Jo

Today a very special guy turns 25. That guy on the left is one incredible, crazy, fun, and loving brother. He is known by many names around our house: Siah, Uncle Jo, Josie, and Josiah Jason. I feel so privileged to be his little sister. I thank the Lord, that Josiah was healed from cancer just over 14 years ago. The fact that he is alive today is a miracle and I am so grateful.

On this particular day I miss him like crazy. He is living on the other side of the state going to grad school, and well...I realllly miss seeing his face everyday!

I miss playing football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball with him.

I miss seeing him play with his nephew.

I miss giving him hugs.

Haha. I just love this picture. I miss his hillariousness.

I miss him giving kisses to sweet Ida 

Josiah, I hope that you have a wonderful day. You are one amazing brother. Thank you for always being there for me. I love you!

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15-17 {in the message}

"Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

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This verse spoke to me this morning. Especially the "And cultivate thankfulness," part. The Lord was speaking to me about in everything I must cultivate thankfulness. Even if things are hard, we still need to be thankful. In fact when things aren't going the best, that is when we need to be thankful the most. When we thank the Lord for what he has already done for us, it helps us know that even in the hard things he is good. Focusing on the good vs. the bad can completely change our day.

"Let the Word of Christ- the Message- have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives." Wow. Give the Lord room to grow in our lives. This was convicting. Where in my life do I limit the Lord. I know I do. If we just let the Lord have every area of our live, imagine how free we would be? That is my cry: to not limit him, but let him reign freely.

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Anyway, just a few take aways from my devotions. Have a good rest of your Tuesday and don't forget to cherish the moments in your day.

one

one. That is the number of posts I have done this month. Wow, sorry guys. Its kind of been a busy month. Left Coast. new job. junior thesis research. volleyball workouts. family camp. Anyway, here is a big things I love post, capturing what I loved about my life these last 3 weeks.

family friends coming for a visit

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when my nephew customizes my coffee cup with his crayons

miss Ida girl and her pig tails

goings to the park with this boy and just laying out in the sun on a blanket 

iced coffee and the beach with my brother

strawberry lemonade on hot days. I mean, doesn't that just look absolutely refreshing?!

vanilla ice cream + fruit= so good! almost any fruit will do. 

watching the sunrise from my bed

hanging out with my beautiful friends

manicures and pedicures with my mom and sisters. it is the perfect post family camp tradition ever.

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Its good to be home from camp and back in my own bed. I only have this week and next week before school starts (insert a minor panic attack), which means I have a lot to do. Hope you all have a good and productive week.