Its been waaaayyyyyy TOO looooonnnnggggg

My friends!!!!! Wow. Its been since May that I have blogged. Its so crazy that 4 months have passed. Just a bit of update on life. The first week in August I decided to transfer to Louisiana College. That very same week I got offered a job at Calvary Baptist in Alexandria to be over the Girls ministry for high school and junior high students! It definitely was the best decision to make. I can't image being back at LaTech. Even though I miss my friends terribly, the Lord has be so faithful and fulfilling. There are great people here as well as Ruston. 

Along with adjusting to work and school, my sister, Stephanie, got married Saturday, September 18th. It was such a sweet sweet time. So the past 6 months we have been planning for this one special, beautiful day. It has been such a precious 2 months. Em came home at the beginning of August. Right after i decided to transfer to her Almamater. So for the past month the whole family has been together. I treasured the past two months and now I have a new brother! Its soooo weird...."Stephanie Dugard!!!" crazy! My sister is MARRIED!!!! I'm so excited for them!!

So much to catch yall up on. But this will have to do for now.

the weekend of many firsts

This was the first weekend i did not go to Ruston for MLK. Since it was such a crazy week at home i got to rest at home, well kinda, ha. Saturday i got to spend the afternoon with my so called "plan C" friends. haha. Nate, Greg, Kyle, Adam, Jeremy, and few sweet girls. Sarah Kate, Allison, Parker, and Leslie. It was an interesting day. We went to Jeremy's camp on Caney Lake. It was so nice out there. The weather was not so beautiful. It rained on and off all day=( BUT. I had a few first times that day. It was my first time to drive a jet ski. and might i add that i threw Nate and i off. ha. And then... Jeremy taught me how to ski!! It was so awesome!! I loved it. Got up on my first try. Woo WOO!! I was sooo excited! ha. Those boys are so funny. I did not stop laughing at them all day. I got to tell them stories about working for dad. And a few of them are construction majors and they said they were a bit impressed with the things i do. ha. I find it funny that they actually know what i'm talking about. Not so much funny. But relieving. That i could say things to them and they actually would understand without me having to explain everything. Anyway. I stayed and had dinner with them and just hung out till after dark. It was a sweet, fun day.

Then. The real adventure of the weekend was Sunday. First time for the families to meet! The Dugard family came to Bentley. The WHOLE dugard family! Jake. Logan. his girlfriend Kelsey, whom i LOVE. Neely, her husband and 2 boys. And Mr. Bill and Mrs. Sharon.  It was a bit AWESOME. Then my grandparents came, and my lil boys, Rhys and Zell came. Funny kids. We had a delicious lunch. We went swimming, and went to the place that steph and jake are getting married. Sweet sweet loooonnnnggg day=) I loved loved his family.

Such a sweet time this is between Steph and Jake. Like now we're one big family. Pray the Lord is preparing Steph and Jake. That their unity will bring Him much glory. They would seek the Lord out in every decision. They are so great! I love Jake and Steph so very much! I'm excited for them!

A Sweet Week

Ah. Another week has went by. Its really kinda crazy to think its been almost 3 months that i've been home?! WOW. Its really went by kinda fast. Some days seem like they take forever. but. On usually thats monday and friday is always here before you know it. So with today being friday its been an awesome week.
During the week i just got to work around Bentley. One day i went to Pine Prairie and helped dad build a road. ha. Shot grades and measured out the road and the ditches. And. Picked up sticks. ha. I'm getting pretty good at that. That was really the only day i worked REALLY hard. ha. Other days steph and i did office stuff and mini storage stuff. I got to see the kids a lot this week. On my lunch breaks i usually go see them. My grandma keeps Rhys and Ella. So i usually go help her put them down for naps. Except sometimes i prolly stir them up more than help calm them down. ha.

A lil update on the garden- steph and i tied up the tomato plants. They're getting pretty big and there are lil green tomatoes on them. In about a week we should have big fresh bright red tomatoes=) I don't even like them, but. Its just exciting to see the fruit of the harvest. Ya know? I know everyone likes that feeling. The garden has been fun to do. The easy work is now. Just watering it about everyday and picking a few weeds here and there. The hardest part comes, having to pick it everyday! Both gardens! ha. But. That will come soon enough. I'm enjoying the easy stuff right now.

Friday was the best day of the week.  Crawfish boil with Grant Eastern Construction BAY BAY!!! ha. So fun. So all day we prepared. I had very random task throughout the day.
1) Pick up and sweep out shop
2) Ice down the drinks
3) Bake cookies, Cake, and brownies
4) Move picnic tables.... and my favorite....
5) Water down the driveway. ba ha.

The task were kinda fun actually. haha. While icing down the drinks i drop a dr. pepper and i busted all over me. ha. Then... everyone of my baked goodies were eaten. Best lemon cake they ever had=) haha. I love to bake for people! And the best of all was me standing out at the shop in the driveway with a super loooonnngggg water hose wetting down the dirt and rocks so it wouldn't be so dusty. ha. My dads brilliant idea=) Then when the men would come in and out i would wash off their windows for them=) it was fun. I like my men. They always take care of me. I just think so much of them. Their loyalty to my dad and his business. And just being the hard workers they are. I am so thankful for them.

Dad invited a lot of people to come eat crawfish. All his workers and all their families. Precious. This lil boy in this picture was Jimbo's grandson. FUNNY kid. He had a legit awesome rat tail. haha. You can kinda see it in the picture with steph. He kept us entertained. It was a fun time to just get to sit and talk and not have to work. To get to meet all their families and like 4 of them all have lil kids. They were fun to play with.
Just a sweet time for us to love on them. I can see the Lord moving in my dads business. Work is kinda slowing down a lil bit for my dad. So my pray the Lord provides enough work to keep his workers busy. But. Just how it was kinda weird at first for me to be around all these men and now they're just like big brothers to me. I love being able to encourage them and talk to them about their sweet families. And they love telling me about life! I really do love it.

The past few weeks i have just been struggling with work. Like... not wanting to work. Questioning the Lord why we work? Why right now i have to work? Anyway. I was randomly talking to Jake the other day. He was kinda struggling with working also. I was telling him all i wanted to do was love on people and serve. NOT work. ha. But then he reminded me that Paul worked along with sharing the gospel. He built tents. Umm... hello. Jesus was a carpenter. I mean... they worked and were in the ministry. When jake told me that it just became so real to me. Its pretty normal to work. I mean... its ok to work. Jesus did it. Right? I mean... i'm still learning about all this and studying it. I just hate the idea that once i go back to school and when i finish i will work until i pretty much die. Thats what i feel like happens. and i DO NOT want that to be all. I also have been reminded the Lord works and uses our places of work to love on people. What better way for us to connect to the world. I know that maybe only one man that works for my dad is a believer. I don't know what its like for him. If its hard for him to share about Christ to his coworkers or what. but. I know the men see a difference in him. Be praying for him, Lee. That the men, and people around would only see Christ in him. That he would be able to love and encourage our lil business men.

I just love my lil family=) They are so dear and precious to me. Em leaves next thursday for the whole summer. She'll be working in South Carolina as like assistant director of Mfuge camp. She is really struggling with leaving home, with wedding planning and all, family, and her sweet friends. It twas a good friday! 

A Grateful Mothers day!!

Sweet Sweet mothers day=) One of the absolute best! On saturday i left mom a note that morning to open that said something like, "Dear Best mom ever, Seeing as you have been so great the past 25 or so years of being a mommy. Today you must be ready 1pm sharp. Wear something smokin' and have a hot date. Make no other plans for the evening. 1pm. SHARP."
Ha. So that was her invite type thing. It was fun. She kept asking questions and wanting to know what was happening, who was going, should she do this or that, what to wear. ha. She was funny. Dad finally told her we were going to lafayette. So she just thought she was gunna go shopping and eat. Thinking everyone was coming. ha. But it was just dad and me. Anyway. Once we got there, we shopped as she thought we would. Then took her to our favorite mexican restaurant, then acted as if we were just going home. When we missed our turn she thought i had just gotten lost on our way back. Ha. Then i told her to look in my purse and get the papers in there and read them. I was watching her in the mirror. Funny. Her faced started to get real excited and she looked up and said, "is this tonight??" Ha. So cute. She was freaking out all the way there. haha.
Once we got there it was only like 30 mins before the concert started. Mom and i were upset we didn't get the memo to wear cutoffs and boots. ha. EVERYONE had them on. haha. So. Sons of Sylvia opened for Carrie. They good. Not my favorite. But they were believers and played some bluegrass. It was pretty awesome. Then Craig Morgan was 2nd. I had never really heard of him before, but he was so AWESOME. he is also a believer. He talked about Christ which i thought was really neat. He sang 'Amazing Grace' and 'Easy Like Sunday Morning.' he was funny! He had some serious hip action going on and a few butt dances to the crowd. ha. My dad loved him! I mean... considering how he slept through the first band. Funny dad. THEN.

Carrie Underwood!!!!!!!
When i first came across the tickets i was like, "this will be good. Moms will love it so it'll be great!' Not thinking i was really gunna enjoy it a whole lot. but friends. it was AWESOME. Carrie just did and incredible job. She put on and awesome concert. And she sang "How Great Thou Art." She good. She talked to the crowd and danced around a bit. She was cute. So real. She forgot the words to like her 2nd or 3rd song and that made me like her even more. ha. She was precious. Mom and i had so much fun dancing around. Singing her songs. On thursday and friday i sold moms carrie cd and had to learn the songs. So it payed off at the concert. I knew most of them=)

Mom absolutely LOVED it. This morning we went to church, had lunch at my Dads mom. Sweet time. Then. Dinner with the Zell family. Fun day it was. I really love my family. The more time i get to spend with them the more i love them. i am just so grateful.

At lifegroup we're studying Philippians. And a few weeks ago we talked about when we have a grateful attitude towards things its always a bit easier. Easier to serve you dad when he has a whole list of things for you to do for the day. Easier to help Em cook when i'm grateful that i just have time to spend with her. Grateful that i can work with Steph each day. Does that make sense? When we have grateful attitudes sometimes you let people be jerks to you and its ok. So lately i have been trying to have a grateful attitude about everything. Work. Chores. Helping. Doing. Pray that my attitude is grateful. That i'm reminded to be grateful. I can just tell when i am how much more i enjoy things.

I just want to be grateful. Today. I am so grateful for my mom. For my grandma. And my granny. And really all the women who do so much and don't get credit. Not that Moms often do any thing and expect a thank you. But they deserve it. My mom is incredible. She is so great at being a mom and knowing when its ok to be my friend, while still correcting and encouraging me. She is so loving. So AMAZING with children. So patient. So selfless. She is a servant. She is a heck of a cleaner. haha. She loves to work in the yard. She loves to spend her money and time on her family. Ah. I hope in so many ways i become like her. Precious she is to me. =) Now that you know more about my sweet Cindy. ha. I just challenge yall to be so grateful. To really step back and look at the things of life. Friends. My mom by no means is perfect. But who's is? I think things could always be worse. So be grateful. And by being grateful you somehow become selfless in those moments. Not just with your mom, or your parents, or even your families. But the sweet mentors we have, the loyal sometimes annoying friends we have. Be grateful.

Updatesssssss.

Oh my! I can't believe its almost been 2 weeks since i last blogged. I had a friend text me and said they missed reading my blog. Had another wanted to know if everything was ok because i haven't wrote lately. Ha. And yes. Everything has been fine. Just crazy. As always. I don't think i can remember a time in my life when things haven't been crazy. But. I don't think i would have it any other way. Maybe at some moments i wish it weren't as crazy. But i really love it. Ok. So. Here i go. 

The past few weeks have been filled with many exciting things. One day Steph and i had to pull weeds at all the mini storages. I've painted our patio furniture a few days. Washed trucks. Ran errands. Worked at my dads camp. Played with the kids. One day steph and i were working at the camp and it hadn't even been 30 mins and dad pulled up and he said, "yall wanna go fishing?" ha. So no work happened that morning. haha. But. One of the most exciting things that has happened was last weekend my lil group of friends got to come to BENTLEY!!!! Isn't that crazy. It was so surreal to me. Colin, Zach, Caleb, Kevin, Camille, Leah, Becca, and Megan got to come. They got to see where i worked. Where the kids live, my gardens, and other fun things. It was so weird having them here. I loved it though. I hope they would come back again.

This past thursday i got to go to Ruston to see a few of my friends, but specifically Spencer McAfee, in Fiddler on the Roof. It was so cute. I laughed a lot. But. 30 mins before we were all meeting up to go the boys decided they were gunna suit up and wanted up to girl style. ha. So. After i already was dressed in blue jean shorts and a tank i got the text and had to find clothes to suit up in. Luckily becca had an awesome blue dress that was perfect! It was perfect. The night was so fun. After the play we went the the TWIRP dance. It was AWESOME. I love to dance, so i automatically LOVE dances. It was so exciting to see friends and dance with everyone. Loved seeing Kyle and Sutton. Two of my favorite people to dance with. ha. Such a sweet time getting to see Kevin Inman and all the others i miss much. 

Yesterday i drove back in the morning. Worked for 2 hours and then went to our cousins graduation from NSU. She was SO stinkin excited! Such a sweet time with all our family. We did have all the kids. They were FUNNY. I did get to run into a few random friends, which was funny. My friend Mark Worsham, and my friend from high school, Nick Griffin. So good to briefly catch up with them. After the graduation, we drove back to Alexandria to eat at copelands with our family and Lacey's friend Halie's family. It was a bit crazy. Well. It was crazy. About 50 of us. ha. After that i came home and worked on some awesome mothers day stuff and passed out. I was running off about 3 hours of sleep. 

Usually we aren't too awesome at doing stuff for our mom. We try to do better all the time. ha. And this year is gunna be hard to top. We're reaching our peak ha. But tonight i'm surprising her with something AWESOME!!!! I shall not tell you yet, but tomorrow after with LOTS of pictures! I'm bringing Dad along with and he might be more excited than she will be. ha. Its gunna be FABULOUS. I'm going to get ready now and we're leaving soon. Gunna be trickin her. 

Things have been so good. Hard at times, but that normal. You have highs and lows. Goods and bads. So i'm learning to trust the Lord more and enjoy wherever i am, with whoever i'm with. The Lord is teaching me much! I hope to start blogging more again. At least a few times a week! 

Just be praying for direction for the future. What to do in the fall? School? work? Where to go to school? Stay home? Go back to Tech? Ah. i really have NO idea right now. I have to keep myself from freaking out all the time. ha. But. I'm learning to trust the Lord through all this decision making. I know i have awhile. but. Ya know. Just want to be praying about it now. Anyway. Its Saturday=) I like saturdays!

Life

Ya know. Sometimes life just stinks. And there's nothing you can do about it. Its just life. I hate that saying. I hate that it has to stink sometimes. That everything can't be wonderful all the time. That we all can't laugh and smile and play all the time. And really. Everything goes back to him. Everything is for his glory. For him to take something ugly, and gross. A big mess and make it clean, spotless, and BEAUTIFUL. Thats one of my favorite things about our savior. He takes the junk and he is the only one that can make it beautiful. Not just on the outside but inside to. I think back on relationships and situations that have been so crappy and how beautiful they are or are becoming. Just like me and dad. Or this past week. It wasn't crappy. But from wed until today... things have not been so fabulous. I hate to be negative about things but. I don't really think i am. I mean... these things happen. Days happen when they aren't so fabulous. I guess i'm just learning a lot right now.

Sunday morning at church they talked about Godly Womanhood. And friends. It was so good. Last week they talked about Authentic Manhood. And to hear them talk about mans weakness, for them to be passive and not take the blame. And how women struggle with being controlling. Wanting to control their husbands, people, situations. And just recently i have found myself wanting to be controlling. Not over people, but how when these things have not been so great, that i truly have absolutely no control over them. And i can say i trust the Lord and i know he gives me the best, but my actions and thoughts have not shown that i believe he is in control, and that i believe he is giving me the best right now. I have all these plans or backup plans that if it doesn't work with what the Lords giving me i'll do what i think is best. And how he is just stripping me of that right now. Their are a few things going on and basically just life that i can't control. ANd i HAVE to trust that the Lord and believe he is giving me the best. I'm reminded that the word tells me he will not withhold any good thing from me! Today it will be a struggle to remember that. Tomorrow it will be too. And prolly the rest of the week and from now on. Pray my actions and thoughts reflect my trust. That daily i'm reminded he is taking care. He's in control. That that would be enough for me.
He is stripping me of so much right now. Of me not trusting, my pride, my selfishness, my pointless words and much more that i can't see right now. This is what i want though. And i have to also remind myself that i'm askin him to do this, and i knew it would be hard. I think we forget that when we ask him to do things sometimes, that it prolly won't be too easy. ha. I'm excited to look back on this and to see how he has and is changing me. I'm excited about this week.
Dad comes back today. Grandpa's birthday is today and we're having a party for lunch. And Its a new day to delight in the Lord. I have missed him. I find that things are a bit harder and a bit less meaningful to me the less time i spend with him. I become busy and selfish and lazy. Not taking the opportunities to spend with him alone. Not covering myself in his word daily.

Ah.

I am becoming a horrible blogger. But. Nonetheless life is still going one. Things are still changing. Special, sweet things are still happening each day. And the Fathers love is still covering me at home=)

I just have come to the point that some things are more important than blogging. Like sleep. and helping. Like stopping and doing nothing. And people. The time in each day is so precious at home. Each day flies by. I mean, i thought timed moved fast before, but now. Wow. Its always later than i ever think it is, and so much more happens in my day here, than ever before. And just a few extra hours to the day now. A normal  schedule for me is waking up usually every morning at 6 working from 6:30 till about 5, running with my sisters when i get home, help clean or do stuff around the house, eat, shower, sleep. ha. I'm not complaining. I like it. Its just some things are more important than blogging. ha.
This past week there were a few days i started to grow weary of being home. The mornings i had to wake up extra early didn't help. ha. Its so funny how the Lord would quickly throw something in my face and remind me again, he's still working. Funny how my memory verse last week was "The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." Psalm 135: 6. That is much encouragement to me. Many times the bible tells us he's in control, he does what he wants, he doesn't withhold any good thing from us, he's working through us. I'm just reminded of these truths in those weary moments. Just being reminded he IS working. He hasn't stopped and he WON'T. Ah. Makes me smile. He is working here in "Blessed Bentley", as steph calls it. Already this morning, i had a sweet talk with my dads secretary about her kids. How they're night and day. Its funny how she'll ask me what i would do. AH. not funny, its crazy. I pray in those moments, the Lord speaks through me.  I'm pretty sure i'm working most of the day alone. Sometimes, i like it. It doesn't happen very often anymore. And, my sweet Mib (our dog) is here to keep me company. Ya know, i don't really like dogs, or cats, or really pets. ha. A few reasons why. But. I have grown to like my dog. A LOT. i like how they're just there. They don't talk, sometimes you don't even know they are there, and other times they want every bit of your attention. And most of the time they love their owners. They don't even care what they look like or who they are or anything really. I like that too.  Ha, and i'll jam to some of my new faves at the moment:
1) A lil Johnny Cash
2) Switchfoots new cd (thank you, Colin McAfee)
3) the Beatles
4) Brooke Fraser
and some random others...

Its going to be a good, good day=) As of now i have to wash/clean my dads FILTHY work truck. it'll prolly take me a few hours. Then load the RV for his Man trip tomorrow. ha. Talladega Superspeedway. Yall. He has been so excited about this. He's went every year for the past 5 years prolly and will prolly continue going. ha. Every time one of his buddies calls they'll talk about it FOREVER. haha. Its funny. I like it. So after tomorrow, it'll be a girls week. Those are always fun. We do girl stuff. Ha. Anyway. So i'm getting dad ready for his fun trip.

This past weekend was yet again, another sweet weekend. I went back to ruston for MLK. And, its always a plus to see my friends, and other sweet people. Most of our group of friends went out of town, so their was only 5 out the 13 prolly there. ha. So it was sweet time to get to hang out with Megan, Leah, Colin, and Spencer. I'm really close to both of the girls, but it was so special to me to get to actually hang out with Colin and Spencer. They are so funny. I love that spencer, he dances with me. ha. And colin says he can't dance, BUT. I saw a few of his dance moves, AND saw his senior video of him breaking it down, A LOT. hahaha. He prolly doesn't even know that. Ba ha.
I always have talks with people randomly, never really planned, and that is something so dear to my heart. I love to know how people feel about things. I love to see how different the Lord created us all. How we all feel different about different things. All the things we want out of life, and where the Lord has us right now. The different things we're learning. Ah. I LOVE PEOPLE.
I also got to stay with Leah while visiting. Its so exciting how much i adore her. We have such an easy friendship and it has grown to become so deep. We have become so close since about Christmas. We just met in september, and she is one of those people i feel like i've known a long time. She also dances with me=)
Sunday night, all of the friends got back in town and we had dinner together and just got to hang out and chat. AH. i LOVE them. Everyone of them! SOOO MUCH. They all have a special place in my heart. They all mean something different to me. I love that the relationship i have with say Stephanie, is not the same as i have with say,  Emillie. And they can never be the same. No relationship anyone has with anyone can not be the same with another person. The people are different. Some people understand other people better than others. Does this make since? Anyway. All of my relationships are different with them all. Some people i talk more about what i'm going through and life more, and some i listen more about their life. Its good. So good. Ah. My heart is happy thinking about it.
I did get to see Zachary. Its so weird how close we are and how we barely know each other, but how he is another one i feel like i've know forever. I love to see the Lord working in him. I haven't seen him in over a month. And i only got to see him for a very short time, but it was so encouraging. he is special to my heart. Needless to say. The weekend was great! BuT. MLK.

It was one of the best times i've had out there. Usually we only get to interact with the kids like 12 and under. But this sunday, the older kids were already outside playing baseball and they wanted us to come play with. AH. SO funny. I got to meet Peaches, Precious, Jessica, and Jasimine. They were all about 15 and older. I LOVED it. They thought i was a funny, crazy white girl. We joked with them and got to talk about school and stuff. i hope we get to interact with them more. Pray for that. Pray for those girls. Also, there is one lil boy who one week was SOOOOOO bad. He tried to bit, kick, hit, spit on me, and anything else he could do to me, i'm sure he tried. But. This week, he was precious. He learned my name, and he kept yelling it=) Warms my heart when they learn my name and remember it! Also, our story time was sweet. Amber had more of the younger kids, and i had the older ones. The kids that played ball were with me. There has only been one time when i felt the Lord telling me to share specifically about him, and that was with like two lil girls. Not with a whole group of kids, and the older kids. Anyway. I did and it was sweet. Who knows if anyone heard, but pray the Lord is stirring in their hearts. I want to see the older kids come back. Ah. I'm excited!
Its tuesday. A good sweet tuesday.

Still at that Bayou

Its been like week 4 at the bayou. Its been so great. Well. Sometimes. ha. This day happen to be so great. All the men were there working. Tommy, Joel, Josh, Brian, Michael, Dad, and Jimbo. haha. These guys become more special to me. We all had a picnic together. It was sweet. We made jokes, well. they made jokes. ha. They LOVE working together. They all get along, and just have fun. I have grown to have just a greater respect for them. They work they do. And just who they are. The more i hang out with them the more special they become to me.

Friends... so many things have been happening. So many sweet things. I know its tuesday and i have a few many days to catch up on. So. I will just give yall an update of the past few days and then start on today=)

Wed- i pretty much took the day off. ha. I got to spend some time at home by myself, and then i brought my grandma to walmart. She is SO awesome. ha. I lost her in walmart. It was kinda funny. It was sweet to hang out with her. Its never just me and her. That day i just realized a few things. A few things i want in life. I just know there is so much more. So much more to life.

Thursday- We back at the bayou again. That day. We poured concrete. I kinda liked it. Well. For just a lil bit. I kinda got bored with it. ha. Later that day, josh and i were working together and we just got to have such a meaningful talk. Talk about life. Talk about him being a dad. Such a sweet moment for me.

Friday- I only had to work a few hours that morning. Before lunch i went to go visit my granny. She's my dads mom. We have a lady that comes a few hours during the day and sits with her. Well. When i had gotten there, my granny was telling her to go home. That she didn't need a babysitter. She was a grown women. It was a bit funny. I laughed. After the lady left i stayed a bit and just sat and talked with my granny. She really is SO funny. I mean. I just laugh a lot. and it doesn't take much for that. But yall. Old people and little kids are just REALLY funny to me. I love her. I wish i knew her more. I want to spend more time with her.
Then. For lunch dad brought me and steph to a crawfish boil at a place he does a lot of business. There were a whole lot of men out there. And steph and I were the only ladies out there. AH. So funny. So steph and i sat together and made lil jokes and met all of dads many friends=) My dad LOVED it. Thats why we loved it. We like to make him happy. He enjoys us hanging out with him.
That afternoon, i had to run a few errands so i went and got Rhys to come with me. He is just precious. So special to my heart. I want him to stay this age. We were riding down the road listening to some needtobreathe and i happen to look in my mirror and see him singing. and i kept watching him and he pretty much knew every word to "lay 'em down." PRECIOUS. He was so cute. We prolly sang the song 5 times. Ah. I want my kids to be that cool. ha

Then we all went out to dinner last night. Well. It was kinda funny. Steph and krista went and had a lil early birthday celebration. So jake came with the rest of them fam out to eat. ha. I sure do love that brother! He is very special to me. Someone i look up to and respect very much=)

I love office parties!

If ya don't know. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE birthdays!! I love to make the day all about people. Just to make them feel so special! So. Sunday was Aunt Sheryl's birthday. So since we were in Ruston. We celebrated monday. I have to say it was stephs idea. ha. Anyway. We made signs, decorated the deer heads, ba haha, and gave her a cake. It was sweet. Since i've been home i've been able to talk to my aunt more. And just being around someone more helps . ha.

Steph and i had to drop a trailer full of picnic tables off somewhere. When we got there we heard a sound, and we looked at each other and started checking all the tires for a flat. I found the tire on the trailer on the my side. It was a small slit in the tire. So. i had a bright idea to chew some gum and fix it. haha. I mean... it worked...well... for no time actually. ha. Then dad came to the rescue and used his "real" tire fixing kit. ha. He laughed at me. Add that to my list of silly things. After that we went home and did some work around the house. Mom came home early from work, and she cleaned outside with us. She's cute. While we were cleaning though, she asked us all about our weekend. It was a sweet time to share with her. I got to tell her about my lunch about MLK. She was so excited. So... i can say i may be back in Ruston every weekend doing MLK. And possibly back the whole summer! Its so exciting. Be praying that the Lord would change my parents hearts towards where the Lord is leading me. He would prepare them for whatever, and wherever the Lord wants me.

That afternoon, when were done working. I got to talk to Bonnie on the phone for awhile. I MISS HER. Man. She is so special to my heart. We talked for a long time. She is ALWAYS so encouraging. Also, that afternoon i got presented another opportunity for the summer. I would be far from home. Far from Louisiana. But. i have NO idea what i'm gunna do. I think, i know, my parents are going to want me to stay here for the summer and work. And that would be great too. Just pray the Lord would confirm where he wants me through my parents.

Then that evening i just got to sit in one of my favorite places at home and just look at the Lords creation. Just to delight in the Lord. Thats what im trying to do these days. It just reminds me of the bigger things in life. How he loves me. How He is so worthy.

Refreshing Sunday

Can i just say. This may be a bit long. ha. Sorry. I just have soo much in my heart!!! After our adventure we did not go to sleep till late, but once again, i was awake early. So... i went for a nice run that morning. It was just so amazing. The weather was beautiful, the trees were so green, and it was just time by myself to just thank the Lord for such an amazing weekend so far! But, really there was so much more good stuff that day. When i got back to the house, Leah and Camille were awake. I was sitting outside just enjoying the Lord, when sweet Leah and cam came out to chat. It was just a sweet time of intimate girl talk. I got to listen to Leah share her heart. As we all 3 shared my juicy pear=) hahaha. By this time we had decided to have church together that morning. And it was by far the best decision! We sat outside and shared our hearts, Caleb played his guitar and we just sang some sweet songs, and just enjoyed the Lord together. Its just so hard to explain it, but it was such an intimate time with each other, while being in the Lords presence. It was great to encourage each other, and talk about where we are struggling. Friends. If you're reading this. Know i am specifically praying for the things yall talked about.

After that we went to MLK. AH. So exciting. Well. i had mixed emotions. I was a bit nervous, because i hadn't been there in a month. I figured the kids would hate me, ha, and then it was just weird me jumping in right back where i left off. I just didn't know if that was ok or what? It was really just lies the devil was placing in my thoughts. I HATE that. Anyway. It was so encouraging seeing everyone, and loving on them. Getting to briefly catch them up on hardly nothing, bc there was no time. I am thankful for the understanding that they have and they just love me, even if they haven't seen me or talked to me in a month!! Once we got out to MLK, one lil boy, JT, was SO excited to see me and started shouting my name and saying he has been missing me. AAAHHHH!!! Friends. At that moment i thought i was going to cry! I had a fear the kids wouldn't care about me, they wouldn't remember my name, and not even a minute after being there the Lord confirmed other wise!!! WOW. how little faith i have. Then not even 5 mins later Te-Te came up and wanted to know where i have been, and several of the kids remembered me! My heart was just SOOO full. I just felt the Lord all over that place. Friends. I LOVE THAT PLACE. i love the kids, i love doing whatever they want me to do, i love picking up trash after them, i LOVE getting my nails painted all crazy each week, i love hearing about what they're learning in school, i love loving on them! Often times when my heart gets so full, i have to just sit and observe. And today, i just had to sit back and watch what the Lord was doing, and see the things he has done! I want yall to be praising the Father for the work he has done, and will continue doing through MLK. I know this is only the beginning!

After we left MLK, i told the group about Calvary wanting to support us, but not take over MLK, just wanting to add to what we were already doing. And they were SO excited! Most of us went to Sonic after for happy hour. At that moment too, my heart was happy. That was the first time that most people who help with MLK all hung out together, besides every sunday with kids. It was such a sweet time! I am so thankful for each one of them. Its also so amazing how i have seen the Lord change us as we get to serve his people.

Then, i went to pick up steph from Jakes and we went home. It was kinda weird. Cause the whole weekend i hardly saw steph. And we spend everyday together. Its like we were no where near each other to hang out. But. it was cool getting to hear all about her weekend on the way home. One of my friends asked me this weekend if i ever get tired of talking. And, when they i asked i said no. But. As i was on my way to get steph, i just shut down. i don't think i could've talked anymore if i wanted to at that point. I think it had just been so long since i had really talked to so many people, that there was so much to catch up on that i finally reached empty.  Cause i mean... every time i saw someone, they would ask and i would tell. Its definitely not a bad thing though. I love to have conversations with people. I think it just all caught up on me, and i was SOO tired! So tired! But, i enjoyed listening to steph and thinking over the weekend on the drive home=)

Its so crazy how the Father has worked through so many relationships since i have been home. Some people i hardly talked to every few days, i talk to them pretty much everyday now that i'm home. Some people that i didn't know cared so much have become so special to me. And how strong many of my friendships have become since i've been home. How thankful i am for the Father for my sweet, special friendships! I miss my friends already.

ps- When i got home i cooked my first steak on the grill. All by myself. I mean... my dad told me how to. But i did it.  And when he ate it he was pleased=)

Family Brinner=)

Saturday was such a sweet sweet day=) I loved every single moment of it! The Lord was so good, so gracious, so loving. He just confirmed so many prayers, and brought me much joy! I am so thankful. After an amazing friday night with the girls and not going to bed till 2 i still woke up around 8:30 and ran to the Clarks. It was my first time to see them in a whole month as well. Its crazy seeing them pretty much everyday, to not seeing them for a whole month!! So it was so refreshing to just get to see their faces. i really really miss Erin. She is always so encouraging and loving. Always so real, and can relate to pretty much everything i ever tell her about. So steph and i chatted for about an hour with Erin and Jonathan and cute Jackson. We tried to catch on life as quickly as possible but there was just SO much. 

We left there and i had lunch plans to get ready for. I met with Mr. Bill Reid, the pastor at Calvary Baptist, and his son David. We had a lovely, exciting lunch at Sundown in the the beautiful sun=) I don't know if yall remember me telling yall this, but exactly a week after i got home i got a phone call from him about MLK. Anyway. This was a follow up on that conversation. Can i just say the Lord provides. The hardest thing for me to leave in Ruston was MLK. Really. Till this day, every time i see kids playing outside i only think of MLK. Ah. My heart is happy when i'm there. I am SO passionate about those kids, and about the ministry. I have just seen the Lord change those kids so much in the past 4 months that we've been back there. Anyway. Mr. Bill had so many encouraging and exciting things to share with me. One thing being that their church wants to fully finically support MLK. OH MY!!! When he told me that, i think i almost peed my pants i was so excited! That means, all of our equipment/toys, saturday cookouts, and all of our summer plans, and anything else we want! WOW. This is so exciting! We talked about sooo many things, and as things come i will fill you in on more. For now, just be praying about where the Lord is leading me. I have the opportunity to come back to Ruston every weekend and continue doing MLK. Ah. I'm so stinkin EXCITED just thinking about it!!! 

After lunch me, camille, colin, caleb, and a new international friend, Asia, went to Office Depot and walmart. We had to help Asia get a computer and we had to get food to cook for dinner. Asia is THE funniest international i've ever met. He kept us laughing, he kept shouting, "NOODLES!!" and "Man, everything is so much bigger here. Even the sun is so much bigger, i'm so hot." ha. And he said we spit out english like machine guns. haha. So funny. He told camille he was a believer and she was so excited about that! Be praying for Camille and her many international students=) 

We dropped Asia off and went back to camilles and proceeded to get dinner ready and just hang out and talk about life. That evening Becca, Leah, Spencer, and Hudson came to join us. We had such a sweet night of community. We only had one rule at dinner, and that was that everyone was to help cook. It was fun. Leah made muffins, camille made eggs, becca made bacon, spencer made french toast, i made biscuits, and the other boys hung a tire swing. ha. Anyway. The weather was so fabulous that we brought the coffee tables outside and sat on the ground and had a sweet brinner. Everyone told stories, and we laughed really hard, and just enjoyed each other. There was one moment when i just sat there and just admired everyone. Just to be with them was enough for me. I have longed for that community, missed it so much.  We all helped clean up and then we had a small dance party. Well. more or less me, leah, and spencer being silly dancing around. Ha. One of my favorite things about my friends is that often, very often they go on adventures. And you know they planned one for this weekend! Woo. It was a great way to end a sweet sweet day=)

Those friends make me happy. SO happy. The Lord just covered his love over me today. From seeing the clarks, to MLK stuff with Mr. Bill, to meeting Asia, to family brinner. Such an AMAZING day!  

Ladies Night

Today was one of the best days! I worked half a day and then i was off to Ruston with Stephanie for the first time in over a month. It was kinda crazy to think. I was so excited and nervous. ha. So ready to see my friends, but i wasn't so sure how things were going to be. If it was going to be hard to interact with people because i didn't really know what was going on in their lives anymore, cause i haven't been there experiencing life with them. AND. they haven't been experiencing the things i have been either. So. I full of mixed emotions and many thoughts. But ya know. We always make it out to be so much worse than it every really is. 

I didn't tell too many people that i was coming in because i wanted to surprise them, and. Its just kinda hard. You really only have 2 days to see people. And i just didn't want to be all over the place only spending like an hour with 10 different people. So. Know if i didn't see you or tell you i was coming in doesn't mean i don't love you and that you aren't special to me. I just wanted to pour myself out fully to a few people and not a little bit to a whole lot. ya know? So next time i'm in. Please! Lets hang out! Ok ok. Back to the ride to Ruston. It was sweet. I drove and steph and i talked pretty much the whole 1hr and 30mins. I really love talking to her. There was one thing that i just remember telling her. I think she might have asked me if i was nervous or excited or something. But. I remember my excitement pouring out and me just telling her that i was ready to see people. Ready to tell them about what i have been experiencing. Cause i'm different. In a month the Lord has changed me so much. In more ways than i prolly know. I was ready for people to see that. I have learned so much about myself, and life, and Jesus. It was exciting. Its exciting telling yall about it now. And... i just wanted people to see the difference. I mean... i hope they did. ha. Anyway. Once we got to Ruston, it was early afternoon, and steph and i hung out down town a bit. It was fun doing that because in the fall steph will be living in Ruston, and if i'm back there, we will get to hang out all the time! Thats super exciting=) After that we went to love on Megan for a bit. I just really love love love her. So much about her. I love that the Lord has molded us to be so close in the past few months. I only got to see her a few mins. Then i got to see Zachary and surprise Colin. He was prolly the only one that didn't find out i was coming into town. ha. It was fun surprising him. I have grown to love that Colin a lot. We actually get to talk about life and deeper things other than surface level things. Its actually been about a year now that i've known colin. ha. Just thought about that. Anyway. After i left their apartment i met Michael Reid for a humphrey. When i was at Tech Michael and i would always have these unplanned meetings in the front tables at tolliver and catch each other up on life. It prolly would happen every few weeks. So it was much needed to get to catch up on his life. He is doing so well. Changing and being molded into a man. It was so good to see that. While we ate our humphrey's we sat at railroad park at Ruston's first friday and listened to some of our friends play. 

Then. My sweet girls showed up! Camille, Becca, Vera, and Leah!!! It was SOO SOO SOOO exciting to see them. I have just missed their friendships so much. We were have a girls night! We hung out at First Friday for a bit and got some free Census hats and tshirts. ha. Danced to the music and cheered really loudly for deciding to eat mexican food. ahahaha. And we all 5 shared another humphery. ha. When i saw that Camille my heart was so warm. I have been waiting to see her since i left Ruston a month ago. She has been one of the MOST encouraging people since i have been home. Its crazy how the Lord has used my time being at home to strengthen several relationships, and hers being one of them. But. When i saw that Leah Crowe, we danced and danced around hugging and laughing. It was so encouraging to see her too. I have also talked to her often while being at home. We we get together there is a whole lot of excitement, laughter, and dancing going on in one room. AND I LOVE IT! haha. These girls are so dear to my heart. We then went to eat mexican food. and while we were there we kinda got to catch up on some of the latest things, and scheme and plan for the rest of the night. ha. After we left there we went to walmart and got a few things, while making a few new friends. We ended up leaving walmart with hair color, fro yo, cookie dough, chocolate covered almonds, star crunches, sparkling grape juice, and celery. hahaha. It was so funny. After our walmart trip we went back to camilles to watch a movie. And not even 10 mins in the movie i was passed out. ha. I warned them though, my bed time is usually about 9:30. So i knew if the lights went off and i had somewhere to rest my head i would be asleep. haha. And sure enough i was passed out. But. the only one to make it through the whole movie was Becca. Everyone else had fallen asleep too. So needless to say, once it was over, we had our second wind. We didn't actually go to sleep till 2. We made a big pallet on the floor and snuggled. It was a super sweet, fun, much needed night! 

Sweet Family

So i'm writting this on sunday... i have been so busy the past few days and i just didn't get a chance to blog. So... i don't really remember a whole lot about the day. But. I do know... i spent the whole day working at the office with steph. After work our sweet cousin, Denise, and her sweet sweet daughter Mallie came with her. It was fun. Mallie was so cute and funny. All night she just kept saying, "Allyson. Come play with me. Come play with me!" ha. So i played with her. In that picture to the left you can see her fork in her cup. haha. She was funny. She kept stirring it around shouting, "Cooking dinner. Making food. Stir stir stir." haha. She was precious.  

I can say though I was so selfish that night. I thought they weren't getting to our house till around 6:30. But they were getting there at 5:30. But i didn't find this out until like 5:15. My plan was to run and shower before they got there, so when i found that all out i just was kinda ugh. I was being selfish. Cause i wanted to go run and not hang out with my family. Might i add that i prolly only see them twice a year. And how selfish i was to be waiting for them to leave and not talk and enjoy them being with us, so i could go run! Ugh. And now when i think back on it i wish i would have just sat and played and talked with Denise and enjoyed it. Anyway. i just realized that somethings are more important that running. Somethings like people are more important than running. Ah. So... Be praying that my selfishness goes away! I don't want to be selfish. 

Sleepover

Ah. The days at home in this 'New Season' have been so much better than i could've imagined. It just feels me with joy=)

I had the pleasure of sleeping in today. well... till 7! Yay!! hahaha. But. I also got to work with steph today. We ran some errands and went to the horrible wal mart. ha. It was a short day. We did errands and office work. Came home and had lunch with dad. Then we jst stayed home and cleaned the house and around the pool. Then Steph and i ran. Then. I brought Zell to ball practice and Ella came with us. So i chased her around the ballpark, while Zell practiced. Then, i brought them back home and Rhys insisted that i didn't leave. So since i had to leave he said he would just stay the night with me. Ha. So i'm a sucker and i brought him home with me. Anyway. So much i want to tell yall, but. I have a 2 year old that is not asleep and is running around dancing to single ladies on the new chipmunk movie. ha. Anyway. I'm working with dad tomorrow. So. be praying for that=)

Date Night

I had such a fabulous day! I actually worked an 8 hour day. ha. AND. I got to work with steph all day! That always makes a day better! i LOVE to work with her. When i don't get to work with her, i just miss her. My aunt and dad think we're so funny, cause we just get so excited to see each other. haha. But. I didn't do anything silly today, so that was good. And... i got to work in the office. And friends... thats not my favorite. I would rather be outside working. And. I'm not good at the office work. I don't know enough to help people who come in and call. Ha... So i got to come home around 3. And i was home by myself and i just got to lay in the hammock and read for an hour or so. It was much needed. Then i went for a nice run. Well. Not so nice. I saw another SNAKE!!! Ah. I threw sticks and rocks at it. It then ran away. haha. After that, i had a date. A date with my Dad=) It was awesome. Mom had game night at work, em played volleyball with her life group, and steph went to the movies with some girls. So dad took me to Outback, and then we went to books a million. It was a nice night. Now we're watching American Idol. My dad loves this show. He won't admit it but. He does=) hahaha.

I can't ever remember what i have and haven't told yall. But one thing i know i have said is that while im in this 'New Season' i want to change! And one thing is i want to be the same here with my family that i am when i was in Ruston. I wan to serve and love them with a joyful heart. So. The verse for the week is...

"Let us not become weary in doing good., for at the proper time we will read a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9-10

So i will cling to that this week as i serve. Also, i finally memorized last weeks verse. "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lords glory, are being transformed into his likeness with every-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit." 2 Cor 3:18

Can i just encourage yall to memorize the word. It just helps to cling to it. Also, there are some opportunities coming up that i would really want yall to be praying about. Pray that i am lead by the spirit. That i am selfless in my decisions. It is exciting things that i can't wait to share with yall!!! Soon. Soon i will!

Working that 12 hour day

So. It was a long day. I mean... most days are pretty long. And the fact that the days are long now, doesn't help. I worked 7am- 7pm today. I didn't do too much. We started off by setting stakes for a new house. Before we started i had a lil mishap. Dad told me to find him some stakes around the shop. And the first ones i saw were all wrapped up in black plastic stuff. I kept trying to pull it out and it never would come off. So i went and asked dad for his pocket knife, btw, most men from grant parish carry a pocket knife, who knew? ha. Anyway. So. Then i went to cutting off the stakes. Once we got to the house site, dad went to get the stakes and when he started looking at them, he realized why i needed his pocket knife. I had cut his silt stakes. haha. Luckily Joel was there to take up for me. I mean... heck. I didn't know any better. It was a nice lil funny for the morning. It'll be awhile before they let me live that one down. It'll prolly be the next time i do something silly again. Which prolly won't be long. hahaha. But. Like i said, Joel took up for me. He said he's been working for dad about 15 years and he still does silly things like that. Maybe not that silly he said, but close. I do love that Joel. Like i said, he's been working for dad since i can remember. He's like my brother. He took up for me all morning though. Every time Dad went to get on me, Joel would take up for me. Those men have become so special to me. Everyone of them. Mr. Tommy keeps me laughing all day. Well. They all keep me laughing all day. They are so kind to me. Its hard for me to actually do a lot of hard work around them, cause they hardly ever let me. They always carry everything, get everything, fix everything. ha. They take care of me. But sometimes, i wish i could do more. I get bored not being able to do stuff. And i good and well know i can almost do whatever they do. Well... maybe not even almost. They are all pretty strong. Everyday i'm amazed at how different guys are from girls. I've never really been around boys/men this much. EVER. So i've learned much about guys over the past month. Well. At least these guys. haha. They are my friends. I enjoy hanging out with them. Its neat to get to learn about their lives. Being able to specifically pray for them. Thats what i'm trying to do now. I don't really think any of them are believers. So... that specifically something i'm praying for right now.

After we left the house site. We went back to the bayou. We as in dad and me. It was nice. I read some of my book until i fell asleep, only waking up to my Dad fishtailing down the gravel road. haha. Then we proceeded to talk about when he was a boy thats what they always did. ha. Once we got there we did some small work stuff, then we did the regular works. Its just so amazing how crazy different things are between me and Dad. I was telling steph today, that its not even really that Dad has changed. But i have changed. I see my Dad differently now. The Lord has changed me. Its neat to see that. So when he gripes at me now, i don't get mad, or defensive, or get my feelings hurt, i just take what he says and understand he is not very tactful with his words and his tone is some times just harsh. Thats it. That doesn't mean he is mad at me. Today when he would gripe or get on to me, it was just so different. I liked seeing the change.

After work i went to Jaymee's birthday party. She turned 17 today. Its so crazy. So crazy. So i got to see all my families again. They i came home and helped dad finish planting the garden, and steph and went for a nice walk to talk about our day. I love those moments.

As i was reading tonight, i read over a verse in proverbs 4:2... "I give you SOUND learning, so do not forsake my teaching." Friends. When i read that, i just thought about how that is so true. How we forget that so often. I know i do. Sound learning. Thats not feeling, or seeing, but hearing! Thats so exciting and encouraging to me. I know he speaks to us different ways, but i often wish he would just yell so loudly to me what he wants me to do! Don't yall ever feel that way? I mean... i think everyone does. And that is just encouraging. By sound He shares things. He teaches us and we learn from it. =)

Be praying for my coworkers: Joel, Josh, Brian, Michael, Tommy, Jimbo, Sam, and Lee. Oh and Mr. Jimmy. He has been sick. In and out of the hospital. Pray for healing for him. Pray for their salvation. For their sweet families. Daily the Lord would cover them with His love. I love them friends. I pray to see them change. To see beauty and glory! Again. Tomorrow!

The names i get called everyday by my coworkers, friends, and family. ha
1) Al
2) Big Al
3) Ally
4) Ally- Cat
5) Allyson

Makes me laugh=)

Sweet Easter

Easter=) Sweet Easter=) 

Friends. I just love any reason for family or people to gather over. ha. I think when i get older i'm gunna celebrate everything. Or maybe. I'll start celebrating everything starting today. Ha. like first day of this or  one week till this. haha.  Anyway. I enjoyed getting together with my families. It really is so crazy how things change. How they will never go back to how there were or are. I just looked at my cousin Jaymee today, thats her in the picture, and i just thought about how things have changed between us so much. She's two years younger than me. We've grown up together. We clogged together all through elementary school. We showed cows together, a few years. Once that was over, we played softball together in high school. Its just crazy. Now we spend no time together. I hardly ever see her. I mean. I do more now, since i'm home. I'll never get those years back with her. I just thought about all this. The time i have with my sisters right now and my parents. Some of yall in college with your roommates. How yall might not be together next year. And even if you are, it won't be the same. Just things to think about. Things never stay the same. I think thats why i am so confident in the word. It NEVER changes. My Savior NEVER changes. Thats just crazy to me. Cause everything we know CHANGES. Anyway. Not getting off on this changing and stuff. I want to tell yall about my Easter!

My family was fabulous. My granny (dads mom) is getting older and such so its always fun to go see her. She lives alone, so she LOVES having her family over. Like i said. We pretty much only all get together for holidays. But. Its fun to catch up on life with them. Mom, steph, em, and i hid easter eggs for the kids. And the lil red headed girl, Josie, who is 5, got SO excited when she spotted an egg! it was hilarious. It wasn't just like the first few she found she was excited, but EVERYONE she found she was THRILLED to find. haha. So we had a good time with the 3 lil girls finding eggs. After that we just hung out for a bit and talked and took pictures. 

Then we went to the Zell's for supper. And friends. That side of the family is HILARIOUS. Everyone of them. The first time we took Jake there with us, my Uncle Phil started yelling through the house, "Jakes got a tattoo. Not just one. but 2! Wait. I see another one." haha. While all along, everyone of my uncles, including him, my grandpa, and most of my cousins, all having tats too=) They are just crazy. Thats the side with the sweet kids are on. So i always love playing with them. And my cousin Jeffery, i talked about several weeks ago, was there along with his lil sister. I really love them. Also, my cousin Jonathan married a girl i graduated with, and they're expecting a lil baby girl in June. So it was good to talk to Ginny and hear all about the baby stuff. She is just so excited. She's gunna be a great little mommy and Jonathan is going to spoil their lil girl rotten. Anyway. We ate, Rhys said the prayer, we had an easter egg hunt for the kids, and then we always play volleyball when we get together. Pretty much everyone plays, and it is so funny. We all pick on each other and laugh SO much. We fall, and look ridiculous sometimes, but we never get mad and its just awesome. While they were hiding the easter eggs for the kids, i had them inside, and the Marks kids LOVE to dance. And Rhys and Zell wanted to dance while we were waiting for them. So we busted out our dance moves. They had me laughing so hard. 

It was a sweet Easter, with my sweet family. I am so thankful for my family. It is one thing that is dear to my heart. I think the closer i get to them, the harder its going to be for me to leave them in the fall. I mean. Heck. I've only been home for a month and have 5 more to go. haha. I love it though. I'm looking forward to hanging out with dad at work. And... getting a lil bit of work done. ha. I also hope to finish my book this week. 

Just be praying that daily i'm being changed. I know i am, but that His word is penetrating into my soul and spirit. I want to be changed. I want to be real. I don't know if i've shared this with yall. I know i have with a few people, but. One thing i want to change in this 'New Season.' Is i want to be the same with my family that i am with other people. Often, we have less patience with our family, or we don't serve them like we do other people. We often say things we shouldn't, instead of holding our tongue like we do with others. Anyway. I was challenged with this today. I want it to keep changing. I want to WANT to serve my family. I want to be selfless. I wish i could be selfless all the time. I wish it wasn't natural to think about ourselves first. Ugh. I want to think about others. Thats what i'm trying to do. Tomorrow is going to be a good day of work. 

AND. All day today, i was proud to share i was home, working for my dad=) 

I Get It From Daddy=)

i LOVED today! I actually slept till close to 9! Which was so awesome. ha. Then Ella won the in the Dogwood pageant and had to ride in the parade today. So Mom and i went to the parade. My grandparents were there, Jen, Lacey, Colby, and the boys were there. Its always fun with them. We ended up with SO much candy. And with my grandpa we didn't leave one piece on the ground. ha. The ground around us was spotless. After the parade i walked to the festival with my grandparents and hung out with them for a bit. It was a sweet time. Grandma and i got corn dogs and lemonade. Ya know. You only get the good ones at festivals and carnivals. ha. It was funny to be with my grandma. She is such a diva. She had her Ray Bans on, and her gladiator sandals=) I hope im as hip as she is at 76! haha.  But. I did get to see a few friends that i haven't seen in a while. Like my friends Trey and Casey. Every time i would come home i would usually have coffee with trey, or we would get to ihop or the movies or something. He was the VP of our sr class, and i was our president, so we got to work together a lot. He is one friend that i just love. That i would do anything for. I love him for who he is, and just the way he is. Its so amazing how the Lord has worked between us. All through high school trey and i weren't really friends. Then our senior year when we had to work together, the Lord just molded our friendship. I know if any reason i was class president was to build a relationship with him. He is now engaged to our friend Katie. Anyway. It was exciting to see him for a whole 5 mins. ha.

Then after the festival, i came home to get ready to go to a wedding. Our sweet family friend Ronald Sanburn, got married tonight in Natchez, Ms. My Dad LOVES Ronald. Ha. So we had to get there early and my dad was just so excited. It was THE shortest wedding i have ever been to. Literally the ceremony lasted least than 10 mins. It was so fun. The Sanburn family is the funniest family i know. One of the girls played softball with Em and Steph. And her lil brother was always that mean lil boy that would throw dirt on me and chase me around the ball park. Ha. Anyway. He is all grown up now. In high school. And sweet. I couldn't believe it was him. Their parents, though, are hilarious. Of course i spent half the night on the dance floor. And Ronald and all his groomsmen graduated with Steph. So i've known these guys forever. So it was fun to dance with all them. AND. get this. My dad is a dancing machine!!!!! I mean... i LOVE to dance. But i always thought i got that from my mom. She loves music and is always snapping and bobbing her head. ha. BUT. Tonight.  My mind was changed. Im pretty sure i get it from my daddy. ha. He two stepped with me, and free styled. Tonight will be one of my favorite memories with my dad. While we were dancing he said when he was about my age he won a dance contest in shreveport. ha. Isn't that funny? I never knew my dad liked to dance so much. I would see him dance here and there with my mom. but never freestyle like tonight.  It was so AMAZING.

I thought maybe we would be at the wedding for a whole two hours. 3 the most. but. Nope. We were there for 4 hours. haha. But. By the time we left, my dad was a lil chatter box. So. On the way home he was just a talking. Non stop. I mean. If ya know me, you know i'm a pretty emotional person. Like with my excitement, and i cry. Often. ha. Anyway. The things my dad was saying just made me start crying. Ha. i feel silly. But. He was just saying things like, he has enjoyed me working with him the past few weeks. And he said, "its more like a bonding time, than a working time." WOW. AH. It was just great to hear my dad say these things. And how he was so glad i came with them tonight. And that he liked my dance moves. haha. The Lord is really changing and working with my relationship with my dad. And friends. Its just so overwhelming seeing the Lord work. Thats why i'm so emotional with all this with my dad. When my dad was talking about us bonding with work and stuff, he brought up a time when i was in elementary school, and i would go hunting and fishing with my dad ALL THE TIME. Then i got in jr high, and cheerleading, and so on and i didn't really like it anymore. I realize now, my dad prolly thought i didn't like him anymore. i can honestly say, that was prolly the last time i have spent so much time with him. I really love my dad. OH. And another thing he said, was that he enjoyed bonding with all his girls, and especially me, because we're so much alike. Ah. I am just so thankful. So full of joy. He also told me that i have been doing an excellent job the past few weeks. ha. I don't even think i've been doing anything. haha. Yall. i'm laughing, crying right now. hahaha. Yall would be laughing at me if yall saw me. The past few times i've been blogging, i've just been crying as i type. haha. And every time someone has seen me, and they think something is wrong, and then i get to share my joy with them! Its just so good.

Its crazy to see how much things have changed the past month that i've been home. How much i've changed. One thing. Each day is just so special. The things of the day are never the same. Every day since i've been home the Lord has done something crazy. And just like today, it happened at a wedding. Friends. Pray it keeps changing. Pray that Em and I can be selfless to each other.

And. Pray for Ronald and Adrin. I want the best for them. Doesn't everyone want the best for everyone. Anyway. Pray they love each other. Love from the Lord covers them. And. TOmorrow is Easter!