Growing Up!

Heyyy!

Summer is quickly coming to an end! I'm at my house sitting around the dining room table with my family, talking about what our classes are going to be, what we need to buy before school starts, and (one of my personal favorite topics..haha) what we're going to wear on the first day of school of school!

This year co-op is at an old school that a bunch of local churches and people bought for everyone in the community to use. I'm really excited about that! (I finally get a locker! ...Dream come true! hehehee!!) And Si & I are also taking online classes with Ohio Christian University. Co-op starts next Friday, and OCU classes start Sept. 9th... I can't believe that I'm actually saying this, but...I'm almost excited about school starting this year!

I cannot believe that I'm a junior this year! It's pretty exciting!! ☺ (Only 1 year of high school to go after this! Yeah buddy!) The weirdest thing is that Silas is a SENIOR & that Levi is in junior high.

Um, wow.

It is really weird to think that next year Silas will (Lord willing!) be starting College. Honestly, it's like depressing almost!...I mean, after this year, life as we know it our home will probably never be the same. But, you know what? I'm also really excited! Soon a new chapter of our lives will be starting to unfold! New adventures. New opportunities. New ways that the Lord will bring us closer to himself.

And in that, I find peace.

Seriously. How cool is that?!


So, last night was the Kick-Off  for our Youth Group at Church. It was so fun bringing Levi into the room, signing up, watching him hang out with friends, seeing his excitement while we played the games...it was great! I pray that these next few years he gets to spend in youth group challenge him and encourage him in his walk with the Lord. I'm so proud of that boy! Love ya, buddy! ♥

My Week. •◘○♦♣♠☺☻♥♀↨-♂♪☺☼►↑↓→←∟ .....uhh, sorry..I got a little carried away just then.. hehehee

Well, it's some nice fall weather we're having this summer! XD hahaha!

Seriously, though...this is crazy! We're in the middle of August and I'm sitting curled up in a blanket in the living room freezing! Ok, not freezing...but still. It's just cold-ish.

My college for the PSEOP I'm taking.

It's hard to believe that it's Thursday already! I've been having so much fun this week with hanging out with my cousins (Jaclyn & Frankie from PA), playing Monopoly until 2am, and working on registering for college classes.... Actually that part isn't that fun. But it's something new &&I'm SO so excited! All I need now is an Ohio Christian University Sweatshirt and bumper sticker! (Not that I have a car or anything..but that's just what college kids do, right?! haha! just kidding ☺) Still figuring out which classes to take right now... I should know by tonight probably.

**On the side note...I just saw this and it made me laugh really hard! LOL ☺

Click to view larger.

Okayyyyy...so, anyway.. off that bunny trail..

I'm super excited about this coming week, too! We are going on vaca!! We're (FINALLY!) taking a trip out to Iowa!

What is in Iowa, you ask?

Welllll.....

Not much.

Except!!!

One of the coolest families on the planet earth!
The Wilsons! (AHHH!!!!! I'm getting so excited I'm like squealing like a little girl ♥ LOL jk)  :)))))))

Then, on Thursday, we're going to Chicago to see the Grandparents!!!! (dads side) We are going to have so much fun! Thanks, Lord for making this all come together!

Ok, that's all I got right now..

Later, peeps.

Signing off.

Hasta la vista...or whatever.

Ok, really. I'm out of here! lol ☺

Summer ♥

Hey everyone! (:

So, yeah...it's been a long time!

Sometimes the hardest thing about blogging is that once you stop for awhile, you don't even know how to even begin trying to catch up on everything that has been going on! hahaha :)

this is a picture my mom took of me &
 my wonderful cabin this week! ♥
(it was right after we got back from frog hunting!!
whoop! lol  sorry it's blurry!

But, seriously....This summer truly has been amazing! Honestly, no words can describe it! ....And I miss all of my campers a TON. It just makes me so excited when I think about everything Christ has done in the lives of not only the campers, but also the staff.

We are all still the same people, just different...in a good way.☺

Thank you, Lord for all you have done! I have grown so much in just 10 weeks.

Thank you for each one of those campers who you've sent to summer camp this year. Thank you for everything they have taught me, too! ☺

Thank you for all of the staff this year! They truly are wonderful friends and I am so blessed to have them in my life. They have all been  a huge encouragement to me & I love them a ton!

Anyway, one of the things I've been learning this summer is that sometimes God uses people in (what we would consider) small or unimportant ways to show his love & make his name known. Here is what I said when I was talking to one of my friends about this....

 "when i decided to be summer staff this year, i was expecting so many things to happen bc of me. I was going to share the gospel with so many kids. I was going to change lives. I was going to do this for God. or whatever. but I've been learning that sometimes God uses people to make his name great in "smaller ways" He uses people to wash dishes, teach climbing wall, make dinner, set up chairs, etc.. so that others can share the gospel with them. So, yes. I have been able to show christ's love to so many kids, just not in the way i was expecting it's really humbling."

I gotta go- mum is calling :)

♥, Vallie!