Hello who ever is reading this! (: This blog is super random, because I feel like posting some pics of things you may or may not enjoy! 

 These are my dogs: Cupcake (chubby one on the left) and Casanova (on the right)

This is Casanova in his Halloween costume. He didn't enjoy it.... But I did! (maniacal laughter inserted here)

So yeah. I hope you liked these pics, and I will most likely post more later(;

Recovering

Well, my eye surgery on Tuesday (2-28-12) was very successful in setting my right eye back 5mm. Recovering from it has been painful, to say the least. I am so grateful to have health insurance (this surgery would normally cost around 200k!!!!!) and a family who is willing to wait on me. Although I look like a victim of a mugging, I feel okay. I can now open my right eye all day long, and the swelling and bruising has gone down quite a bit in the last five days.


Thanks be to God for my recovery! :) I should be back to normal in a week or so. Because I am so young, recovery time is much less than it would be for a (for example) 40 year old. 


I can't explain how happy I am to have been through this experience. My doctors are so awesome, and I am forever in their debt. God is SO good. (:

True Beauty

Over the last few months, taking the time to reflect on how God has blessed me has helped me to be thankful.

Here's a tidbit:

I was diagnosed about two years ago with a disease called myesthenia gravis, which weakens the muscle that holds the eyelid up. I thought that I was ugly, now realizing that it was just my eyelid. How many times do I think about my eyelid during the day as of now? Rarely ever! :) 

In my right eye about 6 months later, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (my right eye bulges about five millimeters farther out than my left eye). I struggled with these diseases, because hyperthyroidism caused me to gain weight and myesthenia made my eyelid droop. For months and months all I did was complain! 

(spoiler alert- happy ending to come! :D)

Reconstructive surgery is necessary behind my right eye, and I am meeting with a surgeon to discuss my options on Monday! (this is probably the 7th or 8th doctor I've seen.) (Update: I'm having surgery in January!)

My cries have been heard, and God has brought me out of darkness and into the light.

Oddly enough, I'm thankful now that God gave me these diseases. They caused me to realize that true beauty comes from within, and depending on Christ is my only option. 

Obedience

 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." -Paul the Apostle (found in Colossians 3:1-3)




About a year and a half ago, I made the choice to follow Christ.

Little did I know (and trust me, I do not know everything) at the time that God would place a wildfire inside of my heart, more commonly known as the Holy Spirit.

This wildfire burned and I tended it occasionally, focusing more on boys than on God.
This frustrates me now because my friends are hurting, and I ignored this.

Today I talked to someone at my high school who has been bullied constantly. They felt forgotten,  and all I could focus on during my freshman year was myself. I am dedicating the next three years of my high school career to looking out for the kids who are bullied.
When I lived for myself, it dishonored God and showed Him that I didn't care. Yet Christ had died for me and I showed little compassion for those around me.

So, my friend, if you have made the choice to follow Christ, I encourage you to help your friends. Even if it's just one person, making an impact on their life will be so worth it..

Allowing God to consume every aspect of my life has made an impact on my family, and I'm working on being more kind to them. I would not be able to accomplish any of this without the redeeming love of Jesus. 

No Fear

Imagine that today is the first day of your Freshman year in high school. As you walk down the halls, people look at you. You smile at them and walk on with confidence, assured that God knows your heart and what you need. 
That is my hope for you- you will not doubt that you are so beautiful and worthy in the eyes of God.


Trusting God can be so difficult amidst the trials of this life, but is a key ingredient in your relationship with Him. 


Here is a Bible verse: 
 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)


    When we have confidence in God, truly believing that the plans He has for our lives are not to harm us, and plans to prosper us, and plans to give us hope and a future, we have absolutely nothing to fear. No matter what others say about you, you can be assured that what God says about you, precious child, is he loves you beyond any love we can experience on earth, and will never abandon you.


Remember: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)