amandaspace1330

This week I am teaching the Bible stories to four first and second grade small groups at vacation Bible camp at our church. The kids are so sweet and open to hearing the stories. Their faith in the truth of the Bible is awe inspiring. I am also recovering ( laundry, cleaning, and rest ) from our week in Disney world with the whole Pickering clan. It was a great trip and also a time when all of us Pickerings could get to know Carolyn Confer ( Dan's girlfriend ) a little better. This I think we did, along with thoroughly conquering all four Disney World parks. Coming up in August I look forward to helping a new mother of triplet girls get her feet on the ground. There is a whole crew of volunteers helping in shifts, and I am so excited for the opportunity to help out with these preemies. Of course, school is on the horizon, so I guess it's safe to say that things are heating up. It is all good, though. I am looking forward to the unique opportunities coming up, as well as lookin...

I am happy. I am content. I'm confident in who I am and who God made me to be. J. and I are a great couple. I am blessed. I have been created in the image of Christ and He is the Lord of My life. I may not have the approval of everyone, I may not be witty or attractive. I may be awkward socially, but Christ is my center. I will not be bitter, jealous, angry, vengeful. I will be at peace with myself and others. I will speak when spoken to; I will be gracious, kind, hopeful, joyous, and I will be comfortable in my own skin. I am God's child, nothing else matters. Psalm 42:11 "Why am I so discouraged, why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again- my savior and my God."

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a slumber, A fog, a haze. I don' t see the beauty around me, I don't enjoy the relationships in my life. Insecuriy abounds and discouragement takes over. I shut down. Comfort is found in daily routine. Keep moving, working, playing, planning, doing. Laugh, smile, shout, cry, sit still, staring into oblivion, run, run, run. Where does the beauty around me go? Where does the "life" hide? In what is my hope found? Why do I continue the routine, when the enjoyment is gone?

This past Friday for the fourth of July, Jason and I visited Philadelphia to honor our nation's 232'nd birthday. It was an exciting day where our nation began, topped off with a trip to see America's favorite game, baseball. The Phillies beat the Mets 3-2 with a tie breaking hit in the ninth inning. It was an exciting finale to the day. The pictures are of us in Phila. and also picking blueberries at Mom-mom and Pop-pop's.