and the summer has come to an end....

Well, the summer has come to an end and I am getting ready for the next season of my life. This summer has been awesome! I have learned a lot about myself, others, and a lot more about ministry. God has given me so much to be thankful for and I am beyond blessed. I would say that this has been one great summer.

I am ready for this next school year. I am ready for the fall. I am ready for college and little league football. I am ready for the leaves to change colors. I am ready to ride with the windows down on a cool day. I am ready to meet new friends. I am ready to see what God has in store for me this year.

I will be taking 5 classes this semester and working a little more at the church! Next Sunday is promotion Sunday and I am pumped about the new kids moving up to Hangar 56! We have some new volunteers this year and I am so excited that God has called them to serve in Children's ministry. I just have this feeling that God is going to move in the lives of these sweet children, in their parents, and in our gracious volunteers. I am getting so excited just thinking about it! It is my hope and prayer that God will continue to grow and expand His Kingdom by using our volunteers to spread the good news!

So, as I sit here thinking about the future I just can't help but smile! I am smiling because I know that the God we serve is going to remain faithful to me as I continue to follow His plan for my life! There are days that will not be so great, days that I will be confused of why I am where I am, days where I cannot get enough of His perfect love, days where He makes me strong when I am weak, days that He is my everything and then I know there will be moments when He is going to take me out of my comfort zone, but it is in those moments that He teaches us and grows us the most. I will take it one day at a time and truly soak up every moment of every day! Looking forward to a new season!

The lyrics to "Desert Song" by Hillsong just keep popping in my head:

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

I love the line that says, "I know I'm filled to be emptied again" God continues to fill us up so that we can continue to pour out! I know that He is filling me up so that I can pour out the love He is pouring into me! Looking forward to what is in store!

Last few days at the beach...

Day 3: Debbie and I woke up and headed over to Panama City to pick up Brantley, Beth, and Katie who were going to join us for a few days after BigStuf Camps! We had a little bit of time to kill so we went over to Pier Park to walk around and get some lunch! Then we were off to pick up the girls! On the way back to Destin they were telling us all about their awesome week! Katie accepted Christ and God totally rocked her world! It was so encouraging to hear how God spoke to each one of them differently while they were at camp. It was a little overcast so we decided to go get a pedicure and relax!



We headed back to the DeBartola's place and had some yummy mexican chicken and tacos! Then we went to see the cutest movie ever:



We loved this movie! I recommend it for everyone! It has a great message. It really sends the message to truly just be who you are! I loved the character of Ramona, I can relate to her in so many ways! She was sweet and has a heart of gold but just not necessarily the best of luck. That's me! It was a great fun day overall!

Day 4: This might have been my favorite day overall! The girls wanted to get up and go watch the sunrise over the bay! It was early and I didn't think they would actually get up, but when I went to wake them up they jumped right out of bed and we loaded up to head over to the bay. We took the speakers and hooked up the iPod and played some worship music! It was very moving and encouraging morning. It was so awesome to just look around while we waited for the sun to peep up over the trees! I think we were all reminded of how BIG our God is!



The girls were walking back to the golf cart and I snapped a quick shot with my phone! Love this!

Later we went to the beach for a few hours and then hit up the pool! We headed back and got ready for our last night at the beach! We went to Seaside for shopping and dinner! We at a cute little pizza place and it was yummy! Before dinner we went out on the beach and Vicki DeJoy took some photos of the girls!





We had a great time! We headed out the next morning to get home around dinner time! We all had a very hard time leaving Debbie! We miss her living here but know we always have a fun place to visit until she is all moved in to her home in Roswell, but who knows when that will be!

What did you all do this summer? Go anywhere fun? Learn anything new?