Child-like Wonder

"Life is a flower of which love is the Honey," -Victor Hugo

Have you ever just looked at person and think to yourself wow this is what God meant when we're to have faith like a child or we can't enter the kingdom when we're just wanting to bring all our worries and adult things? Well Grace gives you the wonderful happy feeling of a child like wonder. Someone used to call her Tiger lily when she was younger, Tiger Lily mean Strong, Confident which Grace possesses. She's confident in the Lord, She's a strong leader and doesn't let life get her down.  But if she was to represent a flower that rang true to who I thought fit her best it would be a larkspur. They mean joy and love. The joy is an over flowing, outpouring, contagious never ending joy. And when she loves she loves deeply and passionately. Plus they're one of my favorite flowers.

Life with Grace is an adventure and a comedy show all in one. You are always in for a while ride while you may be belly laughing at the grossest thing. She's a kindred soul, my Diana to my Anne.

 

Into the Wild

"Hold the Vision trust the process."

Some people exist in our world that make this world more deep and inviting.. Eli is one of those in my life that you know he's one of you friends. He doesn't invite you into a conversation to zone out. He engages with you and can also hold the conversation steady when needed. He's one of those people you seek out for accountability and you can trust sharing things with. Mood shifter would probably not be the best way to describe what he does for others. But I feel that he has this incredible way of comforting or making you feel good about being in his presence. He's also really great with any age group of people. Kids find him funny or inviting. Love seeing he interact and engaging the kids at the Foster Parents Night Out he his fiance and I all help volunteer at. He's smart and clever, in the amount of time it takes me to come up with an idea, he's already came up with one, solved any problems it may cause and on to completing the idea. Spontaneous is like a adventure for him. I love how he will serve others without blinking. God given heart and a humble servant.

Like is an big world that he loves exploring every chance he gets. He's someone you want to explore creation with, drink tea and be in his great company.  Someone you want to do life big with! Fills life with adventure while looking fear in the eyes.

Favoritism

All this week I have been thinking about Favoritism and why it exist in my or why I hate it so much.

Who do I favor above the rest

When I was younger and found out what favoritism was it all was through the story of Jacob and Esau in the bible. My dad would read us bible stories before bed and one of the nights it was about Esau getting tricked of his blessing  If you've read the bible the first time he trades his birth right for a bowl of soup and the second one was Jacob dressed up as him to get his blessing. But at the beginning of it all it talks about how each parent favored one over the other thus I discovered favoritism. I always told myself that I wasn't going to go down the route of choosing someone or something over the other. But when I was thinking about this I realized that I have and I do. I have a favorite cousin, a cousin that is 7 and a half years younger than me. One who used to look up to me in so many ways that though I may have acted as if I didn't enjoy it, I used it for my selfish gain. But I really did have a period in my life I held him in my highest standard, in the manner of favoritism. Where now as he's almost 14 he could care less if I held him higher than all my other cousins including his siblings. I had a favorite "Mandate girl" in the young years of my life, where I tried to stick to them like glue or even get them to like me. I also held them higher than all the rest of the mandate student for running 6-7 years. There was talk around some of the kids I adore that Sarah was my favorite and that the Bumstead kids are my favorite, but sometimes among the Bumstead kids it's always Ella.

Why I think Favoritism is Bad: 

We're all supposed to love everyone equally, even if I did a poorly job showing that growing up, I hope to make it not where I'm singling out one person and holding them high above everyone else. Where I can only feel I can give my life only to one person. As much as we have one heart, we can still give each invisible piece to everyone we come in contact with daily or who's walking with us. I feel like Favoritism is directed towards one purpose.
  I hate the question that I'm constantly asked "Who's your favorite kids to babysit." Some kids may be easier to watch but doesn't make them less than the others I babysit. I try to give each and every kids I babysit my undivided attention which sometimes can be hard, but I try to make them each feel special in their own way.

Overall thoughts on Favoritism

I'm not saying that you should agree with me that favoritism is wrong. My thoughts are just being shared and crash and burn them all you want. My hopes for me is to love more freely and not fall into favoritism because I think how my mind tells me "Not everyone is trustworthy, or this person feels right more then this person or this person etc. With my mind working in that mindset, I tend to go there. And maybe there's a better approach in loving more than singling out. Or maybe it's a good thing once in awhile. Who knows, I just hope to be better and love more freely. 

When Done in Love

"All that is real is seen with the Heart- Claude Monet

Abigail means "My father's Joy," Wondering how that fits with her? Well she definitely brings her dad joy but I believe that God was also rejoicing. Even before she was born God was rejoicing with the angels anticipating her birth. Reminds me of the scene in Sleeping beauty where the king and queen invite all the fairies of the land to celebrate with them, I imagine that happening when Abigail was born. Abigail is a peacemaker, when her siblings arguing with each other and she figures out a solution and helps resolve the problem. She's strategic in the way she thinks about anything, everything has a solution and a place. She's a calming soothing person to be around. You feel relaxed when spending time with her. Patient and kind, Humble and self giving always. I remember a time when I had just gotten a new kids' tea set and we were setting our tea party up and I had her carry the tea pot, at 6 she was trying very careful not to drop it because she knew I would be sad to have my new tea set broken that I had just received for my birthday. Years later she still just as tender, compassionate and caring for others around her.

She's a precious Jewel, one of the finest rare ones that never fade away from worn. She's being refined with God's fire. She's brighter than the brightest star, for her light never grows dark. She's God's joy for him and many others to enjoy and cherish. 

With Fire in Her vein

 "Pressure create diamonds, Fire refines gold." -Unknown

There's about 3 different meaning behind the name Nessa, Sadly only one of them fits her. "Pure" Her heart is pure. Her heart for others is incredible loving and intense. She's super outgoing and makes friends wherever she goes. She has a humble heart and when she messes up she humble to ask for forgiveness. She is such a inspiring motivator, gets you all excited and pumped up. An includer one who spots someone sitting or standing on the outside and walks over  and starts a conversation with you. Nessa has such passion for the Lord and her greatest joy is seeing her family and friends walking alongside in the Lord. She's not afraid to reach a hand out to those stumbling in their faith or reach out to anyone in general. I don't think I have met anyone as enthusiastic as she is just about life. She can and will start a conversation about the smallest sometimes the most boring thing and give it life. 

She brings life...Even though her name may mean Pure she brings life. There was a point in my life where growing up with her was so hard because she reflected everything I wanted to be like. But her strengths are what she was made for and to share with others. Such a joy having her as my older sister.