Fall

As long as I can remember fall has been my favorite season. I love summer and it's fun activities, the warm (and hot) days spent in freedom doing everything you've been wanting to do for the past schoolyear. Like setting up that lemonade stand, having that sleepover you've been planning for the past few months, or just getting some projects done that you've been pushing out of the way. Yes, I love summer. And winter with all it's festivities is also a wonderful season! All the holiday cheer, the decorating in the house, Thanksgiving!, snowball fights and snowmen, Christmas!! All of which everyone looks forward to all year long. I especially like all the yummy baking that goes on during this time of year! But even though I enjoy each and every one of these seasons... I seem to enjoy fall so much. I love the feeling of going outside. You open the door and a crisp breeze hits your cheeks and nose. You hug your hoodie tighter as you crunch through the golden brown leaves that are EVERYWHERE! I love pilling them high and then running to jump in them. Everything looks so spectactular. The trees are aflame with color. Reds, oranges, yellows, and golds! I love taking walks by myself to reflect, or with a friend to share thoughts, and most commonly laughter. Changing seasons reminds me that weather is unpridictable and sometimes fierce. You never really know what the weather is going to be like. But it's good to remember that God never changes, and that He's always there. He's never going to surprise us by giving us something bad. And He'll never leave us nor forsake us. It's times like these when I walk outside in the cold and smile to myself..... God is Good.

Friends Forever

Friends are such a blessing! Recently we just had a formal Proverbs Brunch for the girls at our church. We all memorized a chapter in Proverbs and then recited it to everyone. It was really a great way to study Proverbs as well as fellowship together. After the food and recitation we all had a good time talking, taking pictures, and making memories.

Every time I think about my friends I realize how lucky I am to have them. Friends are such a blessing from God. I know I can count on them to be there for me no matter what. They help remind what a friend I have in Jesus. He's always there for me even when I feel like no one could forgive me for the things I've done. I can always look up to Him for comfort and support. But I praise Him every day for giving me extra helps in my life: my garden of friends.
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(Photography by Emily Schuurmans, Daniel Hanson, and Rick Smith)