goodbye october

hello, November.

I will miss you, October. But I'll see you next year. (Unless I die in a car wreck tomorrow. Sorry, I just had to say that.) 

October, I have fond memories of you. Running in the cool refreshing air, raking leaves, going to Florida, playing in the sand, swimming in freezing natural springs, laughing with friends and family. Yes, I think I'll miss you.

October, you are one of my favorite months of the year. Come to think of it, I'm beginning to like all of you months. I used to hate you fall months because you made me think of the evil winter months, but now -- could it really be that bad? I suppose I do still hate the end of February, but I won't think about that right now.

                                                         October, you are lovely in Florida.

 mwuhahaha. (sorry Samuel, you need to work on your surfing skills)

Thanks for the awesome trip, October. I took many pictures (300+) due to your stunning weather.

Beach, you were lovely too. Thanks for not raining on us, clouds. 

Dear readers, I think you've figured out by now that I had a great month. I hope you have too. Next month you won't be seeing much of me, as I will be writing. But I do wish you all a glorious & blessed November. Since this is my last post for awhile, I think I'll make it longer.

While we were in Florida, we went crab hunting. We caught tons! Have you ever been crab hunting?

We made sandcastles on the beach. I didn't get a picture of the result, but I think you get the idea.

There were lots of sweet little shops, and we got some Christmas presents. Shh, don't tell anyone.

My lil' sis is the cutest. Just try and say different.
                                                                                   

We went for lots of walks, but managed to eat at the vacation house the entire time. Mmm, home-cooked meals. 

We didn't visit many sites, but mainly just relaxed. I ran 7 miles the first day, and then 2 or 3 miles a day for the rest of the week. Maybe I didn't mainly just relax.

We did visit some freshwater springs though. They were freezing! But I was the first to jump in, of course. I didn't tell the others it was cold until they jumped in so I could see their faces.

I got to spend time reading (I read like ten books).

I got to spend time writing in my ideas notebook, and brainstorming for NaNo.

I got to sit on the beach and feel the salty water and sand in between my toes. I couldn't have asked for a better late vacation.

On our way home we met up with some old friends and had breakfast with them.

                                                                 (entering photo here)
Yesterday I got to hang out with our youth group as we raked leaves in a neighborhood and pray around a school. It was awesome.

Today was just school, then Heidi and I took pictures of each other.

Crazy kiddo.

And I look like a dork, as always. But we had fun.

                   Goodbye, October. I'll miss you. But I'm terribly excited about November.

postscript -- how many of you are doing NaNoWriMo too? And how do ya'll like the design? 

postscript 2 -- entering the picture on the header here 

farewell, fellow friends

And so, I leave, for one week -- to relax at the beach. Just thought I'd let you know, since there are 170 of you (really?!). I'll be back with lots of pictures + words.

But -- there is one biggie. I've decided to do National Novel Writing Month. Which means you write 50 thousand words, one entire book, in November. So yep. I'm excited. Scared, nervous, don't know if I can make it (but hey - good thing I'm stubborn) but I have a feeling it's going to be fantastic. The news is I probably won't be blogging much next month. Because you know, I am going to be spending most of my free time on writing. And algebra. *groans, faints, falls over on the couch, dies* 

To those of you who did "Spot the Blogger" --- Bethany guessed Megan first + correctly, Eve got Lucia first + correctly, Jessa figured out Bleah first + correctly. Nobody got them all in one comment, but I suppose that is a little much! And to those of you who asked, no I do not mind if you do the same thing on your blog. It was not my original idea, thus I can't tell you not to do the same. Besides, even if I did come up with the idea, I'd love to have others copy the same thing. =)

                                                                   yeah...that's one of the chicks. adorable, huh? 

So, to sum this all up -- I'm leaving for a week, I'll be doing NaNoWriMo (look it up for more info). If you need to contact me about anything just shoot me an email. Be aware, I won't probably respond for a week, depending on when you send the email.

And although I will not be posting on here after November, I will be posting on the Nation Novel Writing Month Blogger blog. Are you doing NaNo this year? If so, what are you going to write about? Leave a comment letting me know.

                                  Farewell, friends!
                                                     
                                                                       -- Kendra

LISTENING TO ||YOUR LOVE//BRANDON HEATH

ps -- i've turned comment moderation off, but word verification is on. please be nice. 

"spot the blogger"

I've noticed that a few people  have been doing 'spot the blogger' and I thought it would be fun to try. Of course, I'll admit --- I'm not that good at drawing + you might not recognize the bloggers I've drawn. But it's just for fun, right?

So - for those of you who haven't "played" before, look at the pictures below + guess in a comment which bloggers they are. The person who guesses all three of the bloggers I've sketched gets to be the winner (yeah...no prize, sorry. maybe next time.) The bloggers I've drawn aren't too popular, but they still shouldn't be that hard.

                                                                           Blogger #1

                                                                       Blogger #2

                                                                       Blogger #3

Yeah, I know, those weren't very good...that's what happens when you try to draw three pictures in one hour.

But what are you waiting for? Go ahead and comment! And who knows? Maybe next time you'll get your picture 'made' . . . 

girls & horses

Why is it that young girls want a horse so bad?

I know many girls who are 'obsessed' with horses, and I do admit I like them quite well.

For some, they only like horses for a short amount of time. My cousin used to dream about having a horse, and wanted one badly. Then, after a few years, she forgot about her dreams and got married. Yet others do not forget their dreams.

Perhaps it is their great mysteriousness that draws people to horses. The thought of riding a galloping horse gives one thrills.

Or perhaps it is their friendly bond with humans that draws us to them. Or their horsey smell.

Yet really --- horses are much more than what the books + movies tell. They're work, they're responsibility, they're a pain sometimes. They're stubborn animals. But they were very useful to the pioneers, so we should be thankful that we have these devoted creatures in our world.

I think I shall stick to good old cows though. Milk is too tasty, and so is beef.

                                                                  (entering photo here)
What are some of your favorite farm animals?

LISTENING TO ||COURAGEOUS//CASTING CROWNS

how He loves us

                                                               (entering photo here)

The other night I was lying in bed, it was late and I couldn't sleep. I looked out at the window and the full moon. I thought, reflected on my life. What is the my purpose for life? Why am I here? I still couldn't sleep, so I grabbed my mp3 player, and turned the song Times. Figuring it would lull me to sleep, I closed my eyes.

A few minutes later I had tears streaming down my face. I rarely ever cry, but the words in the song were just perfect for how I was feeling. I've been asking God to fill me up with his power, wondering why he wasn't listening to me, I've been almost angry at God because he wasn't responding when I wanted. Does he have to listen to me?

"Kendra," God seemed to be saying, "I'm already here. I've already done so much for you."

I shouldn't be complaining or feeling sorry for myself because I don't "feel" God. God is powerful. I'm not the center of the world. The world doesn't revolve around me.

I need to step back and realize how much God has done for me. He made me. Yet I sinned against him. I rebelled against him. He could've left me then. He could've wiped me out with one swift blow. I deserved it. Yet he gave me a second chance. He sent his son, his one and only son to die in my place. I excepted that gift, yet I still am nothing like Christ. 

(entering this picture here)

It's all so . . . confusing. I'm still trying to take it all in. 

I mean, how? How could God, the maker of the heavens, the holy one, care about me? I'm a horrible sinner. Even if I act nice around my family, sometimes I'm mad and upset at them inside. 

As I sat looking out the window the other night, listening to the song, soaking in the words, I was whispering, "How? How could you care about me? How could you, Lord? How?" 

How? Why? Why would God die in my place? Why would he want to even have a relationship with me? 

Why would be want to be my friend, my heavenly father? 

Why? 

Because you love me, Lord. Why do you love me? I'm not sure. I certainly don't love you half as much. 

I certainly take it for granted. I certainly don't deserve it. 

And I certainly won't understand how or why you did it for me, Jesus, my best friend. 

(entering photo here)

LISTENING TO ||YOU LOVE ME ANYWAY//SIDEWALK PROPHETS