Dream Big. Dream Out Loud.

We went camping this week. I got to really use my camera for the first time and I am loving it!

I messed with a couple settings for the picture on the left:)

I thought the picture of the left was interesting. A fork in the road, but you can only go one way. I had to snap the picture for this one.

I messed with more settings on the right:)

I've discovered that my camera hates when the water reflects the sun. If there's a setting to fix that I would love to know about it:)

Creepy spider web. Ew.

I love this picture! All the pretty green leaves:) I looked up and decided that I wanted a picture of it:)

I sat my camera on the handrail of the bridge that crossed the creek. Yes, I am pretty proud of this picture!

The one on the right is looking straight down off the bridge.

Another tree shot:) I love pointing the camera straight up and snapping the picture:)

A natural archway:)

Wow! Two posts in one day! Yeah, I'm trying to redeem myself. Let me know when I'm forgiven.

In light of The Notebook Sisters almost recent posts about introverts here and here (upon looking the posts up to give you links, I realized that they aren't as recent as I though they were) I decided to share my own recent experiences with introvertedness- that's a word, right? I don't think spell check likes that word.

We recently joined a new church. We love it. But, a new church means a new youth group. I only knew two out of fifteen of them (Sarah and Thomas). We'd been going for a couple weeks and we decided to go to youth group on Wednesday night. I was a nervous wreck! It went pretty well over all, although I don't think I said more than two words to any of the teens that I didn't know! When I try to talk in front of a bunch of people, or to someone I don't know, my face gets blood red! It's quite unattractive and embarrassing. As if going to youth group on Wednesdays wasn't nerve wracking enough, we decided to go with them on their back-to-school bash. We went to a water park and an amazing restaurant called Lambert's! Four and a half hours, total, on a bus with people you don't know! I was terrified! To help me out a little bit, I dragged five of my friends with me! That helped a lot! The day went great and I had loads of fun, but I still didn't talk to the people I didn't know. On the way home, though, two of the guys (Matt and Beau) decided they wanted to talk to me! The conversation went a little like this:

Matt: Hey, you in the pink, I don't know you're name.
(that there isn't the greatest way to start a conversation with me. I understand that if you don't know my name you don't really have anything to call me, but I'm not fond of "you in the (shirt color)" references)

Me: I'm Jordan.

Matt: I'm Matt.

Beau: I'm Beau. Sup.
(He did that little upwards nod thing that guys do when they think they're soooo cool. I hate that.)

Me: (At this point I think it's safe to say my face was a red as a tomato! I wasn't sure I could form a reply that wouldn't sound A: rude or B: stupid, so I did what I always do when I'm embarrassed: roll my eyes, turn away, and try to ignore it.)

Beau: (jokingly) Oh, I see how you are then!

Me: I don't say sup. (Finally! Words that weren't completely stupid!)

Matt: (Matt had been sitting back and watching with an amused look on his face since Beau said sup, but he took this time to rejoin the conversation) Well then, what do you say?

(I was stumped! I hadn't made any new friends in like, four years, so I was completely clueless on what to say next! Thankfully, Sarah decided to jump in and save me at this point!)

Sarah: She'll say it to me! Sup, Jordan.

Me: (Grinning stupidly and fighting back a laugh at the thought of their faces when I said it) Sup. (I even added the annoying little nod)

Beau: (jokingly) Oh! Now I really see how you are!

After that I left the conversation and let Sarah explain to them that I'm not used to having to talk to people I don't know (I had been talking to her about that a little while earlier), which led to a conversation the next Wednesday between Matt and I about why I'm not used to talking to people. I blamed introvertedness (which I had to define for him) and homeschooling.

Since then things have gone a lot smoother! I've made friends with almost every one! I am super proud of myself for that! I also joined a band! Our youth pastor, two guys that go to church there, and any of the youth that want to participate are in a praise team:) I play keyboard and sing a little:) It's very fun! And practice is the highlight of my week just about every week! :)

I realize that I just did a ton of talking, so I'll post some pictures and be quiet now:)