Camp Runamuck

This last weekend we celebrated my nephew, Isaiah's, 8th birthday. My SIL, LaRae, did a camping themed party and it turned out so great! smelling like camp fire smoke in the middle of the day made me want to go camping for real though! My sister got some more pictures that she posted here.

More Things

pretty clouds and my cool dude

I think I might start a habit of randomly writing random things on here, it's my favorite thing to write about!
Just a quick note: A lot of people here, locally, have heard about the gas explosion in town. And I keep hearing more, and more little bits of the story. I saw the black billows as I was headed home, leaving my sister-in-Law's, and then saw the giant flames as I was directed through a back road. It was a pretty terrible incident. Our friends, Aaron and Corey, lived in the second house that caught on fire. Everything of theirs was demolished, but I'm especially thankful that no one's life was taken.

On a more positive note, my Dad showed me this short film/documentary last night and it really gives me an itch to get out and start filming a few things and hopefully have an adventure along the way :)

Things

I haven't been on here in a while kinda on purpose, I've been trying to sort out some things in my life lately as to what's Important, to what's not so important. Blogging and reading blogs is definitely one of my favorite things to do when I'm on the internet, but I've spent more time blogging than I care to share. It really is a task to keep up with regularly and takes a lot of motivation. I really, really like being able to come back here and remember all the little things I've documented over time, but I feel like I need to quit trying to keep up on here and reprioritize my time spent on things a little more.
Anyway, with all that said and out of the way, moving on to the next thing. My new little Niece, Emery, arrived on the eighth this month and she's so beautiful and perfect! Congratulations to My brother and Sister-in-Law on their new addition!

On a different note, I know I've mentioned on here before about my internet Bible study group(that's the best way to explain it) but I'd like to repost something I wrote on there onto here 1) because I stayed up really late writing it and 2) It's a private group so I can't post a link or anything. I really don't share anything about spiritual thoughts on here, because I know that people can become very offended about beliefs and it's also a pretty personal thing for me... something I don't like to talk about unless someone asks, because I'm almost sure it will end with some sort of a verbal fist fight haha, but anyway here you go:

"I've heard this verse over and over since I was little, but I've never really heard a REAL definition of it.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2" I've also heard a version stating, "do not conform to the patterns of this world." When I started thinking about patterns of this world, the first things that came to my mind was how we (the world) has this unbroken pattern to work hard every day to afford all our fancy things. Our cars, our houses, necessities, the Never ending list. I've been thinking about this because, having these things does have a sort of happiness, but short lived ones. I feel like I'm always looking for more, I don't know, maybe I'm weird, but I feel like there may be more to living this life beyond working jobs that most of us hate just to afford our short lived happiness'. Do you think God MAY BE telling us with this verse to quit these patterns of sort lived happiness', maybe even quit our full time, tiring, stressful jobs, that we only have for the money. Maybe to forget about the money and the worldly things and work at something just because you love it? Just because your work is pleasing to you and god which in turn pleases those around you? I know that most people's way of thought is, "I have to provide for my family, it's my responsibility." well, what if we all started living with less to quit the "patterns" of this world? It seems like, outwardly, most people are satisfied with this day to day routine, work, school, buy, continue... But I most certainly feel like there's more to our lives, of course, family, friends, love, but you owe it to all that stuff to make yourself happy if only for the sake of those your around most. Don't work yourself to death. Quit striving for richness. I personally feel you(and especially your children) will learn to be thankful beyond belief. (I'm preaching mostly to myself). When I was young, we lived with very little. I of course had no idea that we lived differently than most, I was a naive kid, but I know now that I think back on it. My dad worked way too many hours to try and keep up with his family but as I grew, I know now that it made me a little different. It made me more thankful, i think, yes, but I feel like it also helped me to try and look past some wordily things. To think less about the physical things I want and more about what other things this life has to offer. I think the gift of that for a kid is much more valuable than anything a full time job can afford to give them. 
I'm not saying we should all live like the poor people in Africa, but more like to QUIT this world. Maybe to work at something you love and not even often enough to get burnt out on it.
I've heard about a study of the "happiest people in the world" and most of them live with just a little less to live an easy life, to be able to spend more time with their family and do what they really want to work on.

I often wonder what it would be like to have to live without one thing, like a car. And use my bike instead, but I always decide against abandoning the bumper to bumper, cursing at the car ahead of you, comfortable drive because of the inconvenience, but I think I might really try to challenge myself with this. Stuff like this would be hard. Giving up these THINGS, but what does it do for you in the long run, if you had to live with one less thing, like a car? How would living with a little less affect you, and more importantly, those around you like your children, even future children? 
It is Sunday morning, so I hope you enjoyed this little sermon, but I'd really like to read about your thoughts on this subject and verse. What do you think this verse portrays?"