note(s) to self

If you ever have a house that you decorate (either you're living in it for a long period of time, or you own it)--NEVER decorate with silk/plastic flowers. No questions, just don't do it. This is merely a cleaning resolution...remember trying to dust those things? Does not work well. And real flowers are prettier anyways.

When and if you have the joy of being pregnant, do not wear long shirts. They do not accentuate the bump in the middle and are not very pleasing to the eye (when pregnant). This is not written because of anyone specific, just observations have proven this to be true.

Please, don't dye your hair ever again. Not that it's wrong, but just don't do it. When you go gray, wear it proudly. And hopefully your body will benefit from choosing not to expose yourself to the massive amounts of chemicals that are in hair dye.

Talk with your children (if they ever exist), find out who they are. You may have given them DNA, and you will influence them by your presence--but they have a unique God-given personality that you need to discover and encourage. Talk. Spend time with them. Love them for who they are.

Actually, do the above with all people (even though you probably won't be DNA related with most of them).

Surrender everything to God, always. Every desire, dream, plan, failure, striving, stress, joy, success... you get the picture. Seriously, you will waste your life if you hold onto things that you cannot control. Either by emotionally traumatizing your body or by just wasting your time.

Note(s) to self.

taking action-- looking OUTward

" And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and will do it."

-1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

I am just so tempted when I come home to get caught up in the, "it's all about me" thing. Which it most definitely is not (all about me), because I am not the only being on this planet.

But I read this this morning and was encouraged to take action to encourage, help, warn. To be patient and kind and to hold onto good. To give thanks and be joyful.

I'm thankful for the reminder. I've been here less than a week, and I was already feeling the laziness kick in. Especially (I think this is the life-long illness with children) when my Mom would ask me to do something, I'm sometimes so slow to do it...and sometimes don't do it at all. So, I'm trying to grow up.

Speaking of growing up...I feel old! (But remember in my last post, I said I used to be afraid of getting old...but now I think that age makes things more beautiful and meaningful?...so it's not a bad thing-- just shocking sometimes). Last night my mom's friend came over with her 2 kids that my brother Josh and I basically spent a lot of our childhood with. And those 2 kids (who used to be like 5 and 7) are HUGE now! Seriously taller than both Josh and I, and all grown up and driving and playing football and stuff. I WISH I would've taken a picture.

Now would be the best time to get a camera, because then I'd have the new-camera fettish where you take pictures of everything. And then I wouldn't have any regrets about not taking pictures of people during my time home. Sheesh. :-)

Okay, off to decorate the house for Christmas with Mom!

big cold friends

I had a great time hanging out with some old friends today. I used to fear getting older. Sometimes I still do (well, the physical ailment of it at least). But I think that my life and relationships seem more significant and meaningful than they did before. Maybe this is just the normal thing that comes along with "maturing", and I haven't discovered anything new. But it's okay, I'm not trying to be revolutionary. This is new stuff-- new feelings, new ideas-- for me. And I'm finding much joy in these little revelations.

By the way, I think I had been away from Ephrata for way too long when I was packing my bags (to come here). Because I specifically remember choosing NOT to bring my long underwear or thick tights because, "it would be warmer here". Well, I was wrong on that one. Today I went on a walk with a friend, and after like 15 minutes my thighs were frozen through. Seriously. But I guess I was right in the fact that it's warmer in houses and in my nice, cute little heated car.

Hey guys, God is big. Bigger than you or I can imagine. Of course, there are many logical things about Him. But there are much more than many things about Him that seem completely illogical, and don't make sense. But He's still God. And I am still choosing and going to choose to trust Him.

in the us

So, I don't know what it was, but for a few days there I seriously could not access my blog. It's like somehow my internet provider in Georgia blocked the site or something...but why? Maybe that wasn't the real problem. But I'm grateful it's working now.

I'm in America, by the way! Ephrata, to be exact.

I'm totally exhausted after not sleeping for basically 2 whole days and being in transit for at least 24 of those hours, if not more. TIRED. But I had a pretty good trip. The flights were okay, I sat by nice people, my layover was relaxed, customs let me take my beloved Georgian food items through (tkemali, preserved figs, etc.) and my parents picked me up at the airport! We ate dinner and then drove another 3 hourish to get to Ephrata. I was conked out in the back seat. Seriously. We got into Ephrata and my mom was like, "look honey, we're in Ephrata!" and I was like, "that's nice"-in my slightly delusioned state, and returned to trying to sleep. But I hope I'll get rested soon.

:-)

6 days

I'm leaving for America in 6 days. 6 days. The idea of going has seemed so far away to me, that I really have shock (excited shock) that it's coming up so soon.

So, I'm already trying to practice my self-control skills, you know like in eating. Since I'm going home around 2 of the biggest food/eating holidays of the year, I want to make sure I'm not eating too much (especially of that good American food that I haven't eaten for 14 months)... :-).

What else? Also, I'm trying to get things in order before I go. I must say that one thing I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy about (really really happy) is that I don't have to pack up my entire room and find a place for my stuff when I go, because I have my OWN room that I will RETURN TO when I come back!! I cannot explain how huge of a thing that is for me. I've had to do that so many times--pack for a trip and then pack up my room to leave for the trip--and it is like 80 times more stressful. So, thank you Lord (and thank you supporters) for an apartment that I don't have to move out of (at least not now).

6 days.

readers

So you know, internet is back!

Actually, it has been for a few days...so you would think that I maybe would've posted something. But now, I waste my internet time on facebook and news.

And so today I had the slight whim to write something semi-meaningful here, but now after an hour and half of doing non-blogging things, it's left and I can't really imitate what would have come out in the moment of inspiration. So sorry.

But I think part of my problem, is that I have no idea what kind of audience I'm writing too--like a real one or an imaginary one that comes along with signing up for a blog (like the one that you think/hope reads your blog...but that doesn't really exist). And not that I would necessarily change a lot about my writing...but I think there's some more inspiration when I know that my words are read and enjoyed.

Eeehhhh-ni-ways.

fantabulous video

Here's a video of one of my high school friends. It's so cool to see her in this! And also, there's footage of my fabulous hometown, Ephrata! So for those of you who are not Ephratians...take a look!