It's been awhile..

Well it feels like its been forever since I last blogged, so here I am, on a potentially historically day in Chicago's history. One of the biggest storms to ever hit the midwest is happening as live and breathe outside the confines of my house. I can't even see the 20ft across the street to my neighbor's house. I listen to the sounds in my house that are being dispersed in every corner. All the men in the house are sitting in the living room, watching some television show about losing and gaining millions of dollars over trivial media questions as the women sit in my parents bedroom head deep in, what I can only assume is meaningful conversation. It's true what they say, men are like waffles and women are like spaghetti.

City Life.

Today, I spent the day with my mom shopping in downtown chicago. I realized how much I love being in the city. I just love being around all the diversity within so many different neighborhoods of all different sizes. Some only lasting for a few city blocks. You can find almost anything in Chicago by just going to the right neighboorhood. There's Little India, Chinatown, Little Italy, Hispanic and Mexican neighnboorhoods, Polish, Russian, etc. Almost any kind of culture or ethnictiy you can think of! I LOVE IT!

In particular today, we spent the day in Wicker Park, which is my new and current favorite neighboorhood in Chicago! It has everything from thrift stores to high end boutiques, from little cultural cafes to 5 star sushi! It made see how much the city life intrigues me and how I can't wait to be on my own and off to college. But I think another part of me realized  how much I am still not ready for that. Spending the quality time with my mom today was exactly what I needed. And I know that when I am off at college, I wont have her by my side all the time anymore, and that's scary. But no worry, I have much time to be concerned with that.

That's all! ForeverLove,
                           SamanthaLynn.

Snow and Bliss.

Now I'm not usually one to enjoy the snow and winter weather. But today I realized something miraculous and an epiphany occured. If we don't appreciate the small yet beautiful things, when are we going to appreciate and truly appreciate the bigger things in life when they come to us? And I was walked out my door this morning at 6:53, and saw the snow falling down faster than I could blink. I was just amazed at how much things could change so quickly. And how amazing God provides us with such beauty and grace in the most unique ways. Even though its cold, icy, and frigid outside I know that without all that the snow would have never been. What I really just want to say is, Thank You! :)

ForeverLove,
          SamanthaLynn

Hello Life.

"So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again."

As I rushed in late to church this morning and got into my normal seat on sundays the second song began to play and these lyrics stuck out to me more than anything. I think it was because of all the strive and struggles I have been dealing with lately. I feel like those were the words that I needed to hit me and convict my heart.

I know that I'm sinner and I have made many mistakes in my life so far but I know that I have Christ on my side. I do have a deep love for Jesus and everyday is another day to continue to persue a better and healthier relationship with my heavenly father who made me.

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb." -Psalms 139:13

I just pray and hope for all of you who do actually read this, to understand that I don't believe I am better than anyone else or that I am a "fake christian". Life brings trouble to every person on this Earth. No matter who they are, an atheist, christian, buddist, hindu, agnostic, etc. Life here on Earth will always try us, but I know that I am God's child and he is taking care of me has provided a path for me to take. It is by my own free will to choose the right one.  :)

ForeverLove,
               SamanthaLynn.

New Years

Every year people make tons of New Years Resolutions and most of them are broken. But this year I wanna be different. I have made personal resolutions for myself this year. Those of you who are close to me know what they are, so please dont be afraid to set me straight and keep me accountable. I definitely need that in my life right now.

Thanks guyssss

ForeverLove,
          SamanthaLynn

Friends Are Awesome...You're ALL AWESOME.

I'm homeee! Back from California and it felt so good to sleep in my own bed. :)

For the last two days I have been cleaning and reorganizing my room. Now as lame as it may sound, I actually LOVE doing that kind of stuff. So its not that I am being anti-social. Just having some "me-time"!

But last night was great because two of my friends came over and we ended up literally talking all night long, which is always so much fun. We just stayed up and talked about anything that came to mind. Things like religon, politics, school, and of course BOYS. haha but it just reminded me of how much I missed my friends and how grateful I am for the diverse group of them that I have. Oh, we also stopped by gene and judes around midnight for my first time! It was AWESOME! And I got to see Sean Egan working..haha priceless! LOVE YOU SEAN! :)

Apples to Apples.

Besides my birthday, Christmas is my favorite holiday of the entire year!

1. ITS JESUS' BIRTHDAY!
2. There's family all around
3. Presents aren't too shabby...
4. There's always lots of laughter.

But I do really love Christmas. I could completely feel the spirit of Jesus working in my grandma's house today as we all sat around the kitchen table and played apples to apples while laughing until tears rolled down our cheeks. It reminded me of those classic movies where in the end everyone is smiling and there is a perfect fairytale ending, as the camera slowly zooms out and you see the family laughing together through the front room window.

I think what I enjoyed most about today was how close I felt to my sisters. I think about them constantly, even if it may not seem like it sometimes, and to be together on the holidays means so much to me. It felt like we had never been apart for all this time, like nothing had changed, when change is the only constant thing in this world we live in.

2 Samuel 22:3 

    "my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
   He is my shield, the power that saves me,
      and my place of safety.
   He is my refuge, my savior,
      the one who saves me from violence."

ForeverLove,
          SamanthaLynn