I love that moment when we pull up to the stadium and I'm just as fascinated as a little kid in a pet store. I love seeing the lights and how big the whole place looks. The moment I get out of the car my heart skips a beat. Everywhere I turn I see red, white, and blue. People of all different backgrounds and interests come together to cheer on our team. I try and get actual tickets instead of printing them off the internet because there's just something about it that makes me feel like this is a once in a lifetime game. Once I actually step inside I figure out what I want to eat. (This can be a little overwhelming). Usually I go for the nachos, but when you're at the Ballpark in Arlington (because I refuse to call it the Globe whateveritscallednow) the choices are ENDLESS! You can get all kinds of dogs, burgers, ice cream and anything else you can imagine. After we get our food I'm ready to sit down. I'm one of those people that will sit and stay seated for the entire game. I just can't bear to miss anything! I love our team and although I am still grieving the loss of Kinsler, I think that we will do really well this season!!
Not to be self centered or anything but...this post is about me! So one of the things that you MUST know about me is that I love the Texas Rangers. I love them like I love green apple snow cones and burnt marshmallows. It's that much. (For the record, I don't eat burnt marshmallows with my snow cones. That would be weird.) Anyway, I have always loved baseball. My dad taught me how to play when I was really young and I've been in love with it ever since.
I love that moment when we pull up to the stadium and I'm just as fascinated as a little kid in a pet store. I love seeing the lights and how big the whole place looks. The moment I get out of the car my heart skips a beat. Everywhere I turn I see red, white, and blue. People of all different backgrounds and interests come together to cheer on our team. I try and get actual tickets instead of printing them off the internet because there's just something about it that makes me feel like this is a once in a lifetime game. Once I actually step inside I figure out what I want to eat. (This can be a little overwhelming). Usually I go for the nachos, but when you're at the Ballpark in Arlington (because I refuse to call it the Globe whateveritscallednow) the choices are ENDLESS! You can get all kinds of dogs, burgers, ice cream and anything else you can imagine. After we get our food I'm ready to sit down. I'm one of those people that will sit and stay seated for the entire game. I just can't bear to miss anything! I love our team and although I am still grieving the loss of Kinsler, I think that we will do really well this season!!
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A friend of mine introduced some ladies to a website called Stitch Fix. You create an account and tell them your sizes and then they get a sense of your style and what types of things you would be looking for. Then you pay a $20 styling fee (which goes toward any purchase you make from your box!). They then create your own personalized box and send it to you in the mail. The box includes 5 pieces which can be pants, shirts, dresses, accessories, etc. You have three days once you receive the box to decide if you are going to keep anything and then what you don't keep, they provide you a return box to ship everything back! It's your own personal shopper! I just signed up to try it for a month and see what happens. The only down side is that it's not coming for awhile, but it'll give me something to look forward to!
This is great for people like me who HATE to shop! I also think I'm going to like it because I tend to stick with what I know. By seeing what they think I'll like, it'll help me get out of my comfort zone! :) Here's a link if you want to check it out!!! https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3636680 Ok, maybe not famous famous, but big enough to be featured on a website! That's pretty rad. If you remember awhile back, I said that I had an interview with a lady from the PKD website and she liked my story and blah blah blah. Well today it's up live on their website! :) I'm pumped. Here's the link to the story if you wanna go see it but I'm also gonna post the article below. Enjoy! http://www.pkdcure.org/voicesofpkd/stories/brightening-the-future-for-pkd-families#top
Brightening the Future for PKD Families Brianna was diagnosed with PKD at just 11 years old, making her the youngest in a family full of PKD. The spring, for many, signals a new start and a perfect time to set new goals for the rest of the year. For 21-year-old Brianna Rodgers of Grapevine, Texas, 2014 is her year to make a difference in the PKD community. "I just want to take the opportunity to do something good," she said. Flash back one decade – Rodgers was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at just 11 years old, making her the youngest person in a family full of PKD patients to deal with the disease. "I didn't really understand the disease back then like I do now," Rodgers said. "What I noticed was that before I had been really active and involved with cheerleading and other sports. It was a big part of who I was. When I was diagnosed, I kind of had to figure out who I was without those things." When Rodgers later attended college, she met the man who would become her husband. Bringing up PKD to him, Rodgers said, was something she worried about. Still, she knew it was important to let him know about the disease from the very beginning. Bringing up PKD to her future husband was something Brianna worried about but knew was very important. "It was a make or break kind of deal," Rodgers said. "I mean, we're talking about your whole life here. I deal with the disease every day, and I knew that by telling him, I would be making him deal with it too. That's a very real reality." That reality has followed Rodgers and her husband as they have started their lives together and considered growing their family. "Family is a huge part of our lives," Rodgers said. "I wasn't always certain about my career, but I always wanted to be a mom no matter what. If our children have PKD, we'll deal with it then. If not, it's a blessing." This year, Rodgers aims to contribute to the fight against PKD in whatever way she can. She hopes to be involved in a study or drug trial, and recently became a Jamberry Nails Consultant with the intention to donate the funds raised to the PKD Foundation. Her motivation, Rodgers said, stems from her hope to brighten the future for PKD families, including her own. "By the time my husband and I have children, I want to be able to tell them that there is a treatment," Rodgers said. "I want to be able to let them know that they won't have to face the same frustrations that I have had to face." No matter what the future holds, Rodgers' outlook remains strongly grounded in the present, where making the most of each moment is a philosophy she will carry with her through the rest of the year and into the years ahead. "When you have a lifelong disease, you have to decide how you are going to let it affect you," Rodgers said. "I could wallow in self pity, but why? It's my one life. I'm not going to waste a moment." A blogger? What is that? Isn't that just a writer that doesn't believe in themselves enough to call themselves a writer? I'm a writer. My outlets have always been private. I had a diary when I was growing up. Then those diaries became journals. Then I created a blog but didn't tell anyone else that way it was still just as secret. Then one day I decided "Why not?" What's the point in writing and pouring yourself into something if you don't get to share it with anyone else? There's no reason why I couldn't do it. I was just scared. I was scared that people wouldn't like what I had to say. I was scared people wouldn't think that anything I said was worth their time. I was scared that I had silently built myself up all of these years when really, I wasn't a good writer at all. I realize that I'm no Shakespeare; I can't scare you like Stephen King, and I can't make you fall in love like Nicholas Sparks, but what I can do, is relate to you. I have experiences that many have had. I have dreams just like everyone else, and I love the fact that I'm able to just sit here and pour my heart out for everyone without really knowing whose reading it.
The point of this jumbled post is that I needed to tell myself that I am a writer. A lot of people have finally been able to see me as such and because of that I've had several people tell me to pursue it as something more than just a hobby. My prayer and what I'd ask you to pray for as well, is that when I start writing all of these jumbled thoughts, ideas and characters down is that a story will come to life. I'm going to continue blogging about anything and everything in the meantime and I'm sure there will be several posts about how the book is coming. I'll share my struggles and frustrations and also my small accomplishments as I start this great new adventure. Thanks for the support and love :) I am one of those people that have a million things that I think would be so great and exciting to do. I have the best ideas but they never grow into anything more than that.
When I was younger I always thought it would be so cool to be a librarian or even own a bookstore. I could literally have my cake and eat it too! I would be my own boss and get to be surrounded by books and fellow book lovers every day! I realized that my dreams weren't going to make me money right then, so I started growing up and those dreams quickly vanished. I have been thinking a lot about those dreams again. I would love to own a bookstore. I would love to have a bookstore that carries anything and everything, but I would be fooling myself if I thought that today's technology wouldn't affect my sales. Knowing this, I moved on to thinking about a children's bookstore. Kids LOVE books. They are fascinated by them and parents love to buy them. I would have local children's writers come in and share with the kids, we would have readings and kids would beg their parents to bring them to "Little Bee's Books". (the name isn't set in stone or anything. Alex and I just came up with it earlier today). I have always made sure that Alex does what he loves. I told him from the very beginning that I would support him in whatever profession he chose. I have been the cheerleader for him as he strives to earn his degree and fulfill his dreams of becoming a teacher. I am praying that one day, I too will be able to fulfill my dreams. xoxoxo I'm sitting here trying to rack my brain for that one thing that will be what gets my writing juices flowing tonight. I kept starting and stopping, reading what I would write and then smash on the delete button until it was just a blank screen again. I finally looked at the clock and realized that maybe the reason I am having writers block tonight is because it's past my "good writing window". Anyway, I started to give up when I looked at the clock and started thinking about time. Time is one of those weird "things" that I can never fully wrap my head around. Why do we feel it's necessary to measure time? Why do we try to outrun time and cheat it? Eventually, everyone's time will come. Everyone will have a time, where their time on earth is over. The quote I picked tonight stuck out to me because we as humans always feel like we have time. We'll have time to eventually get married. We can wait around because someday our time will come and we'll travel the world like we always dreamed about.
Tonight I got in a discussion about kids in worship and their motivation for being there. Obviously, their parents bring them. I get that, but how many of them truly want to be there? A passion for Christ is not something that just happens after months and years of going to church. That isn't the idea at all. What about the adults who come but don't pay attention? Why aren't these people on fire for God? I don't think it's because they have any sort of evil intent in their hearts. I truly think that a lot of it comes from the mindset of "I've still got time". As children in the church, they are all being taught what the word of God says, but how many of them will apply it? Most of us don't visualize death as a reality. We see it as some abstract concept that will happen to us when we watch the leaves change one last time from our rocking chair, our white hair gleaming in the sunshine. Death is not abstract. It is something that is real and coming for us all. Knowing this fact should make us feel the need to be prepared. You wouldn't leave for a cruise (hint hint Mark) without packing accordingly would you? You wouldn't start off on a road trip on an empty tank of gas. So why would you die without doing everything you can to make sure your name is in The Book of Life? Our whole lives should be centered around this goal. We should approach every action with the thought, "Will this bring glory to God?" Yes? Then do it. No? Why wouldn't it? Why would you like to do this if you know that it's not something that God would find acceptable? I'm sorry that this post got on a super deep level. I really don't ever plan out what I post. I might have a general topic, but after that, I just kinda let the words fall out of my head. Unfortunately, I'm getting kind of sleepy. I wish I could keep writing but I am a slave to time tonight seeing as how it is 1:45 am and I have to be awake and getting ready by 7:45 am. Yikes! I figured every now and then I would open up and tell y'all (if there's actually anyone out there) a little bit about myself.
I am in my 20's and yet, I have already been so many places and seen so much. When I was younger I found out what some magic worms can do to a peach when James did. I made friends with a centipede even though they completely freak me out. I discovered an entire world just by walking through a wardrobe. I was stranded on an island with Karana and had to learn what it takes to survive. I was always getting into trouble with those Boxcar Children. I learned valuable lessons from the one and only Junie B. Jones. For awhile, one of my very best friends was the BFG. I was babysitting and even in a club at a young age. I learned that eternal life on earth was not all it's cracked up to be when I followed Winnie and she found the tree. I tried to win the fortune that was left by Mr. Westing, unfortunately, I didn't end up rich. I got great upper arm strength and a wicked tan when I had to go with Stanley and dig all of those stinking holes. As I got older, I started learning more life lessons in addition to going on all kinds of adventures. I was able to understand how hard things must have been in the South for black people when I tried to help them with Skeeter (The Help) and when I saw what happened in To Kill a Mockingbird. I learned the art of beekeeping and making honey. I understood what it must have felt like to love someone so dearly that you would do anything to have them, even if that meant buying a house across from them and throwing parties with the hope that they would show. My back ached from all of The Things They Carried. I got to witness an experiment that changed the way Charlie Gordon lived. I continually go and visit Hogwarts and make sure that nobody is missing me there. (Things can get a little chaotic at times when I'm there). I saw a cruel side to our world when I joined Hassan at the annual kite running tournament. Luckily, I able to make it out of The Hunger Games alive. (more than once!) I have hunted down many killers, I have cried many tears, I have fallen in love over and over again. I have explored the world and never had to leave my home. When I read a book, I am fully captivated. I take in every word and read it as if I were those characters. I am a book worm. xoxo I started trying to write this earlier and I just sat there and stared at my screen. It took me about 10 minutes to realize that the reason I didn't have the words coming to me was because it was only 8:54. I'm telling you, the later it is, the clearer my mind gets.
It's a blessing and a curse if you ask me. Anyway, that is not the reason for this post. I love the quote that I picked tonight. It took me a long time to find one that I really thought would "get" what I was feeling tonight. Finally I found the one that explained what my heart was feeling. For some reason, as humans, we are always trying to "fix" things. We "fix" our cars even though we would never be able to pick out a wrench in a line up. Everyone tries to "fix" the economy. If you life in the South, most nights you're "fixin" dinner. The need or want to fix does not stop in relationships. As a parent, you are probably always wanting to fix your children's mistakes. (obviously I didn't make that a definite statement since I'm not a parent.) I know for me as a wife, I always ask Alex "what's wrong"? with the expectation that I can fix it. This thought process doesn't change when it comes to friends. I hate to see people struggle. It tears me up inside and I would much rather be the one suffering than have it be the other way around. One of my friends is hurting, and all I want to do is look at her and say "I can fix that" or "you just need to do ______ to make it better." God is so good to humble me when I need it. I was listening to her talk tonight and I wanted to say so much, but instead I just listened and let God. I wish I could fix it but I know that God is the only one who truly takes care of all of our worries. He is the one who is able. This quote made me realize that this wasn't something where I could just put my arm around her and pick her up. It made me realize that God will be the one picking her up and I'll just be there to hold her hand while he carries her through this trial. I love my life and I feel like once again I should mention that I am so thankful for the struggles that I have endured. It showed me again tonight, that God was the one who fixed things during those hard times. Humans aren't perfect. We can try and fix things but they will still break. That tire that you changed will eventually need to be changed again. The economy can't be fixed. End of story. (haha just kidding!) But seriously, the economy will fluctuate just as it has always done. Unfortunately, the supper will need to be fixed again tomorrow. And the day after that. When God fixes something it's not temporary. It's not putting a bandaid on the problem. God creates the solution. (and the right one.) I really have no idea if anything in this post made sense. I don't know if I even said what I meant to say when I started writing it. I guess my thoughts are a little jumbled tonight. |