Ah... the thrift store

I'm getting ready for tcl and I found some must-haves at our trusty goodwill. So exciting. I got some pants to work in, a sun glasses case from the disney animal kingdom, Sarah Harmer's (my forever fave artist) cd I have been looking for, the coolest celtic pouch ever, and a very special pair of shoes.......
When I was about 8 years old, I loved spiderman more than anything, but I hated buying shoes. They never fit right. They either slipped around or were too tight or were just REALLY ugly. But one day I found the perfect shoe...
It was Tough.
Sleak.
Fast.
And it had webbing.
These were the coolest shoes ever.


I had them in all black with white webs!
3.99$ and they are mine again
I fell in love again.
Same shoes. My size. Same Peter Parker attitude.

I think the Lord knew I was not doing well in the heat (100 million degrees. I swear.) and I was stressing too much, because he brought me good things today. Along with my thrifty purchases, a free vivanno and an upgrade to a venti ice tea came from my second home- Starbucks.

Oh, thank goodness the Lord loves me.

My Oh My.

Here I am. Tan, bruised, scraped, battered, and all together exhausted.
I think back on the last week and I'm "quite speechless, yes, quite speechless, and I have not yet stopped talking about it since."- Ms. Bates

This week at Lakeside Bible Camp was exactly what it had to be. Every part was so put together (by the Lord, I'm sure.) and sogood for me, but If not for certain people being there, including all my siblings, I may not have held up well.
Sometimes things hurt.
On the inside. it hurt.
On the outside. It hurt.
Camp is a training ground for dealing with people. For almost a week, one is completely enveloped in nine other peoples lives, all girls in my case. Every emotion, every scrape against the grain, every discomfort is felt so intensly. But I am so thankful for all of it! As from every year at camp, I learned to be more patient, caring, and respectful than I had been before. What a glorious place to learn and grow!

Ten High notes of Camp:

• My cabin leader and lovely friend, Erica. I needed her this week. It's like we strangely knew one another quite well right away. I love her to death.
  

• Talks on the dock with Emily while she "worked." ;)
  

• Good earth tea, brought to me by Cassidy. What a sweetie.

• The Clown Costume Burning. What's going on?

• "Let me."

• Bible teaching from John Glock. So many verses, so many delicious words of the Lord!
  

• Prom night. Ah-ha. Tyrell, what a lovely date you were.

• Lisa's face when I needed encouragement.

• Sunshine all week!!!

• At least 6 people I know of getting saved for the first time, Learning through difficulty, And the Lord knowing what he is doing!!! (3 in 1. I know)

What a week!

Six days now until I leave for tcl. I don't quite know why I'm leaving or what I'm doing. I think I'm crazy to ask for more. Start praying for me now.

Peace be with you.
-abigail

I'm going through the wardrobe...

to Lakeside Bible Camp,
a dear place in my heart.

It happened in Medford

I never touched my Ipod.

We never watched one movie.

We never went to bed at a reasonable hour.

It wasn't the water that made the trip.
It wasn't the dutch bros.
It wasn't the oddities of the vortex.

It was our lovely hosts:

It was the joy of beholding the seldom seen:

But most of all, it was my dear friends:

Off on a real adventure!

In seven hours, I leave for a five day Oregonian Road Trip with four other girls. We will be "adventure boating," river rafting, water sliding, and water-falling. "You only live once." said my very wise friend. I'm going to make the best of this trip.

Soy nuts, chocolate, and via packs?
Check.
Ipod, compilation CD's, notebooks, and sketch pad?
Check.
My clothes, money, and excitement?
Check-checkity-check.

Camera might not work..... let's hope it does! I have confidence in sunshine.... ;)

Lastly: Thank you LORD (and my dear mother) for this one!
Stories are on the rise.
Have a great week!

-abigail

I think spiders are beautiful

Have you ever looked at one? Really looked at a spider?
When I was about 12 or 13, I was still quite fearful of spiders. I made my sister kill them whenever I saw them, I would hide if I knew one was near, and I played the scared, screaming girl quite well. But with every thing that I have ever feared, I have felt the insatiable need to conquer that fear, from eating overly odd foods to pulling the release chord from a 70 foot drop. I feel defeated if I stay afraid.
So, one day as I was searching for a specimen to draw, I decided a spider would be perfect! I picked up a small arachnid from outside and let it scramble all around my hand (I don't believe the little ones bite. Have you ever seen one bite?) I studied it for a long time, and I thought it was gorgeous! I still wonder often what the oblong shapes are that are in their transparent legs...
From that day on, I really haven't feared any spider, not even the black widows I encountered in Mexico. There is something beautiful to be seen in how each living organism functions and is designed. True, spiders have a somewhat frightening appearance (and they can be deadly), and perhaps my fascination is a little odd. But isn't it better to have a lack of fear, than an needless abundance?