The Perfect Christmas Present Ever

Or any gift ever, I guess really.

Honestly, you want to hear it? It will sound lame, I assure you.
Having a cup of coffee and a conversation with one of my favorite celebrities.
That's all I want, really.

I don't want to scream and drool and fangirl or dream about going on a date or anything romantic of the sort with one of my favorite celebrities.

I would just be really content with going to get a cup of coffee and having a casual conversation with one of them like they were normal human beings.

Because you know what? That's what they are, really. They're normal human beings who just happen to be in the spotlight. But they are no different than us really.

So, it would be neat to get to know them in a casual, but semi-personal way especially with coffee because coffee makes everything ten times better. And they wouldn't have to feel weird about having coffee and talking because it wouldn't be weird. It'd be nice. It'd be a relief from the girls who just dream about marrying them or are in love with the character they play, etc. Because it'd be a real conversation, not a fake one. And I wouldn't have to take a dozen of photos or videos and post them everywhere. Maybe I'd take one photo to document the memory, but that's all.

I mean, in all honesty, if I ever met one of my celebrity favorites, I'd probably be star struck and scream too and say silly things and maybe just ask for an autograph.

But, if I could, I would much rather just to go grab some coffee and talk to them like they're a normal human being and not famous. And I would enjoy it, and it would be the greatest gift ever.

So, hey... Tom Hiddleston... do you want to go grab some coffee and have a chat?
(Or tea, if you prefer.)



Eheh. Just kidding, guys.

You are an endangered specie

"YOU MIGHT GET MARRIED ONE DAY AND GET TO LIVE WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND AND DECORATE YOUR HOME WITH THEM AND DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER LIKE WATCH LATE NIGHT INFORMERCIALS JUST BECAUSE AND SEE THEIR SLEEPY FACE WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND HAVE A SECRET HANDSHAKE AND BE REALLY WEIRD WITH THEM AND THEY’LL STILL LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT AND IF THE POSSIBILITY OF ALL OF THAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU SMILE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL..."

Also, we're all endangered species. I am the only me that will ever exist, you are the only you that will ever exist, we're the only ones of us that will ever exist. I think that's nice to think about. Since, we're endangered we should protect ourselves. We should love our selves. Not in a selfish, pride kind of way. But the kind of way that you are important and that God has made you who you are and that you're beautiful and you should appreciate that, and appreciate being you.

In a you should be happy about being you kind of way.

Alas, Life

Alas, Life has taken place.

 

So, I've been busy as of late. A lot more home work than I expected... unfortunately. haha. However, I've had some nice moments too. I like moments in between the busyness where you can lay down on your bed and literally just take a few breaths and read the Bible or listen to music and just deflate. You know? I like quiet times.

 

Anyways, basically my classes have taken a lot of my time lately. I've had papers, assignments, readings, etc. However, I must say, reading a play from Theater while lighting my new coffee scented candle...yes... coffee scented candle(THANK YOU BATH AND BODY WORKS), drinking a cup of tea, and listening to Broadway music isn't half bad at all. Oceanography map graphing, however? Not so much.

 

But it's all good. The only thing I regret is the lack of time in my days. If I had more time, I'd do more than I've been doing. It's good, because I'm productive and some of the work is enjoyable. But it is tiring and when I'm tired after classes and work I will admit that I have not committed as much time spent in the Word as much as I have wanted to. It was quite easier when I had long Summer days and not quick, short soon to be Fall days.

 

So, I'm going to use a quick portion of this time just to mention what I'm thankful for. Because a thankful heart is a happy heart;)

- Of course, my beautiful encouraging friends and family
- Pumpkin Spice Lattes (They're coming my friends)
- My beautiful, loyal dog
- The ability to write, speak, smell, touch, and hear
- Good health
- Broadway
- Sunsets
- Fairytales
- Little Kids
- Seasons
- Cups of Tea and a Good Book
- Photography Opportunities
- Family Christmas Vacations
- God's love

 

We have much to be thankful about,

Much to look forward to,

Much to revel and soak up and appreciate.

Dear Couple

Dear Couple,

I hope you guys are completely and truly in love.
I hope you guys love with a pure love, and a deep love.
A love that isn't shallow.
A love that conquers.
I hope you have a love that will last.
I hope you two will get married one day because you both have found the love of your lives.
I hope you will respect each other and bring each other up.
I hope you won't faintly crumble and I hope you both didn't settle for each other.
I hope you are together because you were meant to be together.
I hope that for you, because I hope that for any couple I see.
And I hope that because this does not happen very often in our corrupt, broken, shallow world that only looks with eyes that skim the surfaces of life and people.

But I hope you both are different,
I hope you both set an example,
I hope you both have true love.

Because I know it exists.

The World is at your feet.

As it is at mine.

 

 

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 

Love never fails."

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

Let's Start a Revolution

So, last night, someone posted about starting a revolution.

A love revelation.

 It made me think,

It inspired me.

 Let's start a revolution.

 

You can start a revolution in many ways, and the way I thought about starting a revolution was with kindness.

 

Of course, kindness inspired by God. With love, that I've only received by God. Because without Him, we're nothing and without love, everything else is in vain.

 

So, my goal, my challenge, my charge to you all is to commit an act of unexpected kindness, unexpected love. It's dying in this culture, you know? And it shouldn't be. So, let's start a revolution one step at a time. Let's do something kind, something loving, something unexpected so that people will be taken off guard. So, they will notice. So, they can ask us where our love comes from. So, we can inspire and bring hope and the light of Christ to others.

 

But, how?

How can we do this?

 

In any way you want to. Be creative. I want to hear your ideas, I want to be inspired. However, if you need suggestions to get you started, here we go;

 

1. Pay for a stranger's cup of coffee. It's a small price, and a big gesture.

 

2. Leave a kind note somewhere. It could be to a stranger, in a library book. It could be to a waitress or waiter on the table where you leave your tip.

 

3. If you see someone, anyone, who looks sad or upset and they're by themselves... go talk to them! Sit with them, ask them if something's wrong, and listen. That can make a huuuge difference.

 

4. Sometimes, people need hugs. Don't hesitate to give them out.

 

5. Give up something that means a lot to you and that you can use to bless someone else.

 

These are just a few things, there are more out there. And I'll be looking for opportunities to do this because I haven't yet.

But hey, it's a start.

 

It's a Revolution.

That's the Answer

"Sometimes that's the answer. To get up when the sun gets up and look around and realize that you're apart of an amazing planet."

-- Tom Hiddleston

Yes, sometimes, the sunrise is the answer. One time I got up and ran on the beach when the sun rose and it was the answer. Maybe not the running part, because I felt sick afterword, but sometimes you need a break in your daily life and to just get up early, watch the sunrise and be okay. Clear your mind, set free your soul, become a new again, be thankful and appreciative for everything around you, praise God, and be okay.

Sunrises and quiet mornings have magical powers, they really do.

Rainy Days and College Life

I am back, back, back. Last night, I checked out the blogs I followed. I'm starting to ease my way back into it. I initially was going to do that Monday, but I just couldn't. I ran out of time and I'm not forcing time anymore.

 

Time is valuable. Therefore, I will sleep when I feel sleepy. I will not neglect my Bible or quiet time for blogging. And I will blog when I have time and want to blog. And right now I have time. :)

 

So, just an update:

My life is going swell.

 I started up classes this Monday, and well, even though I'm not overly thrilled about them all, overall it's pretty decent.

I ended up having two of my friends in two of my classes so that's nice.

I really can't wait to get my AA though and be able to transfer from SPC.

It also has rained a lot the past few days, which made me comfy but it also made me wish it was colder and that Fall was here.

But I got Cinnamon Coffee and Pumpkin Bread from Starbucks so that made me happy.

Also, rainy days are perfect with good music, a good book, and lights.

Lastly, want to know something cool?

Yesterday, when I was reading my Bible, I found a piece of folded up paper.

I opened it up, and lo and behold, it was a letter addressed to me.

The letter came from an eighteen year old me on the date of 8/19/12.

This is sort of freaky because I completely had forgotten about this and yet, when I discovered it, it was 8/20/13.

 So, that was weird but neat, because I learned a little bit about my past self and I actually received some good advice from her that I needed to hear.

On top of that, there was a Bible verse there; 2nd Samuel 22:29-36.

The ironic thing about this is that the first couple of verses are found in Psalm 18:7-8.

I know this because just recently I took the time to commit these verses to memory as they highly impacted me.

 

 So yeah, it seems ironic and by chance, but I think God orchestrated the whole thing.

 

Because, guess what?

 My God holds the Future.

He knows what's going to happen even when younger me doesn't. 

 

 

 

And that, my friends, is beauty. 

Summer '13

Goodbye, Dearest Summer of '13.

You were;

Botanical Gardens,
Monsters University,
Lighthouse Climbing,
Thrift Shopping,
Looking at puppies,
Seeing a waiter who looked like Kerev,
Meeting People,
Macarons,
Pie,
Sleepovers,
Waterslides,
New Places,
Roadtrips,
Laser Shows,
Climbing a Mountain,
Visiting a Historic Town,
Getting Soaked by the Rain on a Trolley Ride,
Getting Caught in the Rain on Daytona Beach,
Walks to Dunkin Donuts,
An Orange Moon shining over the dark nighttime beach sky while dipping my toes in it and realizing how small I am and how great God is,
Wave Catching,
Fireworks,
Helping out with Two VBS's and being highly impacted by the kids there,
Mario Kart,
Missions Trip,
Being a Leader,
Photoshoots with friends,
Paid photoshoot,
Great Gatsby,
The Avengers,
Tom Hiddleston,
Gelato,
Beach,
Discovering a Coffee Place,
Belting Disney Songs,
Mixed Cd's,
Tea Parties,
Floating Lanterns,
Mason Jar Candles,
Dance Sleepover Lock-In,
Bike Rides,
Flying a Kite,
Colton Dixon Concert,
Winning Gigantic Pickles,
Dance Recital,
Ferris Wheels,
2nd Breakfast,
The Forming of a Band,
Getting a Yellow Slip,
The Painting of my Room,
Les Miserables Party,
Friends returning,
Lots of Unexpected Surprises and Nights of Friends and Fellowship,
Drawing nearer to my Savior,
Taking more time,
Learning.
Learning a whole lot.

Some of my Summer was long, long, long.

Some passed so quickly.

But it was beautiful and it taught me and grew me like all Summer's should.

With it's hot hot hot smothering air, beautiful sunrises, late nights, sparkling stars, pizza and junk, bright blue sea, and the promise that this is your life and it's all you got, so remember what you are here for and do something about it.

Do something about it.

So, Fall.

This is my life.

And you've promised me the same thing.

And I need to do something about it.

And so I will.

I will.

Think of All the Joy You'll Find When You Leave the World Behind...

What you can find from taking breaks...

1. You have time to live, to think, to move slowly but with urgency.

2. You have more time to appreciate everything around you.

3. You have more time to soak in and really think about what you're doing and why you are here and what you should spend more time doing.

4. You have more time to realize what matters in life, and what doesn't.

5. You have more time to focus on God, instead of yourself.

6. You have time to realize that it doesn't matter what other people think.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I love blogging. I really do. I love having the power to share my thoughts. But, sometimes, a lot of the times, blogging is self-centered and it's distracting. Posts can be made with wrong motives. I don't want to give up blogging, and I don't feel convicted to. But I do want to make sure that blogging isn't a priority in my life. Because once it's a priority, I think that's when it  becomes an idol. I haven't posted a whole lot this Summer, and I haven't been on it a lot this Summer.

Some of it has to do with the fact that I've been busy. And some of it has to do with the fact that when I wasn't busy, I spent that time doing more important things like reading the Bible, or praying, or trying to spend time with others. I won't say blogging is unimportant, because I think blogging can be impactful. I think it is helpful. It helps me write down my memories, share my thoughts, hear other's thoughts and realizations, and it can glorify God. But it can also do the opposite, and I think that I realized in taking a break, that I need to be aware when I blog. I need to make sure that I'm not putting blogging ahead of other things in life. I need to make sure it's not a distraction. And if I find it becoming one, I need to make sure I limit myself. I will take a break if it becomes a problem. My friend Erin, did an amazing thing as she was convicted to stop blogging altogether. I commend her for that, and her conviction kind of helped me realize mine. Before, I used to make it a priority to blog everyday(apart from the weekends) and only occasionally skip a day when life got busy. But, I want to make sure that I only blog when I have time that isn't replacing time spent with God, friends, or family. And that I blog with right motives. I can't say I will always be able to do this, because we are all human and we all sin. And I do know that when school starts up, I'll have more free time and probably will blog more frequently, but I still want to limit it and have my own personal check on myself for why I'm blogging and not putting it above God. 

Because only what's done for Christ will last in the end.

Therefore, I want to glorify Him in the very little time I have on this Earth.

Time is of the essence, so how do you spend yours?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you like the way the numbers on the clock felt as they slipped past your dry skinned hands?

My Life Is NonStop Movement

Okay, maybe not my life. But this weekend, and week, oh yes.

 

This weekend I was presented with a glorious opportunity to do a paid photo-shoot for a business intern who was putting together a pizza/pie social event in Publix and needed a photographer. I was chosen, and paid. :) However, that took from 10:30 am to roughly 1:30 pm. Then after that, my friend Heidi came over and we got some Pumpkin Spice coffee (mind you, even though it's basically 90 degrees outside here in good ole' FL :P ). And when she left, I had to edit all 81 photos and put them on cds by that afternoon, in which I did, so that I could go to my dance studio's lock in.

 

There, we stayed up until 2:30 am talking, playing games, dancing, eating pizza and sour patch kids, and watching a movie. It was amazing, and fun, but the next morning I woke up at 9:00 and got ready to go to Church straight from the lock-in. After that, I met with the guy to give him his cd with the pictures on them and then came back to my church to help out with VBS decorations.

 

This whole week will have early mornings, tons of kids, and probably a lot of fun too.

 

But, boy, oh boy, I'm tired and the week has barely begun.

So, my life is nonstop movement.

But I'm enjoying it, and thanking God for it.

 

You see, we've all been burdened with glorious purpose.

 

That night...

That night was guava muffins, fireworks, shared mocha coffee, ant bitten toes, scraped up knees, and abs getting a workout from too much laughter.

 

"just as dawn turns into day,

nothing gold can ever stay."

 

--Robert Frost