Christmas and Crimes...

So all...


Merry Christmas!! I hope this day was spectacular. I love celebrating the birth of my best friend, Jesus and also spending the time with my wonderful family.


We opened stockings (my favorite) this morning after sleeping under the tree with my sisters. Then we ate a big breakfast and opened out of town gifts. After that we watched the last hour of the Disney World Christmas Day Parade. We watched until our favorites, Aly and AJ sang and then decided to continue the unwrapping. We proceeded to open the gifts from mom and dad and had a swell time. Following our long day of opening we ate and played games and watched TV. It was AWESOME! A great way to spend our last Christmas at West Point.


Well, this little scene may seem to good to be true. That is where the crime part comes in. The sweet to sour, the good to bad to ugly, what have you.


You know what caused the crime. For those who know me quite well, you know what usually gets me in trouble, or gets trouble started. MY BIG...FAT...(quit thinking I am talking about my butt) it is my MOUTH! mouth, boca, pie hole...


Whether it be interrupting, sarcasm (or as my mother says, sCarcasm), name calling, or yelling, my mouth is always at the center. I think God had me in mind when these words hit paper in the book of James:


The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:6


So, it is not me that commits the crime, rather my mouth. Any of you in the same boat?!? Well, tonite it was yelling, or in nicer terms, raising my voice. Why? WHY? WHY? WHY?


Somehow, my stupid tongue manages to come up with quick witty things to say...before my very slow brain has a chance to say...SHUT UP!!! I will not go into detail, but, i committed a crime tonite...no there were no cops, or cuffs, just a few tears.


But, with a crime, comes...da da da daaa!! (insert trumpet sound here) GRACE! and FORGIVENESS! and the realization that I have the greatest family in the world.


My sisters...absolutely amazing. Sure the get under my skin and on my nerves. They drive me crazy!!! BUT, there's a but. I don't know what I would do with out them. They are my very best friends. Without them...life would pretty much be the most boringest (sorry E for the terrible grammar) thing around.


My parents...stellar. Again...can't live with them, but, would be DEAD, gone, completely and utterly lost without them.


I wish I could remember this when my mouth starts running!!! But, instead, i need to learn from my mistakes, move forward and not only forgive others, but, forgive myself. I had a great heart to heart with mi hermana tonite and that is one point she kept reiterating. I can't always blame myself, or be mad at myself. I AM NOT PERFECT and I need to learn to forgive my mistakes and accept myself for who God has made me to be!! So, all, love your family and pray that your brain is quicker then mine and can pick up on a overactive mouth!!! Why is there no medication for overactive mouth. Heck, there is one for an overactive bladder!! What are we waiting for!!! HA!


Well, merry christmas...mucho amor to you all...


...your crime committing, grace recieve, adorable sneaker...

Just Catchin' Up!

I was realizing that it had been a while since I last posted. So, I thought to myself, self, why not post something new. Then I said, no self, there is too much going on right now. And then I said, that means, it is the perfect time to blog. So, I did, well, I am...anywho...


Christmas anyone? I can hardly believe that Christmas is practically here!! I am getting into the spirit. And, being that I am converse sneaker, I think I should share some pretty big news...


I GOT CHRISTMAS CONVERSES!! they are candy cane stripe (fuzzy, I should add) with a green toungue. They are beautiful. I am in love!!! HAHAHA!!! Thanks to dad for giving them to me.


Also, with Christmas, that means sister comes home!!! YAY! I was so excited to see her, because well, we are pretty much the same, and so, she understands me and we have a blast together!! She got home today and we have already had some good times.


I know I know, there is more to Christmas. And actually, as I write this, I am listening to the Christmas song, "We are the Reason." And it just talks about how we are the reason that Jesus gave everything for us to have life. And that HE is the greatest gift. I don't remember that very often. But, HOLY COW!!! Isn't that just a pretty great God!?!?! So, if you haven't lately, thank God for sending his son to us, that we may LIVE!! WOOHOO!!!!!


Well, I think I am gonna go chill with me familia at the moment. More later, friends...


...mucho amor, the sneaker bonita!!

A Good Challenge...

Get ready to be free!


This is a good challenge. Hard for some, easy for others, just all around good. Here we go...


Oh yeah, before I start, I cannot take credit for this. My friend Rachel had me do this on the way home from camp last weekend. (more on camp later!)


1. In 15 seconds, come up with, and write down 5 things, preferably not physical, that you like about yourself, or things you are good at. Right now, while reading, DO IT!!


Okay, did you do it yet? All written down. Alrighty, moving right along.


2. Go thru each one and decide why that quality is a blessing, and how God will use that quality to make you excellent at what you will do in the future. Look at all of them and thank God for giving these qualities to you. While some may not seem helpful, I guarentee, that they are indeed blessings and very important!!!


Now, this is when it is going to start to get tough...


3. Make a list of anything that you wish you had. Qualities that you dream of possessing, or any standards that you think you need to measure up to. Examples being lighter, smarter etc.


4. Go thru each one and think about reasons why these standards, "don't count" or bogos. (does anyone really know how to spell that?!?) Understand that God made you you, and those qualities that you think you need, or wish you had, won't really be necessary, or needed for your special job.


5. Cross out those things and rip up the paper!!! Was that not liberating?! AMAZING!! After hard thinking, encouragement from Rach and many tears, I finished that challenge. It was hard. I didn't want to have to face that or declare, that my standards didn't matter. I only need to be who God made me to be. I felt so free after that little heart to heart. Don't you?


I know this was hard to follow, but, please, give it a try!!! Love you all tons! BE FREE!!!

A few blessings (cont'd)

Okay, next. You know the hymn, Blessed Assurance. Well, I was listening to that (new Avalon Hymns CD...STELLAR!) and, I decided that I am IN LOVE with the chorus, well, really the whole song, but, the chorus especially. Here it is:


This is my story, this is my song
praising my Savior all the day long
this is my story, this is my song
praising my Savior all the day long.


Friends, this is our story. We are here to praise our awesome GOD!!! What a cool story. A "God that has all things and still you want me" (BarlowGirl) I love the story I am privilaged to be a part of. Be blessed by him. And, I also love the last verse. So, you guessed it, i am gonna share it with you!


Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest
watching and waiting, looking above
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.


Too often, I get caught up in this world. Not cool. I know I talk about this a lot. The little things, finding time to spend with Jesus. He is so good. I just can't stop saying that!! HE IS MY LIFE AN MY STORY AND MY SONG!! I am happy and BLEST! He blesses me and blesses me and blesses me and I don't even deserve it. I wish I could just be lost in his love. Sometimes, that is hard. But, you know, we sure can get wrapped up in the world. And this world is not even our story or our purpose. Praising Jesus and being with him is our story and song. So, lets be lost in him and his love. That is my challenge this week. don't be lost in the world. Be lost in his amazing love. Mmmmmm...so good!! Blessings (another good word!)

A Few Blessings...

Hello to all 3 of my readers...


I don't have much to say ( i realize, now finishing writing, that is a HUGE lie!). Just a few things that have totally been blessing me lately. Actually, to be honest, the following writings were done in study hall today. But, I just wanted to share them with you all...so, to be super personal, here was my latest journal entry...ooo, a peek into my world!


11/6/06
So, how hard is it to be still? Yeah, super hard. This verse has really been blessing me. I think I already journaled it, but, why not do it again?

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still"

Exodus 14:14

Now, the red words are the true blessings:

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still!!!"
Exodus 14:14

I like to add the exclamation because how cool! All I need to do is be still and give all things to God and let him fight for me. Easy? One would think so, but, guess again. It is SOOOO hard. But, God is SOOOOOOO faithful and keeeps fighting and strengthening. Because here is another blessing:

"My power is made perfect in your weakness"

And before that verse is yet another blessing...golly, the bible sure is FULL of blessings!!! :)

"My grace is sufficient for you"

Is God not just the absolute best? HOLY COW! He has really been proving himself faithful to me lately. He is just SO good! well, the bell will ring soon. I think this is going to be a blog...who wouldn't be blessed by these verses??

God, thanks for always being faithful and for fighting for me. I love you...Amen

So, those were my thoughts on those blessings. What a god. All we need to do is give up whatever we are holding on to. AMAZING!!!