COLORADO AND HALLOWEEN

y'all, so much life change has been happening as of recent. i just haven't gotten around to being able to actually post something. most of what i've been writing lately are just thoughts that have been started, i can't quite finish anything. i usually open my journal or evernote (depending on fast my thoughts are going), then just sit and think, "madi, you've got to write something. anything. surely you can do that. just start typing. people are depending on you to write." then i come back to reality and realize that, a) you can't just force a thought to happen, and it's okay that sometimes your thoughts go to fast for your hands to write down and then the moment passes. and b) no one, i repeat, no one is relying on me to write a blog. i'm not even certain if anyone reads these. (if you're reading this, you're a doll.)

anywho, this past month or so has been challenging, trying, exhausting, and so rewarding. i'm learning how to love people through Jesus and not through myself. i'm learning what it means to live like the early church. i'm learning how to open my heart and love like jesus, towards everyone. not just christians. but those lost, broke, hurting, sinners (just an fyi, we are all sinners, but most of the time us bound by religion forget that), the homeless, the ones just barely making it, the rich, the single, the married, the orphans, the widows, the strippers, the business men. EVERYONE MEANS EVERYONE. i'm the first to admit that i am so bad about doing that, but lucky for us, God has not called us to be perfect, but to continuously draw near to him. so that's what i'm going to continue to do, even though i suck at it. hallelujah that even in my suckiness (yep, that's a word) God still pours out unconditional love and undeserved grace on me. what a good, good Father.

here's a recap of this past month, october 2014, you'll always be remembered. i went on my first trip to colorado (i'll be moving there in the summer of 2015 and i couldn't be more excited). this halloween was one for the books, i had the privilege of spending it with my closest friends all dressed up and scared out of my mind at a haunted house.

DEVIL'S DEN

⟼the drive up the the campsite, with low clouds. 

⟼3/5ths of the hammocks. 

⟼afternoon rain shower. 

⟼me standing on the edge of yellow rock realizing how tiny i am compared to this world. 

⟼a surprise ending to the trip, a treacherous downpour. 

this past week i went camping with the colorado family at devil's den in arkansas, 

it was the perfect week for relaxing, eating, and fellowshipping. i took countless naps 

in my eno, read my favorite book over again (the catcher in the rye), and had some 

pretty amazing heart talks with my favorite people. 

while standing on the edge of yellow rock, i was reminded of something important. 

i was reminded that my life is but a spec in time. i'm here only for a smidgen. i need to 

use this precious time to further the kingdom and to demonstrate christ's love. to show, 

not just tell. our lives are precious, our lives are short. we need to live each second with

purpose. don't take you spec in time for granted, you're important. your life in special. 

THE FOLKS CAME TO VISIT

my dearest family came to visit me in lil ole arkansas this weekend

here are a few photos from our journey to crystal bridges art museum: 

⟼the outside of the museum (freakin' gorgeous) 

⟼one of the hallways in between exhibits 

⟼my dad being a live art piece 

⟼me taking a turn 

⟼ally, chloe (my sister), and myself acting goofy 

⟼my lovely folks whom i love dearly

beyond thankful that my family drove from texas to visit 

JUNE+BEGINNING OF JULY

⟼june 14: a surprise birthday party is all my friends at my favorite restaurant (i cried)

⟼june 15: i turned another year older and celebrated at the lake (also father's day)

⟼june 22-27: beach camp // was behind the lens of a camera or a computer screen editing the whole time except when i was at the beach relaxing and watching god radically change the lives of the high schoolers that were there // 8 charter buses, 17 hour drive, 500 kids, 45 dedications, 50+ baptisms, 19 surrenders to full time ministry 

⟼june 29: fireworks at the crosses // 99 baptisms, 10,000+ people in attendance // also my beautiful mother's birthday 

⟼july 3-5: vacation to texas to visit my family, i brought several friends and on our way back to arkansas we stopped in denton and explored that cute little city // 5 people packed in my lil subaru