remember

tonight  i opened my journal and out fell a piece of paper folded in fours. i opened it and two pieces of paper in front of me read: "remember..." followed by 80 things i wanted myself to remember. i wrote this back in november. i wrote a list of things i never want to forget in my day to day life. i decided to blog them- to share with you. i hope these encourage you. heres the things i never want to forget:

1. the picture of your life is grander, larger, bigger than your current complication

2. you love to encourage with what has encouraged you

3. its okay to ask questions; especially if you are ignorant and want to know more

4. people are creations of god, and each one a walking story book

5. god is simple

6. god is slow

7. god is consistent

8. you were made by god, not your parents

9. speak only when necessary

10. eye contact speaks more than words could

11. everyone is longing to feel touchable; so touch is ok and necessary

12. you enjoy preparing, eating, and cleaning up meals

13. talking after meals with dishes scattered births some of the best memories

14. never give up the opportunity to clean up in the kitchen with other women

15. trials are on purpose, always

16. you love to create

17. you enjoy creation

18. you love scripture

19. giving is a sacrifice that births rich satisfaction and peace

20. a good cup of coffee does soul good

21. god hears every cry, prayer, and plead

22. god works on his timeline

23. god can, and will, say no

24. choosing people over work does wonders for the soul

25. truly listen to kids

26. get at kids level- eye contact and all

27. hug with two arms

28. sing with your heart

29. you love to sing

30. walk somewhere daily

31. jesus' name is power

32. fear is not my inheritance in christ

33. god is for me

34. sunshine is god's gift to me

35. sleep with the blinds open

36. he loves me thru my relationships; each uniquely

37. happiness is not promised, but joy is

38. always be fore others, not against

39. spirit wants to speak thru me; be aware when its me or him while giving advice

40. to be broken is beautiful, but to break hurts and is often ugly

41. never pass up an opportunity to allow someone to show you their creation (art, music, pictures, decoration) embrace the details and ask questions

42. engage as well as you can in each conversation

43. you enjoy doing dishes

44. god has his best planned for you, and it has yet to come

45. you are not your parents

46. you are only obligated to jesus christ

47. peace will be present if god is okay with your decisions

48. god is not a god of confusion

49. offer to paint others nails

50. offer to massage someone

51. speak first

52. be the first to thank

53. ask for emotions

54. ask to feel. each day

55. go to local shows as often as you can

56. dont worry about gas

57. dont worry

58. people arent thinking about you as much as you think that they are

59. hold doors

60. offer to pay

61. bible tells us how to live

62. heaven is forreal

63. there is a spiritual world that everything flows from 

64. you enjoy servanthood

65. words are power

66. offer to drive

67. twinkle lights make you so happy

68. never be satisfied, but always be content

69. to-do list are awesome

70. you dont really enjoy shopping

71. telling people your gratitude for them

72. god is big. huge.

73. we have a role to play- he will play his

74. leave notes

75. trust

76. stop complaining

77. observe colors

78. sun warms you

79. you are beautiful

80. you are a princess

being an aunt

on november 3 a little boy named brayden cooper was born. my brother's first baby, my parents first grandson, and my first nephew. which can only mean one thing... spoiled and rightfully so. he is precious.

his first two weeks of life were in chkd neo-natal care for tests and monitoring of his seizures, so when he finally came home you can guess it we never have taken our hands off him when we are visiting or when he visits. which is great for us- babies are so therapeutic, and great for him because physical touch is so important for babies.. and well anyone really. its a way to both know we are loved and show we love. (of course not the only way!)

so brayden has had many naps in our arms to say the least. i mean who wants to refuse a baby sleeping on them? it has been great but not when we attempt to put him to sleep in a bed.

today i have worked from 9-2 and christmas shopped until 530 on 5 hours of sleep so with little explaination i am a little cranky. i came in from the cold and came to bring my bags into my study and my twinkle lights are circled around brayden's little portable sleeper, my mom is sitting next to them, gently rocking this wide-awake sweet little boy and proceedes to say this little punk wont fall asleep!

so, auntie amie to the rescue and i pick him up and without fail 45 seconds later brayden is passed out in my arms. goodbye cranky attitude, hello perfection.  so here i am-- twinkling lights, blogging, light worship, and a sweet boy in my arms.

he'll learn to sleep on his own, but for now one more nap wont be that big of a deal

eh blogging?

thinking back to the bloggers life i am reminded of the horrid, embarrassing days of xanga. Middle school... when i thought i was the best thing, ever. i think my blog name was something like x__livelifeup__x. How cool is that? I have since moved on to myspace and now facebook and was reintroduced into the blogging scene when i was told about a blog by a lady going to cancer (libbyryder.blogspot.com) and i have since contemplated making one again. I caved in the beginning of october and made this blogspot member. i was thinking of blogging about my "situation" of being at home for college instead of away as i planned (dont we always feel the situations we are in are the most important to be told/ so drastic?).  but i decided not to.

so here i was tonight with two of my very best friends- lauren and bethany- and i mentioned i kind of wanted to make a blog. they said yes yes yess -that i "seem like a blogger" and they have encouraged me to do so. so here it is.

but.. i have a lot of thoughts about doing this. i am uneasy dong this because 1. it can easily turn into a selfish thing i feel like. "let me tell you about all the happenings in my day" because i am so important. 2. or i can be a bit too vulnerable for a computer and share in depth of "heres what jesus is teaching me" (which is super encouraging for others to hear) but theres a line that is easily crossed of sharing too much of my heart. right? maybe i am thinking about this too much? but it is important to have the right intention for this.

so, i will begin and attempt to find the fine line between the two. i hope it goes well, and i hope you enjoy reading.. if anyone does.

today was a sweet day. began with sleeping in until 11am, hot chocolate, hanging out with my mom... then coffeed it up with my old young life leader katie, and ended with crafts, chris graham music, and twinkle lights with two of my dearest friends-- all of this while snow on the ground outside. shlove it.