Christmas Presents

Christmas Presents is what most people think the Christmas season is all about. There is hustle and bustle, long lines and high prices. But everyone wants to give and receive that PERFECT gift! We spend all this money and time trying to get the right gift and a super great price, but why so all that when the greatest gift of all is knowing that someone cares about you. Through my years I have learned not only the value of the dollar, but also how much people care about me. Even though someone may not have all the money in the world and can only give a card it is the sweet thought that comes inside that counts. I have given and been given many wonderful and special gifts over the years, but one sticks out in my mind for many reasons. A snow globe that was given to me by my Aunt (mom's sister). I have collected snow globes for quite a while now and have many different kinds. I was probably around 11 or 12 years old that Christmas and my Aunt came all the way from Alabama to see us. It was a special Christmas and she gave me a snow globe that has 2 reindeer inside, snow flakes that you can shake up, and a sparkly bottom. This snow globe does not play music like most, but it has a certain gleam that always makes my smile. She died when I was in 7th grade,which makes this one gift better than most of the others. I loved her very much and miss her too. She will always be with me when I shake snow flakes in that snow globe up. Thank you Aunt Angela for my beautiful snow globe!:)

rain...

Rain...the sound of little or big drops of water falling down...down....down to the Earth below. The water cycle keeps the never ending amounts of rain from coming down. Sometimes there is a big rain and can last for days, but other times it may last an hour or two. Rain can put you in a mood sad or depressed, but I like the rain. Raining days are the perfect days for movies, comfortable clothes, and laying around. I also love watching fun Disney movies on raining days. I also, like to sing or dance around. Playing in puddles is also something I like to do on raining days, you may get wet, but it sure is fun (especially with friends). You can also wear your boots, which is always fun, if they are cute. You get a great chance to wear them and carry your umbrella! I love rain! Soooo...when it starts to rain put on some comfortable clothes, picl out your favorite movie, and pull out your umbrella!

Thanksgiving at Grandma's House.

Thanksgiving at my Grandma’s House is always fun! Our family comes from 2 different states: Alabama and Kentucky. It is nice to see everyone, especially those from down south. I usually get stuck babysitting the little kids, but that is ok. I like my cousins and we have tons of fun. My Grandma, my mom, and my cousins all cook (or bring food already cooked) for us to eat. Let me tell you there are leftovers that last a WEEK!!! It is insane how much food we have for like 15 people. We have like 3 turkeys and all the side dishes. If you want a taste of everything, you would have to go back 3 times! But every bite is a good as the last, well unless it is pumpkin pie, then the last bit is the best.:) I just love seeing my family. I like getting the opportunity to catch up on all we have been doing and also our plans for the next year. I am thankful and blessed by the wonderful family I have.

Space...

The vast unknown…is where the millions of stars meet the millions of galaxies, just floating there… in Space. We know lots of stuff about what surrounds our planet Earth, but we also do not know a lot either. There is SO much we can learn about what is around us. We know the basics about the stars, galaxies, the sun, our solar system, and much more. But what else is out there, beyond our little bit of Space? Does it just go on forever? We may never know... that is why it is still a mystery. Scientist and Astronauts all over the world are trying to understand the worlds around us. I think the whole light- year thing has us held back from going forth to discover ourselves, but robots can! We have sent out many pieces of metal with different functions/ orders. We have found even more than we ever thought, but we still don’t know it all. Someday we may learn the mystery of Space, but for now we will keep on learning.:)

hugs...

Hugs...is what I think when I am sad. "I need a hug", I LOVE hugs! No matter what is going on I can always use a hug.:) People say I give good hugs, but I don't know....I just know I like to give them. Michelle (above) is one of the people that I love to hug! Her and me give hugs all the time, she is one of my Best Friends and is like my sister (except we do not live together). I also like my boyfriend's hugs. He knows also when you need one and make them feel extra special.:) But hugs are a universal thing that happens all the time to show affection. We give hugs to say "Hi", "Bye", "Thanks", and just because we can. People give hugs for different reasons too like when we are sad, happy, or because we just like to give them (like me). You know the free high five shirts, well I need a free hug shirt.:) Go give a Hug today!

a thankful heart is a happy heart...

I do not know about everyone else, but I grew up and learned all my life lessons from watching Veggie Tales. My friends and I at youth group like to sing all the songs and watch the videos, when we are babysitting in the nursery. The kids may not watch, but we enjoy them.:) I know it may sound weird, but I love Veggie Tales and I am happy someone made them, they show kids the simple lessons/ rules taught in the Bible. When I think of being thankful, I think of Madame Blueberry. She had very nice things, but kept pictures of all the nice things her neighbors had. She was jealous and ungrateful and her helpers tried to tell her to be thankful, but she only wanted nicer things. Then the Stuff Mart came into town...they had stuff and stuff and more stuff! Stuff like "...And if you need refrigerators
To keep extra mashed potatoes
Or a giant air compressor
To blow fruit flies off your dresser
Or a dehydrated strudel
Or a nose ring for your poodle
Or a five pound can of tuna
And some flippers to go scuba
Scuba! Scuba! Scooby-doo-be-doo-ba!
Here we go, scuba! Come on!" - Veggie Tales, Stuff Mart

But after going to the Stuff Mart Madame Blueberry learned from 2 little kids that you don't have to have all the nice things to be happy, you just need to be thankful for what you have around you...so...what are you Thankful for?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERdR6YKfLlI&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

happy memories...

Have you ever thought of all the happy things you have or done in life? Well, it may take a little more thinking the older you are. We have stored up all these events are head, all the memories that we loved sharing or something really amazing happened then. But when was the last time you ever thought about them? I mean really thought... I try to think about them all the time, to let the moment come back. I want to remember the things I cherished most now, so I can remember and cherish again later. I know it is really hitting me in the gut right now, because I have 7 seniors in my youth. But 3 (shown above) happen to be my BEST Friends! I still can not believe that things will really be changing after this year. I am the same age as they are, but not the same grade. It really gets me that I will not be moving on with them. I am happy for them, but wish I could go along for the ride. I have known 2 of them for 6 years of my of my life and another about 2. We have shared many different memories that have touched my heart. We have also cried together and do anything in the world for each other. I am very thankful to call them my Best Friends. We share many of the same interest and ideas, but most importantly we love God! I have bulit up many happy memories that will last my lifetime and I am happy there are people I can share them with.:) Thanks for being such great friends and happy memories!

Giving Thanks.

We are a very blessed nation, full of many wonderful and beautiful things. But do we ever take the time to really appreciate what we have? Do we take the time to Thank others for what they have given? I know that sometimes I forget to Thank people for what they have given me or done for me. Like this morning I found that my dad had paid for my gas and did not tell me. I did not ask for it, I did not really need any, but he paid for it because he loves me. Tonight I will be giving him a big hug and a Thank You very much.:) I have been given many things in my life, a house, money, nice clothes/ shoes, etc. I have, through my years, learned to be Thankful for all the many things I have been given or blessed with. God, family, and friends have shown me their love and kindness by giving what they can. So...Thank You Everyone.:)