My Momma

Facts about my Momma:

- She has the most compassion of any person I have ever met

- No matter how hard you clean your house/apartment, she will always start cleaning the minute she gets there

- She will drive 30 minutes to help you find your keys and secretly leave a card wishing you a better day

- She will support anything that her three daughters put their minds to

- She has the best laugh. Ever 

- She is the hardest worker I know
- She throws the best dance parties in the kitchen

- Her birthday is today. Happy Birthday Momma!!

6 Confessions

6. I love shoe shopping. This one is a serious addiction. I see a pair of shoes and obsess over them until I buy them. I once had someone ask me how many pairs of shoes I own.. I tried to do a quick count.. probably somewhere around 35? This doesn’t include sandals/flip flops. I’m talking shoes. Here’s the latest pair I bought. I’m 6’2 when I wear them. 6'3 if I tease my hair.

5. I’m obsessed with my closet. My closet is so organized it’s ridiculous. Not only is it color coordinated, but it’s also type of clothes organized within the color. It’s definitely an ocd thing. I don’t like people touching anything in my closet. My room may be a mess, but my closet is always perfect.

4. I am horrible at taking pictures. I love pictures. I love having the memories; I am just horrible at remembering to take them! I always tell myself I’m gonna do better, but this past week I gave my camera to my college roomie for the week because I knew she’d do a better job.

3. I am an old lady at heart. As much as I love going out with my awesome friends. I really love being home, cooking a good dinner, and getting some awesome sleep. Like tonight, I love nights where I can take my Christmas things down, clean my entire apartment, and try and decide which recipe I’m going to cook first in my new crockpot.

2. I love living by myself for one sole reason: I can sing as loud and as often as I want. I’m sure my mom loves hearing my voice and I know Melanie got used to it in college, but now I have free range to just belt it out. Trust me, I sing all sorts of stuff. My opera is getting better. Just kidding. Ish.

1. I am honestly and completely 100% happy with where I am in my life right now. I have friends in all stages of life right now. Some still in school, some who are succeeding in their work already, some in newlywed bliss, some about to be first time parents, and some who are on to baby #2! I’m not really sure where I fit in.. but all I know is I am happy with where I am, who am I, and where I am going. I still plan on growing though, don’t get me wrong. I want to grow as a person and continue to find out what I can do independently, out on my own. I also want to grow in my walk with Christ. There’s always room for improvement and by the end of year, I hope to share how Christ has worked in my life this year.    

Christmas Presents!

I can finally post about the presents I made for my family this year!!! :) I have been finished with them since the middle of November, and have had to keep quiet about them! It's the same type of project I've done for my room. I love these gifts.

About 15 hours of work, but I love them. 

 

Carolines! I re did the bear claw 3 different times!

Hannahs! Her favorite verse!

My moms. I found this on pinterest and adapted to fit us.  I love every "rule" on there. It truly defines my family.

To be like Mary

This story has a build up.. I'll get to my point. Promise.


A few weeks ago I noticed my cousin, Josiah's, facebook status. Often around this time of the year you can hear the question being asked, "What's your favorite Christmas carol?" Josiah took this status a little further and  asked, "What's your favorite verse from a Christmas carol?" I could not answer the question immediately and have been listening a lot more intently to the lyrics of each Christmas song I sing rather than just belting them out in my car. Then last week I was watching Glee's Christmas episode. I was really impressed that they ended the episode by reading the Christmas story. Not frosty the snowman.. but the real "In those days Ceasar Augustus..." Christmas story. This got me thinking that I had not read the real Christmas story this year. So after the episode was over, I pulled out my Bible and decided I would read it. As I was reading it the same thought hit me.. "what is my favorite verse from the Christmas story?" It's a story I've heard all my life, but if I wanted to pinpoint just one verse that was my favorite.. what would it be?


So I started at Luke 2 and re-read the story for a second time and just focused on every line. If was after I read through the second time that I decided to back up and start at Luke 1. During Luke 1 is when the angel of the Lord comes to Mary and tells her she is going to have a son. Now, I do not know about you, but if someone told me that as a virgin I was going to have a child... I would scream? cry? freak out? throw something? hide? I am not sure what I would do, but I doubt my response would have been like Marys. And this is why I've decided that Mary's response is my favorite verse of the Christmas story: 

Luke 1:38 states "'I am the Lord's servant', Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.'"

How many times in my life should I have said, God forget all my selfish, worldly desires... I am your servant. So my next step was to look up the exact definition of servant. Servant is defined as "a person in the service of another." And really, that is exactly what we are here on this earth for is to do the work and service of God. And I think it's pretty amazing that all of what we are supposed to live our lives by can be summed up into a 5 word statement. I am the Lord's servant. 


Normally, for my new year's resolution I pick a verse. This verse is one that I memorize and try and live by for the entire year. I still may do that, but I think my main new year's resolution this year is going to be to be more like Mary. To have an open and willing heart to do whatever service the Lord is asking of me. 


Merry Christmas!!
And Happy New Year!!!

Thankful Tuesday

Today I'm thankful for:


- Coffee when I need it
- Store workers willing to stay on the phone for 45 min for me
- My sisters (even if people don't believe we are sisters)
- Christmas carols
- My dad (for dealing with shopping trips with the 3 of us)
- Trail Mix
- The many blessings I am reminded of daily