#tbt

a fall party // love thy neighbor

We had a fall party at our house on the 7th. We wanted to reach out to our neighbors/meet them, gather up some dear friends, and have a great time of fellowship/fun together before it gets cold and we are stuck inside for the winter. We invited all of our neighbors along our highway. We have lived here for about five years and hadn't met most of our neighbors...that's just wrong! Man, we feel so bad that it's taken us this long, BUT, better late than never. I'm *so glad* we finally did! I can't describe the wonderful feeling of looking around at our house and yard all filled up with more people than we've ever had here at our place at one time, all having a good time meeting, talking, and laughing together. 

To all of our friends: thank you so much for all of your help! We don't know what we would have done without you! 

We had:

wonderful weather, praise the Lord ^

three legged races ^

sack races ^

plenty of smiles ^

lots of laughter ^

vehicles parked just right to fit in our driveway ^

a full house ^

a big delicious dinner ^

* babies to hold 

* volleyball 

* neighbors turned into new friends 

* more opportunities to reach out in the future because of the party 

Who is my neighbor? Listening to a sermon once, the speaker answered that question with this, "Everyone whom God brings into my circle of influence who needs me." And you've probably heard the saying, "you are the only Bible some people will ever read." Well how are our neighbors going to have the chance of being influenced by us if they don't even know us in the first place?!  We've passed by their houses hundreds of times and hadn't taken the time to get to know the people inside them until earlier this month. Yes, the thought of getting to know our neighbors seemed like a daunting task and took some work, but while I paused to look around at everyone at the party, I wished we'd done something like this wayyyyy sooner. I've been thinking on the story of the good Samaritan recently.  Are we too busy/distracted to reach out and help those around us (are we like the Jewish priest and Levite) or, like the good Samaritan, do we stop what we're doing and make time to show love to others? I know that I have been both the Jewish priest and Levite put together at times, caring only about me and what I've got going on in my life too much to stop and look around me at other people in need. I am striving everyday to be more like Jesus, who took no thought for Himself but was constantly ministering to those around Him. And as He made us to be His hands and feet to this world, we have the amazing privilege of ministering His love as much as we can. So I would encourage you to "Love thy neighbor" which is Christ's #2 command by firstly getting to know them, if you don't already! If you do, that's wonderful...keep reaching out and be a light in their lives! The time and effort put into loving your neighbors will be so small compared to the happiness you'll have that always comes when showing kindness to others. 

 We enjoyed it so much that we are already tossing around ideas for having another get together in the spring! And I'm quite sure that this fall party will become a tradition. 

How do you show love to your neighbors? Have you ever had a party and invited your neighbors? Please share your ideas, I'd love to hear them! 

"For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

-Galatians 5:13 & 14

counting.my.blessings {2}

-Another little brother or sister on the way! :D

-The devotional "My Utmost for His Highest"

-Making this "adventure fund" jar

-Going to a cute little creation museum with my family

-Midnight, our 15 year old "little panther" and sweetest cat ever

-Paige's peanut butter cookies

-Sewing a burlap curtain for my room

-Lilliana joining me one morning to "help" me feed the animals :)

-The Miles family coming down and staying with us over labor day weekend! Thank you for visiting us! The picnic, hiking, volleyball, roasting s'mores, playing Balderdash, and all was so fun. :D

-Lilliana starting to call me "Ashee" <3

-A four wheeler ride in the dark with my brother

-PARASAILING!

-Running into old friends at places in town

-The adorable hummingbirds that came to our flower bush when it was blooming

-Time to journal at Flat Creek

-Swimming at a lake

-A lunch at Steak 'n' Shake with the whole family

-A friend doing this to my water bottle before giving it back to me (I'd forgotten it in their car), the inside was filled with smarties too

-Going to a sweet friend's wedding

-Joshua's new kitten, Fuzz Ball

-Getting to meet and hold my best friend's precious baby <3

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Wow! Sorry for the lack of posting everyone! I hope to do better this next month ... which starts tomorrow, whoa, I can't believe that!

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."

-Psalm 34:8

counting.my.blessings{1} + Texas church camp notes

So I'm starting these "counting my blessings" posts which I'll probably do once a month or so... just listing things I'm thankful for! The Lord has blessed me with so much!

The litter of 11 Golden Retriever puppies our Kinsley had!

Completing some sewing projects

Hearing Lilliana say new words

Sweet tea in a mason jar on a sunny afternoon

A sweet letter from a friend in the mail

Doing a photo shoot with Paige, will share a few photos soon

Fresh picked wildflowers

Finding bunches of blackberries on our land...

...and Mom making a pie with them! Yum!

Time in God's Word + iced coffee!!

Bike rides with Dylan

Finishing a few wonderful books

Adorable little smiles to brighten my day

Jeremiah 29:11

Encouraging texts from friends

Caden's birthday on the 14th! :)

My rabbit getting better after being sick

Antique milk cans

Baby sister at breakfast wearing a fuzzy sleeper, cowgirl bib, and a morning smile :)

Going to a "Low Country Boil". T'was fun! My little sister, Paige, started her own blog (check it out!) and blogged about it here. :)

God's beautiful design being displayed everywhere, down to even this little bitty moth I found one day. Isn't it neat looking?

Fishing and swimming at Roaring River

Succeeding at a couple new recipes

Loving on my horse. <3 :D AND how good he's doing with his training/riding, I'm so proud of him!

HAY BALES

Taking the little ones to Flat Creek and watching them have so much fun

Finding a bunch of great reads for only 25 cents for every 4 books!

Surviving a week with Mom gone ;)

Finding great trails to ride horses and four wheelers on

Two hour trail ride with the sister 

Talking with a sweet friend on the phone

A recent clothes shopping spree at the thrift store

Meeting two blog friends!! It was so wonderful meeting these *sweet* girls, so glad it worked out! :D

And ya'll need to seriously go check out their blogs because they are wonderful: Heather and Tashia

 Date with Mom<3

Having fun wandering through Hobby Lobby with a friend, love that place!

Being given a big bag of sweet corn/shucking it/eating it :)

Okay, so I really don't have many good pictures from the trip that Dylan and I took down to Texas sadly. But that is definitely a big highlight from this month! We were able to hitch rides with friends and go down there for a church camp. There was several great messages, wonderful singing, youth Bible study, volleyball, rip-skating, and I got to see a friend that recently got married and moved down there as well! It was a very encouraging time, so thankful we were able to go. So, yeah, there's a glorious picture from our MacD's stop on the way home for ya. :P

One of the men who spoke at the camp shared this verse (John 15:9)

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."

He spoke on how much the Father loved His Son, His one and only begotten Son. Can you even imagine how great a love that was? And just as He loved His Son, Jesus loves you. He loves me. And we're to show His great love to others. He then wanted everyone to take out the you and put your name in that place instead. Like this:

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved Ashley Trask: continue ye in my love."

 I'm not sure anyone really said the whole verse aloud as he asked us to because halfway through he broke down crying. But I wrote it down in my journal anyway. He was a very sweet old man (the kind you just wanna go up and hug, y'know?) and what all he said meant a lot to me.

Saturday almost everyone was wearing a sticker that said "It's not about me!" and the message that night was on our focus needing to be on the Lord, not ourselves. Striving to be full of the Lord and then we won't have a need to talk or think about ourselves, but instead a need to talk and think about Him, giving Him all the glory and desiring for our lives to show Christ! I want to trade in all that I am: my selfishness, worry, wanting instead of being content = my weaknesses, for all that He is: love, mercy, kindness, hope, joy = His strength to be able to work in and through me for HIS glory. I want to diligently seek Him and His will for me and have Jesus be what people see, not my talent, courage, gifts, money, or sacrifices made. Anything good in me is all because of Him.We have no greater privilege than representing Him!

Snowboarding

Dylan and I went to Wyoming to see friends and go snowboarding the beginning of February! We had a blast! Have I mentioned that my brother is driving now y'all?!! ;D We took turns driving and had a grand adventure! ;D