beach vacation

So, this year going to the beach was a little different.
Anna and I drove out a day after the rest of the family, because we wanted to stay for a friend's wedding. It was fun riding in Anna's car, just the 2 of us. =)
I got my own room this year. I loved being able to go in my room and close the door to read, without worrying about someone else needing to get in. It was nice.
Ok, now for some pictures.

it poured on our way out

but it cleared up later

the first of many bridges we crossed

driving on Hatteras Island with the sunroof open :)

Hatteras Island

it rained our first morning there

so we stayed inside and played pool

by the afternoon it was nice, so i went on a walk with Mom

otters!

right before dinner, we went down to the beach. the water was right at the bottom of the walkway!

heading back to our beach house

sunset

the next day we went shopping. i thought this was funny:

we walked to the Sound after dinner


cool trees

Wednesday night we went to a restaurant for dinner



on our way back to the house, we stopped by the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

the next morning, the weather was gorgeous!


running into the ocean


Dad building a sandcastle


at the pool

our last day, we went to Ocracoke Island to walk around and see the cool shops

this is my favorite shop:

this kitty was so sweet!

on the ferry back to Hatteras Island

our last night there, we took a walk on the beach

vacation!

We're leaving tomorrow for a week at the beach! So excited! :)
I'll post pictures when we get back.

(no title)

Be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will /never/ leave you nor forsake you." ~Hebrews 13:5

If God, the awesome creator of the universe, is with us then what more could we want? Think about it.

All of You is /more/ than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are /more/ than enough for me

UNCC

Well, the school semester is almost over. The last M28 meeting was last Thursday. I'm going to miss going to UNCC every week.


Yes, I will miss M28 a lot over the summer, but I'm excited to see what God's going to do next semester. =)

surprise!

On Sunday Anna turned 19. I and a few friends planned a surprise party for her. She was definitely surprised! =)

Here's the story. (you can skip to the pictures if you want)

Lizzy, Recah, and I told Anna that we wanted to go to Latta Plantation for lunch and a hike. We wanted to have some "girl time". So, that's what Anna thought we were going to do for her birthday.
After church on Sunday, Recah and Anna left to go buy chips for our lunch. As soon as they were gone, everyone that was invited to the surprise party left and met at Lizzy's house. Lizzy's parents let us borrow their canoes, so we hooked them up. Then we all carpooled to Latta.
Meanwhile, Anna thought Lizzy and I had gone to Lizzy's house to get stuff to make sandwiches, and that we were going to meet at Latta.
When the "party people" got to Latta, we drove to the canoe place. Lizzy called Recah to tell her how to get there. What's funny was, Recah and Anna got to Latta before us, and were sitting at the visitor place. We drove right past them on our way to the canoe place, but Anna didn't see us. Recah kept her distracted.
Anyway, when Recah and Anna drove to the canoe place, we all hid around a turn in the road. We stood there and said "Surprise!" when they came around the turn. Anna was so surprised! =)


If you read the story, congrats! Now you can enjoy the pictures.

surprised Anna

Anna and Recah

Seth and Eli

Jessica and Andrew

canoes!

we canoed for a while, then stopped for birthday cake

it wasn't long before we went back out again

a really cool rock

we went back to Lizzy's house and made pancakes for dinner

yum!

Anna said it was the best birthday ever. I agree. =)

ok

So, quite a few people still read my blog. This makes me happy. =)

On Sunday, I faced my fear of going underwater and got baptized. Here's my testimony that I shared:

When I was 8 years old, I prayed the sinners' prayer, just so I could say that I did it. But it was evident by my life that I was not saved. I was a slave to sin. I was living for myself. And I was miserable.
I didn't realize why this was, until God showed me that I needed Him. I was a senior in high school when God saved me from my sins and helped me choose to live for Him instead of myself.
Over the past 2 years, God has done some amazing things for me. It's hard to believe how much God has changed me. I am a totally different person than I was 2 years ago, all thanks to the awesome grace of God.
Jesus is truly my best friend, and I want to live for Him. I pray that this never changes.

Isn't our God so amazing? =)