Love and Wisdom

 

 This is my mamaw and papaw. I look at them, and I can't help but smile because of how much I truly do love them. I just got back from visiting my mamaw, and I just had to come and write this post. After school today I decided it was a perfect afternoon to go to my mamaw's house. I see her every Sunday at church, but I never just go over there, just to visit. Life tends to get the best of me and everything becomes a whirlwind and I forget to take time to do these kinds of things. So I went, and we talked and talked about everything under the sun.  We started talking about how she and my papaw got married and just marriage in general. One thing that she said stood out to me and I couldn't help but share it. 

"There's nothing greater than the satisfaction of just having each other."

My grandpa has inherited emphysema. They are both so strong, my papaw enduring the disease every day of his life and my mamaw supporting him the whole way through. They still love each other so much. I pray to God that I have a marriage like theirs, one that continues to grow every day. I pray that I have strength and optimism like my papaw's, and never ceasing love like my mamaw's. They truly are my inspiration, they make me strive to be a better person. I just love them so much.

The most wonderful time of the year

...has begun. Tree is up. Lights are up. Shopping is occurring.

 

 

Hunter and I went to Rhema to see the lights! It was really fun, but very cold. Very very cold.

 

So life is good! We're having fun. Happy Holidays.

A Quick Explanation.

You may or may not have noticed the fact that my older posts' pictures are not showing up. They have a circle with a line in the middle... and it's just really upsetting. Here's what happened. I used to upload my photos through google plus or something like that. It informed me that all of the space was used up, so I went and did what any human being would. I deleted the photos from the album to get more space. That was a terrible plan, since it was linked to my blog and deleted all of the photos from Life in Letters as well. Every time I think about it it makes me cringe. Not a happy camper. Maybe if I just have no time on my hands I can go back and reload all of the pictures to the appropriate posts, but I don't really see that happening unless it's over an extended period of time. So I'm sorry! All of my archives are just ruined and now you don't know my history and it's just really really depressing. Forgive me. Cause this is how I feel.

6 Month Gushing

So honestly, I'm not one for gooey couply mushy stuff, but I guess I need just a few moments to be somewhat mushy. Bear with me.

Hunter and I started dating in June at church camp, and I can't believe how far we've come. We've known each other since he moved to our church when I was in 6th grade and him in 7th. In fact, we even dated that year! (believe it or not) But after we "broke up" we ended up just being friends from afar in the church. This past church camp, something just clicked. I think the main thing was that I could talk and talk and talk with him, about anything and everything. That's a big deal, since I tend to never stop talking. I could confide in him, he made me laugh, everything simply felt right. And it definitely was.

Now, I really can't imagine what I would be without him. He's such a major influence on me, in a good way, and he's everything I've ever asked for. He's my bestest friend. Like when something exciting happens he's always the first one I run to tell! His family is the best ever, and I always feel so comfortable with all of them. His smile makes me smile, his laugh makes me so happy inside. It's more complex than I ever thought "dating" would be like. I guess I'm just happy. And now I've spent half of a year with the crazy guy! Life is good. God is good. I'm doing alright.

Over the river and through the woods

Okay, so there wasn't a river... but still.

It's the Circle of Shows

This. Was a good show.

I loved it with all of my heart. I loved the cast, I loved my part, I loved rehearsal, I loved the costumes. It was just generally amazing. I'll never forget it. When shows metaphorically "die", they take part of you with them. It may sound silly, but it becomes such a giant part of your life that it's almost impossible not to have that happen.

In the interim, I will now have a life. And enjoy Christmas.

What I've been up to

I've been spending all my time with these crazy kids.

Much Ado About Nothing opens tonight! I'm very ecstatic. Please come if you live in the area! It's at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center at 7:30. Tickets are $10.

Now that all the commercials are over, let's chat! I'm very excited about the next few days! Hunter's family has graciously invited me to go to Texas with them for Thanksgiving! I think it'll be really fun. I've heard talks of hog hunting, which makes me a little bit nervous, but I think I'll survive. Hopefully. More to come soon!

Things that I wish.

I wish I could look at nature all the time.

I wish I could inspire people to better themselves.

I wish I could see my sister all the time.

I wish I could watch TV a little bit.

I wish I could post regularly.

I wish I could cuddle with Hunter forever.

I wish I could sleep like normal people.

 I wish I could be confident in myself all the time.

I wish I didn't ever disappoint people.

I wish I could be ridiculous with Madison more often.

I wish I was Rachel McAdams. (oh, um oops)

I wish I could eat forever and never get fat.

I wish unicorns were real.

I wish we would never take precious moments for granted.

Parentheses

I've recently noticed that I have very noticeable "parentheses" when I smile. There is also a leftover print of where they would be when I'm not smiling. I grew to dislike these features, but recently I have found out what they really are. They're a sign of my happiness. A sign that I've been smiling during the course of a long day, and laughing, and loving. These are good things, beautiful things. In order to love people, you must love yourself first. So it's a start. Don't forget to love yourself, because you really are beautiful.

Whirling

I was recently thinking about the fact that my life seems to be whirling by without me noticing it. I can't seem to cherish and fully take into consideration all of the circumstances that I have been through in my short life. Just look at us. We were so young, and such great friends. We still are, but it is just baffling to think of the great amount of time that has simply slid by without us realizing it. I was in seventh grade, Lynnlee in sixth in that picture. The picture where I'm a pirate is this past February in our pirate show. We've learned so many things in the four years that have passed. I love Lynnlee so much and I hope that we always stay close, no matter the distance.

Well look who it is! It's Madison and I. This was in seventh grade, and it's crazy to think how close we are now. We never knew how close we would be at that time. I wouldn't be the person I was without her influence. We constantly make each other laugh and have fun together. It's how a real friendship should be, and it's so special.

Make sure to notice life. It goes so fast. I've always dreamed of being "old" and being able to drive. Now it's real. Cherish the memories!

Finding Beautiful Things

So it was Labor Day. Madison had stayed over from the night before, and we wanted to do something. So we drove. If you're reading this and you live in Broken Arrow, we drove all the way down 61st until it ends and turns into 71st. Then we drove some more. To places of Oklahoma I had never really seen, and by seen I don't mean simply looked at. I've lived in Oklahoma all my life, and never thought there was anything beautiful here. It was just "Oklahoma." Hot. Dry. Flat. All of those things are true, but I truly believe if you look hard enough you can find something beautiful anywhere at all. God's world is perfect and beautiful, all of it. So take time to acknowledge the beauty surrounding you, wherever you may be. I know you can find it if you just look.

Some Embarrassing Things.

I started school. I like school. I want to go home from school. But I thought that I should share a few embarrassing things that have occurred recently.

-I went to the wrong lunch (first lunch) on the first day of school. I go into my fourth hour class realizing they have third lunch. How uncomfortable... So I just ditched basically, but not on purpose! My third hour teacher accidentally told us wrong. Just a misunderstanding, but quite embarrassing.

-I have an unhealthy obsession with the show Pretty Little Liars. That, in itself qualifies as embarrassing. But you know what's even more embarrassing? The fact that I bawled while watching the season finale. Not just a few rolling tears, no, I cried. Sobbed. And it was really pathetic. I can't even believe that I'm putting it on a social media site. Oh gosh. 

-As I was leaving the High School parking lot, I accidentally went in reverse instead of forward... I didn't go very far, but I went far enough for people to notice and chuckle at me. Including Madison. 

Honestly there are many more experiences that happened, but frankly I just can't recall all of them. This will have to be sufficient. Enjoy your day, I hope to post more frequently!

 

Word's Worth

Just an Update

I haven't posted lately/. The main reason for that would be that I got a job and I've been working quite a bit recently. (more on that later) The other reason when I'm not working I like to actually do things, like spend some good ol' quality time with my mom, Madison, or Hunter. Unfortunately, that doesn't leave too much free time to post. Once school starts, I'm sure I'll get in a routine and I should be able to post more often. (HA I say that now. Let's see how that works out for me.) Now, more on my job.

I work at Panera Bread! I have loved getting the money and eating the pastries. Those really are my two favorite parts about working there. Tehe. We get to take home pastries at the end of the night because we donate any of them we didn't sell since everything is baked fresh daily. So my family and friends have been quite grateful for me providing delicious bread and other unhealthy items. I got paid on Tuesday (HALLELUJAH) and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the majority of that paycheck on lots of clothing. I haven't bought that many things for myself since I don't even know when, so it was so fulfilling to get my own things that I worked for. It really is a great feeling folks. So that is the latest as of right now! And since there sadly are not any pictures to go along with this, I'll just throw in a one. I just like posts to have photos, sorry. Enjoy your day/week/year/life!

A peek inside my mind.

Driving Test Horrors, Part 2.

So I go and wait what seems like forever and 8 years until 2:00. We arrive at the testing place and wait patiently for them to call my name. Out comes Mr. Oldguywholooksangry looking around for me. Joy. 

Just to make this story much shorter and less painful for me, I'm going to skip ahead. I drive. I do okay. I stop at a stop sign and turn left. But what do you know, there's a car who was coming towards me. I failed because I apparently made this car slow down. Now people, it was a safe turn! I promise I am not dumb! It was really stupid. 

So I was super super angry about failing, went into a spiraling depression for the rest of the night, and hoped and prayed that I would pass tomorrow at Eastland. The next morning, we get there at 6:30, (we were prepared this time!) and got a driving time at 10:00! Wooo! 

And to make this story shorter, basically I got this really chill Hawaiian dude as my test person, he was fantastic, and I passed with ease. I was so relieved, let me tell you! Here's a picture, just because I don't like posts sans pictures.

 

 

So I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately, I did recently get a job at Panera Bread, yay! So I haven't had much time to do anything, but I get paid! Thank the heavens! So I ask that you are patient of me. Thank you.

Driving Test Horrors, Part 1.

I drive now. But believe me my friends, it wasn't an easy task to accomplish. Let's talk.

First of all, I've always had some strange, irrational (or maybe it is rational) fear of DMV workers. They simply seem unhappy to be there, and they want you to feel the same way. And they want you scared out of your wits. I know I was. They just have so much power over your emotions! They could make your day absolutely wonderful, or send you home crying the rest of the evening. They're just scary, okay?

My whole sophomore year, the year everyone began getting their licenses, everyone told me, "Whatever you do, do not go to the one on Main Street, go to Eastland!" So I had planned on going to Eastland this whole time. Luckily, Madison took her driving test at Eastland just a few weeks before me, so she had a fresh memory of the testing details! She gave me a run down on all of the paths you drive through, how they score your parallel parking, just everything. She passed her first time at Eastland, so I felt all right about the whole thing! Until the morning of the test.

My mom and I arrive at the Eastland testing site at approximately 7:04 am, (They open at 7:00) but low and behold there is a lovely sign up stating the following: 

"We're sorry, but all of our driving times have been filled for today. Please try again tomorrow."

I nearly dropped to my knees and threw a tantrum right there in the lobby. How could this be?! We got there four minutes after they opened! So I had to at least try to take the test. Main Street it was. We were off, driving away as I thought to myself, "How bad could it be? My brother and sister both passed there the first time! Pfft, I can do this." Only NO. 

We get to Main Street and grab a number. 770. I look at the sign showing the number currently being served. 732. Oh, joy! We have a whopping FORTY people in front of us. I ended up doing my College Algebra homework to pass the time, so in reality it wasn't all that bad. We discover after some time that I will definitely get to test that day, so that was good news. After a very long wait, we discover that I will test at 2:00. 

TO BE CONTINUED.

Stay tuned for part 2 of "Driving Test Horrors"! Coming soon!

Tubing and Things

We sure have been spending lots of weekends at the lake! Rachel and her boyfriend Nick came into town from Michigan, and since Nick is from Pittsburgh, we just had to make sure he got a good fill of how you spend your weekends down here in Oklahoma. It was a blast! My brother and I went at the same time, which was really fun! However it was very difficult with our tube being a one person tube and all... :) Taylor was really good at it though! However, our adventures involving lakes and boats are not over yet, we've got plans to go to Grand Lake this weekend and guess who gets to join us?! Hunter. (my boyfriend who always seems to be at least 7 hours away from me) So yay! 

Word's Worth

16th Birthday Extravaganza!

I'm 16. It still kind of baffles me. I remember planning out my 16th birthday when I was 9 years old, thinking "Only 7 more years to go!" Obviously those plans were not executed, I had very different ideas in mind! Do you remember having that special birthday feeling? Like when you were younger and it just felt so different when it was your birthday, as if the whole world was focused on you and your big day! I was talking to my grandma about that, and how I don't feel that anymore. She said I probably never will again, that happens when you grow up. Do you know how upsetting that is?! It just bothers me. I mean don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful birthday! It just felt like every other day. Which means I'm getting older. 

For my birthday plans, we decided to rent a boat and a cabin and hang out on the lake all day! It was SO much fun! Lynnlee and Madison came with my family and me, so it was impossible not to have fun! 

Here I am, being 16 and stuff.

We were finding sticks for roasting marshmallows, so that's why I was holding a stick, haha. Please enjoy the moments we captured by the lake. (:

Catching crawdads!

Everybody exploring.