Adventure day

I don't get to spend a lot of time with my little siblings, just cause life is crazy and school and everything keeps me busy, so every once and a while I like to take them on "adventures"

Since it's thanksgiving break and my parents are away I figured this was a good week to plan an adventure day with the kids :)

This adventure started with a gourmet lunch at Boo's favorite place: McDonalds then a dollar store errand, stopping at the mall to visit their favorite stores Claires and Game stop, and of course a mini-photoshoot on our way home and not to mention a crazy dance party in the car! I love them so much! They make me laugh and I love taking a break from the craziness to catch up with my little siblings (who by the way are growing up wayyyy too fast!) :)

They're a little crazy :P

The power of $1

A dollar bill is the smallest piece of paper money, for many of us a dollar isn't worth very much and if someone gave you a dollar for a gift, you'd probably wouldn't be too thrilled

The other day I was out with my younger siblings and we saw a homeless man walking along the side of the road, my heart immediately sank...I hate seeing people who are poor, homeless and helpless, but I obviously can't stop in the middle of the road so I kept driving, but then the light turned red. After I stopped I saw the man in the rear view mirror and I got excited I rummaged through my purse until I found a crumpled up dollar....my brother excitedly rolled down the window and started calling for him. I passed my dollar back to him and he gave it to the man and then my youngest brother reached into his pocket and said "Wait wait! I have a dollar for him too!" my heart lept with joy!

The genuine smile on the old mans face as he looked me in the eye and said "thank you, thank you so much! God bless!" was worth any dollar! I know some people don't like giving homeless people money for a variety of reasons, some being that they may not really be homeless or they may just be using the money for drugs or alcohol. But how can you judge the motives of others? I feel like it's not my place to judge whether they really are needy or will use the money on the right things, I pray and hope that they will! However, my job is simply to show them Christ's love!

In the Bible Jesus healed, loved and cared for all sorts of people even those who were deceitful and evil and hated by the world. I feel like Jesus wouldn't discriminate between drug addicts, liars etc. but would still love them all, even if he knew they'd take advantage of his blessings! :)

But besides that, the fact that my little brother was so eager to give of the little money that he has is so precious to me (a dollar is a lot for a little boy)! I pray I can learn to have his generous compassionate heart!

Proverbs 11:24-25 "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

Rain....

For the past 3 days it has been raining here in Maryland!

Most people are complaining about the damp, cold dreary weather, and all the traffic that it causes and how it coops everyone up indoors....but you know what? I may be weird, but I love the rain!

I like to look out the window and

see the raindrops falling from the sky

I like fun colored umbrellas

dancing in the raindrops and splashing in puddles

falling asleep to the sound of raindrops hitting my window

the rainbows that sometimes peek out through the clouds.

Today as I was sitting in Starbucks with my cup of coffee I was thinking about the rain as I looked through the window and it reminded me of God's blessings. When it rains I think of how God is providing for us. Without the rain the plants could not grow, we wouldn't have water or colorful flowers and grass. It reminds me of how God always provides for us even in the little details of life!

‎"And my God WILL supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen."
[Philippians 4:19-20]

But it got me to thinking....just like some people don't always appreciate, enjoy, or see the beauty in the rain drops, could it be that often times we don't enjoy God's blessings? Maybe he answers our prayers, but not in the way that we wanted, so we don't see His hand at work, or we forget to thank him for ALL of the amazing little blessings that he gives to each one of us every day, because there is something that we want, but haven't received yet, or we simply let his blessings be overshadowed by cares of life.

I don’t know about you, but I want to work on being more grateful for God’s blessings and seeking to enjoy all the ways that he provides for me and answers my prayers (Even if it’s not in the way that I wanted).

“Thou hast given so much to me, Give one thing more, -a grateful heart;

Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if Thy blessings had spare days,

But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise."

-George Herbert

November :)

WOW it's almost been a month since I last posted!
I've been doing such a bad job at keeping up with this blog!

(hopefully I'll start getting better)

Since I've last posted I've been busy with school, finishing my last volleyball season :(, drama, babysitting, youthgroup, college applications and visits and the highlight of the month my ministry team reunion!

Senior night!

youthgroup pumpkin carving

college-first acceptance letter!

some of the most amazing girls ever!

That's a snapshot into my life....stay tuned for what God's been so graciously teaching me :)