Dreamy, Collection, Freedom, Relaxing, & Yellow

Alright, its been a few days since I've updated the blog. I promise that I've taken pictures, though! Since we've gotten back from camp I've been trying to unpack, straighten up, and get back on a normal sleep schedule. That's my excuse for not postinf... I know, it's lame!

Anyway, the first picture's theme is Dreamy. While we were at camp we were served a deliciously dreamy smores camp. It consisted of chocolate cake baked on a layer of graham cracker crumbs and topped with marshmallow drizzle. Yum.

The second picture is of a collection. I thought that I would show you my necklace collection. I store my necklaces next to my bathroom door (in my bedroom) and I use oversized blue and white push pins. A few months ago I decided that the push pins weren't cutting it for me, so I spiced it up with some paint chips! Super cute!

The third picture theme is Freedom. I had some trouble with this one but soon realized that it was right in front of me. As you may remember from a previous post, I'm reading Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. The book is about a young woman who decides to leave her comfortable life and live in Africa. My description does the book no justice, so go read it! Anyway, I've realized over my mere 15 years that freedom comes from serving. Katie Davis sure knows freedom! It's a great read!

I also had some trouble with the photo challenge of Relaxing. Don't get me wrong. I relax a lot more than others, but the past couple days I feel like I've always been doing something. My mom walked into her bathroom today and found this picture of our cat, Nelson, napping in her sink. He's been in there all day! He's so crazy...

The last picture for today is themed around Yellow. A portion of my books (all of the novels) are color coordinated, yes you can shake your head at me now. I don't have a ton of yellow books, but the few I do have are awesome!!

I've been participating in White Peach Blog's Photo a Day challenge, which you can find at her blog. You can also look at my original post on the subject here.

Awkward & Behind You

Hey guys - its 20 of 1am Thursday night/Friday morning. The past two days at camp have been awesome!! We've sang great songs, heard great sermons, danced like no one was around, and played some intense night games. Camp is crazy. End of discussion. Just kidding! :) At the craft shack we made ninja stars and magnet boards yesterday and today. Mid-morning there is a chunk of time set aside for two 45 minute class sessions. During that time, I have no responsibilities. So yesterday I found myself downloading and playing Oregon Trail for a while. That was interesting yet awkward. At night, after dinner we have small groups. There are around 7 kids in each group + 1 leader + 1 teacher. The leader is the same everynight. Their main responsibilities are relating with the kids, building relationships, and making sure they pay attention. The teachers go to a different group each night and teach. For example, I am a leader. My group meets in.Chapel in the Pines. My mother is a teacher. She's been to a group at the beach, chapel in the pines, etc. The second shot is a picture of 'Behind Me'.You can see the three crosses that act as a gorgeous backdrop for whoever may be speaking. Well, its 1am now and my eyelids are drooping. I'll leave you with the two pictures! I've been participating in White Peach Blog's Photo a Day challenge, which you can find at her blog. You can also look at my original post on the subject here.

Sparkling

Hey guys - Im trying to think back on my day at camp. But, this morning seems so long ago! Anyway, this morning I helped the lovely Rachel with her class. We led the group of kids on a bible scavenger hunt all around camp. It was fun, but oh so exhausting! Tonight, I helped out in the kitchen. One of the staff was sick last night so we're trying to make her rest. At small groups we talked about service, it was awesome! The photo challenge for today is Sparkling. Do you know how hard it is to find something sparkling at camp!!?? Yesterday at the craft shack we made these super cute bracelets that I'm sporting today... Take a look! I've been participating in White Peach Blog's Photo a Day challenge, which you can find at her blog. You can also look at my original post on the subject here.

Home[town] and Change

Hey guys - so yesterday's photo challenge was called Hometown. But, my mother and I are volunteering at a local camp this week which is why O have a picture of the camper we're staying in. We'll be leading crafts, teaching a class, and helping with small groups. Keep us, the campers, and the camp in your prayers this week as we strive to share God's love.

Today's challenge is called Change. I was reading a book and trying to think of how I could photograph change for you. Then it hit me. You'll remember a few days ago I was reading Under the Overpass and drinking hot coffee (you can find that post here). Well, today I am reading Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis and drinking a yummy french vanilla iced coffee from Wawa. So that's my change. Home life to camp life. :)

Twisted

Hey guys- today started off eh. I tried to pack for camp this coming week, but soon found that I only had 2 pairs of shorts! Not good. We ran out for a few last minute things, including shorts, and came back home to finish packing. I've packed and moved on to making some delicious cookies! Some family friends are here to swim and now I'm here writing to you.

The photo theme for today is Twisted. I can't tell you how difficult this was. I thought I could braid my sisters hair, but she hates having it braided. I could take a picture of pretzels twists, but we never get pretzels and today wasn't an exception. I had thought after thought but nothing worked.

So, I bring you some leftover streamers. A few weeks ago you may or may not have seen a picture of a Disney movie night my friends and I had, I don't remember if we posted about it. Anyway, we had a movie night featuring The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo. A week or two after that, my little sister turned 8 and we had a blue and green themes party for her. Because of this, the streamers stayed up and are here to this day.

I've been participating in White Peach Blog's Photo a Day challenge, which you can find at her blog. You can also look at my original post on the subject here.

Round

Today was a very task-oriented day in our household. In a few days my mom and I will be leaving to help out at a camp our church is oriented with, so we've been cleaning the house and getting some last minute things done. First thing in the morning I baked up some delicious chocolate chip cookies for a friend. While waiting for the cookies to bake and cool, I drank a delicious cup of coffee and read a super awesome book that I received and started reading yesterday.

The book is called Under the Overpass and is written by Mike Yancoski. Mike felt an impression from God to go and experience homelessness. After a lot of prayer he found a friend to go on this journey with him. Over the course of 5 months Mike and his friend, Sam, lived in 6 different American cities with nothing more than a backpack full of simple things (a sweatshirt, sleeping bag, duct tape, etc.) and the clothes on their backs.

I finished the book this morning and my final thoughts are that it's a great book that will cause you to examine your faith and you will never looked at the homeless the same. Check it out!

I've been participating in White Peach Blog's Photo a Day challenge, which you can find at her blog. You can also look at my original post on the subject here.

On the Road

Today some people from my youth group, my mom, and I helped to run a quarterly widows tea that our church coordinates. Earlier in the day I asked for you to pray that the youth and women would have open hearts and minds to listen and share. I can come back now and say that it was great! There was tons of laughter and some really great memories were shared.

Today's photo-a-day theme was 'On the Road'. I had some trouble with this one. We live in the middle of nowhere which means that all there is to photograph is corn or grass. So here you have it! A slightly altered picture of some pretty grass. :)

I've been participating in White Peach Blog's Photo a Day challenge, which you can find at her blog. You can also look at my original post on the subject here.

Fresh

Hey friends - so yesterday was my first day of photo-a-day August (I'm still trying to think of a quirky name.. leave suggestions in the comments). Yesterday's theme was 'Fresh' and I captured this delicious picture of some 100 fruit kabobs I and a friend put together.

Our church puts on a widows' tea every once in awhile and this time the youth group has the chance to help run the tea. Im on the way to the tea right now, pray that the women's and the youth's hearts and ears will be opened to listening and sharing.

I've been participating in White Peach Blog's Photo a Day challenge, which you can find at her blog. You can also look at my original post on the subject here.

The Non-photographer

Hey friends - I feel as if I start every post saying 'it's been way too long' but really, it has! I apologize for my absence, I haven't been feeling inspired at all. My life has mainly consisted of cleaning up my room and going through closets, drawers, etc. I've decided to change this! As some of you may have noticed, I don't post very many pictures. To be honest, I hate taking pictures. So much. But, in order to try and get out of my lack-of-creativity ditch, I've decided to participate in a photo-a-day challenge starting in August!! You can find the list I'm using here. I'm going to try to post my pictures everyday, but if that doesn't happen... you can expect them a day or two late! Here's the list... feel free to join in!



- Jessica