"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him..."

Well, it's been three months since I last posted, but I've been putting it off because this is the post that's been coming for about eight years (although, I wasn't blogging eight years ago... oh well). Here it FINALLY is:

Since I was ten years old, my family has wanted to move out to the country. It's not that we didn't like our house in the neighborhood, it's just that all of us love the country. (: We had our house on the market on and off for eight years. Man, I won't be disappointed if I never have to prepare for an open house again! (; Haha, nah, it's not that bad, but trying to sell a house can be a lot of work.

In October, we had a couple come to look at our house. We've gone through the whole 'showing the house' process MANY times, and nothing ever came of it, so we weren't too excited. Well, the next thing we knew, they wanted to move in--in two weeks. We frantically searched for a house to move to (we were looking in the same general area), but nothing was going well. After a couple fall-throughs, we ended up moving in with family friends from our church for six weeks. Then, finally, the day after I turned 18, God brought us to the place we've been praying for for so long...

(It's not really that big, the back half is the garage... (: )

I couldn't be more thankful for being out here. Almost every day I wake up and ask myself if it's really real! I think God's greatest message to me in all of this is this:

He hears every prayer. Never stop praying because He doesn't answer right away. He may be just waiting for the perfect time...

I've learned so much about..well..everything in the past couple months. God is so good. I haven't taken many pictures since December, but here are some more:

Guest house

Pond...obviously..(:

Barn

One thing remains.

We live in a world of uncertainty and insanity. Nothing stays the same.

Think about it. In a moment, your life could be turned upside down. You don't know if your house will be destroyed, if someone you love will be taken away from you, or if all your plans will come tumbling to the ground. You just don't know.

Whether something huge like that happens to you or not, I can guarantee that there WILL be change in your life. Change is uncomfortable. Change requires you to let go of things and to get used to something different for awhile. Change requires you to step out of your comfort zone.

When things change, we automatically look for something to hold onto. But what are you going to do if there's nothing to hold onto? Where are you gonna go? We look for something to grip, but when we turn our back, that thing or person is ripped out of our hands like everything else.

There's only ONE THING that will NEVER change, and that's Jesus. When everything in your life is spinning out of control, Jesus will be the one thing you can hold onto. He's the one thing that won't leave; the one thing that can't be destroyed. His love NEVER FAILS. Hold on to Him. Spend time with Him. Let His love wash over you and fill you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_KXsMCJgBQ

(I couldn't get it to link to here, but seriously, go to this. Definitely one of my favorites.)

This is not our home(:

There's so much to think about. Life is insane--and so uncertain. Our house recently sold, and we have to be out in 2 weeks...and we don't have a house to buy! Where are we going to live? What should I do next year as far as school? What about after that? Every day I face so many choices, as does everyone!

It doesn't matter. Well, okay, it matters. It matters a lot. Because we are HERE to glorify God. There's a lot of decisions that don't glorify Him, and a lot that do! The only way we can know is by reading His Word. But, if we're living for Jesus, glorifying Him and setting His example in everything, keeping our focus on Him in every minute of ever day, it really doesn't matter what we do. We're only going to be here for a little while. If we suffer, it's okay. And we WILL suffer. Still, it's only for a little while. We can take ANYTHING for this short time that we're here, because we're longing for something so much greater...and it's so real.

One day...we'll spend our days on acres and acres of beautiful, rolling hills. We'll live in a mansion. There'll be crystal clear streams bubbling with the clearest, purest water you'll ever taste. There'll be no more missing people. We'll get to spend every day with them. There will be no more of that painful, longing for more of Jesus, because we'll have Him. We'll be basking in His presence. And you know that music that just hits you hard? You think it's the most beautiful worship music you've ever heard, and it takes you right to the throne of God? We'll be a part of that music- x 98234745679834. There'll be no more pain. No more heartache. We'll be able to give the most amazing, long hugs in heaven. We'll be able to dance more beautifully than we've ever even seen here. Our bodies will be perfect. We'll spend our days running, basking in the perfect love of God, loving others, having bonfires, walking through the woods, swimming in the lake, being in fellowship with ALL believers and with God...

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

We can take anything here, because it's for such a short while. Never lose heart. <3

I wanna run on greener pastures

I wanna dance on higher hills

I wanna drink from sweeter waters

In the misty morning chill

My soul is getting restless for the place where I belong

I can't wait to join the angels and sing

My heaven song

Seth saying AWANA verses- 1 "Acrimpians" 15:4

Still alive!

Yep, I'm still here(:

Well, school has started and fall is definitely in full swing. I'm still missing summer! Fall's beautiful too, though. Andi and I went out and took advantage of the beautiful day today(:

Some things the past few weeks have included:

*Harvesting honey

Our hives did really well this year and we got buckets and buckets of honey and comb! Mmmm. It really does make your teeth whiter, too. I'm tellin ya.

*Hunting

Last Friday night I was sitting at the kitchen table doing Physics like a good little girl....until Elaina excitedly ran through the door announcing that she shot a deer. Turns out she got TWO. I spent the next 6 hours tracking blood trails through the woods in the dark, hauling deer, and chopping and packaging meat. Kinda gross, but hey, now I've got deer, rabbits, and fish down! I should go into business! Ew. no. haha We have a ton of venison now though, which is delicious! Getting to bed exhausted at 2a was worth it.(:

*HPA

This year Andrea and I decided to audition for Homeschool Performing Arts' production of Wizard of Oz. We started rehearsals last Friday. I think this year's going to be an absolute blast! I'm really looking forward to learning a lot, making and building friendships with the incredible cast, and getting closer to God through it!

*Davis Harvest Party!

One of the highlights of the year...definitely a highlight of fall!

Life is great.(: We kinda have a shortage of pictures lately... we haven't been taking many so I really don't have any for any of those things! ^ Sorry! But hey, I posted.(:

Up north Michigan! Cottage 2011(:

We've been going up to this cottage with our Godfamily (don't ask) for the last 15 years. This year was the best yet in my opinion!

Chester kids on a Lake Michigan beach

We saw so many beautiful places up there! It really makes you awed at God's imagination, creativity, and power!

Rest stop on the way there! It took us 3 hours and 59 minutes to get there--I think that's a record! But... it took us about 5 hours to get home! With getting lost, lots of stops, and the dog getting sick, it was a much longer ride. :P Definitely worth it to spend a few days at the cottage with some of our favorite people, though!

Rest stop again!

Love this kid(:

Steel drum band on Lake Michigan! This was one of the coolest parts of the trip! A bunch of kids banging on steel barrels to put it simply. It was SO AMAZING!

Farmer's market! The kids got to be part of the band for a bit! (:

Fishing at the cottage on our small lake. We caught a lot of perch and catfish! I also learned to clean fish this weekend. Yummy!

Tractor ride! What a cool family we are(: haha

Andi, Luke and I in the lake.

I'm so thankful for my amazing Godfamily. <3 We have such a blast with them every time. Riding waves in Lake Michigan, singing country at the top of our lungs, fishing, going to Narnia (;, hiking in the woods, walking around downtown.. these guys are great.

August 2011 has been one of the best months of my life! Life is what you make it, ya know? If you wanna make it great, it will be. So put on a smile and be happy you're alive! God is so good to us(:

::Fair week 2011-best week of the summer::

Ready for some pictures?! Here goes!

Fair was definitely the best week of the summer so far. It's been less than a week, and we're already counting down until next year. It's so rewarding working with the animals and doing projects all summer, then being able to take them to the fair!

Sisters! I think this was the first day of fair (Sunday) after we brought the sheep in.

These pictures aren't in the right order, but this is Elaina showing her rabbit on Monday morning.

Abbi! Miss you, fair buddy! It's so much fun getting to spend the week with all these fantastic 4H kids! The only problem is, you really miss them a week later... ): This was Friday night (before bringing the animals in) while we waited for HOURS (literally) for the food judges.

The good news is...Elaina got a best of show on her U.S.A. cake! Isn't it pretty? Andrea and I decided to skip the stress of baking all day Friday to do foods. It felt great to be able to just hang out at the fair and spend the day Friday getting other things ready instead of rushing around making food!

5-8 year olds on Saturday night. Ian showed his rabbit and his glass painting. He was a lot more confident about talking to the judge this year!

Sheep buddies! Love these girls(:

Showing sheep on Monday

Elaina got 2nd place in sheep showmanship for her age division, so she got to be a part of Little International! For that, she had to learn to show all of the large animals (steer, dairy feeder, pigs, goats, horses and sheep). Go little sis! (:

Practicing a few days before

Little I on Friday night. She didn't place, but she sure had fun!

Well, that wasn't very organized, so I'll go ahead and write just a little from each day:

Friday, July 29

Foods in the evening and setting up the camper

Saturday, July 30

5-8 year-olds and turning in projects (all I did this year was glass painting, stencil on wood, and metal punch...ah that felt good!)

Sunday, July 31

Brought the sheep and rabbits in

Monday, August 1

Sheep showing! This was one of the most fun days. It's always a little nerve racking before you start, but then once you get in the ring, you want to keep going back!

Tuesday, August 2

Just hung out at the fair... I love doing that(: Fair is one of my favorite places in the world!

Wednesday, August 3

Rabbit showmanship

Cheering on Elaina! I decided not to do a rabbit this year, either. It was nice not having to sit there all morning showing rabbits, but I decided that I might raise meat rabbits again next year and just skip showmanship (that's the worst part...).

Thursday, August4

Large animal auction

Friday, August 5

Hung out at the fair in the morning, then left in the afternoon for HPA (Homeschool Performing Arts for those of you who don't know) auditions. That was... something.. haha. Then on Friday night we got to ride rides at the fair and watch Little I (part of it!)!

Saturday, August 6

Last day): Andi and I had to leave early to work at a wedding. It was..well.. a really sad morning!

I'm not really missing the sheep (yet), but I do miss all the fun times we had with them this summer! And of course I miss fair... the amazing people there and just being there having a blast! Please come quickly, fair 2012! I'm hoping to do SOME kind of cow next year (most likely a dairy feeder), sheep again, and maybe rabbits... we'll see! I can't wait to get next year's animals and get started!

::It's a great day to be alive!::