Summer Lovin'

Summer always feels so sweet and full of promise. I love coming up with activities to do to keep our summer full of good times together. 

This picture has nothing to do with the post! I just think it's funny.

// Go to a drive-in movie

// Go star gazing

// Create a recipe binder, using the suggestions from The Lady Okie 

// Take at least 100 pictures

// Go to Bible school (we are already signed up! yay!)

// Go berry picking here

// Placerville Art Walk, 3rd Saturdays from 5-9 pm

// Plan an anniversary trip

// July 3rd Fireworks Concert

// Host a game night

// Hike an Auburn trail

// Donate my clothes/shoes to WEAVE

// Run at least once a week 

I'm sure I will think of many more things, but I don't want to make my list too overwhelming! What's on your summer list? 

You Don't Have to Hold Up the World

You know those days, or weeks, when you feel like you have to hold up the world? I know the feeling. But the thing is, you can't hold up the world. The great thing is, you don't have to! 

Lately, I have been feeling a little heavy because I want to be able to take care of all the people I love. I want to do everything and take of everyone. I want everyone to know the Gospel, I want to keep my house clean and organized, I want to be a good example to those around me. I want to get straight As and be the best physical therapist in the room. It might come as a surprise to you, but I just can't do it! Ha! And all the things you are desperately doing to hold the world up just won't work either.

I read this passage last night with Daniel: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

It's so reassuring. I know that I talk about it a lot, but it's still true. I heard a song called "Sparrow" by Jason Gray the other day. The chorus verse says "If He can hold the world, He can hold this moment." I love that! Isn't it so amazing that God cares about the little moments in our lives? The scary ones, the sad ones, the joyous ones, the broken ones. Even though in the scheme of the world, our problems are so small, God still holds them. 

It's times like these that I feel sad for those who don't believe. How do they get through those "hold up the world" moments without having an awesome God to trust in? 

I hope this reminder will help you as the week ends. Enjoy your weekend!

Prayers I'm Praying

As I mentioned, we recently moved and have been SOO busy. You'd think that all that would make for a nice, neat and organized home, but indeed it does not. We also do not have internet except for the occasional spotty connection. I haven't had much time for writing so I thought I would share again some thoughts that are on my heart! As my siblings are quickly reaching adulthood, I have been praying for them daily. Here are some things that I pray for. 

1. Pray that they will always serve God first.  Of course my ultimate hope is that my siblings will choose to follow God.  I want nothing more to see them in His Kingdom someday soon!  

Dalton

2. Pray that they will make wise life choices.  I have come to realize that I don't have a whole lot of choice in what my siblings do, so I pray that their choices will be made with prayer and thought.  I pray that as they choose spouses and careers, they will find joy and peace.  

Justin

3. Pray that they will be helped through temptation. Obviously my siblings will face temptations to do the wrong thing.  Like Job prayed for each of his children to avoid sin, I pray that my siblings will be able to stand firm.  

Colton

4. Pray that you will be friends as you grow older. I wouldn't say I am super close to my siblings, but I think we are growing closer as we age. I pray that as we grow up and go our separate ways, we will see each other as not just siblings, but friends.  I pray that we will be able to go to each other in times of need without fearing judgment or criticism.  

Melissa

5. Pray that they will learn from their mistakes and continue to grow.  Even as I pray that they will be able to stand firm against the pressures of the world, I know that they will have times they will fall. Some people go through life never learning from their poor choices. I pray that this will not be the case with my siblings, but that they will grow in wisdom and godliness.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Who are you praying for and how do you pray? 

FriYay

Ahh, what a week! I've successfully completed my second week of my new job. The kind of job where I don't get paid and pay thousands of dollars, so it's really the best kind.

We've found a little place out in the country that we are thrilled about. It's been so blasted hot here, I'm really dreading the moving thing. On Monday, I shared some photos of Yosemite that I thought were pretty great. My brother showed me these pictures he took and I was blown away with how they turned out. Isn't God's creation so amazing???

Happy weekend!

Creation Speaks for Itself

Some days, I am just overwhelmed by the beauty of the earth. Despite everything we humans have done to wreck it, the earth just keeps on being astounding. I see things and I just wonder, how can people not believe?? How can you see majestic waterfalls, towering mountains, giant canyons and not believe in God? The flowers, the trees, the wildlife-- they all speak to me of a wonderful Creator. A Creator who created me (and you) to be able to deeply appreciate and enjoy it. I'm so thankful for that!

We spent Saturday at Yosemite (my first time) and despite the rain and the crowds, it was still majestic!

P.S. I was so sad to get home a realize a lot of my pictures were a little fuzzy! Here are a few that turned out.

Happy Monday, friends.

Life in May

What month is it? Seriously, the other day I got confused and thought it was March. Anyhow-- lot's new here but nothing too exciting. Here's a little bit of what's new in the Ferrie home. 

1| We are moving! Oh yeah, and we don't know where yet. Daniel hates living right in the city and we have been having a lot of trouble with parking at our complex. We are looking for little places out in the country. So far we have found a few we liked a lot-- and we are waiting to find out! 

2| I've finished my second to last semester of school! Today I'm starting my first clinical rotation. I'm terrified! I've got my stack of navy blue polos, black slacks and Danskos all ready. This rotation will be 12 weeks in a skilled nursing facility. 

3| May in Northern California is typically SO hot. It's the time of the year when I begin to question how I will survive the summer. We've had a few of those days, but this year God has blessed California with some extra cold weather, rainy days, and gray skies. Not that I don't love the sun, but we sure need the rain! 

4| The evenings have been so pleasant recently that Daniel and I have been spending most of them on our tiny porch. We sit in our camping chairs, sip cold drinks, and read books/study (he's the one doing the reading and I'm the one doing the studying). 

5| Trips galore has been happening around here. Two weekends ago we headed to Southern Oregon for a church conference. It was really neat to see Oregon again! For the first time I saw Mount Shasta and I was in awe of it's beauty (I'd actually seen it as a small child but I don't remember!) Next weekend we are headed to Yosemite for another church retreat. I'm preparing myself for beauty! 

fabulous picture by my brother, Colton

God's Standards

The other day I overheard a conversation. I don't really know how it started but they ended up talking about marriage and kids. Then one mentioned that she wanted to have kids but not get married. She said that her mother always told her to be in a healthy relationship(s), have children, but not get married. Then they discussed how great it was that our society was beginning to favor women living together instead of marriage, as well as raising kids on your own. 

I thought this was awfully sad. I get it, I do. Marriage is hard, raising kids is hard, divorce is a mess, isn't it easier just to remain unmarried and walk away when you want to? One girl even mentioned that changing her name after her divorce was just so much work. To which I thought, as you split up a marriage, that's what you care about? 

Now, I understand that this side of the Kingdom, life will never be perfect. Kids will be a little messed up. Parents will fail. Life will be messy. Marriage will be difficult. But what the heck? Isn't that the point? God made this world imperfect so that we would long for more. BUT He also told us to try. Loving your spouse teaches you. Raising your kids teaches you. Keeping commitments when it's hard is the whole point of making a commitment.  

But our society has sadly started to replace what God says is good with imperfection. Marriage is hard? Don't get married. Tired of your spouse? Leave. Yes, life happens. We shouldn't forget to extend grace to others and ourselves. In fact, we must extend grace to others and ourselves. We need Jesus because we won't ever get it on our own. 

The point of this rambling is that God decides what is good. God's morals and standards do not change. It's not about whether we have messed up (because, we have, a lot!). We need to be careful that when the world tells us something is right that we weigh it against what God says.

The world says don't commit. God says commit and raise godly children, together. The world says follow your heart. God says follow Him. The world says you can figure it out. God says that He's got this. It can cause a lot of confusion and heartache. Whom do we follow? Won't we stick out if we do what God says? Yes! Is it worth it? Absolutely! His ways are a better way to live.