Tears Always Brought To My Eyes

The Life You've Always Wanted

I need to stop waiting and start now. The transition is through from the end of the school year to the start of summer break, I am moved into my new RA apartment and I'm slowly getting things put away. I don't want to wait another week to start what I have planned on doing.

My responsibilities this summer:

• Read "The Life You've Always Wanted" - John Ortberg
• Play the Violin
• Create Art (sketch, paint, draw, write)
• Pray (journal my prayers)
• Workout (45min-1hr ea. day)
• Eat right (lots of protein plus healthy protein snacks)
• Raise money for Costa Rica
• Study for Clep Math Exam

The time is now. No better time to start doing these things than now. 

Dear self,

Get up off your butt and do it. Just do it. Structure yourself. Push yourself. Lean on God. He will be your strength, just ask for it.

You can do it. Trust me you will be glad you did.

Wisdom from a Best Girl Friend

"& One Day if He's Yours He Will Be The Best Version Of Himself"

How long can we keep our hands on the burner? How long till we realize the heat is too much to handle. Taking your hand off the burner before you are scalded isn't as easy as it seems. We get used to the heat as it progresses and we get burned. The degrees rise giving opportunities to take your hand away before being scalded. I took my hand off the burner, it's pretty scarred, but nothing is too scarred for my Jesus to heal and cover with His blood. 

A Continuation of A Tribute: More Photos

I'm getting such a kick out of these :) hahaha

A Tribute: To The Best Friend A Girl Could Ever Ask For

Dear Miranda Elizabeth Stephens,

Today, my dear, is your 21st birthday. I was on the phone with my mother yesterday asking her if she could send me some pictures of you and I from our childhood. Unfortunately, they are packed in boxes in my “room” at home. I have what I have but I was gonna pull out some oldies just to put things in perspective and to make this birthday all the more sentimental. :] awh. yes. 

I hope you already know that I cherish our friendship and thank God that He has blessed me so much as to let our friendship be bonded at the root of Christ. 

15 years. That is more than half of my lifetime. 15 years of friendship. 

15 years filled with:

• VBS
• Summer Camps
• Ski Trips
• Talent Shows
• Pool Parties
• Birthday Parties
• Sour Creme & Chips
• Spoiled Milk
• Toilet Papering Yards
• Brownies
• Apple Turnovers
• Purple
• Broken Glasses
• Ferbies
• Flour Fights
• CLUE
• Boys
• Bunny
• GA Camps
• Worship Team
• Youth Leaders
• Field Days
• Crushes
• Heartbreaks
• House Moves
• Sleepovers
• After School Action Site
• Disciple Now
• Boyfriends
• Acting out scenes from legally blonde
• Lisa Frank
• Elementary Schools
• Separate Middle Schools
• High School
• College
• Moving Across a couple states
• Laughing till we cry
• Crying till we laugh
• Sharing twin sized beds
• Planning our lives out together when we were in 5th grade

But most importantly: 

• Growth
• Faith
• Trust
• Learning
• Grace
• Peace
• Mercy
• Love
• Joy

I couldn’t imagine not having you here for these past 15 years. So I am thankful that 21 years ago today, you my dearest friend, were born and placed on this earth with a specific purpose and destiny. I see you living it to the fullest year by year. You inspire me so much. Your faith and excitement for the Lord puts me to shame, in the best way. You challenge yourself and challenge others. How beautiful is the Lords hand that is all encompassing in your life. When you talk about your savior the heavens open and the angels sing the most beautiful melodies. Be encouraged friend. You have more impact on people than you think, in the best way.

Now for a little picture show:

Mmmm look at those denim jackets and cowgirl hats. I believe this is the night you stepped on my glasses and they broke. I know we both remember this night very well. Yes, because I cried. But, you know what? I grew up and got new glasses and will continue to buy new glasses for the rest of my life. haha. 

Disciple Now :) Check out them beautiful shiny braces you have!

Summer Camp at Hardin Simmons University. Way too hot to be wearing these Santa Hats!

Look at how little we were! One of those wednesday nights we went to sonice with the youth group.

This was when I came back to visit Jr. year for DNOW.

Them hotties in that 80’s gear!

This summer. Spending 5 days with you was so fun.

awkward and weird are who we are.

I am so glad you convinced Jimmy and I to make these! I love mine so much :]

Girl we are so fine! I love how our personalities scream from the dresses we are wearing.

Such happy memories

Charlie’s Angels

Our Chat sessions are nothing short of entertaining and absurd! 

One of my random visits to Denton

17 years old here I think

Can we please just eat fondue for the rest of our lives???!

Skype Date!

Early High School Days

My prayer for you on this 21st birthday is that you are surrounded by people who love you and are filled with the Joy and Love of Christ. I pray that it overflows your cup. I pray that this year is one that brings adventure and discovery. I pray that He in His Almighty Power would bless you abundantly, just as He has blessed me with your friendship. 

Happy Birthday Miranda Elizabeth Stephens

Love, your friend, and your sister,

Gabrielle Elizabeth Davison

P.S. I don’t know if you knew, but your middle name kinda rocks. Now I want me some sour creme and chips. shoot!

P.P.S. You know whats great. 3 months from today it'll be my birthday. We are just that cool. Holla!

I used to have this blog

I haven't been very good about keeping up with this blog. Honestly I haven't been doing much social networking at all lately. I have lost my interest in tumbling, facebooking, and tweeting. I have been expressing myself more in journals. I have been much better about making time to spend with God. I needed an adjustment and re-valuation of my time and schedule and how my life feels like a gaping hole without God.

Recalculating...

God has called me to work on my Character... isn't that the calling on all of our lives everyday? To strive & desire to grow closer to Him to become more like Him?

Everything else falls into place when your Character takes precedence. Honestly, I have become lazy and it disgusts me. I want to have the desire to condition my Character but it isn't always there... the beauty of His Strength and Power gives me Hope.

A strong conviction lays upon my heart and I pray to God that it will continue to help me push forward and not just be pushed to the wayside.

2 Peter 1:5-11

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
 ¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.