Virtuous Speech

So just how important is the language that we use?

Now I'm not talking curse words and taking the Lords name in vain (never good). I'm talking about working towards virtue in our speech instead of focusing on the worldly goals of prestige, fortune and success.

The other day my niece and I were playing a game that she made up for us to play. Granted I was trying to study for an accounting test at the time but I will always welcome the beautiful distraction of a niece over accounting any day.

In this particular game she divided a piece of paper into a bunch of funky shapes. The point of the game was to write a word in one of the shapes and then draw a shape that has as many sides as the word has letters. So yes the game doesn't make a lot of sense but she's 7 and I applaud her imagination and I had fun so it's all good. Take a look below!

                              my niece                     me
1st round:              Wal-Mart                    lovely
2nd round:             money                      thankful
3rd round:              kindness                    gracious
4th round:              faithful                      gratitude
5th round:              familiy

From playing this game with her I watched how quickly her young mind was influenced by my actions. Watch how the words that she was choosing started to change after words of my own. Now I wonder what would have happened if I would have answered 'Wal-Mart' with 'Target' or 'money' with 'success'. What message would I have been portraying without even trying to?

How many times have little kids overheard arguments or complains or criticisms and changed their pure and innocent ways to mimic this? What if they heard us speak of love, kindness, tenderness, gratefulness, joy, sacrifice, service, prayer, openness, generosity, and fun instead?!

And these children with all of these thoughts in their mind and on their soul would grow up to be teenagers with these thoughts in their mind and on their soul who would turn in to adults striving for love, kindness, tenderness, gratefulness, joy, sacrifice, service, prayer, openness, generosity, and fun!

And oh how beautiful that would be.

My first Bright Maidens post Ever! Summer Reading

So I've been following the Bright Maiden's for a while now, ever since they started making their Tuesday posts. I've wanted to join in many times since the things they have been posting about have been really interesting.  Sometimes I'll even sit down and start typing away all of my thoughts but they just don't seem to flow, they feel forced and sometimes the posts are so awful I wouldn't even want to read it.

But I have long figured out that this blog is not my own, it's the Lord's. I am merely an instrument for His greater good. I have tried believe me, I have tried to write about what I want but every time it just seems dumb. And then that idea sparks from somewhere inside me and I write and I write until the post is done and I sit back, look at it and say 'huh?'. How did I do that? How did all of those thoughts flow so well together? Last month I tried to write about this and I couldn't write 3 comprehensive sentences!  Then I get that email, the one that says "Thank you for posting this, it's exactly what I needed to hear/see/understand at this exact moment.", and I see that it is all in His timing.

"I cannot do anything on my own" - John 5:30

So I try not to force things. I tried SO many times to write about Totus Tuus this summer. I tried before I left. I tried during training week. I tried during immersion week. I tried during our first week on our own. I tried during the break. I tried when there was 1 week left. And then Totus Tuus was over, I sat down and it just came, and I knew He had kept me from writing all summer so that I could focus on the work He had set before me. I really wanted to write. All summer I wished that I was near a computer so that I could blog. But I realized that I was being kept from blogging to concentrate on something greater. God had called me to teach Totus Tuus and he was calling me to be Totus Tuus(Totally Yours) to Him and to those kids.

But now Totus Tuus is over and I must find what I am being called to. For the first time I am being called to write a Bright Maiden's post. It may be a bit late but it's all in God's time. Ive spent the past couple days catching up on the books that everyone else has recommended and I found a common theme. Books for Catholics written by Catholics, and that's awesome! This summer however I dove into some Christian books written by non-Catholics. As I warned myself before I read them, do so with one eye open for things that would lead me away from the church, I would also warn others.
 

The first book I read this summer was The Shack by William P. Young. Now although there are some definite parts of the book that I disagree with as a Catholic there were some amazing things I learned from it. Since I could never write a review even close to the caliber of Fr.Robert Barron's stop by and read it!

The 2nd book I read was Captivating: Unveiling the mystery of a woman's soul by John & Stasi Eldredge. It talks about how every woman has 3 core desires: to be romanced, to play a role in her own adventures & to display beauty. In an age where feminism tries to take everything that's lovely about being a woman & turn it into something negative I enjoyed reading about how I was created as a feminine being. There are a couple of things to watch out for however. Stasi talks about her Catholic upbringing in a less than flattering light. They also point to Eve as the woman we should all look up to. I was disappointed they didn't take the opportunity to show Mary, perfect and without sin, in this role instead.

I literally had Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo started and finished in under 10 hours. This 4 year old boy describes heaven as if he had just finished reading the book of Revelation earlier that day. I found this particularly interesting/comforting/pleasing since so much of the Catholic Mass can be found in the book of Revelation that heaven would be so similar. He also takes extra care to point out for us Catholics such things like the whereabouts of Mary, at Jesus' feet or standing beside Him, and that Jesus still loves Mary like a mother, as we believe.

I wouldn't necessarily keep my first kiss until I was standing at the altar like Joshua Harris writes about in I Kissed Dating Goodbye.There's a part in this book where it is Josh's wedding day & he has just watched his beautiful bride walk down the aisle. They're looking at each other when all of a sudden every woman from Josh's past walks out of the crowd & takes his hand. His bride looks terrified. Now he has to tell her that he's sorry but he's already given parts of his heart to all of these women & she only gets what's left. It's a book of truly guarding your heart, of long and deep friendship before relationships and conquering modern dating traps.

Last but not least the most influential book I've read all summer, The 5 Love Languages:singles edition by Gary Chapman. Gary presents the idea that there are 5 ways in which people express love; Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Most people have one dominant love language which is the way they show and receive love. I've since learned that I have two dominant love languages after scoring an 11 on both Quality Time and Physical Touch. It makes so much sense since I generally do not feel a lot of love if people do not want to spend their time with me. It's made me more sensitive to showing my family and friends their primary love language. Take the test at 5lovelanguages.com and tell me what language you are!

Check out what the other Bright Maidens had to suggest for reading here!Peace and happy reading!

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

ACE

As I've blogged about before I'm not a huge fan of the animal kingdom. But even I, the non-lover of animals, have fallen for a few. 

Until recently I can't remember a time where our family didn't have a dog, and I mean at least one. Growing up we had greyhounds and then the greyhounds had more greyhounds and for a second there I thought we were running a racetrack. Those dogs although fun to run around with were never truly my pets.

Johnny was the first dog I think I truly considered my pet. I was pretty young throughout his whole life so I don't remember much about him except that he was a short fat little beagle whom I loved. I remember thinking that I hadn't seen Johnny for awhile and then someone in my family telling me that they didn't think he would be coming back. That was rough because I was experiencing my first pet loss.

Ace!

Then came Ace, the little doggy light of my life. I remember getting him and he was just a puppy, I'd slip him into my tutu's and carry him around in a wicker basket. I'd let him chew on my jelly sandals and love him to the max. Ace was always there. He was in the yard waiting for you when you were driving home and he was at the door waiting for you when you'd come outside. He'd retrieve countless numbers of softballs that were over/underthrown so that we didn't have to. Ace was my tanning partner on my roof in the middle of the summer and my walking companion because there was no way you were gonna catch me walking alone in the country! (I've seen those snakes and I hear those coyotes at night, don't think that I don't!)

Ace was the dream dog, the worst thing I ever remember him doing is dragging his 'hunt' into the yard (talk about gross!). I loved to look out on the deck and see Ace curled up in the shade sleeping and our cat curled up on top of Ace sleeping. He was a lover. When Ace died this past summer it was extremely hard on our whole family.

My oldest brother Jeremy with Ace

When I started writing this I had no intention of tying it to God. But in reality everything is tied to Him. He is at the center of all that is good. Not that I'm trying to say that God is like my dog, but reminiscing on my memories with Ace I'm reminded of how God is always with us.

Just as Ace waited for me to drive into the driveway, get out of my car and followed me until I got in the house and then ran to the window to watch from the inside so does God. He is always there waiting for me to come home, to come home to Him.

When Ace knew that I was about to go inside and stop petting him and playing with him and leave him he'd give you that look. You know? That look; that 'stay with me a little longer, I love you, I want to play with you!' look. I imagine that that's the way our Lord looks at us when we leave Him. He wants to be with us and it fills Him with joy when we choose to be with Him.

When I would go inside, even if it were for 5 minutes, once I opened that door and stepped outside again it was like Ace was having a party for my return. He was so happy to see me and he'd long forgotten about my leaving him. It's a lot like the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The prodigal son left his father and wasted everything that he had given him. When the son returned the father wasn't angry at him but rejoiced that his son was back and threw a party. Our Lord loves that we spend time with him. And even though sometimes we leave Him, He is always ready to welcome us back with open arms. He loves us unwaveringly and that is enough.

My older brother Russ with Ace and Tyler



Why Saint Genevieve?

This is a question I get quite often.

When it came time to pick a Saint for my Confirmation this was not something that I took lightly. Just ask my mother, I spent days in front of the computer looking up the life stories of every Saint under the sun to find the PERFECT one.

There are many websites out there that can tell you the life story of Genevieve which was remarkable in itself, but there were a few inspirations and one story in particular that led me to choose Saint Genevieve to be my Patron Saint.

Inspiration #1

St.Genevieve was born in the year 422 as a peasant girl in the small village. (I'm from a small village!) When She was 7 years old St.Germanus made a stop in Genevieve's village where crowds flocked to welcome him. He was drawn to Genevieve's devotion and thoughtfulness. Before he left the next morning he renewed Genevieve's consecration, blessed her and gave her a medal with a cross engraved in it. This was to remind her of her dedication to Christ and she was to wear it instead of pearls and gold necklaces or bracelets. For those of you that know me you may recollect that I rarely wear jewelry but it would be rare for you to catch me on a day where I'm not wearing my St.Genevieve medal and Holy Spirit dove around my neck.

Inspiration #2
She liked to go to church alone at night, praying by candlelight. One night, a gust of wind blew out her candle, and she accredited this to the devil trying to frighten her.  It's a well known fact that I'm a night-owl so it shouldn't come as a surprise that some of my most fruitful prayer comes in the middle of the night when darkness is around me. It is nice to know that when I ask she is there in the night praying for and with me

Inspiration #3
Genevieve was devoted to works of charity and practiced multiple mortifications including a vegetarian diet and fasting on all days of the week except Sundays and Thursdays. She drank only water and her meals included small amounts of bread and beans. She followed this diet until she was 50 when she was counseled that it would be best for her to eat more frequently so she added only milk and fish to her diet. I fail miserably with mortification. I guess that's the point right, mortification isn't supposed to be easy. Genevieve lived this as a part of her daily life. When I am struggling to make it even one day I turn to her prayers and support.

The story that led me to choose Saint Genevieve
In the year 451 when the Huns were marching towards Paris the citizens were ready to run in terror. It was Genevieve who persuaded them to stay. God had spoken to her and she told them that if they kept their faith in God, fasted, prayed and performed penance than the city would be protected by heaven and their lives would be spared. Some of the citizens did not believe her and when the Huns got closer to the city they fled out the back way which connected with a road that completely bypassed the city. Saint Genevieve and a group of people chose to stay. When the Huns arrived at Paris they decided not to take the city but to continue on the road that went around the city.

Because of Genevieve's trust in God she was saved. For this reason I chose her to be my Patron Saint. So many people were frightened and left. You could say it was the 'popular' thing to do. Genevieve knew that God would protect her and chose to stay. I pray that through the intercession of Saint Genevieve I will be able to listen to God, to do His will and to trust in Him to the extreme that Genevieve did. I pray that I may not succumb to what the world says is right as opposed to what the Lord says is right and know that no matter what if I do the will of God He will not lead me astray.

Her feast day is actually the same day as my oldest brother's birthday January 3rd!

Exodus 20:7

My mom often likes to remind me of this little thing my cousin's daughter Ashlyn said once.

"I say Oh My Goodness because Oh My Gosh sounds too much like the one you're not supposed to say."


How simple is that?

"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain." Exodus 20:7

Day 29: A picture that can always make you smile :)

Alright, so its not a picture its a video. You know those days? YOU know! those DAYS! Nothing seems to be going right, you were late to class, forgot about your assignments, didn't get enough sleep, feel like crud, stubbed your toe and it started raining while you're wearing flip flops and walking in mud.

Issue.

This beautiful girl is my youngest niece London. She's adorable and at the age of 2; HILARIOUS! On those days that I'm feeling like the world's against me, underachieved and underappreciated I watch this video and I'm reminded that there are more important things in life. I love this little girl, and knowing that she loves me back is more than enough.

I'm actually visiting my sister and her family today and I can't wait to hug my nieces tight and tell them how much I love them!

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

This may come as a surprise to all of you, but an animal person I am not. 

Sometimes when I say that out loud to people they look at me in shock, like HOW can I not be an animal person? EVERYBODY is an animal person. Let's set the record straight, it's not that hate animals I just prefer most of them behind a fence and on a leash.

I was raised on a farm and we had our fair share of animals; cows and calves, hogs, piggies, dogs, puppies, cats and kitties. And when I was little all of these animals were great! I got to bottle feed a calf every once and a while which was cool but kinda gross at the same time(so slobbery!).

My mom told me a story about when I was really little and my dad was moving hogs and the pen was really muddy. His boot must have been stuck in the mud and when the hogs kept coming he went over backwards and I just started crying and screaming 'the pigs ate my daddy!'

When I was a little older than that I was at my Aunt and Uncles house one night with my dad. My dad and uncle were looking at something, it could have been a cow/calf but my memory is a little hazy. I had been playing with their dog and was down petting him when it happened. I was a gonner, buh-bye animal kingdom, no way, no how, ain't gonna happen. HE BIT ME! Right on my upper lip on which I still have a little scar to this day.

From that moment on I was deathly afraid of dogs. DOGS! Big dogs, small dogs, white dogs, black dogs, solid color dogs, spotted dogs, loud dogs, quiet dogs, yippy dogs, barking dogs, dogs. I couldn't take a step in to my best friend Brittany's house in Elementary/Jr.High without making her put her Golden Retriever Summer in a separate room while I made a mad dash up the stairs away from her.

I'm 20 now and I still curl my hands up in a fist when dogs start sniffing around me, I just don't trust their mouth and my fingers in the same general vicinity. Oh and don't even get me started on doggy kisses, there is no way. that I'm ever going to let a dog get that close to my mouth on purpose ever again. NO. WAY.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

Let me introduce you to my youngest 1st cousin MaKenna. 

I remember when she was born, I was a 7th grader and it was the same night as one of my brothers Senior football games. She was born premature and her birth was both very joyful and very scary. I only have 3 younger 1st cousins (we're at the bottom of the lot) and I wasn't old enough to remember the other 2 so this was my first real experience with a family member being born. I could NOT wait.

Christmas!

She's just about the most adorable thing you've ever seen. I'm asked quite often if MaKenna is my niece. Sadly she isn't but she doesn't have to be my niece for me to love her like one. The 13 years between us doesn't separate much as we practically share the exact same hair color, skin color, freckles and light eyes. 

It's funny when my nieces Addison and London come to visit and MaKenna comes out to see everyone how messed up people will get telling MaKenna to go ask 'Aunt Cassi' something. Especially when it's my Grandma or Mom!

As much as she loves to spend the night with us I probably love having her spend the night with me even more. At that age everything is so fun, everything is an experience. Creativity is booming and the world is a fabulous place. Board games are never ending and with this little one I don't even have to lose on purpose because she can put up a pretty fair fight, especially in Sorry! 

Easter!

I love getting to come home and watch her dance, especially because that's something that I used to do. She's got an arm like a rocket and can throw a ball better than I could at her age. We've got a lot in common this little one and I. We were raised in the age where boys dominate the family (when you have 5 uncles it seems like guys are just always around) so we're a little bit girly but a whole lot messy.

#1 rule in living room wrestling

Rule #1 in Wrestling: NEVER put your head & your knee together.

My brothers have been wrestling since I was born. Not only with each other but competitively. Being the little sister I got my fair share of torment as well. My brothers would toss me around like a rag doll but I'd like to think I put up a pretty good fight.

They tried to teach me to use a 1/2 Nelson and they'd yell things like 'chicken wing' and 'granby'! Like I knew what that meant. There was 1 rule and 1 rule only that I followed when it came to living room wrestling. Never, ever, ever, EVER, put your head and your knee together.

If you know nothing of wrestling you might just think that rule sounds absurd. Why would your knee be anywhere close to your head in the first place? Well, when you're just walking down the street your head has no business being by your knee and it's easy to keep that rule. But when you're wrestling and you're curled up in a ball getting tossed around like the 10 y.o. version of me, your head and your knee can become like magnets and it's not so easy anymore to keep them separated.

If wrestling were temptation (how fitting because everyone wrestles with some temptation of their own) then putting your head and your knee together would be like sinning. Just because you are wrestling does not mean you are sure to lose. Just because you are tempted does not mean you are sinning.

But when you forget for one second that your knee and head are not supposed to be together, before you know it you've been caught in a cradle that's too hard to get out of bc your brothers are bigger and stronger than you are.

So fight like crazy, kick and knee and roll around and elbow and since this isn't a fair fight if you need to bite some arms, pull some hair or gauge some eyes than so be it. Do whatever you can to get out of it.

But know this, eventually the match will end. And if you've lost you will get another chance. God will not dub thee a loser for life because you lost one match, no, He will prepare you. His mercy will allow you to fight again, to be stronger.

So pray, pray like crazy and do whatever you can to keep your head and your knee away from each other.

Day 20: A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Ahhhh how I love to travel. SO many places how am I supposed to choose?

Since my favorite number is 3 I will choose my top 3:

Ireland! The land of my ancestors!
I really love green as well so this trip couldn't go wrong.

Home sweet Rome!
I'd actually like to visit all of Italy.

Greece!
There's something about the beauty of the coastline!
Also the architecture history there really intrigues me.

Day 19: A picture and a letter

So... I'm going to take a little bit of creative liberty here and NOT write a letter, which I think is what is expected. Instead I'm going to put a picture of letters (like from the alphabet) that I took. I think that's way more fun anyways!

These are presents that I made for some of my family members for Christmas. I had so much fun making these, taking a camera out and looking for objects that could resemble the letter I needed. In case you were wondering what each letter is I'll explain below:

FitzGerald

F- Part of an old rail bed
I- A golf ball on a tee 
T- A croquet mallet 
Z- The 'N' on the tailgate of an old truck 
G- The iron railing from my Grandma's house 
E- A deer antler 
R- An old water pump 
A- A tree 
L- My Dad's cowboy boot 
D- A giant log

Smith

S- The S hook on a swing

M- Archways from a 19th century home

I- A nail in a wood beam

T- A croquet mallet

H- A 'little tikes' kids chair

Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you

Aren't they just too cute?! These are my grandmas! They're both very different but inspiring none the less.

In the white on the left is my Grandma Elaine (she's my mama's mama). She raised 5 sons and a daughter(you've gotta be like superwoman to be able to handle MY uncles!). She's mama to 6, grandmama to 12, grandmama in-law to 6, and great grandmama to 13.

She was the grandma that lived in 'town', the grandma that I spent my summers with, she took me shopping and swimming and fed me lunch. I slept on her couch/in her chair after summer weights, volleyball/softball/cheer practices, and 2-a-days, when I was too tired/sore to even breathe. She supplied me with frozen Snickers and endless amounts of icy-pops!

She's a beautiful Catholic, I'm hard pressed to find a day when this Grandmama isn't in church, at mass, helping with the ladies circle, praying a rosary or feeding someone.  Plus have I mentioned that she makes the best fried chicken known to man?! Now that's something to aspire to! 
______________________________________________________________

On the right is my Grandma LaVada [Lavada, not said like Nevada, the 2nd a is long] (she'd be my daddy's mama). Doesn't she have the coolest name?

This woman is the strongest person I've ever met, I'd pick her vs. anyone any day, and she's just so tiny and cute! I'm amazed by her strength and her determination and how hard of a worker she is. She's a farmers wife and a farmer herself. I don't know the logistics but I do know that she helped custom harvest for a large part of her life with my grandpa. She's also an entrepreneur, as if she didn't have enough stuff on her plate, she's a florist and owns her own shop! 

If it were up to her she'd never ask for anyone's help but God's. When she needed her roof shingled a couple years ago guess who thought she was gonna get up there and help? She's 80! I'm young and I didn't want to help!

I'm not sure she has a mean bone in her body, she does everything with the sweetest intentions. My mom always says that she couldn't have asked for a better mother in-law and I would probably agree with that. What a beautiful strong Catholic woman God has given to this world, I'm so glad that He put her in mine.

Day 14: A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Well this was a no brainer, because sometimes I still have trouble believing that I ever lived the first 9 years of my life without her. The beautiful woman I'm talking about is my sister Sara. I was 9 and she was 18 when we first met.

Sara with her girls Addison and London.
Aren't they all gorgeous?

You see my mom had Sara when she was in high school and decided to give her up for adoption. Sara was adopted by a fabulous family and when she turned 18 she decided she wanted to find her birthmother, our mother! It was a surprise at first because I didn't know about Sara but it didn't take long for me, the only girl in the famly, to warm up to the idea of having a sister. A SISTER!

Me Mom and Sara on Christmas Cookie baking day!

I think I'd been praying for a sister since I knew how to pray. I thought I would be getting a sister in the form of a baby but it's amazing how God works isn't it? My sister is a beautiful strong woman and mother to my two amazing nieces. I truly couldn't imagine my life without her. God blessed our famly so much when He brought her into our lives

Our famliy, I couldn't imagine it without any of them.
Sara, Rob, Katie, Jeremy, London, Addison, Mom, Dad, Me, Russ.



Day 7: A picture of your most treasured item.

Sadly I don't have a picture of it on me, but as SOON as I can I'll put one up. My most treasured item would probably be my quilt that my Great Grandma Hill made me. She made all of her kids and grandkids and greatgrandkids these quilts. She passed away at the age of 97 and I love having that blanket around me to remind me of her.

PICTURE TO COME!

Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.


<><> 

London



Addison



I would choose to trade places with these two beautiful girls. My nieces! I could take the 'oh to be young again' route but that's not even the reason. These girls are fearless, the world is their playground. 

Addison is full of attitude but the smartest little girl I've ever met. Someday she's going to give me a big run for my money. She's got the world ahead of her and is so creative.

London is as cute as a button. She makes hearts melt and is funny as a clown without even trying. Wouldn't that be a nice combo to have? Especially paired with those big puppydog eyes.

I love these two more than I ever thought possible. I'd be blessed to be able to walk a mile in either of their tiny little shoes!

Day 4: A picture of a fun night

 (so many fun nights, so many fun pictures)

I've put them in chronological order, most recent first!

Dancing with the wedding party at my brother's wedding. They got married in the Catholic Church in the town that my great great great grandfather founded. It was such a special day/night for the whole family.

 St.Lawrence had a bonfire at the lake! Of course it turned in to a giant dance party like most of our get-togethers do, such a good memory!

Another St.Lawrence party! In May right before the end of the school year we had a Luau! Once darkness set in we headed over to the Campanile Hill and played Capture the Flag. Born in Kansas vs. Not Born in Kansas and OF COURSE Born in Kansas won! After the game we took a refreshing little swim in the Chi Omega fountain!

My first Halloween in college! I was bubblegum under a shoe! These girls are so great!

 

Haha this picture may not make much sense to you! This was one of my first nights hanging out with friends in college. We played a game called paper pictionary. You write down something on a piece of paper and then pass it around the circle. The next person is supposed to draw a picture of what is written. It goes back and forth between drawing and writing what you see until it gets back to the person it started with. This picture started out as "ice ice baby" and ended up as two people burning on a stove. We drew all of the crazy ones up on our friends garage wall with chalk.

  

A memory NOT from college. My Senior year dance recital. This was the beginning of our tap dance to Mountain Music. This whole night was magical (except for spraining my ankle jumping off the stage right at the beginning, that was bad).

My sophomore year of high school. If you're not of Junior/Senior status that you can't go to prom, so the sophomore's are in charge of cleaning up prom while the juniors and seniors go to after-prom. This was our after prom clean up party oh so early in the morning and while we were making breakfast we decided to start a band and go on tour in colorado! Haha!

When I started this post I didn't think it would pertain to my life as a 'Daughter of God'. Now that I've traveled down memory lane I've realized that God is the only reason that I have all of these great memories. He has blessed me so much with the friends and opportunities that I've had in my life.

I wonder if what I'm doing here with these pictures and memory lane is what we'll do with God in Heaven.  If He'll show us around Heaven and we'll sit and tell Him our stories, our favorite memories, and He can tell us what they mean. And then maybe He'll tell us His favorite parts as well!

All For You

This song has been appearing in my life quite a bit lately. Tonight at praise
& worship/adoration we were singing it and the words just really resonated with me. I've bolded the part that really hit me tonight. Sometimes it amazes me the language in which God chooses to communicate, He's so genius. I like to have prompts for my prayer, something which to focus on and the last paragraph gave me this. I've bolded the part that really hit me tonight.

Nothing compares toLife I have in You
Nothing of this world satisfies
So, I want to let go
I want to let You know
All that I have to give is Yours

Here I am
As gold to the fire
I will surrender to Your hand
To this place
Lord, I have come ready for Your touch

It's all for You
It's all for You
I'm letting go
I'm letting go

What is it in me
That hangs on for so long
Why do I fight the tears that come?
I work so hard to
Keep in control when
All that I want is to let go

I'll take this life
And lay it down
I'm letting go
I'm letting go
My hopes and dreams
Here at Your feet
I'm letting go
I'm letting go

I'll take this life and lay it down: It's no secret that I've been having troubles with my roommate lately. I'd like to say I've been bringing my struggles with her to God in prayer. I'm trying so hard to make this life work for me the way that I want it to work, but maybe He has another plan for it. God put her in my life for a reason and tonight I decided to do as the song said, I took my life and lay it down for God to pick it up and do with as he wishes. I'm going to try and watch Him work through me the way He knows is best.

My hopes and dreams here at your feet: I have hopes and dreams of having a big amazing family of my own, being a fabulous interior designer, creating the home of my dreams and having season tickets to KU basketball for the rest of my life! Tonight I tried to let go of them. If I'm living for my own hopes and dreams then I may be ignoring God's plan for me. Only He knows what I'm called for, and I don't want to be blinded by what I want and miss out on the opportunity He may be handing me. And I know, that His plans will be WAY better than anything that I could every imagine for myself.

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

At my sister's wedding from September 2010.



I'm SO thankful for my Mama! We were the only 2 girls in the house growing up, 2 vs. 3 and we almost always got outvoted on everything!

I can't imagine having any other mom growing up. She understands my crazy emotions and can handle my attitude and my messiness. She's strict enough to put me in my place and loving enough to let me wipe my tears after hours of crying.

Doing this post reminds me just how lucky I am to have her when so many people won't ever have relationships as good as ours. GOD has blessed me so much!

People say we look alike, I haven't decided what I think about that. What do you think?