Secrets of a Babysitter

Here are some secrets to being an awesome babysitter... for the parents AND the kids to like you =)

1. My mom always taught me, "Leave the house cleaner than when you got there." Sometimes I'm having so much fun, or time does not permit, but usually I do a load of dishes or clean up a few toys.

2. Climb trees.

3. Do backflips on the trampoline.

4. Walk/ride bike to buy them ice cream.

5. Know every single Disney Channel theme song.

6. Comment on how young the parents look (but don't lie).

7. Show up early. 5 minutes is perfect.

8. Make the parents laugh.

9. Cameras. Kids LOVE cameras.

10. Make sure the kids know that you're not old-fashioned or boring. Let them know you're cool and can relate to stuff they feel. For example, let them know you hate eating vegetables too, but eat them alongside them, and they'll think it's cool.

11. Make sure the kids know who's in charge. Although they don't like it momentarily, they will soon appreciate AND forget you helped lay down the law. Not too harshly, of course. Just keep them mindful =)

12. Drive.

13. Remember birthdays.

14. Quote their favorite movies.

15. Hold them and swing them around (upside down optional).

16. Pray before bed!

OK those were just some off the top of my head =)

Joy

God has given me an overwhelming amount of joy this past month or so. On days when I used to dread school, dread each minute, I now face with a humongous smile and tons of laughter. I don't know why. Not much has changed.. OK maybe that's not true. I have since reconnected with the woman from this post, and we now have a stable friendship. Not like it was before, but it's better and healthier for both of us. It's really made a difference. =)

Also, I have "obtained" a new mentor. She's a WONDERFUL woman of God, and the 20 minutes or so we get a week to talk are so full of stories of growing, learning, and challenging my faith. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

So I guess those are kind of HUGE things that would strengthen my joy, but I don't think they are the sources whatsoever. HE has removed this weight from my heart that had been on there for so long, it was so strange when its presence no longer was there. No, it's not going to be gone forever, probably not even for a while, but there is a season for mourning and a season for laughter and dance like it says in Ecclesiastes. Through the joy I will worship, and through the pain I will worship. Joy brings thanks, and tears bring complete dependency.

If you haven't heard Desert Song by Hillsong, click here, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

"I Know How You Feel"

My English teacher got me thinking about this the other day. She said that we are the worst at telling people "I know how you feel" whenever something goes awry in their life.

The truth is, we don't. People (more often girls) say this in situations when another person talks about losing a parent, a pet, or a job. When someone fails an important exam, has their heart broken, or gets stood up. Yes, they certainly may have gone through a similar situation-type, but no, they aren't and didn't feel the pain and respond the same way. Loss, rejection, and hurt hit people different ways, and no one can truly ever mean the phrase "I know how you feel".

People probably think they will appear thoughtful and meaningful by saying those words, but in reality, I think it's selfish. They try to turn the conversation from the hurt being displayed by the person to their own personal experience.

So, next time, why don't we say "I cannot imagine what you're feeling, but I'm here to help you in any way", mkay?

My thoughts of the day :)

Random

A fellow blogger (Molly) has written a few posts featuring random things about herself. No, I'm sure you guys don't care, but I think I could amuse myself by writing oddball stuff about me. So.. here goes try #1:

~ I secretly want a pair of every color Chuck Taylor's. My mother despises them, so I've momentarily ended my buying spree. So far? Light pink and Tennesse orange (fake, but $7).

~ I have an odd obsession with Qtips. I use an average of 5 a day to clean out my ears.

~ I am slightly germaphobic. Wash your hands after using the restroom (EVEN AT HOME). Don't sneeze on your hand (and then grab my stuff). Don't touch anything but soap and water directly after fiddling with your feet. After playing outside, use sanitizer or wash. It's just a little fetish.

~ I am very competitive. Very. Pride issue.

~ I don't like it when people use the wrong forms of "they're/their/there or your/you're". Learn.

~ I've always wanted to know someone elses life as intricately as I know my own. Maybe not feel all the hurt, but know everything and every thought that consumes them. I think it'd be cool to see if other people are as random or as deep as I am.

~ When I run (an average of 4 times a year), I only like to do it on a treadmill. Most people hate it because it's a constant motion with no new scenery. I either read, watch TV, or listen to music. Guess what I do the whole time? Look at the numbers on the treadmill a figure out my average speed, how long I have to run to reach this many miles, how many calories I'm burning a minute, etc. It keeps my mind occupied.

Well, right now I have to go to the bathroom, and I'm at school. Therefore I cannot leave the computer up, and this post must come to an end.

Song of Songs Chapter 8

The series at church we are currently studying is called "I Do" based on the Song of Solomon. I love the way our pastors are approaching it. Usually when we study things like this we always go back to the "God is our one, true love. We need to have this type of love with Him." Stuff like that. Oh, I absolutely believe it, but I know it. Sure, I don't know it all, but sometimes when you hear stuff over and over again, you just stop listening. Is that bad to say? It has its moments when it sticks, and those are wonderful.

Anyways. Today there was a different spin. Matt Reagan spoke of intimacy based on Song of Solomon chapter 8. We spoke of how intimacy is more than sexual relations, and how we are supposed to build it up. Here are some notes I jotted down (plus a few thoughts I didn't write down at the time).

-Love is an incredible thing, but more than portrayed.
Song of Solomon 8
vs. 1
The only person they could show affection towards in a public setting was a sibling.
vs. 2
vs. 3
Above all else in the world, we want intimacy.
******************vs.4******************
vs. 5
Their love story. All love starts with its own story. She figuratively saw her man coming along the horizon, and she wished to share the story of their love.
vs. 6
Death is a permanent thing (except for the whole Jesus rising from the grave thing:). HE is jealous for us.
vs. 7
Love is worth everything. For the one you love, selling your home would be nothing. It's more than all the riches or anything you could imagine.
vs. 8
This is like us saying today, "I have a friend who wants to know ________." "My friend wants advice to handle this (____________) situation." It's so they can know what to do and how to find the love their friend has experienced.
vs. 9
The integrity of a Godly, whole, and righteous woman needs to be built up and exalted! In the case of her being a door (which most women are), this means they have more than one love story. We are meant to have only 1 (physically).

We need to try to build intimacy.

*People who stay committed to one person are more sexually intimate than anyone else.

You can listen to the message on Collide TV here starting sometime later this month (hopefully!).

Boy

Boy meets girl. They fall for each other. Boy takes girl's heart and runs.

I've been head over heels for a boy for almost a year. I seem to get him out of my head, but as soon as I see his smile, or he playfully touches my chin, I melt into a pool of.. well, I don't know what I melt into, but I definitely melt.

Crazy, the effect the opposite sex has on us.

Words

Lately I've been surrounded by adults who just simply encourage. They tell me how proud they are of decisions I've made. Told me I'm beautiful. Tell me they want their kids to turn out like me. Tell me I'm funny. Don't get me wrong, I love that :] SO SO much.

Today I was sitting in church, completely surrounded by parents who I babysit for, all encouraging me, patting me on the back, etc. As I was soking in how great it felt to be loved this much on Valentine's Day as a 16 year old without a boyfriend, I realized something. This is why I hang out and gravitate towards adults. People my age don't say encouraging words half as often, and even more often they have things to say or actions they take that tear down.
So, why don't kids, teenagers, encourage? I assume it's because for the most part we're creatures of selfishness. I don't know... But maybe if people my age began saying nice and kind things, all of our lives would be better. I know mine would be.

That's my challenge for myself: Encourage, encourage, encourage.

Comfort Zones.

Comfort zones. Undoubtedly we all have them. Few friends or a party. Talking to strangers or keeping to yourself. Extrovert or introvert. Personality types help define our comfort zones.

Christianity does not call for us to be comfortable. Look at Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah, CHRIST.

I Believe...

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.

I Believe....
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.

I Believe....
That it's taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe....
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe....
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs
to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe....
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe....
That it isn't always enough,
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....
That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give,
When a friend cries out to you -
you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.

-Author Unknown

On My Mind

School. Trying to figure out my purpose there. How I play a role.

"So that leaves me 7 hours every day being different in a world of original."