what's done of the to-do/an update or two.

I have almost finished my camp book (yeah, I'm a major procrastinator).  but, I've got one section left, and I plan on reading all day tomorrow at work.

I have almost moved all of my clothes to my new house.  what's left now is what I'll be wearing for the next few days and what I still need to pack for camp.

I have not started Radical Together by David Platt (I plan on bringing it to camp and reading it on the weekends).  I have, however, read four books by Jenny B. Jones in the past ten days or so.  I'm a sucker for Christian fiction, and she's a superb writer.  I've laughed a lot while reading her books!

I decided not to buy a laundry basket, because I like the one my grandma had at her house, so I'll just use that.  I do still want to buy an apron, but I think that will just wait until after camp. 

I have burned some CDs of some summer tunes, some new Christian stuff, and a country album to have while traveling to and from camp.  I have not burned any CDs of podcasts yet, but I've been listening to a bunch by David Platt while at work lately.  I'm loving his series "Biblical Manhood and Womanhood" which discusses how we should act as men and women of God, and how we should view and treat others because of what the Bible says.  It's awesome.  Free podcasts on iTunes (The Church at Brook Hills) that you should DEFINITELY get!

I'm going to turn off my MacBook on Saturday morning, slip it into my case, and put it on the bookshelf in my parents' office.  My mom and dad are both PC users, so I need not worry about them doing anything to it (haha).

I have listened to Mumford and Sons, but I still don't know if I like them or not. 

I DID spend a lovely Friday morning with my nephews!!  I had such a good time with them (oh, how I love those boys!).  I also get to see them on Thursday, so I'm pumped about that.  On top of spending time with them, I got to spend time with my Janik fam, that I absolutely adore, yesterday.  I just can't believe I won't be seeing everyone for six weeks!

I plan on spending all my free time on Thursday packing! I've been gathering up stuff for the past few days, so hopefully it won't be too much of a pain. 

I have been hanging out with my friends a lot, especially this girl. 

Today was Leah's 20th birthday, and I got to spend almost the whole day with her in the youth office getting ready for camp! Hope your day was great; love you bunches!

Updates and Such:

I've been learning a ton these past few weeks, especially while having the privilege to be an intern in the student office.  Like I said, today we spent all day working on camp stuff, and a few times I was struck with sadness about the fact that I'm not going.  I've been so excited about going to CCC for the summer, that I haven't thought about what I'll be missing out on.  I'm missing baby Joe's dedication, lots of youth events, summer free time, and much more.  I know that the Lord has ME going to Asheville for a reason, and that He has my friends in Augusta for a reason.  I'm having to trust that He wants me there more than I want to be home with my friends.  God's going to do stuff in my life AND in the lives of my loved ones back home.  He's taking me out of this town so that He can teach me something that He can't teach me there, just like He has them here so that He can teach them things that He can't teach them elsewhere.

I said my first "goodbye" to some friends yesterday, and I've got a few more to say tomorrow.  I seriously might cry tomorrow.  But, I plan to hang out with some other friends tomorrow night and Thursday, and I'll spend time with my parents on Friday.  I'm so ready to see what God does in my life at camp and hear about what He does back home. 

today i caved.

i had this brilliant idea to only drink water this year.  no coke, no sweet tea, only water.  milk and juice only every now and then, and maybe, maybe coffee.  i've had maybe 8 cups of coffee this year, and that's pushing it.  i've seriously only had water for the past 5.5 months.

until today.

i went to the church to intern in the student office, and our youth pastor, Grant, had me go run an errand.  this is pretty typical, but today i had to take his truck because i had to get something from Lowe's that wouldn't fit in my car.  he also told me that i had to act really girly so that the people at Lowe's would help me with the stuff i needed.  no problem.  i legit had a guy doing whatever i needed.  he even walked out with me to put the insulation (4 pieces of 2x8) in the truck.  when he saw i had parked on the other side of the building, he asked me to drive up in the loading area.  not a problem, right?

wrong.

i go to back up the truck, and it's a tight spot.  i back up and all of a sudden, "BOOM!".  i hit something. something that would be another truck.  after i pull back in my spot, i get out to survey the damage.  two bystanders look with me and tell me that all i did was hit my hitch against the other truck's hitch.  i'm thankful, yet still nervous, so i quickly write a note to the owner of the other car (i've yet to hear from him, thankfully).  i get my insulation loaded up, and i head back to the church, all the while on the verge of tears.  then, to make it worse, on my less than three-mile drive back to the church, i'm at a stoplight and some of the insulation almost FLIES OUT OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK.

seriously.

so, i throw the truck into park, put my flashers on, run out and try to get this stuff to stay in the bed securely.  i drive really slowly the rest of the way back, park, walk up to the student office, and cry as i tell the other interns and youth pastors about what happened.  after getting me calmed down, i take my lunch break with my mom and tell her all about it (her major complaint is about the guy at Lowe's not tying down the insulation for me).  then, before heading back to the office, i go to get my wart frozen off.

for the fourth time.

i've had a wart on the bottom of my foot since last SEPTEMBER.  seriously, nine months.  it's been a pain in my.......you get the point.  then, i go to the doctor, and she tells me that "it's inhumane to freeze it off because you want be able to walk".  as she explains that i'm just going to have to wait and basically deal with it for the next two months while i'm at camp and she's on vacation, the thought crosses through my mind.

i need a coke.

so, i head to McDonald's after the appointment and order a large coke with no ice.  let me tell you, there are only three things i like at McDonald's: apple pies, egg mcmuffins, and cokes.  i love fountain cokes, and McDonald's has the best.  i took a huge sip, and boy, it was ridiculously refreshing.  it was so worth it. and i'm not at all upset that i caved.  i'm never letting coke out of my sight ever again.

i love being Ash Ash.

seriously, every single time i hear Jack say "Ash Ash", my heart melts a little bit.  i so love this boy, and i love getting to spend time with him, especially when it's just the two of us.

this morning, i watched him and baby brother ("Joe Joe" as Jack likes to call him) for about three hours.  props to all the mommas who stay home all day long with children that small.  i'm so reconsidering my ideas for a huge family.  maybe if my kids are spread out a bit??  that's forever away, so i'll worry about that once i actually find a boy to marry me.

anyway, Joe slept for a while, so Jack and i got to eat breakfast together, watch TV, and even have a tickle fight or two.  he was ridiculously sweet, and it took everything in me to get up and see to Joe when he started screaming (and boy, is he ever a screamer!!).  so, before the chaos ensued when Joe woke up and they were both wanting my attention, i took a few photos of the Jackers.

my personal favorite:

when i left, this was the conversation between me and Jack.  cracked me up.

"Bye, buddy." - me

"Bye, Ash Ash." - Jack

"I love you, Jack." - me

"I love you, Jack." - Jack 

shows you who is real first love is, doesn't it? :) 

to do.

maybe if i write it on here, then it will actually happen. things to do in the next seventeen days/before i leave for camp...

1. finish the book that i have to read before i go to camp.  tres importante!!
2. move all of my clothes from my parents' house to my new house.
3. read Radical Together by David Platt.
4. buy an apron and a laundry basket.
5. burn some CDs of music/podcasts to listen to on my way to camp and back home.
6. find a secure place to put my MacBook for six weeks so that it stays safe.
7. listen to Mumford and Sons some more and decide if i really like them or not.
8. spend time with the nephews (this will be done on Friday!).
9. PACK (hopefully i won't forget anything necessary to life).
10. hang out with friends/family that i won't see while i'm gone.

planning on getting all of these things done!!!!

randomosity.

this is a post full of randoms. complete and crazy randoms. 

on Saturday, i spent the day at the lake with some of my favorite people ever.  props to my friend, Cole, who got his dad to bring his boat out for us so we could tube AND had some sweet connections so that we could use a friend's house and not have to pay $$$$ to go out on the lake.  we had a blast just hanging out, and thankfully the rain held off until we were on our way back into town.

i leave for camp in 19 days. i cannot believe it's that soon.  i have so many things to do before then, like finish reading the book that we're supposed to read if we're new counselors.  i'm actually really enjoying the book a lot!!!

i really, really, really want to win this from Pitter Patter Art.  Laura Kelley is an artist in Nashville, and she creates and designs all sorts of awesome things.  she's made a few gifts for me before, and i just love her work.  to top it all off, her proceeds are going to support the adoption costs for a little boy she and her husband are adopting.  being adopted and all, i just love that!! so, again check out Pitter Patter Art. you won't regret it!

i listened to an a.m.a.z.i.n.g podcast by David Platt yesterday. love this quote, "Our greatest need is NOT thoughts from men but truths from God."  and there are many more, but that was one of the points i loved the most.  that no matter what you're going through in life, the Bible is ALL you need.  i think we all get caught up in Christian books a lot of the time, but in reality if we never had Christian books and all we had was the Bible, we'd be fine.  i'm super guilty of this, so i really loved this reminder that David Platt brought about yesterday.

i'm moving lots and lots of stuff into my new house. YAY! i'm so excited about this, and i plan on moving in completely after camp.

have a fabulous week!!

SUMMER.

i'm done with freshman year!

these are some of the things i'm looking forward to now that summer has begun...

so excited to get to see these lovely people within the next few days:

really excited to get to have dinner with this chica tomorrow:

very excited to live {hopefully} with this girl in the fall:

greatly excited to see this lady sans boot or crutches:

just plain excited to see this gal:

ridiculously excited to get to see this every time i eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day for six weeks starting in june: