Has it really been two months?

First off, Happy Fourth of July! 

To say life has been crazy would be an understatement. I don't even know how I would begin to cover just the events of the last two months, but I'll try. ;) 

First off, we finished helping the church in Abbeville, and began to help a church in Houma, which is about 2 and a half hours away. Before in Abbeville, we were able to stay home and drive there for services, but since Houma is much farther away, we stay the whole weekend there. Which, honestly, is awesome for our family. We enjoy camping out in churches in our sleeping bags, working with the pastor and his family and hanging out together. It's so fun. Since we've been there, Bro. Barry has kept us busy with music and helping around the church. It has been such an experience to get the little tidbits of knowledge from him, especially in the area of piano. My piano skills have escalated in just the past couple of weeks. He's given me ideas and techniques to try which have led to some of my own discoveries. And now he's letting me learn how to play his auto harp! I never saw one before we went over there, but he said anyone can play an auto harp. I practiced and played with it so much last week that I got blisters on my thumb. 

This is what they look like.

Besides all that, I've been helping my little sister with her school, which has turned into a full morning job. I enjoy working with her, and the experience I'm getting. :) 

Then, two weeks ago, I went to Camp Liberty.

Me and Meg on the way to camp. 

Camp name tags and mementos.

This was my 8th year at this camp, and my fourth year as camp photographer. As always it was an awesome experience, but it came with a few hard challenges for me. Worst of all, my camera stopped working the Wednesday morning, right in the middle of camp. I used other people's cameras for the rest of the week, but I was heartsick for my poor camera. I believe that God knows what's best, and I have confidence that He will provide a way, hopefully to either provide the money to get my camera fixed, or for a new one. It's been such a huge part of my life over the past four years that it was almost like losing a friend. I ask that ya'll keep me in your prayers about this. Not only do I catch little bits of my life and my family's life, it's the main piece of my livelihood as a photographer, and a tool I've used for our ministry and to be a help to others. I know that God will handle it, and probably in ways I never would've thought of. :)

So there is other stuff going on, but they're going to be so detailed that it's going to take two more posts, one for each subject. And considering I can't seem to trust myself to have the time to write another post later, I guess they'll just be back to back. I have really missed you guys, and I hope to not be gone so long again.

Love ya'll! 

outfits and DIYS

My sincerest apologies for my lack of posting lately! I feel like I've been going nonstop since the last week of May when I went to Florida. Then, once I got back, I went to camp liberty, then our church had revival. I'd like to do a couple of catching up posts to show ya'll some of my Florida pictures and Camp Liberty pictures. But for now, I have a couple of outfits to show ya'll. Sadly, I didn't get a pic of my patriotic outfit for Sunday. It was really cute too. :( 

But now, on to today's subject. 

You know, while we often like to dress up, some days you just don't want to. And you know what? That's ok. In my opinion, you don't have to wear makeup every day, have perfect nails all the time, and wear your nice clothes just to go to the store. You don't even have to fix your hair every day. Now, I don't mean don't brush it every day. I just mean that you don't have to straighten or curl your hair every day. Ponytails are ok. Messy, cute buns are ok. And even, on those REALLY bad hair days, hats are ok. 

So here, I have a few examples between a VERY casual outfit, and a nicer casual outfit. The first outfit I wore last Thursday, and the second one was from Friday. 

Here in these pictures, I'm wearing a tye dye shirt that I made with friends for Florida, a $3 jean skirt, comfy tennis shoes, and a bad hair day cap. I braided my hair on the side, and am wearing my purple spiral earrings that were given to me. I'm also not wearing any makeup. This is me on a regular day. Comfort first, in older clothes and minimum done to my hair. But always a pair of earrings. ;) 

Now in these next photos, this is how I look when I'm going a lot of places during the day. 

I'm wearing my new camp liberty shirt, a nicer skirt, more jewelry, and a little makeup. I also straightened my hair. For me, this is my going-nicer-places-than-the-country-grocery-store-in-town look. I'm only wearing mascara and eyeshadow, which is my usual go-to makeup.

So here folks, is how I look most days. I don't wear my dressy church clothes every day. :)

Now, on to a few DIYs I've done recently.

First, I suddenly had a desire for an anklet. Weird I know, but it's almost like I had forgotten that they existed, and now I had to have one. I priced a few online, but none of them seemed much better than something I could make, and they were a little on the pricey side. So, I decided to take some advice I learned at camp, and try to make what I need or want out of materials I already have rather than going buy it.

Here, is my new anklet. I was able to make it the exact size I wanted with chains that I had bought for another project, and the little white circle bead with a jump ring on either side that I could never figure out what to do with. It's so simple, I can wear it with almost any outfit. 

My second project has to do with my Miche bag. 

Do you see those little silver chains? Well, Miche charges $25 for them, and when I looked them up on eBay, they were $40. I couldn't see spending that kind of money on something so small. I looked and looked for other solutions, finally deciding to look online for thick chain. I saw some that reminded me of a chain necklace I had made. 

^So out of this.......^

^I made this^. And then, I revamped it again, and.....

^made this^ 

The chain was $2 when I bought it to make the necklace, and that was the only material I needed for this project. I like my new chain handles even better than the official Miche handles. 

Well, tomorrow we're going fishing with my Pawpaw and Mawmaw for the Fourth of July. We're leaving early, so I have to wrap up this post. Today I went shopping and found some great deals, so hopefully in the next post I'll be able to share those with ya'll. 

Until then, have a safe and happy Fourth of July! 

Summer style

summer style 2 by pawpawsgirl92 featuring cotton shirts

Last year I did a post similar to this one. I know it's already mid summer, but I thought I'd share with ya'll some summer outfit ideas anyway.

outfit #1: the nice-casual summer outfit

For years I avoided shirts with words on them because of modesty issues. I passed up many a cute shirt because of it. But my dad said that as long as the words cover a good part of the shirt, and not just across the bust, the shirt should be ok (provided that the words are ok, of course.) So my closet has quickly been filling with cute, comfortable graphic tees. I now have one with a fleur-de-lis in blue and pink that says, "Southern girls got grace", a pink tee with the entire song "Amazing Grace", this year's turquoise camp tee, and a brown tee with an old truck on it that says, "American Classic." No, that last tee isn't exactly feminine, but what can I say? I've been raised by a mechanic to appreciate cars. ;)

Now, graphic tees can usually hold there own, so they don't require much in the way of accessories. I usually wear earrings with them, and if I do wear a necklace, it's a chain with a small charm that goes with the shirt, but doesn't take away from the shirt. The multiple thread friendship bracelets are a cute summer fashion. Also, do something fun with your hair. Something more than a simple ponytail or bun, make it a side pony or a cute, messy top bun. You can stay cool and have your hair up off your neck and still look cute.

outfit #2: the dressy summer outfit

I have become so in love with maxi skirts and dresses. They are sooo comfortable, and can be dressed up or down. A dressy tee to go with your maxi can make a cute, cool outfit to wear to church. And if you're lazy like me in the summer, feel free to switch out those cute heels for comfortable, dressy wedges or sandals.

outfit #3: the super casual summer outfit

I'll say it again, I get lazy when it comes to style in the summer. The Louisiana heat makes me want to wear the coolest, not necessarily stylish outfit possible. But here's a few ways to stay cool, and still be feminine. I mentioned the tees before, and they are truly awesome for summer. This year I got away from the more fitted tees, and started wearing the baggier, thinner tees. I got them in cute, girly colors, but they don't compliment your figure whatsoever.  So, I've taken to getting my tees a size bigger, then tying it with a hair tie on the side (as in the third outfit). Note, the look is usually more flattering and more modest when you tie it on the side rather than the middle.

As for shoes, I usually live in flip flops for the summer. Or go barefoot. I tolerate my heels for church, but on the way home I take off my heels and walk barefoot into the house. When I was little, I'd wear tennis shoes all summer long, but now I don't know how I did it. I try to wear my converse in the summer, and within an hour I'm yanking them off. I now have some pink boat shoes that seem a little cooler than tennis shoes, so I wear those sometimes. I'm also starting to appreciate TOMS. Especially the crocheted lace ones. I haven't gotten any yet, but I'd like to in the near future. I just can't decide what color to get.

Now, last week I was at the summer camp I go to every year. And let me tell you, doing your hair is pointless at camp. So, do you know what I did?

I wore this all week.

A hat that proclaimed "Bad Hair Day." It was truly a lifesaver, and I still did a cute side braid or side ponytail to make it more feminine. Plus, it was pink. It seemed to be a great amusement to many people, but hey, that's what I'm here for. ;)

So what are your summer tricks and fashion staples? I'd love to hear them! 

Catching up {Post 2}

My summer has finally begun!

(No, that does not mean that it's just now getting hot where I live. Believe me, we've been having summer heat since mid-April.)

I mean that yesterday Mark FINALLY finished school for the year!

So I finally feel the summer freedom from grading papers and supervising school. Don't get me wrong, I love those things, I just feel that now I can get some extra stuff accomplished. Like working on my book again, getting to read more, having more time to play with my siblings, and simply relax.

I'm not feeling well at the moment, so it makes a good excuse to slow down a bit. Many other members of my family are also either sick or hurting right now, so I'd appreciate if you'd pray for the Tyler family.

Thank you. :)

I've been doing better with sticking with my Bible College lately, and I've been learning a lot.

I'm so glad that I cleared off my desk so I can now actually USE it as a desk.

I'm so thankful that my phone is awesome at also being a music player.

I've discovered that when I do any kind of school or study, I concentrate better with instrumental music in my ears.

As a matter of fact, when the music ends, I immediately begin to have a more difficult time of concentrating.

And of course, coffee is a must. ;)

I use a different color pen every day so I can see how much I've done that day, and where I started and stopped.

Besides, there's just something special about writing with different colored pens, right?

And of course, my beloved brown Rock of Ages Study Bible. I think I'm more attached to it then any other Bible I've ever had. It's so much more personal and dear to me.

I'll admit, that I've always found it difficult to follow a schedule for reading my Bible through. The One Year Bible has been the most effective for me, and I really enjoy it. It was given to me by a friend that preferred going by the schedule,so we each got what was best for us.

Have you ever read your Bible through? Have you used a schedule or the One Year Bible, or just did your own thing? Which was most effective for you?

This seems to be the more serious post, because I'd like to talk about the lessons I learned through the preaching and from experience at camp last week.

^This is Bro. Barnes, one of the main speakers of the week.^ 

It seems like the very first and the very last sermons I heard at Camp were the most meaningful to me. That could very well be because I was so busy for the rest of the week that my head was either still spinning from the busy days during church or that I was falling asleep. (If you've ever been a counselor at camp, you'd understand.)

The first sermon on Monday night was about taking a stand. He said that so many Christians think that they have to be equipped to be able to attack Hell with a squirt gun, or win millions of souls to Christ before they die. But so many times, God repeats this simple, yet difficult command. Stand. Just, stand. It reminds me of the song that says, "If just a cup of water I place within your hand; then just a cup of water is all that I demand." Jesus has equipped us to face the trials of life. He'll never give us something we can't handle.

When we feel like we're overloaded or can barely stand due to the weight of our burdens, it's often from unnecessary weights that we've allowed into our lives. Ungodly friends. Pet sins.Worry. Trying to take over God's job of planning our lives.

He illustrated by piling two other guys on the guy with the blue shirt. It was easier for him to stand with no one on his back, or even with the smaller guy on his back. But when he traded out the smaller guy for the big guy, then even added the smallest guy on top, he could barely stand.

See, God gives us the ability to stand, but the difficulties come when we pile unnecessary weight on ourselves.

The last sermon, or the final charge, was about Stephen, the first martyr of the Bible. It was about how to get God's attention, and get Him excited about what you're doing.

The three ways he mentioned was:

1. Taking a stand
2. Suffering for Christ
3. Forgiving those that don't deserve it.

It was a very inspirational and unforgetable week, for me, and for many others.

So that's the end of Post 2. Next time I'll be sharing a Bible study from a friend.

Have a great day!

I'm back!

(I'm pretty sure I've used that title before, but oh well.)

So, in my last post I said that I'd be taking a week long break. And....it turned into a three week break, which surprisingly, wasn't my fault. 

Want to hear what has happened in the past three weeks? 

Well, I'll tell you anyway. ;D

First, I took the week off, and I'll have some posts coming up on that soon. 

The second week, I got a virus on my computer, trying to download free e-books to my Kindle I just bought. I wasn't able to get rid of it until two days ago, which was Saturday. 

Then, last Monday on the 9th, I went to camp. I've been going to this camp for the past six years, four years as a camper, and two years as a counselor. This year was a ton better then last year, because I didn't feel so clueless, and I think I was more of a help. My job at Camp Liberty is the camp photographer. I LOVE my job! And of course, because I don't have my own group, I'm also the errand girl, which I don't mind. ;) 

Here's our first ever camp picture! 

We had almost 100 kids, not including counselors. 

It was so fun to get to know all the kids, and make new friends. 

Speaking of new friends, a Bible College sends us a couple of guys to help with the camp every year. 

And since they slept in and missed being in this picture, I had to get a pic of them. 

These guys were hard working, hilarious, and talented servants. They sure kept us rolling in laughter. Their girlfriends are very blessed. 

I'll probably have another post about camp, so I'll stop there. 

Saturday, we went doorknocking at the new church we're helping. I got to give a lady the gospel, and I'm praying that she gets saved and comes to church. When we got home, we had to get ready for a wedding. My dad got to perform his first wedding for a couple at our home church that just started coming. I had said that I was pictured out, and wouldn't take any at the wedding...but I couldn't resist. I guess it's in my blood. 

My dad was so nervous, but once he realized that they were both way more nervous then him, he started cracking jokes, and they all got through it. It was sweet, and really funny. Their families said he did a great job. I was so proud of him. :) 

We stayed a little while at the reception, and the bride decided to toss her wedding bouquet. There was only one single lady who was older, and I was trying to keep quiet, but my pastor told me to get up there. ;) 

So.....

I caught the bouquet. 

I asked the bride if she wanted it back, but she told me to keep it. 

If I wasn't being teased before about getting married, I'm sure getting it now. ;D 

And lastly, I got a new scarf (because all my scarves are red, black, or grey). I wore it around my neck to the wedding, but when we got home, I started to play around with it. And discovered that I kinda like the headcovering look. 

I think it's pretty and feminine, but I wouldn't wear it all the time. I believe that when the Bible talks about the head covering on a lady, that it's talking about her hair. However, I don't judge or rebuke any ladies that believe in wearing a head covering. I think that if you want to, then you have every right to wear it. :) 

I'm so glad to be back! I've really missed posting. More posts soon to come! 

P.S.

When I left I had 29 followers. Now I have 33! So welcome to all my new followers!