2018: Spring Photos

In an ideal world, I would share photos on my blog in a timely manner. However, since I rarely manage that, my posts becomes nostalgic reminders of what the world looked like several months prior. If your surroundings are cold, grey, and wet right now, here's a glimpse of spring!

              Melissa and I saw Jon Foreman in concert, and it was AMAZING. I had seen him with Switchfoot before, which was an incredible experience, but this smaller, more intimate concert may be my favorite. The music was phenomenal, and Jon shared funny stories and comments. During his introduction to the song "Inheritance," he said, "I'm going to say something you won't hear at another concert this year... Let's hear it for payphones!" About twelve of us cheered, and he said, "WOW! That was a lackluster response."

I took this carnation photo at my friend Makenzie's graduation.

 This is my favorite pin! Melissa gave it to me for Christmas last year.

              When I unpacked boxes in our new schoolroom, I found a handwriting book that I had used  when I was about seven. On every page, I drew things that started with the featured letter, and I always found some way to incorporate my stuffed animals, who doubled as characters in the stories I made up. Nothing, not even the letter 'x,' could stop me. On that page, all I drew was an x-ray, but according to the caption, it was Teefty's x-ray!

              Here, we have "Panda and his parrot in a peasant's pretty pumpkin patch."

              On June 10, I worshiped with my childhood church for the first time in seven years. I hadn't been on the premises in a while, and it was interesting to see some of the changes. For example, there used to be dumpsters in this spot, and now there's a GAZEBO. That is the epitome of an upgrade!

               Also, the trees are a lot bigger. I used to be able to take pictures of this part of the church without branches getting in the way, but trees are like children, and they always grow up when you're not paying attention.

               It felt so wrong to take a guest parking spot. I had to talk myself through it, saying, "You haven't belonged at this church for seven years, and you are coming for just today. You. Are. A. Guest." Then I got out of my car, and that made it even weirder.

              You see, several years ago, my dad replaced his truck with a new model, and I have been driving his old one since. It was a bizarre experience to step out and see Dad's truck parked in guest parking at the church where we used to spend half our lives.

              The reason I went back was because this was the last Sunday that the Guyers, some of my high school mentors, would be there. They're now church-planting in Michigan, and it was really meaningful to be there for their sending service and to come back in the evening for an ice cream social. I may have cried more than once. The following picture is of Michael and Emily speaking at the evening event. 

              While I was there, I got to see a lot of wonderful people that I miss. It was a beautiful foretaste of heaven to go meet with other believers from a different local body, catching up on and celebrating what God has done in our lives.

The next three photos are from my grandmother's yard.

              On the way home from visiting my grandmother, Mom and I stopped at a Cracker Barrel for me to go to the bathroom, and I took this photo from the parking lot. Later, when I looked at the gift shop for a few minutes, I found a mug that said, "You go, girl! And don't come back!" I didn't buy the mug, but it resonated with my soul.

               I, however, will be back, because I have summer and fall photos to share someday in the (hopefully) near future.