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.

volunteer

we get up early because we live thirty minutes away. the lighting up of the new morning sky and the freshness of the day awakens my soul. brother, sister and i all ride together to each one's work.

the phone rings. does it ever stop? the secretary doesn't think so as a sigh escapes her lips. she answers with friendliness like no other anyway... "hello, thank you for calling the Lads to Leaders office, how can i help you?" my fingers have rubbed from the name tag after name tag i've clipped with lanyard and checked off the list. soon that job is all done but there's more to do. office supplies to pack, new group door prizes to collect, name tags to be put in bags then boxes and taped up tight to bring to the outside trailer. we are preparing for six different national youth leadership conventions, one of which i am a part. thousands will be in attendance at each. i am here today to volunteer. i see my mentor, my hero, who is the founder of this organization. my brother calls him sweetoldman.com which is seen by his interaction with others and the {awkward} way he holds my hand in the picture he requests. he has given so much...

i realize as one list is checked, one program is packed, one name badge is assembled at a time...boy, volunteering feels good. {and you just might even get a cookie or two}

give + aways

we play cottage

deer circus blog