Twenty-First Year

So begins a new year in my life. Thinking of life this time last year.....I realized how much has changed. In my twentieth year I grew spiritually, I learned new lessons, re-learned old lessons, gradually said good-bye to certain areas of my life. I grew up.

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Moving out has been a natural feeling. I wondered if I would be homesick..... I was terribly afraid my 'on-my-own' experience was going to be like the first time I went to summer camp at age 7. I cried myself to sleep a week straight, was terrified of my camp counselor, my lips became chapped beyond recognition, and I just knew my house was going to burn down while I was gone and kill my entire family and I would become an orphan.

Again I reiterate, I was a morbid, worry-wort of a little girl.

But I survived camp and my family is still alive and kicking.

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Moving out has been a smooth-transition, that I know was meant by God. Yes, I have had a few 'I want my mommy,' moments, but I know the time is right, and I have started making a place for myself in this world. I have to say how blessed I am to have loving parents that are close by, that I can go home to whenever, that are encouraging and supportive. They are just plain awesome!

I think I have the best-looking parents in this entire world!

All these pictures were taken by Alyssa Welch when we were at the Gulf. What an amazing person she is! It was so great to meet her in person...let alone have her take our pictures!

I love my dad. He's so manly.

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My birthday was relatively quiet. Went over to Mom and Dad's. Had a great meal and conversations. I had to work on my actual birthday.....which was a first....but I was able to take a long lunch break and go out with Mom and Hannah.

My bathroom with my birthday presents!

Yes, it is kind of weird taking pictures of your bathroom and sharing them on the web, but it is so fun to look at everything around you and have the feeling of ownership. This drawer set I got at Target makes me pretty happy.

Last night, us girls went out to celebrate my birthday.

Yes.....and I didn't get carded...I was a little disappointed.

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So, here's to my twenty-first year of living! Cheers!

L.s.R

More than Lyrics or Words

This song moved me.
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This story moved me.

"They left behind everything.....

because freedom has the greatest value."

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L.s.R

Balloons and Whiskers

So I guess this is what Obama wants for American health care.

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Anyway, on to a much happier subject!

Mom's Birthday!

The most amazing couple on earth!

Margaritas! I love you, Mom! You're the best!

I don't think I realized how much I would miss my babies!

This picture cracks me up because it shows their personalities. I was trying to take a picture of Zoe, and Little Sister jumped up in front of the camera because it's all about her!

But Zoe is the faithful one......always there to give a lick or hug when you feel down. Unfortunately, she is not photogenic.

Ruby is spoiled. Period. She knows it. And loves it.

L.s.R

This Present Darkness

I was once told that my family and I were too politically-minded.
Too politically passionate.

Well, they were wrong about me.
I really am not passionate. I'm interested, but not passionate.
But I want to change that.

I have been blessed with parents and grandparents that are passionate about Christ-centered politics. But they are only passionate about these things because they have disciplined themselves on the issues, and have determined to independently stay informed.
I want to do the same.

I grew up being taught to follow what the Bible says.
The Bible says to be a good steward and citizen.
The Bible also says to be passionate about Christ; to stand for Him, what He teaches and to live a life patterned after Him.

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America was born on Christian principles. Men and women, Christian and non, fought for these freedoms and the freedoms of the generations to follow.

I don't want these freedoms to die with me.

If I say I follow Christ, I have to be willing to stand for what He teaches: protect the innocent, love my neighbor, and to be self-sacrificing.

I believe not enough Christians are apart of the political realm...some think it is 'dirty' to be so close to the world.....well, Jesus had no problem 'dirtying' His hands in righteous anger against those desecrating His temple (Mark 11)....why should we casually disregard the people that are desecrating His principles in America?

I believe that this political battle in America is much bigger than our country.
I think it hits closer to: "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Eph. 6:12 (esv)
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For centuries Christ's followers were thrown in jail and killed for following Him.
The least I can do is read reliable news articles, vote intelligently, call my senators, and maybe even go to protests and town-hall meetings.

Then maybe, if God allows, my children won't have to be jailed or killed for being a Christ-follower.
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And for the record, I don't think there is anything wrong with being a politically-passionate Christian. We won't get anywhere by burying our head in the sand...or hiding out in the woods.

L.s.R

I Try

So.....I am a little over zealous in my vacuuming skills.

The night before I left for vacation I was cleaning the apartment like a mad women so it would be sparkly-awesome for our homecoming.

I had everything done, except for vacuuming my bedroom. I didn't even look at the clock as I started up the vacuum and finished the last bit. I had just completed my mission when there was a terrible banging at the front door.

I froze and looked at the clock, eleven o'clock.

The man....at least I imagined it was a man....pounded on the door again.

I still didn't move.

There was no way on creation that I would answer the door.
Yes, I was stupid vacuuming in an apartment that late, but I didn't feel like hearing it from someone else.
So I stood stock-still for five minutes feeling like an idiot because the person knew I was home. I spent the rest of evening tip-toeing around and looking over my shoulder.

Neighbor, I really am a good person. Trust me. I will keep my vacuuming rendezvouses to a minimum just for you!
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We had the parents over for Sunday dinner. I made dessert, arranged the flowers and set the table. Aren't I special?



The plates our mine. They were my grandmother's and given to me by my grandpa. Dad said that the last time he had eaten on them was for a Thanksgiving dinner when he was a kid. That made me happy. I made the mistake of microwaving one. The pop and sizzle made me realize that the gold color actually has metal in it. Hmmm, I get smarter with each blog post.




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I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 NIV

"Here’s what God is using that verse to say to me right now: When I’m in a really hard and hurtful situation, somehow the present difficulty of it overrides my conscious thought that God is going to use it in my life and then through my life. Not one time in my entire tenure on this planet has He ever failed to turn around and use the hardship for good. NOT ONCE. Not when I gave Him enough time and cooperation. Yet, in the midst of it, I often can only hang onto Him for dear life while we ride the wave to shore and then stand there in the aftershock and look like I’ve just been on the spin cycle of a washing machine. Afterward, when He invariably turns it into some kind of maturity, intimacy, insight or ministry, I think, “Why didn’t I just trust Him for that at the time??? Why did I have to take it so personally and injuriously?” I want to learn to CONSISTENTLY claim the victory right there in the worst of the pain or crisis. At the very moment that I’m crying out to God Most High for help, as the psalmist says, I want to proclaim that He’s smack in the middle of fulfilling His purpose for me. Challenging stuff." --Beth Moore

L.s.R

Jolly-Good Holiday

N.o.t.h.i.n.g
That was my agenda for the past week.
Nothing. Except lay on the beach and eat food.
I laid on the beach for so long that on the last day of vacation I actually woke up and my first thought was, "Not again!" :)
I like the beach, but I can tolerate sand and salt-water for only so long.
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I needed this time away badly.
I was able to get a new perspective on my life.
Cheesy but true!
I love to plan...always thinking of the future...which is good.
To a point.
It is not good when you are constantly worrying and not trusting God. On vacation, I found myself already looking past vacation and becoming anxious about what was going to happen about this and that after I got home.
Worrying, anxiousness, anxiety.
I never seem to learn my lesson about these!
I am so stubborn and am thankful that the Lord patiently reminds and teaches me.
Recently, God has placed a few circumstances in my life that has forced me not to be able to do anything but trust Him in faith.
He has reminded me (again) that He is in control of my life.
Not me.
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I felt like on vacation, God was showing me that my worrying about the future, which is completely out of my control, will only make me miss out on God's grace for my present circumstances. I want to live every day for Christ, and if I am constantly looking at the horizon with concern, my life will pass me by. I don't want to miss out on receiving Jesus' blessings for the season I am in right now.
I don't want to look at the perfume bottle half-empty but half-full.
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God's mercies are new every morning. He never changes....He is the same this very moment, and will be the same thirty years from now when I am fifty (almost fifty-one) years old.
I am trying as hard as ever to faithfully trust Christ and His promises, to take one day at a time, and let tomorrow worry about itself. Christ has never let me down, and I don't think He will start doing it anytime soon!

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Highlights:

Spending time with my Family

Running on the beach

Meeting Alyssa Welch

The Gulf

Snoopy's and Scoopies

Remedy Drive and Shawn McDonald

Food Network and TCM

Thai Cuisine

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L.s.R