Just for Fun and Stuff

I'm just going to put down for the blogging record that this post is a brain ramble that I am doing just on a complete whim for the fun of it.
I have come to the conclusion that often I  (even unconsciously) do things like write, speak, dress, converse and act in a 'people-pleasing' sort of manner.
I find myself acting in a way contrary to my own personality just because I want to fit in with the people around me.
But God sees the heart.
Not the outward actions.
If I look perfect on the outside, but on the inside all I worry about is my next outfit, how to speak so I come across as witty and intelligent and do all things to glorify myself in the eyes of man, what good is that?
I want to my life to be glorifying to God starting from the inside and working out.
Because honestly, who cares what the world thinks? 
Not God.
As believers we are have citizenship elsewhere. This is not our universe and we are here for only a short while.
So....don't be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Yell it from the rooftops. (okay, maybe not, but you get the picture)
I know I need to be better about speaking the words of life. Not just thinking that smiling and being courteous to people is the equivalent of witnessing face to face about the wrath of God that condemns all mankind to hell and the amazing grace of redemption He has given. And I am really honestly talking to myself, because I NEED to do this. I am not sharing the gospel like I should because the fear of man is holding me back. How foolish that looks as I write it, and it's humbling.
That I wouldn't take every opportunity to sing praise to the wonderful, faithful, gracious, redeeming God that created the universe just because I am afraid of the response a mere person may give me. ugh.
 the fickleness of my flesh. I don't know if you ever realize it, but I know I find my human nature to be quite aggravating in many different situations.

However, I don't to bore you with my frustrations.
 I would much rather dwell on the creativity of God.
HIS CREATIVE GENIUS IS SO UNFATHOMABLY AMAZING.
(that really did all have to be in caps)

 The frailty and fragrance of a freshly bloomed spring flower.
He invented that. And created it.

Hands.
He made those too.

Jellyfish.
I have a strange infatuation with these creatures. I think they are such a testimony to God's intelligence in designing all things.

Sunsets and rises.
Every detail, our God attends to. From the rising of the sun to it's sinking into the horizon, He controls all things.

Love. God is love. Although He is a jealous God who has fiery wrath and is full of justice, there is a time when we need to stop. And just dwell in the lavishes of His mercy on His children and the love He poured out through His son. Because it is a beautiful thing.

~Bugg

Ready?

Well, after thinking for awhile, I decided to blog once again. I would apologize for the delay, but I do think it's quite past that point. I'd much rather spend my time writing new things than back-tracking and side-tracking; accounting for all the reasons I haven't blogged for almost the past year.
It seemed quite necessary to freshen up the place though! :)
I really am just going to jump back into this, and try to be regular about writing because it is simply so thrilling and enjoyable.
Fall is really wrapping up around here and I rather wish it wasn't, because I love this season so very much. I've been in the mood for apple cider and pumpkin cookies lately....maybe this weekend....and not to mention chai tea! It's one of my favorite things to drink while trucking away at school....What I really can't wait for though, is pie season. I absolutely LOVE making homemade pies. Seriously, it puts me in my happy place. Right up there with gardening and canning. And reading, and writing and cake decorating.....
God is so good to give us autumn as a picture of the wonderful creativity He has. It's like the universe is His canvas and he's not only drawing beautiful masterpieces, but filling them with colors so gorgeous I could yell and jump for joy! What a glorious Father we have. It makes me want to desire Him even more than I do now. I never ever ever ever in a thousand million years want to think that I could stop learning about God. Sometimes, my heart goes through periods of not longing as fiercely as I want it to, and reading the Bible and seeking Him out can be hard. But isn't it wonderful that He pursues us? Even when I'm being a disobedient, rebellious child He still loves, and He still seeks after my soul. How amazing.

We've been up to so much lately, from pumpkin patches with friends and couuuuuuuuuusins, school, costume parties, plays (my sister starred as Cosette in Les Mis....and totally ROCKED it!), bible studies, and much more....

 Oh boy. Gotta love those crazy pictures...we seriously didn't get a single 'perfect' one, something about the hands on the chin...but honestly, I think I enjoy the real life pictures better, they're much more meaningful. :)

 The Oggie is about an inch away from being taller than me, and he's all the sudden mr. strong guy. I like to take advantage of the piggy-back rides...I figure he owes me for all I years I gave them to him!

 Our halloween costumes this year...(left to right: clown, 50's girl, hippy, 50's girl, the cutest lion in the whole world and Flash)

 We've already had our first snow....I love it!

 More to come....hopefully sooner than later!
~Bugg

The best of friends

It may sound crazy, but God has given me enormous gifts through my siblings.
It may sound crazy because at times things don't feel right.
Sometimes things go painfully wrong.
I can be a pain in the neck, and so can they.
Other times, we're all just plain irritable.
Sometimes living life with my brothers and sisters can feel like trying to put together a puzzle, but all the pieces are discombobulated and turned topsy-turvy.
Despite all this, these relationships are priceless, precious and unforgettable.
Because God has a plan.

We laugh and giggle,

We teach each other,

We get silly and crazy,

They've given me doses of humility,
Oodles of laughter,
Heartaches and Headaches,
I don't know what I'd do without them.
We balance each other out,

We still have a long way to go,
And a lot of learning to do.
Even though sometimes I want to quit,
to move on and forget,
I know God never, ever, ever leaves or forsakes.
And that He will give me and my siblings the grace to build relationships with each other to His glory.
Oh, I have the best of friends in them, and I love the way God has pieced us all together.
~Bugg

A post with no particular title.....

Although I really don't have anything to write about, I will attempt an interesting post. :)
We have had some birthdays around my house....
Dash turned 10! He is growing into such a fine young man, and has a gentle, helpful spirit. One of his presents was a box drum, and it will be fun to hear him refine that jazzy sense of rhythm he already has! :)

My dear momma's birthday is up next, as it is tomorrow. She is so wonderful and I am blessed to have her as my mom. Even though we are different, God has used her to teach me and refine me and I look forward to many years of friendship!

  And lastly in March is JBear! He seriously the coolest 6 (soon to be 7) year old I know. His dance moves, are...unexplainable....His laugh is contagious and he keeps us in constant stitches!

This is his most common face....cool right? (Makes me laugh....but we literally hardly have a single photo where he doesn't look like this...) :)
Anywhoooo.... to completely change gears....God has really been showing me that I need to pray more. My 20 minute morning quiet time just doesn't cut it if I really want to know God. I don't want to forget the amazing amazing wonderful fantastic marvelous things Christ has done for me. And while I was completely undeserving he died for me! If I desire to know Him more, I need to be seeking him out. Casting my cares on him in the mundane everyday, trusting Him with everything. What in this world is mine to keep and hold onto for comfort anyway? Everything I have, I have received from God! Therefore, I want to be thanking Him for the blessings I have in my life, from legs that can walk, to a kitchen I can cook in. Not only thanking Him in things that are blessings, but seeking out how I can thank Him and praise Him in situations that seems sticky, icky and gross. How can I thank him when I don't get my school done? How can I thank Him when a sibling is annoying me? How can I thank Him when I totally blow it? I want to remember God in my everyday life, because without Christ, what is my life?

Another total switch of gears, but to end the post, but here is some awesome classical music!!!

 Signing off for now!!
~Bugg

Growing up...

Lou Lou: 6 months

Lou Lou: 2 years

~Bugg~

Grandparents :)

My great-grandparents on their wedding day about 60 years ago.

I just had to share a couple of the stories my great-grandparents told us when we visited them. It cracks me up to hear their stories, and I think my family cracks them up as well!

{~As told by my Great-Grandma~}
When we lived at our house down by the river, their was an old abandoned shed down the way. Now, I think that it had lots of little critters in it, and since nobody was using it, they burned it down. Well, there sure was a family or two of snakes living in there, cause I walked out on the porch the next day, and their was snakes everywhere! They covered the bushes and and front lawn and the entire porch. Now, the girls were at school, and dad was workin'. Now you know, we didn't have cell phone in those days, so I couldn't call dad, so, I grabbed the dandelion weeder, and started stabbing them. I killed 73 snakes. I'd stab 'em, them pick 'em up and throw them in the driveway. Now, you now, snakes don't just die and not move, they wriggle and wriggle and then they stop. So when I was done, I had a driveway full of dead, wriggly, snakes. The End 

{~As told by my Great-Grandpa~}
When I was a little kid, we had lots of cats. Now, there was this one cat, it didn't have a name, but it was my favorite. I loved this cat, and we played together all the time. We also had a big woodpile next to our house for our stove. And this woodpile was filled with mice. Lots of mice. So, my mom told me to bring my cat out there and eat the mice. So, I brought her out, and said, "Go get 'em. Eat up those mice. And so she ate the mice, then fell over and died.
Then End

There's a bit out doubtfulness about that last story, but it's claimed to be true, so, believe it or not.....So, there's your story for the day! And I hope you found them as strangely amusing as I did!
~Bugg

Just for you!!!

This post is entirely about and dedicated to Belle. Her blog is HERE.
We were joking the other night about doing blog posts about each other. And, even thought she beat me to it, I am not going to let this opportunity slip through my fingers. Belle is my awesome 2nd cousin, (and to steal her words) starting to feel more like an older sister. She is hilarious, smart and thoughtful. We always have a ton of fun together, whether it be tubing, watching cooking shows or doing homework with magnetic stickers and lots of twizzlers... :) (long story) she is an amazing cook, and a great friend. She is a good sport about a lot of things, from 3 older brothers to a weird cousin who at one point was obsessed with barbies.  She is a great role model, especially in the way she loves Christ. She is a bright light in this fallen world, and stands out for her savior.  She is definitely someone I totally look up to. And she is crazy, giggly, funny, totally odd, and can be blonde at times. But with that being said, she is also reserved (sometimes) and very smart. I love her so much!!!
Awkward Koala....SQUIRREL!!
~Bugg

Wanderings

Africa. My mind has been wandering to Africa. I'll smell something and a vivid memory floods back, feel the sun, close my eyes, and I could almost return. One particular image remains impressed on my mind though, and I hope it stays forever ......Every time you stepped onto the hard ground, puffs of  red, thick dust would envelope your feet. The breeze hung in the air, and the heat was sweltering. A sweet little boy grabbed my hand and gave me a heart melting smile. The little girl I was holding took out my ponytail and started running her dirty, skinny fingers through my hair. Another girl looked at me longingly as she held up some string and beads, wanting me to bead with her. "Oh Lord," I thought to myself, "You have blessed me so much, giving me the opportunity to be with these precious children of yours, and serve in this way." Suddenly a strange horn sound rung through the city. The islamic call to prayer. I turned my head towards the blue sky and saw the large, black vultures swarming through the air. The sun beat fiercely and the horn buzzed through your every thoughts. "But," I I thought to myself, "Even though this is a country cornered by islam, God is at work here! He is so very present. Thank you Jesus for this time we are here and Lord, please grant salvation to the beautiful children I am so very blessed to be with today." I let breath slowly escape my mouth and bent over to help tie somebody's balloon animal. I pulled a little friend onto the swing with me, and some little boys came over and pushed us. The little girl who I was beading with earlier came over and gave the picture she had just finished coloring..... Oh I miss this place. God used (and is still using) this trip to refine me. If I can serve him in Africa, I can serve him in America. I find myself failing in so many ways. As a daughter, a sister, a friend...ect. ect... But God is constantly reminding me that he loves me. I am a daughter of the King. He is refining me, and it hurts. I don't like it, but he knows what is best for me, he holds my future, and I have to trust this. He keeps the universe together, and he sees every sparrow that falls to the ground. I want to serve him. I want to share this love he's given me with others. He is the potter, I am the clay. I want to be a weak, dingy old vessel, so that I can better show off what is inside of me. The treasure, my savior and friend. And someday, in heaven I will be perfected in Him. His perfect love casts out all my fears. I can cast my worries on him and praise him for that! Oh, I love him. And I want to be more like him. He is perfect, and I am not. I sin, I stumble, I fall, ugh. But he forgives, supports and lifts up. And he teaches. He is teaching me through so many things how imperfect I am, how much I have to work on. To make myself look less important and make him my all in all. Thank you Jesus for dying for me, and rising again!! Thank you for clothing me with your righteousness and grace, saving me from an eternity apart from you.
Thanks all for listening to my mind's wanderings......
~Bugg~

I love my siblings!

I just took some spring pics of all my siblings, and they turned out BEAUTIFUL!! Oh my, I love them all sooooo much! Have a great weekend!
~Bugg~

Random-itus

Sometimes I get into the mood to post random things.  So, here are some random things to make a hodge podge post. (Whether it is interesting or not I will leave up to you...)

Trying to explain this picture would be a bit difficult :) Let's just say Daddy and I always have fun playing with the ipad...

 This is me on vacation with my awesome cousin Belle. She is so cool... Her birthday is tomorrow too, so happy bday cousin! She and I always have fun together, and I look up to her like a sister. :)

                                                         I LOVE her music...

 My dad took us on a hike, and I thought this picture turned out pretty good for an iphone...

OH, my... I love this little stinker. She is funny, naughty, cute, loving, and just so Lillers. I love her so bad.
Okay, so at orchestra the other day, my good friend said this and I totally am going to start using this..."Don't listen to what I say, listen to what I mean." That fits me because sometimes words sound great in my head or look good on paper, but do not come out right.

Here is probably the most random thing though. We have the First season of the original Muppet show, and the kids thought this was HILARIOUS. I must say, it totally gave me the giggles the first time too.
 Well, I'm signing off now. We are on our way to see our cousins for Easter, and I am excited!!! I am sitting in a hotel bed right now blogging while my brother is next to me playing Angry Birds, and my 4 younger siblings are watching Mickey Mouse. Ha, Ha, only on spring break...Well, Maybe see you later, but if not, Happy Easter. Jesus is ALIVE!!!

~Bugg~

Another long post :)

And you didn't think I would post again before I left for Africa.....shame, shame....But, here I am!!! Anyway, I was just going to post some things that have so greatly encouraged me in like the past 24 hours.
#1.) God. He is so awe filling. I can't get enough of Him. This trip is already stretching me in ways I never would have thought and very much showing me how much I unintentionally exclude
God in my day to day life. And I'm not even out of the country yet!

#2.) The scripture. Oh yes, convicting, but comforting at the same time.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
    Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:9-21 ESV)
Ahhhhhhh... there goes a sigh of frustration and joy, because I KNOW I am not like this all the time. Sin just latches onto me, and if I give the slightest inclination that I am giving in, it sinks its nasty claws in deeper and fill me with the nastiest poison. Fear will gnaw at my mind, creating a void of unknowing-ness, but I have HOPE!!! I will rejoice with my savior because he crushed the serpents head, and defeated death! And I want to be like Jesus. Oh so badly I want to be like him. And so this verse gives me joy because I can follow his example and be a servant of all. I want to abhor what is evil, and cling to what is good. God is so powerful and merciful he can take the dirty, dingy sinner that I am, and polish me and sand me down, and refine me into vessel  fit to serve in his kingdom.

#3.) My friends. Oh my. God has given such good friends that fill me with buckets of joy! I can just giggle thinking about them. And Sunshine, my 'sister' friend, is going to Africa with me! Her brothers left a awesome comment on the last post, and that was so sweet to read... Thanks guys! And then my friend Noah gave an awesome card yesterday and reminded me that God picks me up when I am down, and shows me his love. Thanks Noah! My friend Z is such a witness to me, and her servanthood and love towards the people she is serving right now is such a testimony to Christ. I want to have her ability to die to self someday. And then there are all my other friends and that is  so many people that that I could probably just write a whole blog on them all. :)

#4.) This quote: "God has called us into the joyous ministry of giving His love away to others." ~Don Lessin.

#5.) My mommy and dad. I LOVE them. They are such a blessing in my life, and now that I am going to a place where not a lot kids have mom or dad, I am just beginning to realize how much they really mean to me.

Well, I could probably write more, but because I already wrote one lengthy post this week, I'll free you of the reading and sign off now. I am about 99.99% sure that this is the last post before I come back from Africa, but there is always the .01% chance, so, goodbye for now!!
~Bugg~

My sweet sister!

I have 2 sisters, one who is 7 (Erna) and one who is 18 months (Lou Lou). Right now I am in my room and Lou Lou is sitting in my huge chair (I call it a birds nest) watching Elmo. Her soft cheeks are so warm and her hair is messy and all she is wearing is a onesie. I LOVE HER!!! She just relaxes on my lap and leans against my chest and her little fingers will tap on my leg or pull on my necklaces, and she'll look at me like, "Well, what in the world is this?" God is so good to give me a beautiful baby sister, and I don't know how I am going to leave her for over a week when I am in Ethiopia. :( I love being a big sister (even though it can be super difficult) and I hope someday when I grow up I hope I can be a mommy who loves Jesus so much and can spill His love all over my kids!

That is probably the worst picture of me ever taken, but that's what we do, her and I! :)

She is so stinkin' cute! And just in case you felt left out that you don't get to sit and watch Elmo too, here is one of my favs...

~Bugg~

Happy Valentines Day!

Yes, it's here once again! A day pretty much focused on love, candy, secret admirers, cards, hearts and did I mention candy? So, in honor of this day, I will post some things that I love. :) <3

1. My Daddy writing all my lesson plans and for history letting me watch Braveheart! (Not until Friday, but I am excited!)
2. My sound of my mom in the kitchen flipping french toast and making hot chocolate this morning....mmmm.....

3. My brothers scooping freshly fallen snow in the driveway, and Erna's drawings and Lil's obsession with Elmo. (She is soooo cute. Here, maybe a picture would be good....)

4. Sore fingers and a blistered thumb from learning the guitar.

5. Raising money and shopping for my trip to Ethiopia!!! It is coming up in like a month!!!

6. Verse like Isaiah 18 when I am nervous or afraid. (especially of traveling overseas, new places, strange languages and new foods)

7. The book, 'The Scottish Chiefs' Oh my! Such a good book!! It goes along with the movie Braveheart, (William Wallace) except more romance and stuff. But still lots and lots and lots of battle chapters.....

8. Silent Movies with Sunshine. :)

(The Artist, I totally recommend it! The whole time we were watching it, these old ladies were making the funniest comments like, "Oh! This movie needs sound! and trying to predict what would happen next.)

9. My cousin being done with basic training! Yea Popeye!!

10. Long nights of sleep, and waking up to a crisp winter morning.

11. Nature hikes with my dad and siblings. (Sorry, the pictures aren't on the computer yet....)

12. The pageview tracker on blogger (When you don't get any comments, it is nice to know people still read your blog! smile......)

13. Knowing that my God is so much bigger than any fears or problems that you have. And that compared to heaven the trials of this world are trivial. What a friend we have in Jesus!!!

14. The stars!

Yes, those are the stars! And God knows each one by name.

15. This video

Have a fantastic Valentines Day, and eat lots of chocolate, and spend time with your valentine (if you have one....) Or join me in realizing just how many blessings I have to love, and that loving people includes your enemies, your siblings, your neighbor, everybody!!! That is convicting for me.....Because I know that loving is easy when people are loving you, but to love those who hate you with the love that Christ loved me is HARD!
~Bugg~