Ready?

Well, after thinking for awhile, I decided to blog once again. I would apologize for the delay, but I do think it's quite past that point. I'd much rather spend my time writing new things than back-tracking and side-tracking; accounting for all the reasons I haven't blogged for almost the past year.
It seemed quite necessary to freshen up the place though! :)
I really am just going to jump back into this, and try to be regular about writing because it is simply so thrilling and enjoyable.
Fall is really wrapping up around here and I rather wish it wasn't, because I love this season so very much. I've been in the mood for apple cider and pumpkin cookies lately....maybe this weekend....and not to mention chai tea! It's one of my favorite things to drink while trucking away at school....What I really can't wait for though, is pie season. I absolutely LOVE making homemade pies. Seriously, it puts me in my happy place. Right up there with gardening and canning. And reading, and writing and cake decorating.....
God is so good to give us autumn as a picture of the wonderful creativity He has. It's like the universe is His canvas and he's not only drawing beautiful masterpieces, but filling them with colors so gorgeous I could yell and jump for joy! What a glorious Father we have. It makes me want to desire Him even more than I do now. I never ever ever ever in a thousand million years want to think that I could stop learning about God. Sometimes, my heart goes through periods of not longing as fiercely as I want it to, and reading the Bible and seeking Him out can be hard. But isn't it wonderful that He pursues us? Even when I'm being a disobedient, rebellious child He still loves, and He still seeks after my soul. How amazing.

We've been up to so much lately, from pumpkin patches with friends and couuuuuuuuuusins, school, costume parties, plays (my sister starred as Cosette in Les Mis....and totally ROCKED it!), bible studies, and much more....

 Oh boy. Gotta love those crazy pictures...we seriously didn't get a single 'perfect' one, something about the hands on the chin...but honestly, I think I enjoy the real life pictures better, they're much more meaningful. :)

 The Oggie is about an inch away from being taller than me, and he's all the sudden mr. strong guy. I like to take advantage of the piggy-back rides...I figure he owes me for all I years I gave them to him!

 Our halloween costumes this year...(left to right: clown, 50's girl, hippy, 50's girl, the cutest lion in the whole world and Flash)

 We've already had our first snow....I love it!

 More to come....hopefully sooner than later!
~Bugg

Miscellaneous

Yeah, from the way I describe miscellaneous, the title will pretty much fit the post. :) I just thought I put down some random thoughts... But, if you've ever read this blog you'd know that randomness isn't too much out of the ordinary...
Life goes on...Pictures could probably describe better than words, otherwise ramblings may stretch far beyond anyone (including myself) would appreciate.

Jellyfish.
I told you it was going to be miscellaneous around here... :) No, but in all seriousness, I just have to let out a breath and stand in awe of our artistic Creator once again. These little blobs are gorgeous! Fragile as a sprout pushing it's way out of soft soil, yet you don't want to get too close because you know it's flowing tentacles aren't just ribbon like decorum on the sea creature and they will sting! And obviously I'm no ocean expert, but I have to out on a limb and say that these creatures aren't really on the top of the "Most important Water Creature" list. So, why do we really care whether jellyfish have been invented or not? Well, one verse that pops into my head is Psalm 46:10...
 “Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”God shows His glory through His creation. He is an artist, a designer.
He didn't just make jellyfish, an outstanding feat in itself, He created it. He knew that a little mushroom shaped organism fluttering through the ocean would show His glory.
Sometimes in my flurry to try and behold God's glory and to get closer to Him, I don't stop and be still. I don't look around to the earth He designed and marvel, knowing that the God who created all of this sent His only Son to save my soul for eternity. I need to do that more. He is God.
The biggest thing that stands in our way of knowing God more is satan. Keeping us from the salvation of Christ and knowing our Savior more isn't just a fun hobby for the devil, it's his passion. He desires that we would fall away and forget our God,  he wants to cloud our eyes and turn our heads away,make us think we can handle our lives on our own,  putting our strength above God Almighty's. I don't know about you, but thinking about an active enemy who is passionate about keeping us from Christ, makes something inside of me flicker and want to run to Christ and never ever ever let go. I want to fight the devil and his wily schemes. The thing is, I'm not always fighting. Sin is subtle. We have to be watchful, preparing ourselves for battle, the sword of the Spirit continually at our sides. If sin announced itself with a flashy neon sign that sign that said "Turn in here!!! Sin reeks havoc in your life and you know that's what you want! Pride, arrogance, disrespect, impurity, gossip, blaspheme and everything else God tells you to turn away from, it's all here!"
No. It's not like that. The devil whispers. very very very quietly. He twists what is right until it's wrong, and then hands it back to you. "It's not wrong...." he whispers, "You aren't as bad as that guy.......He deserves it.....nobody will ever know you thought that..." I could think of many more examples....And when we give into that, it's like throwing ourselves onto a bed of this...

Ouch.


So....all that being said, I want to be aware and FIGHT by the grace of God and the Holy Spirit. We can trust our God to hold us. He is eternal and holds us, past, present and future.
Jumping right to the next thing....

Mom and Dad! <3

Dash and Oggie

Erna and I :)

I'm so thankful for relationships. I have a wonderful (not perfect, but wonderful all the same) example of the relationship of a husband and wife in watching my parents. And I'm am proud to say that Christ is at the center of my mom and dad, and even though I've observed hurt feelings or misunderstood situations, when they run to Christ as their first love, forgiveness and a deeper love comes between them. I am so so so thankful for my parents, and I am realizing the value of their being in my life and in my life even more as I get older.
Oggie and Dash. Huge sigh. Not sure what emotion flows through my mind when I think of those two, but love for sure. If you have brothers, or if you even have more than one brother, you have probably observed that  there is competition. But, I have to say, I'm proud of them both and most of all thankful to Jesus for the growth in their relationship. Oggie, one of my 5 best friends, and brother in Christ has grown a lot and I am thankful that I have a brother so close to my age and that actually likes to hang with me. :) Dash is another one of my best friends although it can be hard sometimes, I love him more and more each day.  :)
Erna, (my lil' sis) and I are so different. so different. But God I think God is using our relationship as sister to grow us both, and Erna has pulled out the goofy, crazily creative side and oh, I just love having a sister!
God has given me 7 awesome relationships to grow in  in this stage of life, and He has shown me that I don't need any more to worry about right now. :)

 And...here is some random-ness for you :) We went to a museum with some friends and the triangle of mirrors fascinated me! haha :)

 I LOVE this picture. I don't know why, but I do. I love the little girl in the picture even more though!

 Yep. I love her!

Well...closing down for now! Thanks for reading (or skimming the page...)
~Bugg~

A precious photo

I recently found this photo while I was going through some old floppy discs.... When I saw it, I almost cried. Maybe it seems silly, but this is a picture of my great-grandparents meeting me for the first time. My Great-grandpa passed away in August, so that made it even more meaningful.
 Whoever took the picture perfectly captured the moment. The facial expressions of both my grandpa and grandma are totally 'them.' My grandma's caring face, sweetly talking, My grandpa's gentle admiration. Although I (of course) have absolutely no recollection of this picture being taken, I can almost hear their voices.
If I live to be a great-grandparent, I hope I radiate a life full of glorifying my Savior as much as my own did and are doing. And while I'm still growing and quite young, I hope I pursue God so that even if I don't live to be old, people still know that earth was never my real home anyway, and that to die only means going to be with my true Father.
~Bugg