. . . his heart was filled with {love}. . .

"It was not for his own sin that the Father bruised the Son.  It was because he wanted to show us mercy.  He wanted to forgive and heal and save and rejoice over us with loud singing.  But he is righteous.  That means his heart was filled with a love for the infinite worth of his own glory.  But we were sinners.  And that means that our hearts were filled with God-belittling affections.  So to save sinners, and at the same time magnify the worth of his glory, God lays our sin on Jesus and abandons him to the shame and slaughter of the cross." 

- John Piper, The Pleasures of God

And he took it on himself gladly, in order to save such wretched sinners as ourselves.  There is much reason to rejoice, when we consider what has been done for us, and where we would be without it.

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening...

Well, not exactly.  Unfortunately, down in the South, we don't get much snow, so my title should be more like "Stopping by Woods on a Brown Winter Morning..."

Not as lovely and poetic, eh?

This morning, Daddy, Lillian and I went for a bike ride on a local river trail.

After eight miles up and down hills, Daddy informed us that his legs "felt like spaghetti noodles."

Family Reunion

Family + Camping + Food = Awesomeness

This past weekend we all piled into "Old Bessie" and traveled down to rural South Carolina for a few days.  After arriving at my great aunt and uncle's house, the festivities began.  I don't know about anywhere else, but here in the south, family reunions consist of much talking, laughing, reminiscing, and LOTS of eating.  Anywhere from oysters to 9 layer chocolate cakes to "hash" over rice.  (Hash is a South Carolinian meat dish consisting of minced pork, mustard, spices, and other odd ingredients.  Bleh.)  So if you ever have the opportunity to go to a Southern FR, GO...  unless you don't like food, then don't go.  But enough said, here are some pictures from the trip - 

Campsite

"Take me home, Country Road to the place where I belong"

Cousins 

After lunch Saturday, a few of us girls went on a "fall flower expedition."  To make a long story short, we got trapped by water, had to drive backwards down a skinny, overgrown path, then got stuck in some mud, had to drive backwards down another skinny overgrown path, and I got all splattered with mud in the process.  

I love the country.

But through it all, we collected some beautiful foliage and berries, and shared many good laughs.

Bear likes bacon and sausage and coffee.

For the first two days the skies were mostly cloudy, and gray, but the last day this was waiting for us outside the tent.

"The heavens declare the glory of God"

Thank you Aunt Mary and Uncle Derriel for opening your home to us and being such marvelous hosts!