Throwback Thursday & 20th Birthday

 Today is my 20th birthday.  And for Throwback Thursday I wanted to share a letter of advice that was given to me at my sweet 16.

 Dearest KayLeigh,

Happy 16th Birthday.  I know you think that this birthday is no big deal, but nothing could be further from the truth. These are the years when the decisions you make now effect the rest of your life.  You are given a blank canvas to put the colors of happiness and joy that are bright and sparkly against the colors of stretching and hurt feeling that give a person depth of character. 

                                          (Not my image- above)

 God has blessed you with an amazing family and great friends to help make your piece of art brilliant before God and man.  Never take those relationships for granted. They are the relations that can and will save your life in those hard times.  Keep those bridges strong and they will carry forever. 

Don't be afraid to make mistakes and don't hesitate to confess them to God who is faithful to forgive them. Keep all that he has given you sacred and pure before him.  It is easier to live against all you have been taught, but more rewarding in the long run. 

Focus your life and thoughts towards the greatness that God has planned for you.  You are the only one who can limit your growth.  God's plan for your life is amazing, spend the rest of your life searching it out.  Discover all the wonder He has in store for you.  Be all you can be for Him and he will be all He can be for you.  

Happy Birthday,

Uncle Matthew

*****

I've loved and lost the last few years.  I've made mistakes and learned from them.  My life has changed quite a bit since I was 16, but I wouldn't change a thing.  I'm so excited for this new #20 (even if it does kinda freak me out a bit lol :) )  I'm looking forward to my next 20 years.I can't wait to see where my life takes me and all the people I'm gonna meet.  Who knows! I could one day be an apprentice makeup artist for Robert Jones (my dream/wish lol)

To my family and close friends who mean everything to me.  Thank you all so much for loving me.  I know I don't tell you often enough how much I love y'all back :)

Dad, Thanks for buying me my favorite ice-cream when I was sick yesterday (Even though i didn't need it :) ) And for always listening to me talk.

Mom, Thanks for being there for me and for putting up with all my kraziness. Love you like a O.

Isaac, Thanks for being your funny self. Even when I don't always find you so funny.  Being Gollum/Batman always puts a smile on my face. And thanks for introducing me to Olan Rogers (even thought I was resistant in the beginning lol) 

Love, KayLeigh  

Happy New Year & Happy Friday!

Happy New Year!!! 
And Happy Friday everybody!

 Its a new year. Time to make changes.  Time to clean out your closet. (That was me today.) Donating old clothes to make room for the new fashions that will come in 2013.  A time for fresh starts.

I want to say that I'm sorry for not posting anything in a few months. My goal for this new year is to post something at least once a week. And to go from there. Lets say Life happened. As it does to everyone.  We all have scene changes. New chapters are written. Friends come and go like the seasons. Good and bad. Welcome, or unwelcome.  Things in life happen.

To those of you who don't know, my family went through the loss of my sweet Aunt Shelly early December.  She was battling cancer and with it beaten, has gone to be with Jesus. Where there's no more pain and she isn't suffering anymore.  She has her J-Lo body that she always wanted and she's singing Him sweet praises. Its been hard on my entire family. We have all been filled with questions of why her? She was a wife and mother to four beautiful children. She was young. While we missed her a great deal during the holidays we know she is in a better place.  Please continue to pray for my Uncle and their four kids as well as the rest of my family.

 I also want to say I'm super excited for this new year.  Have lots of great posts I'm working on for you guys, yay! With that said, Happy Friday everybody and have a great weekend! And check me out next week for a new post.

 Huge thank you to my family, friends, coworkers, and  supporters.   I appreciate your prayers, love, and everything else you all have done for me.  I pray for you all as this new year starts. And may it be your best year yet.

~Love and Blessings, KayLeigh