wordy wednesday

"The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." - Psalm 90:10

Death is a very real part of living.  Sometimes it happens suddenly and sometimes we expect death.  But the truth of the matter is, no person is ever ready to hear that a loved one so close to them has been passed on.  Death makes everything stop.

I remember day trips to the local wildlife preserve to see all the animals.  I remember spending the night and hearing the grandfather clock ding every hour.  I remember staying up until the ripe ole hour of 9 o'clock to watch re-runs of Kenan & Kel.  I remember a full candy dish of York peppermint patties and a room full of large and sometimes very creepy dolls.  I remember Thanksgiving and Christmas and how there was never a short supply of food.  I remember that being silly was never forbidden, ever.  I remember that at yard sales, the marked price was never good enough and how there was always a way to get things for less.  I remember her saying "I love you sweetheart and I'm proud of you."  I also remember the last time I saw her that day and how I couldn't breathe when my mom told me that I would never hear my grandmother say those things every again.

The scripture above is encouraging and very blunt.  Firstly, life on Earth was never meant to be forever, ever since Adam ate the forbidden fruit, so our average life expectancy is about 70 or 80 years.  Not only is life fleeting, it is painful and sorrowful.  But death only hurts those still living.  It isn't until we have lived, fulfilled God's plan, and died that we can experience heaven.  I know my  grandmother flew away to a better place on the 12th of September because it was her time and now she is at peace.

We as citizens of the world shall live as people of God on earth, fulfilling our purpose here until we are called to fly away and be with him.

This was very hard for me to write, but I hope those that have experienced the death of a relative can relate and that this scripture is both encouraging and real to us all.

love you guys,

Mackenzie

being a dog momma

recently, the same little furry face has been streamed on my instagram page.  you may recognize him, his name is moose.  and like i said in my earlier post, my decision to adopt moose-boy made me grow up pretty fast.  i mean, this dog is like a baby that will never grow up.  he will always need me to take him to the bathroom, feed him, play with him, and (my favorite) hold him.  but i've found myself treating him like my very own child, worrying about him when i'm away, asking my mom for advice, and i've had to learn what spray n' wash is due to his little messes here and there.  but he is the perfect companion!! i love his ears when they perk up, i love that he is so bad he's cute, i love that he tries so hard to be the big guard dog, i love to have a friend that jumps almost 4 feet in the air to greet me everyday but most of all, i love that we help each other out.  little moose is reason number 1 that life is never going to be the same, but in the heart-warming way.

it's October now

sometimes life does this freaky thing where it turns you upside-down.  i can't believe that i haven't posted in practically four months.  and where my life has seemed to stop on the blog, in reality i have been constantly dealing with new experiences and i've learned that one moment can change how you live your life forever.  so in the next few weeks we are going to have a series of heart-to-hearts to just catch everyone up ( including myself ) on what has been going on with me and maybe, just maybe we have been going through the same things.

i never thought i would say this...

 

but i am somewhat excited to back to school this fall!

i know, i know... i probably won't feel this way for long but this semester is going to consist of a new lifestyle!  i have a dog, i'm going to be able to work more with the way my classes fall, i'm taking music & theater, and i'm uber thrilled to no longer have to take public transportation!

i did go supply & text book shopping today which triggered this feeling of starting fresh and new.  i just thought i would share this feeling that could mean pigs can indeed fly!

moose

meet the cutest, most expensive, time consuming, loyal, loving, cuddly, scariest, joyful and playful little guy i've ever seen!

for the first time ever, i have adopted my very own doggie friend! his name is moose, and here is how he came into my life!

i have always wanted to adopt a dog but never had the guts to do it. During hours of browsing every pet finder add within 100 miles of my appartment, those furry and floppy ears caught my eye. the next day i HAD to go see him, who was "Atlas" at the time. but to my disappointment he was not at the shelter, so i asked about "Atlas" and found out that he hadn't been adopted but had been moved to a satellite shelter in a Petsmart across town. i didn't have the time to go across town, so i thought that was a sign.

i decided that the sign was silly, so the next morning i went with my mom and my sister to go see him at his Petsmart location. i fell for him as soon as he hopped up in my lap. but i was unable to take him home because of work scheduling conflicts and because of analyzing, second guessing personality. i was going to get the next morning but during a sleepless i had convinced myself that i wasn't good enough for this deserving dog.

i had a hold on him, so i lifted it. i cried so hard after that phone call. i realized that this was the dog for me. the next morning, i called the shelter and told them i would be there to pick him up that day and they said that if he got adopted before i got there, there would be nothing they could do. so after work, i sped and weaved through traffic, parked, and practically ran into Petsmart and back to his kennel. i was so frazzled and excited and scared. but soon after paying the adoption fee and signing what felt like 15 billion papers (i know i killed a tree), this little fuzz ball was mine!

after that there was the buying of crates, gates, a collar & leash, food, toys, and treats. i got him home and he has been one of the best decisions i ever made! no price tag could be put on him!

the hardest things have been not knowing much about him, and choosing his name. when adopting him, all i knew was that e was supposedly a 3 year old miniature poodle that was found on the streets under a car weighing about 5 pounds. and the name choice was a very laboring ordeal that strung out for 3 days but i think it turned out ok.

so now you've seen the latest development in my life! what's your pet story?? i'd love to hear it!

future planning & present procrastinating

{picture taken by mackenzie phillips}

 for some reason my thoughts have been consumed by all the things i'm going to do when i graduate college.  get a dog.  get a house.  maybe buy a new (used) car.  but all of these things require money.  when i reach this part of the fantasy, it makes me scared.  in this not so distant future, i have absolutely no idea what occupation will pay the bills.  i know what i think would be perfect for me and then i second guess myself because ultimately i'm not the one that will be deciding, God will.  i need to get over the fact that God will work this out and NOT me.

what i'm secretly thinking about this week, has been interrupted repeatedly by what i should be focusing on, reality.  2 assignments due friday, an exam sunday, the youth camp video that is being presented sunday, leading worship at my church sunday, working all week, our church's VBS, the upcoming fair that i am suppose to be helping with, my mother being stressed and the absolutely nothing that i can do about it.  the list goes on & on.  one of my great friends once told me to not get caught up in the future so as to miss the present.  she's probably reading this, so i thank you friend.  i need to stop procrastinating on the tasks that need me now rather than dwell on future blessing and worries that may never come to pass.

prayers gladly accepted for the "mackenzie needs to get through her present life" reality check!

shoe box organizing

so the ladder part of my day has consisted of organizing!  is anyone else a receipt and bill keeper?  all of my receipts, check stubs, and paid bills find random places in my apartment to rest, which ends in large towers of papers everywhere!  so to say, "i've had enough" to the all of the papers in my life, i decided to put my shoe boxes to good use!

all you need is:
- some sharpies
- white index cards
- larger colorful index cards {for the backgrounds}
- staples
- tape
- paper clips {for the month labels inside}
- & some cute adhesive labels

i was determined not to go to the store, so most of this stuff i had laying around my house.  but i had fun organizing, this is going to make my room look so much better!  this is SO easy and WAY more affordable than buying those filing thingies at the office supply stores.

happy friday guys!

 

youth camp according to my iPhone

my view for 14 hours ... pranking kacie with the creepy sun face ... destin, florida


the girls ... bow on guitar!! amazing!! ... saving seats because even nice people are vicious


that large hat was my friend as well as it's wearer ... sandy feet ... and pool time


another one of our youth! ... the gulf ... my DIY pick guard, which has nothing to do with camp!

the area1 camp is always a blast! we worshiped with Cloverton, had meaningful discussions with Harris III {the christian illusionist, look him up right NOW!}, and had amazing fellowship with each other in the beautiful Destin, Florida! more with what happened at camp coming soon!!

a much needed rest & vacation

{me and the beach have a love/hate relationship lol}

hey guys! i know that i've been a little absent recently. but while juggling between a couple of jobs, working some l-o-n-g shifts, my online class work, and such, i've been trying to pack for this years youth camp.

the pic from above was from last years camp.  we had such a good time, and it was somehow relaxing and renewing.  that's why i'm looking forward to it soo much! i'm hoping it's going to be a retreat for me again this year.   i want to put as many distractions out of my mind and put more of God in it.

and with it being a retreat & all, i can only allow myself to dedicate my online time to my music class this upcoming week.   but hopefully the blog silence will pay off and i will come to the table refreshed next week with some inspiring things.  i've been so motivated to be creative lately! haha.

anyways, i'm going with my youth group from Providence and i just love every single one of those kids! prayers are always lovely.   i'll be praying for:
- all of our drivers: i'm one of them!
- 2 AM tomorrow morning? sure why not.
- that tropical storm in the Gulf: PLEASE do not turn into a hurricane
- my homesickness: i'll miss my family & other friends
- my devotional time: i loved it last time and i REALLY want to pick up that habit again!
- our group of kids & for me to somehow know what to say when tough questions are asked
- and finally: an experience that will change hearts, including my own!

have a wonderful week! i'll talk to you soon!! 

life according to my Iphone

shopping & textbook & my girl

spidy marathon & chris hemsworth & more class

lamp shade hat & four-wheel ride & a morning jog

father's day gift & outing for dad & my sis the rock star

new dress & tour bus? & catalog cutting!

sometimes

photo by Jessica Tingle

... life gets in the way of blogging about life
... you feel that no matter what your paycheck says, there is no amount that could repay for what you just did
... your day off from work becomes a planned mini stay-cation
... relaxation is best described as caramel cake, chocolate ganache ice cream & the bachelorette
... you get wonderful new comments & wonderful new followers
... you struggle to finish the book your on but you continue to add to, a now, epic reading list
... you are tired but have absolutely no intention of going to bed
... you look into your future and think of the house of your dreams but then take a look around and figure out that it's never going to be that simple
... the front of your textbook can make you motivated to do work {mine has a beautiful owl}
... you wonder if you have one of those positive personalities that gets on people's nerves or if you genuinely brighten their day
... awkward situations cannot be avoided
... you go into a store looking for the clearance racks & you still come out with four pieces of clothing that cost you $67
... you get caught up on your want list that your needs list becomes a blur
... you face set backs & all you can do is work through them

friday thoughts

- man, i forgot how much i loved pride & prejudice... after this one?  i think i may try another jane austen novel.
- why oh why must i work 1pm to 10pm on a saturday?... i guess someone has to though.
- my grandmother is at my house after just getting out of the hospital... Lord please help me and don't let her focus on the mess in my room too much! ;)
- i am WAY too anxious about this online class... i'm motivated to work, work, work but there is no assignment yet.
- a new indian place opened up in the mall two stores down from us and i think they may have plotted to kill every customer they have by serving a special hot sauce... i tried some today & it was HAWT!  i mean i was crying it was so hot!
- why can't weekends run: friday, saturday, sunday, monday?  i mean who was the genius that thought up this whole work week thingy?
- i have so many journals begging me to write in them it's ridiculous!
- snow white & the huntsman was legit... i may just go back again to see it!
- their is a 12 ft chris hemsworth huntsman back at my house that is waiting for me to find him a new home... that's right, i totally got the movie standee {check out the rest of my obsessive tendencies}
- one day i'm going to wake up, go running, take a shower, pull on some sweats, get me some coffee, sit on the front porch & read
- dear computer documents, downloads, and all media files... organize yourselves please!!

here are some thoughts for the weekend guys!

awkward & awesome

awkward:
- windows down, jammin' to your music & then having a woman give you an evil glare while she rolls  her window up
- having the entire class bombard your poor nervous teacher with the proposition of dropping the lowest exam score when clearly he specified that no exam scores would be dropped in the syllabus... do you build up the teacher by saying, "hello? i did all the work and you all should suffer because you didn't!" and then become the most hated person in class or do you just wallow in his self doubt?  i chose the ladder, and felt only a little bad :/
- online classes... bought the books today... this should be interesting
- getting lost in, what seems like, an infinite loop in a parking garage
- the long pause and stares that come after asking the person at starbuck's to "surprise me" on your drink order for a friend

awesome:
- no class (except for online but does that really count?).  no work sleeping in! now it's just shopping & visiting my grandmother in the hospital
- the penguin classics cloth bound editions!  just bought my first one, and it has inspired me to read more of them!  vintage look + old english language = me reading for fun
- sleep overs with the sis
- the lord of the rings... i have no clue what is going on at some points but i just take it in & want more... i'm watching the final one this weekend!
- applied for a parking permit... public transportation to class, i bid you farewell!
- flyleaf... 'nough said
- new pictures!  thanks jess! photoshoots are SO much fun!

wordy wednesday: entry #11

INDIFFERENCE

so here are some words on indifference inspired by my pastor's sermon last Sunday.

"the soldiers sat there and continued watching Him."

- Matthew 27:36 

context: this took place during the the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, who was being sacrificed so that we, sinners, could one day be in heaven with our spotless and perfect God.

message: are you a christian that lives to sit back and watch?

when Jesus was on this earth, he helped a very good number of people, but every single one of them, including His closest followers, just watched Him die.  many churches these days have the problem of indifference. but it starts with its members.  so many people are content in their own salvation that have grown to not care.  it should be obvious that this is such a big problem.

well maybe that person is saved... surely someone else will get to them before i have to... they wouldn't even listen to me if i tried to explain... do they even deserve my time?

if you don't care, then who will?  God has intrusted a job to you.  stop being indifferent.  care about others.  care about what God has done for you.  make time for what you need to make time for.  stop being selfish & proceed with passion!

have a wonderful wordy wednesday!

life according to my iPhone

the katniss braid & the lovely outfit & the door to the infinite

squirrel with curly fry & tree bark & inside the box

my marvel sweatshirt & one of my favorite movies & another one of my new favorites

my first blanket is complete & my new cloth bound book & the hospital kit {my grandmother needs prayers}