Future

Where will I be, in ten years? Married, kids? I don't know. And that's hard for me, not knowing, each and every chapter of my life. All I know is the chapter I'm in right now. Sometimes sweet, sometimes boring, and sometimes down right hard!

Sometimes I think I should have been born in a different time. Just because of my ideas and things, among "young people" in this time, I'm strange. When I first entered into the teen years, I had no idea the changes the Lord had in store for me, not just in the world around me but in me. I've learned so much in the past few years, about myself, my family, and The Lord.

Purity was just something my parents talked about, never really important to me. That changed. I went from trying to fit in with all the "cool" people to not really caring what they thought. I was me, but more than that I was pursuing a deep relationship with The Lord. I struggled to find Friends. But they all just seemed to go a way I did not want to go. Casual dating, immodesty, and clicks. Oy the the clicks! I considered my sister and brother to be my best Friends, I still do. But I'm a talker and wanted to have all these Friends around me. That changed too, I began to get closer to the Lord, and through that began to see people differently, and as time went on the Lord blessed me with a few good Friends. And its funny because most of them live far from me and I cant see them but I still love them so much and thank God for them! Now back to the purity thing, I started to view it differently too. The Lord pressed on my heart to begin to really look at that the importance of purity. What it meant, for my relationship with Him and even my future marriage. I was pure in the flesh, but I just hadn't made that commitment in my soul yet. But as time went on I learned that that was my desire, to save myself completely for my husband. To have a have pure courtship and marriage.

Another thing I learned about myself was my love for writing. Several people said things about a gift in writing they saw in me. So I stared a blog (obviously). I found comfort in writing down my feeling, beliefs, and idea's. And people would say that they loved my blog. One woman we know now addresses my mom as "mother of the writer" lol.

Anyway all that to say, I'm not where I thought I would be a few years ago. But I'm so glad I'm here. So I don't know where I will be in ten years. But this I do know, it will be where He wants me to be. And that's fine with me :) Even if I do have a hard time giving my future to Him.

~Living In Grace~
Rachel

Contentment

Today I had a wonderful day. Today I woke up, spent over a half hour with the Lord praying and reading The word. Took a shower. Went outside and read a lovely book and had some yummy strawberry lemonade and laid in the grass looking up at the beautiful sky:). Right then and there I had contentment. I felt The Lord telling me, you are here right now for a reason. I have placed you in this family (the same family I loose my patience with so often) in this time, in this place, for my perfect will in your life. Right then I realized that I live for tomorrow way to much. I'm to often looking forward to whats happening next, what event I'm attending, who I'm gonna see, and where I'm gonna go. As I was watching a segment in a show the other day on menopause (don't ask) and they were talking about the effects emotionally and fiscally, it dawned on me, I cant always be looking forward to the next thing, especially this summer, it is literally the busiest summer I can remember! Seems like we are always going somewhere! So now more then ever I feel the need to try and enjoy every moment, every memorie, every little baby kiss, every smile, every kind word, every laugh, every Friend, every prayer, every song, every blessing I have in my life. For they are completely uncountable. I am blessed beyond compare. I don't have to worry about my future. I have such peace in my life. And I know it cant stay like this forever, someday, when its the Lords will, I will marry my prince, have children, and move on from this life, I will start my own family and make all new memories. I cant relive these times, I cant go back. This is such a special time. Having my family so close. I have dreams, of exiting things, and some, of peaceful things. But some times lying in the grass looking up at the glorious creation that is the sky, drinking strawberry lemonade, reading a good, and thanking The Lord for this time in my life, can be a beautiful dream <3

So look around you today and saver what you have, thank Him for this time in your life.

~Living In Grace~
Rachel

Children

{Warning, this post will be full of loving on little kiddo's :)} Those who know me (well I think most of them :) Know that I loooooooove children. And if there are little one's around, most likely I will have one on my lap or be chasing one around or pitching a baseball to one or of course tickling one ;) It wasn't like that a couple years ago, at least not as much. Everyone would say, Christy is so good with kids! And I would be off playing football (shutter's), or baseball, then when I got a little older I just wanted to be with the older girls (oy) Sure I wanted to be a babysitter, but mostly because I was old enough and because i would be making money. Yes I thought kids were cute and all but it wasn't until the last few years I really developed a love for children. I cant really explain it. I just love to be around kids :) I find a joy in making young ones giggle and grin and show their little dimple's :)

But more than that I feel a calling on my life to care for and teach little ones. And what better time in my life to do that than now, of course when I have children my caring and teaching will be to them. But for now I will content to love on other peoples children :)

Children are a beautiful thing. So Innocent and fun loving. Everything they say seems to be comical (Although some things you must hold your laughter) Everything is so new to them, amazing! Even when you don't think they are they're watching your every move, learning how 'big people' do things. So when little kids say things like "I want to be like you when I grow up" Its sometimes a bigger complement then anything else :)

I feel a responsibility to set an example for children younger than me. For them to learn from my mistakes and treat them like their opinions matter but that they still must obey.

Anyway I think I'm through with my rambling on ;)

~All For Christ~
Rachel