Today is day eight, and I hate to say what that means. It means that in a bit, we're going to clean up, pack up, go out to eat for the last time, and head home. I have loved this vacation so incredibly much, it's pretty hard to leave. But I'm "falling on my knees in worhsip", thanking God that I have such an amazing parents to go home to. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my parents!

So what happened yesterday for our schedule, breakfast, beach, lunch, beach, house, and beach again. We really wanted it (the last day) to be filled with trips to the oceans. And thank  goodness we did!

Last night after our final trip to the ocean, we came home and Mrs. Cindy put on a seafood feast. It was very tasty! And afterwards we just hung around and laughed until we couldn't breathe. It was great, but I got super tired and went to bed :(. And to make matters worse, I missed the sunrise. I came down late at 6:08 and looked outside and the sky was still pink and orange and such. I ran upstairs to those who wanted to see the last sunrise and woke them up. We came outside and...the sun had already risen : / . I don't know when we're leaving, but I think we're going to Harry T's for lunch. I think that's going to be quite good, and a lot like The Crab Trap. We're picking up Nathan (Josh, Tyler, and Emily's cousin) in Georgia when we go through, so that'll be fun too. There are some upsides to today, but i'm still wearing black. ;)
 
"Beholding Your beauty
Is all that I long for
To worship You Jesus
Is my sole desire
For this very heart
You have shaped for be your pleasure
Purposed to lift Your Name higher

Here in surrender
In pure adoration
I enter Your courts
With an offering of praise
I am Your servant
Come to bring You glory
As is fit for the work of Your hands

Now unto the Lamb
Who sits on the throne
Be glory and honor and praise
All of creation resounds with the song
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords

Spirit now living
And dwelling within me
Keep my eyes fixed
Ever on Jesus' face
Let not the things of this world
Ever sway me
I'll run 'til I finish the race

Now unto the Lamb
Who sits on the throne
Be glory and honor and praise
All of eternity echoes the song
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords

Holy Lord
You are holy
Jesus Christ
Is the Lord

Now unto the Lamb
Who sits on the throne
Be glory and honour and praise
Call all the sinners to join in the song
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords"

Just got done talking to a sweet sister in Christ. As I came back in from the water, Mrs. Cindy and Mr. Mack were talking to a woman that I thought (by the way she was talking) may be either a hardcore atheist or a Christian. Turns out, she's a follower of Christ. It was such a blessing and she also prayed for us :)

(P.S. A man just walked up and said that he just saw a huge sea turtle out in the water. How fun!)
We ate breakfast quickly to be able to get in the water as soon as possible. As we were swimming in the water, something fun happened. We saw like eight dolphins! And a few of them were really close to us. It was completely amazing!

We've swam with quite a bit of marine life this week. Lots of fish, crabs, jellyfish, konks, dolphins, sea turtles, (if we would have come to THIS beach yesterday, we would've seen many six foot long sharks), oh and "sting rays". The "sting ray" story is pretty interesting (especially if you are my mother reading this). We (Caleb, Emily, Elle, Katie, and I) were just playing out in the water and looked up and Caleb said, "Alright Katie, it's okay, but don't walk any closer to me." There, swimming right around her were five or six "sting rays". She froze. And they swam off. We were frazzled for a bit but got over it. And then, the reason I keep saying "sting ray" is because a woman asked if we'd seen the cowtail rays. We asked her if she meant sting rays. But she didn't, she said that the lifeguard said that it wasn't a sting ray, it was a cowtail ray, which stings aren't as bad as a jellyfish! Whew! 
 
Today is our last full day here :(. The week has sped by. As of now, I am sitting in the middle of the road in our cul-de-sac. Reguardless of what my neighbors think, I want the best view of the sunrise on my last day. Mr. Mack and Mrs. Cindy have been so incredibly sweet and blessed me so much, and I don't know how to thank them! What God is continually teaching me on this trip is that I'm in a battle--a battle against my sin--a perpetual warfare, and I need to be strong. But I am weak, I fail. So my Father will carry me through, and strenghten me to fight the good fight of faith.
So either the Floridians are more friendly than Tennesseeans, or people are my friendly on vacation. I think it's a mixture of both. It's a running joke here that I make new best friends everywhere I go. I just can't help it when the people here actually want to talk to me. haha And off walked another new friend-- the lady with the huge poodles. I have honestly talked for several minutes with new people every day. I love it!

So I will catch up on what happened yesterday. I caught the sunrise yesterday and ignored my lack of sleep. It was beautiful! We tried our hand at snorkeling again and...success. We went to the correct part of the beach this time and it was splendid. The first time I went under, I was just wearing goggles (not a mask) and panic came over me. It was weird, I'd never been afraid of the water before. And then I realized that it was because, with goggles I was quite rapidly running out of air supply and it freaked me out. So I gave it another go-around and it was fine. And then I was not just fine, I was good. Saw one or two fish, and then switched over to another part of the beach and I wasn't just good or great, I was fantastic! It was lots of fun and I was cool with the few jellyfish I saw, but when I started seeing them in every direction, I decided it was time to get out. That beach was the nicest one, with the most privacy, the prettiest sand, the prettiest water, and the coolest marine life. I forgot to say that this was O'steen beach in Destin.

After snorkeling, we zipped home for showers, hopped back in the car, and went back out to Destin. When we went to see Robin Hood, several people wanted to see "Letters to Juliet", so we saw both. The movie (Letters to Juliet) was fun and sweet and we all came out happy. We walked around Destin Commons for a while and some other shops, and then we went home. It waso ur night for dinner :). I cooked with Emily, Elle, and Katie, and we made yummy, easy, and relatively quick tacos. Bree had bought a huge box of beads for us to make bracelets with, so we did that and it was lots of fun! I fell asleep on the couch last night and woke up in the same place, just without all the people. I don't know what happened, but I'm guessing I slept talked :D. The sun is high in the sky and I'm excited and happy for today! Now
 
 
"Turn your eyes apon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace"

Yesterday...yesterday was Tuesday, day five. After waking up late, again :/, we went to some of the natives of Seagrove's favorite place to eat--The Doughnut Hole. Find in unusual that their favorite place is breakfast? So did I. But then I went and found that it was a really fun experience! I would not say it was my favorite place to eat, but it was fun. (And they don't just have doughnuts, like Kaite and I got granola pancakes). I met a woman there who began to speak to her three year old niece and it was so sweet. She said (talking about something that was automatic),"Look dear, it's magic!" And the little girl said, "MAGIC!" Oh and I forgot to mention the most important part, they were from England! :D I love accents! Love, love, love. So if you're from a different country, or can fake an accent really well...please be my friend!

Following The Doughnut Hole, the plan was to go snorkeling. We accidentally went to the wrong place and decided to just swim in the ocean (although we did see a FEW fish). That was quite fun and in Destin (where we were swimming) there were lots and lots of of boats...pretty great!

Also, while swimming in Destin, we met a man with two bearded dragons. I got to hold one, it was amazing! Apparently there things actually respond to their names. They're like dogs. They play around his house and when they do something they're not supposed to, he call their names and they turn their heads and run over to him. I know, right?

Dinner was take out pizza from Brunos, a very tasty place. :) The couples went on dates, and us single folk just hung out, watched movies, and stayed up late. In fact, I got like four hours of sleep last night, I'm slightly tired!
 
This would be the first time I've journaled on the beach :) I'm laying here surrounded by several tanners, sunscreeners and sunscreenees, Bree reading to Josh, Elle humming, Caleb reading, and me. I'm just chilling :) The waves are calmers today and the sky is blue. Who ever knows what the day will hold here, so I won't tell you what the plan is (for there is none), I will only say, I'm sure it will be great!

Yesterday we had waffles and strawberrries, and then Mr. Mack did devotions. It was really good! Soon after that we went to the Destin Commons and shopped around for a bit, got Starbucks, and went to see Robin Hood. :) In the words of Elle Nelson, "This movie was epic". Then we went home, Josh and Bree made dinner, and we played games and fell asleep on the couch as we do almost every night. And then I woke up at eight :( I hate waking up late on vacations. And now we're just hanging out, and playing in the water :)
 
Today is Sunday, which means I am missing my church. And that is not a joyful thought at all. But I just hope and pray that I will honor my Father on this day of rest. I'm excited for who, other than God knows what today will hold?
(this above was done in the tower above the house :D )

Mmm...how I love reading, coffee, and cool mornings out on a porch!

"and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. Then they left the presence of the counsil rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." Acts 5:40-41

"You humble me Lord. You humble me Lord. I'm on my knees...empty. You humble me Lord. You humble me, Lord. So please please forgive me! You humble me Lord" -Norah Jones

 
 
Day two started earlyish at around six with toast--breakfast of champions. Then it was on to the beach for reading, getting destroyed by huge and awesome waves, long walks on the beach, lunch, shopping, and dinner.

Reading-- I am reading John Piper's When I Don't Desire God; How to Fight For Joy. The name alone intrigues me. But what I've read so far in the book is very good! I can't wait!

Getting destroyed by huge and awesome waves-- Mm salt water, getting pulled by the waves, and finally getting drug through the sand by the waves. Okay you are probably thinking that I was being sarcastic, but I say, "It's all part of this great experience!"

Ahh long walks on the beach...simply splendid!!

We'll skip the topic of lunch, because I have no idea what to say about it. :)

Shopping-- Shopping, oh the joy :) (But many of you know that I like to shop, but if it goes for longer than an hour or two, I get a bit tired of it). And this kind of shopping was super fun! It was like a marketplace, where most of it's done outside and most everything's very cool and beachy, but way too overpriced to even think of buying. Super fun!

Dinner-- Dinner was eaten in Destin, in a place called The Crab Trap. It was one of the coolest placed I've ever eaten. I was eating crab legs and sitting right by the ocean, as the sun set. Wonderfully tasty and skies that were crying out the glory of God for everyone to see. Awesome and very very fun!
 
And I missed it by a mile :(. As I walked outside, I thought it was raining, but no, it was just the sprinkler system. And they smell like boiled eggs.
So here I am am again, sitting on the big, nice, screened-in front porch (as the sprinklers are wildy spritzing beside, behind, and in front of me) :) ) and once again, everyone's aslee. Different surroundings, same situation, and I believe it'll probably happen all week (Oh, like now. Everyone is officially asleep. And here I am typing away). Which is fine with me :) I'll be able to just be still and get away from the slight craziness. Super, ultra fun, but still a bit crazy.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the LORD, how He has brought desolation on the earth. He makes wars cease to end the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. 'Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be axalted in the earth!' The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress." Psalm 46