disney. On Saturday we spent the day in Disney's Hollywood Studio's! We were sad to leave on Sunday, but Mrs.Nancy(Ethan's mom) kept saying, "We will be back", and I am sure that we will! I had such a great time with Ethan's family! I love them dearly!

Here are some photos from the weekend!

This is right before we headed out to go rent a 4 seater bike! If you want a good workout trying riding one of those!
On Friday night we had dinner at BoatWrights! The food was great!
In Disney's Hollywood Studio's!
Ethan, his mom, and I! (Shannon was taking the photo!)
Ethan and I on Saturday night!

If only words could be enough...

The reality of moving 13 hours away from the only place I know as home is becoming more real to me every day. The corner of my room is filled with towels, bedding, and shoes. My closet has more new clothes in it then ever before, and my bank account has a big hurtin' on it :) As plans are being made for my trip up, housing, job, and classes I am becoming more nervous. I think that Tuesday night was the first time I really began to feel nervous. Yes, I am so excited and so very ready for this next step in my life, and yes I know that this is what God has planned for me, I still can't help but get nervous. I wish words could express my feelings(for they are many), and I wish I was able to share them with everyone, but the closer I get to leaving the more I find myself in tears. I can't believe that the same school I found out about at the end of my 9th grade year, is the same school I am now a student of! It passed so fast. I am so thankful that God has giving me this wonderful opportunity! I wish that words could be enough to tell everyone how much I am going to miss my family and friends...even Keystone! I want everyone to know that I am so thankful for the different parts they have each played in my life, and that they will never be forgotten! I just want to make sure that no one forgets about me :)

Ps. I would like to say thank you to someone who has been a great friend, and you has always been a great encourager! Mrs. Pam, I am so thankful for you and want you to know that you have been a very godly example in my life. I am excited to watch your photography business grow, and can't wait until the day when you get to take some very special photos for me(and Ethan)! Thank you for what you posted about me on your blog! I love you so very much!

My sweet Ethan!

Ethan is truly my best friend, and I am so thankful for all that he is to me, and for the godly example he is in my life. Ethan has played such a huge part in who I have become, and he has always been there for me when I needed him...from letting me cry on his shoulder after my grandmother went to be with Jesus.....to going to target with my mom and sisters :) I am so thankful that God placed Ethan in my life at such a young age! I don't know what I would do with his support, and love!


I wanted to show ya'll a photo of the BEAUTIFUL flowers that he got me!I always tell him how much I want flowers, and he always just says ok. Well, the other day we were walking into Publix with Amber and I said "wait we can just go ahead and go into a different store with me mom" and his response was " well, I was going to let you pick out whatever flowers you wanted". After he said that I was on a mad dash to the flowers! Publix has the most beautiful flowers, and I was so excited when he came up with this sweet idea :) I love how bold the red is, and I really have enjoyed having them on my nightstand! He knows how much I love flowers, so these just made my day! It was so much sweeter for him to come up with the idea instead of me getting them just because I asked for them. Ethan also got some extra brownie points, because he bought my mom and his mom flowers!