I'll give you something to talk about...

The "beauty" of living in a small town is that when you don't know what you're doing, chances are someone else does. And they are/will be more than willing to share that information...

The things that we say are really a powerful thing. They can be used to build up, to encourage, to comfort, to hurt, to confuse :) or even to tear down. While this is something that I've know since I was like 5, I've continued to realize it/be reminded of it more and more as I've gotten older. I think that sometimes I forget what an impact conversation can have. As quickly as I seem to forget it, I'm reminded. {Insert my week here}

Mistakes we knew we were making...

I am continually reminding that I'm only human, I can't do things on my own, and that things don't always go the way we'd like them to.

I've been going about this all wrong. Instead of seeking God in the past few weeks, I've been seeking an answer or rather answers. In some ways it's like I'm trying to find a purpose. I know what I'd like to do, where I like to go, and who I'd like to be. I just don't know why. I do know that I've missed the most important element and overlooked some other little things. Its like I'm looking for something to happen or for an answer to appear, but I'm only putting minimal effort into. My focus is misguided, because its's not about where, what, how, or when. It's about who is there quiding me and showing me my direction. Just one of those basic lessons that seems to find its way back to me quite often. But a little reminder isn't a bad thing, in fact I think its kinda nice and needed.

Snapshot

Just a few of the photos that I took yesterday for Tash and Chad. It was pretty fun even though we took almost 200 pictures... I think that these are my favorites :)

Welcome to the great outdoors...

-Not hardcore camping means just you and the campsite, no bathroom or shower area. It does however provide you with an amazing campsite with a beautiful view of the lake. Not to mention a great place for watching the sunrise/sunset and looking at the stars.




- Mosquitoes, night time, and trials in the woods are not your friend when you need to go to the bathroom. Just think of it as Cedar Bend all over again, minus the little make shift outhouse we got to use there.

- Bug spray works a lot like lighter fluid... it's flamable and the fire seems to greatly improve with its use. It also works as a tanning spray kinda deal. I don't recommend wearing it during the day while you're going to be in direct sunlight.

- Items like polo shirts, shampoo/conditioner, any product for your hair, princess water bottles, and sun block are not appreciated or needed on camping trips. They are "unnecessary" and happen to take up space that could be put to better use. (I still believe that sun block is needed, even if you're with someone that doesn't burn...)

-When camping at/near the beach you should probably know that there will be sand everywhere. And I'm not just talking about the ground. Think more along the lines of in your socks, shoes, sleeping bag, tent, cooler, water bottle, and pretty much your body as a whole.... You should also know that just because you're covered in sand/near the beach it does not keep the mosquitoes away so if someone tells you that it will hog the bug spray and apply heavily. They can find out just how well the sand works on their own. (If you choose to go along with them be prepared to be covered with more mosquito bites than you ever thought possible.)

-Totes is a word that can be used to answer most questions or statements. And it's catchy you'll find yourself saying it even though you swore you never would...

- If you forget your swimsuit at home, not a problem at all. Simply wear your bra and underwear to the beach. Yeah that's right undergarments are the latest swimwear trend. You should probably wear a very bright eye catching color on your top half and just got with your basic white granny style for bottoms. (I feel the need to let you know this was something I saw, not something that I did...) It seemed to have really great attention grabbing results though.

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