Thanksgiving

 This Thanksgiving was quite different and very interesting from any other Thanksgiving I've had in my life. First off, I wore shorts for the first Thanksgiving yet. As silly as that sounds it actually was upsetting. Judge me for being cheesy or whatever you'd like, but wearing cold weather clothes (at least long sleeves, long pants, boots, and a scarf) for Thanksgiving is important to me. Its like a mark of the season or something. Unfortunately the southern United States seems to be wanting to bask in warm weather. I honestly hope this changes before December rolls around.

  Secondly, my family and I celebrated the holiday at some of our friends' house instead of our own. This can be accredited to our glass cooktop being shattered and our oven fan going out. It would only happen to us right before Thanksgiving. Actually the cooktop has been out since April, but that is another story for another time. It is what comes with living in a family of 12...haha. While it was highly enjoyable not having to do so many dishes or cleaning (lol) and spending time with them I still slightly missed my home.

 Thirdly, my two older sisters, both of whom are married, were unable to be here this year. One lives in OK and is not visiting until Christmas, the other was at the hospital with her husband who was diagnosed with Susac Syndrome recently. I know people get older, move out, get married, and the like, but sometimes it is hard to accept change.

 So you see, it was not "normal" as I would have liked it to be. In spite of all of the above, however, it was an amazing Thanksgiving. I think more than anything else all the "abnormality" of this Thanksgiving helped me to see things in a different perspective and gave me more appreciation of things we all, me especially, take advantage of. Change really is alright. I am SLOWLY, and I do mean slowly, coming to realize this. The change that has taken place so far this past year has been really good in the long run. Sure there are many days, such as today, and events that happen where the good that is coming out of the change can only seen once you step back. Yet even when you have to step back it almost takes your breath away to see what intense and beautiful work is going on... and that it is all for the better. I would have never guessed that the year would have turned out like it has so far; I would have never expected to be where I am at, doing what I am doing, or be who I am. I have so many plans and goals for my life... when I step back occasionally to look at them I can see that they have been changed so many times; but that's great. If I would have wished for the same things or longed to do the same things I would be such a different person. And really, that would not be a good thing. Now do not get me wrong, there are several things God has directed me to do in life and to accomplish. I will strive my hardest to put everything in what He has called me to do. At the same time I shall do my best to keep in mind that change is okay... not just change that I am willing to accept, but all change. I look forward to the future with much anticipation for the glorious, wonderful things in store.

 In light of the holiday spirit and the different perspective I had the chance of gaining today let me list a few things I am incredibly and deeply grateful for. While some are obvious they are all very important to me:

* God and Jesus Christ

* My parents

* My siblings

* My best friends Jessi, Woody, Megan, Emily, Jonathan, Lindy, Megan, Hayley, Joe

* My health

* The ability to run  - as far and as long as I wish

* My bosses

* My job 

* My circumstance, house, school

* My opportunities

* My everything

* The Miss America Organization

xoxo, SLR

Two of my bestest friends and I... so excited they have won preliminary titles and will be going to state!!

Those who fill my life with happiness:

Adore Woody :-) He keeps me sane while M is gone.

I took this while JPyle's camera while helping him with a shoot. 

Love sunsets <3

Jon-Jon and C!!! COOLEST people I know :-)

Excuse my nastiness. These are 3 of my amazing brothers.

Haha, my daddy - He is wonderful and I love him!!

One of my sweet little sisters ... girl date with big sis ;-)

Stephanie Joy's wedding. One of the sweetest people on the entire earth.

You bette believe, J'aime Paris

101 small pleasures you can enjoy every day

Yes, so I "stole" this list off Yahoo's front page... however, it was way too good to not share. I agree with just about every single thing on this list. These are some things that put smiles on my face. God is number one on the list though... He never fails to put a smile on my face. 

1. coloring (yes, grown-ups can do it, too)
2. crisp cotton sheets
3. soft skin
4. old family recipes
5. the first daffodils of spring
6. sleeping in
7. an exercise endorphin high
8. window boxes
9. a perfect cup of coffee
10. a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
11. the way babies smell
12. a handwritten letter
13. waking up in a good mood...for no real reason
14. singing in the shower
15. finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
16. doing something nice for your neighbor
17. a home cooked meal
18. laughing
19. movie theater popcorn
20. playing hookey
21. a bubble bath
22. swimming
23. an afternoon nap
24. street musicians
25. your favorite song
26. saying thank you
27. helping someone in need
28. old fashioned photo booths
29. fresh whipped cream
30. inspiring blogs
31. a glass of wine
32. rainy afternoons
33. the funny things kids say
34. a novel you can get lost in
35. finding the perfect piece of clothing...on sale
36. clean laundry
37. the wind in your hair
38. treating the person behind you at the drive-thru
39. sharing an umbrella
40. the smell of lavender
41. a long walk that clears your head
42. a bear hug
43. The Beatles
44. smiling at a stranger
45. eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
46. butterflies
47. staying in your pj's all day
48. singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
49. fresh herbs
50. ordering in pizza
51. happy endings...even if they're fictional
52. flying a kite
53. puppies
54. root beer floats
55. holding open the door...
56. ...or having someone hold the door for you
57. fountain soda
58. white, fluffy towels
59. sunshine
60. spending an afternoon at a museum
61. really great advice
62. green lights all the way home
63. the sound of rain hitting the windows
64. sitting in a booth
65. holding hands
66. a great hair day with no effort
67. building a fort with your kids
68. when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
69. fireflies
70. the perfect taco
71. geraniums on a windowsill
72. slow dancing
73. the smell of fresh-baked bread
74. cheesy, uplifting musicals
75. great stories
76. the smell of gasoline
77. the cold side of the pillow
78. love letters
79. old friends...
80. ...new friends
81. a pull-through parking space
82. a baguette -- crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
83. when a dog licks your hand
84. sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
85. using your favorite dishes
86. reading your child a bedtime story
87. Girl Scout Cookies
88. flossing
89. kissing someone you love
90. the smell of onions and garlic cooking
91. hot chocolate
92. jumping in puddles
93. old photographs
94. birds hopping on the sidewalk
95. Ella Fitzgerald
96. a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
97. your softest t-shirt
98. a new magazine in the mail
99. fireplaces
100. having exact change
101. bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning

More pictures...

Pictures!!! (Cause you know I love em)

Randomness

I'm going to try to play, and memorize, the entire Pathetique Sonata. I've got the first movement down (gah, 10 mins long :-P), now for the 2nd and 3rd. I don't think they will be as hard as the first movement. My computer's hard drive crashed last week. Talk about a pain. There went all my pictures and photography that I was going to put in a portfolio for that photographer (the one I was trying to intern with...). It's okay cause now I can get a Mac :-D :-D Ooooooh Yesssss. Lego's are awesome. You should go buy a set and start playing with them... haha. They bring back so many child memories. I started thinking again about going into nursing. Then I had people tell me I should and I'd be good at it.... I'd love to become a nurse and be on the mission field as a nurse. But I guess it's whatever God has in store for me.

Okay, that's my rambling for the night. Lastly, here's my schedule for the week (which will probably change....):
Monday (today) - Babysit some awesome kids
Tuesday - Piano lessons, babysit, chill out at the pool, run
Wednesday - gym, and who knows...prob catch up on late bday gifts
Thursday - run, work
Friday - gym, study again for the last time
Saturday - TEST
Sunday - Church, wedding!! =D

"....If grace is an ocean ,we're all sinking..."

Rest of the 2008 year pictures...

SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER

DECEMBER


JANUARY

My year in pictures...

JANUARY

FEBRUARY
MARCHAPRIL
MAYJUNE
JULY

AUGUST

2008 in Review -

This past year held a lot of life-growing opportunities and trials for me, along with some amazing memories that I will hold on to for a very long time. There were plenty of times where I felt helpless and alone but God let me know very quickly that was not the case. There were also many times where I messed up BIG TIME and like I could never fix what I did, but yet again God informed me that that was not the case either. I am constantly amazed at how incredible and loving and beautiful Christ is. He never ceases to surprise me with something :-)
Okay so here's a quick list of what went on this past year....
December 27th, 2007 - Let for Europe with MK for a 6/7 week trip to Europe; and as I have said before, it was a dream come true!!!
January 2008 - I LOVE Macs and Brioche and snow. I stayed with a dear family in Germany, but visited Luxembourg (several times), France and Switzerland. I didn't think about the rest of the world (family, boys :P, life, issues, problems, ALL of it) for most of the time ( ...until I received a strange email from a guy friend. GR. But he wasn't thought of most of the time). But it was such a breath of fresh air to get away from EVERYTHING. I was able to see all kinds of neat things in Europe. I think my favorite things were the Swiss Alps and, of course, the Eiffel Tower, and people who had a sense of style! lol...seriously. I came back feeling "trendy" ;-) Oh and for the first time I rode trains. I like them a lot - accept for the weird European guys that have to stare at you. ugh. It was a FANTASTIC time....especially with the world's best roommate and ping-pong buddy, MK =)
February - Alright moving on, I got back from my European expedition on the 7th. GAH I didn't not want to be home. Seriously. lol I remember MK and I trying to come up with a plan for us to stay a couple more weeks. Then when that one didn't work, we had fun trying to come up with another to not have to go home. Lol sad they didn't work ;-) Oh my, the funny times with me being jet-lagged. Getting up at 4 in the morning, then getting SOO sleepy at 6/7 in the evenings. Chris proposed to my 2nd older sister the beginning (i believe) of this month...yes while I was gone. They had a very fast relationship. Whatever works I suppose. During this month I continued trying to find out what God was wanting me to do...It's such a pain. I am hating the question "what are you doing after you graduate" cause I DONT KNOW!!! And while I desired to go to a certain school, later on I find out, this was not God's plan.
March - What a month....on some topics it was awful, others it was AMAZING. My oldest sister informed me that I was going to be an aunt in November - !!! I was very excited! I was very busy this month getting ready to graduate HS, my senior piano recital, piano guild, and piano festival...A LOT OF PRACTICING! I had to develop some endurance during the next coming months. I like the Enchanted movie too...lol. I've been VERY swamped with school work, especially math. Trying to keep up French!... Camping, "the office" marathons, and playing in the rain.
April - GAHHHH. This was a month full of mistakes and learning experiences. I didn't enjoy this month very much lol, except for getting to go on a 4-day trip to the Okefenokee Swamp with dad and all the boys... we paddled 33 miles. My arms were killing me the following week. But yet another trip I enjoyed greatly. Had to get Senior Portraits done. I don't like them very much but OH WELL. "Build a bridge and get over it." Took a "Spring Break" trip down to FL to see J and A, lol poor A was so sick (morning sickness). It was fun, but very rainy :P
May - GRADUATION!!! Yay!! I was so ready to be done with School, as I am sure all seniors are during the last semester. But I still am not sure as to what I will be doing in the fall. Guild and my Senior Piano Recital all went very well! =) This is what I played for my Recital:
*Toccatina, Kabalevsky
*Prelude in B minor, Chopin - second favorite
*Sonata, Scarlatti
*Sonata, Beethoven
*Hymn arrangement
*Dawn, from Pride and Prejudice movie ('05) - this one was my favorite
And I was the 2008 homeschool Prom Queen :)
June - 2nd older sister and Chris got married on the 7th ... I am so happy for them! I've had a lot of "1st timers" recently...lol and I've felt like an idiot too. haha. wow. I've been doing a lot of Gourmet cooking the last few weeks...It's a lot of fun and I enjoy it.
July - My bday =) spent up in the Appalachian mountains in WVA...AMAZING and very beautiful! I know that God does not want me at TFC this fall...that was hard to face. But I know that it's for his plan. And July 4th was spent over here with everyone... good times :)
August - My amazing friends surprised me with a bday party .... !! It was VERY sweet of them! They did a very good job keeping it a secret! Mom and Dad gave me my bday/graduation ring - Blue Sapphire with White Sapphires around it. I love it and it's beautiful!! The couple MK and I stayed with in Switzerland came for a 2 week visit - I loved getting to see them! I started working on Pathetique mov. no 1, Beethoven. I Love it! I've already played the 2nd mov but wanted to get the first one. It's very different, and very difficult, but it's also beautiful.
September - J and A's Wedding anniversary (2 years) was the same day. I will be staying home for the fall :-( I am trying to learn how to be content with where God has me. I am struggling a great deal with being submissive. gah it's rough to learn. ADD Now weekend at CBC - Olive and I were leaders of the CBC girl middle school group. I greatly enjoyed getting to share with those girls and to let Christ have his way in all of their lives...and he most certaintly did! Oh yes, and 2-week beach trip =)
October - Yay for fall weather! Although, it's been a little hot so far. But the trees are turning colors and showing God's amazing handiwork - My favorite time of the year!
November - Gabe DM was born the 7th =) I am an aunt...J and A are doing wonderful! They are going to be awesome parents!! 1st time voter! Although, I am not a fan of either candidates for the presidency  This country is not going to do so well.
December - I enjoy being an Aunt!! Christmas and New Years was quiet and different, but good. 
January - So far the New Year as been very good and prolific. I am more content, but I am also looking into different opportunities that the Lord has opened doors too. I am so excited to see what is in store for this year and what will go on, although I know there will still be plenty of trials and things that will come up, but I continue looking to Christ as number one and not let things, or people, get in my way. Joshua 22:5.
SOOOOO, after that very long post, that was some of my year in a nutshell. So much more went on that I would like to go into and share but not right now. I'll do a better job this year about blogging more often!!! Goodbye and God Bless!!!

Love (...a post made by and borrowed from JAH)

(This is a post written by JA, It is wonderful and I think I need to share it with others. It is very true and gets me thinking about what (she/he) says here...)

Love
~~~~~~~~~

"If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth
But didn't love others,
I would only be making meaningless noise
Like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I had the gift of prophesy,
And if I knew all the mysteries of the future
And knew everything about everything,
But didn't love others,
What good would it be?
And if I had the gift of faith
So that I could speak to a mountain
And make it move,
Without love
I would be no good to anybody.
If I gave everything I have to the poor
And even sacrificed my body,
I could boast about it;
But if I didn't love others,
I would be of no value whatsoever.
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jelous or boastful
Or proud or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable,
And it keeps no record
Of when it has been wronged.
It is never glad about injustice
But rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up,
Never loses faith,
Is always hopeful,
And endures through every circumstance.
Love will last forever..."

1 Corinthians 13:1-8


Love...I was thinking about it the other day, and I came to the conclusion that there really isn't a single definition for Love. Some might define Love as the feelings husbands and wives have for each other. Yes, I suppose it is, but aren’t the feelings parents have for their children also Love? Aren’t the feelings that brothers and sisters have for each other also Love? And the feelings that friends, or relatives have for each other? Isn't it all Love? Do you see what I mean when I say there is no single definition of it? The love a Mother has for her child is not the same as the love she has for her husband. The love a child has for his parent is not the same as the love he has for his sister. The love a person has for his friend is not the same he has for his enemy. Ah, yes, I did say enemy. I was thinking mostly about the love we, as Christians, should have for our enemies. It's so hard to love your enemies, but, as I learned from an elderly lady in my church, you don't have to like someone to love them. In other words, you can still love someone even if you don't like them. I find this very true in my case. I guess loving your enemies (and by enemies I mean those that are morally and spiritually wrong according to the Bible. I am not speaking yet of those that have wronged us by offending us in their manners or speech, thus making us resent them or be extremely annoyed with them) means having compassion towards them and praying for them to "see the light," if I may say it like that. I think to hate someone for what they believe (or what they don't believe) is only going to make them believe that what we (by "we" I mean Christians) say we believe in and what we actually do are quite opposites. We say we believe in God and follow the Bible, yet if we hate our enemies, what kind of message is the going to send across to them? By loving them with the Love God has given us, we can draw a step closer to conquering Hate. Now, about the other kind of enemies...those that we choose to make our enemies because of our dislike of their way of communicating or acting or speaking etc. I think it is just as important to love them too. You don't have to like them, but Love is, nevertheless, essential. If we caress and nurture a dislike for someone, we plant a seed of Hate. And if we allow it to grow, it will one day turn into a full-grown Hate. Aside from the Hate of Sin, Hate is never going to help anyone strengthen their relationship with God. Without Love, we cannot love God, and without God we are nothing.