december first.

Today is the first of December. Can you believe it? It snowed today--quite an appropriate beginning to December, if you ask me. It's starting to actually feel like winter, it's bitter cold, people are walking around town in boots, coats, and gloves, and the air smells of Christmas cookies. Our Christmas tree is up, I think it would be safe to say that our tree is a miss-mash of memories. Every year, our grandparents give us each an ornament on Thanksgiving day. Sometimes the ornaments are just fun, sometimes they represent something that happened that year or something we're looking forward to. I absolutely love pulling out the boxes and boxes of ornaments, each of them bring back a flood of memories. My favorite ornament we have would have to be the little Asian girl holding a lantern with a little Chinese house next to her--we got it while we were waiting to bring Moriah home. There are ornaments from my parents' childhoods, ornaments from trips we've taken, and from school that we've made over the years. I love waking up each morning, looking at it, and remembering different times from the past.

As the snow is falling, I'm sitting in our warm house, on the couch with a bunch of blankets. Today was a good day, I got to spend time with a friend, get a lot of school work accomplished, and now spend time with my family in the evening hours of the day. I'm looking forward to December--with Christmas celebrations, a break from school, seeing family, and my birthday, it's shaping up to be a very good month. I'm excited to see what December will bring.

seize the day

I was sitting in my room not very long ago, just thinking. Pondering life, school, friends. Everything has been so busy--between school, church, things with friends, and a lot of adoption related things. I've become so lost in the day-to-day of everyday life, that I forget to take joy in the little things. Sometimes I want, so badly, to have something new and exciting to do or experience. But that made me think--how many times in our lives do we just forget to be thankful for the little things in life? I find it happening a lot on my own life--I tend to focus on the bigger things, especially school without stopping to savor the small sweet moments of life. I need to cherish the special moments like...

-reading books to younger siblings

-having tea with a good friend

-sitting outside watching the sun go down as the sky turns from a blue, to a deep pink to a dark black

-watching the snow flakes of the first snow fall to the ground ever so softly

-sitting in bed at night with a good book

-the smell of fresh pumpkin bread baking

-finding a new song and completely falling in love with it

-a hug from a friend

-laughter filling the house

Life is so beautiful, I truly want to learn to seize the day. To enjoy every moment, even if it's not that exciting or full of adventure, because we never know when something could be taken away. Often I become discouraged with the mundane moments we have in life. However if you stop, take a deep long breath and look around you, there are snippets of beautiful things. This life, though sometimes is void of excitement & activity, it is so full of little hidden joys. I want to seize the day and all the little joys hidden within.

just lovely things and thoughts

This past week has been all kinds of wonderful. A break from school and perfect weather. I'm absolutely in love with autumn--the changing leaves, the cooler weather, the sweaters and boots, the hot drinks. Every bit of it is positively enchanting. The air is crisp and fresh while inside our fireplace is roaring and we sit in the evenings to enjoy cups full of hot cocoa.

This morning, it is cloudy but as I sit here at my desk sipping "sleepy time tea," my favorite. When ever I drink this tea, it brings me back to the times where I used to sit with my grandma on her porch and drink this same tea. She'd let me have as many sugar cubes as I wanted to, and I'd put in so many ice cubes that by the time my tea was finally gone, it was ice cold and the bottom of the cup was filled with sugar. Those days where my grandma did that with me were always my favorite.  She has a collection of little spoons that she reserved especially for those "tea party" days. I'd always get to pick which tea cup I wanted to use and which spoon I thought was the prettiest. How I loved those days!

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Yesterday we went on a hunt for a few vintage things at a thrift store. I have to admit that digging through people's used items isn't exactly my favorite thing to do, but I love it when you find some things that you've been looking for. Lately, I've been looking for a few vintage things to put in my room here and there. I was absolutely delighted to find some old records and a 1967 Webster's Illustrated Dictionary. I've decided that even though thrifting isn't my favorite thing to do, the results are worth it. Finding these treasures made my day quite lovely.

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Earlier in the week my family went to a small farm nestled outside of a forest on the plains of Colorado. Animals were everywhere, a pumpkin patch was home to all sizes of orange pumpkins, and though the air smelled worse then anything I've ever smelled before, the scenery was beautiful. 

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On Monday, I'm back to everyday life again. Fall break is over. I don't feel ready to go back to school again. This school year has been much more stressful then I was anticipating. The work load I have seems to take over my life and I feel as though my life has been overrun with school work. It's a hard balance--spending enough time on my school work, yet still having time to do other things and not obsessing over my studies. However, I am finding that when I do have time off of school, I enjoy it so much more. These times of being able to spend time with friends and family, taking day trips here and there, are so relaxing and such a welcome relief from the day to day grind of school work. I am so thankful for the Lord's grace and patience with me--it is only in Him I am able to keep going. I am so blessed.

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Is that not the cutest smile you have ever seen? 

Several of you have asked how our adoption is going. We sent in our paperwork to China a few weeks ago, and very quickly after that, they sent us our log in date. Now, we wait. We are hoping that my parents will be able to travel sometime in February. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think and wonder about these boys. There is so much "unknown" right now. I find myself day dreaming about what they'll be like day after day. There is so much still to do before we bring them home! But, we are resting in the fact that God knows the exact day and hour that we will have these boys in our arms. Though that day seems so far off right now, we know that God's timing is perfect and every step of this adoption journey is planned out by the author and creator of our lives. 

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This week was hot chocolate, day dreaming, shopping, sitting down with a good book. This week was smiles and laughter. Here's to next week, being even better!

Happy Saturday, friends! 

w.o.w.

Today has been good. Very, very, good.

Why?

Because I can finally tell y'all something that I've been dying to tell you.

You people are not going to believe it. It took be a couple weeks to get used to the idea my self.

Ready?

We're adopting again!

And yes, you read that right.

true confessions...

Confession: I'm supposed to be doing science home work right now, I'm not. :) But it's ok, my mom said I could take a break...I'm not that evil!

Confession: I haven't practiced piano yet today, and I so desperately need to.

Confession: I really, really, really, really, want some more outfits..."it's almost Christmas, Kimberly, you can wait till then!" But I'm really selfish, and I want them now.

Confession: I threw a fit today...yes, I know I'm a baby. But I needed to get it out of my system. {And in my defense, it was for a good reason.} Now I should be good for oh, at least a day, maybe two. Seriously. I'm not kidding.

Confession: I want to make my blog "public" so y'all don't have to keep logging in. Wouldn't that be so nice? Plus, then...maybe more people would read it?

Confession: I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really...miss our old camera. (REALLY!) It was one of those awesome dslr kinds. Adore! My dad says that we're going to get a new one...I hope so!

Confession: I...am running out of confessions. :)

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Do you have any {slightly embarrassing} confessions you wish to share? It feels good to get them out!

thoughts of today

Outside my window . . . It's sunny, but cold!

I am hearing . . . My brothers, shooting each other with Nerf guns.. oh the joys of being an older sister!

I am creating . . . a presentation for History class...7 minute speech...HELP! :)

I am looking forward to . . .CHRISTMAS! Oh and my birthday! 20 more days 'till I'm a teenager!!!

I am thankful . . . for my amazing, amazing, amazing church! It's such a blessing to me personally and to my family.

I am praying . . . for my grandma, who is having surgery today. Love you grandma!

I am hoping . . . that I get all my homework done, quickly! I have a ton to do, and not a lot of time!

I am remembering . . . the time my dad was on a business trip on Christmas...so glad he'll be home this year!

I am noticing that . . . my nails desperately need to be painted!

I am reading . . .Wispers of Winter by Tracie Peterson

Words to think about . . . "Any thing worth doing, is worth overdoing." Love this!

A moment from my week . . . Getting an A on my English essay...sorry, that really sounded like bragging, but it just made me really happy! :)

Something you may not know about me . . . I want to learn to play the guitar. My mom said possibly in like a year. Sigh!

One of my favorite things . . . my school. I'm absolutely learning so so so very much, it's like the best ever!

Well, I'm off to go do that History assignment I was telling you about, Au revoir!

for granted?

Sigh, life can seem so complicated at times, can't it? It seems just as you're starting to figure something out, your world falls apart. Life is so, so full of "what ifs." Far to many, in my opinion. We worry about things we shouldn't, and wish for things to be different. I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all, but it's true. But really, how often do we sit back, and thank God for what he's given us?

I need to be reminded again and again, that everything happens for a reason, for His glory. He plans out our days, before we are even born. We get so caught up in the day-to-day. Things like studying for the history final, or perfecting the piece of your artwork which is going in the exhibit. Things of that sort seem to take over my life, and I forget about what really matters. God. He is the one who gives me life and breath and everything I need. How often do I stop to thank him for that? How often do I take these things for granted?

I want to become more and more like him everyday of my life, but how can I do that if I'm not taking time to really talk to him, and thank him. I can't. It doesn't work like that. However much we want it to, it doesn't. We can't snap our fingers and automatically think we are somehow "closer" to God. We need to spend time in his word, take time to talk to him. But, how ever much it seems a good idea, it's hard to do. I get "so busy" with life. "So busy" with everything. It's no excuse. Even though life can seem so confusing, so scary, we know that God is with us. And through things that might seem so hard, and so big, he grows us through those experiences.

I want to be drawn closer to God. But I can't do it alone. I need his help. But he promises to help us, and we can take so much comfort in his word. I pray, that God would be drawing me closer to him. That he would help me to spend more time in his word, and in prayer.

"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

i would be....

If I were a gemstone, I’d be a diamond.

If I were a scent, I’d be the smell of flowers, any kind .

If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be high-fashion heels.

If I were the weather, I would be a shower of sunshine.

If I were a facial expression, I'd be a sheepish grin.

If I were a car, I'd be....a pink one.

If I were a time of day, I’d be the early morning light.

If were a month, I’d be December.

If I were a place, I'd be the Eiffel tower, looking over it's city.

If I were a liquid, I’d be water flowing from a water fall.

If I were a taste, I’d be an iced mocha.

If I were a sea animal, I’d be a star fish.

If I were a food, I’d be chocolate.

If I were a color, I'd be a faded pink.

If I were a musical instrument, I would be the strings of a guitar.

If I were a flower, I’d be a daisy.

If I were a song, I’d be the song that sounds so beautiful, it would make you want to cry.

If I were a planet, I’d be earth.

If I were an object, I would be an old vintage book.

If I were a fruit, I'd be a raspberry.

If I were a sound, I’d be the sound of the ocean crashing on a beach.

If I were a day of the week, I’d be Sunday.

But, since I'm not any of these things, I suppose, I shall have to settle with being me, and that's just fine. But, I have to wonder, what would you be?

a glimpse at my turkey day

Hey y'all!

Wasn't yesterday just wonderful? Food, family, everything! I wanted to share with you, a couple of things I'm very thankful for...

A- amazing friends B- Bible C- {my} cell phone

d- dogs, little ones! e- email

f- friends, I love y'all! g- the grace of God H- {MY} HOUSE

I- ice cream j-jokes k- kisses from Mei-mei

L- lip gloss m- my mom n- netflix o- old navy

P- PURSES Q- quotes, especially inspiring ones!

r-rhyming

s- sunshine t- target! u- ultra amazing earrings

w-washing machines x- 'xtra cute shoes

y- yellow pencils z-zebra stripes

Life is good!

For our turkey day, we got to go to my grandma's house, which was amazing, as always!

Here's some pics from yesterday!

Hope your turkey day was as amazing as mine! I'm so thankful for all of you! :)

christmas wish list!

'Ello! Guess what, guess what, guess what? Christmas is only 35 days away! Can you believe it?!!!?!!! Me neither! Things have been so busy lately, and as everyone knows, the holidays just make it even more busy, which I am so excited for! Parties, food, presents, and everything...Christmas just gives you a nice warm feeling inside when you think about it, doesn't it? AND (!), after Christmas, I have my 13th birthday! I am so excited! :) Maybe, even, a little overly excited?!?! But, since I am feeling in the "Christmas mood" I thought I'd share with y'all my Christmas list, just for grins! :)

I have stumbled upon the awesomest (I don't even think that's a word!) website on the face of this earth....let me introduce to you, Ruche! (Click on the name, to view it)

And, I am sorry to say, that as soon as I found it, I might have possibly, maybe, felt a tiny bit...greedy? Sigh, when you look at all of their AMAZING things, you'll see what I mean....I have however narrowed my very favorite things of theirs down to this...

And, of course, I have many, many more! :)

Aeropostale, is also on my list....

(It won't let me copy the pics from their site, so you'll have to follow the links

THIS adorable long sleeve tee

Oh and THIS one too!

THIS hoddie is to die for...

And THIS vest too!

THESE jammy pants look sooo comfy!

And aren't THESE fun?

Looove THIS purse

And the matching WALLET too!

Yes, I am obsessed, but really you can't help it! :)

Oh and....

A tee shirt from WILD OLIVE....

Redeemed

And...

CONVERSE!

Some sheets from PB teen...

Cute right!

Well, I do believe that wraps it up! With wrapping paper no less! :)

Enjoy your weekend, dear friends! I am so thankful for each and every one of you! You truly light up my life!

i'm thinking.....

Today, I'm thinking....

Thinking about how much school I have to do on Monday....

Thinking about one of my BFFs b-day is on Wednesday, and I need to finish wrapping her present....

Thinking about how thankful I am to have my sister...

Thinking about how adorable my new jeans are....

Thinking about how excited I am for the conference at our church this weekend....

Thinking about how tired I am....

Thinking about how thankful I am that Moriah's Dr. appointment went really well...

Thinking about the gorgeous fall leaves...

Thinking about how amazing life really is, when you stop and think about it...

Thinking about how much day dreaming I actually do...

Thinking about cheese cake...

Thinking about how much I need to re-do my nails...

Thinking about.....

Thinking.

What are you thinking about today? Do tell!

what happens when you put a city girl in the middle of a farm?

Well, that's exactly what I figured out last Friday. And yes, I even had fun! Apparently, putting a city girl in a farm isn't as harmless as it sounds!

Having fun in the car...it was a LONG drive!

Moriah and Josiah in a cute little corn maze

Aubrey and the Rooster...America's cutest couple!
"And it's all freaky freaky fresh...WORD!"

This, my friends, is how to sit upon a car....with STYLE!

Any place that has a PINK tractor has to be good!

Whilst I was out of my element, I did learn several things...

Rules are totally made to be broken....
Corn can be gorgeous!

Yellow Brick roads really do exist
Some people find mountains of dirt good entertainment...

When you ask a ten year old to look like you're having fun, this is what you get...

I also learned...

Ducks like to drink from holes in hoses...
Big huge balloon things attached to the ground are awesome....

and...

Even though most the time I'm more like this...

It can be really fun to get a little crazy, try different things...and dare I say it....get a little dirty!

Isn't that right Mr. Rooster?

So, when you put a city girl in the middle of a farm, she may scream a little, she may get a bit grossed out by all the bugs, she may not like all the dirt, but she may also have a lot of fun!