12 Holiday Resolutions Via "Go Mighty"

Last year, I realized there are a things I must do during the holiday season, or I feel under-celebratory — like I missed everything and I’m starting the New Year off-kilter. So these are my holiday resolutions for 2013:
1. Hang a wreath on the front door. I can buy it, make it, whatever. It just makes me happy to have a reminder that these few months are celebratory. Nice things are happening, and I am a part of them.
2. Arrange a Thanksgiving dinner with all the crucials. Turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, pumpkin pie, apple pie, spiked cider. And some decorative gourds. That shit is going to look so seasonal.
3. Host a leftovers party. Ask friends to bring whatever’s still in the fridge or what’s left of the bourbon. Invite friends who are willing to nap.
4. Obtain a tree weeks before Christmas. You’re going to do this eventually, just get on the stick. Pine fresh living room for weeks!
5. Stock the advent calendar. Oh man, the kid goes nuts for this. And all the presents are so satisfying and tiny.
6. Send cards. Send them in enough time that people realize they’re still on your list. That way they send you something back. And you can make one of those slightly terrible card-wreaths, and sigh with contentment every time you open your mailbox and find real mail.
7. Get new pajamas for Christmas Eve. For the kiddo, and also for me. This is the present we unwrap the night before so everyone gets new PJs for lounging on Christmas Day.
8. Purchase gifts before December hits. I like getting everything online in enough time that Etsy will wrap it for me. I also like to order small host gifts in advance, so I have something thoughtful to bring to parties and I don’t have to squeeze in a visit to the corner store for a bottle of wine en route.
9. Trade stockings with another single girlfriend. Stockings are my favorite part of Christmas morning, I love filling them and opening them. Important.
10. Open the house up on Christmas Day. Bake cookies so everything smells nice. Put out a ham and sandwich fixings. Receive guests in your jammies.
11. Wear a sparkly dress. New Year’s almost doesn’t count if I’m not wearing sequins. I will also need a paper hat, a party blower, confetti, new chonies, and an early dinner reservation.
12. Make no-fail New Year’s Resolutions. Last year I ate so many doughnuts, you guys.

An Excerpt on Tom Hanks

In this month’s Esquire, Tom Hanks talks about gaining weight for Cast Away and then losing sixty pounds for the scenes where he’s supposed to be starving:

“Eating everything you want is not that much fun. When you live a life with no boundaries, there’s less joy. If you can eat anything you want to, what’s the fun in eating anything you want to?”

Hey Cowboy

I went home for the summer and met someone. Not to put too fine a point on it or anything, but I have the greatest best friend. He lives 463 miles away from me now.
We had our first date three weekends before I drove back to college for my fall semester.

So now I'm here and he is there. School has still been really good but I do miss home a little but more than I did before which turns out to be an awful lot. My mom makes sure to always tell me to "be productive!" when I talk to her. sometimes she switches it up and sais, "make sure your focusing". Which always makes it so much easier to focus (no it doesn't). But I still focus so there won't be any "concerns" which has sort of become a little joke between Jd and I. My mom is my biggest support and I have no idea what I would do without her. The way she balances me is always such a relief. I miss her very much.

Media is on our side.

We vidoe back and forth...
This is his niece. So precious.

"Pair App" the app for just the two of us!! "Texting, sharing,. videos, photos, sketching together, thumbkiss (WOOOOHOOO THUMB KISSES!!!!) and more"

It's the best chessiest thing in this world.
I love it and he will learn to love it ;)

So here’s to "pair", evening phone calls, and videos that give us big boosts of energy to last until we get to see each other next. We can toast to that.

At 20 Years of Age

The dugger's tipping on our 20's. Please, don't condemn us! Don't read these and think that we think that we have perfected them. We just put our heads together with the internet you know? I mean...we know.

1. Let your concern lie in the hands of your maker. When God approves of your life,
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.
2. Be responsible. It pays to take life seriously, but enjoy the journey with a sense of humor.
3. Don't promote yourself.  Quit networking your skills, just be memorable.
4. Babies are Cute. If your not ready, enjoy other's. Don't make your own.
5. Consider the source. If you’re worried about someone who dislikes you, first ask yourself whether they themselves are degenerate. If they don’t like you, that’s not a problem. That’s a sad mis understanding because you are great.
6. Be all there. If you feel like you can multitask, you can't. Don't think that you are giving your family quality time when you are constantly on your phone during that time.
7. Don’t waste your time. If you have to chase a dude, move on. You’ll know when you’ve found a healthy relationship because it won’t confuse you.
8. When in doubt, shut up. Silence is a smart negotiation tactic, the best option when you’re processing how to respond, and always more productive than lying about what you’re thinking.
9. Find an age-appropriate style. No one wants to see a 20 year old in beige slacks and a wool blazer ALL THE TIME. Buy trendy clothes, wear the wavy dress, do something ugly with your hair. Be part of your generation, so you can laugh at the photos later.
10. Be polite. It keeps doors open, lessens the potential for misunderstandings, and increases the odds of getting invited back to the houses with home cooked meals.
11. You look good. There’s no such thing as the hottest person in the room. Everyone is attracted to something different, so just take those odds and run with them.
12. Choose good company. Ask yourself if a person makes you better or drains your life force. Be with funny people.
13. Enjoy your body. Odds are you’re more beautiful now than you will be again.
14. The lack of money isn't everything. God blesses those who bless others.
15. Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say. We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.
16. It takes a pretty good boyfriend to beat no boyfriend at all. There’s no loneliness as deep as feeling alone in the company of someone you love.

Just for fun, Look...

Songs of Action

The distinction between the song and the action is crucial. When I lay my prayer and lift up my hands in time of singing and dancing as a total sacrifice to our God, He begins to show me glimpse of his mercy and compassion. Overwhelmed by the realization, I dance on the desire to run away from my anxious urges towards rebellion. I shout and scream and jump on the very face of the enemy that keeps me away from the most loving and faithful experience all of us deeply desire, our God... the one we play our instruments for and sing praises to His name forever and ever and ever and ever.

Then I walk out of the church were relationships battle my selfishness and good character clashes with my pride, when my anger competes with peace and when depression rivals the very joy that is always possible in God's name. I find myself daily competing with one of the most well knows worship songs

I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

This song has the purest and most wonderful strings of words, but words are so much cleaner than the process.

Will I seek you in the morning when my sorrow was so full last night?

Will I learn to walk in your ways even when they kill every bit of my fleshly desires?

Will I give you the place to lead me step by step when it's not the direction I want to walk?

Will I follow you all of my days even when I have the option to give my life to other things?

I greatly appreciate the admit to struggle when help is in the seeking. It is the most attractive thing to me. In my opinion, even the purest of Christians should have knees that don't feel at home until they hit the alter of repentance.

With that said, I need to repent.

I have an anxious urge to fight for justice in my life. Let me uncover anything attractive about that sentence...I have an anxious urge towards rebellion. Relationships are hard and ridiculous and sometimes they feel completely pointless. Here NOW, I am telling you, if I took some of my relationship issues to a judge, I would walk away in freedom with everyone on my side. For this I should be shamed. If I were seeking God this morning, He would have told me to bless those who curse me. He would have told me to love my friend more than myself.

My identity doesn't come from the lyrics of a worship song, it comes from the drive the song takes me to. I'm not praying for the desire to make you my identity, I am declaring that I will walk in full entitlement and all the responsibility that comes with being your daughter. For all you've done, and for all you are, I will adore you with my whole life. My legacy is clothed in your character.

I will sing to you all of my days

And when my actions fight against the words of the great songs of love towards You,

Lead me back to repentance as I meditate on your word

I will sing the song until the fruit is produced

Makes Me wanna take the backroads home

Me and Jo were left home alone today. My sister went with her friends and my parents ran errands. Brake our hearts why don't you? So we went out.

We went on a very successful "find something to do drive"

If you ever, by complete accident, ever find yourself in Lubbock Texas..

Tech Cafe Drive In

Despite your better judgement, you'll need to eat it.

Me and Jo went the long way into town and decided we might as well

He fell in love

I almost did

Alright so let me explain all the food. This ended up being an all day thing. We ate for lunch, had a snack, and went to dinner. We did shop some little shops, but who needs to know about all that when the food was so good.  This next little place was one we've been trying to find for a while. Arrogant Texan. It is a vintage candy/ice cream shop. It was pure accident that we found it today. We were walking down the Tech avenue, shopping and complaining about our sad feet when we found it. The location was hidden by nearby construction. The decorations and candies and ice cream flavors were so cute. Flavors like: Rootbeer float, gummie bear lovin, Texas toast etc...

And That was the day we had.

The town around the Lakehouse

After hours in the car with two babies babbling and humming and making weird noises when they sleep, we finally made it to our little lake house. As soon as we made it the worst thing imaginable in the whole wide world happened. My whole entire camera body stopped working. So, cheers to the tears and android photos. This trip is not going to be mega pixalated for anyone.

We got here, looked at our cute house, unpacked our stuff and then headed to the grocery store. Blueberry pancakes and fruits and coffee and yummies for the rest of the mornings of this week.

Monday

The more popular thing to do when you see antique shops is shop for antiques...unless you are 2 years old and your name is Bethany. We kept her happy with desserts. This is the absolute truth, if I get back 5 lbs. heavier, she is going to have some explaining to do.

 

 

BleuBird Vintage is a blog I am absolutely in love with. Absolutely. Her clothes are the most adorable things I have ever seen and I am not over dramatizing or exaggerating. I'm telling you, she is the best. So obviously I have tried to buy stuff from her. Three times I have tried and on all three of those defeating times, the item was sold out. It's been quite the quest to get a hold of her cuteness. So, get excited with me... on our sixth antique store, I find this dress. Guess who made it?

Done Deal.

All day long I held Joy Renee and all day long I smelt the sunblock that was layered on her soft pasty indoor skin. She stayed sweet enough for me not to mind all that much.

The best thing is getting the shoreline all to ourselves. We walked up and down for a relaxing 45 minutes before baby was hungry. I'd like to go back... Like, right now.

Tuesday
We drove to Fort Worth
& shopped & shopped & shopped

Sitters. Me and Joy were the sitters.

 We hit the big stores and let the other ladies shop while we took advantage of the big red couch.  

By the time we got home at 1:00 A.M. We were Cheescake factory full and all together upset at the whole entire world. Everyone crashed fast. 

Our little minin trip was really nice and generally, pretty relaxing but, everyone is ready for Lubbock again. Babies are fun and sweet and googly and wonderful and nice and pretty and lovely BUT

They are ready to go home just as mucha as we are. It basically feels awful to be in the car with them at this point. The only thing keeping us from being home is another seven hours in the car. Pray for us.

S-T-R-E-A-T-F-E-I-L-D

You've Got Mail: A box full of the shoe books.

I was watching You've Mail again when Kathleen Kelly sold me on Streatfeild. They arrived in the mail. I have them. They are adorable.

Kathleen:
Noel Streatfeild wrote Ballet Shoes and Skating Shoes...
...and Theatre Shoes...
...and Dancing Shoes and...
I'd start with Ballet Shoes. It's my favorite.
Although Skating Shoes is completely wonderful.
But it's out of print.

Bookstore Worker: Streatfeild. How do you spell that?

Kathleen: ST-R-E-A-T-F-E-I-L-D.

Mothering is a job too you know?!

I'm convinced that my niece is going to take over the world with her cuteness.

A lot of times I look at my sisters life and wonder. Quite honestly, her daily accomplishments sometimes seem kinda silly compared to what mine sometimes are. Change diapers, feed babies, burp baby, put babies to sleep, fold laundry, change diapers, feed babies, burp baby....on and on and on and on. But now, after experiencing only two hours alone with this sweet handful and her two year old, her list of accomplishments no longer look so silly. While I was holding that screaming baby in my arms (not having a clue how to make it stop) I was amazed at how quickly I respected the life my sister chose to live. The kind that business women in suits look down on. After franticly calling her and rushing her back to the house, it took her two seconds to put a smile on that babies face. These babies are her boss, and she is the most faithful employee. Loving and responding to every demanding need they scream about. I see the sweet face she has when she looks at her babies and it makes me understand just a fraction of what mothering is all about.

Slow Going

People of the Internet!!! It has finally happened. This is my first official morning off.

Modern family, Pawn Stars, and the Duggar family

I go home in two days. TWO DAYS!

Well, I have two options:

My last day of work is Wednesday. I get off at 2.

So I can leave Wednesday and get home around 10

or leave Thursday, and take my time packing

But I am telling you, I will most likely leave Wednesday

I gotta meet that new baby

Anyway, home with Robin and Lexie as of now.

Taylor is at school

Erica is in Japan

GOOD MORNING PUP

Pearl Jam

Mother's Day

About a week ago, Dad called me while he was at work and asked me to write a couple thing for mother’s day. It was a phone call that went kind of like this...


Dad: "Hey, can you do a poem/story/write something/or whatever for church on Mother's day morning? A customer walked in...uhhh... gotta go...click"

So basically, he requested and just expected, not very sportsman like, not fair at all!

Wait. Wait. I shouldn't make it sound like I minded all that much; I didn't mind puting something together for Mom but for the church? That makes me very nervous. Well, not nervous, but maybe a little bit concerned (It's not the same thing). How do I write something to the "public of mothers" but make it personal to each. Why can't he just Google this?...that's not what he wants. Again, unsportsmanlike! So because of this I've stalled this project for a while, but the deadline is here. So, I'm going to try to please both sides of the argument and just make two little poem/story/write something/or whatevers. Something personally to mom and something public.

 So I grabbed some tea, my computer and decided I would get this done. After a while of collaborating with my sisters and looking at different templates from online and reading a few other blogs, I have two finals! You will obviously realize that our personal one to mom is first then the impersonal/personal (whatever) one is last. I also put up some of the cutest pictures ever that I found on my computer for an extra "awwww" I LOVE MY FAMILY! Hope this all works. Ok, now I'm nervous and concerned.

My favorite picture ever. Baby me and momma

Before you read poem/story/write something/or whatever #1 Here's some background info for those of you who have no ideas about my family. My little brother is Joseph. He is about to be 11...10 years younger than me. He's my favorite sibling (fine, no he's not)

Kasi- my younger sister.
Kaitlyn- my older one. Married with the cutest babies ever in the wide world.

Poem/story/write something/or whatever #1

Being Joseph Dugger’s mother means knowing how to listen very carefully when he has something he wants to talk about, because Joseph Dugger’s mother knows how important it is that he feels "heard." Being Joseph Dugger’s mother means knowing to check the back of his drawer for his fancy Sunday pants before assuming they are lost, because Joseph Dugger’s mother knows that the back of his drawer is where he hides his fancy Sunday pants hoping they will never be found. Being Joseph Dugger's mother means knowing that he does not like any kind of ice cream except for chococlate chocolate chocolate (chocolate), and making sure he doesn't consume so much of it that he makes himself nauseated, because Joseph Dugger's mother knows that the boy has undeniably no willpower where chocolate is concerned.

Being Kasi Dugger's mother is knowing that when she doesn't have the appropriate amount of family/love time she doesn't function at all.Being Kasi Dugger’s mother means knowing to keep bottled water in the house for her because she knows that sink water is not near appropriate. Being Kasi Dugger’s mother means knowing that when someone erases an American Idol off of DVR she gets sad so Kasi Dugger’s mother makes sure to lock all of the American Idols on DVR so nobody can erase them before she sees them. Being Kasi Dugger's mother means knowing to let Kasi Dugger sleep before wasting energy fixing her sour mood, because Kasi Dugger's mother knows that sleep is required before she will submit to a good mood.

Being Kali Dugger’s mother means knowing when she really misses home and knowing that when she needs an extra hour to talk on the phone, SHE NEEDS THAT EXTRA HOUR. Being Kali Dugger’s mother means knowing to stock up on at least a dozen extra bananas when she visits because she l-o-v-e-s them. Being Kali Dugger's mother means knowing she prefers skim milk over 2% so Kali Dugger's mother will buy an extra half gallon of skim while everyone else drinks 2%.

Being Kaitlyn Day’s mother means knowing when she needs a date night with her husband because Kaitlyn Day's mother is always ready to be the babysitter on hand, at all times. Being Kaitlyn Day's mother means knowing to save New York and Company coupons she gets in the mail so she can buy her clothes when she needs them. Being Kaitlyn Day's mother means knowing when it's appropriate to say "I completely understand" when Kaitlyn Day calls on the phone just to vent.

Anybody can be a mother but it takes one special person to be Joseph, Kasi, Kali and Kaitlyn Dugger's mother. Because being our mother means knowing us each specifically, and doing these things for us because she loves us individually... very much.

Thank You from all of us... Joseph, Kasi, Kali and Kaitlyn
We love you too
Happy Mothers Day!

My sweet family. I would estimate that this picture is about 14 or 15 years old. The only thing I HATE about it is Joseph isn't in it :(

poem/story/write something/or whatever #2

Mothers are pretty
Mothers are nice
Mothers are really really sweet and pretty

Yep, that was it. That's what I sent my dad. I couldn't do it. I've been sitting here for an hour and I literally can NOT do it.
Ok, so goodnight. And happy mothers day to my mother only!

I look forward to summer as a time to s-l-e-e-p, work and now has it, watch seinfield ;) I got hold of three seasons and have rewatched this one... a lot of times.

The Lord helps the Infertile

I'm not a mother, of course not. I do know that I already have a desire to be one someday. It is very interesting to me that I, someone who is very far off from having a child, already has a desire for one in the future. I only bring this to attention for the purpose of magnifying how strong that desire must be in a women who is actually ready to bear children.

Naturally, the inability to have babies is not what I am concerned for. Although, I am going to use this as an example to nudge some of the feelings we all have, even men (I think?). 

There's a woman. Season one has come and the wedding is over. Now, the only desire in her is to love the man she married by making a family. That's who she is, that is her purpose. That is her future. She has been a mother, even without a child. With the highest of hopes she rejoices in the fact that THIS IS HER SEASON. At the very peek of the excitement, she begins to plan for a baby. Yet, after four or five months of trying, she begins to fall down the peek. She goes to the doctor to find out, she in infertile.

The failure to conceive makes her doubt everything (everything). Completely lost and heartbroken. Horribly, terribly heartbroken.

_____________________________________________________________________________


Although some of my personal holding promises are not for a child, I feel as though some of them could slightly compare. I was reading on infertility in Genesis, where Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, suffer from bareness. I felt connected to the topic when I read Rachel heart for the first time tonight...

Genesis 30:1 When Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, she said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

Or else I die. That prayer seems too familiar. I've talked with God like that, I have pleaded with Him on the behalf of a greater need, more than just a want. I've listened to my mothers prayers for greater faith early in the mornings and late at nights (GOD BLESS HER). And the only thing I've ever heard God say to me is, "I hear you."

A deeper want has still always been there.

I never stop wanting.

And not once do I just relax.

I truly believe my God will be faithful to me. But for the past couple of months I have been asking myself if I was like Sarah. Will I be left to struggle until I am 99 years old?

The Lord talks so plainly in perfect moments. Actually, it's just straight out incredible. Tonight, on my thirty minute drive home from work, I received the same nudge deep in my heart."He hears my prayers"

God answered my prayers by telling me "I hear your prayers" Isn't that unfortunate? Although tonight, it was satisfying. I decided I had to grasp a hold of that or else I would be literally tortured by my emotions. I think the ultimate lesson is that faith and obedience is huge, of course, but mainly Joy.  Having the Joy of the Lord before the promise will make the promise even greater and the process actually bearable.

You know, I don't know if Sarah was tortured until she held her child. Did she suffer for 99 years? I hope she didn't. She did try to answer her own prayers by having Ishmael. I think we do this in our doubt, in our pain for wanting something for that moment. I kept questioning why God kept Sarah waiting for such a long time?...to prove he is faithful? Well ya, but she suffered for so long.

Here is what I have concluded... God promised her a nation, not a specific time nor age, a nation.

Genesis 17:16 I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations, kings of people shall be of her.

And because I know the character of God, I know he did not call her to suffer for 99 years.  He called her to rest in Him, to know His will, and to be happy about it. I do believe that God's timing is so divine and way more perfect than ours will ever be. It's not God's will for us to suffer while we wait, it's God's will for us to hold on to the promises he has given us with great joy. I really do think He offers that fulfilling joy for us.

I place my future and joy in His hands. I will not let infertility take hold of my joy. EVEN IF I AM INFERTILE UNTIL I AM 99 YEARS OLD. He is the God that makes things happen. I serve the God that gave Isaac to Sarah, Esau and Jacob (TWINS) to Rebekah, and Joseph to Rachel.

I take hold of the Lords promises and no matter the circumstances I will rest in the fact that He is the God of trust. The God that remembers me...

Genesis 30:22 And the Lord remembered Rachel, and she conceived
Genesis 21:20 And The Lord remembered Sarah, and she conceived
Genesis 25:21 And Rebekah, his wife, conceived.

The Black Keys