Well, it's been more than a year since I've posted. I was taking a long break.  My life got very busy, and it had it's ups and downs in the time I've been away. As I'm sure most of your lives have.  I'm thinking about starting fresh, with a new blog. I want it to be a mix of things I enjoy, including cooking, diy projects, Pinterest 'tried-and failed' stories. And in May, after my wedding, the every day life of being a wife to an amazing man.  If any of you would be interested in reading my new blog, I'll be posting a link to it as soon as it is set up.  Of course, being the book lover I am it wouldn't be the same if I didn't do book and movie reviews, so those things will still be included.
Please forgive the terrible grammar of this post. I wrote it in a hurry. Thank you all!

Bucket List: Fountain Play

So, on the surface, I have not accomplished a lot of what I set out to do this summer with my bucket list. 

 By the time summer turns to fall, I will have maybe accomplished a third of the things on my list. 

But one thing I have done, I think, is grasp the idea behind my list. Which is to live this summer to its fullest. 

  And with BBQs, camp outs, a mini road trip (I still need to write a post for...), late night swims, and so much more, my summer has been full!

I'm so grateful for my parents patience with me this summer. Allowing me to be somewhat irresponsible and crazy. They've tried to show me how to balance my summer fun with a fair amount of work. I hope I've learned more then I feel like I have. 

I'm also grateful for friends, old and new. I've forged many new friendships this summer. I've met people every bit as crazy as I am. And when that happens, they aren't so quick to run away when they see how weird you are...in fact, they usually join in. 

I want to thank you guys for reading my posts, and giving me something to look forward to when I write them. I'd love to hear what you've been doing this summer! I hope to catch up on y'all's posts soon, but right now I don't have a computer, and my phone only let's me do so much. 

So comment with your summer highlights! Have you been camping? Swimming? Working? Riding? Or simply chillin in a hammock with a great book? 

These kids are weird... I'm not sure what's with the tongues...

Thanks for reading!!

~~Stephanie 

Bucket List: Sharing Jesus

I was a little disappointed in myself when I thought I had missed my opportunity to finish this item on my list. 

 Every year my church participates in a local parade. We 'dress up' our outreach trailer, part of our "Taste & See" ministry that hands out free coffee and often hotdogs at local events in the city in the hopes of opening doors to witness to people and invite them to church, and we walk the parade handing out Gospel tracts to those watching. But I had been fighting a cold that made it hard to breathe, and my parents were feeling under the weather a bit, the excuses just piled on. Really I just wanted to be lazy, so I stayed home. So I did. 

 I said I was disappointed in myself. I have a confession to make. I wasn't disappointed that I'd not been able to share Jesus. I was disappointed that I'd skipped out on one of the items on my list. I was more focused on my goals instead of God's goals for me. 

 But, as often happens when we take (or try to take) or lives into out own hands, God had a better idea for me anyway. 

 You see, walking the parade is definitely something that fits safely in my comfort zone. I hand these peoe a price of paper that does all the work for me. I don't have time to talk to them and answer questions. I have to keep moving to keep up with my church. Instead, last week at the a I or study I attend, there was a couple of people who admitted they didn't believe in this Jesus we were talking about. And they had some very different ideas of spirituality, of religion, and of who Jesus might be. 

 Unfortunately a lot of half answers were being given. Those that spoke up were speaking the truth to these two, but not always all of it. Missing one important bit here or there. That still small voice kept saying "You know that little bit Steph. It's important. Say it."

 I didn't want to. What if these people came back next week? They might remember my face. And worse yet, what if I didn't know an answer next week? (Cause, you know, perfect Christians know the answer for everything. And perfect Christians exists in the first place, also I must be one of them) 

 No, I can't - 

"You're fortunate enough to have sat under a pastor who, through Me, gives you what you need to lay the whole truth out for these people. And you won't share that gift with others?" 

 But--but... 

"I'll give you the words if you let me. You don't even have to do the work. Remember, I did all the work already. You just have to tell them that." 

I don't remember what was said anymore. I just know that once I said the one thing I felt promoted to, the flood gates opened and all of my peers had answers too. I think that May have been what God used me for that night. Not necessarily to give those two the Gospel itself, but to help Him push my peers out of their comfort zones and to be better prepared to give an answer next time they were called upon. I think in a roundabout way, that is sharing the Gospel. The Good News. 

 For those of you who don't know, the good news is that even though we have screwed up, we've sinned against our perfect Creator. He loves us. And He loves us even when we are sitting there wallowing in our sin. Enjoying it even. But He knows the consequence of wallowing is misery, eventually. So he sent His perfect, sinless Son Jesus (who, by the way, came 100% willingly) to die a horrible death, paying the price, taking the consequence for our sin. Your sin. My sin. He died and took the just punishment for the sins you had commited. The sins you were commiting.  And those who have yet to commit. Because there is a chance that someday, you might look at yourself in disgust and want out of it. And there He stands, ready to wash you clean with the blood He shed. All it takes is admitting you are a sinful person. You did wrong and ONLY God can make it right. There is nothing, no work, that you can do to make it go away. When we are willing to admit that we are wrong and God is right, we become clean and can have the fellowship with Him we were created for. And finally that hole in your heart? That hole you tried to fill with drugs, sex, alcohol, relationships, money, etc.... It's filled.  

That's the good news.  

Bucket List: Under the Stars

 Kicking off my bucket list accomplishments is a night under the starts with a good friend of mine. I went over to her house last night to spend the Fourth of July being awesome, with an awesome person. 

 Her brothers dog Elsie (gee I hope I spelled that right) chased the embers of our little table fire and burrowed behind us when the neighbors started their fireworks display. 

I was also introduced to these delicious sodas. Find them. Find them and try them yourself. Yummy! 

At the end of the day we watched "A Cinderella Story" with Hilary Duff and...er... What's-his-face... tall, blonde, and broody. Chad Michael Murray! 

Then we camped out in the bed of her truck, under the gorgeous starry sky!  

 What did y'all do this fourth? What's your favorite cheesy chick flick? 

Thanks for reading!

  ~ Steph 

Summer Bucket List 2014

Hello all! It's been too long. But I hope that this will change. I've decided to challenge myself this summer to get out with friends more often, so I've compiled a list, with their help, of fun things to do before the summer is over. And I'm going to write a blog post for each and every one of the items on my list that I complete. 

 

My list~~ 

1) Share Jesus

2) Go to a concert

3) Mini road trip with friends 

4) Collect change all summer, and cash it before school starts again

5) Go to the beach and build a giant sandcastle

6) Go to a water park

7) Make a music video

8) Eat outdoors, on August 31st (National Eat Outside Day)

9) Sleep under the stars

10) Visit a photo booth with a friend

11) Visit the pirate's treehouse (a local attraction)

12) Attempt to break a world record

13) Go to the outdoor theater

14) Fly a kite

15) Play in the water fountain (with my niece and nephew?)

16) Have a bonfire

17) Run a 5k

18) Pick flowers from a 'u-pick flower patch'

What are your plans for the summer? Is there anything you would add or take away from my list?

~~ Stephanie