William Stafford.

We just read several William Stafford poems for lit and I loved his writing! Here are two of my favorites.

You Reading This, Be Ready

Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
sound from outside fills the air?

 

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

 

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life -

 

What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?

 

~ William Stafford ~

 

(The Way It Is)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Way It Is

 

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change.  But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

 

~ William Stafford ~

 

(The Way It Is)

My church.

I would just like to talk about how awesome my church is. It is wonderful. I am so thankful for the dear brothers and sisters I call my extended family- they are such a blessing to me! The Gospel is faithfully preached every week. We come together to worship our King and Redeemer! I am so thankful to have grown up in this church!

Psalm 122:1: "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"

Check out the Reformed Baptist Church of Nashville on the web:

Church website
Vimeo
SermonAudio
Pastor Stephen's blog

Check out our church plants:

Reformed Baptist Fellowship in Lewisburg
Hope Community Church in West Nashville


I love my church family!

One Direction.

I'm a fan.












"We've had a good laugh." "SHERBET." "VOZ HAPPENINGGGG?!" And when they switch spots... So adorable.

We are fans.

State Pictures:: Part 1

Photo creds: the beautiful and talented Julia!

Makos A relay on the podium!

Hey look! We got a trophy!

Counting for the 500

Our super cool divers!

Awards

This pretty lady coached us at Wildwood!

Another snazzy awards picture

Regionals Pictures:: Part 1

These pictures were taken and edited by my very talented sister Julia!

Team Prayer

These women are the best! So thankful to have such wonderful coaches!

Getting ready

Love these girls!

Our A relay on the podium!

Dear friend!

PHOTOBOMBED. This picture makes me laugh. A random man decided to be in the picture...

It was a long day... haha

Christina!

Preview from State!

10th overall at State!! Whoo hoo!!

...Coming soon... More pictures from State, Regionals, Cheesecake Factory with my HS Mako girls, and the Retreat!

Love,

Lily

Sneak Peek from Regionals!

3rd overall at Regionals!

I love these people! So thankful for my Makos! Julia took a TON of FABULOUS pictures... Stay tuned for more!

Sneak Peek from the Retreat!

Quick post with a picture from the retreat! I am so thankful for these dear and beautiful women! What a blessing they are to me! What a fabulous weekend we had!

Philippians 1:3 ~ "I thank my God in all my rememberance of you."

Love,

Lily

Verse of the Week: JFarese

From Keith Beauchemin via Johnny Farese

Phil. 1:6

"...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you 
will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"

Paul wrote this to the believers at the church in Philippi, but by the 
inspiration of the Holy Spirit these words are to you and me.

There is not much we can be confident in in this world.  The stock market and 
oil prices go up and down, entire countries are on the brink of bankfuptcy, and 
promises and relationships are broken all the time.

But this you can be absolutely confident in, that God who has begun a good work 
in you will bring it to completion.  Why can we be so confident?  Because it is 
God whom we are confident in.  We could not have any confidence if it was up to 
us to complete our sanctification.  God completes whatever he starts, and 
nothing can stop him - not Satan, not our sin, nothing.  you can always count on 
God.  No matter how much you struggle, how many temptations you face or how many 
times you seem to take one step forward and two steps backward.  You can count 
on God.  He has begun the work of salvation in you, and he shall bring you to 
full glorification on that day when you see Christ face to face.

God cares about the little things

Hey friends!

Craziness- Nashville is predicted to get 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow!

I wanted to share a fun little story with you! Last weekend was the State high school meet! Parking at the Sportsplex downtown is horrible. There are only about 40 spots in the main parking lot. There are some other random parking lots nearby and a bunch of people have to park at the Parthenon. When Julia and I went for prelims Friday morning, Mom dropped us off so we wouldn't have to deal with parking. That evening, though, we would have to park. I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of parking in downtown at night. So I started praying that God would give us a parking spot in the main parking lot! It wasn't a life or death problem but I wanted to be parked close. We were going to trust the Lord to give us a spot! As I pulled into the main parking lot, someone pulled out! I was so excited and so thankful to see God answer my prayer. God cares about even the smallest and least significant things!

Believe that God will answer your prayers!

Jeremiah 33:3a

"Call to me and I will answer you."

Love, 

Lily

One Thousand Gifts:: Take Thirty-Two

1051-1106

1051. my swim team- Makos are the best!
1052. super fun meets (regionals and state)
1053. spending my weekends with Makos
1054. our team getting 10th out of 131 registered HS teams in TN
1055. good chats with super cool and fun friends

1056. God's answering prayers
1057. that God cares about the little things
1058. hanging out with the fabulous Lydia
1059. LU Chickfila with my fam and some dear friends
1060. seeing friends around the campus center

1061. watching a previous WW coach break the national HS record on the 100 fly (four laps of butterfly in 46.64 seconds- wow!)
1062. cheering
1063. finding an online broadcast
1064. being able to go on the pool deck
1065. lots of laughter

1066. being able to be at State
1067. watching the Makos rock the pool
1068. my dear and beautiful sister taking lots of incredible pictures (coming soon!)
1069. being guards with Maddie and Julia
1070. hanging out M & J

1071. two fabulous coaches who love us and support us
1072. more laughing
1073. new friends
1074. Julia
1075. Cara

1076. an AMAZING women's retreat
1077. beautiful and encouraging women
1078. my wonderful mama teaching on prayer
1079. good chat time
1080. adventures on the mountain

1081. the three dear women + sweet baby in my breakout group
1082. being real and taking off any facades
1083. wisdom from the dear women at my church
1084. Ebenezer stories
1085. God's faithfulness and love for us

1086. lots of yummy food
1087. Sonic, Wendys, and McDonalds runs :)
1088. engagement stories :)
1089. show and tell
1090. super fun games

1091. very cute house for all of us to stay in
1092. finding three different overlooks
1093. self timer on the camera so we could all be in the picture
1094. lots of laughter and fun
1095. worshiping and praising our Creator together

1096. warm weather
1097. encouragement from my dear lit teacher
1098. grace when I took the ACT
1099. Makos pasta dinner before regionals
1100. fun and laid back swim practices

1101. encouragement at Grandview
1102. Annie and Bethany
1103. my Spanish class
1104. treats at swimming
1105. my amazing parents

1106. New song Amy taught us: "O Great God" by Sovereign Grace Music







P.S. Coming soon!!! Let's Talk College Stalker Mail, pictures from regionals and state, pictures from the retreat, and more!

I Love...

These songs.


Outta Space Love- Group One Crew


Bring Us Home- Michael Tait, Blanca Callahan, Lecrae


I Am (Creation)- Music Inspired by the Story


What Makes You Beautiful- One Direction
(check out Cimorelli's cover here)


All This Time- Britt Nicole


Good Morning- Mandisa and TobyMac (my morning song!)


Seven Lies about Homeschoolers- BlimeyCow


Price Tag- cover by Cimorelli

It's Friday

Hey friends!

Hope you are having a lovely week! We have had some beautiful weather here- 50s and 60s- in winter! Craziness! I'm not complaining, though! I would be totally fine without any snow :) Apparently the groundhog says we have six more weeks of winter... If this weather is winter I will take it! :)

I am SO excited- church's women's retreat this weekend! I can't wait!

Today I think I might make an appearance at swim team. One of my friends, "You should come visit!" School has been my top priority as of late.

Speaking of swim, last week was regionals! I am so very proud of our team- we got third overall in the region! Whoo hoo! Makos are rockin'! :) I did not personally do so great but overall we did well :) I love meets! Someone recently asked me if I was happy to be done with meets for a while. I'm actually sad! I love hanging out with my team at meets. It is especially sad since we will be losing 15 seniors :( That's a third of the team :( sadness abounds! I am so thankful for each and every person and the opportunity to be a part of such a great community!

More coming soon!

Love,

Lily


{side note: I meant to post this sooner... :) It was sitting in my drafts- oops!}

Verse of the Week

from Keith Beauchemin, via JFarese

Psalm 84:1,2

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD:
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Do you long for the presence of the LORD?  Do you cry out for the true and living God with your heart and body?

In the Old Testament there was only one place in the whole world where God promised His special presence.  First it was the tabernacle, then the temple in Jerusalem.  Now we have the privilege to enter into His special presence anywhere His people meet to worship Him.  We often forget what a privilege and blessing we have.  Maybe that's why we don't long for His presence like the psalmist.  When we go to church each week we are not just going to church for our benefit, but we are going to worship the holy, almighty God.  This holy God allows us to come into His presence through the sacrifice of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

The privilege to come into the presence of the LORD came at a high price.  So, let us long for it and never take it for granted or neglect it.

Keep Looking Unto Jesus:: J.C. Ryle

Keep on looking unto Jesus. Faith shall soon be changed to sight, and hope to certainty. Looking to Jesus on earth by faith, you shall end with seeing Jesus eye to eye in heaven. Those eyes of yours shall look on the head that was crowned with thorns, the hands and feet that were pierced with nails, and the side that was pierced with a spear. You shall find that seeing is the blessed consequence of believing, and that looking at Jesus by faith, ends with seeing Jesus in glory, and living with Jesus for evermore. When you awake up after His likeness, you shall be satisfied.

~ J.C. Ryle

coming soon... One Thousand Gifts, Update, and more! Thanks for reading!