Lots of Fun Friday

So I'm a little behind, but a couple of weekends ago, we had our great friends, Amie and Brandon, up to go to a local music festival.

It was a blast!

Listening to the Steel Drivers and saying cheese!

Good music...

Justin Townes Earle, who I got to see thanks to my big sis!

Good food....

Sugary treat while listening to the Quebe Sisters and looking at the clouds.

Fun games (and toys)...

Petting zoo.  Enough said.

Balloon dog that took 45 minutest to get...but boy, did she love it.

Great friends!

Our wonderful friends!

Not to mention Elizabeth was reunited with her boyfriend, Brandon.  Yes, I said boyfriend.  She just adores Brandon (and you too, Amie!). 

I see another girlfriend in his future!

Elizabeth was fantastic, and Evie was good considering.  She did throw one fit on my sister, who being the saint she is, was down to watch them so both Mark and I could see a musician playing late the first night.  Big thanks, Melissa, for helping us out, especially given the circumstances! (what can I say, I have the best family)

A quiet moment.

After they left we all instantly missed them, especially Elizabeth, who still asks about every day where Amie and Brandon are...therefore,

Listening to the Everybody Fields together!

 I see an annual tradition!

Thoughtful Thursday

I've joined a local BSF group, and I'm learning so much about my God and faith.  I thought I would share a few nuggets of wisdom that I receive each week.  Not the whole thing, mind you, just something that struck me as a wonderful thought or truth.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and hopefully I will represent the organization well.  Here goes:

This week might be very applicable to a lot of people.  I know it applies to me.

While the church universal is commanded to love, it doesn't always work that way.  Too often the church hurts the people, and it not only results in the church seeming hypocritical, but it tarnishes God's love. 

Why? 

Because we are His representatives on this earth and are called to display His love in every moment.  When we hurt people in the name of our faith, we trivialize our faith, making it something to be ridiculed and disrespected.  And truly, can you blame those that have been so hurt by the church? 

So with that in mind,

When we dedicate our lives to Jesus, we must give him our all!

Not just on Sunday and not just to people we want to love.  

Being a follower of Jesus means stepping forward and being public about your faith.

Not because you are eager to quote scripture to people or to tell them how their lives fall short of God's commands...

but because you live a lovely life!  A life filled with love for everyone.

The church truly is the demonstration of God's love, and when we love completely,

we attract people to Christ.

A post of politics...of sorts.

So if you are friends with me on facebook, you know that I am a huge fan of the evangelical writer, Rachel Held Evans.

I'm constantly reposting her blog posts and with good reason, her blog is WONDERFUL.

Upon introduction, I found her blog posts thoughtful, well written, well researched, and fair.  When I saw she had a book out, I immediately bought it (Evolving in Monkeytown).  It didn't disappoint, either.  I highly recommend it...but I digress.

About a month ago, I was reading her latest post 13 things I won't do this election season. I was amazed.  As soon as I read it, I saw so much of myself.

Especially #2, starting fights on facebook about politics.

Now I'm not so sure I've started any fights, but that hasn't stopped me from participating in the full force.  So when I read her post, I have to say, I was inspired.

I told myself this time, I would be different.

So instead of fighting, I have not clicked any links and/or read comments that I know will upset me.  I have also avoided posting links that support my political views and might cause a fight or encourage discord among my facebook friends.

I have avoided temptation, because as my mom so rightly put it, I have an overactive sense of justice that cannot leave well enough alone.

Except for a few clicks of a like on a link or two, I've been good.

No random fights,

No snarky comments,

No midnight yelling at the computer screen...

But I finally saw something I couldn't resist and instead of putting it on facebook for all to see, I thought I'll put in on my blog.  Because to be honest, I've met such a nice group of people blogging that I thought you might be polite enough to ignore my weaknesses.

So I hope you can forgive me and my one (sort of) political blog post.

Cheers!

Side note- definitely check out Rachel's blog!  It is fabulous.  I have learned so much about different religions from her Ask a...Series.

Starting the AT.

So this last weekend, we started something monumental...

As a family, we started hiking the Appalachian Trail.

That's right folks, at age 3 years and 6 months, my girls are officially "section" hikers.  That means they are on their way to hiking the whole trail in their own time.

So she didn't walk the whole way...

Ignore the bad pic of me, it's a great one of Evie.

Mark and I are significantly less impressive, since we are much closer the the average age of hikers.

But in all honesty, we just enjoyed getting out of the house for a bit.  It was a short drive from our house to the trail, but apparently it makes Elizabeth very thirsty. 

We ate lunch first, because everyone knows you need some protein before hiking up a mountain.

Then we headed up Carver's Gap to Round Bald (5,286 ft). 

Top of the bald!

We enjoyed the view, caught our breath, and took quite a few pictures.

I had to wrestle her on that rock for a pic.

Evie liked it up top on the bald!

Below is NC, where my siblings live. Elizabeth declared she was going to see her cousins.  That's her walking off.

Then Elizabeth declared she had to play in the mud.

Don't ask...

We headed back down to the car, since it was getting pretty cool (from wind) and Evie kept pulling her hat off. 

Lots of wind!

The girls were exhausted and fell asleep on the way home, which isn't surprising since Elizabeth walked 1/2 of a mile up hill.

Once home, I reveled in all the calories I had burned....and then ate my weight in steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and preacher cookies.

Oh well, maybe next time I won't inhale my dinner afterwards.

Mom Monday

So little funny to start your Monday off right.

A couple of weeks ago Mark took Elizabeth to Kindermusik for me, while I was taking Evie to her six month dr's appointment.

Elizabeth has graduated to the upper level Kindermusik.  I no longer stay with her the entire time.  Instead I'm there for a few minutes then get walked to the library next door, until the kids come back to get us for the last 15 minutes.  Elizabeth LOVES it.

So after the hello song, Elizabeth jumps up to lead Mark to the library.  After grabbing his hand she turned to her teacher, Ms. Beth, and announced to the whole class:

My Daddy is C-U-T-E!

Needless to say, Mark was a bit embarrassed.

My response:

Be happy she said your were cute...imagine the alternative.

That's when I started laughing.

A little pick me up.

So I don't usually post on the weekends, I have declared that my family time and try to stay away from the computer.  Of course, I always end up working...but that's neither here nor there.

Anyway, I've had another bad day healthwise.  It started off like any normal day, though I noticed some tenderness this morning.

I shrugged it off, and we headed to church.

This evening has been a different story.  It's getting progressively worse, and I've maxed out of my pain meds (and yes, it's just NSAIDs- I am a nursing mommy).

Therefore, it's time to find another way to take my mind off of the pain.  What better way than some funny cartoons, quotes, and some verses?? 

So next time you're feeling down in the dumps- sickwise- just check this out.  They had me feeling better at least for a moment.

Quotes:

-If I had my way I'd make health catching instead of disease. ~ Robert Ingersoll

-Happiness is your dentist telling you it won't hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. ~ Johnny Carson

-There is nothing I can say that a Hallmark card couldn't say better ~ Unknown


Pictures:











Verses:

 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. - Zephaniah 3:17

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid nor dismayed for the Lord is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

"But we...rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 3:5

"If we ask anything according to God's will, He hears us and answers," 1 John 5:14,15     

Here's to feeling better tomorrow!