Scritch, Scratch

I hate poison ivy. With a passion. A large passion.

"Every day we may discover some new thing in Christ. His love hath neither brim nor bottom."

-Samuel Rutherford

These words have not stopped encouraging and amazing me since I read them for the first time three years ago. What greater knowledge can the believer have than knowing that Christ's love will never run dry, and that no matter how long our earthly walk is, we will never cease to turn new corners in our experience of who Jesus is?

I find that this phrase also burdens me for the souls of the lost who have no sweet knowledge of this love, and who are content to wander aimlessly without the greatest Lover of all. We are commanded, as followers of Christ Jesus, to not only grow closer to Him, but to tell others of the beauties of our Saviour. And more meaningful than just talking about what Christ has done for us is to live on Him, so that every area comes under the dominion of Jesus.

Believe me, writing this is so much easier for me to do than actually living what I write. But, oh, how grateful I am for the never-ceasing fountain of grace in Christ! He doesn't ask us to do anything without providing more than enough strength and grace, so let us be encouraged to honor our Lord by living as if and truly believing that He is sufficient for us, no matter what the personal cost may be.

It was Real, it was Fun, and it was Real Fun

Camp is over. I'm back to clean water, the mud-less, beetle free, air-conditioned house, and as always, I miss camp already. I miss the people, the talks, the Bible studies, the singing, the laughter, the watching-of-sports, (since I don't play any sport, except maybe fuse-ball on occasion,) the adorably filthy children running around barefooted, and the tremendous love that surrounds me. Watching the volley ball tournament. It was thrilling, as you can see.





The murky, fishy pond where Isaiah was determined to swim.




Phoebe doing arts & crafts.



Meg and Courtney getting in touch with their inner child on the see-saw.




The fierce masked terror in the grips of his fiercer Auntie Katie.





Courtney, Julia, Katie, and John.



Despite the blazing heat, I had a wonderful time, and as usual, can't wait for next year!

My Daddy

I had the most wonderful Daddy in the whole world. No, really, I did. He was my strong protector, the one I could always count on for a hug or a game or a story, and he taught me the most important thing a girl, or anyone, can ever learn: that earthly things pass away or become less important, but Christ's love is the most precious thing you can ever have. He lived on this, and I am so grateful for his love to God that showed itself in everything he said and did.

I want to encourage you, not only on the day the calendar sets aside as time for dad-appreciation, but especially now, to take time to say the simple words that mean so much. You never can be sure you have tomorrow to tell him how much you love him.

Would You Care for a Slice of Cheese?

In the midst of studying for finals, Amelie and I like to boost each other up with pictures, stories, quotes, music, etc., and last time I sent her a few of the cheesiest/dumbest quotes I could find.

Here they are in all their glory... please try not to be jealous of the brilliant people who said them.


"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today - it's already tomorrow in Australia."

Oh, good, now I can rest easy. But wait, what if I live in Australia? No hope, huh?


"If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up some place else."

You have got to be kidding! I did not know that.


"Hugging closes the door to hate. Kissing opens the door to love."

Oh.my.word. Now I know the answer to all life's problems! Pastor John, are you reading this?


And finally, my very favorite of all...



"Don't quack like a duck, soar like an eagle."

Wow. Just, wow. That is so inspiring. Let's say it together, slowly now - "Don't quack like a duck, soar like an eagle!" Wasn't that great? Don't you feel encouraged? Uplifted? Broadened?

FYI...

Camp is almost here!!

So, break out the band-aids, the bottled water, the sleeping bags, the mosquito spray, the itching lotion for when the mosquitoes bite you anyway, the battery operated fans, the fishing poles, the roach killer for when they run across your pillow after lights out, the rubber flip-flops for the showers, the sunscreen, and then let the fun begin!

"If you like to go on vacation,
If you like to worship God,
If you like to camp in the boonies,
And to spend a week in the wiiiiiild....

Have we got the place for you!

Camp Moriah, Camp Moriah,
Camp Moriah, Camp Moriah,
Camp Moriah, Camp Moriah,
Camp Moriah.

No lights,
Rainy nights,
Pillow fights,
CAMP MORIAH!

Making shirts,
KP work,
Gettin' hurt,
CAMP MORIAH!

There's neverevereverever been a place like Camp Moriah!
There's nevereverever been a place like Camp Moriah!

It's time for Camp Moriaaaaaaaaahhh!!"


-That was an original song penned by the 2002 11-12 year-olds girl's council group. We wrote it to go with the Veggie Tales theme song music, so if you have an overwhelming desire to sing, go for it. And if you want to hear it performed by the original group, live, come to Camp next week, probably Thursday night. Come on, you know you want to! :)



I.am.so.excited!

It's A Love/Hate Relationship

I love mowing the grass because:

1. The smell of fresh cut grass is amazing
2. It's my own personal tanning bed
3. The yard looks so trim and beautiful when it's cut
4. I really like the power of being on a machine four times as big as I
5. Dogs don't like lawn mowers
6. No fear of stepping on snakes!
7. I can sing as loud as I want, because nobody can hear me over the roar of the mower
8. I can smack my chocolate covered coffee beans and slurp my ice water, because the mower doesn't really care about manners

I hate mowing the grass because:

1. I get filthy
2. I smell like oil and sweat and dirty machine
3. My eyes become filmed over by the fine layer of dirt and dust which the obliging wind sweeps into my eyes (and I won't wear goggles, glasses, or any other such thing, because, duh, it interferes with my tan)
4. My nose is filled with dirt and grit by the time I finish (okay, you probably didn't want to know that one)
5. There isn't a cup holder on the lawn mower
6. I hate the loud grinding, crunching noise the lawnmower makes when I run over sticks (It probably isn't too good for the mower, either)

Three Leaves

"I have read of a godly man who was once very dissolute. When converted, his former companions sought to bring him back to his former wicked courses. But he told them, 'I am deeply engaged in meditating on a little book, which contains only three leaves; so that at present I have no leisure for other business.' Sometime after, being asked again if he had done with his book, he said, 'No; for though it contained but three leaves, yet there is so much comprised in them that I have devoted myself therein all the days of my life.

The first leaf is red. Here I meditate on the passion of my Lord and Saviour, His shedding His precious blood as an atonement for my sins, and a ransom for my soul, without which I must have been a damned sinner in hell to all eternity.

The second leaf is white. This cheers my spirit with the comfortable consideration of the unspeakable joys of heaven obtained for me by Christ, and of being forever with Him.

The third leaf is black. Here I think of the horrible state of the damned, and the perpetual torments they are suffering in hell. Oh, this excites thankfulness to my Saviour for His wonderful love and rich grace, in snatching me from eternal destruction.' "

-from William Mason's The Believer's Pocket Companion

I don't know of anything better to think about than what is written here: the salvation of Christ and the love and gratitude which should enflame everyone who has tasted of His kindness. William Mason's book is very helpful and concise for those who want to live more in the light of what Jesus has done for His Father's younger children, and I heartily recommend it as a worthwhile purchase.

once upon a time...

...there lived two little boys. These two little boys were brothers, and between them they managed to keep their mama, their daddy, their grandmother, their great-grandmother, and their auntie busy all the time. Whenever something naughty was accomplished, it was twice as bad because they were both up to their elbows in the naughtiness. Whenever a mess was made, it was twice as large because they both helped to make it. And whenever hugs were given out to more-than-willing Aunties, it was twice as wonderful because there were two giving them.

Because I have a plan, that's why.

I don't have to be afraid of slithery, slathery snakes who deceptively stretch out like sticks on the path or hide in the bushes in order to chomp innocent passer-byes on the leg. Oh no. Because I have a plan.

Since the path to Laura's and the path to Mamaw's is overshadowed by tall, thick hay which serves as an amazing snake hangout, (I mean, if I were a snake, that's where I'd be,) and since we've already killed three snakes in that general vicinity in the last week, I decided that for my own peace of mind, I'd better have a rock solid plan in place in case I am confronted with one of the belly-crawling demons while wending my way to Laura's or Mamaw's.

*sidenote* btw, I love the word "wend". It's one of my very favorites, and I shall use it at every opportunity. Just warnin' ya.

(In case you haven't already noticed, I hate snakes. Despise them, actually. Kill them at first sight. Or, well, okay, I get someone braver than I to kill them. Now, don't jump on my back and say "you aren't supposed to kill the good snakes, only the bad snakes!" I don't kill the good snakes. As far as I know, I only kill the bad snakes, and since every snake I have ever come across is bad in my book, they all die. Sorry, you non-poisonous snake lovers out there. Snake preservation is just not how this gal rolls.)

Back to my rock solid plan. Firstly, I keep a sharp eye out for sticks, strings, and any other possible sheepskin-esqe disguise which serpents might utilize. If such thing is located, I shall carefully approach said possible disguise until able to asertain - from as far away as possible, and all the while geared up in mind and body to run screeching the opposite direction if advisable - whether it is a snake or merely a guiless snake look-a-like. After assuring myself it is a snake, I will run screaming and yelling in the opposite direction, find Trey or some other brave soul, return to the scene of the prospective crime, and watch, at a safe distance, the execution of the cold-blooded villan. Good plan, huh?

But what, you may ask, will happen if the snake pursues you? Well, number one, I really don't think that's going to happen since I will be screeching bloody murder at the top of my lungs and I have a sneaking suspicion that snakes don't like loud noises. If it does follow, I didn't play freeze tag all those years for nothing, and its hopeless pursuit will only bring it conveniently closer to the shovel and hoe housed in our shed.

Now you know my brilliant defence plan. If you are one of those weird "leave the 'good' snakes" people, I'd advise you to warn your snakes when I'm coming around.