Of Friendship and Blessings

   Dear Readers,

   To help introduce my new blog I've decided to talk about one young lady who is very special to me. And a rather good example ( I'd say ) of a faithful young woman. My sister, Gina Wright.
 
   She's at camp this week, working as a junior counselor, so I've got plenty of time to write and she'll never know. c ;

  I want to start by saying that she is no where near perfect, no one is. Trust me, I know. I've lived in the same room with the girl since she was born. She has her flaws! We all do, but the point of good character is that you are ever reaching for this one thing that you know you need. And that one thing is Christ.

  Now, with that said, let me tell you a little bit about my sister...

 This is her teddy bear, Joe. Whom she is very protective of, especially when Steven comes and threatens to "beat him up" since it is such an easy punching bag he says.
  She also takes it everywhere and has a special spot for it at the end of her bed. I'm actually surprised she didn't take it to camp with her. c ;

 She loves to cook, everything. But mostly cookies.
And then serve it to others, with a sweet smile and kind heart.

 

                                                   She's also rather goofy, but she didn't get it from me! c ;

 

 

 

                                                    Her hair is the color of the sun, and her eyes the sky.

 
  She's my traveling buddy, partner in crime, the friend who stays up until all hours of the night listening to all my problems and then prays with me when I'm too tired to think straight anymore, and the one who's been by my side for every step of my life thus far.

 

 

 

 

 

                         Did I mention that she loves to sing?
             Like ALL the time, and she's pretty good I suppose. c ;

 

 

She loves Jamie Grace, and her teddy bear Joe, and playing volleyball, and all sports, and watching superhero movies, and playing with little kids, and cooking for people. And I love all these things about her.

  I love her crazy outgoingness. I love summer days where we swim in the pool and come out looking like lobsters and when we play in the ocean together pretending where mermaids even though we're not little anymore. And winter days where we get all cozied up in scarves and boots to go out caroling in the cold night air, with many smiles and much laughter because we feel like the people in our favorite stories like A Christmas Carol, or Little Women. And days in the fall when the air is crisp and we spend our time playing music with family and selling homemade crafts at different festivals. And days in the spring, when we get in the dirt on our hands and knees to plant our garden so that we can grow and cook with our own food. And going to Grandmas during the holidays and helping cook and serve everyone, or drinking hot cocoa by the fire, or watching our favorite movies together. Or singing songs from our favorite musicals and Disney movies while we clean the house for mom. And when she helps me with my bible study's for the younger two. And that her nickname is Gracie, because it took a lot of grace to train her as a child ( or so mom says c ; ). And that we wear each others clothes all the time but still have separate sections of the closet. And a thousand more things.

 

  I love having someone who knows exactly what I'm thinking, just by looking at me across the room.
 But do you know what I love about her the most? Her loving, caring spirit. And her consistency in coming back to Christ during life's hardships and struggles as well as the good times. I love serving others with her, and praying with her. And I love that she has a relationship with the same Savior that I do. And her amazing example to me, even though she's younger, of a servant's heart. And I'm incredibly proud of the young woman of faith she has become.
And I'm very thankful that God gave me her as a best friend for life.

                                                     P.S. - To watch the videos go to the bottom left corner of the screen and pause the music. c ;

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

 

 

 

    Dear Readers,

   This blog is tailored ( if you haven't already noticed c ; ) to young women. And as such I think there is a very specific topic we should begin with. Namely this : That women are different from men...
    Seems obvious, I know. But perhaps there is a perspective you may not have considered yet. Yes there are the apparent reasons why women are different from men, but there are some other reasons that may not be so obvious.

  Take a moment to consider what you would want out of a relationship with a spouse...

 

   Done? Okay, well here is what I came up with. Someone who is loving and kind, strong and protective, tender and sweet. Someone who wants to know me, everything I love and hate, everywhere I want to go someday, all my hopes, dreams and plans. Someone who knows me so well that no matter what bad decisions I make he would stay right where he was believing in me and waiting for me to come back to him.

  

  Do you think that a man would say the same for his future spouse? Maybe similar things but not quite the same.

   Now, does this sound plausible? Perhaps. It would take an amazing guy of course to meet even half of those needs, but he would falter. And when he did we would be left feeling empty, lonely and hurt. This is the cause of the fall of man, human or sin nature that goes way back to Adam and Eve.
   But there is a solution. No one can be perfect all the time, but God did not bring love into this world for no reason. Through His grace we have the opportunity to love the way that He does. Unconditionally.

   However we can't learn this and know it in our hearts until we have an established relationship with Christ.

    Remember all those traits up there that we said we wanted in a spouse? Well consider this, all those traits were never meant to be met by an earthly man until they were first met by Christ. And guess what? Christ is perfect. So there isn't a single need that can't or won't be met.

  And now we are back to the original point. As women we need certain things that are different from what men need. Emotionally, spiritually and physically. But until we let Christ meet those needs for us we won't be happy. And how can we have a happily ever after one day if we're not happy?   Everything we do in life whether it be getting married, having children, going oversees on missions, owning and running a big business, or just being at home with your parents and siblings, none of it will bring you a sense of happiness and purpose a part from Christ.

  And if we chase after young men to meet our needs, even if that just means feeling important because their listening to what we have to say, we will miss having the very thing were looking for. That unconditional love that never goes away, that only Christ can bring.

  

   I think it's been one of the hardest things for me to learn, to look to Christ to discover who we are and where our place is in the world instead of looking for the approval or acceptance of other people.

   So I challenge you to go to a quiet place, get on your knees and ask God for the opportunity to grow closer to Him, so that you may know that unconditional love in your heart. Let Christ meet the needs that are tailored just to you. And once you have, you will be ready to face the world and all its trials and triumphs; including your future happily ever after.