His Plans and Living Life: 2012

Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Eve 2012

Since today is Christmas Eve I wanted to share with y'all a passage that I read today in Hebrews that speaks of the new covenant that the Lord has made with his people, i.e. those who believe in Jesus Christ. According to scripture, his people no longer have to sacrifce animals or know him through others because He has paid the ultimate price and we know him for He is merciful to us and will remember our sin no more. Praise Him for all He has done and thank-you Lord for sending your son to die for our sins so that we may be saved. Merry Christmas!

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant,and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:8-12

Beach Day With A Very Old Dog

Upon finishing one of my last semesters of nursing school I had a great desire to go to the beach. My very sick sister, Morgan, and I set off for the beach on one of our free days. Although Christine had to sit on a cold beach far too long due her adventerous sister, Morgan and I had a lovely day together except for the time in which she ran widely along the beach and would not come back to me. The beach was beautiful and the weather was extreamly warm for December.

Morgan has slowed down this year and lies down
if I take too long to take her picture.

Sand Piper Feet

Morgan loves the water, even when the ocean is only 50 degrees. Therefore, she thought it was a great idea to swim to another island with the current and them come back to me. I was not so excited about the plan...

Hopefully we will have more days like this but I must say, now that she is getting older, I cherish the times I have enjoying God's creation with Morgan plodding alongside me.

What beauty God has created on this imperfect earth.

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth,and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind."

Job 12: 7-10

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Old Trains

After a sixteen hour adventure in the airport and before a twelve hour trip around the countryside of Kansas, we took a trip to see the railroad museum in Wichita, Kansas. The museum itself was a very small building, so we didn't think much time would be spent at the local, to our surprise, though, there were many old train cars and engines in a lot outside the museum. The different cars and engines were really neat to walk through as there were not any ropes and we could explore to our hearts content. The day spent in the train yard presented an opportunity for a lot of neat pictures to be shot.

Map of the Train Which Used to Traverse Through Kansas

(Reminded me of the days past when trains were really important for communication and supplies.)

Old Official Guide for the Railway Workers

Christine Greatly Enjoying Her Time Out in the 102 Degree Weather

Christine and I in an Engine from 1768

Dad Contemplated the idea of Becoming a Conductor

Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa in Front of the Great Plains Transportation Museum

The Smith Family Farm, Kansas

Contrary to what I believed most of my life, all of Kansas is not flat, brown and devoid of trees!! I came to this strange realization one week ago when my sister, father and I took a trip to see my grandfather's family farm in Kansas. The farm was absolutely beautiful and the day we went to see the farm was one of the best days of my life. All I could think was: "How marvelous are your works oh Lord!", as I spent hours in the car looking out at the Lords creation. Due to a two year drought the land is extremely dry in Kansas and a lot of foliage has died. Even through a groaning creation, one can still see the marvel of God's creation. The sky and land is so vast in Kansas that everything was so overwhelming and beautiful to me, a city girl from the East Coast.

Grain Bin

Old Barn

(My dad used to play in the hayloft as a child.)

The Road to the North Pasture

Cows and Calves

Wild Flowers and a Butterfly

A Wingless Type of Grasshopper

(Although he still had lots of armor.)

Christine and Dad in the North Pasture

Dad and I at the End of a Great Day on the Farm

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Outer Banks: A Snapshot

Surprisingly, for one entire week the Smith family decided to pack up some of their belongings and "set sail", in over packed Volvo, to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. We vacationed near Corolla last year but decided to "set up camp", at a bungalow beach side, in Hatteras this year. Hatteras is a quintessential island town that has only a few stores but possesses much local charm. The locals were very welcoming and Christine and I greatly enjoyed spending time at a coffee shop on the island, The Dancing Turtle, every morning. The back of their t-shirt was rather humorous and since we live in a culture that prizes complicated drink orders, below is what the t-shirt states. "I'd like a tall, skinny, 2 shot, half-caff mocha latte', with an extra shot, extra hot, no foam, extra whip....no wait...Do you have soy? Let me change that to a grande', quad, soy, decaf, sugar- free, peppermint frappawhatever...or maybe a 3 shot breve' with extra foam...or maybe a Cappuccino... or no... I think I'll have a smoothie...Please!!! No worries...it's all here...it's all good!"

The t-shirt reminded me of some of the very complicated coffee orders my sister has requested from the overwhelmed Baristas.

After a hearty cup of coffee and some time spent reading the Word of God, we spent most of the day at the beach, exploring Hatteras and its neighboring islands. One evening I decided to take some pictures of the beautiful scenery on our island home.