For Jamie

This blog is in honor of my twin sister Jamie. Today is our first birthday not spent together....sad, sad day! As I have spent the last week or so realizing we weren't going to be together I thought of a lot of funny memories of past birthdays.

For example, Jamie, do you remember our 8th or so birthday party? Sleepover with a ton of girls and I fell asleep and no one could wake me up, even after slamming my head into the coffee table?? Funny.... Or our 13th birthday dance party in our living room because it was too cold to be outside? Then Jennifer's attic caught on fire that night! Chaos. The unforgettable moment on our 14th birthday where you choked on orange juice and tried to give yourself the Heimlich with your back brace on.  There was also our 15th birthday when Heather came to surprise us and there was a dance at school (not going to lie, was much more successful than ours!) and Dad dropped all of our friends off in the Burb! I'm not going to even mention our 16th birthday for obvious reasons that I am sure you will recall. Our 20th birthday is when you met JD and didn't like him... sorry about that! And then our 21st when you were so mad all day I wasn't going to see you and SURPRISE!

I love our memories together but would love it so much more if we could spend today with each other. We've got to figure out how to make this happen!

Spring 2007

The most common question I'm asked when people find out I'm a twin is, "So do you like being a twin?" I always smile and say yes but there's no words to really communicate the relationship Jamie and I have. Growing up, she was my protector and the one that could make everything better (unless of course she was the one that made it bad and then that was my other sisters' jobs). All the kids were scared of me, not because I ever did anything but because they didn't what to know what Jamie would actually do to them if she ever heard them being mean to me. We were chefs and ballerinas and gymnasts together when we would watch something pertaining to it on TV. She always let me get my way and be the Pink Power Ranger too! We played sports together, took every class together, and somehow grew up to be completely different people. Now we are still best friends, and I always know who to call to decide if I need sympathy or to move on. If I don't know how to make something, or just did something I'm proud of, I know I always have a supportive ear. I admire my sister's courage to not stand down to a fight, to be her brilliant self and do amazing in school, and to get ready everyday and look like a my size, fair skinned Barbie.

There are so many reasons I love being a twin, most of all because of how much I love my twin sister. So here's to you, Jamie, with as much love as you can glean from a blog! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

My Old Friend & Juggling

I know it has been forever since I last posted a blog. I really try not to be one of those people who have a blog but only post like twice a year. I've actually started three blogs since my last post, but none of them got completed. One day I will finish them....one day.

I have had an old friend make a reappearence in my life recently: busy-ness!! I grew up with this friend and am thankful for my Mom and Dad who taught me how to live life very well with him. It's in my blood to juggle a lot of different plates but since I got married in June I had taken a sabbatical from it. January brought it back full swing though!
After being gone for the holidays I came back and Castle Rock finally starting feeling like home instead of my current place of residency. After being back only two days I got a job. It was like a little kiss from God! I have been on for almost a month and am taking a full load of classes, so even though I feel a little rusty in my juggling act, I am enjoying life so much! JD and I often have these conversations about how amazed we are at our lives.

One thing through the chaos I am learning is appreciating each day for what it is worth and finding the value in not what I am doing but who I am becoming. I have been plagued with this achievement mindset since I can remember and so when I am working on a lot of things at once I have always had the habit of pushing toward the goal no matter regardless of who or what I have to run over in the process. It's only been a month but I haven't found that person at all! Instead, I find that I am taking my time, even in the small things, and that it is okay to take a break or to let someone else do some of the work. It seems so simple but at times it's really hard to kill my pride. It's admitting that I am not and can't be Superwoman. It is so freeing though seeing my reflection in Jesus, where He is not waiting for me to produce something for  Him but simply to acknowledge Him in all I am doing. I feel blessed beyond belief in what the Lord is doing in this season and the having the opportunity to be part of it with Him. It's my hope that I stay steadfast not on the small goals in front of me, but the ultimate Prize that is waiting for me.

Happy Juggling!!