It's The Most

Wonderful time of the year!!! <3
Sad that I won't get to come home again until like a week before Christmas, but I'm really happy that I got to be here to put up the tree and decorate it, and put up the lights, drink cocoa and cider and coffee, have family time, eat amazing food, play board games, watch movies, and give Thanks this Thanksgiving. Thank you Lord, for all these blessings.

Roots

My roots seem to be all over the place sometimes. Strong ones in Houston, where I was born, and a lot of my family lives. Very strong ones in Ennis, where my mom lives and I grew up (the longest time I ever lived anywhere was here, for 6 years). Some in San Antonio, where my grandparents live, some in Washington, where my aunt and uncle and cousins live. And some new, yet strong ones in Stephenville, which I instantly fell in love with the first time I saw it, because it whispered home to me. I have roots in family, in friendships, and in my relationship. <3
But my strongest, and deepest roots will always be in Him.
I love this verse.

"Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." -Ephesians 3:17-19

For awhile, I was scared to leave my home with my mom, to go live with my dad. And for another while, I was scared to leave my home with my dad to go back and live with my mom. And for a long while, I was scared to leave both. That's why I love it. HE makes His home in my heart. My roots grow down into God's love and keeps me strong. Even when my resolve about moving to Stephenville wavers, like it did this spring, His will didn't. Even when I miss home and my true family so bad my heart aches, His home is in my heart, and my roots are in Him, He keeps me strong, and I make it through till the next time I get to go home. He loves me so much. Sometimes, when I feel scared, or alone, I remind myself that He loves me. His love is so wide, He can love me here or there, and love me at the same time as my mom, who lives 2 hours away, and every person over the span of the world. His love is so long, it started before the beginning of time, and will go on forever and ever. His love is so high, it comes down from Heaven, and covers us all, wraps His arms around us. His love is so deep, so sincere, He sent His only Son to die in our place for our sins. That whosoever beieves in Him, would have everlasting life. It is hard for us to understand the depth and magnitude of Him, we can't wrap our minds around it, and we weren't meant to. But that doesn't mean we can't experience it and live in it. Let it complete you, in Him.

My roots are in Him. He makes His home in my heart.


                                         



Once Upon a Time

There was a princess... And she meets a prince. Or a man. And they have to go through some kind of test, or trial, or trouble. But in the end, if they truly love each other, it works out. And they live happily ever after.

"Suddenly he stops. He looks up for, lo, there she stands. The girl of his dreams." -Cinderella
"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale."
"But they say if you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true. And I've seen him many times." -Aurora
"Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme..." -Beauty and the Beast
"So this is love. So this is what makes life devine." -Cinderella
"And while cinderella and her prince did live happily ever after, the point is that they lived." -Cinderella
"A dream is a wish your heart makes."
"I made a wish, and you came true."
"I have found the one my heart loves."
"He was part of my dreams, of course. But then, I was part of his, too."
.

And even though this is "reality" there are still such things as fairy tales. We just call them love stories.
A couple who have been together since "before the flood."
A Mom and Dad, who become Grandma and Grandpa, then Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa.
A sweet elderly couple who can finish each other's sentences, complete the other's order, and never run out of things to talk about, without having the need to talk all the time.
A little boy and little girl who meet at a young age, grow up as friends, and one day, fall in love.
Two strangers who work together, or meet in a public place, and somehow, there is that instant connection, and BAM!, it's love.
God who created the whole universe, creating each two people to go together just perfectly, while knowing they weren't perfect, but He loved them so much, He'd send His son to die for each of them.

There are fairy tales, love stories, all around us. We just have to take the time to slow down, and appreciate the beauty in every relationship (romantic, family, and friends).
Don't dismay if you feel yours hasn't started yet. God's writing your love story, your fairy tale.
You're just still in the Once Upon A Time...

Quotes That Make Me Happy

Particularly, Nicholas Sparks, at least today. Or lately.
I love them. <3
Here's why:

• “So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday.”
• “Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. And just when you think it can't get any better, it can.”
• “You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter.”
• “I finally understood what true love meant...love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be.”
• “Our love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it."
• “You can't live your life for other people. You've got to do what's right for you, even if it hurts some people you love.”
• “I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I've ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours."
• “Sometimes you have to be apart from people you love, but that doesn't make you love them any less. Sometimes you love them more.”
• “When you're struggling with something, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something, and to them, it's just as hard as what you're going through.”
• “We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me, love like that has only happened once, and that's why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. I'll never forget a single moment of it.”
• “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give you forever."
• “You are the answer to every prayer I've offered. You are a song, a dream, a whisper, and I don't know how I could have lived without you for as long as I have.”
• “And when her lips met mine, I knew that I could live to be a hundred and visit every country in the world, but nothing would ever compare to that single moment when I first kissed the girl of my dreams and knew that my love would last forever.”
• “If you like her, if she makes you happy, and if you feel like you know her---then don't let her go.”
• “It happens to everyone as they grow up. You find out who you are and what you want, and then you realize that people you've known forever don't see things the way you do. So you keep the wonderful memories, but find yourself moving on.”
• “Summer romances end for all kinds of reasons. But when all is said and done, they have one thing in common: They are shooting stars-a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they're gone.”
• “They didn’t agree on much. In fact, they didn’t agree on anything. They fought all the time and challenged each other ever day. But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common. They were crazy about each other.”
• '“Every great love starts with a great story...”
• "He's the toast to her butter."
• “When people cared about each other, they always found a way to make it work.”
• “She would tell him what she wanted in her life--her hopes and dreams for the future--and he would listen intently and then promise to make it all come true. And the way he said it made her believe him, and she knew how much he meant to her.”
• “I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough..”

Photography

Makes.
Me.
Happy.
I love it, I really, really do.
Here's some recent stuff.

My sweet, sweet Momma. I love her so much.

Playing with my Great-Grandma's marbles.

Me holding my best friend's baby boy William. She kept calling me "Auntie Michelle" and telling me that that's what he'd call me one day. Made my heart happy!

William Lane Coburn

My best friend Jessica, and her son William. Be still my heart!

Sweet momma feeding sweet baby. :)

He's soooo precious. Stole my heart.

My baby sister, growing up.

She's such a sweetheart. :)

Shaina Lynn. <3

Taylor Blake <3

Whatacutie. ;) She's like another sister to me. Love her.

Best. Friends.

Smile, baby sister! :) Courtney Saige.

Beautiful girls!

<3

My "little" sisters. :)

The Photographer's in the picture?!?! Me and my sisters. :)

Jump Taylor!

Jump Shaina!

:)

Sisters! <3

Shaina and MJ. <3

They are too stinking cute together. :)

Future bro-in-law. Yep.

<3

:)

"Did your foot pop, when he kissed you?"

"Yes."

"Then, it's love."

Gottem.

“Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. And just when you think it can't get any better, it does.”

-Nicholas Sparks <3

I adoreeee this quote.

Lately, the devil was trying so hard to get me down and draw me away from the Lord.

But HA, no way ol' devil. Take that somewhere else.

Stop throwing your obstacles at me, because with God, I can jump all of them.

And I have. Everything that was bogging me down, worries that were plaguing my mind, are ALL GONE.

 I didn't think things could get any worse. A ticket, trouble with College Chemistry, just plain down.

But once I started looking at the good things in life, I realized that those things were within God's control to fix, to change. So after praying, I felt enabled. I tackled those worries and problems, and took them down. BOOM. Gottem.

And now, I doubt things could get ANY better. Things are just going so good, and everything's falling back into place.

It's amazing how when you just take everything to God, start looking at the positive things in life, and taking charge in a positive Godly way, things get so much better.

I just don't think things could get any better, but on second thought, it can/will/is.

Sometimes...

You just gotta say you're sorry.
It's as simple, and as difficult as that.
Why is it that we find it so hard to just apologize and rectify the situations at hand? It's hard, I admit, sometimes, because we think we're right, and they're wrong.
But here's the thing. We're BOTH wrong if we continue to let things go on the way they do, without apologizing. Without forgiving.
"Apologizing doesn't always mean that you're wrong and the other person is right. Sometimes it means that you value your relationship more than your ego."
So I'm apologizing. You know who you are. I know you read these sometimes.There's more than one person I'm addressing this to. To the people I've needed to, but haven't apologized to.
But to you, specifically, I sent you a message, and you never replied. So I'll humble myself a little further, and publicly say it.
I'm sorry. Wholeheartedly, sincerely, completely sorry. I only wish for forgiveness, and for us to start repairing the damage.
I'm sorry for being a little blind.
I'm sorry for holding a grudge.
I'm sorry for not forgiving.
I'm sorry for not doing this before now.
I'm sorry for being such a little person.
I'm sorry for not being there.
I'm sorry for not listening enough.
I'm sorry for not giving you the advice I knew was meant for you.
I'm sorry for not saying I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for not doing it sooner.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not on some pity trip, I'm not out to get attention, or to start anything.
I simply wanted you, yes, you, to know that I am really sorry.