One Thousand Gifts:: Take Thirty-One

1001-1050

1001. lovely, drive-with-the-windows-down weather
1002. protection during bad storms
1003. not losing electricity
1004. good chat time with my dear sister Julia
1005. protection when out driving

1006. freedom and release in forgiveness
1007. joy in Christ
1008. seeing Him answer prayers
1009. that God knows my future, and knows His plans for me
1010. God's plans are better than mine

1011. quality time with Mom on the side of the road
1012. AAA
1013. finding a granola bar and Cheesitz {sp? :)} in the car
1014. protection while we were stuck
1015. my dear Momb :)

1016. Jesus time, my family, Chickfila, ice cream, and Pride and Prejudice after a really rough day
1017. science experiments with the fam
1018. the fam's excitement
1019. dinner with dear friends
1020. game night

1021. coffee with my Theophili sisters!
1022. Bible app on my iTouch
1023. finding parking spots
1024. excitement for the retreat!
1025. celebrating a dear friend

1026. precious babies and little people
1027. super fun time in nursery with four little munchkins and Cara
1028. the gift of life
1029. my church family
1030. Pride and Prejudice sheet music

1031. laughing with my fam
1032. homemade ice cream
1033. my LU Spanish class
1034. excitement for Grandview each Tuesday
1035. opportunity to tutor ESL

1036. fun LU friends
1037. looking forward to my class, even though it's at 8 am :)
1038. iMessaging
1039. Chickfila at LU
1040. spending time with my wonderful grandparents

1041. 88.7 WAY FM while I'm driving
1042. Skype
1043. precious notes in my school mailbox
1044. encouragement from Julia
1045. hanging out with new friends

1046. Dad
1047. Mom
1048. Julia
1049. Cara

1050. As Long As You Are Glorified (Sovereign Grace Music)

by Mark Altrogge 

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings

Yet not welcome any pain

Shall I thank You for days of sunshine

Yet grumble in days of rain

Shall I love You in times of plenty

Then leave You in days of drought

Shall I trust when I reap a harvest

But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me

In Your love I will abide

Oh I long for nothing else as long

As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper

And true only when I'm filled

Are You King only when I'm carefree

And God only when I'm well

You are good when I'm poor and needy

You are true when I'm parched and dry

You still reign in the deepest valley

You're still God in the darkest night

So quiet my restless heart

Quiet my restless heart

Quiet my restless heart in you

Oh let Your will be done in me

In Your love I will abide

Oh I long for nothing else as long

As You are glorified

The Driving Adventures of Lily- Take 1

Tuesday- Day 1 of ridin solo!

Yesterday was the girls' last field day :( Mom and I went to work a station for the games! I was cold so Mom suggested I go sit in the car. I decided I needed french fries. So I said, "How about I go sit in the car except the car moves to Chickfila?" After some begging and pleading, Mom let me go to Chickfila! Whoo hoo! It wasn't a very far trip, but quite fitting that my first driving trip was to Chickfila :)

The Driving Adventures of Lily- Where it all started

For my lit class, I wrote a personal essay about driving! Kind of funny- I turned it in the day before I got my license. :)

I have decided to blog about my first 10 solo driving experiences!

My essay! "The Driving Adventures of Lily"

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

“Lily, you are about to hit that tree!”

“Moooom! I am about ten feet from the tree!” I was driving with Mom for the first time, several weeks after getting my permit. I had driven with Dad, but not yet with Mom and my sisters. My sisters dramatically gripped the seats and shrieked whenever I made a turn. “Lily! You almost ran into those people’s yard!”

“Mom! I was very far away from their yard!”

Twelve days before I turned sixteen I got my permit. Dad and I sat in the Driver’s Service Center for two hours. Eventually, I took the test, passed, and had my picture taken. I finally had my permit! Once I had it, Dad decided we should go practice driving on the Natchez Trace. Once on the Trace, Dad pulled over so I could drive. Talk about stressful! I had never driven in my life and always failed at Wii driving. “Um, so which one is the brake?” I asked Dad, joking. Once I started, I had a death grip on the wheel. It was scary but I wound up being behind the wheel for the first time for about an hour!

Dad and I decided to take a trip over fall break down the Trace to Mississippi so I could practice my driving skills. I drove for several hours and we made it to Tupelo, MS. Driving on the Trace is pleasant because there aren’t any traffic lights, little traffic, and lovely scenery. One of the highlights of the trip was pulling over to pick some cotton! I still had yet to drive on the interstate.

One day, we were going to swimming and were running late. I volunteered to drive, planning to take Franklin Road to the ISC off of Concord. As we pulled out of the driveway, Mom announced I was going to take the interstate. “What?! I haven’t driven on it yet!”

“You’ll be fine!” Mom said. Five minutes later it was time to get on the interstate. I was worried about merging into traffic. Just like the first time I ever drove, I had a very tight grip on the wheel. I was still trying to get the whole merging thing down as I left the ramp. Mom started yelling, “Speed up! MERGE! MERGE!” We safely made it onto the interstate! Once we arrived at the ISC in one piece, Cara shared some thoughts as we were walking in. “When you were driving on the interstate for the first time, I was thinking about what else I want to do before I die.”

“Cara! I am a great driver!” I exclaimed, laughing.

Over Christmas break we took a trip to Atlanta. Mom and Dad decided that this would be a prime time for me to practice driving. By this time, I was feeling much more comfortable with steering and enjoying it. I had safely transported my family and various friends. We left one afternoon and I drove the whole way to Atlanta, which was over four and a half hours. Mom sat in the passenger seat and fed me snacks so I could focus on driving. Going through Chattanooga and Atlanta was stressful but we did not have any problems! I also drove most of the way back the next day. We won’t go into how I almost hit two semis.

I have learned a lot about driving in the past several months. I enjoy it and am comfortable with it! Driving gives you much freedom, responsibility, and accomplishment. I have learned to work well under stress. I am hoping to get my license soon! The “Lily Driving Adventures” continue!