Dancing Through Life

Last night two friends of ours got married and we were able to attend their very beautiful wedding. At the reception they had dancing which is one of my favorite things to do at weddings. Now, I will agree that it's important to think about who you are dancing with, where you are dancing and what you are dancing to, which goes without saying (so I won't say it :P). However last night I was able to dance with my daddy. Nothing is sweeter I think then seeing a daughter dancing with her father and nothing is more fun! :) I hope to dance with my dad until he has to stand on my toes instead of the other way around. And dads, if you have never danced with your daughters... it's a great way to show her that you love her and your arms are always there to support and guide her. Enjoy <3 (that's a heart just in case you can't tell)

Dancing with your brother is another story all together.... :P

Forever, Ever...

It is so easy to be unkind and take advantage of our family. After all we do a lot for them, so using their things without asking doesn't seem like such a big deal. And if we live with them it's not so important to spend time with them, right? It is so easy to fall into the trap of taking advantage of what God has given to us and even sometimes seeing it as something other then a blessing. I think part of living alive in Christ is realizing that Christ blesses us in more ways then we can imagine and in ways we often refuse to see. I had such a moment this evening.

I am constantly frustrated with the little girls of my family because they use way to much toothpaste and leave it spread across the bathroom sink. Once, while doing a deep clean of our bathroom, I'm pretty sure I found toothpaste on the ceiling! Often I say thing to them like "Ana, it isn't hard to remember, when you are done brushing your teeth wipe out the sink. It's part of your morning chores. You have to be responsible and remember!" Then I get that knot of frustration when I walk into the bathroom and the sink looks like the toothpaste bottle threw up in it.

I decided that since I couldn't remind them every day to wash out the sink I would write a message to them. Often I'll leave them notes in dry erase marker that say everything from Bible verses to reminders and friendly notes. In large letters I wrote "Girls, remember to wash out the sink every time, Please. Thanks. *smiley face*" I underlined please a few time (to sound nicer) and was content with my work. When Ana and Alisia asked me about the note a few minuets later I told them "Now you have no excuse to forget, I wrote it to help you remember."

Feeling quite happy with myself I went to brush my teeth before crawling in bed. I was very pleased with the clean sink that I now had to brush my teeth in. Right before I turned off the light I saw a small note that Ana and written in response to my note. It said,

"I love you Heather, forever, ever. Love, Ana"

Talk about feeling the size of a worm. I felt awful! Here I was reminding them to clean th

e sink and Ana was reminding me that she would love me "forever ever." It changed my perspective again. These girls are beautiful gifts from God that I need to remember to cherish and love. I want them to remember me as the sister who loved them not the sister who was always after them to finish their chores.

In blue dry-erase writing I wrote back to Ana "I love you forever, ever too, dearest Ana." And, in truth, I do. I'm so thankful that God used my little sister to change my focus and remind me that he gives me gifts I don't even think about. Part of living alive in Christ is remembering that God blesses us even when we don't deserve it. I love you Ana and Alisia, forever, ever.

In His Name

My little sisters accepted Christ as their personal savior about a year ago and finally expressed interest in Baptism! I was so happy when they braved the cold water and climbed into the pool with my dad. There is honestly nothing so sweet as watching a daddy baptize his baby girls. What a blessing that my little sisters continue to pursue a life that obeys and follows God. I pray that He uses them in great ways and that their hearts stay soft to Him

.

Having taken both Baptist History I and II at my Bible College, I am reminded of the many who died so that we can have to right to baptize by immersion after a confession of faith. I think it is easy to forget the significance of baptism and instead treating it as something that just happens. The next time you watch a baptism really stop and think about the joy of a insignificant human stepping out in public to submit their lives to Christ and obey what He has commanded. Also stop to think about those who worked hard to follow the Biblical example of baptism and taught their children to do the same!

Last Day of School

I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything (I was just marveling at my sister who managed to post despite a busy scheduale) but with the close of summer I have a bit more free time. It was with a bitter sweet to say goodbye to my friends for the summer but it is my hope God will bring us back together next semester! Here's to a great summer full of fun and productivity!!!

Being a kid again

Although I generally do not want to go back to being a kid (not that I had a bad childhood it was great!) there are some moments in which you want to do what you did when you were little. Like ride the mini-merry-go-round in the mall, have your daddy push you in the carts that have the plastic cars in the front, and eat out of a dog bowl because it looks fun. You know the feeling... a moment presents itself to be a child again and you just can't resist!

My friends and I had such a moment last Sunday night while enjoying McDonald's. Actually I don't enjoy McDonald's, it's over priced and disgusting!!!! So I was eating Taco Bell (for its nutritional value :P) and they were eating McDonald's. You would never guess how appealing the McDonald's play place looked! I mean you're sitting there and this empty play place is calling you over and over again. It knows your first, middle, and last named! I probably even knew the name I will one day have if I get married!!! I tried to ignore it by focusing on athlete's foot and how I'm sure McDonald's doesn't bleach their play places.

Sadly, reason doesn't always win so we went it! It was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed playing up there and going down the slide! Someone had written "bomb" on the top and that was fun to speculate about it. I started thinking about the days we used to play in the McDonald's play place. We would pretend to be packs of dogs that had to survive and then we'd chase each other around. Or we were in the army fighting the enemy (cars in the drive through) My friend and I had even mastered the art of playing in a play place in a skirt! It's just fun to stop and think about the crazy things you did as you were little.

Imagine if we put the same imagination, creativity and heart that we did as a child playing in a place place, into the things that we do today!

Number 64

As some of you know, I keep a list of things I want to do, and anytime I'm bored I go look at that list and pick something. I've done everything from jump off a bridge to blowing up a watermelon with an air pump. It keeps my life interesting and is a lot of fun! Anyway, I was cleaning my bedroom (I do that every now and then) and found these old pair of jeans in my dresser. Now, I was looking forward to doing something unique that weekend and what is better to do with an old pair of jeans that have oil and grass stains all over them then to make them into a cute jean skirt? So I completed number 64 on my list and made an adorable jean skirt!

We made a sewing adventure out of the whole thing and Miss Katie, Katie (my sis), and my mom all brought over our sewing projects and got to work. In the middle of sewing I started to tell my sister about these cool jeans that I found and how I'd never seen them before. They weren't my usual size so I'd considered the idea that they were hers. However, due to their condition they were in (the dirt and grass stains) I knew they couldn't be. "That's weird." Katie said. "I lost my favorite pair of jeans a few months ago and haven't been able to find them since." Then she gave me that look. You know that "if you did what I think you did I'm going to do something worse then you could ever possibly think of" look. She took the pair of jeans (now half a skirt) and tried them on. Sure enough the jeans that I had completely ruined turning into a new jean skirt were her favorite pair of jeans!! Opps!!!

I must say, Katie very graciously accepted the fact that I'd ruined her favorite pair of jeans and I will laugh every time I wear them. I felt really bad, so I made her an "I'm sorry" bag... out of the remainder of her favorite jeans.

So here's to old pairs of jeans, new skirts, loving sisters, and I'm sorry bags! :)

Uno

As many of you know, my family adopted a hairless cat about one year ago. Hairless cats are adorable little creatures that are friendly and fun to play with. Once you get past the wrinkles and peachy feeling, you will have a new best friend! Our hairless cat, Cairo, got married (:P) to a friend of our who had a cat named Gracie Lou. We found out that Gracie Lou was pregnant and just a few weeks ago, she had one little kitten. It's pretty common for hairless cats only to have one kitten on their first litter and so our beloved little baby was named Uno. It's been so neat to watch him grow and change! When they are so small they change so fast, and in fact today he opened his eyes all the way for the first time! We, of course, are selling Uno to a loving family, but for know I'm greatly enjoying watching this little kitty grow!

I'm not a Copy Cat...

Hello, and welcome to my blog! I have been thinking for a long time about whether or not to start a blog as they seem to be a sort of "new facebook." However, my sister finally convinced me that blogs were fun and good for keeping in touch with friends and family afar. She started one first, but as I have already stated, I am not a copy cat. :)

So, I have decided that it is my turn to join the ranks of bloggers and add a blog of the different things I do. Here's to a blog that makes you laugh, smile, and most importantly show the blessings that come with living alive in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.