pictures are worth 1,000 words

There is a blog called Lyla&Blu, it is all pictures. Sometimes, when I have a minute, I enjoy gazing through them. Here are some that really stood out to me. (I think I must have been born in the wrong time period)

Kiss the Wave

I was recently listening to a sermon by Matt Chandler (which you can listen to Here and I strongly suggest it, it's a part of a series on holiness)

He quoted Spurgeon at one point, and being the imaginative, and visual person that I am, this really stuck out to me and encouraged me. 

"I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." -Spurgeon  

How painful trials can be, and yet the Lord gives them to us for our good and so that He can complete the work He began in us. In my weakness I would not want to be caught in that wave; but thank the Lord He doesn't give me a choice and forces me to cling to Him. 

"Cling to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 51

January in Southern California...

... Means that you get to go to the Beach and wear a tank top.

It was a wonderful way to start the long weekend. Kyle was away on a camping trip, and so I busied myself with some dear dear friends. It was a great day, as I am sure you can imagine by this picture.

Well, when you start of the weekend this great you have to continue with some football of course!

49ers are going to the Super Bowl!!!!! Yes, most of my excitement is just to be supportive of my husband, but nonetheless I am excited. We were able to spend some fun time with friends from church. You may notice that there are no women in this picture... well we were there, but the wives huddled on the couch that wasn't in front of the TV, it only seemed right.

Just when I thought it would be hard to start off the week after such a relaxing weekend I found this in my car...

Isn't he the best. He gets up at 4am and still writes me a note and puts it in the car to surprise me.

On a side note, I read this today in my devotions and was so encouraged by it.. I hope it is encouraging to you as well.

Psalm 9:1-2

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders. 

 I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

"It is our duty to praise The Lord; let us perform it as a priviledge." -Spurgeon

 

Books

Well there is only one chapter left in the Hobbit. We need to choose our next book. Any suggestions? I really want to read a classic, Kyle really wants to read a Biography or something Historical. I think that we'll end up compromising by taking turns who chooses what we read. Here are some of our options:

I'll let you know what we choose soon!

January... so far

2013 has started quite wonderfully, but also so busy that I still think Christmas was yesterday. I was kindly reminded by my mother that I haven't really posted much and that she would love to see some pictures of Winter Camp and life recently. 

Winter Camp was great! God did wonderful things through the teaching of His Word.I was graciously humbled to see Him work in many peoples lives including my own, and a girl who was in my cabin got saved! He works miracles every day.

We stopped on the way up to camp to get a little coffee and wait for some people who didn't know the way. I couldn't resist snapping some photos of the girls. It's not my whole small group, but I love the time I got to spend with each of these girls... and in my small group or not, I am blessed by them!

We got to camp and had 3 days of listening to sermons on Joseph and Judah as well as having wonderful Praise...

I even got to wake up to a snow fall! It felt like home. I sat in front of big windows watching it snow, sipping on tea and reading my Bible. Talk about a perfect morning!

We had 110 kids at camp! More than expected, and so the buses were full. Kyle, me and the Maly's ended up driving back with Jonas, a friend of ours. It was a fun car full of people, but a little crammed. 

Wow we looked like a haggered bunch that hadn't got any sleep!

Other than camp, January has gone pretty smooth. I have joined the 5 o'clock club, which you can read about at the girl talk blog, and started a study in the Psalms. Kyle and I have been able to spend some fun time together. I am back to work. (I missed it more than I'd like to admit) Things are great in the Thompson home!

Christmas and the New Year

We weren't expecting to travel much during the holidays, but it turned out that we drove all around Southern California. It was wonderful! 

First we got to go to the Grace Community Christmas Concerts. We were able to go with some of our dearest friends; Naim and Monique. The Lord has blessed us so much with this friendship! After the concert we stopped by Aroma Cafe' before heading home. Delish!

The next day we were up at 4am to head to Bakersfield to see Jess, Caleb, and the kids. It was Kyle's first time to meet Amelia. He instantly fell in love!

After our sweet time in Bakersfield we headed to LA to see Kyle's family. Christmas Eve is his mom's birthday. It was a full day of everything she wanted. We watched the Hobbit and had family dinner. 

We spent Christmas morning with Kyle's parents before heading to San Clemente to be with my oldest sister and her family.

I missed getting a picture of Dan :( but the Wolf hat made it into a couple of pictures. We got David a wolf hat and Danny a tiger hat. Danny wasn't quite as thrilled about his as David was, but I think they were enjoyed all in all.

We loved being able to see family!

When we finally came home I called the Tracy's and asked if we could play Sardines and have Nurf battles in their house. I don't know if I was delirious, or just hyper from being on a break from school, but either way we spent the night acting like 12 year old's and having a blast! 

The year ended, and started with Kyle and I really eating healthy, working out, and reading The Hobbit! I might lose my voice by the time I'm done with reading this and The Lord of the Rings, but we are thoroughly enjoying it!