New Job!

Last week I got hired at "Flower Garden", and it has been the most incredible blessing of a job I have ever had.
I get to do every thing, it is such a blast decorating the shop, processing the flowers and cleaning up after everyone!
The best part is the people I work with. I have been telling people that I work with the Steel Magnolias cast. They are the most wonderful women, we have such a good time at work every day.
I am so thankful for this job, I have always wanted to work at a flower shop!
Here are some pictures of the shop and some arrangements the ladies made!

Tuesday

Waiting for the weekend to be over, and anticipating the longest goodbye I have ever withstood, the moment to say good-bye finally came...
We spent the weekend with family and I soaked up every moment I could with my parents and brothers before Tuesday night when I had to leave our home in Mansfield to go to class in the morning. I dreaded Tuesday night. Tuesday night meant that it was finally here, finally real, and the pain would be ever more increasing as I drove away that night. I cried all the way home and late into the night with Burke at my side trying to comfort the me as a steady flow of tears rushed down my stinging cheeks. I've known for months that Tuesday would come, but to feel the embrace of my father's more fit than ever arms around me, to hear the sad crack of his voice as he said " I love you", and to later hear him tell Burke, " take care of my little girl", broke my heart more than I ever imagined. To hear my mothers soft whimpers and feel her warm tears on my neck, to feel her gentle and loving arms hold me tight, and to see her cover her mouth as I drove away, drove the deepening break in my heart deeper. As I rode home in my car full of stuff from my mom's house, I thought the wound would never heal, I thought I would always have a little crack in my heart, not because I am mad they are moving, but because I know I will miss their closeness and friendship that was only one hour away. Now they embark on a knew adventure, an adventure fully thought out and planned with great love by God.
Over the short time that they have been gone, God has filled my little crack in my heart with a deeper understanding of faith, a refreshed sense of peace and a knowledge that my parents are now being ambassadors for Christ in a different part of the world. My parents are missionaries. Nothing could bring me greater peace and joy than to know that my dad will bring peace to the hurt and dying soldiers fighting for our freedom. My mom will be a minister to the women who have the hardest job in the world, and have an immaculate impact in the lives of our soldiers wives.
I can't wait to see the great plans of the Lord unfold, I can't wait to go to their new home in Washington and have to ask where the forks are, and I can't wait to be in the more than ever fit arms of my father, the sweet grasp of my mother and to hold the little hands of my brothers again.

Daddy, Daughter Moments

Teaching her what she'll probably never need to know, but what it means to be a soldier...Letting her observe as you prepare for something you know will come in your career, but still pray never does... Watching her experience some of the weight you carry on your shoulders...

All the while laughing and thanking God for her innocence...
And cherishing moments like these!


I just copied this from my mom's blog, but I'm not being lazy!

The time I got to spend with my courageous dad this week was one of the most memorable and cherished weeks with him I have ever had. My dad has taught me so many things about life, encouraged me to love nature, loved me every step of the way, and always been right . Somehow when he smiled the most joyful smile at me as I wore the gear he lugs every day and embraced a passion of his, I felt his love at a new depth.
It is so refreshing to see the love of Christ gleaming in his eyes for he knows that his life is walking the paths that the Lord has paved for him. I am so proud of my dad.
Getting to experience a little of what it is like to be an Army brat was so much fun.I loved giving my I.D to the security guards and going to the PX. It made me so proud every morning I was woken up from deep sleep at 4 :30 a.m. on my pull out bed to the sounds of my dad getting ready for physical training. He wore a gray shirt with the words ARMY proudly displayed on the front, shorts that said the same and tube socks pulled to the middle of his shins. The sweet smell of his after shave filling the air and stayed there all day to remind us of his sacrifice. I could not pick a better hero.
I cherish the times we have had Dad, you are such an inspiration and bold example in my life. Thank you for your love that you have always poured into my life.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty...he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind...You make springs gush forth in valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate...The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers. He made the moon to mark seasons; the sun knows it's time for setting.
You made darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
O Lord how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made all of them; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable,living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it...May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord...Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!" - Psalm 104: 1-35-

All photography by Whitney Burton, all creation by God.

Long time no talk...

I know that I have not posted in a while. It's hard, really. It's hard to find words for the feelings your heart feels at times and hard to express your minds thoughts. It's funny though...when I do write, I feel better, not in a sense that my body and mind feel better, more in a sense that I am more aware of my thoughts and emotions. I put out all that is coming in and and I feel in ways I do not usually. Therefore, I am writing.
Over the past month or maybe two, I have experienced so many incredible things. I have swam the deep ocean and learned what I can and can't touch on the magnificent coral. I have explored the underwater with schools of fish and learned the ways of a graceful diver. I have breathed deeply and soaked in the sun's warming rays on white sandy beaches for hours on end.
I have surfed the glassy lakes on my wakeboard, and beat myself up on water toys. I have made new friends and seen new places. I have played with orphans, swimming out to the deep coral while their little lungs try to support their excitement. I have given a bible to a girl who has never seen one nor heard of Jesus Christ as tears stream down her face because she has nothing but the clothes on her back for the time being.
I have known what it is to be alone, to feel as if a part of you is missing, and it is because your best friend is off on his own adventures. I have known what it is so be sad and cry until the spring is dry, because I am, sad. Sadness comes when your parents are moving 2,500 miles away, when your friends turn out to not be who you thought they were, friends die and living alone becomes lonely.
I have learned to be content, to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and to sure as heck not lean on my own understanding because it does not hold. I have learned to love more deeply than I ever though possible, but not the man you would think. God has become number one again in my life, a place where I have struggled to let him be. My hand has been closed to areas of life that the He needed to work in, but I am now hands open and on my knees. I have learned that treasures on earth will one day end up in a land fill, then you die. My treasures I will store in heaven, not where moths will destroy them and theaves can steal them. Positively not in return, but as a result, life has more meaning, people have more space in my life, I have become less and He has become more.
I have fallen deeply more in love with my family. I have a courageous father and loving mother who ever day amaze me at their strength and valor. I have fallen more deeply in love with creation, in all aspects of it, for I have spend much time delving in it.
I look forward to what lies ahead, the adventures to come and the lessons to learn. I am excited at the opportunities I will be given to be patient, to be courages and bold, and to love God more deeply. I look forward to the hard times I know are nearing closer, to the struggles I will soon face and the strength I will have because of my wonderful Savior who is much stronger than I.
There is nothing I would take back, no regrets, I only press forward in hopes of attaining God's will for me, the dreams I conspire and adventures I seek, in hope of bringing Him glory through it all. It has undoubtedly been one of the most incredible summers of my life.

Hola From Roatan!

I arrived yesterday to the beautiful island of Roatan, Honduras. I went snorkeling today and saw the most beautiful choral, played my monkeys and parrots and swung from the trees on a zip line!! Here is a super funny video from today....

I'm in Roatan!!

Funny Video. I'll write more later when I have more time and internet! Miss you and love you all!!