These past two weeks seem to have flown by, and yet taken a year to pass at the same time. You know that feeling? Where something crazy happens and every day seems to feel like the summer solstice, but then you realize that two weeks have passed by so fast that you have no clue what day it is?

Well that’s what it’s been like around here.

Two weeks ago from yesterday my grandfather passed away.

That’s my Granny and Papaw.
We packed up left very suddenly for Bossier on Wednesday and stayed until Sunday.
I was dreading the trip the entire car ride, I listened to music, read, slept. Pretty much anything I could to keep my mind busy on a five to six hour long car ride. Little did I know how wonderful it would be. It sounds horrible, I know. But I got to spend time with my family. I got to see some cousins I haven’t seen in years, (One of them since I was eleven.) and I’m getting to know them like I didn’t before.
The trip I was dreading ended up helping me more than anything else did. Leaving was the hardest part, by Sunday when we had to go home I didn’t want to. I knew we had to, of course, but I didn’t want to.
I got to spend time with my family remembering Papaw and getting to know people I thought I knew, but didn’t really. I think this trip made me realize more than ever just how precious my extended family is to me, and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of them better as time goes by.

This past week has been recovering from trip and starting to take my Lyme pills. I’m being told things have to get worse before they can get better with this process. I’m afraid I haven’t been up to doing  much of anything since starting the meds, but that’s supposed to be a good sign that they’re fighting the pesky little bugs in my brain, as we call them around here. I’m learning to leave my health in God’s hands, and also learning to suck it up and take the really big pills. Even if they scare the livin’ day lights outta me.

I think that sums up these few weeks and this post. Aside from the picture aspect of the post. Toodles for now, from me and my bluebird minions. We hope you enjoy these pictures!

If you didn’t understand the bluebird minion I suggest reading.  http://www.threelittlebluebirds.net/2013/07/20/the-ambassador-bluebird/

About a week ago I went to my wonderful daddy and asked him if we could try to find some old buildings. “Not like, the old kept up ones in Old Katy. Like, old abandoned buildings that are run down and have character.” I was happily surprised when he understood exactly what I meant. For anyone who doesn’t know, understanding me can be a very difficult thing, I have a jumbled thought pattern and my speech is even more so. My father is a very patient man when it comes to me. I am very easily distracted, on top of having trouble putting my thoughts into words I stop every few seconds to marvel over little things. You know, like the way the light hits the ring of water on the counter left by a cup. Anyway, moving on. He came back to me only a few days later telling me that he had already found a little place! I was very excited when he said he would like to take me on Saturday. My health hasn’t been the best the past couple of weeks and I haven’t been much of anywhere, I mostly do housework when I’m up to it and lots of reading and writing, but more research for writing than actual writing. It’s sort of how that goes I guess. Back on track, I was doing my best to feel up to going, and thankfully I did. He and I had a fun time exploring this tiny little abandoned house and the little woody yard. Afterward he took me to a park to get a few pictures, we didn’t stick around there very long though due to the lack of shading and my tendency to burn very quickly. After that we stopped by the local high school and I practiced some driving. And I learned how to parallel park. In under ten minutes! I think it’s needless to say I was pretty stinkin’ excited and proud of myself.
I also go to do some shopping with my lovely mama last night, we had a last hurrah at Pei Wei because, today I believe, we are starting the THM (Trim Healthy Mama) diet. I’m actually looking forward to this, aside from the no sugar aspect part of it. That will take a bit of adjustment. I also made, and hope to ship, a package for a friend today! I had loads of fun wrapping and packing goodies into a box. We have this little old post office in downtown Katy, it’s not ancient, but It’s not new either. Something about that place makes me happy. Maybe it’s the smell. I’m very excited to ship off the package, but the wait for it to reach it’s destination will probably be unbearable.
Speaking of packages, I’m expecting one! I won a giveaway about a month ago, a copy of “Cinder” and “Scarlet” autographed by Marissa Meyer herself! I’m pretty excited to get those in and will post pictures as soon as they do.
I apologize if I’ve gotten ramble-y in this, I haven’t had any sleep you see, and it’s 7:27AM. I’m quite exhausted mental, emotionally, and physically but I can’t sleep. That’s mostly why I’m here. I need to get this written and what better time? My way to make it through the day will be tea… I don’t know if that’s allowed on the diet. Oh dear. Alright. Lots of music. Happy cheery music. Yeah, that’ll work. I can totally do the no caffeine or sugar thing. I know I can. I should move onto pictures before this sinks in completely. You don’t want to be around for that. Trust me, you think you do, you think, “Oh it can’t be that bad! You’re just being dramatic, you can totally handle not having those.” I can’t. I’m not a strong person. I go into any and every diet like I do the newest Doctor. My heels dug firmly into the ground, my arms crosses and my head shaking while saying. “No. I don’t like this. I miss the old one.” It’s not a pretty sight. I should name things that make me happy. It’ll help. Let me think. Kittens, old books, GOOD books, rain, sunbeams, rainbows, old things, exploring, picture taking, when my hair dries in pretty curls and not messy ones, comfy clothes, converse sneakers with fancy dresses, kindred spirits, random “thinking of you” notes/texts, little kids (especially the ones that like me as much as I like them.), Irish accents (Love em’ over a British one any day. (Sorry Brits.)), Mickey and Minnie mouse, and notebooks!
What makes YOU happy?

As many of us are aware “The Notebook” is one of the most acclaimed and adored “love” stories among non-Christians and Christians alike. I have heard girl after girl comment about Ryan Gosling’s character Noah. How he was such a gentleman, and he really loved Allie, they hope they can meet a guy half as wonderful as Noah. I don’t know much about Ryan Gosling and am not writing about him, but rather Noah. Let’s start with how he and Allie met.

They were at a fair with mutual friends when they met, Noah thought Allie was pretty so he asked her out, when she declined he proceeded to harass her through the fair, going as far as to hang onto the moving Ferris wheel and saying he would let go unless she promised to go out with him.

Moving on: Once they’re in a “relationship” they fight constantly, she hits him when she gets mad, and the only reason they like each other is because…. They like the way the other kisses. Now Allie’s parents don’t approve of Noah, they don’t trust him. Why don’t they trust him? Because he’s keeping Allie out late. What Allie didn’t tell her parents was that Noah was keeping her out late because he was trying to convince Allie to sleep with him, and she knew her parents wouldn’t approve so she hid it from them. Things progress through the movie and Allie and Noah have a huge fight, she hits him again and he drives off angry with her screaming some very hateful things at him. Noah the next morning learns Allie is moving away and tries to go and make amends, but she’s left already.

The movie skips ahead, Allie is helping with the war effort and meets a soldier who is in recovery. They end up going out a few times and end up in a relationship, he proposes and she accepts. Sounds good, right? Until Allie sees in a newspaper at her wedding dress fitting about an old mansion that Noah had told her he was going to fix up was for sale, he had done as he said and fixed it up. Allie decides to go and “just visit”. Noah has become a drunk from heartbreak since Allie left and has been sleeping around quite a lot. When Allie comes to town he is currently sleeping with a war widow, who he quickly breaks up with as soon as Allie comes back. So skip ahead past all of their chatter and Allie, once again, starts screaming at Noah, because he never contacted her. She never seems to realize it’s a two way street, he was the one who had to do the writing. Then, here is the big romantic part of the movie. Noah tells her he wrote her a letter every single day for a year! Allie quickly melts and has an affair with Noah.

Allie’s mother shows up in town, not to scold her daughter and tell her to stop behaving like a child. No, to apologize for hiding all 365 letters Noah sent her. And to take her to this old work yard to show Allie the man she had fallen in love with when she was Allie’s age, she tells Allie about her story, and quickly adds “But I love your father and am very happy! But you need to follow your heart and make a decision soon.”

Allie chooses Noah of course, and they grow old together. The only thing that could be considered “selfless” is the fact that Noah stays with Allie when she’s an old woman and has Alzheimer’s. But even that can’t be considered selfless can it? Not considering all he ever wanted was Allie, and she is exactly what he got.

What is it about this movie that catches so many people, makes them look at it and say “I want a love like that!”? What in it is glorifying to God? What in it is loving, selfless, caring?  All I see is one selfish act after another. One more act for oneself. And when Allie’s mother should have come in and showed her that cheating on a man that had done nothing but care for her was wrong, all she did was *encourage* Allie’s behavior.  True love isn’t Allie and Noah, true love was Jesus dying on the cross. Love is being willing to give anything for the person you love, and being willing to do anything for God’s glory. Allie and Noah had romance, not love. People don’t seem to realize the difference. I don’t want a love like Allie and Noah’s, a man who sees me as nothing more than a piece of meat, who cares about nothing but his own desires. I want a love where Christ is at the center. I want to fall in love with someone whose heart is focused on God and then the needs of others before himself.

I’m not writing this to say anyone who watches and enjoys “The Notebook” is horrible or has no idea what real love is. I’m simply stating why I don’t agree with so many about this being such a wonderful love story. Love and commitment are treated so lightly, especially when it comes to the entertainment we take in, “The Notebook” isn’t the only movie I don’t watch for reasons such as these I’ve listed. There are so many books and movies that try and “teach” people about love, but the problem is the word “Love” has been warped into something other than it’s meaning.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

I said I was going to try and post at least once a week, I’m doing a photography post because I don’t feel up to writing at the moment. This week hasn’t been one of my best health wise and I haven’t been up to doing much, prayers would be appreciated!
I have been doing a lot of reading with my down time though, I read “The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield. I loved it in a way I cannot explain. It has me guessing the story the entire time, and just when I thought I had it figured out she threw the truth at me and I had to read that little part of the page at least five times before it sunk in. It’s the first book I’ve read in a long time that has surprised me like that, it has taken a very special place in my heart. (: I also finished “The Hobbit” (I’ve been reading it for quite some time now.) the other day, and well, you have to read the book before the movies finish coming out. I cried, but that’s nothing too big. I get into stories very easily, whether it be book, movie, or TV show. If I love the characters I’m going to cry when they’re too happy, if they’re too sad, if someone they care about dies, if some side character I love dies. I’m a crier, which can be a difficult thing when your sisters read the exact same book and proclaim to care about everyone as much as you do and yet they don’t shed a single tear. Although pretty much everyone cried over “Angels Take Manhattan”. As Matt Smith said “You’d have to be a heartless alien if you didn’t watch without getting a lump in your throat.” On that topic I think I’m going to explode when the 50th anniversary episode airs, not to mention the Christmas special which will be Matt’s last episode. Another situation in which I am going to cry, there is no doubt in my mind about that. Anyway, now that you’ve read my little ramble here are some pictures I’ve taken recently!

These next two are taken with my camera up against the window of the post office in old Katy. If you don’t know what old Katy is, it’s a historic part of Katy(the city I live in.), they have all sorts of old buildings and landmarks, it’s one of my favorite places to go. (:

My beautiful mother. :)

Well, long time no see! I’ve neglected the blogging world for quite some time. I’m hoping to change this by posting like a normal person, you know, more than one post every few months. I’m terrible at following through on projects, but I think I can make it work! I’ve even thought about doing a vlog every once in a while. Somehow when I blank on writing I can find many things to speak about, its an odd thing, my brain, but if it works it works…. Right?

You may be confused by my choice of title for this post, so allow me to explain. I wanted to revamp my blog, and in doing so I wanted a new header. Well, its obvious to everyone that my little blog’s name is “Three Little Bluebirds”. The question I was asked by my mother and Hannah, and I, in fact, posed to Rachel, who designed the header, was this, “Why is there only one bluebird?” I have a feeling we aren’t the only ones asking this question. I shall give you the answer Rachel gave me, which on much thought and consideration (which is all of about 10 seconds for me on such matters.) made quite a lot of sense, therefore here is the answer. The little bluebird you see that is holding a little umbrella is in fact, the ambassador bluebird. He represents all of the others, or perhaps the president, maybe a king or queen if you wish. As we all know, these are high positions, people that represent the peoples of a country, that way all of the citizens of these places do not have to attend a number of events and meetings, which would get very tiring, and it is for the people in those positions. That being said, that little bluebird you see, is my ambassador, he represents my little bluebirds so that they can fly, and do whatever it is little bluebirds do.

We have that established now, right? If not ask a question. If you still don’t understand past that, I’d say just give up, you probably have more important things in your life to deal with than my bluebird government. However, if I were you, I’d keep a close eye out. Before too long my little bluebird minions could be running the world. They’re sly, and very very clever birds. Ever heard the saying “A little birdie told me.”? Yeah, that’s talking about my little guys. Gru has little yellow guys, Elphaba (AKA the wicked witch of the west) had flying monkeys, Rapunzel had a whole lot of ruffians, and, well, I think you get the point. Minions can do damage, and mine are everywhere.

Alright, I think I’ve filled my odd post quota for the day. I’ll leave you to get on with your life, assuming you didn’t stop reading after the first few sentences of the second paragraph where it got weird.

Fun Fact: In those middle two paragraphs alone I used the word “Little” 11 times. That one there makes a total of twelve times in this entire post.

At the moment there are many difficult things going on in my life, and there are times where it seems as if everything that could tear me apart hits at one time and there is absolutely no way I can make it through. When I first read this quote I had a light bulb go off in my head, God isn’t going to give me more than I can handle, and I can either use the situations to become bitter and complain and allow myself to fall apart, or I can use them to become closer to Him and praise Him even in my trials. These trials I’m going through are making me stronger, and so much closer to God.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians: 4:13

This is one of the verses I repeat to myself over and over, this has helped me through many difficult situations, when I feel as if there is no possible way I can make it through whatever it is I’m facing, this verse comes to mind and it has such a powerful effect.  I find I try so often to get through something on my own and I fail so miserably every time. But when I just sit down, pray, and put it in His hands and trust Him be at peace with the situation that He has put me in, that is when I find the strength to make it through, once I trust in Him and realize that He is my rock and my strength and I can do all things through Him.

It saddens me to see a growing trend in which many Christians  are participating. In order to be culturally relevant they are participating in what the Bible calls sin. They are participating in things such as drunkenness & coarse language which have no part in the life of a Christian.

Colossians 4:6. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Colossians 3:8. But now you also, put them all aside anger, wrath,
malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

Ephesians 5:4. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes — these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Proverbs 13:3. He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Matthew 12:36-37. Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned

Proverbs 4:24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious
speech far from you.

Ephesians 5:18. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

1 Corinthians 8:13. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.

It seems that some skip over these verses, or says that they are saying something different. The meanings seem quite clear to me, I don’t see there being any other meanings to these verses than what is plainly stated. I don’t have much more to say on the subject because I think these verses say it all.

If you have anymore verses on the subjects to share please do!

A true friend doesn’t tell you what you want to hear. They tell you what you need to hear. They challenge you to help you grow. The challenges aren’t always easy to hear though. It can be hard to put aside our pride and really take to heart what they tell us, but we need it so badly.

True friends give you the benefit of the doubt. When you’ve said something hurtful, they don’t assume that you set out to hurt them or meant it in a negative way, they assume you meant it in the best way possible and come to you with the issue.

True friends also listen, and when they’ve hurt you they apologize from the bottom of their heart. They feel terrible that they could have hurt you. And in many situations both sides were hurt, and that’s when its time for you to apologize.

True friends are a hard thing to come by, and when you have them, you don’t want to let go. Sometimes though, problems arise, and for their own good you have to let go. Its one of the most heartbreaking things to go through, but you hope that someday they’ll look back and be thankful you did, and see you did it out of love for them.

Losing friend is a hard trial to face, and it can be so easy to point the finger and say that the problem was them, when it wasn’t them at all.

True friends do all these things out of nothing but love, and I only wish everyone realized that.

“An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” ~ Proverbs 27:5-6

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” ~ Proverbs 27:17

Okay, This is not a story from a skateboard’s perspective, I just can’t help but think of “The Brave Little Toaster” when writing this silly little story :P

Today when I went across the street to get the mail I noticed someone had thrown this mini skateboard away. Well. I picked it up and considered bringing it home but decided against it. Well tonight I was telling Rachel about it and really wanted to get it tomorrow if it was still there. Well, Rachel proceeds to inform me that tomorrow is trash day and my precious mini skateboard would be lost forever! :cue dramatic music: It was at that moment I decided I wasn’t going to let this skateboard slip through my fingers, I promptly went to my mom asking her to let me get it. Well my wonderful mother stood in the driveway and watched as I pranced across the street with a flashlight and dug around in a trash can (it was only papers. otherwise I would have brought gloves) and happily pulled out the skateboard. After jumping up and down a few times to get rid of some of my energy/sughar high I am now sitting on the couch quite content knowing that I have this precious little skateboard.. I have no clue what I’m going to do with it…. Yet.. But that will come soon!…. Hopefully :P

(I couldn’t find a ruler so I had to settle for a wooden spoon to give you an idea of its size)

It doesn’t look like much I know, But I love it! and I found it in the trash, what can you expect?