Maris and Savannah

Last week I did my first official photo shoot with my favorite twins, Maris and Savannah. I love these girls. A whole lot. If you don't know them, find a way to change that as soon as possible. For real, they are pretty spectacular girls. They love Jesus with all their hearts and love other people just as much. I look up to them more than they realize. Also, they're graduating from high school soon which is CRAZY. They're a year younger than me, but it seems like I just graduated. There is no way a year has gone by. 

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite shots of the girls. 

Aren't they just gorgeous and adorable and so stinkin' huggable?!
Thanks, girls, for asking me to take your senior pictures and letting me eat lunch with you almost every Thursday! <3

Grandma's Stories: Younger Years

Last week while I was taking care of my grandmother and listening to her tell me the same storie for the upteenth time a thought hit me: these stories mean something. These stories need to be written down and shared. They need to be treasured. Yes, right now I get a little annoyed by them because I have to listen to the same ones over and over. But there are lessons behind these stories. She always shares them with to to make a point. So I decided it's time I sit down with Mommom and get her to tell me all the stories she can think of. She's not a master story teller, but they are her stories. Stories that I know one day will mean more to me than I can imagine. So here are a few of the ones I got out of her this past week. Enjoy!

Dell [her sister] and I were really good buddies when we were growing up. We would argue about anything. Finally one day we decided this was ridiculous that we fought all the time. We were about 10 years old and we shook on it, and so help me we haven’t fought since. 

Dell and I used to go see Mrs. Moore who lived not too far from us. She had a bunch of cats we would go see. She was like our grandmother. I don’t think I could have loved a grandmother as much as I loved her. This is awful, but she would give you 50 cents or so to take a cat down to the creek and drown it for her. And I did that! 

When Dell started dating Harold, he had a friend, Hennery, and kept bringing him with him all the time. He was a nice boy, but I didn’t want to date him for some reason. So I finally got it through Harold’s head not to bring him up here every time. So anyway Harold came without him and I got a phone call from Hennery. He said, “You know where I want to be?” I said “No… I guess not.” “He said “With you.” So finally I just had to tell him I didn’t want to date him anymore. There was nothing wrong with him. He was always a gentleman. But some people you just think, “Ya know, I don’t want to spend my time with him.” But we had a good time back in those days.

I'm Ready to Rest

Sitting in bed doing stuff on my laptop-- multiple tabs open, surfing the web, listening to spotify, pondering the events of the past couple days when I hear the lyrics from my homeboy Ben Rector (who I'm seeing in concert in 2 weeks and 3 days!) and I feel like he's singing about my life. 

"I heard the doctor 

What did he say 

I knew I was fine about this time yesterday

I don't need answers

I just need some peace

I just need someone who could help me get some sleep

Who could help me get some sleep

This isn't easy

This isn't clear" 

About a week ago my concussion head aches came back. 

I just want to rest. 

I want some time away from from my earthly body that is broken. 

I want some time in my heavenly body. 

Perfection. 

After my concussion 3 1/2 years ago, I had horrible head aches for about 4 months. They were pretty debilitating at times and nothing would ease the pain. I remember calling my mom practically in tears one night to come pick me up from youth group because I was just in too much pain and I needed to go lay in my dark quiet room.

As an extravert who doesn't like leaving her friends, that was kind of a sign to my mom that things were pretty bad. She began talking with different people to see what kind of help would be most beneficial to me. 

I ended up at a pediatric occupational therapy center in Greenville where I was 5 times the age and size of the average patient they saw, but I didn't care. Well, only a little bit. I had Craniosacral Therapy (also called voodoo magic, in our house). I'm really bad at explaining what it is, so watch this video. Yeah, she's kinda weird, I know, but just listen to what she has to say, because it's true. 

After about 3 months of therapy I was finally back at a fully functioning level. 

For the most part, my head aches stay away. I'll get one every once in a while when I watch certain movies or do certain movements but it'll only last for a little while. 

It's been a week now with hardly any time I haven't been in pain. 

I'm ready for a break.

For rest. Not just sleep (which I'm getting) but restful sleep.

I'm ready to think clearly again. 

To be able to do what I want to.

My awesome mother made me an appointment at a new craniosacral center because I'm too old for pediatrics now. Thursday can't come soon enough. 

So, dear friends, please pray for me. 

Pray this first appointment will be successful enough to give me rest. 

Pray this won't last 4 months again. 

But most of all, pray I find rest in my Savior weather things go well or not. 

I'm tired, frustrated, and discouraged. I doubt what he's doing. I have no reason to doubt Him because He has ALWAYS been faithful and ALWAYS will be. 

"You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage

I don't have to be afraid

Because I know that You love me

Your love never fails"