::Entering the Twilight Zone::

I bet you thought this post was going to be about romantic vampires, didn't ya?  Didn't ya?!
Or perhaps about a haunted hotel with a plummeting elevator.

No?  Okay, maybe you didn't...anyway...

Tomorrow marks the 21st year since my entrance into this world as a totally depraved human being, desperately in need of salvation.

Wahooo!

My feelings about this event have been soooo mixed, I'm not even sure what to think.  o.O
I've swung all the way from excitement over my state-instituted, official adulthood (yay...), and a sinking feeling that my time is slipping, no, flat out running away from me.  This past year has gone especially fast.
Seems as though each new year tries to beat the previous one in the annual "365 Day Sprint"...me no likey.

Mostly though, I just feel plain ole ancient!  I know, I know...I'm a Spring chicken.
(Maybe you've noticed a gray streak in my hair...that's a total joke, by the way.  Perhaps I'm letting this "old" thing go to my head. ;)
It's at this time in my life, I'm starting to be able to look around me.  Observe young children I have babysat turn into TEENAGERS!!  That's just plain wrong.  Every time I see a little one growing up, I get this actual, literal, physical sensation of going through a worm-hole-time-warping-mechanism-type-thing.
Then I close my eyes, and sigh.

On the flip-side of the coin though...I'm really excited!  Like really, REALLY excited!
Not so much about the age as the Lord's goodness.  Seems like the longer I live, the more sin I notice in my life.  "That's nothing to get excited about," you might say.  True.  But, as time marches on, the Lord is also showing what a great Savior He is!
When I look at my sin in light of Christ's goodness and atoning power, I'm amazed!
"Yes, I'm a sinner.  Thank you God for the continuing growth that is revealing these bad qualities to me.  Thank you for mercy in revealing Your Truth!  I thank you that Your grace is greater than all these sins, though they be many!"
Are you getting excited yet?!
The longer I live, the more I come to realize the Lord's goodness and might!
Then I close my eyes, and sigh.  :)

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I smile a lot.  And I'm starting to really notice the effect around my eyes...and one corner of my mouth in particular.  Oddly enough, with all this "feeling old" business, the creasing doesn't bother me.
I love wrinkles you see, so long as they're happy ones. :)

Even with these special little creases forming, people still guess my average age to be 16 or 17.  Which is good, I guess.  :)
Just yesterday, my family and I performed at the church we grew up in as little girls.  And a lady wanted to use me as an example of the age she was during a certain time in her life.  (16)  Imagine her surprise when I told her Tuesday was going to be my 21st birthday!  We laughed and laughed!  Boy that was fun!



In other news...

My first card/gift arrived this afternoon.  Thank you SOOOOOOO much Mrs. Lynn!  I love it!!!
The picture has a wonderful personal note on the back.  No, you may not know what it says...them's special words betwixt two tall friends!  Hmm, I think I'll hang it on my door...  ;)

So here I sit.  Just as confused and excited as ever about being 21.  :)

At least it was relaxing!  Fun to put my thoughts down on...umm...screen...?  :)

It's right about 14 minutes till my natal day and I must away.  I've got this nice bag of chocolate (a gift) to keep me company while I stare at that calendar square.

Yay chocolate!  I hear the older you become, the slower your metabolism gets, and the more weight wonderful candies like this pack on...and the more the caffine over works your aging heart.
o.O

Oh well!  I'll enjoy this work-aholic metabolism while I've got it!!  :)

Cheers to getting older and growing in grace,
~Anna  :)

::Pulling Weeds::

You're out in the yard, working. There it sits, growing heartily in your flower/vegetable garden, right where you don't want it!  A weed the size of a pogo stick is staring at you, laughing at you...it's been ignored too long. You sigh deeply, wringing your hands, thinking about the pain it's going to be trying to yank that beast up.

You give it a go.  Straining, tugging, and grunting the whole time.  You come up for a breather, only to discover that your hands are stiff and sore from the strain.  "Oh whatever," you think, "I'll just go get my gloves.  That'll help me grip it better."  And off you trot to get those garden gloves that the nice people at Lowes were only too happy sell you.

Again you try, with more grunts and tugs, but to no avail.  Perhaps you even try wrapping that long growth around your hand...yank.  "Ouch!  Forget that!" you think.  Then, you reach for the big gardener toys...a shovel or clippers.  You almost hesitate digging up the weed, thinking about the eyesore that will be left in its place.  But no, it must come out.  The health of your beloved plants is at stake!  So dig you must.

After the horrid vegetation comes out with ease, you think, "By Jove! (or something like that)  Why didn't I think of this before?  It's much easier!"
Then away you walk, tossing the weed into a trash can.  All the while cheered by your sensible use of shovel.

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Hebrews 12:14-15
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;  (italics mine)

If your mother is anything like mine, you've probably heard this analogy before.  :)



Sin, is a horrible "weed."
Sometimes I notice a little sprout and think, "Gee, I'm kinda busy right now and it's still small.  But I'll take care of it in a few days."  And then (wouldn't you know it?) there I am weeks later trying to rid the yard of a monstrosity. 

My sin is the exact same way.  It thrives on neglect.  Like a weed, it pops up right where I don't want to see it.  I groan after realizing I've allowed it to fester so long.
So I try to yank it out on my own...no good.  My "sin garden gloves" won't cut it either.  Even when I try to "wrap" the sin around my hand for a good grip, it only ends up hurting me.

You see?  I can't rid myself of deep sin roots with my own two hands.  That's usually about the time the Lord gives me the idea to read His Word (use a shovel).  Oh, what a difference a tool it makes!
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (italics mine)
I can use instruction that the Bible gives me against sin, the same way I would a shovel on a weed.
It cuts it!  :)

~Anna
(PS)  Post dedicated to my Mom...I love you!  :)

::To Brighten Your Day::

Just a little something that I hope will bring some laughter to your lives.
**Warning: Do not watch if you have just recently had wisdom teeth surgery. The hilarity of this clip has the tendency of making you smile...laugh even. I say this from personal experience.  Take Caution!



~Anna :)

::So It Begins::

What a day to start a personal blog...it's cold and rainy, I'm feeling dizzily queasy, and my right cheek is chubby from wisdom teeth surgery.  Yup, I'm going all out today! 
On that happy note...
WELCOME TO MY BLOG!  :)
It is my earnest desire that the words I write will encourage and uplift any and all readers.  I purpose to share my heart: whether it be in happy exhuberance, or a down-trodden state; humorous and teasing, or serious and honest.
In all my posts though, my desire is to...
 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14

And now, since I believe that posting without pictures can be boring at times, I leave you with this...

Yes my friends, it is exactly what it looks like...a random picture of sandy feet.  :)
Blessings upon blessings,
~Anna