:) God loves you and me! 

There are so many things that I think about to share in a blog.  But if I wrote them all, I would have no time to do the things that are more important.  Instead I know that I am thankful for all the wonderful things that I have going on in my life right now, but also that I have many things I am struggling with.  God is with me.  God is with me always.

Have you said, "I love you today"?  

Have you said, "Thank you" today?

Have you given your best friend a hug?

Have you checked up on the ones that weren't at church today?

Have you called the sick and lonely?

Have you smiled today?

Have you?

Dear Heavenly Father, 

You are most holy, and I love you LORD Jesus.  I would ask that you guide me and help me when days are slow and down.  Some days I am eager and ready to tackle the world, but on other days I wonder if I will make it.  LORD you are amazing and you have been part in my life when all of this is taking place.  I reflect daily on the happy moments, and try to cover them with the bad days.  LORD I ask you to help me see that it is okay, and that their are other people like me, struggling just the same.  LORD Jesus please watch over everyone this week, especially those that are serving our country.  They are the ones that we often forget to thank daily, they are the ones that have chosen to protect us and our country.  LORD, you are the most holy and loved one in my heart.  I love you LORD JESUS!

In your heavenly name, I pray. Amen.

Am i fine china?

Friends can't be like fine china.  

Fine china:

 Is something you only use for special occasions.  

Something that you can go each day without.  

Friends need to be like every day dishes.

Every day dishes:

It doesn't matter if it is just a boring day.

You have them around all the time. 

If the people around you are like fine china--then do you really need them in your life.  Are they not important enough to you to have them around you all the time?  Do you only go to them when you need something, or when you are having a party?  Do you only invite them because they will bring the alcohol and be stupid?  

Take a moment.  Stop.  Think.  Think of that person that is always there for you.  That one that is there no matter what.  Who is it?  Is it someone that treats you like fine china or every day dishes?  

There are many people around us--that we call friends.  And that is okay!  But make sure that you hold on to the every day dishes and make them your every day dishes instead of fine china.  

I am blessed to have true friends. Ones that are truly there and I am truly there for.  Lately I have been reflecting more and more on that.  Noticing the ones that see that everything is not okay without me telling them.  The ones that help me feel better only by reinforcing they are there for me.  I may be miles apart from some, some only minutes apart.  But what matters the most is that they are my friends.  <3

Dear God, 

You are a truly amazing person!  i love you more than anything in the world.  I ask for prayers to be lifted up for everyone, all my friends, enemies, and those that I do not know.  It is important for me to pray daily for my friends.  For my friends that live here in North Carolina, those that live in another state, those that live in another country.  That I pray for those friends that are struggling physically, mentally, socially or just in general. I pray for my friends that are choosing to serve the country, those that are choosing to serve the homeless.  I pray for all!  And Lord, I ask lastly for prayers for myself.  I need to remember to pray for myself daily as well.  I need prayers as much as everyone else.  

Lord Jesus you are amazing, In your holy name I pray!

Amen

hot, hot, HOT!

There is no doubt about it, the summer is here and in full bloom!  I know I live in the South, but the high 90's are hot for Western North Carolina.   This song came to mind when I think of this crazy heat.  Today was a day on the high heat levels.  I heard it reached the triple digits :o

While out in this heat, it is important to stay cool and hydrated. Don't get dehydrated, it's not fun! For our health it is important to drink water, but during these hot days it is so important. While working in the yard, playing catch, running with dogs, and sunbathing--drink drink drink that water!  No matter what your doing, even if your spending some of your time in doors, it is still important to drink lots of fluid.  Consuming enough fluid especially water, can sometimes seem annoying and unnecessary--but with these high temperatures its more important that anything. 


The summer is not only a time that people can get dehydrated from not enough water, but it is also a time that we can get spiritually dehydrated.  Sunday school may have stopped for the summer, maybe you stayed out to late Saturday night to make it to church on Sunday, or maybe you just want a lazy day.  What ever the reason is, don't become spiritually dehydrated, overcome it and let me the summer allow you to become closer to God.  




"But whoever drinks the water that i will give him will never become thirsty again.  The water that I will give will become a well of water for him, springing up to eternal life." --John 4:14

Absolutely Amazing!

Whew, it has been way to long since the last time I posted, but then again I sure have been busy.  Summer 2011 is here, but it feels like I have gotten more busy!  So since the summer is here that means I have completed 2 years of college!  Woooaaahhh, wait a minute, that means I am going to be a Junior in college in the fall.  Wow!!  


Summer began and I jumped head first into doing things I love.  Spent one lovely Saturday afternoon the Post Office food drive, then volunteered that next week at Yoke fellow.  (I got some good quality time with those cans). I of course have been spending many days at West Lenoir Elementary volunteering, some in the library, some in the classroom, and even one day of proctoring the Science EOG. Took some time one evening to babysit the kids that I have kept for the past seven years at least. (Man, thats a long time, and those kids are growing up way to fast). 


I kept the month of May moving along and on May 21st I had the first support group meeting for Hydrocephalus in North Carolina.  I took on the role of organizing it and joined with 12 other people that are affected by Hydrocephalus.  There were 5 of us that have hydrocephalus and got to learn more about each other. It was a very eventuful weekend.  (Skittles wanted to make sure he wasn't forgotten and decided to role off the poarch steps :o).


The next weekend, which was this past weekend was Memorial Day weekend. But if you know me well enough then you my know that Memorial Day weekend means its recital time.  I have now finished my 14th year of dancing under the instruction of Star Steps Dance Center.  I am so thankful that I am able to dance.  This year I not only danced but also worked as stage manager.  It truly was a job, but I really enjoyed it!  


So between all this, I keep reminding myself that summer is a time to relax.  While I will be taking two classes this summer, it is a break from having a heaving load of many hours of classes.  I will be volunteering, working, hanging out with friends, spending time with family, traveling a little bit, and what ever else falls into the schedule. 


The summer is amazing, and I am thankful that I am getting to enjoy it in my home town.  While there my not be much in Lenoir, it is the place I have grown up in, and I continue to find things to do.  I have discovered that doing good deeds and  helping others tied with feeling relaxed don't often go together for many people.  Well for me it sure is.  Lenoir has so much to offer that makes one feel good, you just have to take the time to find it!  


Well it's only May 31st and the high was 97 degrees.  Summer doesn't start till June 

21st, its gonna be a HOT summer!

True Companions

I found this on the internet and feel in love with it.  Dogs are truly a special part in my life.  When coming home, I look forward to seeing Emma and Skittles just as much as seeing my mom and dad.  Being an only child, my dogs are my play buddies.

The Canine Commandments

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years.  Any separation from    you will be painful for me.  Remember that before you buy me.

Cousins and cousin dogs spending time together

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.

3. Place your trust in me. It's crucial to my well-being.

Trust put in Skittles that he can lead us to land ;)

4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment.  You have your work, your entertainment and your friends.  I only have you.

Cousin Matthew and his dog Buddy.  

5. Talk to me sometimes.  Even if I don't understand you words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.

6.Be aware that however you treat me.  I'll never forget it.

7. Remember before you hit me:  I have teeth that could easily crush the bones of your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

See my teeth :)

8. Before you cold me for being un-cooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me.  Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I've been out in the sun too long, or my hear is getting old and weak.

9. Take care of me when I get old.  You too will grow old.

10. Go with me on difficult journeys.  Never say: "I can't bear to watch it" or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there.

Remember That I LOVE YOU.

I love my doggies!  

Every Scar has a story

Scars represent a wrinkle in time in which a person's life changed forever.  And they serve as a permanent reminder of an incident that in one way or another has made a lasting impression on one's life. So what is a scar?  Is it a mark that is left by a wound, sore or burn that has now healed?  Or is it a lasting effect of something that emotionally happened to you?  Everyone has faced having a scar, and we all have different definitions for what a scar is.  Everyone is not the same, so every scar is not going to be the same, they all have their own individual story. Each scar represents a moment in time or a passage of time when something happened to us or through us that we will never forget.  


So take a moment and look at yourself, and see your scars on the outside and inside.  Do you remember the story of how you got that scar, or where it came from?  Every scar has a story of their own.  


I personally have been thinking more about the physically scars.  Children that are young are proud of their skinned up knees and elbows when they were sliding into home plate, or trying to be like their big sibling, or something along those lines.  And then as we get older, scars seem to be something more that we have to hide, like they are not important.  

Kayleigh and I.
Who knows what we were into that day!

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I spent my summers at my best friend Kayleigh's  house and let me tell you we got into everything.  She was just mastering riding her bike down the carport hill and turning down to where the basement was.  Of course, if she could do it, I knew I could do it.  Well I thought wrong, I went down the hill from the carport, and then I went down the grassy hill toward the road.  The  bike and me hitting everything on the ground including a rock and coming close to hitting the barbwire fence at the bottom.  I earned a lovely scar on my knee that day(more than likely many others)! But as I got older, the knee scar was the only one that stayed around. In my younger years, I was very proud of that scar and told people all the time, now it is fading, but when I see it, it reminds me of those days!

My mother revealed a picture to me,
after my first surgery.

While there are scars that are fun and we can go back and laugh at, there are also scars that have saved ones life.  For myself, I have two scars that are linked hand in hand.  Having Hydrocephalus, and having a VP shunt, I have two scars.  One is on the right side of my head  behind my ear and one that is now above my belly button.  The VP shunt ( a tubing with pressure sensitive valves in my head) runs from the right side of my head, down through my neck and ending in the abdominal cavity.  5 of my surgeries took place when I was a baby and a toddler, but when I was 10 I had a revision because I was getting taller and needed more tubing.  I was lucky to have all my incisions done on the same one all six times.  My mother will share the story that when I was a baby with my belly scar, was down along my bikini line--well now it is no where near it.  It is actually above my belly button.  It moved a good 3 or 4 inches :o.  After my surgery when I was 10, I often wanted to hide my scare when I was wearing a bathing suit.  Also when I surgery when I was 10, a part of my head had to be shaved, and you could sometimes tell. I didn't want my friends to stare at the incision that I had, and better yet I did not want them to be asking questions. I eventually came to a conclusion, that that scar on my belly saved my life. If it wasn't for the scar on my belly I would be here. Also when I surgery when I was 10, a part of my head had to be shaved, and you could sometimes tell.   And instantly I became proud of my scar. 

Turn your scars into stars.

 This is so true. 

 They do not have to be stars that are shared, 

but are to be stars in your life.

These are just two stories from one person about scars.  You do not have to share your stories about your own scars, but remember them and let  those scars make you who you are.  Everything that happens to us, emotional scars or rejoices, physical scars or rejoices all make us who we are.  God loves us and all of our beautiful scars.


Dear God, 
I sure do love you, you are amazing. While sometimes we look at our scars as something bad, help us remember that the scars make us who we are.  Lord you are amazing, and tonight I would pray from a friend that had surgery and will be blessed with a scar. I also know many people that have many scars, and help them see that that scar has its own story, and no one else has a story like that.  In your heavenly name I pray, Amen.

Deep powerful questions can be very meaningful to getting to know yourself.  I discovered a website that has over 100 deep powerful questions, and I have gotten really interested in a few of them, so I thought I would share. I am not answering all of them, only a few from www.lifeliteracylabs.com

6. If you could change your name, what would your new name be?

I actually choose this question, only to say that even if I was offered to change my name to anything, I would not change it.  I was given the name Elizabeth Ann, and that is what I like.  It is who I am, and I was named after amazing women, so why would I want my name to be anything else?

8.  What color dominates your wardrobe?   How do you feel when you wear that color?

Brown dominates me in everything, my wardrobe, my room, and  well yea.  It seems lately though that anything bright colored is what I enjoy wearing.  If I am having a down day, I look to bright and colorful things to wear.  

19.  As a kid, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up?

As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher.  And to me that was a teacher that worked in a school system and taught children. I am currently going to college and majoring in elementary education, but I am thinking that God has a bigger calling for me in the teaching aspect.  It may be teaching, but it may not be teaching in a school system and maybe not teaching the traditional subjects.

31.  If you could be  a fictional character from a movie or a novel, who would you want to be?  Why?

As odd as it may seem, I think I would want to be Ariel from the Little Mermaid.  Even though all Ariel wanted to do was to get on the land and away from the sea and ocean, she had a great amount of imagination and wonder.  I think it is amazing to be able to wonder and have the amount of imagination that Ariel has.

45.  Who never fails to make you feel good about yourself?

My best friend, also known as my little brother always has a way of making me feel great being the person I am.  If I am ever down, I know that he will find a way to cheer me up and not in a way that suggests I should be someone else, but rather cheer me up wearing the shoes that I wear all the time.  Being who you are in very important, and sometimes I forget that, but Brandon always helps me get back on track.

54.  What is the first thought that usually crosses your mind the second you open your eyes in the morning?

First thought is what bed am I in.  Am I two feet off the ground or am I five feet off the ground.  It is a very important thought so that I don't die getting up in the morning.

These are just a few of the questions, the less intense ones that I choose to share.  But I challenge you to get to know yourself.