Birthday Smirthday.

Great times were had by all at the celebration of the big 2-5. I just had a little party with the family. I was thinking about having a big EGSTRAVAGANZA if you will but I decided I didn't really want to be overwhelmingly cute and charming...plus I have two fridges right now (long story)....anyways, I just wanted to hang out with the fam and it was great. I got a fish. You may call him Charles. I also got lots of other neat things and I feel extremely loved. I have so many sweet friends who called and sent things and posted comments on my facebook wall. I just feel very grateful to be where I am.

Now it's back to real life and crazy-ness. I have a school board meeting, mom's birthday, movie night with the girls, and a college fair for ETBU on the agenda for this week, as well as work (getting ready for sr. adult camp next week: AAAAAHHHH), and dogsitting for the ever precious Neches:) I'm such a busy bee - can't stand to sit still. It's a problem. 

I will have to post some pics on here of my current furniture projects. I painted an old chair hot pink the other day, painted and distressed a little table, and I'm working on finishing my craigslist dresser...because who doesn't love a sweet pink dresser?? I know I do! One of my b-day presents was a handheld sander and as nerdy as that is, I'm really excited about it! Sanding by hand is not fun. Hooray sister! Thank you for looking past my ridiculousness and getting me a gift that I will really put to use. :)

My amiga Aubrey is having a pumpkin party next month - complete with costumes and pumpkin carving. I'm thinking about going as a bumblebee...is this a good idea?? I don't want to be a pre-schooler...but I'm thinking black tights, a yellow dress or shirt from goodwill painted with black stripes and a headband/pipe cleaner set of antannaes?? Knowing me there will also definitely end up being an abundance of glitter somewhere. Hehe.

Speaking of pre-schoolers, my baby Balbina (who I support through World Vision) sent me a new pic today. She is BEAUTIFUL!  4 years old now and in Kindergarten. I can't believe it! I adopted her two years ago and she has changed so much. I'm so excited to see her and hear that she is doing well. I wish I could adopt 435,000 of those little babies. Sweet little angels.

And lastly, from the randomness of my head, do you ever wonder where the line is between what God wants and what you want? Like, if something doesn't seem to be working, is that God's will and should I just let it go? Or, does He simply want me to do more; try harder? I have a difficult time with that...just deciding when to let go and when to keep fighting. It's a frustrating place to be. But I'm learning to be thankful...even during the frustrating times...because I have so much for which to be grateful...and because I know I will be able to look back and see that I learned something from this experience. I just can't see it at this very moment....

Alright...I'm just rambling now...hope you are all having a beautiful week!

To everything there is a season.

Today is beautiful. The weather is changing...moving us towards the glorious autumn season. Four times a year, when I feel the wind change and see nature respond, I think about life, and how it is so similar to these patterns we see around us. Shakespeare and many other great poets and writers talk about this idea often in their writings. The idea that our lives mirror nature's four seasons.

There is Spring - or birth. The beautiful time when everything is new; when we are seeing everything for the very first time. Then there is Summer - our youth - the carefree, breezy, wonderful time where our worries are few and the days are long. Autumn represents older adulthood. Things are slowing down, and shedding their summer leaves and blossoms. Winter is an ending; a beautiful quiet finale. I love this idea. Partially because I love nature so much I guess. 

I worry about aging. I think we all do. I'm turning 25 this week, and every birthday I automatically overanalyze my life. Where am I right now? Where did I want to be at this age? I am moving out of my youth/college years and into my mid-twenties. Where did the time go?! As a little girl thinking of myself at age 25, I envisioned marriage and babies and many things that I do not see in front of me. But today, as I walked in the last of the summer sunshine and felt the cool autumn breeze on my face, God spoke to me: "Enjoy the season." Don't look back at the Spring or beginning of Summer. See the beauty in where you are right now. THIS season. And it's beautiful. I am walking my road, living my story, and I know this is what my Author wrote for me...there is nothing better than being right here with Him - watching it unfold.

So embrace the season you are in - metaphorically and literally. Love life! Love the people around you without question. Take chances. Eat caramel apples. Make pumpkin pie. Be thankful. Choose to see the beauty in the present.

I wonder...

...how some girls end up doing 'cute' things. Like, how do you learn to sneeze "cute"?? When I sneeze it's like a category four twister. Was that your tiny little sneeze just then random girl? I didn't even hear it.

...why there are still people who are completely ignorant about the people around them? People judge people entirely based on looks without even getting to know them. Really? Let's move on. Look at who Jesus spent His time with. He loves them. HE. LOVES. THEM.

...if I will ever work up the courage to play my guitar in front of someone not related to me:)))

...what I want to do with my life. Overgeneralizations anyone?? :)

...where I can get a Dr. Pepper for free right now...hahahaha.

...what people say about me when I'm not around.

...what I will do for my birthday this week!!

...if you had told me when I was sixteen that I would be where I am right now at twenty-four, if I would have believed you.

...why God chooses to love me and protect me when there are so many less fortunate.

...why I'm sitting at the computer and typing this blog when I should be running or paying bills. :)

...if you have read this blog post? http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2009/06/550-surviving-church-as-single.html Please go read it. This is my life. No joke. My life. I can't believe this guy read my mind.

...if people really mean what they say.

...about WAY too many things to type them all out right now.

Raise your hand if your excited about lists!

Top ten things I absolutely love right now:

1. The book, "Same Kind of Different as me". What a great story!
2. This website: www.younghouselove.com. Adorable. adorable.
3. Buying old furniture and repainting it. What? You want $10 for that chair on craiglist so that I can spray paint it hot pink and smile every time I walk by it? Deal.
4. Enchanted Petals body spray from Victoria's Secret. Smells like love. :)
5. Mutemath's new CD. Perfect running music.
6. "Intervention" on A&E - beautiful, tragic, real life.
7. My treadmill. Instead of sitting and watching TV for an hour I jog and watch TV for an hour. Goodbye calories. :)
8. Agaci (the store) - cute, inexpensive stuff.
9. The fall! The cooler weather this week inspired me to buy little pumpkins.
10. The song, "Just Dance" by Gary Go. Yep. The "Just Dance" Lady Gaga sings...but way WAY cooler.

Top ten things that make me want to poke myself in the eye right now:

1. Waking up early. I don't think this will ever change. :/
2. The Kardashians. I mean, change your name to something that doesn't start with a 'k'. Harsh? Sorry:)
3. That new 'Beergut' song on country radio. I love you country but really? It's uncalled for.
4. The way it is ALWAYS cold in the office. Can't type...my fingers are numb.
5. DIET SODA. All of it. Every kind ever made. I think I will always feel this way.
6. Stray dogs. I want them to be loved. They need a home. It's upsetting.
7. The fact that even when I run a lot and am constantly hungry I can't fit into my jeans from college.
8. Boys - in general. I'm sorry if you're reading this and you're a nice boy. I'll probably feel different next week...but this is a current list...and that is currently how I feel.
9. The lack of rain. The lake looks terrible! Do I have grass? I'm not sure. Come on rain. Come on come on.
10. Cheesy status' (statuses??). There I said it. Let's not be dramatic here. It's an online status. Please do not *sigh* twice a week.

Uh oh. I don't know if that second list was necessary. I'm pretty sure I'm just a little moody because it's Wednesday....and I'm hungry...things don't go well when I'm hungry...

ALSO, I am fully aware of the fact that the good in my life definitely outweighs the bad! Definitely...