Chloe's superhero

At coffee break yesterday, I met an adorable little girl named Chloe. She has blond hair and a gapped tooth smile, and she is totally cute. She was sitting at my table for snacks, and crafts, and that was when I got to know this little sweetie. The first thing we were talking about was age. She told me I was old. I said I wasn't that old, but she told me that I wasn't very little either. I had to agree with that, I'm not very little anymore. Then, as I was eating some animal crackers, she told me that teacher's don't eat. Of course, I answered that one by eating another cracker. I guess it's sort of like when you see your teacher outside of school for the first time. It's kind of hard to believe that they actually have a life, and don't live inside of school. It's hard to comprehend that they eat and have a family and go grocery shopping. When I couldn't figure out the tape on one of the crafts, she said, "Ms. Michelle, teacher can't figure this out!" and as I got my coat and bag to leave, she crawled over to me. "You're leaving?" I told her I was, but that I would see her next week. It was funny, how she saw me as a super human kind of person. to Chloe, it didn't matter where I was in life, or what was happening in my life. to Chloe, I was a superhero, of sorts. In her eyes, it didn't matter how everyone else saw me. It didn't matter who I was or what was going on. when Chloe looked at me, it was like she believed in me. and when I saw that, I knew that it didn't matter who I was to everyone else, in Chloe's eyes, I was some sort of superhero. and that's ok with me.

Afloat

in Matthew 14, verses 22-34, it's the story of Peter and Jesus, walking on the water. The disciples are in this boat, and there is this ghost, or what they think is a ghost. naturally, they are a little freaked out. but then Jesus calls to them, saying it is I, don't be afraid. and then Peter says, "Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water." So, Jesus told him to come. Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water to Jesus, but when he saw all the waves and the winds and the storm around him, he started to sink. It says in the Bible, immediatly Jesus caught his hand. "You of little faith," Said Jesus, "Why did you doubt?" Recently, I've been comparing this story to my life. When I took my eyes of Jesus and got caught up in the storms of my own life, I began to sink. I was so wrapped up in what was going on in my life and my own emotions, that I took my eyes off of the only one who could save me. I tried everything I could think of to try and save myself, but nothing worked, because when I take my eyes of Jesus, all the efforts I have are useless. But Jesus was there. He was waiting for me, waiting for me to call on Him. He took my hand, just like He did with Peter. "Why did you doubt?" He asked me. Why did I doubt? Why did I doubt that God was enough? Why did I doubt His power and think I had to do this on my own? Why did I doubt that He was there to help me and that, no matter what, I wasn't alone? Why did I take my eyes off of my only hope of getting through this life? God loves me, no matter what. The blessings I have in this life are just tiny whispers of His love for me. The people I have in my life, that I know will love me, no matter what, and are always going to look out for me, that's God's way of showing me that I'm not alone. When I took my eyes off of Jesus, I started to sink. But He was always there, waiting to catch me. in 2 Corinthians 12, it's talking about Paul and his thorn. He asked God to take it from him, and you know what God said? "My grace is sufficiant for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." When the storms of my life get to much for me to handle, I don't have to handle them alone. God is there, and He will fight for me. His power is made perfect in my weakness. When I am weak and can't do this anymore, God can. He will, because He loves me. Because I am His, He will carry me when I can't take another step. He will whisper promises over me. When I am weak, He is strong. that doesn't mean there will never be any more trials in my life. God didn't promise life would be easy, but He did promise He would never leave me. So when the storms of this life get a little crazy, God is there. He's waiting for me to call on Him. He'll hold my hand and help me through this. He'll stand beside me and hold me when I'm at the end of my rope. He'll whisper His love for me by providing blessings in my life. He's calling me, am I ready to listen? Am I ready to take Jesus's hand and trust that He will help me navigate the storms of my life? Because when I am weak, He is strong

2011

It's the start of a new year. I always hate new years, because it's like I have to say goodbye to everything that happened in 2010. 2010 was a great year. yeah, it had it's ups and downs, but over all it was a pretty good year. I was blessed with getting to know some new people and trying new things. Every step I took in this journey revealed new things to me and showed me more of who I am as a person. Am I ready for 2011? I guess I have to be, there's no going back now! I'm ready to enter this new year, and this new chapter of my life. I'm anxious and nervous but really excited for what this next year will bring. I just have to keep believing that God knows the plans he has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. No matter what comes in this next year, I know I'll never walk this road alone. God never promised the road would be easy, but He promised He'd take care of me. So I'm trusting God with whatever comes in my life. The only thing I can tell you about this next year is stay tuned for coming attractions! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Blessings

Last night, I did something I don't do often enough. I counted my blessings. Not just the normal I'm thankful for food and a house kind of thing, but really. what is a real blessing in my life now? Here are some of the things I came up with
I'm blessed to have people that care about me and want what's best for me
I'm blessed to have friends that make me laugh
I'm blessed with peace and hope and joy and a content heart
I'm blessed with a God who loves me, no matter what, and will never leave me
It doesn't matter what's going on around me, I can choose how I want to respond.
It doesn't matter how everything is playing out, I have a God who will always love me
and that alone, is enough to make me start counting my blessings

My Quote wall

"Sometimes just believing in someone is enough for them to start believing in themselves"
"Hapiness is a choice, it isn't something that just happens to people."
"Love is a choice, not a feeling."
"And just when the caterpillar thought his life was over, he turned into a butterfly."
"Circumstances don't dictate how I feel, I do"
"It saved your life, and that makes it beautiful"
"God is with us wheither we're running away from Him or to Him"
"Real breakthrough happens when someone is scared to death to stop trying"
"Every hardship we face is an opportunity to either break down or break through"
"Crazy people don't know they're crazy, you're dealing with life"

With Love, from Mary

Since Christmas isn't very far away, does that seem unreal to anyone else, I wanted to share something that I wrote for Christmas.

My dearest Elizabeth,
It has been a while since that glorious night when Jesus was born, and I have yet to tell you all about it. As you know, an angel appeared to me and told me I was about to have a son. And, as you know, I was nervous and excited all at the same time. So, when it came time for a census to be taken in Bethlehem, Josheph and I packed up and went. The town was full of people. Everything was so full and crowded. All the inns were full, and there was no room, anywhere. It was coming time for Jesus to be born, and Joseph was frantically trying to find a place for me to stay. One of the inn owners offered us a place in his stable. It was smelly and dirty, but it provided a shelter from the cold. The pain was unlike anything else I had ever felt, Elizabeth. But the love I felt when Jesus was born erased all the memories. He was so perfect. I held him in my arms, memorizing every detail. Even though I was captivated by this child, I still felt some longing for the voices of women to welcome my son into the world. It was a selfish desire, a small want in the midst of Jesus's arrival, but I felt it all the same. Joseph made a bed for Jesus in a manger, and I wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him down. Somewhere in the night, shepherds were watching their flocks. Angels came to tell them that the newborn king had arrived and they came to worship him. I nearly cried when they told me of how a heavenly host of angels had sang their heavenly song. Instead of women's voices welcoming my son into this world, it was something of more value and importance, angels sent from heaven. Every little detail was so perfect, it was like God has arranged it with his own hands. I treasured each detail in my heart, wanting to remember every moment of this night. I am God's chosen one. I wish to see you and little John again, so that you may see little Jesus face to face. He still is a perfect child. I wonder how you are doing, and how God is blessing your life, my dear cousin. Write soon and tell me all about your life
With love, from Mary

As Christmas time is approaching, I think I connect with Mary more then I ever did before. It wasn't just some story. Mary was an average girl, who did average things. She would have been the same age that I am now when she has Jesus. It's hard for me to imagine. She embraced the gift that God gave her, Jesus, with great joy. She even said "My soul glorifies the Lord." It wasn't an easy journey for her, or for Joseph, but she embraced it with courage and grace. I only wish that I could embrace the challenges in my life the same way that Mary did. I wish, in the middle of my trials, I had the strength to say, My soul glorifies the Lord.

What Happened today

So, this is what happened today.
I woke up, and started doing school. I finished school around 2 something, and then I read and painted my nails and ate supper, and then my parents went to a Christmas party. So... I hung out with my siblings, and they were all ready to go to bed when... Jaxon puked, all over the floor. It was really gross. So, between the three of us, we managed to get it all cleaned up. We had to take shifts because one of us would start gagging and run outside, so we wouldn't puke. It was really gross. I really hope we don't get that flu that's going around. So now me and Jaxon are watching Dora the Explorer and the other kids are in bed. I cleaned the floor with disinfectent, and washed my hands about 12 times. Jaxon, and both the other kids, are armed with puke buckets. Oh yes, it has been an eventful evening. I hope tomorrow goes better.