The Longest Post Ever.

              This past weekend was the best! I put all thoughts of homework and exams behind me and headed for Saint Clairsville to spend the weekend with the Clarke family. We had a blast! From watching Julian Smith videos, to using my computer's camera to capture some of the most hysterical videos ever (no seriously, my stomach hurt SO badly from laughing), it was a memorable weekend!

On Saturday morning we went to the mall.

Best 75 cents I've ever spent :P

Another of the ride, taken by Rachel :)

I <3 mirrors

Um, yeah... we were in really strange moods. Oh, and just in case
there's any doubt in your minds, I don't like Justin Bieber. AT.ALL.

oooooooh, lip gloss!

They lip gloss smelled really good ;)

Hello, this is Shoe-zy, how may I help you?

"this is the shoe I want to wear for my weddin'"

 And then to Starbucks :D :D :D

I love Izzes (or is it Izzie's???)

Saturday evening we went to the Clarke's friends' house to play games.

Beautiful sunset over the fields. Unfortunately, it had to be while we
were in the car, so the picture isn't the best...

Heading into WV for the evening.

Yup, that's right, I went to BETHLEHEM :P

Apples to Apples :)

Alex was building a mint-tower.

Sunday was amazing :) Of the group of girls in and around Saint Clairsville that are good friends with a lot of my other friends, the only one that I hadn't met yet was McKenna. So, the plan was to surprise McKenna on Sunday after church by showing up at her house. Well, what I didn't know was that when you email someone enough who also has gmail, they automatically get added to your chat list. McKenna and I have emailed a few times...And of course, since I was so excited for my weekend away, I announced it as my status on gchat. Anyways...long story short, she knew that I was in town, and got a bit suspicious. Sooo, it wasn't quite the surprise we'd planned, but definitely fun just the same!

*shakes head* that's Rachel :P

                            

I think they all like my computer better than me :P

AH! It's McKenna!

Quit being so darn cute, would ya?

and you too, Jordan!

                        

                        

Miss you guys and can't wait till next time!!!!

Oh, and last but not least, while I was there, I started writing down the funny sayings that went on in the Clarke household. I'm sure there were plenty that I missed, but here are the ones that I've got; 

You can be my McRib. - Rach

Can you help me kiss myself? -Rachel on using the "mirror" setting on my computer's camera.

Me: "Catherine, your  eyes are SO big!"

Catherine: "Your nose is so big."

"Why don't you just hurry up and knife him?" -Catherine on the scene in LOTR Return of the King where Gollum attacks Frodo and then convinces Frodo not to hurt him.

Me: "Rachel, can I help you?"

Mr. Clarke: "The kind of help that she needs you can't give her."

"See, I told you she was crazy." Mr. Clarke regarding Rachel.

"I play music, you don't." -Rachel

"I'm the best friend I know." -Rach

"We're having rabbits ears and camel rears." -Rachel in response to what was for breakfast

"Daddy, are you fat now?" -Catherine after Mr. Clarke finished dinner.

"Ashley, you need to eat without utensils so that we can see how you McMichaels' eat at home." -Mr. Clarke

"Wow, I feel like I'm meeting Oprah or something." -McKenna on our meeting for the first time

Always Looking Forward

As a little child I remember how I couldn't wait to grow up. I would read books that had characters in them who were 10 or 12 and think that they were oh-so-old. Now, looking back 12 seems like nothing :)

As humans, it seems we are always waiting for something. The next weekend or vacation. Christmas or birthdays. Summer or winter break. Then there are the more defined, once-in-a-lifetime things, such as becoming a teenager, beginning to drive, graduating high school, getting married, having a first baby, being a grandparent, etc. The possibilities are endless, and there is always something that we seem to be looking to the future for.

Unfortunatley, what I see in my own life is that while I'm looking forward to the weekend, I miss the precious moments that fall in between one weekend and the next. While I was waiting to drive, I missed out on many amazing sights from the car window. While I was waiting to graduate, there were so many times in my high-school life where God was blessing me richly, but I didn't even take the time to notice. It's almost as if I've wished parts of my life away because I have been too busy waiting for something else to happen. There are so many little things in our lives that get left unnoticed because life is just 'too eventful'; like when I left the house yesterday and my little brother ran up to me, gave me a big hug, and told me that he loved me. It was such a sweet moment but I was in such a hurry to get out the door that I really paid him no mind.

Now, mind you, I'm not saying that we should never look forward to anything. In fact, as Christians we are called to await the coming of Christ: "You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Luke 12:40, ESV)." But even while waiting for the return of our Saviour, we should not be like those who go into secluded places and sit and wait for His coming. Rather, we should live to the fullest every moment that God blesses us with. Take time today to stop and smell the roses and don't rush on with life. I can guarantee that if you hurry through life, always looking forward but never noticing where you are, you'll look back in 30 years and regret the little moments that you missed.

-Ashley Kate