following grace

when i was a little girl and me and my daddy would ride in the car together we used to always listen to the country station. my daddy loves some country music. everytime we would get into the car it was just known that a song would play.. "dont blink, cuz just like that your babies grow up just like mine did, you wake up and their 25"   i just to laugh so hard and think, i'll stay little forever. i'll never be old. just a little girl, careless little daddy's girl. and now all around me i'm reminded, i can't stay little. the time of being carefree is long gone. i have bills to pay, a future to plan and things i'm responsible for. a senior in high school. i've waited for this for my entire life, and here i am. in the blink of an eye it will be gone. i will be walking the isle, and chasing children around the house. i will have a job and mouths to feed. bills to pay, and needing a girls day. as i s...

this morning as i woke up and rolled right into the living room to watch the Thanksgiving Parade with my sissy.. I just started to ponder upon all the things I'm thankful for.   these past months i have more than i could ever imagine to be thankful for. and then there's my mother who's birthday is on Monday, and has raised me for 17 years. the food I've been blessed to eat every day. My sweet cousins that i love so dearly. the joy that I have come to know from the Father.   My camera and its awesome quality. (sometimes) Precious moments talking about Jesus and what he did for us with my sweet girl. The beautiful nature and creation that God has supplied for us to see everyday. I just love the beautiful leaves this time of year. My family, who were all able to join us today at my house for a meal around the table. From 80 something to 8 years old. People take it for granted, but when for 6 years we had to travel 4 ...

lately, God has been so so gracious.   cutting out turkeys for a thanksgiving craft for my kinders the other day, i was offered the job of my dreams. after being so prayerful recently and almost giving up, he supplied in abundance.   and today as i sat at my newly appointed desk answering phones as the school's new receptionist and reading books to sick babies, my mom called. What i thought was just a "hey how's your day going, do you need anything" turned out to be the news i've been waiting on for WEEKS. I had been accepted to my FIRST college! Hallelujah!   I serve a mighty God. He is always there, like a cushion just bouncing me right back up when i fall down through the cracks.   How precious he is to me. -Austyn

My whole life since i can remember, has been in a relationship with Jesus.   From the smallest of smalls i was in Sunday school, singing and dancing and watching Veggie Tales. at a very young age, i accepted Christ. I've lived my whole life in church, doing things with other believers and in fellowship with people who adore Jesus.   But the whole time i always felt like i was missing something. God is so good to us, but i think some of us just miss out.   We're fans, and not followers. We sit in the stands and know about Jesus, but we don't KNOW him.   I'm not sure about y'all but thats not good enough for me. Over the summer some tragic events took place that really just landed me on my face in prayer. I fell before the Lord and just gave it all to him. I started christian school and i really just began to seek him out and follow him. No one promised the road to be easy, it never has been but its so worth it. He put his LIFE on the line s...

That means the world to me... Adoption. My life just simply would be a different story without it. One word that has SO much impact on my heart. One word that brought this crazy wild indian to my little corner of the universe.   that brought joy to him but even greater joy to his forever family! another precious boy to call me sissy. to make me laugh so hard i can't breathe. and to know and thank the King of Kings, who rescued him and has such a perfect plan for his little life.   One word that has impacted millions and millions of children, who were once orphans.   Adoption. that one word that means the world.   Happy National Adoption Day!   -Austyn :)

I love fall! And letting my brothers destroy pumpkins in the front yard! Even if i don't post the pictures until 3 weeks later! ;) Happy Saturday! -Austyn

A few weeks ago i had such an awesome oppurtunity to go to TN for an amazing conference, in which my own youth pastor will be leading in the Spring in SC. We started off our weekend with a LONG trip late into the night and getting in the hotel at 1am after the 1st session and our pizza dinner.  The next morning we got up bright and early to have a delightful breakfast. The Log Cabin is definitely a MUST by me! It was so cute and quaint and had FABULOUS food! Downtown Gatlinburg was just so precious. Exactly like where i want to live one day. There was so much going on, and people everywhere! That morning after walking around and having breakfast we went to hear Clayton King speak. He was incredible!! After our morning session we did some more shopping.. and packed up our things at the Four Seasons Motor Lodge! What a fabulous group of shoppers we had! That afternoon we had more worship and a concert from Casting Crown...