I'm writing again. . .

I love writing. I really do. Something about it, is just really cool. Anyway, moving on.


Last weekend my youth group hiked Table Rock. That was lots and lots of fun, but quite miserable too. On the way up you were just wishing for some downhill places on the way down you longed to be going uphill again. But I would much rather have hiked Table Rock with my friends than not hike at all. The 4 hours and 40 minutes (I only know that because Brian was keeping up with our timing) of strenuous exercise were definitely worth it the long run. You have no choice but to hang out with each other. Yeah that was a blast. We have before and after pictures, they're very interesting but sadly they're on Lisa's camera. And no, we didn't drive Darren to an early death. He wanted to jump, what were we supposed to say??























































Tuesday night my cousin Ashlyn turned 1. That means about a year ago this time I was taking care of my cousins, about ready to pull my hair out. Not that they're bad kids, I'm just wasn't (still am not) used to being a mother of 3. Anyway I got sidetracked. Back to the subject. It was funny she wasn't quite sure about diving into her little cake right at first. She looked at it. Then hesitantly touched it. It's like she knew that she wasn't supposed to be touching things like that. But after a little bit she started diving in.




















































My Dad and brothers are hunting in KY right now. So it's just Mom and I. We've had tons of fun so far. Lots of shopping and lots of doing nothing. It's great, who'da thought you can have a vacation at home. We've even been eating out, no cooking. . . IT GREAT!! Anyway. . .

Next Wednesday we leave for PA. SWEET!! We're going to my Grandpa's. I can't wait. We're going to have Christmas and Thanksgiving. I've been waiting and waiting for Christmas so it's nice that I get to have a little bit of it before it actually happens.

Introspection

Last weekend my parents were in Indiana. They saw some of my cousins while they were there. They're Amish so you know when you turn 16 you're pretty much set loose. You can do whatever you want. My cousin is 18. He got into the wrong crowd, got into drugs, now is incredibly bitter. It's one of those things that really makes you wake up. Like cold water on your face way too early in the morning. Why is that not me?? He's had pretty much the same opportunities I've had, I've had some of the same opportunities he's had. I've not been set loose but other than that we've had a lot of the same things to choose from. Why did he go that way and I didn't?? The scary thing is I still go that same way. It's the little decisions that you make from day to day that count. No matter how little it seems it can lead you straight into hell. I hate decisions anyway, can you imagine what that does to me?? =) I must die to myself daily. There is to be no me, just God. I don't do that well. I mess up far more than I get it right.

I have been blessed so richly. I have a wonderful family. Great friends. An awesome God. I could keep going and going. How come there is only a certain time of the year that we think about what we've been blessed with?? Shouldn't we think about them every day. The more you concentrate on your blessings, the smaller your problems seem. I can't seem to get that into my head.

A lady in our church's little brother died. He was 16. If you think of them please pray. That can't be easy. I can't imagine what that would be like.


p.s. I would love to have some comments.