first time thirty

 

            

1) reflection on laptop outside 2) colour necklace 3) newspaper mail

4) my church family brings all the happiness in the world 5) tiny - because yummy poptarts just aren't big enough 6) a special treat for lunch - papa john's pizza

7) running shadow 8) my vera bradley wallet 9) rolled legs and mohawk were my greatest attractions as a baby tike. (ha)

10) cold day calls for skinnies and cardi 11) big fluffy chair perfect place for breakfast and reading  12) our stairs

13) discovered a funny app 14) how you feel - self explanatory 15) sunset out the back truck window

16) neighbor's field with wildflowers 17) don't like wet towels 18) curls

19) orange - dad's commissioner pamphlets 20) distracted at church so i drew this 21) silly brother messing with my water bottle

22) rue21 shirt - last thing i bought 23) vegetable - salad for lunch 24) because i could never express enough thanks for the Words of Life

25) looking down at bass pro shops 26) black and white gate 27) somewhere i went today

28) 1 pm - working on graduation picture slideshow 29) circle stepping stone 30) an empty m&m bag would make just about anyone sad, including me

completed my first photo a day challenge this April. let's go May!

(giveaway)

savories of life

the best birthday week

he turned twenty-two and me eighteen. his birthday just happens to be the day before mine. april has always been a party month for our little family because of that. this month was no exception, especially with election day with my dad running for county commisioner landing on dallas's (my brother) birthday. holding up signs for all voters to see was what we did on dallas's day. with much prayer, it all payed off and my dad won the commisioner's race. my birthday came on the next day and boy was it happy. mom and i shopped til we dropped. that night was church then frozen yogurt with friends to celebrate my birthday. i'd say it was one of the best birthdays yet.

(giveaways)

forever God's princess

elle sees

changing

i wake up and lay there. sleep escaped last night so the morning in bed is a late one. all is quiet except for the birds singing their melodious songs outside the lighted window. an occasional rumble from a truck can be heard in the distance.
i look around my room and take a look at my life. times are changing and i'm not sure if i like it. there's an eighteenth birthday for me next week. plans for high school graduation are in the making. there's talk of college. the university is calling and wants me to apply. excitement builds then fear takes over as it all sinks in. times are changing... changing... changing. my life is shifting.
i like things the way they are and am frightened at the future of trying new things. the comfort zone is here and must i step out of it's bounds? it's hard to do but i know with God all things are possible. I take comfort in that thought and am gratefully reminded of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 who smiles at the future.
plans are not clear but i know i can rest my future in His hands. with a smile on my face.

                                                                                

(giveaways)

chalk in the rain

much love, illy

awkward girls

insta snippets

atlanta arrival & chillin' on the big red couch

 

that kid justin & my boy william

easter cookies bring back memories & clearance candy get in my buggy

pre-speech competition excitment and m&m sister twinettes

 

night drive & sippin' and ridin'

instagram: lowercase_letters

{giveaways}

harley and jane

little penelope lane

it's a bowtie occasion

 

the crowd is loud. with over three thousand people in attendance each cheering on their respective church congregations, i should expect it. but every year i am jolted by the reminder of the loudness during the prestigious awards ceremonies.

friday night ceremony i am sitting with my church group. saturday night awards i am up on stage handing out trophies and directing kids where to go. all that day saturday has been a hectic one. i say my speech, lead an audience of ladies in two songs and answer 60 Bible bowl questions, all while being judged. each event is a fierce competition between other Christians who have prepared all year long for this very weekend.

this weekend is one of the best of my life. friends are made and the good times don't stop rolling. as a senior, i am sad my last year to compete in Lads to Leaders\Leaderettes has come, but the happiness of being a part of it for so many years brims. the memories flourish, the growth as a Christan outweighs all. it's great to be a leaderette.

life a la instagram

sister shots and fence props

macalister's deli and plates piled high after filled bellies

reading and reading{always}

car rides and truck drives

secret gardens and newfound redneck door steps {we giggled}

my pink milk joke sucessfully played {it was april fool's day}

it's a beautiful life.

on insta: lowercase_letters

one nibbler, stuffed pepper and three girls

     

we call her out little sister. at twelve years old, she's not so little anymore. braces on her teeth, hair blonde and scrunched, makeup on her face... she's a little lady. marli and i love this all-fun girl. a girl's date is planned days in advance. it's in all entertainment when kayla decides to bring her giant, plush pepper along... affectionately known as pimple. we buckle him in up front and prepare for some funny stares.

we are soon three hungry girls so a pit stop at Zaxby's is a must. i excitedly whip out my birthday coupon for a free nibbler meal, or so i thought. ends up they bring out one nibbler mini sandwich. we laugh but i jokingly say i'll never view Zaxby's the same again for cheating me out of a birthday meal.

we hit the mall and i rack up at my favorite store, Old Navy. we visit a new jewelry place called Versona's, much like Charming Charlies. so many other stores are browsed but first we must take advantage of happy hour at the Sonic drive in. a m&m blast for me, butterfinger blast for marli and gaint dr. pepper for kayla are all very much enjoyed. we soon hit another mall and make several more exciting purchases.

the sky turns dark as we watch Forever Strong and have a sleepover. it's been a good, good day.