Number four: Watching others grow

This one might seem funny, but it is true. One of the best parts of the summer was watching other people grow in many different ways. One friend became pregnant over the summer and it seemed like she grew on a daily basis. Other people grew in other ways. Some grew in faith. Others in physical strength. Some  grew in knowledge. Some in kindness. Some people grew in leadership.

No matter how they grew, watching was fun and meaningful. Watching others make realizations or learning new things is always wonderful. Change is good and when we see it in others - we look back at our own lives and look for ways that we can grow too.

That is one of the coolest things to see. Person A is experiencing change and is growing in so many ways is being watched by Person B. Person B admires Person A and strives to grow too. This is what I enjoy watching!

Number three - Church and My Relationship with Jesus!

Oh rejoice! Rejoice rejoice rejoice! My heart cannot hold it all in. Life is wonderful and good and sweet!

So at the beginning of the summer, I was going to church with my aunt and her family. Not that it was horrible or anything, but it just was not for me. Worship was hard and the message was hard to relate to. Plus the service started at 8:30 in the morning!

One Sunday Katie and I decided to go to a later service and after that we were kinda laughing about church hopping. Then Katie suggested that we go to her old church in Lansing.

We made our plans and told her parents. The next Sunday we found ourselves at South! I have not been in a church that is so alive, so in love with Christ since Spring Arbor! It was amazing! Worship was wonderful and the messages spoke to my very soul! The best thing was that it really filled my spirit and helped me get through the stresses of the week.

Katie and I would be practically sobbing while we sang praises to Jesus. It was wonderful!

Meanwhile, furring the week, I was stressed beyond belief. The shop owner was out sick and I was doing my best to keep the shop together. My classes were challenging (I should probably say I was having issues with MY instructor, but I don't want to name names). I was having more trouble than I thought I should have been having writing my thesis. I missed home. I was not getting as much jewelry made as I had planned. I did not have a job for after my internship. I just felt like I was failing at life!

Crazy thought for a 24 year old right? But let me tell you, we feel them just the same. Like I told Katie, life is harder than they tell you.

So there I was, loving church, but not really growing closer to Jesus. That is when the pastor did a sermon on hesitant Christians. And I was like yeah! That is me!

That week, almost every night. I cried while I talked to Jesus. I needed to know why I was not trusting him with everything...I discovered that I was afraid of what he would do with me...as if his perfect will would be bad for me! Crazy, I know.

So that is when I decided that even if he wants me to go to some crazy bug infested, wild place with no flush toilets, that I would go. Do you know why? Well it is because I know that he will take care of me wherever he sends me. I finally trusted him with everything. I gave it all to him, I cannot and I do not want to be in charge of all the things in my life. There is too much for one person to deal with!

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we think that we can do better with our lives than Jesus can? Why do we worry when he is right next to us asking if he can help?

I don't really know why we do these things, but I do know that he will take anything we give him and he will do a better job than we can by ourselves.

Thank you Lord Jesus!! Master of all!! Praise your name forever!!! Amen!

Number one -Staying with Family

So over the summer I stayed with my Mom's sister and her family. My Aunt Nancy, Uncle Dan, and cousins Katie and Jacob had a crazy summer. For one thing, they played host to me. But more importantly, Jake left for Marine Bootcamp in early June.

This was a major change for everyone. I think I have mentioned before that Jake is like a brother to me, well I cried like a baby when he left. We all had a pretty hard time with it, but we were able to work through it together.

Jake got back from Bootcamp as a Private First Class (PFC) just last week for a ten day leave. The whole family got together for a great party on Saturday!

Staying with my family was such a blessing. We all became closer to each other and it was so fun. Katie and I would pretty much take over the living room after the dinner dishes were done and we would watch Bones or Supernatural while I made jewelry and got ready for my show...of course, I only did this when I was not doing homework and working on my thesis.

Little Brother

Well, I do not actually have a little brother, but my cousin Jake is pretty much as close as it gets to being my brother. He is pretty special.

He has graduated from high school this year and I thought it was time to do a little congratulating and reminiscing.

More Baking!

Here are the wonderful things we made today!

Chocolate Crinkles

Christmas Cookie Cream Waffers

Classic Stained Glass Cookies

Pillow Cookies...I have no idea why they are called pillow cookies

Oh, how I love Christmas baking with my family! We still have several more things to make tomorrow too! It will be so great!

Christmas Baking

Wohoo!!! Being back home is so great...especially when there is so much Christmas Baking to do! 

Yesterday we made three things:

This like puppy chow, but is made with Frosted Mini Wheats instead...so IT"S HEALTHY!!!!

Some delicious Sea Foam aka Fairy Food.

And the best...Shortbread!

If you want any of the recipes, just say so in the comments!

And then today we made three more things! I am not posting a picture of the cake because it is not finished yet, but here are the things we did finish:

Christmas Tree Cake Pops!

Snowmans are invading!

Are you hungry yet? Wish you were coming to our family Christmas?

The day before Thanksgiving Day!

 Oh! Today was a fun day!I got to make some awesome Cake Pops with my sister! Here are a few pictures!

We made a ton of them!

Isn't it cute!!!!

While we were not making these sweet little cake pops we watched a couple of movies and I made some rings while I watched. Here are the rings:

This one was commissioned by Katelynn.

Another one for Katelynn.

This is one that Casey ordered.

This is just one that I made for myself!

Can you tell I love pink?!

So that was my day before Thanksgiving Day. It was pretty good. It is so nice to be home and be able to create! :D

Home for the Holiday

It is so wonderful to be home for Thanksgiving!! I just love being here with my lovely family. I really miss them when I'm at school. It is nice to spend time with them, eating good food, playing games, and getting to know them all over again. I love it!