This Puzzle called Life

I spent much of today working on a puzzle left on my dining room table. I managed to finish it a few hours ago. Now as I sit and think about it, its kind of like life. In life there are so many pieces. Every one unique. Many times as we go along, it feels as if though someone threw all the pieces on the floor and we're scrambling to find them all again. Then it feels like pieces are missing and we do anything and everything to find them. As we work our way through our life puzzle we may get sections of it done here and there. We can see bigger glimpses of the final puzzle but still not all of it. Sometimes the pieces can be very deceiving. You think they fit in one area of your life when they really fit in another. Sometimes you just need other pieces to make certain ones fit. Then, finally when the puzzle is finished you can see the big picture. You can see and understand how all those pieces worked. How they were important in achieving the final picture.
The great thing about the puzzle of our life? God is the one putting it together. Not us. God is putting every piece together in the way they were designed to be. He knows which piece fits where, which pieces don't and he already knows the bigger picture. When we try to take over and put the puzzle together ourselves, it doesn't come out right. But, when we finally just fully let go and just say, "God, You are in control. You know how my life is going to go and you know how to put the pieces together. I'm handing it all over to You." Then we have that peace knowing that God IS in control! He always is. The small sections of the puzzle may be rough, but with God, you'll get through them. Then one day we'll be able to look and see how perfectly God has placed the pieces. I'm so glad its not in my hands. I make enough mistakes in the small areas of life. So tonight, I'm letting go of the puzzle pieces in my hands, and I'm placing them in God's hands; fully trusting God to do, what only He can do.

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness!!! I get to go to a Jonas Brothers concert tomorrow!!!!!!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM AND DAD!!!! If you couldn't tell, I'M SUPER EXCITED!!!!!!!!!! I'll be sure to write all about it afterwards!!! Goodness gracious I am so excited!!!!! Demi Lovato is going to be there too!!!! Well, Avril Lavigne will be too but I'm not quite as excited about that. But, it's still going to ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, be on the look out for the post afterwards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Bloggergirl24

Our Trip!

Alright, so now that I'm back from my week away I guess its time to fill all of your wonderful bloggers in!!

DAY 1: Driving Day
Day 1 was definitely not the most fun day of the trip. We picked my mom up after last service and hit the road!! It was a pretty long trip but we made it!! We managed to arrive at about 10:30 est. time. Our cabin was way up there over hills and through winding roads. And it was dark. We made a few wrong turns. It was interesting.

DAY 2: Get settled, Check everything out.
We all slept in on Day 2 after our late night. Then we headed over to the Old Mill for an early lunch. We got a window seat on the upper level. It was an amazing view!! We could see the water, ducks, and pigeons were flying right outside the window!! I had the grilled chicken on a bed of rice with mashed potatoes and green beans. Very good. Plus the corn chowder and corn fritters you get with your meal. Next we visited the General store next door. Then we went to Ripley's Old MacDonald's Farm mini-golf with my grandparents. That was a lot of fun! Its interactive and has talking sheep, horses, cows, rats, and pigs!! Even flying pigs!!! For dinner we ate at Johnny Carrino's. DELICIOUS!!! Then we hit the Marble Slab creamery (or slabbery as my uncle calls it.) and then headed back to the cabin for the night.

DAY 3: Dollywood
On day 3 we went to Dollywood! So much fun! Although, I must say watching my uncle and cousin ride some of the big roller coasters was almost more fun than actually riding! I did ride the train and River Battle. You should have seen how soaked we were! It looked like we took a shower!! (Pictures will probably follow soon!!) After Dollywood we grabbed some sandwiches from McAllister's deli and headed back to the cabin to get cleaned up.

DAY 4: Shopping
Day 4 consisted of lots of shopping. We visited Old Navy (where I got lots of clothes =D ) and some other stores my mom wanted to go to. We also played another round of mini-golf with my grandparents! We ate at the Bullfish for dinner. It was VERY VERY VERY good!!!

DAY 5: Cade's Cove/Gaitlinburg
On day 5 we were up early and headed over to Cade's cove. It was really pretty. We saw tons of deer and a few babies too. And a couple of turkeys. The highlight of the Cade's Cove trip though, was when we were driving along when suddenly a huge buck jumped out of the trees, right into the road, right in front of us!!! It was really cool!! The buck just walked in front of us over the large field on the other side! (Again, pictures to come soon) Then we went to Gaitlinburg and ate at Bubba Gumps. It was OK. Then we walked up and down the streets of Gaitlinburg. My sister and dad went to the aquarium and my mom and I went to Ripley's Believe it or Not museum. It was very interesting. We ate at the Applewood Farmhouse with my grandparents.

DAY 6: NASCAR!!!
This was our last day so we tried to pack in everything left we wanted to do. We also went the NASCAR speedpark with my uncle and cousin. Sadly, he beat me. All 3 races. haha. He's quite the racer!! That night we ate our last meal on vacation at the Bullfish with my grandparents and Aunt, Uncle and two cousins. Then we went into one of those tacky souvenir shops and my sister and I got air brushed shirts. Then back to the cabin to pack.

DAY 7: Parting is such sweet sorrow
On Day 7 we ate a good breakfast at IHOP then hit the road! So this day was also a lot of driving. When we hit Kentucky though it got scary. Storm clouds rolled in and it looked like it was going to tornado. I was very scared. But, God got us through it and we made it home!

Our cabin was very nice to. Many, many pool games, air hockey games, and Guitar Hero battles took place in the basement!

Alright, I'm sorry for the monstrous post! But, when you're gone for 7 days, a lot of things happen!!

So, that's all from me for now! I'll try to have pictures up as soon as I can!!!

~~BLOG ON!!!~~

Happy 4th!!

I can't believe I haven't said this yet....

I was Asleep

This blog is sort of in a way a reply to my last blog, "Open up my Eyes". This evening was another amazing service at M.H. As my uncle Greg got up and began giving the challenge at the end his words hit me and I was like, "Hello!" They made me think back to my previous blog and I realized an awful thought. My eyes weren't just shut, it was far worse: I was asleep. That's scary. I don't want to live my life asleep to all the good things God has for me and the plans He has for me. I'm awake now. My alarm is blaring, 5:14...5:14...5:14. I'm done sleeping and just dreaming, I'm ready to be awake and alert and living out the great plans God has for me. Forget living life on the sidelines not fully aware of my surroundings. It's time to get into the game.

Open Up My Eyes

Have you ever had one of those, 'Duh!' moments? I know I sure have! The past couple of days haven't been much different either. I mean, I get so caught up in the bad stuff in life I completely miss the good. I'm too absorbed in that car crash on the news, that bad grade, that injury, illness, and the list goes on and on. When, in reality, most of those bad things don't matter much. Of course there are bigger things that happen that do really make you feel bad. But a lot of the time there small things that really aren't worth your worry. I know how bad I get about that. Fortunately, I have recently had the privilege to sit and talk with a good friend and it really opened my eyes. It made me really stop and think about my life and how it's so much better than I think. I realized just how many blessings God has placed in my life. I mean, so many great friends from church, so many fun evenings I've gotten to spend with my family and at the ball games. I'm in good health, I have a roof over my head, clothes to wear, food to eat, friends and family, what else could I need? All the rest of the stuff I think I need is most likely want not necessity. I'll have to learn that lesson in time...(I'm working on it!) So, what I'm really trying to say here, is OPEN YOUR EYES! Don't miss out on all the good stuff God has placed in your life and all of the good stuff He's doing in your life! When you open your eyes to all those blessings it will blow your mind! I know it blew mine!

I'm At it Again!

Okay...So I'm at it again! Writing another story! So, of course, I'm going to post it for you all. This one is another lyric-infused story. This song is A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton! So, enjoy! Let me know what you think!

A Thousand Miles

Makin’ my way downtown
Walking fast
Faces pass
And I’m home bound

Lacey couldn’t see. Her vision was blurred with tears. Her nose ran uncontrollably. The icy December air bit at every inch of exposed skin. Her tears felt like ice frozen on her face. Her fingers were numb, her lips blue. She was probably quite a sight to the others she passed on her way through town but she could care less. They had their own problems and she had hers. She could only focus on her own at that moment. Hate and anger consumed her body into a rage. She flung herself against a building then fell into a heap on the ground. Her body convulsed with her steady sobs. Then as quickly as the anger filled her, it left her. Now she was left scared and upset. She picked herself up and continued on her way.

Staring blankly ahead
Just making my way
Making my way
Through the crowd

She reached the thick part of town. People were jammed onto every possible spot on the sidewalks. Lacey pushed her way through, not excusing her self in doing so. She forged through one way, and then shoved her way through the other. She received many glares and some choice words but she didn’t take notice to any of them. She kept her focus ahead. She was just determined to get home.

And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder…

She reached the outskirts of the city and slowed her pace. She thought back to just hours earlier. She sat through a funeral service, her family members surrounding her. Not a dry face could be found. People she didn’t even know had shown up to give her their condolences. She had slightly smiled to acknowledge their kindness then looked away. She was in no mood for small talk with strangers. As soon as it was over she grabbed her coat and scarf and left. She called to her family that she would meet them at the house. None of them argued with her to stay. Smart family.

If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time,
Would pass us by?

She found a park bench and sat on it. How could this have happened? How could have her mother just died like that? It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that she had to lose her mother, her best friend, at just 15 years of age. Who would she go to when she needed to talk? Had a guy problem? Or just simply needed some one-on-one girl talk. Her dad? As much as she loved him, conversations about some things just wouldn’t be the same, and slightly awkward. Her best friends? Of course she had them but the bond between them just wasn’t the same as the bond between her and her mother. She loved all of her family and friends dearly but nothing was going to be the same ever again. She just wished she could simply sit there forever and forget the world. Forget time. Forget every pain and heartache she had ever gone through. Life just seemed so unfair.

I’d walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you
Tonight.

As strong as her desire to sit and forget the world was, just as strong was her desire to run. Run so hard it felt like her lungs would burst. Running like that would help take some of the pain away. Get her mind off things. But she had nowhere to run. She lived in a city. She almost decided on running in circles. Anything was better than nothing at that point. She would have run forever if it would bring her mother back. Or at least brought her close. Close enough to reach out and touch her, to hug her last one time, to actually say goodbye. It was the simplest thing that would do so much for her at that moment. The one thing she had been deprived of.

It’s always times like these
When I think of you
And I wonder
If you ever think of me

It had been six long months since her mother’s death. The pain was finally beginning to fade. All the same, it was still there. It was warm June afternoon and Lacey was walking around the park. The same one she had come to the night of her mother’s funeral. It had become her “spot”. It was her place of refuge, where she felt safe and protected. She would just sit and breathe. Something she needed desperately to do to stay sane. It made her feel refreshed and more alive then before she had come. She always left wondering though, if somehow, somewhere, her mother was still watching her.

‘Cause everything’s so wrong
And I don’t belong
Living in your precious memories

The moving on part during those six months was hard for Lacey. It was near impossible. Cooking Christmas dinner without her mother just didn’t feel right; the gingerbread men lost their taste, the ham was too dry. Christmas morning held no joy, no excitement. They had always been a Christian family but after their mother’s death, they had all forgotten the real reason for the season. Lacey woke up Christmas morning impassive and barely there. By mid March life had begun to return to normal. Then by June it was as if her mother never existed. That thought killed Lacey inside. She kept quiet though. She didn’t want to bring back that black cloud that had hung over them for so long.

It’s always times like these
When I think of you
And I wonder if you ever think of me

Lacey had returned back to the park one late July evening. Happy, precious memories of her mother floated through her mind. She sat on her usual bench, although there was another woman on the opposite end. Lacey minded her own business, and the lady did the same. Lindsay sighed as a gentle, steady rain began to fall from the gray skies. The lady got up and headed for shelter. She offered Lacey her umbrella since she was returning inside. Lacey politely declined and the woman left. Lacey noticed a small folded piece of paper on the side of the bench that the lady had recently occupied. She reached over and grabbed it before it received more rain damage. She turned to call after the lady but she was already gone. Lacey carefully opened it up. A bible verse was scrawled across it. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10
Lacey smiled. So she was being watched. Not by her mother but by God. He cared about her no matter what. He was there for her no matter what. He had been with her the entire time. Why hadn’t she realized that before? She pushed the thought aside. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t thought of it before, it mattered that she realized it now. She got up from the bench with an added spring her step. The rain had stopped and the clouds were parting. Lacey began her journey back home. The journey that once seemed like a thousand miles. Now, it was like nothing. She moved quickly as she had some very important things she needed to remind her family. This time instead of that black cloud though, she was bringing the sun.