But when I get where I'm going
And I see my maker's face
I'll stand forever in the light
Of his amazing grace

The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side...

So if you notice in this picture that on one side of the fence the grass is greener than on the other side. The first time I ever noticed this was on a trip home with my dear friend Trent when we saw that on one side of the road was BRIGHT green grass and on the other side it was completely dead. After seeing that, Trent said "Wouldn't it be awesome to take a picture standing on the dead side and looking over to the bright side. Then caption it 'The grass is always greener on the other side.'"

I couldn't really capture that image going 70MPH, so this is all you get. But now onto what this image says to me...

So the grass is always greener on the other side...or is it? I believe that so many of us often compare our lives to the lives of those around us. Unfortunately this often leads to jealousy and envy. If you have a sibling you know this road all to well. I probably have compared myself to my sister more than anyone else. Here's a list of things I typically say "She had better grades. She's married. She's making more than I'll ever make. She's got it all together. She's better looking." And I've even said "She's perfect." But saying all those things only destroys who I am. I spend too much time trying to be like Nicole, mostly because I admire her but in part because shes got it all together. But why am I trying to live out a life that isnt mine to live out? God put me on this earth for a specific purpose and its not the same for me as it is for my sister. I love my sister so much and I think she is wonderful and she has accomplished so much. She's good at everything she does. I can honestly look at my sisters life and say "I'm thankful that God has blessed her in all of those ways." And not be jealous. And thats saying a lot for me. But seriously, why can't I be happy for all that she has accomplished instead of tearing myself apart for not accomplishing the same things. I have accomplish plenty in my life and will only continue. I am aware that this situation occurs in the other direction too. I think we all need to stop comparing ourselves to those around us so that we can live out the lives God has called us to. May we each truly learn to not care if the grass is greener on the other side, perhaps things arent as wonderfully as we think they are on the other side. And by no means am I saying that things arent that wonderful for my sister, they indeed are and I think that is because God has blessed her because of her faithfulness to Him. Nicole, I think you are amazing and I only hope to be a glimpse of the Godly woman that you are. You are an amazing big sister, an incredible wife to Adam and a loving mommy to my beautiful little niece.

To my faithful bloggers, this is all I have for you.

This is my spoiled little niece. This is the latest outfit I purchased for her. I get to see her in two weeks, and I'm pretty stinkin' excited about it. I have to say I'm really glad I live as close a I do. My niece is so special to me and being far away from her would make me one sad aunt. I love this little girl with everything in me. Love you Ellie!!!

Its funny to me who came out and who didn't. I know of at least 10 other people that read fairly reguarly and have read since I made my last post. But didn't come clean.

im on hiatus. im considering getting rid of the blog altogether. no one really comments, so i kind of feel im just wasting time. the only way i know people even read this is through comments. so if you want me to continue posting let me know you visit. even if you comment anonymously.

I spent my Valentines with this beautiful little girl. If you want to see her in her valentine's get up you will have to visit her blog: http://ellison.ellisonfaith.com

Anyway, back to story time. Last night was fun, I got to spend some time with little Ellie alone. When Nicole & Adam first left she was so fun. We were just giggling and playing but then suddenly she decided that wasnt so fun. She started crying and I felt bad because I knew she was fighting sleep but I just couldnt get to her to fall asleep. I put her in what I call the "magical" swing and she was out cold. Today I stayed for awhile to hang out with my sister and niece. We put Ellie down for a nap and put on this Praise Baby cd. Listening to the cd brought me to tears thinking about God's love. How fearfully and wonderfull made this little girl was and too think about that, to really think about it touches my heart. Ellie had moved her hands up a little and I said she was praising Jesus and thinking about that made me tear up. "Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me." Maybe this seems odd to someone else, but I could see in my mind Little Ellie like literally worshipping Jesus...maybe thats not possible, maybe it is. Id just like to think that God created us and we could know at that age and really be worshipping him. Like really I am in awe of how I am God's. Like God owns me. I am His vessel. I am His creation. I am His everything. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. And each little tiny detail about me is planned and has always been planned. AMAZING!!! Isn't it weird how God chooses to catch our attention with such simple truths? Just some worship music and a baby I love. I love being God's. And I love that God has blessed me with such an amazing earthly family. I am soooooooo blessed!!!

So this weekend I made a journey to Lubbock. And I got to see this beautiful pair...Little Autumn & Her Wonderful mother, Lauren. Autumn was so much fun to be around and I had a blast playing with her. And on top of that I had great conversation with Lauren, I sure do miss being able to hang out like that. I love you both and can't wait to see you again. And Autumn, come and meet your new friend Ellie...you will surely love her:)  

The love I have for my niece is unlike any other love I've ever felt. Its crazy how you can love in so many different ways. Three years ago Caleb Laten was born and I love that kid. He is so sweet and great. He is a part of my best friend. Then in August, Autumn Grace was born and shes very precious to me, and I love her lots. And in both experiences I was ecstatic about their birth and now watching them grow is amazing to me. I couldn't wait till my own niece was born because I knew that my love for her would be even stronger than the love I have for those other two children. But I didn't know I would love my niece this much. I love my niece more everyday and I don't even see her everyday. Everytime I look at her picture I fall in love with how amazing she is. I tear up at the very thought of her being. There's just something about it, its unexplainable. I sat there talking to Chelsey about this last night and she was just like wait till its your own. Wow, I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like to one day hold a child that is your own. Amazing. To see how much I love Ellie, and knowing that I will actually love someone more than that...incredible to me. Its so fun to be such a special part in all three of these lives. I am soooo lucky!!!

Ellison Faith is finally here! Isn't she beautiful? She was born at 1:29 pm weighing 8lbs. 14oz. and 20 1/2 in. long. I love her lots.
 

Me and my precious little niece... 

Check out that hair:) Okay comment away on all three pictures... 

Happy 3rd Birthday to this little man! Today my best friends son turned 3. I can't believe he is already 3. You like that he's wearing cowboy boots with his cowboys uniform? His birthday was fun...and these pictures are what he got. 

This is Caleb all decked out in his Spiderman costume. I don't think Chelsey will be able to get him out of this for awhile... 

This is Caleb as Spiderman on his new Spiderman bike, he loved it!! 

Well here it is 6 days after my nieces due date and I still have no niece. My mom & I went to Tyler this weekend to see my sister. We were hoping that little Ellie would go ahead and come while we were there but nothing. Well I shouldn't say nothing because there are some signs of her being on her way. Like her belly dropped, and possibly a sign of contractions. Nicole calls them twinges, but just maybe they are contractions. Some other things have occured as well but one of the things is something that can occur an hour before she is born or like 2 weeks before she is born. Nicole will be induced Friday morning if little Ellie hasn't come by then. I can't wait to see my little niece, she's going to be beautiful! Anyway, we are waiting as patiently as possible. But we pray that Ellie can be born soon because its better for Nicole to go into labor than to be induced. So be praying for Ellie's safe arrival as well as the families safe travel.

This is little Autumn Grace. She's so beautiful! I love seeing this picture with that big ole' grin-makes your wanna smile huh? I love this little girl so much and can't wait to see my own niece. Aut is practically my niece. I love her very much!! Lauren, thanks for always sending my new pictures of little Aut.  

So for the last month I had the best time hanging out with this here friend Catherine. And I am sad to know that on Tuesday she heads back to Lubbock. God has blessed me so much over the past month having Catherine here and in my life and we have grown very close to one another. But in a few weeks I will make my way to Lubbock and get to see her then. And in August she will be moving to Dallas and just possibly we may be working near one another. We tried to spice things up and do a lot of different things over the past month and I think we did a good job...
1) Listen to Tommy Nelson(not that I dont do that every week)
2) Listen to Matt Chandler and laughed a lot, he's hysterical!
3) Bennigan's where we got free food for waiting for an hour
4) Watched Fever Pitch!
5) Played Nintendo 64 and I kicked her butt!!
6) Taught her to play Mancala and then she beat me
7) Browsed Barnes & Nobles
8) Saw Chronicles of Narnia
9) Read at Starbuck's and then talked about starting a book club
10) Experienced local restraunts: Frilly's, MG's & El Zarape's
11) Went country dancing-haha, good times!
12) Reunion Tower with Nikki & Shawna
13) Lunch with the beautiful Mrs. Ashley Ingram and her little peanut:)
14) Went bowling and laughed hysterically at the misfortunes of others
15) Experienced dorkball!!!!!
16) Lots of great conversations!!!

I am going to miss her greatly!:(

My 2006 Theme Song: I Surrender All

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In his presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Okay, so today I decided I would go for a new look. I called Chelsey and said let go get hair color. I picked up a box called "Medium Brown" and then we went home. And now this is what I look like...

So anyone else think it doesnt really look like a Medium Brown? Its practically black. I realize that in a few days it will be a lighter color but for now I will remain dark haired. So let me know what you think even if you hate it...

This is Nicole & her hubby. I think this picture is just precious. I caught them between pictures just loving on each other. Its amazing to see how much they truly love one another.  

So this is me & my sister Christmas day. She's 9 mos. pregnant and somehow manages to look just as skinny if not skinnier than me. Infact, I may even look like the pregnant one in this picture. Pathetic!