fall is hereeeeee :)

went home this weekend and it was literally
the most perfect weekend ever.
[eventful. family-FILLED. lotss of laughter. silliness. football. homecooked meals.]

i loved it all so so so so much.
it finally felt like FALL! my favorite season because after a long hot summer, fall brings the excitement of saturday football games, breezy autumn air, family, a bowl of chili and me and maggie's birthday month!!

it was also really good to be back at my home church and hear two awesome sermons- one taught in my sunday school class and one in the regular "big church" as we call it :)
in big church we sang one of my favorite hymns..i'm sure i've posted it on my blog before, but what's the harm in posting it again. when we sang it this morning, i sang it with a huge smile in my heart and probably on my face as well because the hymn conveyed so perfectly all that God has been teaching me lately. i've learned so much about Him in the past few months. He is so amazing and yet so hard to wrap my mind around. mystery-that's what i like about Him--it keeps me guessing and it keeps me thirsty.
well here's the hymn:

Jesus, I am resting, resting

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

  Of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For, by Thy transforming power,

  Thou hast made me whole. 

    Jesus, I am resting, resting

    In the joy of what Thou art;

    I am finding out the greatness

        Of Thy loving heart. 

Oh, how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea:

Oh, how marvelous Thy goodness,

  Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,

Know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

  And have made it mine. 

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

  Satisfies my heart,

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its [every] need,

Compasseth me round with blessings,

  Thine is love indeed. 

Ever lift Thy face upon me,

As I work and wait for Thee;

Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,

  Earth's dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father's glory,

Sunshine of my Father's face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

  Fill me with Thy grace. 

this hymn is so beautiful and what's even greater is when i'm sitting in the pew at church with my family all around me and i hear not only their voices but a whole room full of voices all singing out to the same God. the same God that knows each one of us by name and knows each one of our struggles and our joys. that brings happy tears to my eyes. imagine what a beautiful sound that must be for God seated up on the throne to hear the hearts of people singing out to Him. oh how i love to sing.

speaking of singing, caroline and i pretty much sang our hearts out on the way back to auburn late this afternoon. it was hilarious! we brought with us a ton of old cd's we listened to in middle school and we had the sunroof open and were singing at the top of our lungs, much to the cars' around us entertainment i'm sure. it was so fun though; just another happy memory from this weekend...maggie and i had our share of laughter friday night when we were slightly delirious and made the most hilarious video ever...the whole family was talking with my grandparents and me and maggie were ON THE FLOOR laughing so hard we couldn't breathe and when we showed them the video they were laughing too! this weekend was FULL of laughter--i like to laugh. i know most people would say they like to laugh, but i seriously like to laugh. like seriously. it has to be one of the best feelings in the whole world when something is so funny that you are wholeheartedly, from the gut, laughing SO hard that you can't even hold yourself up..i love that kind of laughter..no wonder they say it makes you live longer.