#BLESSED

If we rate my weekend based on my laser tag score, then it was wonderful!

But if we are judging based on my go kart driving abilities.....

Is being lapped 3 times a bad thing?!

Our youth group winter retreat was this weekend. Which honestly, not sure why we bothered stressing the winter theme of it because really! Look at the photos! Between general sessions (teen pact vibes!) and a sleepover (where we actually got some sleep!) it was a good weekend. 

The best part was mini golf right at sunset! (I seem to have an sixth sense for sunset timings!) After we got dumped by the 20 year old guys we were playing laser tag with, we snagged Bostwick and hit the course. Somehow we managed running out of time (maybe it was a few too many "hole in 439's")   but as we ran through the final holes (with only momentary pauses for photos!) it was without a doubt, the best part of the weekend.

I happen to be friends with quite a few 15 year olds, but Bostwick tops them all. (especially when he offers to hold my jacket for me...and then ends up wearing it for the rest of the night.) My first encounter with him was the opening night of Pride and Prejudice. I was behind the curtain and suffering from extreme stage fright. My friend Andrew was consoling me and then out of the blue, some red head kid joined in and somehow we all just ended up hugging one another and bonding and sharing a really deep emotional moment.

Or something like that.

But anyway!

CAN WE JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO ADMIRE THE ALIEN WHO FLEW HER UFO TO EARTH JUST TO PHOTOBOMB. Oh wait....it's just Emily! Also, these 3 are gems beyond words! I love them all to death.

So anyway, yes. It was a wonderful winter retreat....minus the winter of course! (and despite my lack of driving abilities.) It revealed WHY God put certain people in my life (some to test me, some to bless me!) And I am thankful everyday to be apart of something bigger than myself. 

#blessed #life #hatersbackoff ;)

TIME FOR TACKY

As a general rule I try to avoid dressing tacky at all costs. I have this thing called pride, maybe you've heard of it, and sometimes it stops me from wearing my most daring outfits out the door.

But on tacky night, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PRIDE.

And I kind of learned the hard way, I went a little too easy, to matchy-matchy. Next time though, you watch out for your cartoon socks cause I might just win.

Maybe.

Here's me in my tacky outfit pre-homemade fanny pack eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich on bread almost as pale as me. Almost. And the birds on my pearls was a yours truly creation - classy parrots like pearls!

And after well over a week without my camera cooperating, these photos are refreshing and encouraging and my favorites!! I love these kids! 

XOXO,

CALL ME LARRY (not the cucumber)

PS: A few of these were taken by the wonderful Sarah, her photos are always just as amazing as she is!

Easters Past

Every year, Easter brings back many, many, memories. For some reason, I always remember me sitting on the stairs yelling at mom about hard boiled eggs. I remember weird things. Another Easter I had a sleepover, another one I FINALLY had age appropriate clothing. I always remember the egg dying and the ham eating and church going too. But this Easter (this as in, that I was so little that I didn't know that when I sang I sounded like a frog,) was by far the most memorable. And by this I also mean about 10 years ago.

 Rewind to when I was a little, cute girl. Rewind a little past before Easter to Palm Sunday. Then, you come to this: 

None of us really know why or actually what went down that Palm Sunday. But yes, basically, My best friend was hitting me in the face with a palm branch. On Sunday. In front of the entire church. I think its where I got my gift of multi tasking. I was trying to sing, remain looking cute and figure out why she was hitting me (as I was doing in the picture #1) I vividly remember me begging her to stop. But apparently she never heard me. She continued to whop me on the face throughout Jesus Loves me or whatever we were singing. Oh and get a load of my authentic Jerusalem Garb. It's just awesome.

So that is my #1 Easter memory. I think it will always top all others because it is really quite funny. What is your favorite Easter memory?

The real thing about Easter

Happy Easter Everyone! As much as I love all the Easter foof (Peeps, Easter Dresses, Egg Hunts, yada yada.) The basic fact of the day is that Jesus is risen. And that is totally the best part. How many other days of the year do we celebrate our savior, creator and our salvation? Not nearly as many as we should. So stop gorging yourself on candy for a second (although I encourage it.) and have a wonderful Easter celebrating what matters most - Jesus. And PS: Enjoy your ham if you are a pig predator.

Dug

Today in Church, I drew a Dug. What's a dug? It's a duck/dog mix. And maybe its partly alien, because he's pretty creepy.

First I was trying to draw a man with a mustache. But it didn't work out so I made it a dog head. But I thought maybe it was more duck-ish so I made the body duck like. Now I'm not really sure what it is at all.

But one thing I do know is that I'm not much of an artist.

What are your church doodles? Or am I the only teenager who doodles??

This conversation is not inspiring self confidence.