lately.

 Beach trip with my mom.

 Being goofy with Gina.

 Learning how to play guitar.

 Fourth of July.



This is coming soon!

__________________________________________________________________________________

There's been a lot of stuff happening lately. A lot to keep me busy. A lot to bring a smile to my face. And certainly a lot to remind me of how blessed I really am.

01. Last monday my Mom and I were dragging our feet around the house, wiping away the sleep from our eyes, when she said, "Want to go to the beach?" Honestly, how could I resist? My schedule was almost completely cleared, so we did just that. We packed a light and healthy lunch, slathered some sunscreen on and hit the beach. It was a gorgeous day. Low tide, quiet, the water was the perfect temperature. Plus, I got to spend it with my mom. She's the best!

02. This past weekend my Floridian born-Michigan living friend Gina was in "town". I say "town" because she lives about an hour south of me, but in "town" is better than in Michigan. I drove down on Friday afternoon, and stayed until Saturday evening. We got caught up on each others lives, played games together, became frustrated from said games, spent time with friends, hit the flea market, sweat until we couldn't sweat anymore, grabbed ice cream, when to the Chik-fil-a, learned some guitar. We had a great time together. It always a great time when I get to hang with Gina and her family.

03. Like I said, Gina taught me how to play a little bit of guitar. It's something I've wanted to learn how to do for a while, but haven't had a guitar to do so. I recently aquired a guitar, so what better time than now to learn?

04. Last week was the 4th! How exciting! I spent most of my day doing homework, but was able to get out for some fun in the afternoon and evening. My church was doing a picnic, so I got to eat some yummy food, and hang out with my good church people. Then I met up with some friends from my young adult bible study group and we went to the city fireworks. My friend Felicia knows some of the city cops, so we were able to get the hook-up and had ourselves some really great seats. We could literally see where the professionals were setting the fireworks off from in the road. It was incredible. And loud. And smoky. And we got rained on by firework debris, but it was still amazing, all the same. Afterward, I went to IHOP with my friends Kelsey and Felicia to keep the party going. It was awkward and weird. And I got really bad heartburn because I ate a bunch of food that I shouldn't have, but other than that, it was a fine night out.

05. The Jason Gray concert that I've been planning is a month and a half away! Crazy! Things have really picked up over the past couple weeks with that, and I am getting pumped. It will be here before I know it. As much work as this whole concert planning gig is, I'll be very sad to see it end. Plus, the planning is part of the fun, right?

Also, I'm taking an oceanography class right now, and last week I got a B on my first test!

The Lord has been blessing me left and right. Not only has he been blessing me, but He's been blessing those around me as well. It's so encouraging to see the hand of God in every little detail. Wow! I'm just blown away. 

happy birthday, mom!

Dear Mom,
You are the greatest person I know. Thank for your teaching me everything I know today. Thank you for teaching me every day. Thank you for teaching me the importance of saying please and thank you, how to eat my vegetables and enjoy them, how important it is to treat people with respect, how to learn from my mistakes, to walk around with my head held high no matter the circumstances, for making me do chores, for honesty, for laughter, for memories, for tough (and soft) love. Most of all...for being my best friend.

Thank you for all of the hard work you do for your family.
Happy Birthday!

Love,

Your Sugar Plum Fairy Princess

whoa!

Whew! There is so much going on! Once again, I'm so sorry about the blogging break. It was unintentional, but life just got so crazy!

I just finished the spring semester yesterday, and couldn't be more grateful that it's over. Finals were actually pretty spectacular, and went way more smoothly than I had expected. I'm not sure of any of my grades yet and won't until Tuesday, but I am just so thrilled that it's over and will be grateful with whatever the outcome is. This semester was intense, so I'm ecstatic to have a break of some sort for a few weeks. 

My mom, step-dad and I made plans to head up to Northern Florida this coming Thursday to Sunday to camp and spend time with each other before I leave, but some plans have changed and we're leaving this Sunday to drive up to Jacksonville for a few days. My step-dad has a training that he has to attend, so we're staying in a hotel and my mom and I are going to explore Jacksonville and spend some good time together, just the two of us. Then on Thursday we'll head to Gainesville for some doctor's appointments for my mom and then we'll have our camping trip. It's kind of crazy, but I'm sure it will be an enjoyable time. I'm pretty much just tagging along, but we'll have fun. I know it. :-)

I'm leaving for Minnesota in 25 days, which I'm realizing more and more that the time is just speeding up, and I'll really be out of here sooner than I can say "I'm going to Minnesota!". Yesterday when I finished my last class I want wondering how I would be able to fill up the time before I left, and trying to make plans to hang out with friends. Now with finding out that I'll be out of town for a whole week out of the three and a half that are left before I leave, I just hope I have enough to declutter my room before the big fly out day.

In no way am I complaining. I'm grateful to be able to get out of town for a little while, and to spending time with my family. I love them dearly, and can't wait to explore Jacksonville with my momma! 

Well, there's a quick life update (sort of). Hopefully I'll be able to find time to sit down and write again a few more times in the next three weeks...

Happy Belated Memorial Day, my friends!

I hope you all got to do something fun and summery, but also remembering the reason why we have a day to celebrate, and remember our freedom and the people who gave their lives for us.

Being that this was my last weekend at home before I set off on my adventure, I spent tons of time with my family. Yesterday all of my step-siblings and my step-dad went to the beach together. It was a great day to play in the water, ride the waves, eat sandwiches on the beach, search for sand fleas to fish with, feel the sand between our toes, have a mini photoshoot with my step-sister, and spend the day/weekend at the beach before I will be thousands of miles away from something that I've become so comfortable with having right at my reach.

The beach is something that I've taken for granted over the years, and I've learned that it's not all that it's cracked up to be. From rip currents, to seaweed, to salt water in your eyes, sand in your bathing suit, sea lice, jelly fish, sharks, and all of the other crazy things that lurk out in the ocean, it's left little to be desired by me. However, it was lovely to just throw all of that out the window yesterday and enjoy every second of my time there. Even if I got more sea lice then I did on Saturday, and my tummy is itching like crazy from it. Or the fact that I've gotten the worst sunburn I've had in over two years..I can truthfully say it was totally worth it.

Dearest South Florida beaches, I will miss you...

today was a really interesting day. i had plans to go out to lunch with my grandma for our weekly date together. yes, i go on dates with my grandma, and they are the best dates ever. well, this is where the interesting part comes in.

there's a little produce stand that has been down the street from my grandma's house for as long as i can remember. my dad used to own his own produce market when my brothers and i were younger. there was a lady who worked for him for a long time. every other weekend when my brother and i would go to my dad's we would always spend time at the market. i would help out with bagging groceries or ringing up customers, or just hang out. normally with this lady. so we got to know each other really well. i always danced around the market, because I was a ballerina, and i would always show this lady the new things i was learning. or we would just talk. i would vent my frustrations to her, and she ultimately protected me from the scary things. if any of you know my story, you know that my relationship with my dad has been rocky all of my life. she knew how ugly things could get with my dad, and would always protect me.

my dad shut down his produce market when i was about 11. 9 years ago. when he shut down his market i never saw this lady after that. well, about a year ago my dad told me that this lady was working at the produce stand right down the road from where he lives (he lives with my grandma). he said that whenever he goes in there she is always asking about me. she had seen one of my brothers quite a few times because he helped my dad with work a lot. i knew that i really wanted to see her, because she was a big part of my life when i was younger. a couple of weeks ago when i was down visiting my grandma my dad told me the hours that she was normally at the produce stand. this morning when i woke up i wanted to make a point of stopping by there to say hi on my way to pick my grandma up. by the time i got there, there wasn't enough time, so i just went and picked up my grandma. i was pretty upset, though. i figured i had blown my chance. that it was too late to see this lady after 9 years.

when i was on my way home i looked over at the stand and saw her standing there, so i had to stop. the moment i pulled in i could feel the blood pumping through my veins. i don't even know how i was walking up there. i walked in and i was looking at her and she didn't even look like i had remembered. so i started thinking "this isn't her. i may as well just turn around. i'm wasting my time." but she looked at me and i said "are you lena?" and she said "yes." i said, "do i look familiar to you?" and she said "are you...?" and said something else's name. i said "no...i'm kaitlyn" do you remember me. the look on her face. she said "oh my goodness. i can't believe it's you!" i'm not really sure what i was feeling at that moment, but whatever it was it was almost magical. this was the first time i had ever intentionally gone out of my way to see someone that i hadn't seen in a very long time. seeing this lady who i had spent countless hours with over dreadful weekends with my dad. a lady who sat there through my detailed stories at the age of eight, and protected me during some of the scariest moment of my life. it was beautiful. she said that she could still see me in her head dancing around the market and doing ballet. we stood in the middle of this little fruit stand and shared what had been going on in our lives for the past 9 years. it was crazy. the first thing i said to her once she knew it was me was "i just turned twenty last friday." almost 10 years later. amazing how time flies.

as i was leaving we both gave each other huge hugs and as i was walking to my car she yelled "i love you." i didn't know how to react at first, because i'm weird about things like that. the only people i really say those three words to are my family. i don't throw those around like a baseball. it didn't bother me, it just took me by surprise. then i turned around and we both looked and each other and then we both kind of simultaneously went back to hug each other once more. as i was pulling out to head home, she was standing there waving at me. since that visit, my heart has felt so full.

when my mom came home i was bursting at the seams to tell her about what had happened. by the end of it i was in tears. i can't tell you why. being able to see lena for the first time in almost 10 years was incredible. she was like my mom when my mom wasn't around. when i was younger going to my dad's house seemed like a death sentence for me. i would cling onto my mom's legs begging her to not make me go to my dad's. but when i was at the market having lena there just made things okay. i don't think i've ever met someone that has ever taken me under their wing like that in my life. being able to see her today has made me realize how much of an impact she had on my life, and i didn't even know it. who knows where i would be had i not had her 10 years ago.

my heart is so full. so full.
...and God is good.

Remember how I was telling you guys about my childhood experiences with my Grandma's Christmas village here? Well, let me just tell you, my step-brother Matthew totally got down on his hands and knees, stuck his head down to village level and it was the neatest thing to take in the wonder and awe in his face. I think my Grandma passed on the gift on village creating to me. Many people say I am my mother's daughter, but I think I am more my grandmother's grand-daughter. Last week, my mom was digging elbow deep through our hope chest, and came across an old photo of my grandma. I look just like her. It brought tears to my eyes. We shared the love of turkey wings on Thanksgiving together, wanting to bring our family together and see all of our loved ones happy and healthy, and so many more things that I can't even begin to list. My Grandma was the greatest. I can't really be sad about the fact that she's gone. Even though I really do miss her, I can only be happy. She's spending this Christmas with the One we celebrate Christmas for. The One who came into this world, laying in a manger, who later died for our sins. I can't think of a greater way to spend Christmas. Really, my Grandma's got it made!

christmas time.

We have officially decked the halls in the Luce/Bookout home. The Christmas tree is up by the window, the stockings are hung by the hope chest with care (we don't have a fire place), the Christmas village is up and running. Let me tell you, it looks fabulous. My mom even made brownies on Monday night when we were all decorating. It felt like I was a kid again. Getting into the Christmas spirit, waiting for those delicious treats my mom was making in the kitchen. My mom has also become super artsy fartsy. She's made wreathes to hang on your doors and walls. let me tell you, they look wonderful. Pictures coming soon...

This year, it feels as if we are trying to make ourselves get into the Christmas spirit even more than usual. Trying to keep our minds off of the fact that it's our first Christmas without my Grandma. It was difficult yesterday, rifling through the village set-up and going through all the things my Grandma had last wrapped with care. She always did such a lovely job putting together her Christmas village every year, and it was always so much fun to look down into it, and see the little wintry world she created. This year I tried to do our village justice for her. I feel as if I accomplished that, because i'm left sitting in front of the wintry world I created, and it feels as if my Grandma was right by my side the whole time. I can hear her voice saying "Good job" right now.

family outing.

Yesterday was quite the day. I spent it with my family, and it was lovely. My favorite part of the day was yesterday evening. We went on a family outing. I knew where we were going, because my mom told me. We were going to see "Where The Wild Things Are" and go out to dinner at Duffy's. My step-sister Sarah and two step-brothers Jacob and Chris had no idea.

So we set off yesterday afternoon, on our way to Lowe's for 'three hours' before the movie started. They all looked so thrilled, I almost couldn't handle the excitement. While we were walking in, my mom and Brad were telling them that we were going to grab a hot dog on our way out. Jacob was so excited. The best part was that he had absolutely no idea. I love the excitement of a 9 year old. We walked around Lowe's for about an hour, looking at things to repair our bathrooms.

On our way out, we realized that the hot dog stand was gone. So we were 'trying' to figure out what to do. Brad said "Well, we've got 7-11 or Hess for dinner." Ha! We 'decided' on Hess. Meanwhile, Brad is driving over to where Duffy's is and they still just don't get it. We got out of the car and started walking up and Brad says to Jacob while we're walking in, "We're only going to the bathroom in here, then we're leaving." Jacob says, "I don't have to go to the bathroom." Brad says, "Just go in!" and nudges him in. Then we talk to the hostess and she seats us. Then Jacob realizes that we are not eating at Hess and we are, in fact, eating at Duffy's. He then proceeds to go "Oh yeah! I love this place!" and does a triumphant fist pump. It was cute.

After enjoying a meal, we made our way to the mall. We walked around a little bit to wait for the movie to start. Then, it was finally time! I just have to say, this movie was everything I thought it would be and more. The funny thing is, I hated the book when I was little, because it scared me. It was quite the opposite for the movie, though. It left me reaching deep down inside myself for the things of my past. It was interesting to see the different character traits of the Wild Things, and how Max related to them. We finished the night with ice cream from McDonalds. My family never really gets to do things like that, so it was a really nice thing to get to do.

Meet My Family. Week Two:

Meet Matthew! He's 10 years old and the second youngest out of my step-siblings. He's very musically oriented, which I think it pretty cool! Put on any song and he can find the beat in no time. He's always bopping his head to some beat. He is very athletic too! He is a football star! :-) He's a stubborn little booger, but I love him anyway.

Meet My Family. Week One:

I've been wanting to start a theme related post for awhile now. It's going to be meeting my family. We'll see how it goes over. I have a pretty large mixed in family. I have two brothers and my mom. Then there's my step-dad, three step-brothers and one step-sister. I guess this has been inspired by them being here for 5 weeks. Sometimes I need reminding that deep down inside that I love every single one of them with every part of me. So this week is Jacob's turn!

Jacob is the youngest out of all of my step-siblings. He is 8 years old. Jacob is one adventurous little kid. He is always catching bugs, frogs, tadpoles, running around outside, etc. As you can see above, he's definitely not afraid of any sort of wild life. Sometimes he doesn't let his animal friends go and they die. He goes and finds some more to become friends with though. He's always tagging alongside his Dad, and it's absolutely adorable. Jacob is like a bottomless pit. He eats and eats and eats. We don't know where it all goes either! He's a handful, but a fun handful! :-)

That's it for week one of Meet My Family. Let me know if you enjoyed it and i'll continue on.

Rain, Cleaning and other things..

Today was a surprisingly busy day for me. I kept myself busy for the remainder of the day, which is probably why i'm blogging at 11:00 p.m. I was busy with school all morning/early afternoon, cleaned and did laundry for almost five hours. From 4:30 to 9:15 I was cleaning and doing laundry and everything like that. I'm still not done either! We are having company over throughout the weekend for Memorial Day, so that's what all this cleaning is for. I have to do my fair share today and tomorrow so I can go to church on Sunday. My Aunt is coming tomorrow evening and staying over night. So that means i'm lending my bedroom to her. On Sunday we will be having all of my family from my Mom's side coming over for an afternoon of barbequing and fun stuff like that. Hopefully my Grandma will be able to make it over, but that all depends on how she feels with her pain level from the chemo.
Today we got some more much needed rain. It was a very good rain too. Our backyard started getting very big puddles in it, which isn't a bad thing with how dry everything is. We need alot more rain to put out all of these fires. Hopefully things will start looking semi-pretty again around here. Green is better than brown! :-)
I'm still trying to get the hang of this blogging thing. I like it alot. But i'm trying to figure out how I can make it interesting.