My Boy

(Not the best picture, but the only one I have right now)

Get it the title? Instead of My Girl? Never mind...

Anyways, this post is dedicated to my favorite inanimate object that I have. My car, Melvin. He's a '95 red Dodge Neon, and one of the closest things to my heart. We have a special relationship. Melvin can always tell when I'm having a bad day or am in a bad mood. He's the best listener ever. He listens to my long, drawn-out stories and never tells me I'm adding too many unnecessary details. He lets me cry and yell and scream at absolutely nothing. He's also the best secret-keeper I've ever met. He also, bless his heart, listens to me singing at the TOP of my lungs and doesn't even mind when I'm off-key. And if that's not a friend, I don't know what is!

Sure, he's not the most dependable car in the world. His speedometer quits working whenever he feels like it, his transmission has been replaced a couple times, and he sometimes... just stops running. But sometimes in relationships, you have to look past the flaws to see the real beauty.

I just give him a little rub on the dashboard and speak some encouraging words to him. That usually helps. I often start talking to him as soon as I see him when I come out of school, walking towards him. We greet eachother joyfully and he tells me about the mean SUV that parked next to him and I tell him about my dreadful Spanish class.

Melvin and I have been together for close to 2 1/2 years and our relationship gets deeper each day. I dread the day when we might have to part... but we try not to think about that. We just keep on rolling down this road of life togther.

Quote

Oswald Chambers said, "God comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son and says, 'Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.' If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart."

Third Day said the same thing with "You Are Mine."

It doesn’t take much
For my heart to break
And you have done it
For what’s seems the millionth time

Whenever I hear
Of your saving grace
And how you gave your life
In exchange for mine

Sometimes I wonder why you even love me
And why you ever chose to call me child
Then I remember
It’s by your sacrifice
I can say that
I am yours and you are mine

It doesn’t take much
For me to shed a tear
And you have done so many things
To make me cry
Whenever I think
Of all that I’ve done wrong
And everything that you have done
To make it right

It doesn’t take much
For my heart to break
And you have done it
For what’s seems the millionth time

It terrifies me to ask God to break my heart. But I think that's a sacrifice we're called to make. If anybody knows what heartbreak is like, it's God. Do I have such little faith that I don't think He'd be able to help me through it? What the world now calls love has put such a negative tone to the word heartbreak. But as for me, I think I could definitely use some of God's heartbreak.

I hope this made sense... I'm in one of those, I make sense to myself, but maybe not to anyone else kind of moods. Anywayz... love you all. Keep shining bright!

For Today

Songs that break my heart but I love:

- "Butterfly Kisses" - Bob Carlisle
- "When You Love Someone" - Bryan Adams
- "He's My Son" - Mark Schultz
- "Nobody Knows it but Me" - Babyface
- "Best of Friends" - Fox and Hound Soundtrack
- "Canon in D" - Pachelbel
- "Concrete Angel" - Martina McBride
- "More Than You'll Ever Know" - Watermark
- "Priceless" - Copeland
- "You're the only Little Girl" - Steve and Annie Chapman
- "If I'm Not in Love" - Faith Hill
- "My Immortal" - Evanessence
- "Wonderful" - Everclear
- "We're So Far Away" - Mae

I'm just in a mellow mood today and thought I'd make a list of songs that just make me... sad and mellow. I love these kind of songs. Do you have any favorites?

Thankful

Things I'm thankful for:
1) Salvation and the opportunity to live in heaven for all of eternity
2) My amazing family who loves me unconditionally and supports me no matter what
3) The blessing to be born into a Christian family in a country where we are free to serve Jesus Christ openly
4) My friends who point me to Jesus and enrich my life
5) The opportunity to go to school and gain knowledge about the world around me

OK, now some not so serious ones...
1) Popcorn and lemonade, which always have a way of putting a smile on my face. Even just the mention of them
2) Music, how so much can be said within three or four minutes of time, even if it's just through an instrument
3) Laughter, it has a way of making everything bad disappear, at least for a while.
4) Elephants, their massiveness astounds me. I find them beautiful.
5) Stocking Hats, the way they cozily fit around my ears

What are you thankful for? I challenge you today to find a blessing in each area of your life. Thank Him even if you're having a bad day. Obviously He trusts you enough to give you a rough day because you know He won't give you anything you can't handle. Take joy and comfort in that!

Smile at the kid in the stroller in the store and say a prayer for them. One day they could be running the country or saving your life. Smile at the cashier who hands you your change. You may be the cheerful spirit they've been waiting on all day. Smile at the flowers in the yard of someone near you. Those flowers were carefully created by the hands of God.

Find joy in the simplest pleasures. They're here for our enjoyment.