Scattering Sunlight

☀️ hey, thanks for being here today. It’s a beautiful time to sit outside, sip my green smoothie, and write about last month. I’ve truly missed posting every week, but I’m here today and hope to make the most of it.

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all the pretty green things

Spring is a season of new growth and beauty that inspires me in my own life. If you brave through the cold, dull winter; new life will grow out and it will be worth it.

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evenings on the lake

It’s that time of year again. Every chance they get, the guys hook up the boats and haul to the lake. I’m not a fisherwoman so I only joined them twice, those times being guilt tripped by my family for valuing work over them 🫣. I’m glad I went because I got to read a book, have a picnic, laugh at people who got their hooks caught in the rocks, run the net, pick some wildflowers, and even get a little tan. Good times.

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annual tea party

Always a pleasure to meet the wonderful ladies who attend this fun luncheon, around 15 years running. Arranging flowers, making cute food, painting party favors, and decorating the tables is something I look forward to every time.

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picnic on table mountain

Soon after we were home from Gates, we youth girls had a picnic among the lupine. Nita and I got lost on the wrong trail while hauling 25-pounds of Izzes that we never drank and a picnic basket. We decided that our cardio was complete for the day.

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a fun photo shoot

I was asked to take photos for a prayer journal, and was inspired to freshen my room and photograph it. Then the publisher decided to use their own photos which was a bit sad, but I’m happy to have some cute photos now!

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brunch at Laurie’s

She hosted a lovely brunch with lots of delicious food on a cloudy but beautiful day.

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flying

Travel. A word I am quite familiar with, yet still longing to be even more so 😆.

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a day in Lancaster county, PA

Dads and I traveled to PA for a wedding and I decided to drive 2 hours to Lancaster to see Serena. We met at the coffee shop where she works and then drove to some fun stores. We stopped at her house too; I got to meet her family & see the barn where her dad roasts coffee.

I got my Bible measured at an Amish harness shop and a new piece of leather to re-cover it. Then I bought two beautiful, already-made cape dresses at the Mennonite thrift shop.

I really wanted a buggy ride. Like obsessively. And not one of those tourist rides. We stupidly waited until almost time for me to leave. We stopped back at the harness shop because when we had been there earlier, there were three buggies out front. Of course, when we got there, there were none. So we started driving down the road, wondering where we should ask, and then stopped at Mr. King’s. Mrs. King was up on her porch balcony, watching the corn grow. We were certain that she would see how much we desired a ride, and hitch the buggy. I tried so desperately to make some family connections, but now I realize I should have talked PA German. Nevermind that it would have been quite difficult to understand. (She could’ve thought it was a California accent.) Anyway she just shook her head and said, “I don’t know what to tell you or where you should go.” Deflated, we got back in our car (mistake #2, we should have walked) and drove away. We passed a cafe with three buggies hitched outside. Inside were a bunch of young guys whom we didn’t ask because they looked like they would bolt at one word from us. A cute Amish girl with her leather backpack and rolled hair stood in the line. After much contemplation, Serena asked her. The girl replied, “I came with a driver and I live twenty minutes away.” Ok. Another dead end. By now it was thirty minutes past when I should have returned to McVeytown but we’d come too far to give up. Then Serena remembered the people who live next to her church. Sweet “Mom” hitched up the spring wagon to a stubborn horse. Down the road we clipped and were told all the local tea. We thanked her ever so much for taking time to give us a ride and headed back to my car. I was 55 minutes late and three shots of caffeine short when I arrived at the Airbnb.

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painting on homemade paper

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breakfast outside

As often as possible, I eat my meals out in the sunshine. I hope I can keep doing this throughout the summer ☺️

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a new coffee shop in Oroville

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a hidden field of wildflowers

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With summer approaching, life is getting busier and the quiet is becoming less. Let’s remember to keep looking for the beautiful moments that God gives to us, and take time for Him and others in your life. 🤍

•charlotte alayna faith•