Room 20.

Today, I had planned to blog about shin splints and blisters and oddly-fitting shoes and all of the other joys that come with a ballet class and 5k training.

Then I checked my Facebook. My Facebook page had a sweet little message on it from my Clearwater sister, Kim, on it.

It went something like this...

"Hey beautiful friend! Just making sure you knew I miss you. I was thinking about how we got to see each other this time last year at Preview Weekend. One year = too long.

P.S. I love to read your blog. I get to enjoy your talented writing and keep up with your life at the same time :)"

Needless to say, this made my day.

So I wanted to give a little shout-out to my CBSP roomies: Kim, Vicky, and Marla, the ladies of Room 20, where the door is always open :)

Vicky, me, Marla, and Kim on Family Photo Day

Me and Vicky at 80s Prom!

Me and Kim at EKU's Semi-Formal, 2009.

Best Spring Break ever.

Marla and me at the Tampa Bay Rays baseball game.

Marla, Kim, me, and Vicky at the End of Summer Banquet.

I am so thankful for these girls. It would have been a really lonely summer without them.

Every time I clean, I still think of Kim and how Saturday (cleaning day) was her favorite day of the week. I love how she eagerly searched for Christ in every aspect of her life. It was such a comfort to be hanging out by the pool during the evenings and look up and see her perched in the chair outside our door reading her Bible and talking to Jesus.

Marla's laugh was so contagious. She was the one that I talked to the most before packing up the car and heading down to Florida and when I realized that she was going to be my roomie for the summer it was so comforting--I knew I would have a friend!

Vicky and I talked every night about midnight. We were usually the last to go to bed in our room and we would sit in the living room and talk and talk and talk. About everything. I think I had the most honest relationship with her out of every person that summer.

I love you girls. So much.

baby steps.

I am determined to run a 5k before I turn 22.


Why? To prove to myself that I can.


In order to do this, you have to train. I'm not good at training. I have very little motivation for anything besides reading or watching TV. Anything that will keep my tail on the couch, I'm totally game for.


With this being said, it goes without saying that I can do little without accountability and someone to make my butt get off the couch. So I told one of my girls about my plan. Drea squealed. She does 5ks like they're candy.


February 27th, Special Olympics 5k. Raleigh, NC...here I come!


I did the equivalent of a 5k in about 54 minutes yesterday. For the last 30, I was literally pulling Milley by her leash--she's not as good as once was. Today she only let me do a bit over a mile before she sat down on the side walk and would not go any farther.


Baby Steps. We'll get there. Well, we'd better...February 27th is right around the corner!

Listening to my Haley.

These are some of my grandgirls.

These are my Kelsey and my Lauren's girls.

Morgan, Haley, Natalie, Emma, Bailey, and Kelsey.

This made me smile.

I wanted to share that smile with you.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, I have no stopped griving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know HIm better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy place, and his incomparably great ower for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:15-21

I love these girls a lot. A whole, whole, whole lot.

I had lunch with my Haley yesterday and I expressed some frustration with her about not being about to cast vision with my ministry any more since I have only have 112 days until I graduate.

Haley, in true gentleness and love, then rebuked me.

"You might not be here, but your girls will be. Their girls will be. And then their girls will be. Cast vision for them. Tell them of your college experience and how much you pray that theirs will be as fruitful and as much of a growing process."

Yes, ma'am.

So, my beautiful girls.

In short...

Pray without ceasing.

Expect God to show up all the time.

Challenge Him to do big things.

Step out on faith.

Get uncomfortable.

Learn the Bible like your best friend's Facebook page.

Listen to that still, small voice.

Love with everything you have.

And then love some more.

Never, ever settle in any aspect of your life.

THAT BOY IS NOT WORTH YOUR TIME.

Surround yourself with people that will support you and pray for you.

If you can count the number of people you have hugged in a day, the number of times you have said "I love you" or the number of times you smiled...you didn't do it enough.

Remember always that you're a daughter of the King.

Remember always that you're more beautiful that I can put into words.

Remember always that you are nothing and He is everything.

Remember always that if you do nothing else but love for the next four years, you will have done more than you will remember.

I love you.

Sister.

I have a sister.

Her name is Emily.

She's kind of weird.

But my mommy told me that I still had to love her.

On many occasions I disliked having a sister growing up. My mom, who grew up with two brothers, constantly reminded me what a blessing it is to have a sister.

You'll never hear me say this again, so enjoy it...






My mom was right.

Who else would I be able to text "Blllllaaaaahhbcibnxhbedizabsdfihebc I don't wanna do homeworrrrrrkkk :(" to have them respond: "Yep"?

Who else would stand there beside me and take a mini photo shoot on Easter just because?

Who else can recite your entire Christmas gift list to you when you're trying to think of that one gift that meant a lot to you this year?

Who stands in your pictures with you from the time you're little to date?

Who knows your secrets?

Who else can you show up to thier dorm room in sweatpants and no make up and sit on their couch and watch hours and hours of a television show with while munching on a shmorgishboard of fast food?

Who else does one travel the world with?

My sister has an ex-boyfriend that doesn't like me very much. Well, none of them really like me, but whatever. This particular boyfriend didn't like spending time with me and Emily together. The reason? Sister speak.

My sister and I can literally have conversations like this:

"Do you know where that thing with the black thing on it is?"
"Yeah. Over there by that...um..."
"Got it."

"You know that thing with that thing and the stuff?"
"Of course."

It drove Ex-Boyfriend crazy.
I quite enjoy(ed) it.

She's my partner in crime.

She also in the person that makes me strive to be the best version of myself.

She's my constant competition and my best accountability partner.

She holds all of my memories.

She cried when I left to go to Lebanon, and she cried even harder when I got off the plane. In front of my entire Dream Team.

To those of you that don't have a sister, I'm not sure how you do it.

But what I really want to know is: What is it like to always know where every earring is? Every pair of underwear? Every pair of pants? Every purse? To know that no one else has used your toothbrush and know that the shower is always gonna be free. For these reasons only...you have my envy.

24 years ago.

Twenty-four years ago, God played a prank on the entire world.

His name was Nate.

I know he looks big, bad, and scary...

But he's nothing but a big teddy bear.

I love this kid. I'm thankful for him. He's stuck around for many years, and I could not be more grateful.

Today's his birthday, so I decided to honor him with a little blog post.

Ya know, since I'm lame and keep forgetting to stick his present in the mail.

(it's coming, i promise)

Happy birthday, You.

I Melt.

I thought my heart was going to explode on Monday. I was honestly wondering if I could die of happiness when one of my girls asked if I wanted to go to the Bible Study she leads and hang out with her girlies.

I was something I wanted to do so badly and the entire night I could not shake this all-encompassing joy.

My Hannah, My Kelsey, My Rachel, me and My Lauren tailgating before a football game, 2010. We were all laughing when we took this picture. I want it to stay like this forever.

I could not be more proud of my girls. Each of them. Well, I keep saying that, and then they go and do something amazing and my level of pride shoots up about another one hundred and fifty feet.

My beautiful Lauren. There aren't words.

This week, however, has warmed my soul beyond measure.

My Kelsey, My Hannah, me, My Lauren, and My Rachel before Crusade Semi-Formal, 2009.

I watched my Kelsey challenge her girls to love each other through good times and bad.

My sweet Livia. I miss her every day.

I saw my Lauren hug each of her girls with a love that is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

When my girls love each other, my soul does somersaults. My Lauren and My Emma at the Free Expression Tunnel, Fall 2008.

We miss you daily, Emma.

Then there's my Kaitlyn. She's just going to smile at the world for the rest of her life. And the world will be a better place because of it.

My Kelsey and My Hannah at Shak-a-Thon, Fall 2008.

This is the first night they convinced me to sleep outside. I'm pretty sure the word's "If you love us, you'll do it" were tossed around.

Then there's my Hannah who is exactly who I want to be when I grow up.

And my Drea. The most driven and determined person I know. The phrase "heart of gold" was coined because she came into this world.

My Ashley. She taught me the importance of quality time. She taught me the importance of loving with your whole heart. She embodies sunshine.

I miss you every day my sweet girl.

Same with my Sami, who has this quiet peace and confidence about her that I wish I could bottle up and give out to the world. The Middle East would be better off with it.

My beautiful Sami. I'm pretty sure her smile can cure cancer.

I could go on and on and on. And on and on and on some more.

Christmas Party 2009.

But last night, I was sitting at Crusade with my Lauren down the row and sitting beside my Kelsey surrounded by their girls and I just wanted to freeze time.

One of my grandgirls came up to me and said, "Grandma! I got to share Jesus with someone today!"

I was speechless.

My sweet girls are growing up. They are working with their own girls to make the world a better place. They love harder than I ever could and it amazes me.

As I was sitting there with my Kelsey, she leaned over and rested her head on my shoulder. I sat there praying, "Lord, please let time stand still right now. Please."

I was melting. I only have about 100 days left on this campus and within arms' reach of the majority of my girls. As if my Kelsey curling up with me and one of my grandbabies loving Jesus publicly wasn't enough, my girls then laughed. I heard them. This chorus of angel voices rising in giggles and joy and laughter and I could be content forever in that moment.

I don't know if I could ever have kids of my own because I'm pretty sure I would die at the sheer joy of looking at the child, if these girls are any yardstick.

I melt every time they laugh.

I melt every time I hear one of them pray.

I melt every time I get an "I love you" text from them.

Every time I get to hug them.

Every time I watch them love others.

Every time they gush about an answered prayer.

Every time they talk about their own girls or their own special way that they're saving the world.

Every time they dream big and expect God to show up.

Every time I wrap my arms around them reminds me that I have a purpose. I have a Creator who makes all things good. I am reminded that there is another life after this one where He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and my girls will be whole, without doubts, fears, and the imperfections they see in the mirror (which, I swear, are not there). Each time that I am in their presence, it gives me strength and I am reminded what true love looks like.

A Riddle.

I have a riddle for you.

What are shiny, and sparkle, and twinkle, and make my heart go pitter-patter?

If you guessed my Eden's eyes, you were sooooo right!

But that's not the answer to my riddle. I'll give you another hint:

What once was lost, is now found?

The answer is...

MY EARRINGS!!!

I posted about the loss of my beautiful earrings right after Christmas.

I searched high and low for these jokers. Anywhere I could think. Downstairs, upstairs, my bedroom, my brother's bedroom, my dad's office, my sister's bedroom. Every drawer in the bathroom. Every car my family owns. My parents' bedroom. The living room. I went to both grandparents' houses and poked around.

It was awful. I wanted to cry so badly.

I didn't want to tell my grandmother because she found them for me at the jewelry show and they were a little on the pricey side. I was also afraid to truly speak the idea out into the universe. Granny probably knew because my cousin reads my blog, but still...it's different to have Hannah tattle on me than to actually tell Granny myself.

However, I finally broke down. I admitted defeat.

I first called Nina because she's as eccentric as I am and would understand. I asked her to look around for me and to please let me know if she found them.

I then did the unthinkable. I called Granny. I said about 50 Hail Mary's before I did, but I dialed the number and prayed that she had found them.

No such luck.

But she promised that she wouldn't leave me out of the will because of it.

I hung up the phone with Granny and went and sat in the family room, looking very sad.

My dad noticed and asked what was wrong.

I explained to him the horrible thing that had happened to me.

"You mean those big circle ones that look like Elton John should be wearing?"

Yes, Daddy. Those. And your analogies frighten me sometimes, just fyi.

"Oh. You left those downstairs after Christmas and I was afraid you were going to lose them. They're in my bowl. Been waiting for you to ask your mother where they were."

To say that I ran to my parents' bedroom would be an understatement.

But there they were.

Sitting in the little dish that my dad has on his dresser where he throws his loose change at the end of the day.

That man never ceases to amaze me.

She's at it again!

Miss Laura Virginia herself is doing another giveaway on her blog.

Check it out here and get in on the action yourself.

Also, I've been thinking about doing my own giveaway. I have about 50-75 hits a day, but little interaction with my readers. What do you think? Yes to the giveaway? Or keep dreaming?

Goal #3

Do you remember January Goal #3?

3. Begin spending time with my grandgirls and great-grandgirls.

Well, I do.

I just texted my Lauren who leads with my Kelsey and asked if I could bring her cookies for her Bible Study tonight. I'm in a baking mood but I already have left over brownies from the campout and don't need more sweets in this house.

My Lauren replied that she would love for me to deliver cookies but she has another option for me.

(Drum Roll, please)

You can come over and play games with us and spend time with your babies and bring the cookies with you then.

I almost died.

Two of my girls and their girls all together in the same room with me. Can you die of happiness???

I'm off to Food Lion because I just realized that I don't have any canola oil but then I'm heading to love on my girls and their girls too!!!

Seriously. Can you die of happiness?

worstest.

I am the worst blogger ever.

I shouldn't even be allowed to have that title. "Blogger". No, I am not. I'm lazy. That's what I am.

I have a LIST of things to blog about. A list! With little boxes for me to check off and random pictures waiting to be uploaded onto my computer so I can be all sassy and creative.

But then I sit down on my little green plaid couch to start blogging, and the TV remote starts whistling at me. And then the DVR starts whispering things like: "Ooooooprah." "Brothers & Ssssssisters." "GREY'S ANATOMY!" And then I think that I need to call my Kelsey so she can come over and watch Grey's and Private Practice with me and then I remember that I haven't sent out an email in a long time to my girls. Oh man! Email! I need to ask my professor what she meant when she said I had a paper due on Thursday. Wait...TODAY is Thursday! There's no way I have a paper due today!!! Oh my gosh, if today is Thursday, tomorrow is Friday and that means that I have dinner with my sister. But I also just told my Liz that I would watch a movie with her "tomorrow" and tomorrow is Friday. Crap. I need to call them. Dog, why are you whining? Oh man, I need to take this dog for a run. Crap. When was the last time I ran? Do I really want to do a 5k before I turn 22? Yes, yes I do. 22??? Could I seriously be turning 22 in a few months? I just turned 21 in Lebanon...I need to call my Lebanon sisters. It's been so long since I've done that. Oh, drat! My phone is dead. My phone charger is upstairs. And upstairs is so messy. When am I going to fold that load of laundry? Is that a book under there? Dang it! And I JUST cleaned up the bookshelves. Where is this joker going to go? GASP. I have a library book that's a week overdue. Dagnabbit.

Welcome to my brain.

It's not a pretty place to be.

And you people wonder why I take sleeping pills.
I am sooooo not ashamed of my sleeping pills.

In fact, I'm going to go take one now and be a better person for my jog with Kimberly, her Beasley, and my Milley tomorrow.

A jog. Do I really wanna run a 5k before I'm 22???

"a dozen pink daisies"

Yesterday about 5:30 or 6, my phone went bizurk!

In less than a minute I had FOUR text messages and two phone calls. I just knew someone had died. I was so scared to pick up my phone.

I was with friends and didn't want to pick up but the buzzing and beeping was incredibly distracting. Finally one of them got this wicked smile on her face and said,"Bekah, just pick it up."

By the time that I pulled my phone out of the vast depths of my purse the person had hung up. I still had my text messages. They said...

"Boy?"

"OH MY GOD THERE'S A BOY???"

"There's a boy? I thought I was your best friend. You need to pick your a$$ off that couch and call me. You got to interrogate my boyfriend. Give him the phone!!!"

"What boy?"

I was with two of my girls. I didn't have a clue what "boy" these people were talking about.

Turns out, my beautiful, innocent baby girls are very beautiful indeed, but are not so innocent.

I stupidly left my phone on the table when I excused myself to go to the bathroom. My BlackBerry is synced up with my Facebook account. I live on my phone and my girls know this. Consequently, they knew that my Facebook was on my phone.

They picked up my phone and found my Facebook account and posted my status as

"A boy just showed up at my house with a dozen pink daisies and a box of apple cider. I might keep him. :)"

These girls know me so well.
Daisies are my favorite flower. Pink is one of favorite colors. During the cold weather I live on apple cider. If a guy wanted to win my heart, this little surprise would've given him lots of kudos.

However, there is no guy. There were no flowers. Any of the apple cider in my house I purchased myself.

Oh well. I'm really glad my friends were really excited for me to have a boy though. I hope your reactions are just as great whenever that does happen.

January Goals

I'm not a fan of resolutions.
I think I've had the same one for about the past...oh, 10 years. It hasn't happened.

Anyhow, I love short term goals. I'm really good at making to-do lists.

So, without further ado, here are my goals for January 2011!

1. Spend one-on-one time with at least 5 of my girls.
2. Clean my room.
3. Try something new at Global Village.
4. Begin spending time with my grandgirls, great-grandgirls, and great-greatgrandgirls.
5. Run at least 3 times a week.
6. Finish the collages for my bedroom wall.

I know these seem pretty simple, but it could possibly blow your mind what my average day looks like.
#1 shouldn't be that hard; five girls in 31 days? No biggie, but it's good to have a long term plan.
#2 is a bit trickier. I HATE cleaning! I moved into my apartment and never fully got settled. The area around my desk/little closet still have piles of junk that I haven't touched since the last week in July. It's bad.
#3 Global Village is my favorite coffee shop on Hillsborough St., and for the past year, I've always only gotten one thing: a Med Irish. Its freaking fantastic. But I think it's time to move on...What should I choose? Oy vey, this one might be toughie.
#4 Spend time with my girls' girls! I'm so excited about this. I'll have to do another entire post on this idea, but I'm really excited about it!
#5 I want to run a 5k before I turn 22. Less than 6 months and counting!! Ahhh!!!
#6 In our apartment, I have the big room. My room has this huge wall behind my bed. There's currently nothing on it. I have these collage frames that I want to design and put up behind there, I just haven't found the time yet. But I will find the time coming this January!

I also have some long term goals for this semester:
#1 Miss no more than 3 days of each of my classes (I know that sounds ridiculous, but I'm a serial class-skipper. It's a problem. And for two of these absences, I'll be in Honduras. So I'm only giving myself one day! Yikes!)
#2 Read the Bible through before I graduate (I was really convicted of it while I was in Lebanon, but I've never read the Bible cover to cover. It's time to get on the ball)
#3 Stay on top of My Utmost for His Highest. My Hannah lent me this devotional a year ago, and I am still on Day 3. This year is gonna be different. I promise, Hannie :)

Anyone else have any goals for this year/month/semester? I'd love to hear them!

Happy New Year!