Still here

Not much of me has changed since I last wrote. Life around me swirls fast, and yet I've stayed the same. Of course, my hair is longer, my eyesight's grown worse, and my heart is a little more bruised. But I'm still here. People around me are preparing for college, my sisters are having babies. But me? I'm still the same. The same me that started this blog, living in the same house, sleeping in the same bed. I love the same things, the color yellow and a baby in my arms. I still hate toothpaste and pick grape fluoride. 

And yet different? I have a deeper understanding of God and His love. How it compasses the sky? How the sun shines on the righteous and the unrighteous. How we lose ones we love, yet still go on. How the dark isn't quite so dark anymore? 

How is it that I change everyday, but I do not move an inch?

yeah.

Graduation was this past Friday. So proud of the many friends of mine that graduated!!

Em and I

Katie and I

Janessa graduated too. Which is scary, cuz that means its my turn next year!

David got stuck in a tree on Monday. He is just too cute.

My kiddos played together so nicely! Proud babysitter moment. :) 

Eleven days until we leave for NYC, anybody else freaking out? No? Just me, okay. I am so excited though. You can read all about our trip on our team blog. Please be in prayer for us as we prepare and when we go.



 

Also, TWENTY days until we leave for Minnesota for Kortney and Mat's wedding. I am pretty sure that no one is more excited that me(except maybe Kortney and Mat) I can't wait to see all of my cousins again!

 

Yesterday I was at Sonic with some friends and I heard this song by Megan & Liz. I was so excited! Total fangirl.

 

Okay, that's it. I love you all.

The end.

 



 

Old post.

 

Before


After


Heidi and I at her dad's wedding!


Call me strange but I like the muddy, slush snow..

Jillaina's letter to Santa and his response.

 

My Christmas shoes!!




"I'm a pirate!"





Best. Babysitter. Ever.


I love the sky too much.

My whole life for those two weeks that I was sick.. books, homework, crocheting, and tv series.

I dunno..

*I have NO idea how long this has been sitting in my drafts, it has to have been a couple of months... sorry that it never posted! But throwbacks are always fun too! :)

32 days.

 

Hi.

That's how long until I will be in New York City for the very first time. Back in February our trip to Ukraine had to be canceled due to unrest in the country.  But we are all really excited for NYC! Partly nervous, but mostly excited. 

one of my favorite days in New York, visiting the half frozen lake.

Visiting Grandma's gravestone for the very first time..


Niagara tho...

And thennn, only 42 days until we go to Minnesota for Kortney and Mat's wedding. I can't wait to see all my New York family again! I've missed them so so SO much.. although two months isn't very long, it has felt like so much more!

The past months have been pretty crazy, with babysitting and preparations for the mission trip. I've also been looking at colleges, it is so weird that I am old enough to make a for sure decision for my future. There are so many different things that I could choose and I am only supposed to choose one? Choices, choices...How fun.

 Relaxing in OKC with some of my favorite kiddos.


"He thinks I'm his daddy! Silly kitty!"


No comment. ;)


Tuesday was Jillaina's 10th birthday, we had chicken and rice for dinner, and cake after with some of our older brothers and sisters. Heidi surprised me with a visit, I've missed her! It is weird not to see her very much anymore. Hopefully this summer we can hang out more!

"Kitties!!"

Easter at Jennaea and Ben's

 

Yay for cousins!

 

And grandmas and uncles!

 

Favorite photo from a couple weekends ago.

This is a public service announcement:
Sonic now has NERDS slushies. I recommend the grape with NERDS. You would think that adding to such a great flavor as grape would be superfluous, but believe me, it's not! They are way up there with cranberry limeades(lite ice, extra limes, and the occasional addition of lemons)

Hey... if anyone wants free kittens we've got seven.. but seriously. Come and get'em.

I love making birthday cards. :)

 

You know you needed to laugh..

I guess that's all.
Until next time.
Stay real folks.






 

uhm?

 

I am dazzled by the sky. always.

 

 

I've been sick for almost two weeks now and it's been miserable.

Because January is my month for nursery at church, and I LOVE nursery, especially on Sundays because there are so many more kids! I love kids, they are so much easier to get along with than adults. I was only in nursery three out of the four sundays that I was supposed to work. Now that, is just sad.

 

On lighter note, I'm feeling much better. I mean, I can hardly hear out of my left ear(ear infection or something?) but I had my first full nights sleep in three weeks last night! So its not all bad. Also, I got switched to the bass clef in bell choir, which makes me so incredibly happy, since I pick it up so much easier than I did the treble clef. I do miss my old treble clef neighbor though, Sarah was the best. Anyway, happiness, okay?

 

THIS: Pompeii  

seriously, a song about history. this is just so good.

please, just listen to this.

 

TWENTY-FOUR DAYS UNTIL NEW YORK. yayyayyyaay! I haven't been to New York for eight whole years, and that is an awfully long time. I am so excited to see all my New York cousins and aunts and uncles! I wish there was less time between now and then.

 

I don't like meetings or hats. or orange juice. or medicine.

I like summer and good books(I recently read The Selection... definitely a re-read!). also, water. and caramel.

I have this thing against colored toothpaste.

I think that by the ocean would be a cool place to live.

 

Okay, that's all. I just wanted to say hey.

Someday my post with lots of pictures will finally upload!

Until then, xoxo

-jkr-

 

p.s. I've decided that I just LOVE the blue.. a lot. Change is good.



Embrace it

Change is scary.

But it was due time for one.

 

I think I like the blue. and I KNOW that I LOVE the gray and yellow. I've always loved that color combination.

 

I have no idea what I'm here for. I used to think I did, but lately, nothing has made sense. I've been thinking a lot about how every decision I make changes my future. I find that so nerve-racking. That thought is so scary. I think this all just comes with being 16. A small comfort.

 

This blog is going to be whatever, there isn't going to be anything certain about what you'll read on here, because I change every day.

Take it as you will.

Embrace it, I'm trying to.

Updates and lots of lovely music

 

 

Happy 2014!

 

So far this year has been fantastic.

I rang in the New Year with a several of my favorite people at the bowling alley.

My youth group had an all-nighter, it was pretty much the best fun ever. Of course, by seven in the morning we were all pretty loopy and ready to sleep, forever.

 

On New Years Day, we went to my grandparents and had our annual black-eyed peas dinner. Ya know the saying, 'Eat poor on New Years and eat rich the rest of the year.'

It was fun.

 

Christmas was good! We had everyone together this year, the house was full to the max, but we all had a lot of fun. My favorite gift is probably my Bible. It is purple and beautiful, I already love using it!

 

Here are some fantastic songs ya'll should listen to:

 

From Seth:

Box In Love

Same Love (From A Christian)

All Of Me

 

From Other Amazing People:

Lord, I Need You

See You Tonight

Memory

 

Funny Videos To Watch:

Sesame Street Hunger Games: Catching Fur

Kid President's 20 Things We Should Say More Often

 

Yeah, Those are cool.

 

I am getting very, very excited about #summer14 in Ukraine. For reals, can this year get any better? :) I got my passport in the mail on Christmas Eve, so that was a good gift. 6 months isn't so far, right?!

 

Yesterday was my first day back to school, ugh, I like school, but I just really didn't want to do it this week, like at all. I read four chapters of Geography, it talked about Ukraine some so that was cool.

 

I read a lot this break and watched a lot of Christmas movies with Steven's mom, Annette. We probably watched around 18 movies and ate a ton of candy, crazy, I know. But it was fun. :) It is officially freezing over here in Kansas. I have mixed feelings about it. I like the beautiful snow, but I am happy when it gets warm enough to melt away. I don't know, I just adore the sun I guess. Summer can't come any faster for this girl over here!

 

Tonight, Janelle and I made attempted to make a gingerbread house. Haha, you wouldn't believe that anyone could make something that ugly. We had a lot of laughs though, and the frosting actually tasted decent for once!

 

I am reading three fantastic books right now, ones that you just don't want to put down 'cause they are so good. One, my friend Mary loaned to me and its called Sharing Jesus Without Fear, it puts a real interesting look on how to witness. My favorite parts are when the author says "There is no success, there is no failure, in God's kingdom when people obey Him and share Jesus." In one of the other books I'm reading there is a quote by Oswald Chambers "Waiting doesn't mean sitting around with folded hands, but to learn to do what you are told."

 

Lastly, Here is a worship song I've been listening to a lot lately. Enjoy!