I'm Thankful

Thanksgiving is {obviously} the holiday that makes you think the most. The one that makes you realize how much you have really been blessed with.

I'm thankful for my parents. They have raised me up the way of the Lord, and I am so grateful. They have kept Jesus Christ first in our house since they were married. There are so many parents that don't care anymore. They let their kids do whatever they want with whoever they want. I have been blessed with having a mom and dad that care. I have been blessed with having a mom and dad who are still together. Now a day, your vows don't mean a thing. You fall in and out of love, and the commitment you made to God goes right out the window. My parents love each other. Forever. I'm thankful for my mom and dad.  

I'm thankful for my brothers. Seth and I have always been close, but Jesse and I used to hate each other. We fought. All the time. I'm thankful that God broke us of that. People always say that your siblings are your best friends. I would go ahead and say that that's true. They have always been there for me and have been fantastic big brothers. They are more protective than you know and I am grateful for that. My are two people that I could never even imagine growing up without. I'm thankful for my brothers.  

I'm thankful for my sister-in-laws. Seth started dating Stacey over six years ago and things between the two of us were rough. Now, she's more like my sister than anything and the arguments we have can attest to that. She's one of the people that I'm closest to and I thank God for her. Jesse and Lydia have been together for 3 years {?} and we've gotten a lot closer over time also. Now, she's carrying my little niece or nephew who she will give birth to in May or June. :) She's someone I can relate to and I am grateful for that. I'm thankful for Stacey and Lydia.

I'm thankful for my grandparents. For years, I spent every Saturday night at my Grama and Grandaddy's house. I made tons of memories. We go out of town every summer and spend at least two weeks all living inside of their camper. We're a very close family. :) Although we don't see my dad's parents as much, I'm thankful for them. I love that they live close and they can come to all of special events we have. I'm so thankful that I still have all of my grandparents. Not many people can say that, but I'm so grateful that I can. I'm thankful for my Grama, Grandaddy, Mimi, and Grandpa.



This is my Mimi. I don't have a picture of my Grandpa, but just imagine my dad a little older and you'll have it. :)

I'm thankful for my best friend. She's someone who has always been there for me through ups and downs. She was there when my brothers got married and she was there when my cousin passed away. She's one person I know I can always count on. She's someone I know I can call at 3:00 in the morning and talk to her for two hours like it was the middle of the afternoon. I don't see her as much as I used to and I want that to change. I couldn't thank God enough for Katie Nowak.

Mostly, I'm thankful for Sebastian Michael Brown. I see him everyday and still don't think it's enough. He's seen me laugh and he's seen my cry. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm so grateful. My future looks incredibly bright because of him. I can't wait to marry Sebastian and spend forever with him. I'm so thankful for this boy.

God has blessed me with so much and I could never thank Him enough. I'm living a fantastic life and a lot of it has to do with the people the Lord has put in it. I'm so thankful.

My Life Plan

Within the past few months, I've come up with my life plan. Would you like to know it? :)

• Graduate
• Go to College
• Marry Sebastian Michael Brown
• Finish College
• Start an Interior Design Business
• Do Photography on the Side
• All While Homeschooling Our 5 {at least} Children

You can call my crazy if you'd like, but it's my life. :)

More Than Just a Name

Lately, I've had trouble calling Sebastian my boyfriend. Not because I'm embarrassed or ashamed, but because he's so much more than that to me.

When I think of someone having a boyfriend of girlfriend, I think one of two things. Either, a couple of middle school kids who have a cute crush on each other, or some bad teenagers who aren't really committed to each other and spend all of their time making out. Sebastian and I are neither of those.

I love him. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I can't imagine going from day to day not being able to see or talk to him. To me, it seems like that another name should be invented to describe that kind of person.

For now, Sebastian is my boyfriend. One day, he'll be my fiance and eventually my husband, but until then, boyfriend is the name. Either way, I couldn't ask for a better person to spend my forever with. :)

Feelings on a Page

I'm one of those people who hates when other people puts their whole life out for the world to know their drama and everything that comes along with it. It seems immature. Yet, for some reason, I have the urge to do it myself. It's not because I want attention and it's not because I want sympathy; it's because I want people to understand that words really can cut deep.

A few weekends ago, a group of us went camping. We've gone every October for the past few years and it's always been a good time. This year seemed to be different. I have friends. I have people that I know I can talk to and I know they will listen, even if they don't understand. I have a best friend. I know I can go to her with anything and I know she won't go anywhere. I have a boyfriend. I hate calling him that because he's more than that to me. I know he's always right beside me. I know that no matter what the situation is, he's someone I can count on. Then, I have the group of people I thought were my friends. The people that I used to talk to and hang out with. The people who were really nice and didn't seem to mind that we were "friends". Those are the same people who talk behind my back. They are the ones that always hated me all along, but would just put on a face and pretend that we were friends.

I'm a very sensitive person. I can cry at the drop of a hat. If I'm watching a movie and a squirrel dies, the water works turn on. If someone doesn't like me, I would take it much better if they just tell me. Finding out that, for the past few years, I have been majorly disliked by a whole group of people, isn't something that I just roll off of my shoulders. It doesn't feel good.

Like I said, I have my friends. I have my family. I have been blessed with having a family across the street that are both my friends and family. If one person doesn't like me; big deal. If one hundred people don't like me; big deal. God has given me everyone I need in my life and I am so thankful.

1 Year. 7 Months.

Today, Sebastian and I have been together for a year and seven months. To some, that seems like a long time. To others, it seems like nothing at all. To us? To us, it's still just the beginning.

We "dated" in 2009 for a couple of weeks. It was an end of summer fling for me; It was more than that to him. Neither of us had dated anyone before, so holding hands and all that jazz was new to both of us. We didn't know each other too well, but that didn't seem to matter.

I was immature and ended what had started after one week. We kept talking though, so it wasn't completely over. Eventually, we died out. It didn't really phase me, but I had broken his heart.

From August to March, I didn't talk to him at all. It wasn't until he had started to like my friend that I got jealous. It surprised me, but he was mine. I wasn't okay with him trying to get into another relationship...especially with MY friend. That's when it all began...again.

On April 8th, 2010 {I think} , we went to a Skillet concert with my brother, sister-in-law, and cousin. We weren't dating, but we were getting closer. He bought me a shirt that I wanted. It said, "I feel like a monster" :).

That night did us in. April 14th, we held each other hand for the first time in 8 months. April 17th, we were official.

I wouldn't trade anything in the world for what we have. I'm going to marry this boy one day and share my life with him forever. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us. :) 

Halloween

My family has never been one to celebrate Halloween. My brothers and I were never allowed to trick-or-treat and we only passed out candy a few times. Normally, we would lock up the house and go see a movie. More recently, we've been camping with our favorite family and friends, but this year it was changed.

The past few years our church has had a Harvest Party on the 31st. Like I said, I've always been camping, so I've never really been able to help at any. This year was different. I spent all day setting up tables and carving pumpkins awaiting the children's arrival. It was fun.

As the hours past, kids started to come in. There was a ninja, a rock star, Little Red Riding Hood, Dorothy; We had it all. From Hide and Seek to hay rides, the kids loved it. In my opinion, harvest parties are much more fun than trunk or treating. The idea of walking around a parking lot, getting candy, and leaving just doesn't sound appealing. Fortunately, I'm too old for all of it. :)

After the party, me and my sisters {yes, they're all my sisters} went to Chick-Fil-A to see our other sister {again, don't question it} who was working. She was dressed up as Robin Hood and needed to be seen. While we were there, everyone got a little...tired? I'm not sure what you would call it. They were making some of the weirdest jokes I had ever heard.

"Ya know, you don't have any off the wall poses."
"Well, technically she does because she isn't touching the wall..."

She was tired. :) All together, it was a very good day.