Guard Your Heart

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." ~Proverbs 4:23

I always took this verse to mean to guard your heart against the evil in the world. While that is a big part of it, I've been discovering lately that your heart needs guarding from so much more.

Emotions. Yearnings. Weaknesses.

I'm learning to protect my heart against these things the hard way.

Sometimes your feelings can run away from you {read: me.}. You pray hard about it. And God's answer is "Not yet." What's left to do? Nothing. You have to completely submit. If you had guarded your heart, you wouldn't be in turmoil.

Having a desire for something is one of the strongest holds that can grab you. If the timing isn't right for that desire, your emotions are going to be all out of whack.

If your heart is open to things that make you weak, guess what? You're going to stumble -- often.

Things that need to stay out of your heart aren't always "evil". But they can be destructive. Learn what you need to protect your heart against and start building a defense.

Rebekah

<3

Parker & Auntie Bee

This, my dear friends, is my precious nephew -- Parker.

Parker is my sister and brother-in-law's first child. He was born on January 9 of this year and let me tell you, he has been a huge blessing in my family's and my life. His due date was originally February 5. If you've been following with our story, my Grammy passed away on February 5, 2011. We were so overjoyed to have such a joyous occasion on what once was a bleak day. But God had greater plans and wanted us to have Parker an extra month. Thanks, God! It turns out that my Grandpa passed away on February 6 of this year about 1 in the morning. If Parker had come on his original date, we would've had to choose whether to hold Grandpa's hand and watch his life end or hold Parker and celebrate new life. God was gracious enough to take that choice away from us. He never left our side.

Karlie, Greg, and Parker on his "birth" day.

Since Parker was a month early, he was considered a preemie. He was just at 5 lbs -- which cracked everybody up. Big babies run on each side of the family -- as well as big men! All the boys in each family were at least 10 lbs and are now over 6 feet tall! So to have a tiny preemie was a shock to us all. At first, he had breathing issues as many preemies do, and my sister didn't get to hold or see him until almost 12 hours after giving birth. That was so hard on her. But she's strong and she's a fighter.

My sister, my mom and I always make this face. You can see us written all over that face!

I happen to have the best job on earth. I'm lucky enough to be Parker's nanny twice a week. Boy, do we have fun together. Sometimes it can be frustrating because he is a newborn and I am just 16. But we get through those days and end up having fun. Lately I've noticed that he lights up when he sees me. And that is one of the best feelings in the world -- seriously.

I'm beyond blessed to have him in my life. And I'm blessed to have the opportunity to invest in his life and pour love into him. I hope that I can teach him something. I hope he can learn from my mistakes when he's older. I hope I can tell him about Jesus and His love for Parker too. I hope he doesn't forget me when I go off to college.

But I do have a game plan for when that happens. Skype dates, letters, packages, gifts, and all sorts of stuff from Auntie Bee.

Oh, yeah. I hope he can call me Auntie Bee one day. {My mom wants to be called Gigi and my Dad loves the name Papa Bear} I love the name Auntie and I figured Bee would be much more simple than Rebekah or even Beka. But I know I will love whatever comes out of his mouth when he finally talks to me. I can't wait for that day either.

Bottom line, I love this kid. And I love to spoil him. And I love that I can spoil him. Being a teenage aunt is the best.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." ~James 1:17

Lots of love from Auntie Bee and Parker!

<3

Not Again, Robin!

Try and tell me this is not hilarious.

You failed.

It's hilarious.

My mom is notorious for checking us in on Facebook. She found this online and then posted it to her own Facebook to poke fun at herself. She's such a good sport.

Hope this gave you a giggle!

Happy Monday!

Rebekah

<3

Photo a Day May ;; Weeks Three and Four

Weeks Three and Four, coming right up!

I decided to finish up the week seeing as how it was so close anyhow.

Day Seventeen ;; Snack

Obsessed.

Day Eighteen ;; Something You Made

Button Bracelet

Day Nineteen ;; A Favourite Place

In the Sunshine.

Day Twenty ;; Something You Can't Live Without

My loving bed.

Day Twenty-One ;; Where You Stand

Day Twenty-Two ;; Pink

Day Twenty-Three ;; Technology

My laptop named Violet.

Day Twenty-Four ;; Something New

New shirt from Tennessee!

Day Twenty-Five ;; Unusual

Day Twenty-Six ;; 12 o'clock

Day Twenty-Seven ;; Something Sweet

Virgin Margarita at Olive Garden &lt;3

Day Twenty-Eight ;; The Weather Today

Texas in May!

Day Twenty-Nine ;; A Number

My lucky number!

Day Thirty ;; Your Personality

If you know me well, you will understand.

Day Thirty-One ;; Something Beautiful

Can't wait to visit here one day.

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Rebekah

<3

Destination Imagination ;; Global Finals

My DI team family this year.

Me, Aaron, Katelyn, John, Mary, Matt, Cassidy.

Destination Imagination -- or as I fondly call it, DI.

I've been participating in DI for 5 years now {not consecutively} and it's something very near and dear to my heart.

DI is one of the hardest things to explain in the world. So, I'm going to let the officials of DI say it for me.

"Destination ImagiNation (DI) is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving." ~ from Destination Imagination's website

Each year, I have participated in the improv acting challenge. This years challenge was called News To Me. You are told to prepare a skit skeleton, as well as bring 6 different current events to the tournament. 4 minutes before you take the stage, you are given a randomly selected current event that you brought plus one that is tournament provided. You must make the two stories connect and explain a cause and effect relationship between them. And 1 minute before you go on, you are given an OMG (One-Minute-Glitch) which can and will drastically change your entire skit. Example; all your characters are melting snowmen; all characters are gargoyles; your skit is set in the middle of the desert. You are given points for the connection of the two news stories, the integration of the stories into your skit, your integration of your OMG, human connective scenery, teamwork, and creativity. And you have 5 minutes to perform your skit. 5 minutes may sound like a lot, but when you have to cram all of the above information, it flies.

Then your score for your central challenge (News To Me for us) is averaged with your score for Instant Challenge -- Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick critical thinking. At a Tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The participants must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes. While Team Challenges build long-term problem solving and teamwork skills, Instant Challenges provide an exciting, impromptu creative experience for competing teams. By practicing Instant Challenges during the course of the season, students can increase their improvisational skills and train their minds to work quickly!

This year, my team placed first at Regional Competition, advancing us to State-wide Competition. At State competition, we placed 5th -- one place away from heading to Global Finals. We were crushed, angry, and confused. We had no clue what had gone wrong. The next morning, we get the best email of our lives. The 4th place team had dropped out.

We were headed to Global Finals.

Now, a lot of people don't realize how big of a deal Globals are. It's one of the biggest honors and accomplishments in your high school career. You get to participate in the tournament with teams from all over the United States, Canada, and 13 other countries. To have the opportunity to go is mind-blowing.

Super excited!

Katelyn and I

Typical laughter. We couldn't take a serious photo to save our lives.

We left early Tuesday morning and arrived in Knoxville, Tennesse late afternoon. The whole week was filled with laughter, memories, lots of walking, pin-trading, creativity, prank wars, ultimate frisbee, pizza, birthdays, big bows, and friends. After doing fantastically in both IC and Central Challenge, Closing Ceremonies were Saturday night. We came in 5th in the WORLD. Honestly, we were all hoping for a medal, but the fact that we made it that far in a tournament we shouldn't have even been in is a phenomenal feat. I'm so incredibly proud of us!

Opening ceremonies -- leis, flamingos, bows, oh my!

We ran into Kacie B from The Bachelor on University of Tennessee Campus! She was so sweet.

Birthday boys with their new toys!

My mommies for the week!

DI has helped me learn so much. It's taught me to think quickly on my feet, how to present myself in front of an audience, and how to work well with others. Finding DI was finding my niche. A place where I truly belonged. I love my teammates with all of my heart and I'm so blessed to have spent the 6 months with them that I did! Love you guys.

Rebekah

<3

The smolder. I'm surprised the picture actually turned out -- I was laughing far too hard.

Love my Momma <3

Closing Ceremonies!

Music Monday

Mondays are the perfect day for music.

I'm currently in love with this song -- We Belong Together by Gavin DeGraw.

I first heard it watching the movie Tristan and Isolde starring James Franco and Sophia Myles {lovely movie as well}

 It's so sweet and powerful.

Enjoy!

Rebekah

<3

Photo a Day May ;; Weeks One and Two

Last week I didn't have the time to post my photos for the first week of the May Photo a Day challenge because I was spending the week with my precious friend Ruthanne. But you're in for a treat because now you get two weeks worth of photos! Great, right?

Day Two ;; Skyline

In love with Yosemite.

Day Three ;; Something You Wore Today

Dance shoes and skirt.

Day Four ;; Fun!

Nails!

Day Five ;; Bird

Gives me the giggles.

Day Six ;; You

Day Seven ; Someone That Inspires You

My precious parents. <3

Day Eight ;; A Smell You Adore

Day Nine ;; Something You Do Everyday

Use these.

Day Ten ;; A Favorite Word

"I love you. Most ardently."

Day Eleven ;; Kitchen

My favorite corner.

Day Twelve ;; Something That Makes You Happy

My precious nephew, Parker.

Day Thirteen ;; Mom

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!

Day Fourteen ;; Grass

Day Fifteen ;; Love

"For God so loved that world that He sent His one and only son so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life." ~John 3:16

Day Sixteen ;; What You're Reading

A Letter of Mary

Rebekah

<3