Friends are Family

      These are the faces and personalities that are held in my heart. Some of them I've know since my junior high days, others I've know for a few years, while others for only a year. Three hours separates us, but that doesn't break the bond. They have made me laugh until I cry, they have let me rant about things while they just sit there and simply listen until I'm done, they have accepted me without question, going along with my faults and the silly, funny things that I do. They have supported me and been there for me, they have prayed for me. There is something about being such good friends that when you see each other after two and a half months or more (or two years), nothing changes. You're able to pick up right where you left off. The moments of laughter, bonfires, singing and just discussing things that make your time together so meaningful and memorable.
  
    There is something about being friends.  
    There is something about being brothers and sisters in Christ.

     I'm so grateful that God chose to put these people in my life. I miss them when I'm away, but I'm so grateful for modern ways of communication. They are like family to me, and when you think about, they really are. There's something about having that bond in Christ. I love them like family.

     I complain about living three hours away. Then I think that I really have nothing to complain about. Yes, it's hard, but God is good. My friends are still there for me, they're still able to make me laugh and to pray for me over the internet, a text message, or a letter. I'm blessed.

    Thank-you, God, for friends.

   

     

   

It Is Worth It

                                        It's been a while since I've written.

          In my defense, life has been rather crazy lately. You see, I've got a job at a Christian daycare. I must say, I love it very much, but it makes life rather busy at time.

        A lot of things have been changing. Shortly after my family and I moved, we started attending a church and now we're members. It's different from our church in some ways (quite a bit larger, for one thing) and yet it's similar in other ways. I've been making friends and experiencing new adventures.  The people are different, the town is different, the scenery is different.

                                                     Life is changing.

                                  Yet so many things have stayed the same.

                          I've maintained strong friendships back in my old town.

                                  After being with some of them for a weekend,
                                      it seems they haven't changed at all.

                                                      Yet they have.
                                                           I have.

                                  Even during the change, God is still faithful.

                                             How grateful I am for that.
                                                  He never changes.
                                     Even when I can't see what's up ahead,
                                                  He guides me.
                                   He helps me to find my way in the uncertainty.
                                                  When I fall,
                                                He picks me up.
                                                When I question,
                               He takes me by the hand and tells me to trust Him.
                                              I have question and doubted.
                                I have gone through uncertainty time and time again.
                                        Oh, but He is worthy of my patience.
                                                He is worthy of my trust.
                                                 I am going to struggle.
                                                    I'm still learning.
                                                 Despite all of that,
                                                     it is worth it.
                                                 Thank-you, God.

                   Trust Him with your future, my friends. It will be worth it. It is worth it.

It's the Little Things # 2

         - Making new friends

         - Singing praises to God with 600+ fellow believers

         - The fact that Spring is almost here (just under two weeks!)

          -Trips to Starbucks

         - Being able to walk outside with a light sweater on (no winter jackets... yay!)

         - Facebook messages with pictures from friends who live three hours away

       

       So it's been a few months since I've blogged. Life has been a little crazy lately, though. I kept telling myself I would find the time to update, and I never did. There have been a lot of changes in my family's life lately, but God never ceases to amaze me. He knows exactly what He is doing. He has our stories written out and is walking ahead of us. At times it's hard to trust Him, but in the end it always works out. I am so grateful that He never changes!


     As of late,
I've been applying for jobs, and keeping myself busy with other things. While all of that's been going on, God has been putting some really awesome people into my life, and I've joined a girl's Bible study. It's been a huge blessing.

    I'll write more about that another day. That's all for now, though. Sorry for the long wait, everyone! Your next wait shouldn't be three months. :)

                 Blessings,
                       Josie

It's the Little Things #1

     A friend told me that sometimes, it's the little things in life that can be the most special, the little things that can mean the most. We should find time to appreciate them. Oh, how true.


          - Having friends over to watch movies
 
          - Starting to cry over a sad scene and your friend is trying to make you laugh. "I'm trying to get you to not cry."

          - Laughing until you're bending over

          - Sitting and watching your church's Christmas program with your friend who's home
            from college

          -Singing Broadway songs at the top of your lungs in full acting mode

          - Christmas music

          - Singing a song in Latin with your brother

          - Finding time to write

          -Getting to see a movie in theaters after eleven months. Way too long, people.

          - Pictures with friends

          - Finding a cute pair of boots for $10 on Black Friday (yeah, a while ago, but it was
           a big deal.)

          - Having all of your friends home from college because it's Christmas break

          - The knowledge that Christmas is in a week

   
       It's little things like these that can make my day a little better, a little more exciting.
     
      What about you? What are the little things in your week?

              ~Josie

That Wonderful Season Called Fall

         Leaves adorned in brilliant hues of gold and red. Nights full of brisk air and bonfires.
                                                                                         This is Fall.
                                                                                        This is my season.

        One day it happened to sneak up on me and bring disappointment with its warm temperatures. Then October came and I was satisfied. The time came to pull out sweaters, scarves, hats, and yes, sometimes warm jackets. Fall decorations were put out and hot chocolate was made after many months of being ignored. Now it's November. The leaves have seen their peak, and all too quickly started to fall off their branches. I relish this time of year. I relish the sweaters and the scarves, the cool crisp air when I step outside, the excuse to wear comfy hats, to buy lattes. I relish the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet, and the Fall air. That wonderful smell that is only around for so long. In short, I adore it. While the other seasons have nice things about them,
I don't believe any of them truly compare to this wonderful season.

               Don't leave too quickly dear Fall.

                       ~Josie
                                         

Friends are a Blessing

     It was early August. Three of my friends were heading off to college in the next couple of weeks and one of them for the very first time. "We should do a photo shoot," I thought, and suggested it. On August 11th, it actually happened. I was so excited! It was a perfect day weather wise for taking pictures. After church I headed home and quickly got ready (thank goodness I had an outfit all picked out!). Just a note that photo credit goes to my friend Brenna (far left).



                                        We had so much fun. We shared so many laughs.                                         

 

It was one of the those memory making kind of days that you wish you could do over again.

 

 

I'm honestly thankful for cameras. They capture so many great things. 

Candid shots in mid-laughter.

 

 

Us girls being our silly and crazy but crazy selves.

I must say I love this one. Katie and Tiffany are being funny for the camera and I'm just modeling as  I have no clue

what's going on.

 

 

I love these smiles.

 

 

I love their hearts for the Lord.

 

 

I also love how we can be awesomely (probably not a word)

crazy and funny one minute

 

 

and cute and serious the next.

 

 

I love our friendship.

 

 

I love how we've only known Tiff for a little over a two and

a half years, and yet she's like a sister to us.

 

 

I love being goofy and weird together.

 

 

I love how they "get" me and are there to encourage me, make me laugh or

pray for me.

 

 

I love that I've been friends with this girl since junior high.

 

 

I love how even though we're separated by distance,

our closeness as friends doesn't change.

 

 

I just love these friends of mine. I am so incredibly grateful to God for putting them

into my life.

 

Friends are such a blessing.

 

Aren't they?

 

In Christ,

 Josie

Perhaps Someday

  I have never written a bucket list. I never really felt the need to. My dreams and things I wanted to do and accomplish were stored away in my head, perfectly content to stay there. However, I like to make lists, so I thought "why not?".  The things listed here are not all of them mind you. No way. That would take a while to write, and you, a while to read.  So... here are some of them.
                     

                            Speak a foreign language fluently
   
                           Travel around Great Britain

                           Write a novel

                           Be in a musical

                          Photograph a senior session

                         Visit the state where I was born (Texas)

                         Learn to sew

                        
   True, some of them are just little things, and I may not be able to accomplish them....

   but, perhaps someday. Maybe.


                 Do you have a bucket list all written out? What sort of things are on it?              

                            Have a great week!
                                      Josie