Mountains and Hills. Shapes and Molds.

Before you start reading this post, be warned! I am a mess today. I'm writing to get things off my mind- hoping that something profound and possibly uplifting will slide onto this page. 






I have found myself completely re-thinking who I am and why I am who I am. From experiences to personality, everything influences the person you are and who you will be. I remember being in a hospital room on my 8th birthday and learning that my baby brother was diagnosed with A.L.L. (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) which meant 3 years of heavy chemotherapy and 7 additional years of the doctors watching him to make sure it didn't come back. The steroids that they had to put him on, the threat of hospitalization hanging over our heads in the "Sick-Season", and the near-daily visits to C.H.O.A. (Child Hematology Oncology Associates) made my childhood and pre-teen years very scary and dull. I learned to read books instead of go out for sports, and school myself because we had to be pulled out of school due to my little brother's lack of immune system. I thought this situation ruled my life. I look back on my life and remember doctors and nurses as my family and friends. I always thought the your situation makes you who you are- IT DOESN'T. Your situation merely teaches you how to properly climb the hill we call life with as much grace and positivity as possible. It shows you how important and wonderful life is. It gives you perspective. It was so hard to watch my little brother suffer like he did, but God brought my family out of it stronger than ever. Of course we asked the "Why" questions, but God has shown us over and over again that He didn't cause the situation, He made good from the bad. Kicking Satan's sorry butt all the way through it. Each time we climb over something it gets us a little father up that mountain so we can see the beautiful valleys below- and each time we become more and more enamored by God when we look down and see that He brought us through each bit, one step at a time. And that those "bits" have shaped us and molded us into the beautiful , crazy wonders that we are today.

Morihei Ueshiba - “Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher.”


Aldous Huxley - “My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.”

People Watching away

I'm sitting here at church at 9:00 on a Wednesday morning and there is SO MUCH going on on my head! Firstly, you should know I'm a people watcher. I love trying to guess what things may have gone on in a persons' life just by looking at them. Right now I'm looking at a young mom with two young, adorable, blond boys. One looks like he's around 11 and the other is probably only 4. The youngest one has the cutest little voice and facial expressions. They are doing some kind of school- it sounds like a type of history. I couldn't help but think what a wonderful and exciting time this must be for the mom- to get to challenge and teach your children may be a task, but oh, how wonderful a task! God has put moms and dads in charge of actually raising a soul- a Child of God. How peculiar that our Jesus trusts us to take care of His children. I cannot wait until God blesses me with such a responsibility.





If you have or have had children, remember to be thankful for this blessing, God trusts YOU. He Designated you for this child specifically. You are CHOSEN.

The Lying Game

So I promised everyone that I would write everyday. I haven't been very true to that promise, mostly for lack of something to say. Do I actually have something worth while to express? Will anybody read my posts anyway? Doubts. Lies. All to easy to believe.

I find myself believing lies in every area of my life. My body. My mind. People's intentions. Even my personality. These lies are eroding to me. They chip away at my entire being until I finally find myself in a sort of bog. And the scary part? i don't even realize that I'm believing them.

Today, go and ask God to show you the lies you are believing. Ask him to reveal them to you. Mostly hiding in plain sight- the Devil works subtly. Know the enemy. Create a battle plan. Have you seen the fashion industry lately? Satan has worked so subtly over the years that now we have half naked women in malls where anybody could see them. He works through commercials and icons to tell us how ugly we are. He tells us that we have to lose more weight, get bigger eyes, fuller lips, higher hair. NO! That is not how God created us. We are made in His image! How glorious that he formed us with His fingers to absolute perfection. We get into trouble when we mess it up with chemicals or depriving our bodies of nutrients because we're trying to lose weight....in order to look like some else!

My sister and I after a day at the lake- no make-up! 

YOU are beautiful! Whoever you are. God is impressed with you. He is proud of His work. You are jewel. If you feel sad or empty today, know that I am sending you loves and hugs! I love you.

Love, Bethany

Nutiva Hemp Shakes

This stuff is the bees KNEES! This fantastic, all organic, shake is packed with insoluble fiber from hemp and soluble fiber from inulin for good digestion. One serv ing provides 11 grams of raw organic fiber. (Fiber helps you to digest food properly and keeps you thin) Hempseed is one of God's most amazing superfoods! Hemp contains all 8 essential amino acids and the bonus fatty-acids! This stuff tastes wonderful and is fabulous for breakfast lunch or dinner! I have fallen in love with this greatness- go out and get yourself some! Go to http://nutivahempshake.com/berry.htm for more info. This is great!


~bethany

Surrender

              Hello world! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted- alot has been going on.
Yesterday at 2:00 AM we dropped my twin sister, Alyssa, and my Dad off at the airport! They are going to Costa Rica to teach First Aid and CPR to the natives there as well as providing Bibles for each home. It has been an interesting experience thus far so we'll see how the rest goes! When one of my family members goes on a missions trip- the whole family is involved, so the last several weeks have been entirely focused on this trip. We're pretty much pooped over here! But they are safely in Costa Rica right now and will be back at the beginning of June :)
             This trip has been such an opportunity to put everything in God's hands. I think that so often we surrender all of the easy things and situations but quietly hold back the important things in our lives. It's not always a war of wills, sometimes we just don't realize that we are still holding back. It is so important to constantly be asking God what we need to surrender to Him- because He is the only one who can show us :)
I hope you all remember, today, to surrender to God- everything situation and every person. Blessings to all of you!

~Bethany

Post-Prom

So everyone knows that prom has come and gone but still; I'd like to show you some gnar-gnar nail designs done by yours truly :)
                               

Abby's nails #1

Abby's Nails #2  (Before we took off the polish around the nails- sorry :/)

Simple and elegant lace nails 

Still very classy but with a little more pizazz! 

There is SO much you can do with some nail polish and a steady hand! Maybe next time I'll be able to post some designs before prom :p

Sunburns and Sweet Alternatives

So, I was talking to a friend this morning and she was saying how she got this gnarly sunburn but didn't have any Aloe Vera to cool her burning skin- people there is so much more that you can use besides Aloe to soothe you're burnt skin (ew, burnt skin- that's a lot grosser sounding than I thought it would be)!  Look to your fridge for sour cream- it not only helps to relieve the burn but it will brighten your skin as well ;) Or if you just happen to have a banana you're not using- mash it up and rub it on your sunburned area! Also if you have anything with eucalyptus in it, that will help too. Remember, there are always things in your fridge to help with anything you need!

Here's a quicky blogget

     So here's a little bit about myself- I'm not a writer. I love talking, but for some reason when I try to put my thoughts down on paper it comes out like gobblygoop :p  And yet I want so badly to share with you all of the weird and helpful things I have learned and loved over the last few years- be it mayonnaise in your hair for conditioner, honey on your lips for chap-stick, fun hair styles and make-up tutorials or just some encouragement to help you through your day. From my heart to yours be blessed! 

   You know how some days you feel like you've accomplished soooooo much?? I've had one of those days! I am now the official owner of Oo Oo Feathers! I'm selling beautiful, hand-made feather earrings that are funky and fun :) You can like Oo Oo Feathers on Facebook if you feel the urge :D

Here's a preview of my earrings and my super beautiful twin- 

Feather Earrings and Sweet dreams,

                  Bethany <3