Andrewism #25

"Did that just happen or was that just a fragment of my imagination?"
Translation: Figment of my imagination
Best Part: I can just imagine a small, chipped piece of Andrew's imagination floating around in his mind wreaking havoc on his poor thought process, causing all of these Andrewisms.

Election Day Graphs

I voted! Only took 1.5 hours of my morning. 

Family Reunion #1

Catch up time.

We headed to Tennessee in June for a family reunion.

We all stayed in cabins in the Smokies, and it was the best time.

I love my family, and I am so grateful everyone could make it! We relaxed, played games, went tubing, checked out the National Park and Cade's Cove, ate at the Apple Barn (twice!), go-karted, bungee-jumped (well, some of us did), Andrew golfed, and we left full to the brim with memories and bonding moments.

I love this picture of my siblings and my parents.

Look at this little muffin teaching us how to say "Macaroni."

Here's Chrissy bungee-jumping. Her leg kicks are killin' me.

We had the best time and we can't wait till the next reunion!

Thoughts on Faith

When we were in Tennessee (the week after I lost my job), my dad said, "I have a feeling that something really great is going to happen. This is gonna be a good thing."

My mind thinks back on that now, and all the times I thought about what he said during the job hunt. Man, I wanted to believe him, but there were times when I just had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. And it made me wonder how anything good COULD happen for me if I didn't even know WHAT would be good for me. 

And now I have an awesome job. And it pays me just the right amount. And I only work 30 hours each week. And I have a part time job on the side working for a charity organization. I'm really happy with my job, which honestly, I never have been before! (Now that I know what it feels like to love your job.)

So NOW I believe my dad. He was right. I wish I could tell my doubtful self 2 and 3 months ago that he was right. 

Our Heavenly Father knows this about each of our lives. He knows that great things are in store. He knows that things will work out. He wants us to have faith in Him, to trust in Him. How easy it is to have faith after we know the end of the story. The challenge is to strengthen our faith when we are in the midst of a trial, no matter how large or how small. So 2 and 3 months ago, when I didn't know what would happen for me, for us, I needed to strengthen my faith. Trust in the Lord. Because that's how we grow closer to our Father in Heaven--we look to him for guidance and comfort when we aren't sure where to turn. Then, when the skies brighten and the sun comes out again, we walk hand in hand with the Lord and thank Him for helping us through.

I'm recording this to remind me what to do the next time I'm faced with a challenge I don't think I can handle: trust in the Lord, maintain my perspective on life, and remember that something really great is going to happen.