counting.my.blessings {3}

-watching our horses galloping in the pasture, such a very pretty sight

-lunch at subway with Mom

-my super sweet little sisters

-baking chocolate chip cookies with Joshua 

-my "hiding places" in the woods, great for sitting and talking to Jesus 

-getting to go on two trips to Nebraska to see family (post on that coming soon)

-my new Mossy Oak fuzzy jacket Mom got for me

-Grandma getting to stay with us for a week

-beautiful skies 

-Micah 7:7&8

-fall beauty 

-visiting an old neighbor of ours in NE

-a sweet baby's hand holding onto my finger 

-youth dinner at church 

-friends who are always there for you 

-letters from my Aunt Tracy 

-hugs from my cousins 

-going on a date with Rylan 

Unfortunately our laptop is having issues so I am not able to share some of the photos I wanted to with you right now. Hopefully we'll get that fixed soon!

November starts tomorrow! October went by so fast it seems. I am going to do this challenge in November, wanna do it too? 

What was something the Lord blessed you with today? 

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah."

-Psalm 68:19

Nature walk + Rylan quotes

This morning I took this adorable group on a nature walk. By the way, have I ever posted about something the same day that it happened before?! I think this is the first time! The woods are so pretty and they had lots of fun.

We filled up the bucket with acorns for the pig, found lots of pretty leaves, and a fuzzy caterpillar.

When we got back home Lilli wanted to hold Fuzz Ball. :D

Rylan has said so many funny things lately so I thought I'd share a few of them here:

Somehow he got the idea that cemeteries are weddings, so twice in the van he has shouted, 'there's a weddin'!" "Oh, look! Another weddin'!" Haha

He says that he's thirsty for food instead of hungry, so just the other day he tells me, "Ash I am thirsty for marshmallows!"

He calls playing any instrument singing, so he will ask Paige, "Can I sing on the piano with you?"

Rylan's taking a bath, he starts slicking up his hair and says, "This is how to make yourself hamhum (handsome)." He looks at himself in the mirror a couple minutes later with a satisfied smile, "yep, this is what hamhum looks like!"

Book Review: Thanks a Million

I recently finished reading, "Thanks a Million" by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron ... for the second time! It is such a great book that really motivates you to witness to people! It is very well written in a way that makes you not want to put it down once you get started.

A little bit about the authors: Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron (movie star who used to be on the show "Growing Pains" who later gave his life to the Lord and joined up with Ray Comfort)  started one of my favorite ministries several years ago called Living Waters. They have published several books, tracts, c.d.s, and videos, including the documentary they put together called 180. 180 is on abortion and has saved several babies who would of been aborted had their mothers not watched it and had a change of heart. They started a TV show called The Way of the Master that teaches Christians how to share their faith effectively with anyone you meet. 

Inside this book's pages are countless witnessing stories told in full, from random people met on the street to world famous movie stars. There is also plenty of good humor, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron both take turns writing different chapters and are both very entertaining. A few stories had me laughing so hard I cried! 

Do you feel scared of the thought of witnessing to complete strangers? Do you have trouble knowing what to say if they get upset with you? This book will give you the answers you need to those problems and more. It has many great witnessing tips that are so very helpful in knowing how to bring up the things of God in any conversation you have with anybody. Most of all it makes you wanna get out there and share Christ with everyone you meet! :)

A couple of my favorite, as well as very thought provoking lines from the book, both by Ray:

"Faith always overcomes fear. The "fear" that comes to your mind is that if you bring up the things of God, the stranger you have approached will think that you are a religious weirdo. But you know that if he dies in his sins, he will go to hell forever. Concern for his eternal salvation will help you ignore the DT's (discouraging thoughts). Simply think of this reality - his worst case scenario is the lake of fire; yours is that a stranger will think that you are weird."

"The most important day of our life will be the day of our death. Think about that. On that day, nothing else will matter except what we have done for God and where we are going. Our house, car, possessions, and money will mean nothing on that day. We will be leaving time and entering into eternity. Meditate on that breathtaking moment. With the exhale of your last breath, you will leave everything you love.... This very night God could say to you, "This night your soul is required of you." Let such sobering thoughts consume you. Let them drive you to use your time and your life for what matters, to reach out to the unsaved and make a big dent into this sinful world for Jesus Christ. "

"Be instant in season and out of season ... do the work of an evangelist." - 2 Timothy 4:2

Redeem the time ... making the most of every opportunity ... " - Ephesians 5:16

Click here to read more about it and then buy it! ;)

Camp + a beautiful sunrise

Last weekend we had a wonderful time at a family Bible camp in Oklahoma at the Robber's Cave State Park. We were so thankful to be able to go and for the time we had there! The messages, singing, and fellowship was a blessing. The hiking, climbing, and volleyball during the day; looking up at the stars at night; playing "catch phrase", "actionary", and singing around the campfire was all so fun. 

Looking out of our cabin we stayed in

Is it just me or is my brother getting more handsome everyday?! 

A full playground of happy children

We had so much fun climbing the rocks

Robber's Cave, where a long time ago, real robbers hid here. There was a place where they kept their horses as well. In the above picture Caden and Rylan were having fun sliding down that slippery rock to the bottom ... over and over again :)

Weeee!

Mom was a photo-bomber, haha

Rylan's face though .. :'D

VERY early Sunday morning Dylan, a friend, and I hiked to the top of the "mountain" to watch the sunrise. 

From when we first got to the top to when the sun rose.

"Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised."

-Psalm 113:2&3

Autumn is here...

... which means:

• Gathering around bonfires playing guitars, singing, and roasting s'mores
• Feeling cozy and warm in hoodies
• Trees changing from green to beautiful yellows, oranges, reds, and purples
• Hot coffee with pumpkin spice creamer
• Getting pumped up for hunting
• The forest floor becoming covered in several inches of leaves
• Decorating the house with delightfully orange autumn decor and fall scented candles 
• Honks of geese flying overhead as they make their way south
• Raking up piles of leaves and then jumping in them

I just love this time of year. I'm so thankful that the Master Artist created this beautiful world for us to enjoy, with different seasons and the changes that come with them. I can't wait for the leaves to change colors, the Canada geese to stop by the little lake at the park, for the "crunch, swish" sound when running through the woods, and the smiles of the little children after jumping into a pile of leaves. God is so good!

And just remember: Y.o.u. are far greater than any of the wonders of this world. Out of His whole creation y.o.u. are the Lord's  most beautiful and prized posession. Y.o.u. have been fearfully and wonderfully made. He delights in y.o.u. and He loves y.o.u. with an everlasting love!

Have a very happy and blessed October and Autumn y'all!!

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

- Anne of Green Gables

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful world to the children of men!"

-Psalm 107:21

What is your favorite season? What are a few special things that you love about Autumn?