In my orderly, organized fashion I come late again with this post. *crashes in* But honestly...the ending of summer should never be hurried (don't you agree?) and it's also very hard to say goodbye to one of the best summers of my life. So in honor I decided to reflect over the blessings small and big that occurred this summer (along with a sprinkling of funny stories and anecdotes). Also I have a very big announcement at the end of the post so BEAR with me and yes you may totally skip to the end if you would rather not ;)

watermelon
 

2017 summer was watermelon summer! I feel like we had watermelon to eat every single day, well of course not every single day...but at least twice a week. I can't quite describe the happiness that comes from biting down on a crisp juicy melon :) and mama yelling at my siblings and I to go outside to eat while the sticky sweet juice trickles down our hands. In addition more than one neighbor brought us their home grown watermelons and wow it was wonderful. Next year merits a personal melon patch. Really, there can never be too much watermelon!

fireworks

this. was. scary...and awesome at the same time. I still feel the knot in my stomach over my nervousness. So our friends did an impromptu firework show in our front yard and it was great and fun but LOUD and so many sparks flying everywhere YIKES and I was holding back a curious little munchkin from running too close. But anyway one of the fireworks was particularly huge and it exploded into so many sparks that it caught the lawn on fire and it was going on and on. *internal screaming* And of course. It was no big deal. But of course I'm over there hugging that little girl and blabbering off to my sister in horror.

This was literally me the whole time xD
 

  
 sugar shack donuts

This is a funny one. It's my birthday, k? I'm at seven o'clock swim team morning practice with my siblings. So it ends *sore muscles very sore and tired sleep deprived girl* and people are asking around for my mom and I'm like "I don't know, she must be busy with the kids somewhere". Go figure my sweet mom drove one hour to the sugar shack donut store just to get three huge boxes of donuts for the whole swim team because I love sugar shack donuts and GAH ISN'T MY MOM IS THE BEST MOM EVER? SHE IS <3 <3 <3 Anyway she comes back and I'm standing there with my mouth all dropped open not believing my eyes because DONUTS and HER SWEETNESS, she was just brushing off the fact that she just drove that far just for me. And wow she really made my birthday the best ever. I'll never forget that  ^.^ 

sunsets, the rainbow ones!

 Need I say more? It's like a rainbow that carpets the whole sky...driving home over the bridge and seeing that heavenly sunset fill the sky is beyond words. It's so incredible to see those rainbow colors and remember that covenant of peace He established with Noah so long ago, but that the promise still stands forever and for every one of us. <3 God is really good <3

full moons

The midnight walk girl took her midnight walks under the full moons and IT WAS BREATHTAKING. AND THE STARS, there were millions and millions and I saw shooting stars. Those just pierce my soul with deep love...I feel little flickers of God's magic...it's like He's breathing love into our souls. <3
And on midnight walks you should try them sometime...but do it barefoot. That's very important *nodnod*  oh yes and please stay safe if you do, I have the blessing of living in a secluded property in the country so that's totally fine for me. ;)

fireflies

I remember one night sitting down on the bench late, late and my daddy came up and put his arms around me and we watched the fireflies fill the sky from ground to treetops with their sparkling little lights. Imagine frogs croaking and a sweet gentle breeze, needless to say it was a magical night...

solar eclipse

I mean WOW. What a chance of a lifetime we all got (well almost all of us). Around in my area it was cloudy but there was this one moment when the faint sun broke out and BAM you should have seen us run with our eclipse glasses. THE VIEW WAS INCREDIBLE. It was truly something I won't forget.

 bible journal

 This has become vital to me. Just writing down a few notes and quotes after a profound study could be the pick-me-up I needed at some random time. I highly recommend doing a bible journal, it's been so good for me. And plus writing in a notebook...it's very very aesthetic *creeps down to be smaller and grins*

campfires


Sitting around the campfire with family with plenty of popcorn and watermelon + while the sky grows paler and paler blue = memories


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Well here I come to the ending of this nostalgic post, and SO WHAT IS THE SURPRISE you ask.
My sister and I have decided to write a diary style blog where we talk about our life and its coming out pretty soon. AND IT'S VERY AESTHETIC AND PRETTY. This idea came up because honestly there is so much to be happy about and so much to reflect on based on our life as well as the fact that this year will be one of the most filled with opportunities and adventures as I like to call them :) AND THE BLOG NAME IS *drumroll* 

ISN'T IT PRETTY? (I'm wayyy too excited right now xD)  I'm sure you are bursting with questions so ask those below and there is more concrete explanation coming once the blog opens.

Of course this blog I will still be writing on but since school is starting along with a myriad of incredible new opportunities I will be posting only once a week on Saturdays. (with some possible exemptions but for sure once a week)

That being said...

Leaving summer is hard...but fall is a beautiful month and I feel like many of this year's reflections have included treasuring every day and season, yes even the unpleasant days and times, because what we sow in due season we will reap...if we don't lose heart <3 The weeds in our fields are only tests to see how much work and love we are willing to put in. Let's show ourselves worthy.


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How has your month been? What do you think of our upcoming blog? Share some of your favorite memories! Let's chat below! <3
  

“Surely this is our God;
    we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
    let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
(Isaiah 25:9b)

I absolutely love music! As you all know it is a huge part of my life. You can often find me plugged into spotify listening to my playlists while tackling homework for school, singing in the garage while bemusing life, or figuring out the chords and intervals and switching them into personal songs. Add in writing with music, drawing with music, and reading with music and you've got a pretty music obsessed girl!

Music is part of what shapes me into who I am and that's why it is so important to find great music to listen to. So today I'm going to share a neat little compilation of my personal (and latest) favorite albums and ramble a bit about why I like them. I hope you find some new favorites and that we can also fangirl about old favorites. :)
And NO I am absolutely not getting sponsored to do this, these are really my favorites and I can't help sharing! 

Albums

1. Atlas: Year One // Sleeping At Last

The beauty of these lyrics will take you away to a different place...I was a bit skeptical at first with the lyrics and concepts but everything in essence points me back to my Creator. I don't know how two human beings can spin such stories with songs but if any can than those people are Sleeping at Last. Personally my favorite album of theirs is Atlas...plus for writers? Get ready for plot bunnies when you listen to these intriguing songs with titles like Sun, North, South, Mercury, Earth...it's like a whole new world! Definitely check them out! They have such soothing music and some of the tracks are instrumental. 

Favorites
 mercury . indian . moon . i'll keep you safe . saturn
 
2. Brave New World // Amanda Cook

This album is my absolute favorite christian/praise album. The music is so soothing to have in the background and Amanda Cook's voice is so beautiful. The words uplift, inspire, and make me think in new ways. Filled with love, awe, and beauty the songs give me a lot encouragement and who can help singing along with praise? Definitely not me. :)

 Favorites
pieces . heroes .  closer 
 
3. The Fretless // Fretless

Who can resist toe tapping folk? So this album I have to thank Jane Maree for introducing to me. The music is so much fun! It sounds like sunshine and flowers and freshly baked scones. It feels like the rough wood on a violin and the dust of dandelions and the giddiness of road trips.
It's a mix of Irish and folk and some newsy tunes...I don't know how to describe it any further other than to say it attracted all my siblings into my room to jig. xD So definitely check this one out!

Favorites
 wing commander . hewlett's . june tune 


Songs

1.  Safe and Sound // Jackie Evancho

If you are writing a book about love and sacrifice, think of adding this one to your playlist...Jackie Evancho's voice makes for an emotional rendition of this hunger games track. This is honestly a must listen.
 
2. Far Across the Land // Eurielle, Ryan Louder
 Eurielle's voice is ethereal and the lyrics almost spin you away far across the land. Another song to add to your book playlist.

3. Meet Me on the Battlefield // Svrcina
 And here's another one! Something about the battle themes? Svrcina's voice is tense and raw and again this matches the theme of fate, love, and sacrifice.

4. At Last, Sunrise // Maree Docia

This is a song without words and appropriately so. There is no need of words to convey the beauty of hope and sunrise. You can almost see the sun as the notes swell to convey its rising. A good song for an emotional moment but also a good song for contemplation.

_______

Look out for part two of this series and tell me if you liked or like any of these songs! Talk to me below! I love to chat with you guys, whatever you have to say! :)

Shout praises to the Lord,
    everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
    to worship the Lord! 
(Psalm 100:1-2) 

One day and an atrocious sunburn later I am back with my little (or maybe *squints*...not so little) photo dump. I have some cool stuff planned out for the remainder of August and so nice things will be coming your way soon!  I do not have the luxury of a camera so I am teaching myself to bring photography to it's highest iphone 5 camera state. No filters unless mentioned. *smiles*
 Now let me sweep you away to ze beautiful laziness of lakeside days, will you?

_______


After a long car ride with the squabbling children this view is a soothing relief. You find many people fishing around here and boating. One neat boat had a slide off it but unfortunately I couldn't catch that!


Isn't the weathered wood...relaxing?


And the big picture, not so grand. Perspective is like magic!

The yellow sunlight streaming through the leaves is so gorgeous. There was a gentle breeze blowing that overpowered the humidity, it was really pleasant.




Little sister reading the guide to local fish.


Ack so much delicious gourmet food! There were at least five kinds of bread, homegrown veggies, shish kebobs, farmer's market cheese, yummy drinks and so much more...it was picnic at its best.

Colorful tomatoes and sparkly water :)))

 Oh my word, dessert was incredible. Sadly I didn't get a pic of everything but this oh-so-most chocolate cake.  Brown sugar cookies, and watermelon and oranges and sponge cake roll with strawberry jam...boy I have the best clan ever.


(filter) Getting ready to head out and swim.

 (filter) My attempt at being aesthetic...and look it's a trashcan. *frowns and shakes finger* No photo bombing sir.


(filter) Also me trying to be aesthetic and trying to banish the diving rules sign with my eyes xP


This was priceless! Me and my sister with her friend kept hearing the ice cream truck song and looking around and finally we found it was actually...an ice cream boat. How charming! :))

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Well anyway thus ends my photo dump! Let's talk below and tell me if you are viewing the solar eclipse today!!! (Btw if you have eclipse glasses be sure to check if you can see daylight, if you can then they are fake and will hurt you...so don't use those! Please please be careful peeps, you can go blind by unsafe viewing! )

 They saw the works of the Lord,
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
(Psalm 107:24)

I have been commenting around the blogosphere and am firmly convinced that this is the best tag ever created in the history of tags. And lo and behold its incredibly creative creator...Abigail Lennah!  Also ALL the visuals and headers in this post were made by her and OMW aren't they so cute and gorgeous? So all credits go to her, none of these pictures are mine. 

NASHVILLE// Hands down Nashville. It would be the adorable town with all the shops and music and places to explore that bloggers dream about. It's not too far for the East Coasters, which consist the majority of known bloggers but its worth the trek for West Coasters and I would do anything to get the Aussies and New Zealanders amongst the rest. *flies in with the private plane*
Probably the best accommodation choice would be homey neighbouring lakeside cabins, like the ones at Nashville Lake Shore Resort.

I'm going to cheat a bit and list food genres :P

DRINKS// Tea, Coffee, and Ice Tea and those cool fruit drinks in aesthetic bottles

BREAKFAST FOOD//  Waffles AND Pancakes, don't worry I love both. *face of innocence* And fruit salad and AHH every single delicious breakfast food.

DINNER/LUNCH // Chips and dip, potluck food, grilled stuff.

Boy I cheated ^ xD

Hard choices!

TWENTY ONE PILOTS// Everyone loves this band so that would be a must
PIANO GUYS (OK, Cello-LoopA, That's What Makes You Beautiful) // The fun beats of these songs would be a must for crazy dancing.
HILLSONG WORSHIP// Can you see everyone flailing with eyes closed to the awesomeness of these songs? *grins at the thought*
 MUSICALS/MOVIE SCORE MUSIC // We would be singing along to our favorites from Lion King, and all the other favorite cartoons, musicals, and films...I'm sure there would be a mysterious occurrence of sombre LOTR film music inserted into the playlist.
ASSORTED DANCE BEATS // Some assorted great clean dance songs, whether oldies, pop or indie.
 

TALKING // We would be chattering like jaybirds, even the most introverted one of us would be coming out of their shell in excitement of the moment. We would exchange contacts, and for those of us who discover we live in the same states, bonds would be made. Friendships would bloom.

READING/WRITING // We would spend evenings on hammocks and benches by the lake and snuggle up to read and write. There would be quiet whispers of enthusiasm, some might even share a beloved book...or give writing advice.

WANDERLUST // We would be wandering around the town taking pictures, screaming aesthetic at every cute thing. There would be endless sights and shops and places to visit. Some of us would split up and there would be memory sharing at the campfire at night.We might even stay up late one night to stargaze and talk about life.

VLOGS: Since we can always cooperate a post through email, we would do what we can't do so easily when we are far away...videos. There would be endless videos and pictures of our venue, we would come up with impromptu tags and each run to an aesthetic corner to film, we might even film a huge music video together and sing no matter how badly. I could see Abiee strumming the uke accompanied by yours truly on the violin. Whoever else has musical talent or fingers to hit a drum, a voice to sing would join. It would be like a fountain of craziness.

CRAZINESS OR QUIETNESS // Well to cope with the awkwardness of first meetings, there would either be a huge silence or there would be awkward craziness and we'd be a bit too excited and loud at first. There would be the strange moments of not being able to insert XD or flail on command within asteriks. We'd have to get used to each other's true personalities.

HARD GOODBYES // It would be very hard to say goodbye, we would all be planning for the next time and much of the upcoming year's posts would be hinting back to the fun of last year and awaiting the next Blogger Party.

Please do this! Not only is it awesome, but I want to see YOUR answers :)

Love,

Anna


A friend loves at all times
(Proverbs 17:17)