Vicariously living through all my wonderful friends..

Lately I have decided to start living vicariously through my wonderful friends. Although, I have to admit to myself that I do have a pretty good life (even when it doesn't feel like it sometimes). I am independent, I am fortunate to have found an awesome person to live with (my Natty), I have amazing friends that I wouldn't trade for anything in this world, I just got back from a great trip to Vegas, I have a good job that I love doing (most of the time) and so much more! You're thinking what more could a girl ask for, right?? Well...I guess there are lots of things I could think of, but I WON'T GO INTO THAT. :)

It has really hit me lately what amazing friends I have. These are the kind of friends that I know will last me a lifetime. God has been SO good to me in placing the right people in my life at exactly the right time-He is SO faithful! Even though I may lose touch with some of my good friends, we always pick up right where we left off and that is simply something money can't buy. There is a quote that comes to mind when I think of my friends:

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” --Anais Nin

That quote is so true in so many ways because each friend truly represents a different world in us. I believe God places people in our lives to fulfill different purposes. It's neat to me how people come into your life that you never thought would, but end up being apart of your life forever. I have certain friends that I consider to be my "voice of reason", friends that make me laugh all the time, friends that just listen, friends that I share my deepest darkest secrets with etc..

Lots of my friends are married and have children (or have babies on the way) and although that is something that I want, I have learned just to "live vicariously" through them until it's my turn. I love all of my friends (and their babies) dearly and love sharing their lives with them. I consider it a TRUE blessing.

Smiling..and VEGA$!!

Ok..so I have been on a little hiatus from the blogging world, but I am BACK! I just got back from a vacation in VEGAS and am ready to write!

So I left last Monday and made my way to Las Vegas. I must say..it was SO great to go and visit and see the city of lights. Let me tell you, it was definitely full of them (amongst other things that I won't go into). All around it was a good trip. I have always said I wouldn't gamble (I have learned to never say never), but I ended up actually playing some slots (the penny machines). One morning..I was up by myself and decided to play. I lost a little and it kinda kept going up and down for a while..then I hit the jackpot!! (well...the jackpot for me anyways). I won $250 betting 60 cent!!! You can't believe the excitement and surprise I felt! I pretty much stopped while I was ahead, which was probably a good idea. I got to see lots of the casinos, the Vegas sign (something I really wanted to do) and got to see the Blue Man group!We sat front row and center in the splash zone. They were pure awesomeness!!! OMG!! Just watch the video to get a little snippet of what I got to see..it was incredible and so much fun!
Another thing I have been thinking about is laughter. Seriously...if someone asked me my most favorite thing ever in life, it would be LAUGHTER! I was thinking about how much a good laugh means to me and how I love it when something just makes me laugh so loud that I can't even control it. It really is THE BEST feeling in the world to me. I also had a thought about smiling (goes hand in hand with laughter, right?). Someone actually came up to me on the street in Vegas and said "you look scared...you should smile!". That got me to thinking..I love laughing and smiling, so I need to do it MORE. I think of myself as a happy person most of the time, but have realized that my face may not always show it. I found a few quotes I really like about smiling/laughter....

Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to.--Unknown

A laugh is a smile that bursts.
-- Mary H. Waldrip

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.
-- Author Unknown

Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit.
-- Author Unknown

If you smile at someone, they might smile back.
-- Author Unknown

The person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.
-- Shirley MacLaine

Thank Goodness God Doesn't Make Junk!

I watched this video tonight and I HAD to post it and write about it. Please take the time to watch it because it is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! It will definitely bless your heart because it most certainly blessed mine.

It is SO true that God knows what we need even before we realize it or even know we need it. It continues to amaze me how things happen and then I realize "that was SO God". It's such a neat and comforting feeling when I actually realize that. This video has such a good message and God knew that I NEEDED to hear it. Lately, I feel like I am in such a battle with the enemy. I feel like just when things start going good and I am happy in the place God has me, the enemy comes along and tries to make me believe otherwise. The enemy is VERY good at doing that...very good at casting doubt. But the truth is, if we can recognize when it's the enemy, then we really have the upper hand. We can choose to believe the lies the enemy tells us everyday, or we can choose to believe the truth that our Heavenly Father tries to impress upon us everyday. It is hard not to believe the enemy..he is very good at what he does, but God is SO much bigger and better. I make a concious decision everyday to believe what I know to be TRUTH. God says He will make us His masterpiece and He doesn't make junk. He created each and every one of us in HIS image....and anything He creates is "good".

For so long I have let the enemy tell me that I am really not a good person or good enough etc. But God tells me different. Sometimes we get to points in our lives (just like the video says) where God is trying to "chisel" away what shouldn't be there. I'm sure if you sat down and thought about it, it wouldn't take you long to come up with a BIG list of things that shouldn't be in your life. I know I can. Another way God has come through and helped me defeat the enemy is by words of encouragement through my wonderful friends. I have realized that over the last 2 or 3 days, I have gotten so many words of encouragement and I had no clue where it was coming from...then I realized..this is God. This is God letting me know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and whatever bad opinions I may have of myself simply aren't true--they are lies. So watch the video and BE ENCOURAGED!!!