Life has been busy....

We finished school, packed up and came home. 

The first obstacle was to get everything in the car, but we managed. 

We spent a day at Gramp's...

and helped him plant his garden. Boy, was it muddy. This picture cracked me up, because it looks like someone is being a lazy bum.

Well, long story short we finally made it home. I thought it was going to be a nice relaxing week...but that was a joke. It has been go, go, go all week. The best part of the week was STRAWBERRIES!!! I love strawberries.

I think we picked close to 23 pounds of them. Yumm.....

Then this weekend we were off again. This time for Mike and Stacey's wedding. (For those who don't know, Michael is my cousin.)

Most of the good pics weren't taken with my camera, but here is just a few from the day.

This is Pretty Place, where the wedding took place. The view was amazing.

Exchanging of the vows

This was later at the reception. It was at an old mansion, which was absolutely gorgeous.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rostek cutting the cake. 

Mike and Stacey were doing a nice slow dance. I had been trying to get pics of them, but none were turning out. I thought I was going to get a good one when all of the sudden Mike flips her up in the air and they go into swing dancing. The result was this picture, lol. They did an awesome job. Mike was flipping her all over the place. I got a video but xanga wouldn't let me upload it.

Everyone outside waiting for the bride and groom.

I thought this was a cool idea. Instead of a guest book, everyone signed this.

A couple of random pictures..

Mom, Dad and I at the rehearsal dinner

Grandpa and his girls

Well, that's all for now. The rest of the weekend hopefully will be spent relaxing. After that it is off to Nashville for a week and finally back home. I

 Ahhhhh!!!!!! Today my little brother is turning 16!!!

(Jared you make me feel old)

So bestest brother ever, hope you're having the bestest birthday ever!

Yep, life would just not be the same without you.

You're always good for a laugh.

See, what did I tell ya

You're always good for a lift, (especially if it's to show how much stronger you are than us now).

Good thing Mom wasn't around for this one. I think this was the orange juice you had for breakfast isn't it. (Oops, did I let out your secret?)

Ya, you're good for getting slugged with balls too.

You're even handy to have around sometimes

What I really wanted was to post a picture to prove you used to be a lot smaller than me, but I don't have one with me.  So, I guess I'll just have to show everyone how tall you are instead. 

Yep, life just wouldn't be the same without you my little bro.

So....

Happy Birthday to the Bestest, Little, Big Brother ever!!!!

Just two weeks left and my living in Wisconsin days are over....at least for now. (I won't say I'll never live here again because then I probably will ) I can't believe how fast this school year has gone. Just two weeks and then begins a new chapter in my life.

Tomorrow is our last day to work at the Washington House Inn. Today they had a little goodbye party for us.   Two of the ladies (who didn't actually work today) made a special lunch and brought it in just for us. We came down with our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in hand only to find the ladies waiting for us with a lovely decorated table filled with good things to eat. It was special.  We have some awesome coworkers!

It was weird saying goodbye to the ladies today (the ones who won't be there tomorrow).  Most of the time if I have to say goodbye to someone it doesn't bother me too much. I don't like it at the moment and sure it can be sad, but when I know they are saved I know I'll see them again, if not here then in heaven. There is a comfort in that. It's sort of odd to say goodbye to someone that you care about knowing that they aren't saved. At least as of right now, I will never see the ladies I have worked with for the past 9 months ever again. I know this sounds very melodramatic, but it's just something I've been thinking about since I got home this afternoon. We got some pictures today, which I'm glad.  It will help me to remember to pray for them. We have had the opportunity to witness to almost everyone at work in some way or another. I know I can't worry that I didn't do more. All I can do is to put it in God's hands and let Him do the work. Since it's His work anyway, I guess that's the best thing to do.

Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says - "I cannot stand any more." God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him.

Oswald Chambers

Do you ever feel like God is not really listening when you talk to Him? Do you ever feel like He's not taking care of your needs or problems the way you think He should?  I know I feel like that once in a while, heh, or sometimes more often than that. Not that I think He's not there or doesn't care. I guess when things aren't going the way I wish they would I start wondering.  I guess I don't have very much faith sometimes.  Anyway...a couple of verses that I like a lot I've been pondering since last night.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:26-28

The whole passage to the end of the chapter is really awesome, but these are the verses that have been on my mind.  God not only cares and listens to our prayers, but knows us better than we know ourselves and is working things out for us according to His will.  And to think that the Spirit is interceding for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.  In some ways it's almost too much to comprehend.  What an amazing, loving God we have.