Danieles Birthday

I have found my calling in life, it is to supply perfect costume ideas for any and all people based on book characters. ITs the most fun I've had in a long time....

Last night we watched movies all night and ate family size cheetos and doritos. Just a few of us.

So Danieles birthday is this day. And I think its been a great day.
It all started with a huge Pancake brunch. Pancakes, Strawberry Sauce, Eggs, Grits, Bacon, Sausage, Oranges, Cheese Danishes, Banana Bread,Maybe a few other things.

After Brunch Daniele and Trish and I headed to town. We hit up Starbucks then Mall and decided again that our mall is the most small, empty, strange, mall in the country. They opened a few new stores so it has like 8 stores now so thats nice. We went shopping a few other places then went to Sante Fe for lunch. Sadly by the time we got there it wasn't lunch time anymore so I kinda suggested to Daniele and Trish that they just not order anything because I couldn't afford the Dinner prices but still wanted to pay. So we just had chips and dip and I ordered a side order of 3 enchiladas and we all just shared and it was really nice. We talked about Life, and God, and Clothes, and Boys, and Cats...
Then we headed to Walmart to get some cheese. Got a movie from the redbox and then drove home. It was raining all day. So that was nice. And we just drove in the rain with the windows down, singing our little hearts out.

We got home and had some homemade pizza party. With cheerwine and redvelvet cake. It was not a nice combination. But don't tell the family I said that. It was mostly my idea.

OKay interjectoin here!!! All the girls are watching some horse movie and Daniele was standing near the TV and Maggie all the sudden shouts out, "Don't stand by it idiot!" And Daniele gets all red in the face embarrassed and walks off. And Everyone starts laughing and laughing cause Maggie was talking to the TV and not paying any attention to Daniele.

Anyways, Everyone is watching horse movies together. And there is still the whole night I have devoted to doing things like mani-pedi's and massages and whatnot.

I've tried to make this day really special for Daniele. The past couple of years her birthdays haven't been happy. She means more to me than almost anyone in the world. I mean with a few exceptions. ;)
I want her to be happy always. I want to do everything I can to make her smile and laugh. Because she has spent my entire life doing things to make me happy and teaching me and loving me. I know a lot of people who would call her perfect. And I can see their point. She has one of the best hearts. She just cares about people. She always puts the Lords will and her family and friends first. Sure she makes mistakes, but the awesome thing about that is, I learn from all her mistakes. So thats nice for me. Sometimes I pretend I will be as good a person as her someday. Maybe if I keep trying... when I"m like 40 I'll be close. haha. But I honestly don't see it happening. Shes just good. Shes a good one. And I'm so thankful that she is in my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today without her. (Great, I say that after I just say how I"m not a good person. I didn't mean it like that...)

So I'm signing out.
Hoping to post birthday pictures after the weekend...

Jess

Part 1 1/2 sunday

This morning we got up at 6 and went to Columbia, South Carolina. We did worship at a calvery chapel. It was a great morning full of beautiful people and beautiful singing. 30 something people were baptised.

I spent most of this weekend smiling. I'm just so happy to be spending a little quality time with my brother and his girl and some of my closest friends. I haven't seen these guys in 6 months or something. So this is nice.
I've been so happy. But If I stop and think about it. Its been a bittersweet time.
A tiny piece of me has been sad. And I've been shoving it down and right now its pushing to the surface.
A lot can happen in 6 months. People can change so much. People can find a special someone. I can feel like they are too young for a serious relationship. Some of them I know are. Everyone else seems to be changing and everything is different. I don't like it. I smile and pretend I'm happy with everything. But a tiny bit of me isn't happy. I'm faking a little. I want some things to just stay the same.
My friends are getting married and having babies. little babies I knew are now older girls. My own sisters aren't little girls anymore. Everyone has gotten so much older and I haven't noticed until now. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was 15.
But thats my little sister now and all her friends. They are growing up too fast. And I don't like it. Grace is turning 9 tomorrow. She keeps reminding me this is her last day being 8. It has to be special. :) I want it to be special just for her. But I'm the one that has been trying to keep my little sisters in pink hair bows and frilly little girl dresses.
And its not working. My sisters all pickout their own clothes now. And Grace more often then not chooses colours other then pink. Every time it happens I cringe. Every time she frowns a little at my idea of a "cute outfit"... Nobody stays young forever. I know everyone grows up. And change is inevitable. Its a good thing. blah blah blah.
But guess what, my last little sister isn't a baby anymore. And Michal isn't a little girl anymore no matter how many times I remind her that she is. And Faith is right behind Michal, 12 years old and getting tall as me. Michal is an inch or two taller. Their faces are changing. They talk differently. They don't run to me when they need a band-aid or a drink of water.
Somehow this hurts me a little. I don't know... I keep forgetting to treat Michal like a little girl and find myself enjoying spending time with Michal as an older girl. Our relationships are all different now. And I love it. But I don't.
Its all bittersweet.
Grace will always be my baby sister, my blonde, blue-eyed ballarina. She will always be dancing. And pink is still her favorite colour. She will always love cows. Her cute little grin won't change. Those random freckles won't just disappear. I don't want her to stop telling me just what shes thinking.
I want her to always love my stories. I want her to always whisper to me that I'm her favorite big sister, because I'm funnier than Daniele and I don't pick at her like Michal and Faith do. I don't want her to stop blurting out loudly at random moments, "Jess I just love you so much! You're just funny and I just love you."


Half my writing just got deleted and there is no way I can remember what I wrote.
So I'm just ending this. I'm not nearly as sad as I sound. I'm just having a melencholy moment and decided to write it out.
Everythings gonna be okay. And in alittle bit I will be as cheerful as ever.


I love seeing old fat men fishing alone shirtless on the riverbank in the rain.
Life is a beautiful thing. Thanks Lord for all the great moments you give me that make me smile.