and it's simply summer.

In summer, the song sings itself.  -William Carlos Williams

Top 5 things I love about summer (so far!)

1. NO CLASS, it's easy on the brain.
2. REST, it's easy on my body.
3. REAL FOOD, it's easy on my stomach.
4. POOL POOL POOL, it's just easy.
5. [Hometown] FRIENDS & FAMILY, it's easy on my soul.


Leaving for Falls Creek on Tuesday mornin'. :)

and it's their turn.

These pics are from last year at my graduation! I laughed and joked with both of these girls about how it was their turn next!

Little did we know it would come so dad-gum quickly! So much has happened in this past year! I had to leave Janelle in Granbury, while I moved to Belton, Tx! Super bittersweet. Our friendship is just as strong, if not stronger. We both experienced so much in this past year. God grew in both of our lives, stretching us like never before. She was my rock and shoulder to cry during the worst time of my life and my laughter and smiles during my greatest. We wear the snot out of skype, I will tell you that. I was so afraid that our lives would take separate paths and our friendship would become distance, but I think we proved ourselves wrong. Yes, different paths. BUT NO, not distance friendship. We learned and have learned and are still learning that friendship is more than time spent together. That's such a basic principle, but how many people put it into practice? She's who I call all giddy about my first date. She's who I talk to about God with. She's who I tell every secret to. She's the girl I'm not afraid to ask for help in an area I'm struggling in. She's the girl I scream HSM and JOBROS with in the car. She's the one that I skype with once a week or just about die. She's my favorite. She's going to be a successful woman of God. She's going to reach her goals, and she's going to be a light to UTSA. I love her. She's beyond a shadow of a doubt the one girl that I know will be there, no matter what, forever. This year, she'll be wearing the grad gown! I'm so proud of her! Congrats to my bestest friend, Janelle Ivy Lee.

This is my precious cousin, Kayla! It's also her time-to-shine! Her time to wear that gown! She's been there since she was born (literally, there is a picture of me feeding her a bottle!). We've grown up, right before our eyes. We've had a year of ups and downs! Little Jalyn was born this year. SO precious! I just adore that baby, wish I could see her more..a lot more! I am so excited to see her grow up! As exciting as this was, we also were dealing with the Mamoo issue. Most of our memories together are with Kay and Mamoo. We were just four great fun fun fun girls! We never had a dull moment, sometimes I think Kay and Mamoo wish we would've just crashed for a nap. BUT NO! We always had a blast, always laughing. We didn't ever notice the age difference between us and our grandmothers. We just had a ball. We miss Mamoo, but our memories are NEVER ENDING. I hope to still have some girl time with Kay and Kayla, and just laugh at Mamoo memories. Kayla was my girl to cry with and think about memories with and freak out. Her heart broke too, and it's nice to have her to heal with. Kayla will be a high school graduate Friday! So awesome, huh? No more high school for either of us! It's crazy how old we are. We keep in contact pretty great, and I'm so proud of her. Especially this year. I love you Kayla! CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!


They are 2 of my favorite girls! Congrats to them both! I can't believe how old we are getting! I am praying for them both and anxious to see where God moves in their lives!

Six (almost five) days until Falls Creek!! *** in case you lost count :)

Love.
MISS YOU MAMOO.

and the sun is SHININ'

Just a few things..

1. One week until I move to Falls Creek for the summer. ONE WEEK PEOPLE.
2. My baby sister is almost officially an 8th grader. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
3. I want to become a professional wedding cake taster! I did that today with my friend, so delish.
4. I got my book in the mail today, time to start reading! (what's gotten into me?!)


That's all.

love.
miss you mamoo.

and this is what I live for.

These past few days were just happy! Jake and Mary were both in Tolar on Friday night!! They are just great. Mary is my partner in crime, my runnin' buddy, my closest friend at UMHB. We're always up to something and cryin' from laughin' so hard. We'll be livin' together next year, CAN NOT WAIT. It was great to see her; it's gonna be a long summer with her attached to my hip bone.  It's always great to have Jake around, he never gets old! We all just had a good time watching Ellen, eating ice cream, laughin', dancing while brushing our teeth, you know... the usual! Mary left Saturday for camp orientation! I am so excited to see how God moves in her life this summer and to exchanged stories with her!

So the next day we went to Janelle's graduation party! We got to just make a big deal out of her, just like she deserves. So proud of her! Jake DJ-ed, it was just a fun time! I'm so excited to see where life takes her in this next year, to see how God moves in her life and completely changes things! She graduates FRIDAY! YAY! Class of 2010! I just love this girl. Can I just say that? Cause I do. 

SO. I'm home for a little over a week longer, then Falls Creek! I just love sweet summertime. I have a lot to do this week! Including going to see my precious cousin, Kayla, graduate! OH. and I found tie-dyed duct tape, and I'm really excited about that. That's all. 

Love.

Miss you Mamoo.

and this is my prayer.

This song is so beautiful. It came on my shuffle this morning and it just made me pause and take a second to seriously pray it. Take my life, it's all for thee. I desire this to be my prayer EVERYDAY. All of me, it's all for thee. It's my desire that every action I take brings glory to my heavenly Father. I want everything thought, movement and word to be honoring to Him. Life has been about healing lately, it's been about drawing even closer to the Father. Healing is a beautiful thing. I've been praying lately that God would be showing me what I need to do next to learn to love HIM more. This song (that I've had forever), it says it. Thank you Jesus for playing it on my shuffle this morning :)










Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.

Here am I, all of me.

Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.

Take my life, it's all for Thee.

p.s. it's by Chris Tomlin, look it up. 

and it's summertime!

It's just great being home and having this time off before going to Falls Creek. I'm so thankful for getting to catch up with friends from home! Janelle is still in school, but I still get to see her so much more than when I'm in Belton! It's fabulous! This is us at a rangers game last week! Can you say HOMERUNS?! They were going crazy hittin' them baseballs out of the park! Fireworks went poppin'! Just love it! Do we look like sisters in the picture? ha! Summertime is simply sweet. Simplicity sometimes escapes me. It's great right now. Just a time of rest and simplicity. Time to spend time organizing thoughts and preparing for summer. My mind is also thankful for this time off classes! I'm hoping and hoping that pretty sun is shining tomorrow, I wouldn't complain about some poolside! YA KNOW?!

Some great things that happened today:
1. Shopping with my momma.
2. Janelle's grad gift... sh.. it's secret.
3. America's Next Top Model marathon
4. I can breathe through my nose again!

Romans 12 :14-21

love.
miss you mamoo.

and it's the birthday of a lifetime!

Well, May 18th! My Mamoo's birthday! I can't believe she's celebrating with our Savior! SO JEALOUS! :-) I miss her SO MUCH. My MAMOO is gone. I can't really accept that as real. This a picture from a year ago. GRADUATION! We didn't know about the cancer yet. It was a great night (: She was runnin' around like a proud Mamoo taking pictures like nuts. Life has changed quite a bit since good ol' graduation. I sadly won't be calling Mamoo tomorrow to wish  her a happy birthday. Weird. I miss her. I love her. I wish she was here.


Love.
Miss you Mamoo.

and at the creek I'll be!

My mailing address for Falls Creek will be :

Nicki Ashley

Summer Staff

Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center

6714 HWY 77D

Davis, OK  73030-8002

Also, it looks like I'll be able to check my Email!  (ndashley@mail.umhb.edu) 

I could aslo check my phone at certain times if it actually has service...we'll see! HA!

love.

miss you mamoo.

and we'll root, root, root for the home team!

Going to see the Rangers play tonight  :) :) I love baseball season, and summer, and no class, or tests, or studying! Finished unpacking my stuff today! Just to leave it for two weeks then pack stuff back up for camp! (: I had lunch with my sister, Jessica Gibson, today! It was great, we can never shut up and just talk and talk and talk. I love that about us. ANYWHO. It's summer, stop reading this and go outside ~ 

Love. 

Miss you Mamoo.

and I just have a lot on my mind.

This morning in Sunday school we were talking about the American Dream and how much it doesn't line up with Christianity. (I have written about this before read it here.) I pray often that God will help me not want the perfect house, clothes, car... all that material stuff. 'Cause let's face it, we are trained to want that stuff. Growing up in America, it's hard to not want that. We read Luke 9 and discussed briefly what it looks like to follow Christ. How much STUFF would I abandon?? What am I living out that is biblical? Questions were stirred, I dig it. I want to love Jesus, and be like Him. I'm stuck in a rut, I guess you can call it. I just am so routine (as much as I'm lackin' routine right now). I read my bible and pray, everyday, like I strive to do. BUT.. how much is being applied and lived out? How much of it am I let challenge my life? How much of it is just habit?? America's so great, but so full of selfish distractions. It's awful.  I just want to be Godly.


ALSO, Today is mother's day. I have the most wonderful mother in the WORLD. Seriously. I could go on for hours and hours. BUT I'll save you. Today is also the first mother's day my precious Mamoo has been gone. She was a wonderful Mother, Daughter and Mamoo. I miss her. 


What's been going on you ask?????? WELL. Not a lot. Just hangin' out here and there. Went to Allen for a little bit. Hung out with my my best friend. My daddy had surgery done to help get rid of a kidney stone. I am currently avoiding cleaning my DISASTER of a room. It's ridiculous. BUT I NEED TO SO BAD. I'm finding my motivation... NOW.  


P.S. My donkeys are really good at hollerin' really loud.


Love.
Miss you Mamoo.

and sometimes blogs are useless.

I'm currently sitting in the waiting room at the VW dealership, waiting on my precious car to get all fixed up. It's pretty early in the morning and I have quite the time to pass, so that brings me to blogging! HOLLA. As I sit here in this place, surrounded by brand new VW cars (somewhat like heaven) I dream of when I get my brand new Jetta... ahh. I love my bug, so much. I'm not even close to get rid of her, but I can dream can't I?? Also, there is an old lady in this waiting room, she called her friend to "shoot the bull" but she didn't answer. Instead she left her a message, then at the end she said "chow baby!" So adorable, I hope I am as hip and trendy to wear a straw garden hat and say "chow baby!" to my friends when I'm her age. 

On another note, it's baseball season. (Isn't Angie just a doll in this picture?!) I just love baseball/softball season. Gotta throw that softball in there because in our hose it's all about softball. My sister is a hoss, watching her play is always a good time. I love this time of year because it's so relaxed (no stresses of class, etc.) and the sun is shinin' most of the time. I just love the sunshine, especially when I have time to just lay in the sun.... for no reason at all.  I dislike it when people complain about the heat, I'm like HELLO!?!? It's so SUMMER, bring the heat FOLKS. With that being said, I love the heat. And baseball. And getting a tan at baseball games. Hopefully I'll be going to see my rangers soon! Before I leave for Oklahoma! Holla!

SPEAKING OF OKLAHOMA! FALLLLLLSCREEEEEEEEEK IS COMING! I move in June 1st! I am absolutely stoked for this summer! :) I hope you are praying with me about this summer and how I'm used according to God's will.  

There isn't a lot new going on around this side of things. Just getting settled back into my home, my OWN bedroom... teehee. School's officially finished until August! It's great. I am kinda just like a chicken with my head cut off until Falls Creek. Catching up with friends, being reacquainted with  my swimming pool, swinging by Allen to see my sweet boy, hangin' with the fam. It's just great. I miss my friends but just can't wait to see how God stretches us this summer. Our reunion shall be so sweet. Until then, I'll just be lost in summer ~

Love.

Miss you Mamoo.

and a week seems like eternity.

Can't believe that it's been one week since Mamoo has gone to be with Jesus. Love and miss her so much. More than my grandma, she is my mamoo, a best friend. 

and I have the greatest amigos.

Check it. My friends are the greatest. They made this to make me smile after the worst fews days of my life. I adore them SUPER DUPER much and couldn't ask for a greater group of kiddos to call my UMHB family. <3

livin' the life.






love.
miss you mamoo.