A New/Old Day

Well, I'm sitting up at one in the morning, watching "The Nanny" and reading The Robe during commercials. It's been a long time since I've done this. Years, even. I used to do this when I lived in Franklin. During the summer (I don't remember which one) I would sit up and read Little Women in between scenes on Nick at Nite. Lucy and Ethyl would keep me company for a while, and then I would laugh and cry with Meg, Jo, Beth, & Amy March. It was beautful. When Nick at Nite became unavailable, I'd watch "Bear in the Big Blue House"...and as the moon would rise on the TV, the sun was rising outside my house. That was my cue to go to bed. The next day I'd sleep in and then go to the pool or something and read some more...to my heart's content. A wonderful arrangement, truly.

But lately (for a long time, actually) I haven't been able to just sit down and read. I'm just too preoccupied with....I don't know what. I feel guilty when I read. Even my Bible. I don't know why; but reading is probably my favorite thing to do...and I just haven't been able to do it for so long. And today...I felt like just doing it. Just letting go, and enjoying the book that I've been desperately trying to read since Spring Break! It was a perfect setting: light thunderstorm outside my bedroom window, a wonderful pear-scented candle lit, and me in my bed, cuddled with my dog, reading The Robe. Between this afternoon and tonight I read over 40 pages.

I know that to most people that doesn't seem like a big deal.......but for me.......it means freedom.

Well, I'm off to read some more of my book, watch "The Nanny," and maybe even work on some of this blog stuff. (I wanna write something on my chalkboard, and maybe work on the header! Oh and the font...)

Ta ta! ;)

Downpour

I really want to get a new background and layout for this thing! This one's old! Just doesn't do it anymore! I'm sitting/lying in my bed...it's 3:30 in the morning, and I don't know when I'm going to go to sleep. You see, for the past several days...maybe weeks...I've gotten into this rut. Especially with school. I really started realizing it a week ago this past Friday and then this past Thursday everything came to a head and it's been going downhill ever since. (I love listening to this rain right outside my window next to my bed...I have my peppermint candle lit in the windowsill.....should make an interesting combination with my Lavendar/vanilla wallflower... But the rain is kinda a good metaphor for how I've been feeling. One minute it's pouring....the next minute it's a light drizzle. One minute my head's about to explode with guilt and confusion...the next minute I catch a tiny glimpse of hope.) Anyway...it's like I've been in this rut and I haven't been able to get out of it. It just kept getting worse and worse. I didn't know what I was going to do. And tonight was the same thing, until about 11:00...I had been trying to get into my HW (get into that mindset) and I finally stopped and read some of my Bible (just a little bit of Philippians). When I got done, I felt a little better. (I also saw a verse I had circled that said, "And the God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet..." ...I think maybe it was in Corinthians...one of the two...) I felt a little more strengthened after that. I kept trying to do some work and finally it was like what I've been trying to tell myself for the past several days just really hit home (actually, I don't think it really "hit home"...I just finally was able to put it into practice), and I realized that I may not get everything done, but I can at least get something done; I may feel guilty and like a failure, but I won't feel as guilty, or as much of a failure. I realized that I needed to decide on ONE THING to work on, and while I worked on that, let that be the ONLY THING I think about. Meaning I don't think about other assignments I have to do, or assignments I didn't get done or turned in late, or my grade in the class or what I'm going to do tomorrow or anything else. Just focus on the task at hand. Trust Him to show me the "next right thing" when it gets to that. Rain stopped. (Actually, I think I might hear a light drizzle) I think I'll bring this to a close. It's almost 3:50. (Here's the rain again!) Anyway, I still have to get ready for bed, and there's still so many assignments. Don't know if I should do them or go to sleep. Tomorrow's Wednesday, so there won't be a lot of extra time to do them and they're all due on Thursday (most of them..and the rest are dependant on me getting them done in a timely manner!) *sigh* Please let me know, Father. Good thing I don't have class 'til 11 in the morning! Peace.

Me on the left, and Chloe on the right. I think we look alike. ;)

Halloween Babes

Alright, so I don't have time to write, but there is ALWAYS time to post pictures of the Sweet Ones. So here is the latest.

I made this picture our desktop background, so that when I'm doing my homework, I can mininmize my windows and just look at the babies when I need motivation (Not even kidding..). They are so precious! From Left to Right they are: Jackson, Lucas, and Chloe. Hollywood Jack (That's what they call him) is always smiling! Luke's just chillin' (he's a pretty mellow little guy) and Chloe's subtle smile is too charming for words!

I just can't get enough of them, and I can't wait to see them for Christmas!!

The Babes! :)

Okay...I KNOW there are some things I should be doing right now....but I just HAVE to post some pics of the sweet ones! (That's what I call them now!) I don't have time to write about the trip right now, but here are some pics at least!! The rest I'll fill in later...besides...if it's true what they say ("a picture's worth a thousand words").....here's 4000 for you! :)

ChLoE<3

Me & LuCaS:)

Me & JaCkSoN:D

JaCk & Me again :)

News, News, and more News...

Well, haven't posted one of these in a while...so here goes nothin'...

Several things have been going on. For one thing, I finally got to have a good, long talk with my cousin Makennah, last Friday (the day AFTER her birthday...b/c why on earth would I do the normal thing and call her on her ACTUAL birthday??!) Anyway...Happy belated KennahFest, everyone! :)

Also, about a week and a 1/2 ago, Bro. Charles and the Jesus is Lord Ministries team arrived at the Place of Hope. We set the tent up last Wednesday, had Friday Night Hope on Friday (which Angie got to come to) and had our first service under the tent Saturday. It's been a.MA.zing so far! Saturday is take-the-tent-down day, and that night we'll have the final service in the POH sanctuary. You don't even know how much I'm going to miss this...and all of them. It's been the biggest miracle having them here...and I don't want them to leave.

School's good. VERY good compared to last year. And last year was pretty good too! I read something once by Joyce Meyer about how, many times when God changes us, He does it "little by little." She said one of the reasons she believes He does it like this is so that we don't get prideful, thinking we've done anything on our own. ........ I hope that's why, 'cause this change has been sloooow in coming! But I've noticed that every year since I saw the doctor in Tulsa and starting taking medicine, it's gotten a little bit better. A little easier to have a devotion. A little easier to do homework. A little easier to schedule and get things done on time, etc. And this year has been no exception. I mean, I'm not perfect yet (and don't plan on reaching that this side of Heaven), but I am making progress. He's making progress in me. And I can't tell you how glad that makes me; and how comforting and reassuring it is.

And the last thing I want to tell you.........is....................

(get ready for this!)

I'M GOING TO SEATTLE!!!!!! I'm FINALLY going to get to see those babies! Yall...you just don't even know! Like..seriously! Best. Present. Of my LIFE!

Here's how it happened. My mom and Nana went in August for a week, but my parents couldn't afford to fly me and Cassie and Carrie down there. I was hoping to use my refund check from school to buy my plane ticket and go down for Fall break. Then I found out my refund check was going to be significantly lower this semester than it has been; also, we are going to get to see them for Christmas, so I had kind of given up hope of going to see them before then.

But a few weeks ago, Kristen (my cousin, the babies' mom) sent my mom a message on FB. You see, ever since the babies came home, Ben and Kristen have always had one of their mothers staying with them for several weeks at a time to help take care of the babies (They're a lot of work as well as fun! ... I talk like I know them...). But Kristen said that the first weekend in Oct. neither of their mothers will be there, and Ben won't either. So she'll be all alone. And she asked me to come down (or "up"... whatevs) and even volunteered to pay half of my plane ticket! So..sweet!!

It's SUCH an answer to prayer. I really don't think you realize how important it was to me to see these babies while they're still babies. It sucks that we all live so far away, and I want to see them grow up in some way. I feel like God did this for me as His gift to me. And the fact that He would do that..........no words.

Just thankYou!! ThankYou, Jesus, and thankyou Ben & Kristen! I'm sooooooo excited!

I also have a ton of hw to do....and it's one in the morning, so...I'm out! Peace.

~Chels

"And then there was...SLEEP!"

What the heck am I doing awake right now? It's all thanks to my cousin MaKennah (that's MaKennah with a capital "K"). You see she's grown up and is going away to college (even though I'm older, she grew up before me...we all knew it would happen). And she made the honest mistake of telling me she was shopping at Pier 1 (for her dorm room no doubt) and there was lots of stuff there I would like! She told me via Twitter and I read it at like...one in the morning. I went straight to their website and looked at EVERY SINGLE THING! I now have copied and pasted everything I like (as well as everything I think my sisters would like) into a Word document and saved it on my computer! So...here I am...3:30 am and still not in bed. Haven't even brushed my teeth yet.

And on that sorry note, I would like to make honorable mention of Wednesday's dentist appointment! I got to go to the dentist!!!!! (hence the appointment) I LOVE my dentist! He's like a grandfather and is just the sweetest thing ever! His whole entire office is. They're the kind of people you'd want to run into if you're having a bad day. The kind whose smile can just turn your whole day around. The best part was I had 2 cavities (well..not really cavities....I don't really know what they were TECHNICALLY...something to do with my wisdom teeth...yes, I still have those......but ANYWAY...((yall should really try and stay on subject))...there was SOMETHING wrong) and I had to go back yesterday to get it taken care of. I was so excited but it ended up only lasting like fifteen minutes (and that's including the time in the waiting room!). I was seriously disappointed. Not even kidding...

Well, I guess I'll go pretend I'm normal and go to bed now. Goodnight, and thanks for reading my blog...you must be really lame! 8)