Why?

YOU speak without sound...YOUR love is so loud...YOU always save me...

Most of the time in life I have more questions than I ever do answers. It's frustrating...confusing...disheartening...

WHY can't I just know what is going to happen or WHY it's happening?

I don't think I'll ever understand WHY or be told why, but I am definitely learning the value in WAIT.

The theme of my life for the past few months has been wait. I have wanted to know why, asked why, prayed why, cried why...but the answer was then and has been lately, wait. Waiting has been so much more rewarding then why...but I don't usually see that until later.

This week we found out that my uncle has cancer...inoperable cancer. WHY? Why him? Why now? Why to our family? I will probably never know the answer to these questions, but what I do know is that God is in control. He has already revealed Himself through the whole situation. And He will be glorified through it. Knowing that is enough. He will sustain us. He works all things for the good...I'm glad that He is who my hope and faith is in...

YOU speak without sound...YOUR love is so loud...YOU always save me...

Your Love Will Never Change

Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:16

They tell me there’s songs reserved for angels
Would you sing me one, a stranger
Just to prove your love?

They tell me you’ve given poor men kingdoms
And handed guilty freedom
And taken on their stains
And your love will never change
Your love will never change

They tell me that you dwell with good and evil
In alleys and cathedrals
Shadows and the light
They tell me that you hold the world together
Not from guilt, but pleasure
And you somehow know my name
And your love will never change
Your love will never change

So tell me there’s nothing that you can’t do
And you’ll love me though I’ve hurt you
And that you’ll take my blame
And your love will never change
Your love will never change

(Dave Barnes)

In a world full of change, it is nice to be sure of something...

My soul is in anguish.
How long, O LORD, how long?
Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 6:3-4

In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
Exodus 15:13

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13:5-6

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:6-7

Thank you LORD for your unfailing, unchanging, unconditional love...

For My Love

Walk towards me
I want to hear
The heavens singing over you
When you breathe
And look at me
I want to be captured by you

Gaze into my eyes
And let me know you’d fight
Thousands, for my love
Slip your hand in mine
Ask me to dance with you tonight
Just ask me for my love

I want to hide
What’s deep in my eyes
I’m scared to be known by you
But when I turn my head
And see you there
I want to be pursued

Gaze into my eyes
And let me know you’d fight
Thousands, for my love
Slip your hand in mine
Ask me to dance with you tonight
Just ask me for my love

A dream I won’t wake from
A story that will never end
The ground your feet walk on
Let me be there, let me be there

Gaze into my eyes
Let me know you’d fight
Thousands, for my love
Slip your hand in mine
Ask me to dance with you tonight
Just ask me for my love

Gaze into my eyes
Let me know you’d fight
Thousands, for my love
Slip your hand in mine
Ask me to dance with you tonight
Ask me for my love

(Bethany Dillon)


this is all I really want...is it too much to ask for? hope for? wish for?

I guess I'll just have to keep waiting.....

Day at the Museum

I got to go to the Jacksonville Museum of Science and History (MOSH) today with Jami, Matt, and Camden. They have a dinosaur exhibit right now. It was really cool! I loved watching Camden discover things and interact with the exhibits. He is the cutest 2 year old I have ever seen!


Camden is so excited about seeing the dinosaurs!


Check out that snake!! Matt and Camden are both not quite sure how to react...


Cam playing with the toys in the "kids only area"...they have a river simulation...very cool!


Worn out from the museum...what a fun day!

OH MY GOSH!

So tonight was my first football game with UC. It was so fun and very exciting...but not as exciting as what I came home to...

As I pulled through the parking lot, a snake slithered across the road in front of me...so I ran that punk over...



...but I just roughed him up a bit...



...which he was apparently not too happy about...look at that face! I think he might have a slight back ache as well...



To ensure that he would not survive- and to put him out of his misery- I ran that s.o.b. over a few more times- which brought the total to 8 drive-overs. I think that he now has a stomach ache to go along with the back ache...



Welp, those are my pictures of conquering the copperhead. This is a warning of what could happen to you if you cross my path on the wrong night...well, any night, if you're a gross-o snake!!

(and just so you all know, I'm really not as brave as I may seem...I definitely screamed, squealed, and said some expletives throughout the whole ordeal...just ask Courtney and Shannon, they heard it all!)

If he's still out there in the morning, I'll probably take more pictures....

....I think I'm going to have nightmares about snakes tonight!!

Beautiful

As I look into the stars
Pondering how far away they are
How You hold them in Your hands
And still You know this man
You know my inner most being, oh
Even better than I know, than I know myself
What a beautiful God
What a beautiful God
And what am I, that I might be called Your child

What am I, what am I
That You might know me, my King
What am I, what am I, what am I



As I look off into the distance
Watching the sun roll on by
Beautiful colors all around me, oh
Painted all over the sky
The same hands that created all of this
They created you and I
What a beautiful God
What a beautiful God

And what am I, that I might be called Your child
What am I, what am I
That You might know me, my King
What am I, what am I
That You might die, that I might live
What am I, what am I, what am I, what am I

What am I
What am I
What am I
What am I
What am I

(Shawn McDonald)

I'm glad that there are people who can put into words what I feel sometimes...

Gotta see it to BELIEVE it!

This is just a glimpse of the random goodness of my favorite place in Barberville...



You may think, "Wait! When did Kelli go on a safari?" I know that the gator, flamingos, elephants and giraffe might make it seem like I am somewhere exotic...but oh no, I'm just 30 minutes from my parent's house...

And that is truly just a glimpse of the random-y goodness you will find there...

Please try to restrain yourself from jumping into your car and driving to see this place...just make sure to plan some extra time on your next trip across Florida!

Barberville

Do you have things in your life that bring you great joy and you don't even know why? I most certainly do...

One of those things is the "Largest Road Side Stand in the World." It is something I driven by for years on my way to and from school. Each drive by piquing my curiostiy more and more, until I just couldn't stand it any more. I had to stop! I had to see what this place had to offer me, aside from the giant buffalo and Statue of Liberty lamp post out front. From those things alone, I knew what was inside had to be amazing. What I saw when I stopped has changed my life forever. Never in my life have I seen stuff like this...knights in armor...Mexican pottery of every animal imagined... giant roosters... life size alligators... fountains... fluorescent palm trees... religious icons... fruit... swords... jellies... juice... sinks... the list could go on and on and on...

So here it is...my tribute to it. The next time you're driving west on State Road 40, make sure you stop by to rummage through the incredible inventory of the "Largest Road Side Stand in the World."

(I promise to post pictures soon...for some reason Blogger and Phinneas- my computer- are not cooperating!)

Graduation!

Shippy is officially a college graduate!


Check out those yellow shoes!


Ashley and Baby aka Abbey...her little sister!


Jess and Ash...roomies!



We had a great time afterwards at the Ale House. I am so proud of what Ashley has accomplished and will miss her now that she's back in Orlando...

Big Day!

Today is a very big day for some very important people in my life!

First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERICA LAYNE!
Erica was my first friend in Umatilla. She is smart, beautiful, spontaneous, fun, and a great daughter! I hope you have the best birthday, ever!!




Second, HAPPY GRADUATION, ASHLEY!
Today is Shippy's graduation from college. I'm so very PROUD of her! She has been a great friend, teammate, and encourager, always bringing fun and laughter wherever she goes. I am very glad to have such an amazing friend like her!

Brief Thoughts on the Summer

So it has been almost three months since my last post. Lots has happened between then and now. I've been to five weddings, participated in the Ms. Universe pagent, worked four camps, visited two foreign countries, failed an important test, lost a roomate, acquired a new roomate, and gotten a new job. Oh! and Mom and Dad got a puppy!! All in all, it has been a pretty busy summer!! When I get time, I'll elaborate more on all of these topics. For now, you'll just have to be satisfied knowing that I am still alive, exhausted, but alive.



The Ms. Universe Pagent at Lauren's house...my favorite was Tracy aka Ms. Cuba!



AnnE was a beautiful bride. Jami and I had a blast going to Kansas City to be her bridal assistants!



Impact was great again...here is the amazing Rec Staff...contrary to popular belief, we really do work hard!!



My crazy SuperWOW staff. They were great! What an amazing three weeks...



Laura, Stephany, me, and Sara Hope...wedding crashers...I mean photographers! Beautiful wedding on the beach at Jekyll.