goodbyes

What a week it has been! I mentioned earlier that this week we've been celebrating my birthday (yes.. a whole week. everyone should do it!) .. The fact that my birthday just happened to be the day before I leave the countRy has allowed me the opportunity to say goodbyes to a lot of people in person. It's going to be 6 long weeks without some of these folks.


{Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me with community and for surrounding me with people with people that selflessly serve and love me.}


One goodbye was a little more sad than the rest.. sweet Courtney is giving birth TOMORROW and I'll miss the special day. Not to mention that I won't get to meet the sweet baby until
AUGUST! UGHHHHHHH!! Here is Courtney ready to POP:

Court and Matt, you will make WONDERFUL parents. I pray that you experience the Lord in a new way as you cherish your little gift from Him. I can't wait to watch you love her and raise her to be as fabulous as you guys. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA KATHERINE, I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!

on another note.. we cooked out at my house.. and well, i just really love my family and friends. Our Small town, a grill, an Alabama summer night, and those you love.. I mean does it really get better? Well.. kinda it does... it'd be better if I could take all that with me to Africa.. Oh well! Here are some pics from the night :

i just love them:

this is the most accurate picture of what we did all night: SWATTED BUGS!

im gonna miss you guys. be ready for me August 12th.

catch up

Lets just get right to the point... I'm a HORRIBLE blogger. I have the best of intentions, but it just never gets done. I would say I'm going to try and do better, but.. well, I always say that. I do WANT to do better, but life (and my lack of patience and discipline) doesn't always allow for it. But anyways, here we go..


Life has been crazy. I just moved out of my college apartment and I'm still puzzled at how I got all that crap in that tiny little space. I swear I have never seen so much junk.


I've also been running around like a chicken with my head cut off getting ready to leave for Africa.. only 2 days :). With all that has had to be done, I don't feel like I've had much time to get excited.. but I am SO ready to be back there. I can't wait to see what the Lord does... AHHH!


I'll be blogging tomorrow with updates on how you guys can pray and with some more specific stories of things that have been going on. The Lord has been really gracious and I can't wait to share.

here are some pictures from my week/weekend.

(did I mention today was my birfffday? It is. I'm 23. OLD HAG.)

the GINORMOUS cookie cake (you want a slice or 2.. or 8.. we have PLENTY left)

did I mention that my big bro rolled into town for the weekend? He did.. popped collar, sunglasses, and all. I love him!

my aunt cathee (she's crazy and deserves an entire other blog post.. one day i'll do it) gave me these "goodies" for my birthday. she's terribly frightened of all the cooties in Africa.

i'll be a better blogger tomorrow. im tired. being the birthday girl is a hard job.

meet my valentine..

yea thats right.

KEITH URBAN!!!!!

whatttttt! and yes.. we were that close to him. ohwamyagawsh. im still crazy excited. what a funnnnnnnn night. (so many funny stories. haha. i am laughing just thinking about them. thanks to william and katlin for being amazing, trusty men and helping us get out of the ghetto in huntsville.. ahh) i mean who cares if we did have to drive 4 hours and then drive 4 hours back at 12:00 a.m. yea..) SO WORTH EVERY PENNY and every minute of time. i had such a great Valentines (p.s: thanks to everyone who got me goodies and for all the stuff I had when I got home.. i just love it. love it love it love it. LOVE is what you guys are to me.. EVERYDAY!) ahhhh! ok. im going back to sleep. we got in bed around 3 a.m. so im really really tired.

sorry these pictures aren't that clear.. somethings wrong with my camera! bah. these definitely dont do him justice!

clap your hands, stomp your feet, lets all get funky to the birthday beat...

I LOVE THIS KID! and guess what, today is his BIRFFFDAY! whhhhhat! He is probably one of my favorite people in this WORLD.. i mean really, i'm not sure guy friends come much better than William. Oh William Parks, you are wonderful. What did we all do to deserve you? ha! you make life so fun! I'm so thankful for your friendship... You are man of integrity, and behold character that every man should imitate. I feel blessed to be called your friend! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

on another note: i went to my referral doctor today about the "sist" they found on my head and for the infection in my skin.. and they've got it all figured out and everythings under control! God is waaay stinkin' good! Mary went with me and on our way out of town we got to spend some time with her daddy! He's such an inspiration.. i love that man with every ounce of me... im so thankful that he's been a part of my life for so long!

i'm so glad its the weekend.. I love taking a break from school work! I hope your weekend started out as wonderful as mine! mmmmwah!