following grace

I think there should be a law, not allowing birthdays to those that just make us feel old. This precious blond headed princess, is turning the BIG 1-5 today. Seriously though? Where did the time go?       I adore this precious girl, and Im not afraid to admit sometimes i just wish we were still this {cute} and little. i miss the days where riding scooters in the dark was the joy in spending the night at grammy's house. This girl has changed me from the inside out. she gave me the title: Big Sister. and gosh do i accept it proudly. she has taught me what it means to share. ya know, when you go into your closet and your favorite dress is missing and you know exactly where you will find it, but instead you just let her have it because one day that wont be a problem.   she's taught me what it means to laugh. she's so spontaneous and always up for an adventure. she still at 15 crawls in my bed sometimes to just let...

Was it love at first sight? Did you dive right in and do everything together? Did you talk late at night? Write letters? Im not quite sure what kind of love you're thinking about, but I am talking about the one true KING. Did you just fall in love with the thought of him, what he did for you, do you talk to him, and read his love letters? You've never glimpsed Love, until you've seen HIS kind of love. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-8QdOxzh5Y&feature=share There are no words I can say. I hope the tears are pooring and you're broken. He loved you THAT much. He suffered. He took all that pain for YOU. Because he Loves. If someone took a bullet for you, you'd do ANYthing to repay them and thank them. Yet, our God took HELL from us, he Saved us from HELL and we dont care in the slightest nor do we even try to thank him. This is christianity. The love of the Father, and our complete, daily surrender to him and his will for our lives. -Austyn

the one who's always.. up for an adventure. or a late night Starbucks run. who's always supportive in every way. up for 5am beach walks to watch the sunrise. and who is forever on a roadtrip to make those she loves, know theyre loved. Happy birthday to the Crazy Chick I call my Aunt Too Too. Hope your day is fabulous, just like you! :) -Austyn :)

Lately, I've really been focusing on what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. not just to say you're a christian, but to truly BE a christian.   This week, with my two friends I began to glimpse. One of my sweet friends truly showed me what it meant to BE like Jesus. She didnt even try, yet she always reminded me. She was so innocent, and sheltered, but she didnt mind.   With each meal, she would pray and thank God for anything and everything. With every second she was gracious. With every spare moment you could find her with her bible, reading like there was no tommorow and like she had caught hand on the greatest gift alive. While making her meals, she would sit at the table to search the pages for her next chapter in between the beeps of the oven. When the TV was on, she wanted to be watching the Bible series, or an innocent 80's cartoon. With every chick flick, she would turn at the sight of a homosexual and wanted no part in premarital s...

6 days of no service, no wifi, temperature in the 50's and nearest town 30 minutes away? You would of thought we'd have died.   From the moment we started to pack we were giddy with excitement. We all loaded up after church and jumped in the truck, crammed like sardines and totally laughing at the amount of "stuff" we'd brought for only a week. You wouldve thought we were moving in, but with college around the corner, i feel like everywhere I go I'm moving in.   We arrived, ate dinner and watched a few shoes before calling it a night but the next morning was fast to the fun.   While the girls slept in, I jumped up and went for a run just as the sun was coming up, and I dont think I've ever seen anything more heavenly. Even the neighborhood dogs joined me in my glorious event. {although probably not that glorious from their view, Yikes} Coming home to the smells of breakfast and going outside and cracking open the word of the Creator, was s...

Is this really possible? Senior year is FLYING by! Its MARCH, and us Seniors are counting down the days. Tommorow is Senior trip and then Spring break and then, its time. We're all excited, but the moment we start getting real we wanna cry. It's just an emotional subject. ;)   The journey to pick a college has been such a trying, testing, and often times emotional wrecking experience. For so long I had my heart set on a certain school, and prayed that God would close the door if that wasn't meant to be. He quickly asserted that indeed that was not where he had planned. After months and months of trusting, he FINALLY opened the doors and led me to a wonderful wonderful school.   and last weekend me and my dear friend headed up together to check our new Home away from Home. and being reunited with my precious friend from my old school, was too great for words. So happy to have her next year as a possible room mate, and lear...