It is Sunday afternoon, and I am sitting here in listening to another thunder storm roll into Charleston South Carolina. We have been here since last Monday evening, and will be leaving in a couple hours.  This was one of those trips/vacations that just kinda happened. Dad and Ryan Schofield were asked to do some jobs down here, and were told there would be housing if they wanted to bring their families, so here we are!! Monday through Thursday they were doing repair work on the two condo's we were staying in, and Friday and Saturday they worked on a Dollar General down here. When I was told about this trip, I was given the option to come or not. I said I definately wanted to come just to be with the family, but I had no idea that God was planning a week of pure vacation!! I was so busy the weeks prior to our trip that I really didn't think about where we were going or what we would be doing here. But Wow, if you ever get a chance to come to Charleston, take it! It is gorgeous here in the spring!!

The rain made it, and the sound and view is gorgeous! My window is looking out onto a couple of oak trees draped in spanish moss, and right beyond that a boat marina. It is so pretty. 

We have had a lot of hang out time, just playing around the condo, going on walks, doing some school, playing wii etc. But we also took a couple of trips into downtown Charleston, and Folly beach. We couldn't afford any of the history tours or anything, but we met up with some friends who moved down here from Georgia a couple years back, and got some really great tidbits from them as they took us around town. Thanks Eppes!:) The Eppes also took us to the Charleston St.Patty's day parade, and were so sweet and included us in their family pic-nic afterwards. It was a really fun way to experience downtown Charleston. 

Things I learned about Charleston:

The first shots of the civil war were fired from here, onto Fort Sumpter.

You aren't cool unless you have a dog to walk around downtown ;)

This is one of those places you can dress-up just to walk around town, for the sake of being cute, and it isn't weird:)

St. Patricks day is well celebrated here!!

Three of my favorite people, and best friends!  

Pictures from a extremely fun two days with my encouraging, inspiring, amazing friend and cousin Ashley:

We camped at the Fort Pickens campsite, about a 5minute walk from the beach! It was awesome. I woke up in the night ( multiple times, I am getting old!) and could hear the waves over on the gulf. Amazing:)

Setting up Camp

Aunt Kim and Uncle Steve went out with us to set up camp and eat dinner with us. It was so much fun to have them around, and incredible nice to have their help! We were unplanned, and unprepared to sat the least:) but it made it more memorable and fun. And now we both know some things not to forget when camping. One of those things would be a fork: we ate with knives and fingers that first night, then aunt Kim brought some forks from home the next day.

I was basically on Ashley's gluten free diet at the time, so that made it so nice when came time to cook.

I don't remember seeing so much color on the beach before, it was so incredible! Red flowers, purple jellyfish, blue/green water, hot pinks sunsets, etc etc. ( not all seen in pictures:) ) I love seeing the glory of God at the beach, it is so obvious, and amazing! While watching the sunrise on Friday I read the verse in Psalms that says " the voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the voice of the Lord is upon many waters." It always seemed that way to me, but to find in scripture that it is so, that was exciting. I could sit and listen to the waves thunder upon the shore for hours. It seems there is no other response than to praise Almighty God.

Though our family usually chooses the mountains as a family get away, the beach has been a "normal" part of our life, and I am so grateful for that. With Mom and Dad both having family in Pensacola, and Dad never quite getting the "surfing bug" out of him, we all grew up enjoying the white sandy beaches of Pensacola periodically throughout the years. I am so grateful!

Friday morning Breakfast. ( still no forks, but the gigantic woodens spoons weren't so bad!)

About to hit the beach

I was so glad that Stephen, Mandie, and Grayson boy came out on Saturday morning. We had fun out on the beach, and I could totally relate to Ashley enjoying some nephew time:) Made me miss my little guys at home all the more!

It was really great to have Aunt Kim hang out with us all day Friday and Saturday, if you don't have Aunt Kim, I am sorry, you are really missing out.

The two night camping trip was awesome, I only got scared once ;) So we all felt safe and comfortable when we got to the campsite, and didn't think that there was to much to worry about with it only being two girls. Ashley and her parents were really confident, so the little bit of reserve I had was  replaced by their confidence. I had the Ok from my family, but being 9 hours away, they were still a little leary. When our neighbors turned their lights out ( yes, we forgot to bring a light for ourselves ) we headed to bed. We had very little padding, so we both knew it could be a long night, but thankfully I was able to go right to sleep. I woke up a couple times every hour or so, and sometimes would go right back to sleep and other times would begin my 'scenerio thinking'. *twighlight music * " So there is one door to the tent, if someone tried coming in, I would atleast hear the zipper, and be able to scream, ( atleast , I think I could scream, do I know how to scream?!) .... *car lights come by* Ok, no gun, no mace, not even a knife, that was stupid Avie. ... * family getting in late, and setting up camp, waves crashing on sand*. This is fun, there really isn't anything to worry about. Besides, I can do nothing." It was here I began to pray for wisdom and protection, and relax in the Lord and went back to sleep. Well around 2:30am, that is AM y'all! I get a text. I look and see that it is from Austin, first thougt " who died, or who went to the hospital ". Thankfully it just read " Hey Avie, are y'all Ok? I am praying for y'all!" I replied that we were fine, having a lot of fun, and was he at work on break? I figured he was just on break, and was trying to stay awake by texting. But no, he said that he just woke up thinking about us, and praying for us. Now that scared me!! Austin is a hard sleeper! Why did God wake him up to pray for us. I just began praying, praying for God to put his angels around our camp, and protect us from whatever might be dangerous around. After awhile of prayer, I was able to go to sleep.

Woke up the next morning, all was well, and I laughingly told Ash about the text. She laughed and said that she woke up at 2:30 am really scared, and just started praying for protection! Come to find out Mom was up at 1:30 praying for us. So with the time change, God had someone up and praying at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30am for us! Don't know what that was about, but God was good, and the whole rest of the trip was soo peaceful, and safe. A definate memory maker:)

So I always read this chapter as a warning to young men. A call to caution, and self-control. A direction to embrace wisdom and understanding. Which it is, but I saw it in a different light this time. I saw it more applicable to my situation as a girl.

Solomon was warning his son of a 'type' of woman. I wish with all my heart our men and boys didn't have to worry about such women as this, but it seems it is only getting worse. Their souls are being attacked daily, and ladies, I really think we have no clue. We as girls, can't protect our dear brothers in Christ from all of the junk in this world, and all of the foolish and wicked women around us, but we can take note of who this proverbs 7 woman, and make sure we don't add one more to this already inandated society. I would like to think that I could never become a proverbs 7 woman, but when I looked at the specifics characteristics given that made up this "strange woman", I realized it was things that come way to easy to most women in general. I wasn't far enough from her as I would like, and we are never immuned.

 7:5,21

"...From the stranger that flattereth with her words."

"With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering of her lips she forced him." 

She is a flatterer, a smoothe talker, well practiced in her 'lines'. I was reminded to 'keep it real'. To never try and win a guys attention by ego building talk, flattery. Sure they will enjoy it, for a time, but with every smoothe line, we become less respectable in their eyes. I am all for a bit of joking around, and 'big talk' on the volleyball court, and sincere compliments are often so encouraging,but much more than that, and it soon becomes fair speech and flattery. It is easy to do. So for me I think it boils down to, speaking the truth in love, and keeping it real, never speaking with hidden intentions.

7:10

"And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart."

I can't seem to find what exactly a harlot wore in those days, but it was apparently a specific and obvious look, one that immediately gave a message. So it must have been a very different look from the women of the day. I forget sometimes to ask, what message am I sending out by my appearance. I am finding that like much else, modesty is not as clear cut and boxed in as I might sometimes like it to be. And modesty must start in the heart. There is a lot of pressure out there towards us young women to want to 'look good', not neccesarily a bad thing, but it is a slippery slope, and I know I personally need a lot of wisdom and strength to climb it!

A subtil heart, deceitful, sly, artful, treacherous. It just can't be trusted. It seems her motives are clouded.

7:10

"(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:"

She is loud. Ouch! that one hurt. I never try and be loud, but I find that it comes more easily to me than I would have ever hoped! Something I most definately must keep in check. Now being loud in pitch is one thing, something that has its place. But this type of loud is:

to make a loud sound (like English "hum"); by implication to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor: - clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.

Stubborn: Strongs

A primitive root; to turn away, that is, (morally) be refractory: - X away, backsliding, rebellious, revolter (-ing), slide back, stubborn, withdrew.

Refractory: Websters.

1. Sullen or perverse in opposition or disobedience; obstinate in non-compliance; as a refractory child; a refractory servant.Raging appetites that are most disobedient and refractory.2. Unmanageable; obstinately unyielding; as a refractory beast.3. Applied to metals, difficult of fusion; not easily yielding to the force of heat.

I think that it is speaking of the literall noise of her voice to some degree, but I think too that it is speaking of her composure. She blows things out of proportion, and is easily frazzled. It seems to be that "loud and stubborn" are directly opposite of a meek and quiet spirit that is talked about in 1 Peter 3.

"her feet abide not in her house:"

She is a busy body.She not willing to place roots in a particular place, or in a group of people ( family ).Basically she doesn't make home, home. she doesn't tie, or associate herself much.

7:13,15

"So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,..."

" Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee."

She initiates the contact. It is the man who should initiate, not the woman!! Another great reminder to sit quietly and wait upon the Lord! I am constantly amazed to watch what happens when women play their role correctly, and wait, follow, and respect. I am amazed when I see the results in my own life! What a joy it is to walk in the ways that we were designed to! There is so much security and joy when I sit  back, trust, and let the men in my life, be the man! I just LOVE it =) We young ladies must be careful to not be initiators!

I saw it very interesting that the "weapon of choice" against this woman was wisdom and understanding. Young men are directed to embrace wisdom and understanding as their sister and kinswoman, to keep them ( hedge, protect ) from this strong temptation. I was so excited to be able to have something so clear to direct Aaron and Alan to. Wisdom and Understanding, which we are told is obtained by the "Fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the Holy..." That is another study within itself! Really amazing!

So I guess maybe a good test for us gals would be, are the wise and understanding men avoiding us? If so, we might should check some things! 

So that is what the Lord was teaching me of the Proverbs 7 woman, and I pray that by the grace of God, I will be as opposite of her as possible, and be all that she isn't, virtuous!=)

Avie