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

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~

Well, get ready to read...

Well, I was going to do a long post about what I have been up to lately, (not much, I assure you) but, I decided to spare you the boredom. Instead, I am just going to say that I am thoroughly enjoying watching Monsters Inc. with my siblings right now. (This is one of the scary movies we watch at our house. We had to fast forward the whole beginning...) And on a random note, I was very surprised to learn how many people I know actually read my blog. The Akbar video for example, some people would be like, " I saw that video your blog..." (with various mixed facial expressions)  then I would be like, "Oh yeah! Funny, huh? Wait... you read my blog?" (cough, cough, sheepish smile...) And on another random note, I finished the book, 'Scottish Chiefs' by Jane Porter, and then watched 'Braveheart'. Totally loved it! As always, the book was better, and William Wallace, well, he's awesome! Then, I started the 'Mark of the Lion' series by Francine Rivers and I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!!! I finished the 1st book in like 2 days and I am almost done with the 2nd. I'll have to save the 3rd for the plane ride to Ethiopia..... It is a captivating series and totally grips and moves the reader. I not only like to read historical fiction, but I like writing it too, so it's fun to read and grab little tips from here and there. I guess I am kinda rambling on now, so I will stop. I think I might snatch some of the popcorn my brother just popped and watch American Idol...
BTW This will probably be the last blog post until I get back from Ethiopia! I am so excited, and AFRAID. But the good thing is, the more I am afraid, the more I can trust in Jesus, with my personal needs, spiritual needs, and any other nasty fear that decides to latch onto my brain. If you would please pray for our team while we are gone, it would be so awesome. God truly does listen to us, and knows what we need, even before we ask. Please pray for our hearts, to be prepared to not follow our own agendas, but look to others needs before our own, and that we can be shining lights to the people we will be meeting, and that God will open other peoples hearts if we have chances to share the gospel. Also for the language barrier, my cousin Ja Ja encouraged me about that the other night. She reminded me that even when we don't speak the same language, Christ's love can still bleed through our every action and motive. And also for personal health and travel complications. We are going to be fellowshipping with beautiful group of believers, and I am rejoicing that I will have a chance to sing with the nations!
Sorry for rambling, and thanks for reading. (or skimming the page, stopping at the interesting parts.... same difference. smile....)
~Bugg~

Here is a random picture of me that you might find amusing. Yea, there really isn't any suitable caption for that. But if you think of one, comment!

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~